A comprehensive reference of materials for interior designers and architects Choosing the right material for the right purpose is a critical—and often overlooked—aspect in the larger context of designing buildings and interior spaces. When specified and executed properly, materials support and enhance a project's overall theme, and infuse interior space with a solid foundation that balances visual poetry and functionality.
Materiality and Interior Construction imparts essential knowledge on how materials contribute to the construction and fabrication of floors, partitions, ceilings, and millwork, with thorough coverage of the important characteristics and properties of building materials and finishes. Individual coverage of the key characteristics of each material explores the advantages and disadvantages of using specific materials and construction assemblies, while helping readers discover how to make every building element count. In addition, Materiality and Interior Construction:
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Is highly illustrated throughout to show material properties and building assemblies
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Supplies rankings and information on the "green" attributes of each material so that designers can make informed decisions for specifications
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Is organized by application for easy and quick access to information
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Includes a companion website, featuring an extensive online image bank of materials and assemblies
Rather than a typical catalog of materials, Materiality and Interior Construction is efficiently organized so that the reader is guided directly to the options for the location or assembly they are considering. Reliable and easy to use, Materiality and Interior Construction is a one-stop, comprehensive reference for hundreds of commonly used materials and their integration as building components—and an invaluable resource that every interior designer or architect should add to their set of tools.
Table of Contents:
Preface ix
Acknowledgements xi
Foreword xiii
Chapter 1 Why Materials Matter 1
Design Intentions 2
The Design Concept 3
Human Factors 4
Health, Safety, and Welfare 10
Historical Overview 13
Chronology and Technological Development 15
What It’s Made of and How It’s Made 17
Material Extraction 19
Environmentally Sustainable Design Considerations 20
Biomimicry 21
Carbon-Neutral Design 22
Certifi cations 22
Downcycling 23
Embodied Energy 24
Life-Cycle Assessment 24
Local Materials 24
Natural and Synthetic Materials and Components 24
Rapidly Renewable Materials 25
Reclaimed/Repurposed Materials 26
Recycled Materials 26
Upcycling 27
Volatile Organic Compounds 28
Material Properties and Performance Characteristics 29
Absorption Coefficient 31
Acoustics 32
Aging and Weathering 35
Cellular Structure 37
Compressive and Tensile Strength 37
Density 38
Dimensional Movement 38
Ductility 40
Durability 40
Elasticity 41
Emissivity 41
Fire Ratings 41
Stability 42
Surface Attributes 43
Thermal Conductivity 43
Thermal Transmittance 44
Workability and Joinery 44
Applications 45
Installation Methods 46
Existing Conditions 46
Construction and Fabrication 46
Substructures and Assemblies 46
Maintenance Requirements 46
Green Cleaning Policies and Products 46
Relative Material Cost 48
Resources and Sources 48
Chapter 2 Flooring 49
Design Intentions 50
Human Factors 52
Health, Safety, and Welfare 52
Purpose and Performance 56
Structural Integrity and Engineering 57
Circulation and Conveyance: Stairs, Ramps, and Slopes 60
Stairs: Accessibility and Egress 62
Ramps and Slopes: Accessibility and Egress 64
Subfl oor Preparation Methods 64
Installation Methods 66
Adhesion and Bonding 67
Asbestos Abatement Issues 67
Installing Floating Floors 67
Installing Tiles 68
Maintenance Requirements 69
Relative Cost of Materials For Flooring 69
Flooring Materials 69
Bamboo 69
Brick 72
Carpet 74
Cementitious Top Coatings 87
Ceramic Tile 88
Composite Floor Tiles (Bio-Based, ESD, MCT, MVT, Polyester Resin–Based, PVC-Free, Resin, VCT) 104
Concrete (Cast-in-Place, Precast, and Concrete Finishes) 120
Cork (Laminated Plank, Sheet, Tile) 125
Glass 131
Leather (Tile) 134
Linoleum (Laminated Plank, Sheet, Tile) 137
Metal (Flooring, Decking, Grating) 142
Rubber 145
Stone (Alabaster, Basalt, Bluestone, Dolostone, Fieldstone, Flagstone, Gabbro, Gneiss, Granite, Limestone, Marble, Onyx, Petrifi ed Wood, Quartzite, Sandstone, Serpentine, Schist, Slate, Travertine) 149
Terrazzo (Cementitious, Epoxy, and Polyester Matrices, Cast-in-Place Systems, Precast Tile) 165
Vinyl (Composition Tiles, Luxury Tiles and Strips, Rolled/Sheet Goods, Solid Vinyl Tiles, Safety Flooring, Specialty PVC-Free, Vinyl Sheets and Tiles) 174
Wood (Strip, Parquet, Plank, Block, Reclaimed Lumber, and Engineered Flooring) 190
Chapter 3 Walls, Partitions, and Vertical Components 203
Design Intentions 204
Acoustics and Sound Transmission 206
Dimensions: Height, Thickness, and Depth 207
Function and Use 208
Incorporation of Building Systems 208
Partitioning Space/Spatial Order 209
Structural Integrity/Load Bearing 209
Walls and Partitions: Construction and Fabrication Types 211
Load Bearing, Non-Load-Bearing 211
Lateral Bracing 211
Modular Construction (CMU, Stacking, Masonry) 211
Wood and Metal Framing (Channel, Plate, Runner, Stud) 212
Integral and Integrated Assemblies 212
Structural Integrated Panels 212
Adhesives and Bonding 213
Hardware (Fasteners and Mechanical Attachments for Walls and Partitions) 214
Relative Cost of Materials for Walls 215
Walls, Partitions, and Vertical Components: Materials 216
Bead Board 216
Brick Masonry (Brick, CMU) 218
Cement Fiberboard 222
Ceramic Tile 223
Compressed and Rammed Earth 228
Concrete 230
Fabric-Wrapped Panel Systems 232
Glass/Glazing (Annealed, Flat, Laminated, Restoration, Safety, Smart, Stained, Tempered) 234
Gypsum Wallboard (Blueboard, Core Board, Foil-backed, Greenboard, Paperless, Type X Wallboard) 241
Leather 246
Metal (Aluminum, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Galvanized Steel, Steel, Stainless Steel) 248
Paint and Decorative Finishes (Alkyd Paint, Antigraffi ti Coatings, Ceramic Insulating Paints, Decorative Paint Techniques, Dry Paint, Electrostatic Paint, Intumescent Paint, Latex Paint, Milk-Based Paint, Oil Paint, Sprayed-On Paint Finishes) 252
Plaster (Finish Plaster, Gypsum Plaster, Venetian Plaster) 263
Plastics 266
Stone (Alabaster, Granite, Limestone, Marble, Onyx, Quartzite, Serpentine, Slate, Soapstone, Travertine) 268
Wallcovering (Cork, Dry-Erase, Fabric, Flock, Glass Bead, Glass Textile, Grass Cloth, Historical Prints, High- Performance, Magnetic, Paper, PVC-Free, Teldar Film, Vinyl, Wall Carpet, Wood Veneer) 272
Wood (Wall Veneer Panels, Wainscot, Moldings, Trim) 282
Chapter 4 Ceilings 285
Design Intentions 286
Acoustics and Sound Transmission 288
Defi ning and Partitioning Space 289
Fire Protection, HVAC, Lighting, MEP, and Acoustic Systems Integration 289
Ceilings: Construction and Fabrication Categories 290
Intermediate Floor Assemblies 290
Suspended and Nonsuspended Ceilings 290
Relative Cost of Materials for Ceilings 293
Ceiling Materials 294
Acoustic Ceiling Tiles (Glass Fiber and Mineral Fiber) 294
Ceramic Tile 296
Concrete 299
Glass/Glazing 302
Gypsum Wallboard and Gypsum Fiber 305
Metal Systems 308
Plaster 311
Plastics 313
Stone 315
Wood and Wood Systems 317
Chapter 5 Millwork 321
Design Intentions 325
Constructing Space 325
Function, Purpose, and Use 326
Durability 326
Relative Cost of Materials for Millwork 328
Interior Millwork: Materials 328
Agglomerates (Cambria, Celador, IceStone, River Rock, Riverstone, Trend Q) 328
Concrete 331
Glass 334
Linoleum 338
Metal 341
Plastics 346
Plastic Laminate 350
Solid Surface Materials (Avonite, CaesarStone, Corian, Fountainhead, Hanex, Swanstone, Zodiaq) 353
Stone (Alabaster, Granite, Limestone, Marble, Onyx, Quartzite, Serpentine, Slate, Soapstone, Travertine) 356
Wood and Wood Composite Boards 359
Interior Millwork Finishes 369
Aniline Dyes 369
Fire-Retardant and -Resistant Finishes 370
Nitrocellulose and Precatalyzed Lacquer 370
Oil-Based Finishes 370
Polyurethane/Spar Varnish 370
Shellac (Alcohol Based) 370
Stains 371
Varnishes 371
Waterborne Finishes 371
Hardware 372
Catches and Locks 372
Hinges 372
Screws (Wood and Machine) 373
Washers 373
Nails (Interior Construction) 374
Metal Connectors 374
Drawer Glides 374
Edge Profiles 375
Beads and Channels 375
Running and Standing Trim 375
Resources and Sources 376
Wood Joinery 376
Appendix: Material Matters 381
Notes 383
Glossary 385
Bibliography 409
Index 411
About the Author :
Nancy Gesimondo is an Adjunct Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She has taught design studio and materials courses in various Interior Design programs for ten years. She is currently the principal of a high-end residential design practice in New York City. Jim Postell is an Associate Professor in the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning at the University of Cincinnati. He has taught design studio and seminar courses for twenty-five years and maintains an active design practice. He is the author of Furniture Design, published by Wiley.
Review :
This comprehensive reference imparts essential knowledge on how materials contribute to the construction and fabrication of all interior aspects of buildings, with coverage of the characteristics and properties of building materials and finishes. The highly illustrated book addresses key characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of specific materials, helping readers discover how to make every building element count. Organized by application for easy access to information, the book also includes a companion website with an extensive image bank of materials and assemblies. (ICON Magazine)
