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Wall Materials for Animal Buildings: Building Bricks, Paving Bricks, and Stones
Wall materials play an important role in the strength, durability, sanitation, and maintenance of animal buildings. The selection of suitable wall materials depends on factors such as cost, availability, climatic conditions, and the type of livestock housing.
Common wall materials used in animal buildings include different types of bricks and stones, each having specific properties and applications.
Bricks
Bricks are among the most commonly used wall materials in animal housing construction. They are durable, economical, and easy to work with. Different types of bricks are used depending on the structural and sanitary requirements of the building.
1. Building Bricks
Building bricks are made from brick earth, which consists of 50 percent clay and 50 percent sand. Rectangular blocks are prepared using molds and cut by machines. They are then heated in a kiln at the proper temperature.
Well-made machine bricks have standard dimensions of 9″ × 4½” × 3″. They have a uniform shape, color, and texture and are sharp at the corners. They produce a clear ringing sound when struck with a hard object.
2. Vitrified Paving Bricks
Vitrified paving bricks are hard, impervious, and durable bricks containing more than 10 percent iron oxide. They are heated to a very high temperature until the point of vitrification. They are grooved on the outer surface and have a strong, hard finish. They are damp-proof. These special bricks are used as flooring in animal houses.
3. Glazed Bricks
Glazed bricks are small bricks made of china clay and finished with glaze or enamel on the outer surface. They are used to provide sanitary finishes on walls and in areas where hygienic conditions and washable surfaces are necessary. They are very expensive bricks.
Stones
Stones are traditional building materials known for their strength, durability, and resistance to weathering. Different kinds of stones are used in animal building construction for walls, floors, and other structural components. They may be dressed into rectangular or square blocks or used in their original shapes to provide a rubble finish.
1. Granite
Granite is a hard natural stone. It may be black or light gray in color. It is durable and weather-resistant and is commonly used for the construction of walls and floors in animal buildings. The surface should be roughened periodically by chipping.
2. Whin Stones
Whin stones are also hard rocks but are not as durable and weather-resistant as granite. They are used for wall construction, and broken stones are commonly used as an ingredient in cement concrete.
3. Sandstones
Sandstones are immature rocks of recent formation. They are not strong or durable and are not used in heavy construction. They can be dressed into different shapes and patterns. Hence, they are used for architectural work.
