Can You Correctly ID These Common Building Materials?

By: Lauren Lubas
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Correctly ID These Common Building Materials?
Image: Morsa Images / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

The carpentry trade lost a little bit of steam at the beginning of the 21st century as working with building materials was replaced with working with computers. However, in an odd twist, home repair, carpentry, and DIY building has made a comeback with the help of YouTube tutorials. As we come full circle on this trade, many people are getting into building their own furniture, repairing their homes, and even creating beautiful artwork with the help of building materials. Whether or not you consider yourself handy, you'd be surprised at how much you might know about the materials used to build pretty much everything you see. These materials are everywhere you look. If you've taken the time to learn what they are, you should have at least a cursory knowledge of how these items work, what they look like, and what they're used for. 

Whether you're a master carpenter or a DIY diva, you have to be able to recognize the proper materials and know exactly what they're used for to ensure that your projects are completed properly. Now, it's time to test your skills. We'll show you common building materials, you tell us what they are. Let's see if you can ace this quiz.



Rebar
Wiki Commons by W.carter
These steel beams are used to reinforce concrete. What are they called?
Lookies
Rebar
Ties
Locks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rebar is also known as reinforcing steel. It is used to strengthen concrete.

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Mortar
Wiki Commons by Oula Lehtinen
What do you call the paste that holds bricks together?
Mortar
Brick glue
Stucco
Hand pave
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mortar functions as a paste to hold bricks together. It can be dyed different colors for any job.

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Wood Putty
Wiki Commons by Rlsheehan
This substance is commonly used in wood repair and woodworking projects. What is it?
Wood putty
Welding glue
Adobe
Cover up
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wood putty is used to fill defects in wood or to cover nails and screws on woodworking jobs.

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Limestone
Wiki Commons by Coyau
This stone is used to make concrete and is also a base material for many roads. What is it?
Limestone
Lemonstone
Redstone
Whitestone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gravestones are commonly made from limestone as well.

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Steel
Youtube via DivakDevelopers
Which material are these beams made of?
Silver
Gold
Steel
Copper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Steel is a common material for large buildings because it is incredibly strong.

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Plywood
Wiki Commons by Rotor DB
This common material has a lot of uses in construction and any kind of building. What is it?
Plywood
Sheetrock
Cardboard
Drywall
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Plywood is made by gluing several layers of wood together. This makes it incredibly strong.

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Asphalt
Ian Richardson / Pexels
These shingles are made of one of the most common roofing materials. What are they made of?
Terra cotta
Cement
Asphalt
Sand paper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Asphalt shingles are usually overlapping and can be great insulators. They are great for cold climates.

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Capping Brick
Youtube via stu crompton
These bricks top off retaining walls. What are they called?
Foundation bricks
Cinder blocks
Capping bricks
Big bricks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Capping bricks are generally used to top off freestanding brick walls and give a bit more visual design appeal.

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Acrylic Glass
Youtube via TAP plastics
What is this light-weight "glass" made out of?
Acrylic
Stone
Wood
Cement
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The most common trade name for acrylic glass is Plexiglass. This is a very common building material that can be used in a great variety of building projects.

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Fiberglass
Wiki Commons by Baechler, Adams, Hefty, Gilbride, Love
This is one of the most common types of wall insulation. What is it made out of?
Fiberglass
Blue jeans
Cotton
Wool
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fiberglass insulation is also known as glass wool. It is one of the most common types of home insulation.

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Pine
Wiki Commons by K. Murray
What type of wood is this?
Oak
Cedar
Beech
Pine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pine is a soft wood and is easily recognized by its white or yellow coloring.

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Vinyl
Wiki Commons by Peter Rockwood
This siding is a big seller because of how durable it is and how easy it is to clean. What is it made of?
Wood
Ceramic
Vinyl
Brick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Vinyl siding has been incredibly popular for some time. It is especially good to have in areas that experience a lot of harsh weather conditions.

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PLaster
Youtube via Skill Builder
This is mostly used to hide seams in drywall. What is it?
Paint
Plaster
Drywall
Concrete
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While plaster has many uses, when it comes to building construction, it is generally used to coat walls and ceilings and hide seams where two pieces of drywall meet.

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Stucco
Wiki commons by Dante Alighieri
This material has a lot of different applications, but it's mostly found as siding for Southwestern homes.
Vinyl
Stucco
Ceramic
Terra cotta
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stucco is generally applied wet. When it dries, it hardens and becomes very solid.

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Carbon Fiber
Wiki Commons by Brett Jordan
This material is five times stronger than steel. What is it?
Plastic
Carbon fiber
PVC
Reinforced steel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Carbon fiber is stronger than steel, and more flexible.

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Hex Bolt
Wiki Commons by Obviously
What would you call this?
Hex bolt
Fat screw
Wood screw
Foundation screw
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hex bolts are very strong. They can fasten steel, wood, and other materials for large construction projects.

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Terra Cotta
Wiki Commons by Dschag
These tiles are great for roofing because they insulate well. What are they made out of?
Cement
Terra cotta
Stucco
Cedar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Terra cotta is a strong earthenware material. It makes a great natural insulator.

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Ceramic
rkit / Pixabay
These tiles are tough and have to be applied with grout. Which material are they made out of?
Ceramic
Wood
Vinyl
Brick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ceramic tiles can be used for much more than flooring. A new trend is ceramic tile countertops.

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Finishing Nail
Youtube via HomeRemodelWorkshop
What would you call this?
Finishing nail
Threadless nail
Headless nail
Spike
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Finishing nails are used in molding projects or other situations in which you might want to hide the head of the nail.

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Tacks
Youtube via CustomAddics
These incredibly short nails are normally used for fixing floors. What are they called?
Files
Fillibusters
Swallows
Tacks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tack nails can be spotted from their tiny stature. They are also used for stretching fabrics.

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Greenboard
Youtube via ehowathomechannel
This type of drywall is best known for its moisture resistance. What is it called?
Green board
Sheet rock
Blue board
Paperless
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Green board drywall is generally used in the construction of bathrooms and other areas prone to moisture. While it is moisture resistant, it is not waterproof.

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Brick Veneer
tykejones / Pixabay
What do you call these thin bricks?
Brick veneer
Fake brick
Lime
Clappers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Brick veneers are a less expensive way to give your home or project a brick exterior.

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Kevlar
Wiki Commons by Membeth
This isn't just for bulletproof vests. What is this material?
Kevlar
Steel
Nylon
Plexiglass
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kevlar is also used in construction. What makes it appealing to builders is that it isn't as rigid as steel.

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Masonry Nails
Youtube via Ask the Builder
These nails can be used in wood, stone or brick. What are they called?
Almond nails
Wood nails
Multifunction nails
Masonry nails
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Masonry nails can be used in materials like concrete, stone, and brick. They are preferred for a lot of building jobs because they are so strong.

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flathead
Wiki Commons by Kenfeisel
What do you call this common screw?
Flat head screw
Raised head screw
Pan head screw
Wall screw
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Flathead screws are often used in carpentry and home repair projects.

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Cotton Batts
Youtube via MenardsCommercials
This type of insulation is great for sound-proofing rooms. What is it called?
Rolled out
Sound proof
Cotton batting
Plexiglass
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Some cotton batting is made from recycled blue jean material; this is known as denim insulation.

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Oak
rottonara / Pixabay
This incredibly strong wood is generally used in beams and framing. What kind of wood is it?
Pine
Oak
Cedar
Redwood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oak is a high-quality wood that can be used to build pretty much anything. However, it takes about 150 years for an oak tree to be mature enough to turn into lumber.

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Cedar
Wiki Commons by nmai.si.eu
This wood is great for outdoor projects. What is it?
Pine
Redwood
Cedar
Birch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cedar works well for projects that will end up outdoors because it can resist rotting. You can spot it from its red tint.

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Common Burnt Clay Brick
Wiki Commons by Lowes
You may recognize this as a brick, but what kind of brick is it?
Sand lime brick
Concrete brick
Engineering brick
Common burnt clay brick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Common burnt clay bricks are used in a variety of building projects. They are made by being pressed into molds and fired in kilns.

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Acrylic Latex
Youtube via essortment
What kind of caulk is this?
Silicone
Butyl rubber
Acrylic latex
Sand
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is the most common kind of caulk. It is great for sealing molding and windows.

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Spiral Flooring Nail
Youtube via ehowathomechannel
What are these unique fasteners?
Spiral flooring nails
Spiral flooring screws
Spiral fasteners
Twisters
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While not used as much anymore, these nails were once the most common flooring nail used.

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Button Head Screw
Youtube via Tibor Vojtkó
This screw is used for light-duty projects. What do you call it?
Raised head screw
Fillister head screw
Button head screw
Socket head screw
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The button head screw is a light-duty fastener. It shouldn't be used in constructions that will need to withstand a lot of force.

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Fibre Cement
Wiki Commons by HelenOnline
These panels are used mainly for roofing and facade products. What is it?
Sheet rock
Adobe panels
Vinyl siding
Fiber cement
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fiber cement is known for its strength and durability. It's commonly used for siding in buildings.

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Engineering Bricks
Youtube via Rudridge1
Which type of brick has three holes?
Common burnt clay bricks
Engineering bricks
Concrete bricks
Sand lime bricks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The blue color in engineering bricks comes from the type of clay used and their being fired at high temperatures.

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Balsa
Wiki Commons by Joseph Francis
This type of wood is strong and lightweight. What is it called?
Balsa
Pine
Oak
Cherry
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Balsa wood is generally used in decorative building and model work.

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Cherry
Youtube via St. Luke Lutheran Church
Many carpenters like to use this wood on finishes, because it ages well. What kind of wood is it?
Cherry
Pine
Alpine
Oak
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cherry wood is notoriously easy to work with. It's a common wood for natural hardwood flooring.

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ST2
Youtube via Odell Complete Concrete
This is the best concrete for foundations. What is it?
ST2
Foundation mud
Rock solid
Seamless concrete
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Building a foundation takes the right materials. After all, the foundation sets the rest the building.

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Sand-Lime
anaterate / Pixabay
These bricks can provide both sound and thermal insulation. What kind of bricks are they?
Clay
Concrete
Mud
Sand-lime
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sand-lime bricks are popular in the United States and Germany. They are a less expensive substitute for cement.

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Truss Head
Wiki Commons by SecretDisc
What kind of screw is this?
Flat head
Pan head
Truss head
Button head
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The purpose of this screw is to create fastening support with minimal surface obstruction.

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Paperless
Youtube via Luis Imery
This drywall has a resistance to mold and mildew. What is it?
Green board
Paperless
Blue board
Double paper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This drywall is covered in fiberglass to help protect its gypsum core, which is water resistant.

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You Got:
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Morsa Images / E+ / Getty Images