Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) Practice Exam

Which type of material is LEAST expensive per square foot when considering building envelopes?

1. Curtain wall

2. Masonry

3. Precast (tilt slab)

4. Brick

The correct answer is: Masonry

Masonry is often considered the least expensive material for building envelopes due to its favorable cost-to-performance ratio. When evaluating materials for building envelopes, masonry provides a good balance of structural integrity, durability, and thermal performance at a relatively low cost compared to other materials. In many cases, masonry can be constructed using local materials that may further reduce transportation costs, contributing to its overall affordability. Additionally, masonry construction can allow for faster building times, which can significantly impact overall project costs. While curtain walls, precast concrete, and brick are excellent materials with their own advantages, they generally carry higher material and labor costs. Curtain walls, for example, are often made of glass and metal, which can drive up expense due to material costs and the need for precise installation. Precast concrete, while efficient, generally incurs higher manufacturing and installation costs and may require specialized equipment. Brick, despite its aesthetic appeal and strength, is usually more expensive due to the cost of the material itself and the labor-intensive nature of its installation. Therefore, considering all these factors, masonry stands out as the most cost-effective choice for building envelopes in terms of material expenditure per square foot.