Hardware and building materials: a list by stage of the build
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Hardware materials and building materials are two different groups of products. Market researcher Statista counts knobs, latches, fasteners and hinges as hardware, and cement, sand, plaster, glass and stone as building materials. Below is a list of both by stage of a house build.
In stock in Zanzibar
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Beige Porcelain Tile 1200x600 mm, Matt Anti-Slip R10
1200 × 600 mmR10Order on WhatsAppTZS 49,680pertile
K11 Polymer Cement Waterproof Coating (Two-Component)
18 kg/barrelOrder on WhatsAppTZS 155,000perbucket
What counts as hardware and what as building materials
The two words mean different things. Statista’s definition of the hardware and building materials market draws the line clearly. Hardware is the set of products used to install and repair doors, windows, floors and cabinets: knobs, levers, latches, fasteners and hinges. Building materials are the main products a building is made of, with granite, marble, limestone, plaster, cement, sand and glass as its examples.
The same source puts paint, tools, floor coverings and bathroom fittings into categories of their own. The lists below ignore those boundaries and follow the order of the work instead.
Building materials list by stage
Quantities depend on the drawings and the bill of quantities, so this list names the materials only.
| Stage | Main building materials |
|---|---|
| Setting out and foundation | cement, sand, aggregate (kokoto), hardcore, rebar (nondo), binding wire, formwork timber or boards, damp-proof membrane or damp-proof course |
| Walls | blocks or bricks, cement and sand for mortar, lintels, wall ties |
| Slabs, beams and columns | cement, sand, aggregate, rebar, binding wire, spacers or cover blocks, formwork and props |
| Roof | timber or steel trusses, roofing sheets (mabati) or tiles, ridge caps, roofing nails or screws, gutters and downpipes, insulation |
| Waterproofing and drainage | waterproof coatings or bitumen membranes, primer, drainage pipes, floor and roof drains |
| Plumbing and sanitary | pipes and fittings, valves, water tank, toilets, basins, taps |
| Electrical | conduit, cable, switches and sockets, distribution board, earth rod |
| Finishes | plaster, wall putty, paint, ceiling boards, floor and wall tiles, tile adhesive and grout, doors and windows |
Cement has its own page under cement types and grades, and the access frames used while walls and slabs go up under scaffolding.
Hardware materials list: fixings, fittings and sundries
The hardware side of the list, grouped by what each item does:
- Fixings: nails, screws, bolts, nuts and washers, wall plugs, anchors.
- Door and window hardware: hinges, locks, latches, handles and knobs, door stops, window stays.
- Wire and mesh: binding wire, chicken wire, welded mesh.
- Fittings for services: pipe fittings, clips and brackets, cable ties.
- Sundries: tapes, sealants, adhesives, sandpaper, brushes and rollers.
Each item comes in sizes and grades of its own, so the list is only complete once sizes are written next to it.
What Kitovu stocks from this list
Kitovu sells from stock in Zanzibar and covers only part of the list. Two items fit the stages above directly. For waterproofing, Kitovu has the K11 Polymer Cement Waterproof Coating (Two-Component) by JUYONS in 18 kg buckets; its data sheet names bathrooms, balconies, basements and swimming pools among its uses. For finishes, there is the Beige Porcelain Tile 1200 × 600 mm, Matt Anti-Slip R10. The block on this page shows these two and the APP Torch-On Waterproofing Membrane; the drainage, geotextile and sanitary items are on the full product list.