In reading number six “Building construction illustrated” chapters 5.25 ~ 12.14, we go over five different building elements. We review the terminology and functions for brick/CMU bonding, wood components, steel shapes reinforced Concrete and precast Concrete floor systems. Beginning with Masonry, Brick is extensively used for cladding on the building envelope. Structural clay tiles are used in areas of heavy wear, or places with lots of moisture. There are Different wall thicknesses and patterns that can be constructed. For example, “Wythe” is a continuous vertical section of a brick one unit in thickness. On the other hand, “course” is a continuous horizontal arrangement of bricks. A “stretcher” are bricks laid horizontally with the longer edge parallel to the surface. Mortar joints are mentioned as well, some examples of these joints are concave joints, v-joints, struck joints, and weathered joints. Brick is also used for cavity walls, which uses the running bond method. Standard brick walls can use either Flemish, Common or Stack for decorative purposes. Next building element is wood; Wood is classified as a renewable material that can be cut and shaped in order to satisfy the demand of a structural load. Lumber; which is simply wood that has been cut to a specific dimension is used as structural lumber, boards and timber. Each has its own strength and load requirements. loads must be evenly distributed with the use of a grid system that supports load bearing elements. Connections between wood pieces can be made by using steel plates, bolts, nails and much more. Steel beams on the other hand are much stronger and are forged instead of cut. Steel beams can be connected using angles, stiffer plates, and bolts. The strength of these connections depends the alignment between individual iron pieces and their size. Then we come across Reinforced concrete, which in most circumstances act as great load bearing columns. Concrete beams main function is to resist applied forces. Lastly precast concrete slabs and beams are used in helping to span units that may be supported by site cast concrete, steel, precast concrete frames. In chapter eight Ching speaks about masonry, and the fact that for the majority of human history masonry was the main material used in building technology, A lot of the foundation and facade were made by using the simplest of building techniques that required more skilled laborer’s than complicated equipment. Materials such as brick, stone, or concrete blocks were stacked in order to make walls and load bearing walls. The chapter also goes into depth about mortar mixes, the construction of brick masonry and its ingredients and components. It emphasizes that brick is the best material to build with when it comes to its fire resistant and color schemes. Bricks also are made with hollow cores to add grouting and reinforcing steel and was easily upgraded when insulation material was later introduced.