This paper considers the historical development and theoretical framework of local building materials (referred to in the study as Indigenous Building Materials IBM). Building materials constitute the single largest input in construction and so have a great influence on the total cost of any construction product. The high cost of construction has led to a call for means of incorporating these IBMs and so the need to consider the problems/limitations faced by users of the materials and the potential benefits to be derived. A questionnaire survey of construction industry professionals was undertaken. One hundred and sixty-five questionnaires were distributed, 110 were returned out of which 106 (representing 96% of the returned questionnaires) were used in the analysis.

The potential benefits to be derived from using IBMs include the provision of affordable housing and reduced cost of construction. Limitations in design forms, inadequate supply of some of the materials in usable forms and structural problems due to lack of knowledge about, and standards for IBMs were the most limiting problems of the use of the materials. The potential benefits associated with the use of indigenous building materials for building construction are yet to be fully explored; therefore it is recommended that outputs of previous research efforts be incorporated in efforts aimed at studying indigenous building materials in order to understand failings and innate characteristics IBMs with a view to offering solutions to some of the problems outlined in this report.