The historical, the fun and the quirky facts about construction

This is Construct IQ, a dynamic portal to the weird, the unexpected, the ingenious, and the downright fascinating within the world of construction. This is the ultimate website for unusual, weird and fun facts about the building business. This is where we spotlight the history of construction and much more. Forget the predictable. This is where we crack open the curiosity cabinet and delve into the quirky, the cutting-edge and the mind-bending innovations that are reshaping construction.

Think outside the brick-and-mortar box. This is where you will find stories that illustrate the weird, the quirky and the fun facts and myths about construction. Imagine living walls that breathe and heal, homes conjured from pixels in a day, or underwater metropolises shimmering beneath the waves. We're talking mushrooms powering structures, AI predicting construction hiccups before they happen, and even robots waltzing on job sites. The only limit is your imagination. Welcome to Construct IQ - your place to explore unusual, quirky, historical and fun facts about construction and much more.

The strange nicknames for construction trades through history

Construction has always been a world with its own language. Walk onto a building site today and you’ll hear slang that outsiders struggle to decipher, from “sparkies” for electricians to “chippies”...

Buildings made of salt and why it’s possible

When we think of building materials, we tend to picture stone, timber, steel, concrete, or glass. Salt, on the other hand, conjures images of dinner tables and seaside breezes rather than walls,...

How Victorian engineers recycled old warships into building materials

The Victorian age is remembered as a period of invention, rapid industrial growth and bold engineering projects that changed Britain forever. Railways criss-crossed the country, docks expanded and...

Famous celebrities who once worked in construction

Believe it or not, before fame, fortune and international recognition, many celebrities lived lives that were far more ordinary. Some even spent their early years hauling bricks, swinging hammers, or...

The strange world record attempts in construction

Construction is usually about precision, safety, and long-term performance, but sometimes, the industry takes a playful turn. Over the years, builders, engineers and even communities have attempted...

Why Gargoyles were the original rainwater management systems

Gargoyles are purpose-built rainwater spouts - ingenious, sculpted drainpipes that kept torrents off fragile masonry long before gutters and downpipes existed. In the wet, wind-lashed climates where...

Ancient Babylon and the first-ever recorded building regulations

The first known building regulations in history dates back nearly 4,000 years to the city of Babylon, in Mesopotamia and it was recorded in what is now regarded as one of the most influential...

Why stonemasons were once considered a secret society

Walk past a medieval cathedral, a castle, or even a centuries-old town hall and you’re looking at the work of stonemasons - the master builders of the Middle Ages. These skilled craftsmen designed...

The unexpected life of a concrete truck driver

Concrete is the most used man-made material on the planet. Every major city, road, bridge, and housing development depends on a reliable supply. While architects, engineers and contractors often take...