Natural radionuclide activity concentrations were measured in ceramic, gypsum, and brick samples from manufacturers, dealers, and construction sites in and around Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, using an HPGe detector. The study's main objectives were to assess the building material activity and health impacts. Average activity concentrations (Bq.kg-1) for 226Ra in ceramic, gypsum, and brick samples were obtained as 81.19 ± 1.88, 1.34 ± 0.17, and 39.83 ± 1.21, respectively. Respective values of 232Th were obtained as 166.12 ± 4.20, 0.68 ± 0.18, and 103.71 ± 3.29 and concentrations of 40K were found to be 755.06 ± 16.10,15.42 ± 1.97, and 921.22 ± 24.90, respectively. Some of the materials that were tested, especially the ceramic sample, had slightly higher concentrations of radionuclides. In all samples except ceramic, Raeq was < 370 Bq.kg-1, which is the recommended limiting dose for bulk medium. Furthermore, the corresponding radiological parameters, absorbed dose, annual effective dose equivalent, excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR), internal (Hin) and external (Hex) hazard indexes, gamma index (Iγ), and alpha index (Iα) were determined. The ELCR average values in this study are slightly higher than the global average, and the indoor and outdoor absorbed dose rates are greater than the limiting criteria of 84 and 59 nGyh-1. Therefore, especially for ceramic samples, it is important to assess their radiation potential and should be utilized in a controlled manner to decrease gamma exposure to inhabitants. Finally, the computed data could be used as a baseline to look at any radiological contamination caused by construction materials in the future.