diff --git a/GsaGH/Helpers/Assembly/Properties/Materials.cs b/GsaGH/Helpers/Assembly/Properties/Materials.cs
index 4aa94279f..3eb1e1574 100644
--- a/GsaGH/Helpers/Assembly/Properties/Materials.cs
+++ b/GsaGH/Helpers/Assembly/Properties/Materials.cs
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ private void AddMaterial(GsaMaterial material, ref Prop2D prop2d) {
         int id = ConvertMaterial(material);
 
         // update API prop depending on std material type
-        if (material is GsaCustomMaterial) {
+        if (material.MaterialType == MatType.Custom) {
           prop2d.MaterialGradeProperty = 0;
           prop2d.MaterialAnalysisProperty = id;
         } else {
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ private void AddMaterial(GsaMaterial material, ref Prop3D prop3d) {
         int id = ConvertMaterial(material);
 
         // update API prop depending on std material type
-        if (material is GsaCustomMaterial) {
+        if (material.MaterialType == MatType.Custom) {
           prop3d.MaterialGradeProperty = 0;
           prop3d.MaterialAnalysisProperty = id;
         } else {
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ private void AddMaterial(GsaMaterial material, ref Section section) {
         int id = ConvertMaterial(material);
 
         // update API prop depending on std material type
-        if (material is GsaCustomMaterial) {
+        if (material.MaterialType == MatType.Custom) {
           section.MaterialGradeProperty = 0;
           section.MaterialAnalysisProperty = id;
         } else {
diff --git a/GsaGH/Parameters/0_Model/GsaMaterials.cs b/GsaGH/Parameters/0_Model/GsaMaterials.cs
index 018eefd08..8653afc4a 100644
--- a/GsaGH/Parameters/0_Model/GsaMaterials.cs
+++ b/GsaGH/Parameters/0_Model/GsaMaterials.cs
@@ -36,47 +36,45 @@ internal GsaMaterial GetMaterial(Prop3D property) {
     }
 
     private GsaMaterial GetMaterial(MaterialType type, int analysisProp, int gradeProp) {
-      int id = analysisProp;
-      if (id != 0) { // it is a custom material
-        if (AnalysisMaterials.ContainsKey(id)) {
-          return AnalysisMaterials[id];
+      if (analysisProp != 0) { // it is a custom material
+        if (AnalysisMaterials.ContainsKey(analysisProp)) {
+          return AnalysisMaterials[analysisProp];
         } else {
-          return new GsaReferencedMaterial(id, GsaMaterialFactory.GetMatType(type));
+          return new GsaReferencedMaterial(analysisProp, MatType.Custom);
         }
       }
 
-      id = gradeProp;
       switch (type) {
         case MaterialType.ALUMINIUM:
-          return AluminiumMaterials.TryGetValue(id, out GsaMaterial aluminium) ? aluminium
-            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(id, MatType.Aluminium);
+          return AluminiumMaterials.TryGetValue(gradeProp, out GsaMaterial aluminium) ? aluminium
+            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(gradeProp, MatType.Aluminium);
 
         case MaterialType.CONCRETE:
-          return ConcreteMaterials.TryGetValue(id, out GsaMaterial concrete) ? concrete
-            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(id, MatType.Concrete);
+          return ConcreteMaterials.TryGetValue(gradeProp, out GsaMaterial concrete) ? concrete
+            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(gradeProp, MatType.Concrete);
 
         case MaterialType.FABRIC:
-          return FabricMaterials.TryGetValue(id, out GsaMaterial fabric) ? fabric
-            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(id, MatType.Fabric);
+          return FabricMaterials.TryGetValue(gradeProp, out GsaMaterial fabric) ? fabric
+            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(gradeProp, MatType.Fabric);
 
         case MaterialType.FRP:
-          return FrpMaterials.TryGetValue(id, out GsaMaterial frp) ? frp
-            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(id, MatType.Frp);
+          return FrpMaterials.TryGetValue(gradeProp, out GsaMaterial frp) ? frp
+            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(gradeProp, MatType.Frp);
 
         case MaterialType.GLASS:
-          return GlassMaterials.TryGetValue(id, out GsaMaterial glass) ? glass
-            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(id, MatType.Glass);
+          return GlassMaterials.TryGetValue(gradeProp, out GsaMaterial glass) ? glass
+            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(gradeProp, MatType.Glass);
 
         case MaterialType.FIRST:
-          return SteelMaterials.TryGetValue(id, out GsaMaterial steel) ? steel 
-            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(id, MatType.Steel);
+          return SteelMaterials.TryGetValue(gradeProp, out GsaMaterial steel) ? steel 
+            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(gradeProp, MatType.Steel);
 
         case MaterialType.TIMBER:
-          return TimberMaterials.TryGetValue(id, out GsaMaterial timber) ? timber 
-            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(id, MatType.Timber);
+          return TimberMaterials.TryGetValue(gradeProp, out GsaMaterial timber) ? timber 
+            : new GsaReferencedMaterial(gradeProp, MatType.Timber);
 
         default:
-          return new GsaReferencedMaterial(id, GsaMaterialFactory.GetMatType(type));
+          return new GsaReferencedMaterial(gradeProp, GsaMaterialFactory.GetMatType(type));
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/GsaGH/Parameters/1_Properties/GsaReferencedMaterial.cs b/GsaGH/Parameters/1_Properties/GsaReferencedMaterial.cs
index 271aaec87..e2aea29b9 100644
--- a/GsaGH/Parameters/1_Properties/GsaReferencedMaterial.cs
+++ b/GsaGH/Parameters/1_Properties/GsaReferencedMaterial.cs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ internal GsaReferencedMaterial(int id, MatType type) {
     }
 
     public override string ToString() {
-      return $"Custom ID:{Id} (referenced)";
+      return $"{MaterialType} ID:{Id} (referenced)";
     }
   }
 }