BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 5

VAL JOENICK PALCUTO

FLOOR FINISHES
Floor Finishes

• Flooring includes a variety of materials that are used to permanently cover a floor.
There are three main categories of flooring products-

• Commercial-designed for educational, health care, retail, light industrial, office and
other commercial settings. Product includes wear-resistant carpets, laminate flooring,
ceramic tile.

• Residential-designed for bathroom, bedroom, dining room, family room, foyer, home
offices, kitchens and living room. Products include ceramic tile, laminates, granite and
wood floors.

• Industrial-designed for kitchen for factories, garages, warehouse, etc. Products

include, vinyl tiles, ceramic tiles, granite.
• Before construction the flooring, levelling should be done and marking should be done
on wall at 30 cm above from required level. For this purpose spirit level or mercury level
should be used. For better accuracy, water level used by mason (mistry), should not be
used. Due to more length of pipe and friction inside the pipe, results are not accurate.
One should use long wooden patty while making floors so that floors surface can be flat.

• In some place concrete is used before flooring. This concrete in know as subgrade. The
places where flooring is done directly on soil, surface should be rammed with the help of
wooden hammer, so that the surface should not be settled down. If concrete is used
after 24 hours, cement slurry ( 2 kg cement per square meter) should be laid and then
flooring is done. If this concreting is done on ground it is known as base concrete. If it is
done on RCC slab, it is know as kusson of size 100 mm and 40 mm respectively.
DIFFERENT TYPES
OF
FLOOR FINISHES
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLOOR FINISHES

1. CONCRETE SURFACE FINISHES 2. GRANOLITHIC FINISH

4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES

3. TILE FINISHES 5. WOOD FLOOR FINISHES

1. CONCRETE SURFACE FINISHES 3. TILE FINISHES

1.01 Stucco or Cement Plaster 3.01 Cement Tile

1.02 Rubbed Finish 3.02 Ceramic Tile

1.03 Brushed Finish

4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES
1.04 Tooled Finish
4.01 Asphalt Tile/Sheet
1.05 Sand-blast Finish
4.02 Vinyl Tile/Sheet

1.06 Exposed Aggregate Finish 4.03 Rubber Tile/Sheet

1.07 Wood Float Finish 4.04 Linoleum Sheet

1.08 Steel Trowelled

5. WOOD FLOOR FINISHES
1.09 Integral Colored- Cement Finish
5.01 Strip Flooring

2. GRANOLITHIC FINISH 5.02 Plank Flooring

2.01 Granolithic Finish 5.04 Parquet Tile Floor

2.02 Terrazo Finish

1. CONCRETE SURFACE FINISHES
1.01 STUCCO OR CEMENT PLASTER FINISH
Stucco is a mortar consisting of cement, sand and water. Hydrated lime is often added to
make the mortar easier to work. It is applied in three coats:
• scratch and brown coats are mixed in the proportion of
1 part Portland cement to 3 parts of sand, with about
10lbs. of hydrated lime.
• The finish coat is usually richer in the proportion of
1 part of Portland cement to 2 parts of sand.
• Coarse sand is used for the base coats and fine sand
for the finish coat.

Before applying for the stucco or cement plaster, the concrete (or masonry) surface should
be roughened to ensure good bonding.

Old concrete surfaces are roughened with a bush hammer or small pick, and then washed
thoroughly with acid and water to remove all dirt and loose particles.

New concrete can be roughened with a heavy wire brush or a special scoring tool.
1. CONCRETE SURFACE FINISHES
1.02 RUBBED FINISH
This consist of grinding down the surface of the concrete a day or two after
it is poured, using a brick of carborundum, emery or soft natural stone.

With the rubbing, which is done with a circular motion, a thin grout of
cement and sand is applied to the surface and well rubbed in to fill surface
imperfections, and the work afterward washed down with clean water.

If fine sand is used instead of a grout, the method is called a sand-float

finish .
1. CONCRETE SURFACE FINISHES

1.03 BRUSHED FINISH

This type of finished is obtained by scrubbing or brushing the concrete

surface with fiber or wire brushes and water to remove the surface film or
mortar, leaving the coarse aggregate exposed.

This should be done while the concrete surface is still green and just as soon
as it is possible to do so without removing particles of the aggregate.

The appearance of a brushed finish can be improved by washing with a diluted

solution of acid applied with a brush. The acid thoroughly cleans the surface
of the aggregate, thereby intensifying the color and texture of the same.

The surface should be thoroughly washed after the acid treatment as

otherwise it will have a mottled, streaky appearance.
1. CONCRETE SURFACE FINISHES
1.04 TOOLED FINISH
Concrete surfaces may be finished by tooling by any of the methods
employed for dressing or finishing natural stone.

Bush hammering, either by hand or by pneumatic tool, is the most popular

method used in tooling concrete surfaces. The best results are obtained on
surfaces which are thoroughly hard.

The concrete should preferably be about 2 months old.

Only small-sized aggregate should be used in the facing material, as it is

hard to dress and obtain uniform results where large angular stones are
encountered.

Tooling cannot ordinarily be performed satisfactorily on gravel concrete, as

the pebbles will be dislodged before being chipped.
1. CONCRETE SURFACE FINISHES
1.05 SAND-BLAST FINISH

A sand-blast finish is very much the same in appearance as that obtained

by brushing the concrete while it is still green.

Sand blasting produces a granulated finish somewhat similar to sandstone

but not so uniform, because the aggregates are likely to be brought out
irregularly.
The concrete should be thoroughly hardened before sand-blasting.
1. CONCRETE SURFACE FINISHES

1.06 EXPOSED AGGREGATE FINISH

The color is obtained from exposed aggregate and not by

adding coloring material to the mixture.

Facing mortar of I part Portland cement, 1-1/2 parts sand,

and 3 parts of special screenings or pebbles of the desired
color shall be placed against the forms to a thickness of
about 1 inch sufficiently in advance of the body concrete
to prevent the latter from coming into contact with the
forms.

Such colored or other special aggregate used for finish

shall be exposed by scrubbing as in 1.03.
1. CONCRETE SURFACE FINISHES
1.08 STEEL TROWELLED FINISH
After the concrete aggregate is forced below the
surface, the surface is leveled with a straight wood
screed, and given a wood float finish. Before the
concrete finally sets, the entire surface is steel-
trowelled

1. CONCRETE SURFACE FINISHES

1.09 INTEGRAL COLORED-CEMENT FINISH

When the concrete is still green but surface water

is gone, the surface is leveled with a straight wood
screed. Then a finish coat of 1:3 mortar is applied.
This finish coat is leveled with a wood screed, given
a wood float finish and then steel-trowelled
2. GRANOLITHIC and TERRAZO FLOOR FINISHES
2.01 GRANOLITHIC FINISH

This consists of a topping with a mixture of 1

part cement, 1 part sand and 1 part finely crushed
stone. It is called granolithic because fine
aggregate chips were originally used in the
aggregate.

Finely ground corundum may also be a part of the

aggregate to produce an enduring and non-slip
surface .
2. GRANOLITHIC and TERRAZO FLOOR FINISHES

2.02 TERRAZO FINISH

Terrazzo is a mixture of cement, marble chip

aggregates and water laid as a topping or as a wall
finish, and ground to a fine, smooth surface.

It is used for floor and bases where durability,

resistance to wear, and minimal maintenance are
necessary. It is available either in precast form e.g.
tile, or cast-in-place form, with either a smoothly
polished or non-slip surface.

For non-slip surfaces, abrasive granules are added to

the mixture.
2. GRANOLITHIC and TERRAZO FLOOR FINISHES
2.02 TERRAZO FINISH
The terrazzo topping shall consist of 200 lbs. of marble chip
aggregate to 1 bag (94 lb.) of cement. The matrix may either be
white or gray Portland cement as desired.

For non-slip heavy duty floors the mixture shall consist of 150
lbs. of marble chip aggregate and 50 lbs. of abrasive granules to
one bag of cement.

Common specifications require that 70% of the marble aggregate

for terrazzo topping must show;
- for heavy-duty non-slip topping a proportion of three
marble granules to one abrasive must show ; and
- for light-duty non-slip topping, where the abrasive is
sprinkled on the finish, a proportion of four marble to
one abrasive granule must show.

Minimum thickness of terrazzo topping is 5/8”.

3. TILE FINISHES
3.01 CEMENT TILE FINISH
Cement tile is manufactured by pressing in moulds a
plastic mixture of cement and sand. Surface color of the
tile is achieved by the addition of mineral oxide colors.
Thickness of cement tile is 25mm (1”).

Common sizes are squares 200mm x 200mm (8”x8”),

300mm x 300mm (12”x12”), and 400mm x 400mm
(16”x16”).

When installing cement tile, the top of the base slab shall
be left 50mm (2”) below the finish floor.

The tiles shall be thoroughly soaked in water before

laying on a setting bed of cement mortar (1 part of
Portland cement to three parts of sand).
3. TILE FINISHES
3.02 CERAMIC TILE FINISH

Ceramic tile are small surfacing units made from clay

or mixture of clay with other ceramic materials and
fired according various processes.

Tiles differ principally in:

(1) composition of the body
(2) surface finish, that is, glazed or unglazed
(3) process of manufacture; and
(4) the degree of vitrification or fusion of the tile
body after firing, as indicated by the extent to
which it absorbs moisture
3. TILE FINISHES
3.02 CERAMIC TILE FINISH

Composition:
Tiles are made of compounded and of natural clay bodies. Those made of
compound bodies contain three principal constituents:
• the plastic, usually clays having high bonding power
and some fluxing ability
• the filler which reduces shrinkage in drying and firing
and imparts to the body a certain rigidity which
prevents deformation under heat, e.g. flint or finely
pulverized silica, kaolin, tale; and
• the flux or solvent which melts under intense heat
and fuses the heat resisting elements into a solid
mass.
The most widely used flux in floor and wall tiles is the
minimal feldspar.
3. TILE FINISHES
3.02 CERAMIC TILE FINISH

Finish:

Unglazed tiles are composed of the same ingredients

throughout and derive their color and texture from the
materials of which the body is made.

Glazed tiles have a glassy surface of ceramic materials

fused upon their face to give them a decorative
appearance and to make the surface impervious to
moisture.
3. TILE FINISHES

3.02 CERAMIC TILE FINISH

Glazes are produced in a large variety of colors, ranging from pure white to jet
black. Glaze finishes are of two general classes in their light reflecting qualities:
1. bright glazes, which have a highly polished surface
and reflect an image clearly; and
2. matte glazes, or those which do not clearly reflect an
image or are entirely without sheen.

All degrees of semilustrous or satinlike finish may be produced between the two
extremes of reflection and nonreflection.

In addition, glazes may have:

• Plain
• textured
• polychrome
• mottled
• stippled or
• rippled surface
3. TILE FINISHES
3.02 CERAMIC TILE FINISH

Manufacture:
1.Dust-press Process. Dust-pressed tiles are shaped in steel dies by
applying heavy pressure to the damp ceramic mix while it is in finely
pulverized form. The dust-press method of production gives greater
mechanical precision and a more regular appearance to the tiles than
other methods.
2.Plastic Process. Plastic-made tiles are shaped from clay rendered
plastic by mixing with sufficient water. They are made either by hand
molding or by extrusion from an auger-machine. When shaped by
machine, the extruded ribbon of clay is cut into the desired sizes as it
emerges from the die. Most types of tile made by the plastic method
vary slightly from the true geometric forms and therefore have a more
hand-made appearance than to dust-presseded tiles.
3. TILE FINISHES
3.02 CERAMIC TILE FINISH
Vitrification:
Vitrification is a measure of the tile’s density and relative absorption which depends partly
on the tile’s composition and partly on the degree of burning. There are four degrees of
vitrification:

•Nonvitreous tiles have a degree of density that permits

moisture absorption of more than 7% of the weight of
the tile but does not prevent the tile from having a high
degree of strength.
• Semivitreous tiles have a degree of density that limits
moisture absorption to from 3 to 7% of the weight of
the tile.
• Vitreous tiles have a moisture absorption of less than
3% and a body density which prevents any penetration
of dirt that cannot be easily removed.
• Impervious tiles are the hardest. Their moisture
absorption is negligible and they are readily cleansed
of stains and dirt.
3. TILE FINISHES

3.02 CERAMIC TILE FINISH

Types of Ceramic Tiles:

a. Glazed interior tiles
are non-vitreous product made by the dust-press-process .
3. TILE FINISHES
3.02 CERAMIC TILE FINISH

b. Ceramic Mosaic Tiles

are tiles less than 6 sq. in. in facial area,
preponderantly unglazed, and having fully
vitrified or fairly dense bodies.

To facilitate installation, ceramic mosaic

tiles are usually mounted at the factory
on sheets of paper about 2 sq. ft. in area,
individual tile units
being spaced so as to allow for the
insertion of cement between them when
the paper is removed and the face of the
tiles is exposed .
3. TILE FINISHES

3.02 CERAMIC TILE FINISH

3.Quarry tiles
are unglazed floor tiles made from natural clays or shales by the plastic
method. They are a very durable flooring material, being impervious to
moisture, stains and dirt, and are resistant to abrasion .
4.Pavers
are standard size unglazed tiles resembling ceramic mosaic tiles in
composition and physical characteristics but usually having facial area of 6
sq. in. or more. Because of their greater size, which usually ranges from
3”x3” to 6”x6”, these tiles are generally not pasted onto paper but are laid
out individually. When by the plastic method, it is either vitreous and
semivitreous; dust-pressed pavers are either impervious or vitreous. All
pavers are weatherproof and are especially suitable for heavy floor
service .
4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES

4.01 ASPHALT TILE & SHEET FINISH

Resilient flooring is manufactured as tile or sheet

including:
• Asphalt
• vinyl
• rubber
• linoleum, and
• cork.

Vinyl, linoleum and rubber flooring are available also in

sheet form .
4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES

4.01 ASPHALT TILE & SHEET FINISH

This consists of thoroughly bonded composition of thermoplastic binder

(asphaltic type for standard asphalt tile and resinous for greaseproof
asphalt tile), asbestos and other fibers, inert filler materials (various
stone dust, diatomite, mica, etc.) and inert color pigments, formed
under pressure while hot and cut to size.

Asphalt tile is usually made in 9” squares and less commonly in 12”

squares.

Rectangular borders18”x24” are made in a limited variety of colors and

patterns. Usual thickness are 1/8” and 3/16”.
4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES

4.01 ASPHALT TILE & SHEET FINISH

Asphalt tile may be installed on any smooth concrete subfloor above or below grade
and on any wood subfloor with sufficient strength so that no deflection can occur.

In either case there should be no dampness:

- It should not be used out-of-doors or for interiors
subject to strong direct sunlight;
- on concrete floors where dampness or hydrostatic
pressure exists;
- on any under floor that is not smooth, even and clean
(as the flooring will reveal exactly the contours of the
under flooring surface);
- in many areas where water may be constantly
splashed on the floor, e.g. shower rooms and toilet
rooms; and
- in areas where grease can accumulate unless
greaseproof asphalt tile is used.
4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES
4.02 VINYL TILE & SHEET FINISH
Vinyl resilient flooring materials are divided into three major types:
a. solid vinyl
b. vinyl and asbestos combined
c. a thin vinyl layer applied to other types of resilient
flooring materials .

Tiles:
Vinyl tiles (all vinyl) are made into the ff. thicknesses:
- 1.5mm
- 2.0mm
- 2.5mm and
- 3mm
in squares 300mm x 300mm

Sheet:
in rolls 2.0mm and 2.5mm thick x 1.80m (6’) wide and in 50m lengths. The thicker sheet is used in
areas where heavy traffic will be encountered.
4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES

4.02 VINYL TILE & SHEET FINISH

Vinyl flooring is recommended where a colorful, textured,

tough, durable, easily maintained, grease-resistant type of
finish flooring is required for areas of both light and
heavy human traffic.

It may be used for above-grade, on-grade and below-grade

floors.

Vinyl flooring should not be used:

- for exterior floor surfaces
- in areas where specific chemicals that attack vinyl
are used
4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES

4.03 RUBBER TILE & SHEET FINISH

Tiles:
Rubber floor tiles are as a rule made of neutral rubber for greatest resilience.

Sizes, thicknesses, as well as methods of application and precautions to follow in installation,

are much the same as for vinyl floor tiles

Sheet:
Rubber sheet flooring is manufactured in rolls 3’ wide, in thicknesses of 3/32”, 1/8” and
3/16”, with 3/32” most commonly used in home installations. Rubber sheet flooring is applied
according to the general rules given for linoleum.
4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES

4.03 RUBBER TILE & SHEET FINISH

Advantages of rubber flooring are:
- It is the quietest floor possible with the exception of
thick cork tile;
- its color are more brilliant than those of other types.

Rubber flooring, however, is not as resistant to soap, oil and many household solvents,
as vinyl and linoleum
4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES
4.04 LINOLEUM TILE & SHEET FINISH
Linoleum is resilient, waterproof floor covering that consists of a backing covered
with a relatively thick layer of wearing surface. This wearing surface is a mixture
that contains oxidized linseed oil processed in a special way, combined with wood
or cork flour, various fillers, stone dust, whiting, diatomite), resins binders,
driers and inert color pigments.
4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES

4.04 LINOLEUM TILE & SHEET FINISH

Linoleum can be divided into five classifications:

- plain
- marbled
- spatter
- straight-line inlaid, &
- molded inlaid.
It is available in three gauges:
- service (1/16”)
- standard (3/32”), and
- heavy (1/8”).
It comes in rolls 2’ and 6’ wide and up to 30 ft. in
`
length, and in 9”x9” tiles for plain and marbled
4. RESILIENT FLOOR FINISHES
4.04 LINOLEUM TILE & SHEET FINISH
Linoleum is recommended in areas:
- where a resilient, durable, colorful, greaseproof,
waterproof type of flooring is needed;
- where there is spillage of water such as baths and
toilet rooms;
- where there is spillage of grease, fruit juices, etc.
such as kitchens, cafeterias; for countertops and
desk tops where heavy wear, grease and cooking
spillage occur.

It should not be used:

- on concrete slabs below grade and subflooring
where dampness can penetrate from below;
- for exteriors;
- where any strong alkalis and acids may be present.
5. WOOD FLOOR FINISHES
5.01 STRIP FLOORING
Strip flooring is often laid over a concrete slab subfloor, nailed to 2x3 or 2x4
sleepers or screeds embedded or anchored to the concrete floor.

The sleepers should be treated with a suitable wood preservative.

The space between the finish floor and the top of the concrete slab is filled with
cinder concrete or other damp-proof composition fill

In laying strip flooring, the strips are started square with the room against a wall.
The first strip is placed with the grooved edge towards the wall and shall be face-
nailed as close to the wall as possible so that the baseboard will conceal the nailing.
All succeeding strips are blind-nailed. The strips should be laid in such a manner that
joints in successive courses do not come together.
5. WOOD FLOOR FINISHES

5.02 PLANK FLOORING

This type of flooring consists of square-edged

boards 8” or more in width as are commonly found
in old Spanish- period houses.

Plank flooring is usually faced-nailed.

5. WOOD FLOOR FINISHES

5.03 PARQUET TILE FLOORING

Also called block flooring, consists of square
pieces or blocks which have been built up in
several layers like plywood and having a veneered
surface, or consists of several parquet strips
assembled at the factory to form a tile.

This type of flooring may also be nailed to a wood

subfloor or set in mastic to a concrete subfloor.

For wooden subfloors, lumber must be properly

kiln-dried (or use 12mm or 19mm plywood). An
11mm depression below the finish floor level is
necessary for 10mm thick parquet tile flooring.
5. WOOD FLOOR FINISHES

5.03 PARQUET TILE FLOORING

Concrete subfloors must be level and flat.

Freshly poured concrete should be allowed to cure for

at least two weeks before laying parquet.

Slab construction must be such that it will stay dry.

For concrete subfloors directly over fill, the base of

the surrounding slab should be above ground level
and/or finish grade. It is desirable that the slab be
constructed with a vapor-moisture barrier (see
PLASTICS).

Asphalt-type underlayment, felt paper, should not be

used.
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