Types of Flooring Materials and Applications in Building

Construction

Following are the different types of flooring materials generally used in

building

 construction works:

 Cement or lime concrete

 Bricks

 Flagstones

 Marble

 Glass

 Ceramic

 Plastic

 Mud and murram

 Wood

 Cork

 Linoleum

 Asphalt

 Rubber
Cement Concrete Flooring Material in Buildings

Concrete is most commonly used flooring material. It is suitable for any type of
construction and is cheaper than others and durable. Cement Concrete mix of
1:3:6 to 1:5:10 or lime concrete with 40% 1:2 lime sand mortar and 60% coarse
aggregate is used as base course. After hardening, 1:2:4 cement concrete mix
with 40 mm thick layer is laid as topping. In industrial buildings, granolithic
finish is provided to obtain hard wearing surface. Granolithic finish can be
obtained from rich concrete with tough quality coarse aggregate mix

Bricks Flooring Material in Buildings

Bricks can also be used for flooring purposes, but they are not suitable floor
materials for residential or public buildings. Brick floorings are generally used
in unimportant rooms, god owns, etc. For this well burnt bricks are preferable
and bricks should be in uniform size and have same colour.
Flagstones Flooring Material in Buildings

Flagstone is a type of sedimentary rock which is obtained by splitting along bed

planes. It consists silica, calcite and iron oxide. Flag stone is used to
manufacture tiles of different sizes in different shapes.

Marble Flooring Material in Buildings

Marble is a type of metamorphic rock and is used widely for floorings in

commercial buildings, kitchens, bathrooms etc. they are stain proof and easily
cleanable. Hence, they are used where extra cleanliness is required especially
in bathrooms. They are also available in different colors and designs.
Glass Flooring Material in Buildings

Glass is used as flooring material for special conditions like to transmit light
from upper floor to lower floor etc. They are available in tiles which are fixed in
closely spaced frames. Even though it is very costly it provides beautiful
appearance.

Ceramic Flooring Material in Buildings

Ceramic tiles are famous floor covering materials. Ceramic is inorganic material
and it possess properties like good compressive resistance, brittleness and
hardness etc.

Plastic Flooring Material in Buildings

Plastic tiles or poly vinyl chloride (PVC) tiles are widely used nowadays which
are laid on concrete base. These tiles are available in different shapes, sizes
and colors. Plastic tiles are of slippery nature and can get easily,

Mud and Murram Flooring

Mud is nothing but moist earth which is being used as flooring material in since
olden days. It has good thermal insulation property. Chopped straw is added to
mud to prevent it from the cracking. Sometimes cow dung is also used in this
mixture.
 Fig: Mud Flooring
Murram is also direct nature product which is obtained from the disintegration
of rock. It also has similar properties like mud. It is also be used as flooring
material like mud.

Wood Flooring Material

Wood or timber is one of the most common method of flooring. It is preferred

when the timber is cheaply available, such as in hilly areas. Timber blocks or
timber bards are provided as flooring covers. Wooden floors are most suitable
for dance floors, auditoriums etc. Damp proof course below the flooring is
necessary for wooden floors.

Fig: Wooden Flooring

Cork Flooring
Cork is obtained from the cork oak tree. It is used as flooring material in the
form of carpets. These carpets are noiseless and are required mainly in
libraries, theatres ete. Cork tiles are also available which are made from high
graded cork bar using compression in mouldings

Linoleum Flooring

Linoleum is the product obtained by oxidizing linseed oil in gum, resins,

pigments, cork dust etc. It is available in sheets which is generally used as
covering for concrete or wooden flooring. The sheets may be plain or design
printed.

Fig: Linoleum Flooring in Buildings

Asphalt Flooring Material

Asphalt is highly viscous liquid form of petroleum Asphalt is used as flooring

material in different ways. If asphalt and smd are mixed in 1:2 proportion then
it is called asphalt mastic which is poured on concrete base as flooring cover. If
sand is replaced by marble chips then it is called as asphalt mosaic. Asphalt
tiles are also available which are prepared from the asphalt fibers, inert
materials and mineral pigments.

Rubber Flooring Material

Rubber tiles or sheets are also available in market for flooring purposes. They
are made from pure rubber which is mixed with cotton fibers, asbestos fiber.
Suitable adhesives are used to fix the rubber tiles with concrete or wooden
base. Rubber flooring is noiseless and provided in libraries, offices etc.

Fig: Rubber Flooring Tiles

Factors Affecting Selection of Flooring Material

The selection of flooring material is done based on the following factors:

 Initial cost

 Durability

 Hardness

 Smoothness

 Cleanliness

 Appearance

 Sound insulation
  Thermal insulation

 Damp proof

 Fire resistance

 Maintenance

Roofing Materials Commonly Used in Buildings

A roof system consists of various types of materials that are interconnected in

order to provide weatherproof protection in buildings. In addition to being
waterproof, roofs help protect buildings from the sun, rain, snow, and other
elements.

Roofing materials vary depending on the shape of the roof, location and
climate, and whether the use is for residential or commercial. Asphalt shingles
are popular for residential use as they are fairly inexpensive and have a good
lifespan. In commercial construction where flat roofs are more common,
metal, EPDM, and built-up roofs are extensively used.

A wide variety of roof coverings exist today, each with its own advantages
depending on the use. The most common roofing materials available include
asphalt, wood, metal, clay, cement and slate, glass and plastic, and plastic
liquid coatings.
Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are die-cut from heavy sheets of asphalt-impregnated felt

faced with mineral granules that act a wearing layer and decorative finish.
The most common type of asphalt shingle, used predominantly in residential
roof construction through the United States, is 12 inches by 36 inches (305 mm
by 914 mm) in size.
Wood Shingles

Wood shingles are made from decay-resistant wood species such as red cedar,
cypress, redwood, etc. They are available in a variety of grades and are either
machine-sawn or hand- split called shakes.

Wood shingles are applied both to roofs and walls over solid or spaced
sheathing and fastened with aluminum or galvanized nails. The shingles are
tapered in thickness, with the thickness of the butt (the thick end) expressed as
the number of shingles required to produce a total thickness.
Wood shingles are typically installed on roofs with a slope of 4:12 or greater. In
order to prevent cupping or rotating, they should be applied in a manner that
allows for underside ventilation.

A weather barrier and sheathing layer is typically used underneath the wood
shingles or shakes for added protection from the elements. In regions where
snow is common, a solid sheathing and additional weather barrier is used.

A self-sealing peel-and-stick modified bituminous membrane is often used at

the eaves valley, rake, and other detail areas. While a modified bituminous
weather barrier is sometimes used, it should be avoided in a continuous
application where the weather barrier needs to breathe.

Metal Roofs

Metal roofs are commonly used on flat roofs but can also be used on roofs
with a pitch of 3:12 or greater. If used on flat roofs they are commonly either
soldered or welded, while on pitched roofs they are attached with either nails
or screws of the same metal.

Metal roofing materials include galvanized iron, copper, aluminum, and terne
plate (steel coated with lead and tin). Also used, but less common, are lead,
zinc, and stainless steel.
In order to allow for movement, various installation details exist. These include
the standing seam, batten seam, and flat-locked seam roofing systems.
Additionally, corrugated metal is designed to respond to thermal movement
better than sheet metal due to the shape of the panels.

When used on flat roofs, metal tiles are either soldered or welded. On roofs
with a pitch of 3:12 or greater, metal screws or nails are typically used.

Metal roofs are very durable and can last for many years. Additionally, they are
lightweight and easy to handle, quicker to install, and require fewer building
components.

Clay Tiles

Tile roofs, in general, tend to be heavy, very durable, fireproof, and relatively
expensive. They are always applied to sloping roofs, lapped over the
proceeding courses, and attached with nails.

Clay tiles typically come in three different profiles: flat, barrel, and S-shaped.
Barrel and S- shaped tiles are also commonly referred to as "mission tiles".
They are available in a wide range of earth colors, patterns, and can be glazed.
Clay tiles are manufactured from the same clays as bricks. Since they are
formed from natural materials, their color uniformity is dependent on the
uniformity of the raw clay.

When glazed, color consistency tends to be more uniform. Unglazed tiles

weather slightly over time. Glazed tiles are available in a larger selection of
colors including bright blues, greens, reds, and oranges.

Cement Tiles

Cement roofing tiles are manufactured from Portland cement and fine
aggregate. They tend to be less expensive than clay tiles and also come in a
variety of colors and shapes that resemble clay tiles.

Concrete tiles are formed by pressing them in molds under pressure. The
synthetic oxide compounds color their surface. Sometimes cement tiles are
painted, which tends to fade over time.
 Cement tiles tend to be more porous than clay. This makes them naturally less
strong and durable. However, cement tiles are typically sealed in order to
offset this. They usually need to be resealed again over time.