FLOORING

▪ Provides a leveled surface capable of supporting applied live load like humans and
furniture and all quasi-permanent loads including partitions.

▪ Should possess adequate fire resistance, sound insulation, damp

resistance and thermal insulation etc. Along with adequate strength not to undergo any
subsequent settlement.

▪ The floor resting directly on the ground is known as ground floors. Other floors are
known as upper floors or storey floors.

▪ The upper floors have major problem of facing sound insulation. The fire resistance of
the upper floor is also a problem. Dampness and thermal insulation is a major problem
for ground floors. The problem of fire resistance for the ground floors is not major but
the problem for the upper floors are concernable. Similarly upper floors do not suffer
from dampness.
▪ Ground floors may or may not rest on slab and even it may be found directly on the
ground. But upper floors are on the floor slabs due to lack of foundation beneath the
floor. The upper floor slabs may rest on the walls or may lie on the beams and
columns.
FLOORING MATERIALS AND THEIR SELECTION
▪ Taking into account, the construction and finishing, the flooring materials
can be classified under two categories.
▪ Floor construction material: used for construction of floors
▪ Floor finish material: used as covering materials i.e., they cover the floor
surface after construction of floors.
Considering floor construction, following materials are used:
▪ Cement & Lime
▪ Stone
▪ Brick
▪ Wood
FACTORS GOVERN THE SELECTION OF FLOORING MATERIAL
▪ Initial cost: depends upon the extent of dampness, aesthetic and structural
requirement.
▪ Appearance: depends upon the aesthetic point of view mainly while structural design
contributes a little towards it. Floorings of mosaic, tile, terrazzo and marble satisfy
these criteria.
▪ Durability: depends upon the design life period of the building and type of use i.e.,
expected wear and tear, disintegration with time, temperature and moisture changes
and abrasion etc. Concrete, marble, tile and terrazzo flooring give good durability.
▪ Damp resistance: depends upon the geographical location of the area as well as type
of use. Also, it depends on the method of construction and surroundings of the
building. R.C.C floors give outstanding results in this consideration.
▪ Thermal insulation: depends on the type of use and geographical location. Also, type of
buildings like residential buildings require more thermal insulation than commercial
buildings. Rubber, cork, P.V.C, timber flooring satisfy this criteria.
▪ Fire resistance: another aspect of importance for all most all type of buildings
depends on the type of use and type of structures. R.C.C floors are excellent for this
while marble and mosaic as well as terrazzo flooring satisfies this criteria too.
FACTORS GOVERN THE SELECTION OF FLOORING MATERIAL
▪ Sound insulation: a criteria mainly for commercial buildings and workshops along with
holly places like temples, churches and mosques etc. Cork, rubber and wood (timber)
flooring satisfy these criteria.
▪ Rigidity: depends on the smoothness and hardness of the floors. The flooring material
should provide a smooth surface (not so smooth that the slippery surface is obtained
and it becomes difficult to use) and the material should be hard enough to have
adequate crushing strength, resist indentation marks and imprints etc.
▪ Cleanliness: depends on type of use and type of buildings like residential or
commercial or public buildings. The flooring materials should be inert against any
acidic or basic or oil action and should be non-absorbent to any foreign material. The
buildings of hospital should confirm strictly to this criteria.
▪ Maintenance: another criteria from economic point of view should have a least
maintenance requirement. For repairing etc., the least cost and easy repair is
fundamental criteria. R.C.C floors are excellent in this case though other floorings like
mosaic, marble floorings also satisfy this criterion.
TYPES OF FLOORING
▪ Mud
▪ Brick
▪ Flag Stone
▪ Tiled
▪ Cement concrete
▪ Granolithic
▪ Terrazzo
▪ Mosaic
▪ Marble
▪ Timber
▪ Asphalt
▪ Rubber
▪ Linoleum
▪ Acid proof
MUD FLOORING
▪ Mud flooring, also known as earth flooring or mud floors is
the cheapest form of flooring.

▪ This is a traditional flooring type, made from a mixture of

clay soil (mud), water, and sometimes other natural
materials like straw or animal dung (mostly cow dung).
▪ The mud floor is usually made in the Kutcha village house.

▪ Materials required for making mud floors are very easy to

get at any place.
▪ It is fairly hard, impervious, and easy to construct and
maintain.

▪ Mud flooring is ideal for locations where the temperature

increases very high during the summer and falls
extremely low in the winter. This type of floor helps to
keep the house warm in cold weather and keep cool even
in hot weather.
METHOD OF MUD FLOORING
▪ First, about 25 cm thick, a layer of selected earth is uniformly distributed. Then the layer is
moistened by sprinkling water over it. After moistening, the layer is compacted by a
rammer to get a hard consolidated layer of about 15 cm thickness. Ramming should be done
frequently to get a proper hard level surface.

▪ During ramming, if any place of the floor is found sits there should be filled with selected
earth and if there is too much soil at any place then it has to be lifted. No water should be
added during the process of ramming.
▪ This layer may be cracked after it dries, to prevent this type of crack in the mud floor, moist
selected earth is mixed with the chopped straw before ramming.

MAINTENANCE OF MUD FLOORS

▪ Mud floors require frequent maintenance for their upkeep. The floor should be given a thin
wash of cow dung and cement mixture at least once a week. Cow dung and cement wash
consists of three to four parts of cow dung to one part of cement.

▪ The floor is not good from a sanitary point of view.

ADVANTAGES OF MUD FLOORING
▪ Eco-friendly and very cheap.
▪ Skilled labor is not required.
▪ Required materials for this type of flooring are easily available at any place.
▪ Easy to maintain and repair.
▪ Well resistant to fire.
▪ Suitable for extremely acidic environmental conditions.
▪ Has better heat insulation properties compared to other types of flooring.
▪ Non-toxic and does not release harmful chemicals and components into the air.

DISADVANTAGES OF MUD FLOORING

▪ Absorbs moisture from the atmosphere.
▪ Without proper maintenance its life is short.
▪ Periodically, maintenance is required.
▪ Less impermeable and not durable.
▪ May not be suitable for areas with excessive moisture or heavy foot traffic.
BRICK FLOORING
▪ Its construction is comparatively cheap,
since brick is a cheap material and is
available easily at any place.
▪ It is used for places where heavy articles
are to be stored like–godowns, sheds,
stores, etc.
▪ Bricks may be laid either on edge or flat,
and the brickwork is carried out in cement
or lime mortar.
BRICK FLOORING
Method of Construction
▪ Depending on the type of soil and structure, an excavation of around 40 cm is made
below the proposed surface. The excavation surface is then leveled, watered, and
rammed properly.
▪ Over this, a hard sub-grade is prepared by laying about a 25 cm thick layer of rubble
boulders or broken brickbats. The layer is then well-rammed and watered.
▪ After preparing a suitable sub-grade, a layer of lime concrete about 10 to 15 cm thick
is laid over it. In some cases, a layer of lean concrete (1 cement: 3 sand: 6 coarse
aggregates) is laid in place of lime concrete.
▪ After this, bricks are laid in the desired shape (maybe in parallel rows or herring-
bond pattern) on a layer of lime mortar about 2.5 cm thick.
▪ The vertical joints of bricks are usually set in cement mortar 1:3. The thickness of
vertical joints may vary from 1.5 mm to 6 mm. Fine joints can be obtained by adopting
rubbed bricks.
ADVANTAGES OF BRICK FLOORING
▪ Offers a durable and sufficient hard floor surface.
▪ Provides a non-slippery surface.
▪ Offers a fire-resisting surface.
▪ Cheaper than terrazzo flooring, mosaic flooring, cement concrete, and marble
flooring.
▪ Maintenance process is easy.

DISADVANTAGES OF BRICK FLOORING

▪ It is absorbent.
▪ More costly than mud flooring.
FLAG STONE FLOORING
▪ Any laminiscated sandstone available in
uniform thickness is called flagstone.
The stone slab or flooring may be square
or rectangular with width not less than 3
cm and thickness varying from 20 to 40
mm.
▪ The sub grade is prepared by laying a 10
to 15 cm thick layer of lime concrete over
a bed of well consolidated earth. On the
sub grade well wetted flag stones are
laid on 20 to 25 mm thick layer of bed
mortar.
▪ When the stone slabs are properly set,
mortar in the joints is raked out to a
depth of about 20 mm and flush pointed
with cement mortar (1:3). A slope of 1 to
40 is necessary to be given in flag stone
flooring foe proper drainage.
ADVANTAGES OF FLAG-STONE FLOORING
▪ Hard, durable and resistant to wear and tear and such is used in workshops,
garages and godowns.
▪ Easily reparable.
▪ Easy in construction.
▪ In stone district, it can be used with economy.

DISADVANTAGES OF FLAG-STONE FLOORING

▪ Does not give a pleasing appearance and hence it is not suitable to be provided
in places like residential building or important public buildings.
▪ Usage is not comfortable.
CEMENT CONCRETE FLOORING
This type of flooring is commonly used both in residential as well
as public buildings. The method of laying cement concrete
flooring on ground floor of a building can be broadly divided in the
following steps.

PREPARATION OF SUBBASE

The earth filling in plinth is consolidated thoroughly to ensure

that no loose pockets are left in the whole area. A 10 to 15 cm.
thick layer of clean coarse sand is then spread over the whole
area. The sand layer a consolidated and dressed to the required
level and slope.

LAYING OF BASE CONCRETE

The base concrete used under floors may be of cement concrete

on lime concrete laid to a thickness varying from 7.5 to 10 cm. In
case of cement concrete the mix commonly used is 1:5:10 (1
cement : 5 sand : 10 stone or over burnt brick aggregates 40 mm
nominal size). Lime concrete, if used, should be made up out of
40 mm nominal size stone/over burnt brick aggregate and 40%
mortar comprising of I lime : 2 sand/surkhi or 1 lime : 1 surkhi/ash
: 1 sand. The base concrete layer is deposited over the whole
area, thoroughly tamped and leveled to a rough surface.
CEMENT CONCRETE FLOORING
LAYING THE TOPPING
▪ When the base concrete layer has fully set and hardened its surface is thoroughly
cleaned and the entire area is divided into rectangular or square panels by use of screed
strips (narrow strips of timber or steel). The size of panel is basically governed by the
location of floor (exposed or indoor), temperature and other climatic conditions,
thickness of topping and the proportions of ingredients in concrete mix. etc.

▪ In general, the area of one such panel should rot preferably be more than 3.5 sq. m. The
surface of base concrete should be made damp and applied with in a coat of neat cement
slurry prior to laying the topping. Thorough finished surface of base concrete coated with
cement slurry ensures adequate bond between the base and the topping. The cement
concrete topping normally consisting of 1 : 2 : 4 (I cement : 2 sand : 4 stone aggregate) is
then laid in required thickness in alternate panels.

▪ The concrete is spread evenly by using a straightedge and the surface is thoroughly
tamped, and floated with wooden floats till the cream of the mortar comes at top. The
surface is then smoothened and finally finished by means of steel trowels.
CEMENT CONCRETE FLOORING
LAYING THE TOPPING
▪ In case the cement concrete flooring is to be laid over R.C.C. slab, it is usual to
allow the slab concrete to harden and then lay the flooring. Prior to laying the slab
top is cleaned of all dirt, dust, loose, particles mortar droppings and debris etc. and
the flooring laid as described under the sub. head “laying of topping” above.

▪ To prevent this tendency of separation of the cement concrete flooring from the
R.C.C. slab, a 20 mm thick cushion inlayer of lime mortar (1 lime : 2 sand/surkhi or I
lime : | surkhi/sand) or 50 to 75 mm thick lime concrete is sometimes provided
between the R.C.C. slab and the cement concrete flooring.

▪ If the working conditions permit, the flooring can also be laid monolithically over
the R.C.C. slab while, the slab concrete is still green. In this case the slab concrete
is roughened with wire brushes 50 as to ensure a good bond between the base and
the flooring layer. Prior to laying of flooring, the slab surface is cleaned, and a coat
of cement slurry is applied over it. In this case any slope required for the floor is
given in structural concrete itself.
ADVANTAGES CEMENT CONCRETE FLOORING
▪ It is non-absorbent and thus it is very useful for water stores.
▪ It is durable and hence, it is commonly used in kitchens, bathrooms, schools,
hospitals, drawing rooms, etc.
▪ It is smooth and pleasing in appearance.
▪ It is economical and has the advantages of costlier types of floors.
▪ It possesses good wearing properties and can be easily maintained clean.

DISADVANTAGES CEMENT CONCRETE FLOORING

▪ Defects in carelessly made floors cannot be rectified, and as such, it requires
proper attention.
▪ It cannot be satisfactorily repaired by patch work.
GRANOLITHIC FLOORING
It is a finishing coat provided over the
concrete surface to form a hard, resistant
to abrasion and durable flooring. Granolithic
concrete is composed of cement, sand and
specially selected aggregate. The grading of
aggregates is very important. Coarse
aggregates from basalt or limestone or
quartzite are suitably graded from 13 mm. to
IS. Sieve No.240. The concrete mix. is
usually of 1:1:2 0r 1:1:3, In order to get
monolithic construction, the granolithic
concrete should be laid before the base
concrete has set. The minimum thickness of
finishing should be 13 mm. After laying, the
surface is tamped and floated with wooden
floats and finally smoothened by means of
steel trowel.
TERRAZO FLOORING
• It’s laid over thin layer of the concrete topping and looks decorative along
with that exhibits a good wearing property. Due to this, it’s widely used in
the residential buildings, offices, schools and other public buildings.
• It’s a specially prepared concrete surface containing cement and marble
chips of 3 to 6 mm in size and of different colors in the proportion of 1:1.25 to
1:2. The chips are exposed by grinding operation on setting of surface
prepared.
• The subbase preparation and concrete base laying is exactly similar to that
of concrete flooring. The top layer is kept normally 40 mm thick which is of
34 mm thick 1:2:4 concrete (M15 grade) layer laid over base concrete and
about 6 mm thick terrazzo topping.
• The entire area is divided into panels for which aluminum or glass strips are
used for partition up to same depth as that of flooring i.e., 40 mm. They are
jointed to the base concrete with the help of cement mortar and their tops
are perfectly set to the level and line.
• Alternative panels are filled for stability where the width of the strips is kept
normally between 1.5 to 2 mm.
• The surface of the base concrete is cleaned and thoroughly wetted. The wet
surface of the base concrete is smeared with the cement slurry and
concrete of grade 1:2:4 (M15) is laid in alternative panels and leveled to rough
surface.
 TERRAZO FLOORING
• When the surface is hardened, the terrazzo mix containing cement,
marble chips and water is laid and finished to the leveled surface.
Additional marble chips may be added during rolling and tamping
operation to get at least 80 % of the finished surface showing the exposed
marble chips.
• The surface is then floated and trowelled and left to dry for 12 to 20 hours
followed by curing properly for 2-3 days.
• At 1st machine grinding is done using grade (No.16) carborundum stones
adding plenty of water to the grinding operation. The ground surface is
then cleaned and cement grout of cream like consistency of same color is
then applied so that pores and holes etc. are filled. The surface is cured
for 7 days.
• The 2nd grinding is done with carborundum stone of grade (No.120). After
cleaning the surface, the cement grout is again applied. The surface is
cured for 4-6 days.
• Final grinding is done with the carborundum stone of grit size 320. The
surface is scrabbed and cleaned, using plenty of water followed by
washing with dilute oxalic acid.
• Final operation is polishing of floors with machine which gives a shining
surface. For obtaining glossy surface, wax polishing is adopted. The floors
should be leveled and should have a slope of desired angle for wash
water drainage.
TILED FLOORING
Pottery, cement concrete and terrazzo tiles are manufactured in
square, polygonal and various other shapes, sizes and thicknesses
these days. The tiles are laid on a reasonably hard subgrade, which
may be of concrete or R.C.C. Over the subgrade 12 to 24 mm. thick
layer of lime mortar is laid which serves as the bedding mortar. The
bedding mortar is allowed to harden for some hours and then spread
over by neat cement slurry. The ready-made tiles are laid on this
surface with a thin pate of cement applied on their sides. The joints in
tiles flooring construction kept as possible. After placing the tiles in
position, they are slightly tapped and the extra cement that out
through the joints is immediately wiped clean with saw dust. After
two or three days, all the joints are rubbed with carborundum stone
so that slight projections rising above the surface are leveled. The
surface is then rubbed with soft carborundum stone which again
follows rubbing with pumice stone. The rubbing of surface may be
done by rubbing machine or by hand. The process of rubbing is also
called polishing of the surface, The polished surface is finally washed
with a soft soap solution. This type of floor is provided in modern
W.cs, battery rooms and other aristocratic buildings.
ADVANTAGES OF TILED FLOORING
▪ It is non-absorbent.
▪ It is easily repairable in patches.
▪ It offers pleasant appearance.
▪ It is durable.
▪ It permits quick laying of floor.
▪ It is durable, resistant to wear and has fairly good strength.

DISADVANTAGES OF TILED FLOORING

▪ This type of construction is very costly both in initial cost and in maintenance.
▪ It becomes slippery when wet.
MOSAIC FLOORING
▪ Flooring is done by using the small pieces of broken china glazed or of cement,
or marble, arranged in different pattern and cut to desired shape and size for
use.
▪ At first a concrete base is provided as in the case of the concrete flooring and
over it 5 to 8 cm thickness of lime-surkhi mortar is spread and leveled over an
area which can be completed conveniently within working period so that the
mortar may not get dried before the floor is finished.
▪ On the prepared base, a 3 mm thick cementing material in the form of paste of
two parts of slaked lime, one part of powdered marble, and one part of puzzolana
material is spread and is left to dry for about four hours.
▪ Then small pieces of broken tiles or marble pieces are arranged in definite
pattern. These are hammered into the cementing layer. The chips of tile and
marble may be of different color for good looking purposes.
▪ The surface so prepared is gently rolled by a roller of 30 cm diameter and 40 to
60 cm long. Water is continuously sprinkled over the surface during rolling
operation so that the even surface is obtained because of upcoming of cementing
material.
▪ The surface is dried for 1 day and rubbed thereafter to get a smooth and polished
surface. The floor is allowed to dry for 2 weeks before use. Also, proper leveling
and water slope should be checked before finishing .
 MARBLE FLOORING
▪ This is another type of stone flooring which is little bit costly and
prone to acidic action but considering hygiene and cleanliness, this
proves a best choice. Due to higher cost, only kitchens and
bathrooms in common buildings floor is done with this. Hospitals
and temples etc. where cleanliness and hygiene is of prime
importance, this flooring is given priority.

▪ Base concrete is prepared which is 7.5 cm to 10 cm thick and of

composition 1:3:6 (M10) to 1:5:10 (lean concrete). Over the base
course, 20 mm thick bedding mortar of 1:4 cement : sand or mortar
of 1:1:1 of Lime : Surkhi: Sand is spread.

▪ Marble slabs of usually rectangular size is gently pressed over the

course and little bit patted with mallet. The marble slabs are
withdrawn very next time.

▪ Then fresh mortar is patched to hollow of the already laid mortar

over which cement slurry is spread. This is allowed to harden little
bit and then the marble blocks smeared with cement slurry at their
edges are laid over the mortar.

▪ The laid slab is patted with wooden mallet to make the slurry to
ooze out of the joints which is cleaned later. Proper leveling is
checked and the flooring is cured for at least 7 days.
 TIMBER FLOORING
▪ In hilly areas where the climate is damp, and wood is easily available, wooden floors
prove economical and as such are commonly used.

▪ They are used for dancing halls, carpentry halls, auditoriums etc.

▪ In this type of floor, prevention of dampness is of great importance and hence every
precaution is taken to check the dampness from rising above. The entire area of
ground below the floor is covered with a 15 cm. layer of cement concrete. This layer
is called “site or over site concrete.”

▪ Timber floors essentially consist of boarding supported on timber joists called

bridging joists or floor joists which are nailed to wall plates at their ends and
supported by intermediate walls, called sleeper or dwarf walls, along their length.

▪ The sleeper walls are generally 10 cm. thick and are honey-combed. They are
intended to reduce the span for the floor joists. The sleeper walls are seldom
spaced more than 1.8 m. apart and are honeycombed to enable free circulation of air
in the space below the floor.

▪ Longitudinal timber members called ‘sleeper plates’ are fixed on the top of sleeper
walls. The floor joists are secured to the sleeper walls by being nailed to the sleeper
wall plates.

▪ A damp-roof course layer is laid immediately below the wall plates to prevent the
rising of dampness. The hollow space between the flooring and the over site
concrete is kept dry and fully ventilated.
ASPHALT FLOORING
On account of its being dustless, elastic, durable, waterproof, acidproof and attractive in
appearance, mastic asphalt flooring is becoming very popular these days. This type of flooring
is non-slippery and noiseless too, as such it is recommended for use in factories, loading
platforms, swimming pools, and terrace floors etc. The construction of floor involves the
follow.ing operations :

(i) Preparation of mastic asphalt

(ii) Laying of the prepared compost (mastic asphalt)

Preparation of mastic asphalt:

Asphalt, which is generally sold in drums, is broken into pieces and is put into an iron pot
known as “Cauldron” and is heated with the fire lighted under it. During the process of
heating when melting of asphalt starts, the whole mass is stirred in such a manner that
the pieces at the bottom are constantly brought to the surface. When the whole quantity
has melted, clean sharp sand or grit is then gently added to the molten mass in the
proportion of 2: 1. (Two parts of sand or grit : one asphalt). The mixture is constantly
stirred till it emits jets of light-brown smoke. At this stage, the mixture or compost is of
such a consistency that it drops freely from the stirred and is considered to be fit for use.
The cauldron is then taken off the fire to prevent the compost getting over-burnt and is
used immediately.
ASPHALT FLOORING
Laying of the prepared compost (mastic asphalt):
The compost is poured on the previously prepared concrete bed by means of iron ladle. This is
brought to a uniform thickness varying from 13 mm. to 25 mm. by means of trowels. Before the
compost becomes hard, very fine sand in small quantity is sifted over it and the surface is well
rubbed with a hand float or trowel. In case it is necessary to have a second layer of asphalt, it
should be laid before the bottom layer solidifies (no sand being sifted over the bottom layering
that case). The top layer is then finished in the same manner as described above.
RUBBER FLOORING
It is noiseless, comfortable, clean and durable. Like linoleum, this type of flooring is
manufactured in the form of sheets or tiles in a variety of colours. Its thickness seldom exceeds
10 mm. Rubber sheets or tiles are made by combining at very high temperature pure rubber with
cotton fibre, granulated cork, asbestos fibre, other glues and colour pigments to get the designed
colour. The rubber tiles are laid by gluing them to a smooth and thoroughly clean and dry base by
use of a special adhesive. The base may be of concrete, R.C.C or wood. It is expensive in its initial
cost, but it is a most durable wearing surface. Oil or grease render the floor slippery, and it is
difficult to restore it in good condition.
LINOLEUM FLOORING
Linoleum is a covering laid over wooden or concrete floors in order to hide the
defects of flooring or to enhance its appearance. It is a material manufactured by
mixing oxidised linseed oil with powdered cork, wood flour, various types of gums
and suitable colouring pigments. The plastic mass thus obtained is pressed in the
designed form and dried in ovens. It is finally cured and seasoned. It is available
in varieties of colours both in plain and printed form. It is mostly sold in rolls
which are 1.8 to 3.66 m. in width and the thickness of the felt seldom exceeds
6mm.
Linoleum can be laid in the following three ways:
1. By spreading the covering loose on dry and smooth floor.

2. By pinning down the ends of the loosely laid linoleum covering to the floor
below.

3. By fixing the linoleum covering to the floor by use of a special adhesive.

ADVANTAGES OF LINOLEUM FLOORING

▪ It is washable, dustproof and can be easily cleaned with just a swab o damp cloth.
▪ It has cushioning effect which gives comfort to the users.
▪ It reduces noise effectively.
▪ It forms a low-wearing and durable surface if laid and maintained properly.
▪ It gives a decorative floor finish which looks very attractive.
▪ It is economical.
ACID-PROOF FLOORING
In place like chemical laboratories and plants, storage battery buildings etc. where acids are used or
manufactured, it is necessary that the floor toping should be acid-proof.

Asphalt blocks, made by moulding under high pressure a mixture of inert crushed rock aggregate and
an acid-proof asphalt, successfully meet the requirements of an acid-proof flooring. The asphalt
blocks are first laid on the hard base and then acid-proof asphalt is uniformly spread over the
surface of the blocks. Before the liquid asphalt hardens, fine sand in small quantity is uniformly
spread over it and surface is finished smooth and leveled.