Basics in Building Construction

Building Components And Types

Lesson 20 : Ground Floors

Common Flooring And Their Construction

Stone Slab Flooring

Stone slab flooring is hard, durable, wear resistant, economical, easy to construct and can be repaired easily.

This type of flooring may be of two types

Unpolished stone slab flooring

In this type of flooring unpolished stone slabs of 20-40 mm thickness are used. Laminated stones such as cuddapah slabs, Shahbad slabs etc. are examples of unpolished stone slabs. They are available in the market in suitable cut sizes from 30 x 30 cms to 60 x 150 cms.

Method of Construction

1. First the' plinth filling is done and consolidated well.
2. Then the sub base of lean cement concrete of I ;4:8 or 1:5: 10 proportion. is laid to a thickness of 10 to 15 cms and consolidated well.
3. Proper slope should be provided in the sub base itself for draining out wash water.
4. When it is sufficiently hard cement mortar of 1:5 ratios is spread to a thickness of 15 to 20 mm and the stone slabs are fixed and levelled.
5. The joints are raked to a depth of 20 mm and are flush pointed with cement mortar 1:3.

Polished stone slab flooring

Polished stone slab flooring is a superior quality flooring and is used in all types of buildings. They are elegant in appearance, easy to clean but at the same time costs high. Polished stone slabs of granite, marble are used in this type of flooring. Marble slabs are more costlier. The slabs are readily available in the market in cut sizes of 15 x 30 cms to 60 x 120 cms. .

Method of Construction

1. Similar to earlier flooring the cement concrete sub base is laid and a layer of cement mortar to a thickness of 20 mm is spread on it.
2. The slab is placed on this layer and tapped gently with a wooden mallet.
3. Then the slab is lifted back and top surface of bedding mortar is allowed to harden slightly and a neat coat of cement slurry of colour similar to the colour of slab is spread over it at the rate of 4 kg per sqm.
4. The slabs are then laid finally in position and tapped lightly with the wooden mallet to have a level surface.
5. All the slabs should be laid similarly and the surface should be cured for 7 days.
6. In this type of flooring the joints are generally kept as paper thick.