Sunday, March 25, 2007

How to construct Cement Concrete Flooring?

Method of laying the cement concrete flooring on floor of a building can be broadly divided in the following steps:

  • Preparation of Sub Base:
    The earth filling in plinth is consolidated thoroughly so as to ensure that no loose pockets are left in the whole area. A 10 cm to 15 am thick layer of clean coarse sand is then spread over the whole area. The sand layer is consolidated and dressed to the required level and slope.
  • Laying of Base Concrete:
    The base concrete used under floors may be cement concrete or lime concrete laid to a thickness varying 7.5cm to 10cm. In case of cement concrete the mix commonly used 1:5:10 (where 1 cements: 5 sand: 10 stone or brick burnt aggregates with 40mm nominal size). The base concrete layer is deposited over the whole area, thoroughly tamped and leveled to a rough surface.
  • Laying Topping:
    The base concrete layer should be fully set and hardened
    Then the surface is thoroughly cleaned
    The entire area is divided into rectangular or square panels by use of 4m thick glass strips or 5mm thick plain asbestos strips.
    The size of the panel is basically governed by the location of the floor, temperature and other climatic conditions, thickness of the topping and proportions of ingredients in concrete mix.
    In general the area of one such panel should not be preferably being more than 2 sq.
    The 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 (1 cement: 2 sand: 4 stone aggregate) is then laid in required thickness in one operation in the panel.
    The cement spread evenly by using a straight edge and the surface is thoroughly tamped and floated with wooden floats till the cream of the mortar comes at the top.
    The surface is then smoothened and finished by means of steel trowels.
    In case glass or plain asbestos strips are not required, the panels are formed by use of wooden or angle iron battens.
    The prepared surface is protected from sunlight, rain and other damages for 12 to 20 hours. The surface is then properly cured for a period of 7-14 days.

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