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ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING

CENG 3103
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
Instructor – Abraham Assefa (Eng.) Nov. 2009
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
Course Outline
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1. Introduction 5. Building Construction Elements

Foundation and Basement
2. Building Drawings
Floors
3. Building Structural Systems
Exterior and Interior Closures:

Reinforced Concrete Structures Walls

Stairs

Steel Framed Structures

Elevators

Prefabricated Building
Doors and Windows
Systems
Roofs

Shell and Dome Structures
Finishing
4. Planning of Buildings
Damp – Prevention

Fire Places
5. Building Construction
Formwork and Scaffolding
Elements
Sanitary Systems
6. Health and Safety in
Fire and Life Protection
Building Construction
Mechanical Systems

Electrical Systems
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
Chapter 5 – Building Construction Elements –Floors
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 Presentation Outline

5.2 Floors
 5.2.1 Introduction
 5.2.2 Classification of Floors
 5.2.3 Functional Requirements of a Floor
 5.2.4 Materials for Floor Construction
 5.2.5 Floor Finishes
 Brick,Stone, Concrete, Granolithic, Tiled, Wooden,
Terrazzo, Mosaic, Plastic, Marble, Asphalt, Rubber,
Cork, Glass, Linoleum, Carpet
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.1 Introduction
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The purpose of a floor is to provide a level surface capable

of supporting
the occupants of a building
Furniture
Equipment and
Internal Partition
Other purposes:
Sound and Thermal Insulation
Fire Resistance
Adequate Strength and Stability
Traditional Floors:
Clean, Smooth, Impervious, Level and Durable Surface
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.2 Classification of Floors
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Floors can be
classified as:
Upper Floors and
Ground Floor
Suspended Floors
Solid (Rest) Floors
Basement Floors

 Flooring is the
single most
exposed element
of a building
interior because
of constant and
often heavy use.
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.3 Functional Requirements of a Floor
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Ground Floor
1. Support Load – Especially in Factories
2. Prevent Dampness
3. Prevent Growth of Vegetable matter and Living organism
4. Durability – Min. Maintenance or replacement
5. Surface Finish – Standard of Appearance, Comfort, Cleanliness
and heat Retention
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.3 Functional Requirements of a Floor
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Upper Floor
1. Support Load
2. Fire Resistance – Tall Buildings
3. Minimize noise transfer
4. Durability – Min. Maintenance or replacement
5. Surface Finish – Standard of Appearance, Comfort, Cleanliness and
Heat Retention
6. Prevent Dampness
Upper Floor
 Structural
 Floor Finish (Upper Part)
 Ceiling Finish (Lower Part)
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.4 Materials for Floor Construction
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Performance Criteria for flooring selection can be

listed as the following:

durable to resist abrasion, indentation, compression,
accidental impacts, and dust and dirt

chemically inert to resist cleaning compounds, disinfectants,
solvents, lubricants and other substances that may be spilled

comfortable to reduce fatigue of walking, standing and/or
running

safe, non-slippery, non-tripping, non flammable and also
non-conductive or non-static
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.4 Materials for Floor Construction
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The basic Materials used for floors are:

Stone, Brick, Timber, Concrete, and Metal
Timber and Concrete are widely used
A. Timber Floors
Wood used for engineering purposes
Source and Standard – Seasoning and appearance
Versatile – Glued, Laminated or bonded to metal or plates
Fire Resistance – Coating
Moisture Flow – Has to be avoided and kept dry
Ground Floor – Suspended system is economical
Wooden Floors – Applied in dancing halls, auditoriums, living and
dinning rooms etc
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.4 Materials for Floor Construction
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A. Timber Floors
Structural system – Joist and Floor Planking
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.4 Materials for Floor Construction
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B. Concrete Floors
Commonly used in all building types b/c – moderately cheap,
quite durable, and easy to construct
Can be cast in situ or prefabricated
B. 1 Cast In Situ Concrete
Design Freedom – Shape
Form work required – Wet Condition
Types
Solid - Solid or Flat
Better Strength
Flat Slabs – No beams
Ribbed or Waffle Based
Flat Ceiling (w/o beams), Better Sound Insulation, Duct provision, Light Loads
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.4 Materials for Floor Construction
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Ribbed
Slabs
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.4 Materials for Floor Construction
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B. 2 Pre – Cast Concrete

Designed to avoid form works, wet free and fast construction
Lighter in weight
Disadvantage – Difficult to provide rigid connections and
Transportation, Loading and Unloading, Placement
Available – Prefab Addis and Logi
Reinforced – Solid or Contain Internal Cores
Pre Stressed –
Lighter, Camber, Difficult for modification
Cover part or the whole slab portion
Made of Hollow Blocks, Brick – Hollow part used for passing utility ducts
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.4 Materials for Floor Construction
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Hollow Pre - Cast Section

 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.4 Materials for Floor Construction
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Hollow Pre - Cast Section

 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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Choice of Floor Finish materials depends on:

Initial Cost, Appearance, Durability, Availability, Fire
resistance, resistance to water and chemicals, sound
insulation, and resistance to wear or impact.
Common Type of Flooring
Brick, Stone, Concrete, Granolithic, Tiled, Wooden, Terrazzo,
Mosaic, Plastic, Marble, Asphalt, Rubber, Cork, Glass,
Linoleum, Carpet
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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A. Brick Flooring
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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A. Brick Flooring
Used in cheap constructions, especially where good bricks are
available
Suitable –
Warehouses, stores, pedestrian walk ways
Base Course –
Compacted layers with mortar joints with bricks
Slope shall be properly provided
Frost Attack – About 5 cm thick fine sand is spread
Construction –
Bricks shall be socked for 3 – 7 days (avoid reduction of voids in
hydration)
Frost – Bricks without mortar
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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B. Stone Flooring – Granite, Marble, Lime stone, Slate

 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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B. Stone Flooring – Granite, Marble, Lime stone, Slate

Used for making rectangular or square size floors
Suitable –
Garages, Entrance Corridors, Pedestrian Walk ways
 Common colors are pink, beige, white, brown, black, green, and red.
Properties –
Hard, Durable and resistant to wear
Easy in construction and Maintenance
Not better in looks
Sub – Base
Compacted Ground or Concrete Base
Construction –
Joints Pointed
Proper Slope
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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C. Concrete Flooring
Suitable –
Residential, Commercial, and
Industrial (Garages,
Laboratories, and Ware houses)
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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C. Concrete Flooring
Properties –
Moderately Cheap, Durable and Easy to construct
Moderately resistant to oils and weak acids
Two Components –
Base Concrete and Wearing Surface
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Construction –
Monolithically casting – Good Bond with base and Cracks
Independent – Base surface covered with slurry, Mix 1:2:4
Even spreading and surfacing by straight edge steel or wood
Curing – 7 days
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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D. Granolithic Flooring
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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D. Granolithic Flooring
Suitable –
For hard and wear resistant surface (Car passage )
Properties –
Made of Rich Concrete, with very hard and tough quality course
aggregates , such as granite and basalt
Mix 1:1:2 to 1:1:3
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Construction –
Shall be laid before the base coarse has set
Surface is tamped and floated
Smoothened by steel trowel
Grinding and polishing is done after curing
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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E. Tiled (Cement or Clay) Flooring

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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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E. Tiled (Cement or Clay) Flooring

Suitable –
Residential Houses, Offices, Schools and Public Buildings
Properties –
Made of cement, clay, concrete or terrazzo
Constructed in square, hexagonal or other shapes and many colours
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Compacted ground base
Construction –
Similar to laying stone or brick flooring
Cement slurry has to spread to fill the joints
Grinding and Polishing
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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F. Wooden/Timber (Parquet) Flooring

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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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F. Wooden/Timber (Parquet) Flooring

Suitable –
Living and Dinning Rooms, Bed rooms, dance halls, auditoriums
Properties –
Must have hard, Resistant to wear and durable surface
Selection shall be based on texture, color, defects and grain
Shall be avoided in moist areas
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Construction –
Can be glued to concrete floors
Can be joined by nails
Can be simply overlaid on a filler mast
Protective coating like varnish, lacquer, wax shall be applied for long service
periods
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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G. Terrazzo Flooring
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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G. Terrazzo Flooring
Suitable –
Residential, Offices and other public buildings
Properties –
Is concrete containing white and/or colored cement and marble chips as an aggregate
(1:2 or 1:3)
Marble Chips exposed by grinding, may vary from 3 – 6 mm
Decorative and high wearing resistance
Can be found in market as pre – cast terrazzo in the form of tiles (20 – 30 cm, t = 2 –
3m) even for Stair Treads and Risers
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Construction –
Shall be casted with the required mix proportion
Grinding in three levels and then cement grout to seal holes
Mirror - Polishing
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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H. Mosaic/Ceramic Flooring
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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H. Mosaic/Ceramic Flooring
Suitable –
Walls, Floors, Both internal and external, Stairs
Properties –
Made of small pieces of broken tiles of china glazed or of cement or of marble arranged in different
patters
Glazed or Unglazed
Impervious to water and a dense body
Types –
Porcelain - made by dust press method from ceramic materials with vitreous body, resistant to freezing and
thawing and abrasive wear
Natural Clay (Ceramic) – made of natural clays or shales, which produce a long wearing body
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Construction –
Concrete base made of mortar or comp – mortar is spread & leveled to a depth of 5 to 8 cm
Pieces or Tiles of Ceramic are hammered
Stone roller about 30 cm in dia. and 45 – 60 cm long is passed
Joint filler – Cement grout
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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I. Plastic or PVC Flooring

 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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I. Plastic or PVC Flooring

Suitable –
Residential Area – Bed rooms
Properties –
Made of plastic material – Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)
Fabricated in rolls or tiles with different colors
Resilient, smooth, good looking and cleanable
Easily damaged by heat or chemicals
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Construction –
Adhesive shall be applied to the cement screed surface
Tiles are then pressed gently using lightweight rollers
Floor is washed with warm soap water
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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Concrete Floor Cement Screed

 These are used to give a concrete floor a finish suitable to receive the
floor finish or covering specified
 Laying Floor Screeds - floor screeds should not be laid in bays since this
can cause curling at the edges, screeds can however be laid in 3.00 wide
strips to receive thin coverings.
 Leveling of screeds is achieved by working to leveled timber screeding
batten or alternatively a 75mm wide band of leveled screed with square
edges can be laid to the perimeter of the floor prior to the general
screed laying operation.
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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Concrete Floor Cement Screed

 Types –

 Monolithic Screeds - screed laid directly on

concrete floor slab within three hours of placing
concrete before any screed is placed all surface
water should be removed, all screeding work
should be carried out from scaffold board
runways to avoid walking on the `green' concrete
slab.
 Separate Screeds - screed is laid onto the
concrete floor slab after it has cured. The floor
surface must be clean and rough enough to ensure
an adequate bond unless the floor surface is
prepared by applying a suitable bonding agent
or by brushing with a cement/water grout of a
thick cream like consistency just before laying the
screed.
 CEng 3103 – Building Construction
5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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Concrete Floor Cement Screed

 Types –

 Unbonded Screeds - screed is laid directly over a

damp-proof membrane or over a damp-proof
membrane and insulation. A rigid form of floor
insulation is required where the concrete floor
slab is in contact with the ground. Care must be
taken during this operation to ensure that the
damp-proof membrane is not damaged.
 Floating Screeds - a resilient quilt of 25mm
thickness is laid with butt joints and turned up at
the edges against the abutment walls, the screed
being laid directly over the resilient quilt. The
main objective of this form of floor screed is to
improve the sound insulation properties of the
floor.
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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J. Marble Flooring
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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J. Marble Flooring
Suitable –
Residential buildings (Stairs, Corridor, Kitchens), Public and
Worship places
Properties –
Made of sedimentary rocks
Different sources – Granite, Marble …
Durable, Water proof but expensive
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Construction –
Similar to stone flooring
Has to be cured and cleaned before use
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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K. Asphalt Flooring
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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K. Asphalt Flooring
Suitable –
Garages, stores
Properties –
Wear resistance and durable
Resilient, sound proof, non – absorbent and moisture to proof
Types –
Asphalt Mastic – commonly used in Ethiopia. Made of sand and asphalt mixed hot
and laid in continuous sheets
Asphalt Titles – made of asphalt and other ingredients such as asbestos fibers, by
pressing the mix in different sizes, with thickness varying usually from 3 to 6 mm
Asphalt Mosaic – similar to mastic but made with chips
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Construction –
Proper primer coat
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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L. Rubber Flooring
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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L. Rubber Flooring
Suitable –
Offices or public building like hospitals and schools
Properties –
Consist of sheet or piles of rubber, with different patterns and colours
Manufactured by mixing
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Construction –
Shall be laid before the base coarse has set
Surface is tamped and floated
Smoothened by steel trowel
Grinding and polishing is done after curing
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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M. Cork Flooring
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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M. Cork Flooring
Suitable –
Areas where quiet and comfort are of paramount importance.
Rigid subfloors, such as smooth-finished or screeded concrete supported above
grade and free of moisture, or on structurally sound plywood or hardboard. Cork
tile is not recommended for application below grade or moisture-free conditions
must be ensured.
Properties –
Manufactured by baking cork granules with phenolic or other resin binders
under pressure. Four types of finishes are produced: natural, factory prefinished
wax, resin-reinforced wax, and vinyl cork tile
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Construction –

Natural cork tile must be sanded (to level), sealed, and waxed immediately after
installation.

Sealed by protective coatings
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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N. Glass Flooring
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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N. Glass Flooring
Suitable –
Basement and upper floor where light has to be transmitted
Properties –
Structural glass, in the form of tiles or slabs ( t = 12 to 30
mm)
Suspended on closely placed frames
Sub – Base
Steel Frames
Construction –
Care should be taken to avoid joint failures
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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O. Linoleum Flooring
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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O. Linoleum Flooring
Suitable –
Except for Bath rooms, kitchens, etc
Properties – Developed 100 yrs ago in England
Mixing oxidized linseed oil in gum, resins, pigments, wood flour, cork
dust and other filler materials
Seasoned in ovens for 2 – 4 weeks (given several coats of lacquer for
greater stain and spot resistance)
Attractive, resilient, durable, cheap and easily cleanable
Easily rot in wet conditions
Sub – Base
Concrete or Wood Base
Construction –
Fixed or glued to base in various patterns
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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P. Carpet Flooring
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5.2.5 Floor Finishes
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P. Carpet Flooring
Suitable –
Passage ways, Bed Rooms, Hall ways
Properties –

A textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached
to a backing.

The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such
as polypropylene, and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often
heat-treated to maintain their structure.
Sub – Base
Concrete Base
Construction –

Carpets and carpet tiles can be laid loose, stuck with a suitable
adhesive or in the case of carpets edge fixed using special grip strips.
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