IDFX: V. Interior Building Materials & Finishes

Resilient flooring

Generic term describing several types of composition materials made from various resins, fibers, plasticizers, and fillers. Formed under heat and pressure to produce thin material, either sheets or tiles.

An igneous rock with visible grains; available in a wide variety of colors including gray, beige, white, pink, red, blue, green, and black; five common interior finishes: polished, honed, fine-rubbed, rubbed, and thermal

Granite

Five types of stone commonly used in interior construction for flooring

Granite Marble Limestone Slate Sandstone

Vertical blinds

Hang from a track and adjust only in the vertical direction; they can be pulled to the side to expose the window; available in several materials, widths and colors

A process in which the pile yarn is punched through the backing with rows of needles, much like the method employment by a sewing machine; as the needle goes through the backing, the yarn is caught and held while the needle makes the next pass; the loop of yarn can be left as is for loop carpet or cut for cut-pile carpet; because of the speed and relative low cost of tufting, this process accounts for the majority of the carpet manufactured

Tufting

Several tests by which moisture level can be determined for concrete

Calcium chloride test Hygrometer test Polyethylene sheet test Electrical impedance test

The traditional method of making carpet by interlacing warp and weft yarns; it is a method that produces a very attractive, durable carpet, but it is the most expensive method of manufacturing carpet by machine

Carpet weaving

embeds the pile yarn in a backing of liquid vinyl; when the vinyl hardens, the tufts are permanently locked in the vinyl

Fusion bonding

Titration test

Used to determine level of alkalinity in concrete. Involves grinding portions of the concrete, mixing portions with demineralized water, and performing laboratory chemical analysis. Testing lab must perform this test.

Louvered shutters

Rigid panels, usually of wood, that are hinged so they can be opened or closed

A sedimentary rock made of sand and other substances; called flagstone when cleaved from the original rock

Sandstone

Tile is classified according to its resistance to water absorption. _______ tile has a water absorption rate of more than 7%. ________ tile has a water absorption rate of .5% or less. __________ tile and ________ tile are classified between nonvitreous and impervious tile.

nonvitreous tile, impervious tile, semivitreous tile, vitreous tile

Strip flooring

one of the most common types of wood flooring consisting of thin strips from 3/8" - 25/32" thick x either 2.25" or 1.5" wide of varying lengths with tongue and groove edges

Venetian blinds

Traditional venetian blinds consist of horizontal slats of wood, aluminum, or plastic whose angle can be adjusted with a control cord. Blinds can be pulled up to varying levels with another cord.

A natural material and overall one of the best for carpet; it is very durable, resilient, wears well, has a superior appearance, is flame resistant, and is relatively easy to clean and maintain; unfortunately it is also one of the most expensive fivers for initial cost

Wool

5 Types of fibers used to make carpet

Wool, nylon, acrylic, polyester, olefin

Random match in wallpaper

a type of pattern in which there are no elements that must line up form one strip to another; any two adjacent strips will match no matter how they are aligned

Laminate flooring

a variation of plastic laminate material, is composed of a clear wearing sheet over a melamine-impregnated decorative printed sheet with core layers of phenolic-impregnated kraft paper. These sheets are laminated to a high-density fiberboard core under heat and pressure and covered with a water-resistant backing sheet

Two woods that qualify as sustainable products

bamboo and palm wood

Sheet carpet

carpet that comes in long rolls and is installed so no seams are visible

Stitch rate (carpet)

the number of lengthwise tufts in 1"; the higher the pitch or gauge number and stitch numbers are, the denser the carpet is

Carpet tiles

individual pieces of carpet, typically 18" square, that are applied to the floor with pressure sensitive adhesive

The classifications of abrasion resistance are Group I Group II Group III Group IV

light residential moderate residential maximum residential commercial (have the highest abrasion resistance)

Gauge (carpet)

the spacing in fractions of an inch between needles across the width of the carpet (gauges of 5/64, 1/10, and 1/8 are common for contract carpet)

Some flooring can be installed in two ways: thin-set and thick-set

thin-set: a uniform thickness of stone is set on the subfloor with a special thin-set mortar or with adhesive thick-set: a layer of mortar is applied to a suitably prepared, structurally sound subflooring; either the stone is then set in the semi wet mortar or the mortar is allowed to cure and the stone is set with another thin layer of dry-set mortar on top of the first

Grilles

used to modify a strong light or minimize an undesirable view while still providing some visual connection between the inside and the outside --can be fixed or moveable

3 primary carpet weaving methods

wilton carpet velvet carpet axminster carpet

Pile height (carpet)

the height of the fibers from the surface of the backing to the top of the pile

Hygrometer test

"Relative Humidity Test" - Moisture of the concrete is assessed by measuring the relative humidity of the air directly adjacent to it

Some guidelines for locating carpet seams

-minimize the number of seams when possible -avoid placing seams across the main path of traffic -avoid running seams perpendicularly into doorways -avoid placing seams where light will make them more apparent -place seams away from major architectural or interior design features -avoid placing seams where traffic is heavy or where the flow of traffic changes direction

Carpet calculations on stairs

1) multiply the number of risers by the height of the riser in inches 2) multiply the number of treads plus one by the depth of each tread in inches (# of treads +1 = # of risers) 3) add the results from steps 1 and 2 4) allow 1" extra for each pair of treads and risers (same as the # of risers) to account for wrapping the nosing 5) add results from steps 3 and 4 6) divide total by 12 to convert from inches to feet 7) multiply by the width of the stairs in feet; divide the number of square feet by 9 to get the total number in square yards and round up to the nearest whole number 8) if any landings are included, add the area of the landing to the total from step 7

Concrete should be tested continuously tested for moisture level prior to applying any critical finishes, such as vinyl, rubber, linoleum, urethane, and wood. The flooring industry generally recommends that these types of flooring not be installed until the moisture emission from the concrete has reached a certain level. This maximum limit for moisture emission is __lb/____sqft^2/24hr

3.0lb/1000sqft^w/24hr

A finish

A single material applied to another substrate

Rug

A soft floor covering laid on the floor but not fastened to it; does not cover the entire floor

Drop Match (Wallpaper)

A type of pattern in which design elements drop down each time they are repeated, so that they appear to repeat on a diagonal

Carpet calculations

A=lw *keep in mind most rolls are 12' (4 yards) wide *when calculating the length, the total will probably be in feet and must be converted to yards (divide by 3')

Fiber that has moderate abrasion resistance, but it has a more wool-like appearance than nylon; like nylon, it can be dyed with a variety of colors, has good crush resistance, and is easy to maintain

Acrylic

_______ can cause two types of problems. High _______ on the surface of a slab can damage a tile installation by causing the adhesive to re emulsify, or return to its original liquid star. It can also cause problems with other coatings.

Alkalinity

Calcium chloride test

Also called the moisture dome test, most common, inexpensive, and easy test to determine moisture in concrete; Results are in the format matching flooring manufacturer stats; Place standard mass of calcium chloride below plastic cover and seal it to the concrete floor; After 60-72 hours, calcium chloride is weighed to compare it with its pretest weight. Mathematical formula determines amount of moisture absorbed and the measurement of pounds per 1000 ft squared per 24-hour period. Conduct the test for every 500-1000 ft of slab area

_______ tile is a surfacing unit, usually relatively thin in relation to facial area, made from clay or a mixture of clay and other ceramic materials, having either a glazed or unglazed face; it is fired above red head during manufacture to a temperature high enough to produce specific physical properties and characteristics.

Ceramic

________ ________ tile is formed by either the dust pressed or extrusion method, is 1/4-3/8" thick, and has a facial area of less than 6"^2. Dust pressing uses large presses to shape the tile out of relatively dry clay, while the extrusion process uses machines to cut tiles from a wetter and more malleable clay extruded through a die.

Ceramic mosaic tile

Unfinished oak flooring is graded as _____, _____, __________, and _________. ______is the best grade with the most uniform color.

Clear, select, no.1 common and no.2 common; clear

Plank flooring

Comes in the same thickness as strip but is from 3 1/4-8" wide; used where a larger scale is desired or emulate wider, historic planking

Linoleum flooring

Composed of oxidized linseed oil, wood flour, pigments, and fillers applied over a backing of burlap or asphalt saturated felt

3 common types of resilient flooring

Cork, rubber, and vinyl

Laminate block flooring

Flooring made from three to seven plies of cross-wood splines

Parquet block flooring

Flooring made of preassembled units of several small, thin slats of wood in a variety of patterns

Mini blinds

Horizontal slats of aluminum like Venetian blinds but they are only 1/2 to 1" wide; the angle of the slats is controlled with a plastic rod; they can be pulled up to expose the entire window area

alkali-silica reaction (ASR)

In this process, strongly alkaline cement begins to dissolve sand and rock within the concrete. The chemical reaction creates a gel-like material that causes tremendous pressure in the pores of the concrete surface. This pressure, in turn, can buckle or blister floor finishes. The risk for ASR can be reduced by specifying aggregates that are not susceptible to ASR, using low lime cement, proper curing, and not finishing the concrete with a hard trowel surface.

Vinyl flooring

Includes pure vinyl, vinyl composition, vinyl tiles, and sheet vinyl; is a good, durable resilient flooring that is resistant to indentation, abrasion, grease, water, alkalis, and some acids; comes in a variety of colors and patterns and is inexpensive and easy to install

Curtains

Like draperies, curtains use fabric, but they are usually hung within the window frame and close to the glass. In most instances, curtains are not intended to be opened, but are meant to remain fixed across all or a portion of the window.

Stone most commonly used for exterior surfaces, but a specific type called travertine is used for interior flooring

Limestone

Cork flooring

Made from granulated pieces of bark from the cork oak tree that are bonded together under head & pressure. Varying heat or adding dyes allows variety of colors and patterns - some characteristic straw color of cork and others as dark as walnut

Rubber flooring

Made from synthetic rubber an doffers excellent resistance to deformation under loads, providing a very comfortable, quiet, resilient floor

Block flooring

Made of preassembled wood flooring in (3) basic configurations: Unit block flooring Laminated block flooring Parquet Flooring

Axminster carpet (form of weaving)

Made on a modified jacquard loom that delivers different colors of yarn at different times according to the pattern desired. Because of the weaving process, they can be produced in a range of patterns and colors, from geometric to florals. Unlike wilton process, most of the pile yarn is placed on the surface. Carpet has an even, cut-pile surface with a heavily ribbed backing.

A metamorphic rock formed by layers of shells that, under heat and pressure, form into a composition of crystalline grains of calcite and/or dolomite; available in a range of colors and patterns, from uniform, pure white to vivid greens and reds with wild streaked pattern; polished finish, honed, abrasive, and wet-sand finish

Marble

Roller shades

Material hung on a roller from the top of the window. Pulls down to close. Rolls up via a spring mechanism

Coefficient of friction (COF)

Measurement of the degree of slip resistance of a floor surface and ranges from 0 to 1. The higher the number, the less slippery the surface.

Seamless flooring

Mixture of resinous matrix, fillers, and decorative materials applied in a liquid or viscous form that cures to a hard, seamless surface (ex: terrazzo). Some installed by pouring, others troweled on a subfloor. Some products are self-leveling, while others must be worked to a level surface. High performing flooring that is used where special characteristics are required, such as extreme hardness, severe stain and chemical resistance, or excellent water resistance, or where cleanliness and ease of cleaning are required

Similar to tufting except the fiber is pulled through a backing with barbed needles; produces a carpet of limited variation in texture and accounts for a very small percentage of the total carpet market

Needle punching

An economical carpet material that is very strong and wear resistant; it has a high stain resistance and excellent crush resistance, it can be dyed with a wide variety of colors and cleans easily; some have static issues and a glossy sheen, but these problems have generally been alleviated with improved fiber construction and by blending _____ with other fibers; because of its many advantages, including cost, ______ is the most widely used fiber for residential and commercial carpet

Nylon

Used primarily for indoor outdoor carpet and as an alternative to for carpet backing; is very durable, is stain resistant, and cleans easily; however, it is the least attractive of the artificial fivers and has a low melting point

Olefin

Drapery

One of the most common types of window covering in residential and commercial interiors. Generally, it is any loosely hung fabric that covers the window. Attached to a traverse rod that allows it to be drawn open and closed, but many styles of hanging are possible, including fixed, tieback, and loose-hung swags. Made from a variety of fabrics using several pleating methods.

Austrian shades

Operate similar to roman shades, made of several rows of fabric seamed that they fold into scallops when opened

Carpet fiber that is made from synthetic polymers, is highly abrasion resistant, has good crush resistance, cleans well, is mildew resistant, and is low in cost

Polyester

______ tile is similar to ceramic tile in that it is made from clay, sand, and water, but the clay used is lighter in color and generally denser than that used for ceramic tile. ______ tile is fired at a temperature higher than ceramic tile and for longer periods of time. Because of its density, ______ tile is more durable and less porous than ceramic tile, making it preferable for commercial installations or in high-traffic areas. It is also less susceptible to freezing and thawing, so it can be used for exterior applications

Porcelain

Vinyl wallcovering

Provides a durable, abrasion resistant finish that is easy to clean and can satisfy most code requirements for flammability

Polyethylene Sheet Test

Qualitative test conducted by sealing a 18" x 18" sheet of plastic to the floor to trap excessive moisture. After minimum of 16 hours, visual inspection is made of the floor and the sheet. Presence of visible water indicates the concrete is insufficiently dry for the application of finishes.

______ tile is glazed or unglazed tile, usually with 6"^2 or more of facial area, and is made by the extrusion process from natural clay or shale

Quarry

A fine-grain metamorphic rock that is easily split into thin slabs, making it ideal for flooring as well as roofing; available in ranges of gray, black, green, brown, and deep red; a natural cleft finish shows the surface as it is cleaved from the rock, sand rubbed finish gives an even plane showing a slight grain, honed finish is semi polished without a sheen

Slate

Tiles

Small flat finishing units made of clay or clay mixtures

End-grain block flooring

Solid pieces of wood from 2 1/4-4" thick laid on end; very durable and resistant to oils, mild chemicals, and indentations

Four basic types of terrazzo

Standard terrazzo: most common type, using small chips no larger than 3/8" Venetian terrazzo: uses chips larger than 3/8" Palladian terrazzo: uses thin, random fractured slabs of marble with standard terrazzo between Rustic terrazzo: has the matrix depressed to expose the chips

Two basic measures of friction: static and dynamic

Static coefficient: measured from a resting position Dynamic coefficient: measured when the two surfaces are in relative motion. The dynamic COF is always less than the static COF

Four basic types of wood flooring

Strip flooring Plank flooring Block flooring End-grain blocks

A composite material poured in place or precast that is used for floors, walls, and stairs; consists of marble, quartz, granite, or other suitable chips

Terrazzo

Direct glued down carpet installation

The carpet is attached to the floor with adhesive; the carpet may have an attached cushion or be installed without a cushion

Paint binder

The component that gives the paint film integrity and holds the particles of pigment together

Pattern repeat in wallpaper

The distance form a point in the design to the next place directly above or below it where the same point in the pattern is repeated

Pattern repeat in wallpaper

The distance from one point to the next instance of the same point in the pattern

Paint pigments

The finely ground natural or synthetic insoluble materials that give paint its color and concealing abilities

The square footage method of wallpaper calculations

The total area to be covered is calculated, modified by an allowance for waste and deductions for doors, windows, and other areas not to be covered. Then, the area covered by one roll or bolt of wallcovering is divided into the total area to determine the number of rolls or bolts needed 1) Calculate the perimeter of the room in feet 2) Multiply the perimeter by the height of the walls to be covered to get the total amount of area required in square feet 3) To the area found in step 2, add an extra 20% for waste 4) Calculate the area of doors, windows, and other features that will not be covered. 15'^2 for one door opening or two windows is a common rule of thumb 5) Subtract the area in step 4 from the area in step 3. This is the total amount of wallpaper needed 6) Divide the area per roll of wallpaper into the area found in step 5 to determine the number of rolls needed. A roll of 27" wide wallpaper contains 36'^2. The more commonly used double roll contains 72'^2. Round fractions up to the nearest whole

The strip method of wallpaper calculations

The total perimeter of the room is calculated in inches and then divided by the width of the roll of wallcovering material. This gives the number of strips needed. This number is multiplied by the height of the ceiling to get the number of linear feet. The linear footage can be converted to linear yards or to the number of rolls, if necessary. Add an extra 20% for waste

pH test

Used to test the surface of concrete that will come in contact with flooring adhesives or other critical floor coatings Simple test using coated paper strip or small pH meter. Once pH is known, it can be compared with the maximum pH recommended by the flooring manufacturer pH of 8.5 is considered ideal and about the minimum that concrete can have, with values up to 9.0 being acceptable

Electrical impedance test

Uses proprietary meters to determine the moisture content of the concrete by measuring conductance and capacitance. Probes of the meter are placed on the concrete, and the percentage of moisture content in the slab is read out directly.

Stretched in carpet Installation

Uses tackless strips attached around the perimeter of the room; these strips have embedded, sharp points that face toward the walls; the carpet is stretched against these strips, which hold the carpet in place; a carpet cushion is either stapled to wood floors or glued to concrete floors after the tackless strips are in place

7 Manufacturing processes of carpets

Weaving, tufting, needle punching, fusion bonding,

Translucent panels

When a clear view is not required or desired, translucent panels can be used to admit diffused light.

Wilton carpet

carpet weaving method produced on a Jacquard loom that allows complex patterns to be woven into the carpet and can create several types of surface textures, including level cut-pile, level loop, cut/uncut and multilevel loop; because different colors of yarn run beneath the surface of the carpet and are pulled up only when they are needed for the pattern, these are generally heavier and more expensive than the other woven types for the same total weight

Two primary types of tiles

ceramic and quarry tiles

Straight Match (Wallpaper)

design elements repeat horizontally and each strip starts at the ceiling line at the same place in the pattern

Carpet is installed in one of two ways

direct glue down stretched in installation

Advantages of terrazzo

durability water resistance ease of cleaning fire resistance variety in color and patterns

Roman shades

pull up with cord into accordion folds

Types of window treatments:

roller shades, roman shades, austrian shades, venetian blinds, mini blinds, vertical blinds, louvered shutters, plantation shutters, drapery, curtains, translucent panels, grilles

Velvet carpet (form of weaving)

simplest form of weaving and places all the pile yarn on the face of the carpet; generally solid colors, but multicolored yarns can also be used in a variety of surface textures including plushes, loop pile, cut pile, multilevel loop, and cut and loop styles

Common cushion materials for carpet include:

sponge rubber, felt, urethane, and foam rubber

Unit block flooring

standard strip flooring assembled into a unit held together with steel or wood splines

When one length of wallpaper is aligned with the next piece in a direct horizontal line, it is called a _______ match. If the next piece must be lowered to continue the pattern, it is called a ________ match.

straight, drop