CH. 16: FINISHES
Strip flooring
>2.25" W and 1.5" wide strips >Tongue and groove edges
Paver Tile
>Made by dust-pressed method >tile over 6 sq inches
Two flooring qualify as sustainable products
1. Bamboo 2. Palm wood
Flooring grade
1. Clear (Best appearance. Selected for uniformity of light color. Slight variation in the natural sapwood color; Limited small character marks. Pin knots allowed. No checks or splits.) 2. Select and Better (Combination of clear and select grades. The most standard high grade hardwood flooring sold on the world market. Excellent appearance. Variation in the natural sapwood color; Limited character marks. No stains, checks, or splits. ) 3. #1 Common (Variegated Appearance. All color variations allowed. Sound knots less than 3/8" (10 mm), flags, worm holes, and mineral streaks allowed. No splits, holes, or voids. ) 4. #2 Common (Rustic appearance. All color variations allowed. All characteristics of the species allowed. A serviceable floor after knot holes, worm holes, checks, splits, and other imperfections are filled and finished.)
Wood flooring grading rules set by:
1. MFMA (Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association) 2. NOFMA (National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association)
Terrazzo installation
1. Sand cushion: best way to avoid cracking of the terrazzo because finish system is separated from structural slab with a membrane 2. Bonded method: Used when movement of slab is not an issue 3. Monolithic: where thickness of the installation is a problem 4. Thin set method: Thickness of the installation is a problem
Felt
>Available in 4 forms: hair, combination, fiber, rubberized 1. Hair felt: 100% animal hair 2. Combination felt: mixture of hair and other fibers 3. Fiber felt: entirely non-animal fibers 4. Rubberized felt: any of the other 3 types with rubberized coating on one side
Four basic types of wood flooring
1. Strip flooring 2. Plank flooring 3. Block flooring 4. Solid end-grain blocks >Must be installed over suitable nailable base >Need moisure prevention, usualy a layer of polyethylene film is laid down under substrate >On concrete, can be installed on plywood for a nailable base >On concrete, can be installed on wood sleepers: gives more resilient floor more comfortable underfoot, and provides air space so excess mositrue can excape
Two primary ways to install stone flooring
1. Thin-set installation 2. Thick-set installation
3 primary weaving methods
1. Wilton carpet: Produced on Jacquard loom. Allows complex patterns to be woven into the carpet-creates several types of surface textures (level cut-pile, level loop, cut/uncut, multilevel loop) Because different colours of yarn run beneath surface of carpet and are pulled up only when needed, generally heavier and more expensive than other woven types of the same total weight. 2. Velvet carpet: Simplest form of weaving and places all the pile yarn on the face of the carpet. Generally solid colours, but multicoloured yarns can also be used in a variety of surface textures including plushes, loop pile, cut pile, multilevel loop, and cut and loop styles. 3. Axminster carpets: Made on a modified Jacquard loom that delivers different colours of yarn at different times according to pattern desired. Can be produced in range of patterns and colours, from geometric to floral. Unlike Wilton, most of the pile yarn is placed on the surface. The carpet has an eve, cut-pile surface with a heavily ribbed backing.
Carpet installation
2 ways: 1. direct glue-down 2. Stretched-in installation: uses tackless strips attached around the perimeter of the room; strips have sharp points that face toward the walls where the carpet is stretched against these strips which hold the carpet in place
Plank flooring
>3.25" to 8" Wide
Terrazzo
>A composite material poured in place or precast-used for floors walls and stairs >Consists of marble, quartz, granite, and other suitable chips, in a matrix that is cementitious, chemical or a combination of both >It is poured, cured, ground, and polished to produce a smooth surface >Durable, water resistance, ease of cleaning, fire resistance, availability of wide colours and patterns >4 types: 1. Standard (uses small chips 3/8" and under) 2. Venetian (larger than 3/8") 3. Palladian (Thin, random fractured slabs of marble w/ std terrazzo between) 4. Rustic (has the matrix depressed to expose the chips)
Alkalinity in concrete
>Can cause two types of problems 1. High alkalinity on the surface can damage of a slab can damage a tile installation by causing the adhesive to re-emulsify, or return to its original liquid state 1. Can cause probelms with other coatings. At level of 9 or 10, most adhesives may begin to experience probelms-although professional grade adhesives can sometimes be used with a pH of 11 >Surface alkalinity can be controlled with various proprietary coatings
Sheet carpet
>Comes in long rolls, commonly 12' wide, and installed so no seams are visible
Foam rubber
>Commonly a-pplied as integral backing to some carpet; natrual or syntehtic latex rubber with additives, has backing on one side
Linoleum
>Composed of oxidized linseed oil, wood flour, pigments, and fillers applied over a backing of burlap or asphalt-saturated felt >Available in solid colours or multicoloured patterns that extend through the thickness to the backing >Has very good abrasion and grease resistance but has limited resistance to alkalis >Because it is composed of natural materials it is popular as a sustainable material
Nylon
>Economical carpet material, very strong and wear resistant >High stain resistance, excellent crush resistance >Can be dyed with variety of colours, cleans easily >Some nylons have static issues and a glossy sheen, but can be improved by fiber construction of blending nylon with other fibers >Because of many advantages, including cost, it is most widely used fiber for carpet
Fusion bonding
>Embeds the pile yarn in a backing of liquid vinyl >When vinyl hardens, the tufts permanently locked in the vinyl >Has no backing as other carpet types do, and is used primarily for carpet tiles
Bamboo Flooring
>Environmentally sensitive alternative to tradtional hardwood flooring >Fast growing grass >DownsideL must be transported long distance >Almost as hard and twice as stable as red oak and maple
Slate
>Fine-grain metamorphic rock, easily split into thin slabs, ideal for flooring and roofing >Natural cleft finish: shows surface as it is cleaved from the rock, so it is rough and surface level varies by about 1/8" >Sand-rubbed finish gives even plane showing a slight grain >Honed finish is semi-polished without a sheen
ASTM E648
>Flooring radiant panel test >In IBC, carpet must meet these requirements >In IBC, when carpet's not required to be either Class I or Class II material according to the flooring radiant panel test, it must meet the requirements of the pill test
Thick-set installation
>Generally the best method and must be used when subfloor is uneven or when stone varies in thickness (i.e. with slate or sandstone) >Requires layer of mortar from 3/4" to 1.25" thk applied to a suitably prepared, structurally sound subfloor >Stone is either set in 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 >Mortar bed can be bonded to the subfloor or separated from it with a clevage membrane >Used with steel reinforcing mesh in the mortar bed to allow floor to be structurally separate from subfloor >If subfloor deflects or moves, stone flooring is protected from cracking because it is not bonded to the structural floor
Resilient flooring
>Generic term: Describes several types of composition materials made from various resins, fibers, plasticizers, and fillers >Formed under heat and pressure to produce a thin material, in sheets or tiles >It is applied with mastic to a subfloor of concrete, plywood, or other smooth underlayment >Common types include vinyl, rubber and cork
Acrylic
>Has moderate abrasion resistance, but has more wool-like appearance than nylon >Like nylon, can be dyed with variety of colours, has good crush resistance and easy to maintain >Modacyrlic is a modified version of acrylic
Granite
>Igneous rock with visible grains >5 finishes 1.Polished (mirror gloss) 2.Honed (dull sheen) 3. Fine-rubbed finishes (smooth surface free from scratches and no sheen) 4. rubbed finish: surface with occasional slight "trails" or scratches 5. Thermal/flame: coarse surface
Vinyl Flooring
>Includes pure vinyl, vinyl composition, vinyl tiles, sheet vinyl >Durable resilient flooring, resistant to indentation, abrasion, grease, water alkalis, acids >Must be installed over a clean, dry, smooth surface >Vinyl composition tile: similar to vinyl tile but includes various types of fillers that decrease percentage of polyvinylchloride (VINYL); costs less than homogenous (Solid throughout) vinyl. While it costs less than homogenous vinyl, it has less flexibility and abrasion resistance; mastic installation, peel and stick avialble
Carpet tiles
>Individually pieces of carpet 18"wide usually, applied to floor with pressure-sensitive adhesives
Engineered Flooring
>Laminated wood flooring made by pressure-gluing cross piles for greater dimensional stability and having a wear layer of solid, often prefinished hardwood.
Thin-set installation
>Less expensive, less weight to floor, faster to install >Suitable for thin stone floors cut in uniform thickness >Uniform thickness of stone set on subfloor with a special thin-set mortar (1/8" or less) or with adhesive >Can either be placed on either concrete or wood subfloors
Quarry tile
>Made by extrusion process from natural clay or shale >tile over 6 sq inches
Porcelain
>Made from clay, sand, water, fired at a higher temperature >More durable, less porous, less susceptible to freezing and thawing for exterior applications
Olefin (Polypropylene)
>Used primarily for indoor-outdoor carpet, alternative to jute for carpet backing >Very durable, stain resistant, cleans easily >Least attractive, and has low melting point
Solid end-grain blocks
>Very durable, resistant to oils, mild chemicals, and indentation >Often used for industrial floors
Palm wood
>harvested as a by-product from plantation-grown coconut palms >Harder and more stable than maple, red oak, and white oak
Cork flooring
>Made from granulated pieces of bark from cork oaktree, bonded under high pressure and heat >Varying heat or adding dyes, froms a variety of colours and patterns >Cork is renewable resource because after it is harvested, tree grows a new skin in approximately 9 years, and then the ark can be harvested again >In addition, the cork industry helps preserve forests >Used where acoustical control or a high degree of resilience is desired >Come in tile and plank form: Planks consist of cork laminated to tonge and groove MDF >Tile is installed using adhesive, while the plank form is edge-glued without being adhered to the subfloor >Available either unfinished or prefinished: finishes include acrylic, polyurethane, carnauba wax >Acrylic requires frequent reapplication-every 4-6 months >Polyurethane must be reapplied every 3 to seven years and the old finish must be completely sanded off to ensure new application with stick >Wax must be reapplied about once a year
Sponge rubber
>Made from natural/synthetic rubber, along with other chemicals and fillers, and has a facing on the top side >Available in flat sheets/waffled configuration
Polyester carpet fiber
>Made from synthetic polymers >Highly abrasion resistant, good crush resistance, cleans well, mildew resistant, low in cost >Sometimes blended with nylon
Rubber flooring
>Made from synthetic rubber >Offers excellent resistance to deformation under loads >Provides very comfortable, quiet, resilient floor >Not very resistant to oils/grease >Available with smooth or patterned surface, raised surface that allows water and dirt to lie below wearing surface, to prevent slipping or excessive abrasion >Available in tiles or sheets
Urethane
>Manufactured in 3 ways to produce prime, densified, or bonded sheets, each of which has a different range of densities
Marble
>Metamorphic rock formed by layers of shells that under heat and pressure, form into a composition of crystalline grains of calcite and/or dolomite 1. Polished 2. Honed-satin-smooth surface 3. Abrasive finish: flat, nonreflective surface suitable for stair treads and noslip surfaces 4. Wet-sand finish: smooth surface suitable for non slip floors
ASTM D2859
>Methenamine pill test; carpet must pass to be sold in the US >Measures the response of a carpet sample to a burning methenamine tablet
Calcium chloride test (Moisture dome test)
>Most common - easy & inexpensive; placing standard mass of calcium chloride below a plastic cover and sealing it to concrete floor. After 60 - 72 hours the calcium chloride is compared to its pre-test weight.
Wool
>Natural material >Very durable and resilient, wears well, flame resistant, relatively easy to clean and maintain <One of most expensive fibers for initial cost
Block flooring
>Preassembled wood flooring in 3 basic configurations 1. Unit blocking flooring (Standard strip flooring assembled into unit held together with steel or wood splines) 2. Laminated block (3-7 plies of cross laminated wood veneer) 3. Parquet flooring ( Preassembled units of several small, thin slats of wood in a variety of patterns; less expensive to install, easier to install)
Tufting
>Process where the pile yarn is punched through the backing with rows of needles (like sewing machine method) >As needle goes through the backing, the yarn is caught and held while the needle makes the next pass >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
Limestone
>Sedimentary rock commonly used for exterior surfaces >Has a type called travertine: frequently used for interior floor; has holes, must be filled with an epoxy resin (can be coloured to be compatible with the stone) to make a smooth surface; Light, creamy colour usually finished with polished surface
sandstone
>Sedimentary rock made of sand and other substances >When cleaved from original rock, called flagstone and has a naturally rough surface >Can be used with irregular edges as it comes from the rock, or can be saw-cut into rectangular or square shapes
Needle punching
>Similar to tufting except the fiber is pulled through a backing with barbed needles >Produces carpet of limited variation in texture and accounts for a very small percentage of the total carpet market
Ph level and Alkalinity
>Slab should be tested >0-14: 7 is neutral >pH above 7 considered alkaline >pH less than 7 considered acidic >Concrete: pH 12.0-13.3 >Although pH level is an indication of the presence of alkalinity, pH and alkalinity are not the same >Two slabs can have the same pH level, but one can have a much higher alkalinity >Alkalinity cannot exist without moisture, because moisture causes the soluble alkalis in the concrete to enter into solution
Rug
>Soft floor covering laid on the floor but not fastened to it
Pitch of a woven carpet
>The number of ends of surface yarn in a 27" width >For tufted carpet, this measurement is called guage, which is the spacing in fractions of an inch between needles across the width of the carpet >Stitch (stitch rate): >Number of lengthwise tufts in 1" >The higher the pitch of guage number and stitch numbers are, the >Pile height: height of the fibers from the surface of the backing to the top of the pile
pH test
>This test is used to test the surface of concrete that will come in contact with flooring adhesives or other critical floor coatings >Uses coated paper strip or a small pH meter >Once pH level is known, can be compared with the max. pH recommended by flooring manufacturer >pH 8.5 is ideal and about minimum that concrete can have, values up to 9.0 being acceptable
Ceramic
>Tile: Clay, or mixture of clay and other ceramic materials >Mosaic: Formed by either dust-pressed/extrusion method
Tiles
>Two types: Ceramic and Quarry >Advantages: durability, water resistance (if glazed), easy install and cleaning, wide choice of colours, sizes, patterns, fire resistance, fade resistance, ability to store heat for passive solar collection >Nonvitreous tile (semivitreious): water absorption rate of more than 7% >IMpervious tile (vitreious): water absorption rate of 0.5% or less >Abrasion resistance: Group I: Light residential to Group 4: Commercial (Highest abrasion resistance)
Carpet backing and cushion
>polypropylene backing yarn most common for woven carpet; others include jute, cotton, polyester >Tufted carpet: primary backing of woven/non-woven polypropylene or woven jute; secondary backing usually latex is applied later >Carpet cushion:increase life of carpet, provide better resiliency and comfort, help sound absorption, lessen impact noise; include sponge rubber, felt, urethane, foam rubber
weaving
>traditional method of making carpet by interlacing warp and weft yarns >Very attractive and durable >most expensive method of manufacturing carpet by machine
Fibers
>wool, nylon, acrylic, modacrylic, polyester, olefin
Hygrometer Test (Relative humidity test)
Determines the moisture emission by measuring the relative humidity of the atmosphere confined adjacent to the concrete floor. A pocket of air is trapped below a vapor-impermeable box and probe in the device measures the RH. Test standards recommend that moisture-sensitive flooring not be installed unless the RH is 75% or less.
Alkali-silica reaction
Strongly alkaline cement beings to dissolve sand and rock within the concrete. Chemical reaction produces gel-like material that creates tremendous pressures in the pores of the concrete - can buckle / blister floor finishes
Mat test
Uses 24" x 24" sample of vapor-retardant floor finish, sample is applied with adhesive and sealed. After 72 hours, visual inspection shows if it is bonded to floor or not
Electrical impedance test
Uses proprietary meters to determine moisture content of concrete by measuring conductance and capacitance; Probes are placed directly on concrete and is reading is read out
Polyethylene sheet test
test conducted by sealing a 18" by 18" sheet of plastic to the floor to trap excessive moisture. After 16 hours, visual inspection is made of the floor and the sheet.
Titration test
used to determine the level of alkalinity in concrete. Grinding portions of concrete, mixing powder with water, and do lab testings.
