1. Floor Covering

2. Introduction Floors have a lot to do with our visual and tactile appreciation of a building. They are a major functional component of a building. Floors are its primary wearing surface, subjected to water, grit, dust and the abrasive and penetrating actions of feet and furniture. They require more cleaning and maintenance effort than other components of a building. They must be designed to deal with problems of skid resistance, sanitation, noise reduction between floors of building, and electrical conductivity in occupancies.

4. Performance factors There are many performance factors that should be considered when selecting floor coverings. 1. Slip Resistance 2. Durability and Longevity 3. Flammability 4. Sound 5. Hygienic Qualities 6. Walking Comfort 7. Sustainability 8. Maintenance Requirements

5. Ceramic tile Ceramic tile is made from natural clay, porcelain, or other ceramic materials. The exposed face is either glazed or left unglazed and then fired to a temperature sufficient to produce the necessary physical properties. The glaze protects the tile body against water absorption and provides for a wide range of colors.

6. Setting methods Tiles are set using mortar.
First, a mortar bed is set. If waterproofing is required, the mortar bed is placed in two applications with a waterproof membrane in the middle.
If the floor will be subjected to a considerable load or if the floor structure deflection will be more than allowed by the tile installation method, the mortar bed should be reinforced with wire mesh or metal lath.
Second, tile is set on the mortar bed while the mortar is still green, that is, not cured.
After the tiles have been set and the mortar has partially cured, grout is used to fill the joints between the tile edges.

8. Setting materials
A wide variety of setting materials are available to adhere ceramic and stone tile to the subfloor using any of the three setting methods.

9. Organic adhesives
They are usually ready-to-use liquid or powdered water-emulsion latex products that cure by evaporation.
They are typically for light-duty, interior-use-only installations and are not suitable for high temperatures.

10. Cement mortars
It is consist of mixtures of portland cement, sand, water, and water-retentive additives and are for general-duty installations.

11. Water-cleanable epoxies
They are composed of an epoxy resin and a hardener, are suitable for heavy-duty installations, high-temperature conditions, and specific functions.

12. Furan resin mortars
consist of furan resin, powder containing carbon or silica fillers, and an acid catalyst and are formulated for resistance to chemicals

13. Installation
One of the most commonly overlooked aspects of successful tile installation for large floor areas is the need for movement joints.
Movement joints are typically filled with a pedestrian traffic grade urethane or silicone sealant over either a foam backer rod or bond-breaking tape.
The following general guidelines are helpful for locating movement joints in a tile installation:

14. For interior installations (6-7
For interior installations (6-7.5 m) in each direction when not exposed to direct sunlight and ( m) in each direction when exposed.
For exterior installations ( m) is required in each direction.
When tile adjoins other restraining structural members, such as columns, curbs, walls, and ceilings; also at changes in floor elevation.
At subfloor construction, contraction, and expansion joints.
The widths of joints should never be less than the joint in the subfloor below.

16. Stone panel flooring
Stone panels for flooring, also known as dimension stone, are natural stones that have been selected and fabricated (cut and trimmed) to specific shapes and sizes
A thick setting bed composed of a damp mix of Portland cement and sand that is placed and then leveled. Prior to setting of the stone panels, the setting bed is sprinkled with water to start the cement-setting process.
While the setting bed is still plastic, the backs of the stone panels are fully buttered with a bond coat of cementitious materials and then set in place. Care must be taken to maintain uniform joint widths and consistent elevations of the various panels. After the mortar has cured sufficiently, the joints are grouted.

18. Terrazzo flooring
Terrazzo flooring has much in common with concrete.
A terrazzo binding matrix is mixed with several aggregates and placed, wet and plastic, in its final location.
The exposed surface is ground and polished after it cures to expose the binding matrix and aggregates, thus revealing a smooth and colorful finish.

20. A binding matrix (white cement, aggregate chips, and pigments to form a uniform matrix color) is the material that holds the aggregate chips in position
This binding matrix is now being replaced with a resinous epoxy.
The creative design of terrazzo flooring is the primary criterion for selecting aggregate chips.
Metal divider and control strips are used to control cracking and to create designs.
Cementitious terrazzo requires closely spaced strips to control cracking.
Resinous terrazzo does not crack, so the strips are used to create decorative designs.

22. Installation
When the subfloor or cementitious under bed has been prepared, including filling cracks, divider strips are attached and then the terrazzo topping is placed in a wet and plastic condition.
It is leveled, rolled, compacted, and troweled to a dense, uniform, and flat surface that reveals the divider strips.
The topping is allowed to cure until it develops sufficient strength to prevent chips from being lifted or pulled out by the grinding machine.
It is then ground with a series of various grit stones, progressing from rough to fine; imperfections are grouted; and, finally, it is polished to the desired sheen.

24. Resinous flooring
Resinous flooring, also called polymer flooring or epoxy flooring is applied in its liquid form;
when cured, it provides a flexible, seamless, and uniform surface.
The flooring is thin and has excellent bonding capability, mechanical strength, and abrasion and impact resistance.
It may be used in resistance to severe and corrosive chemicals, acids, solvents, extreme cyclic changes in temperature, static-dissipative or conductive purposes.

26. Reducing noise transmission through floors There are several strategies for dealing with impact noise; these may be employed individually or in various combinations.

27. One is to use padded carpeting or cushioned resilient flooring to reduce the amount of impact noise that is generated.
الاول هو استخدام السجاد المبطن أو الأرضيات المرنة لتقليل كمية من تأثير الضوضاء المتولدة..

28. A second is to underlay the flooring material with a layer of resilient material that is not highly conductive of impact noise. Cellulose fiber panels and nonwoven plastic filament matting are two materials marketed for this purpose.
والثاني هو وضع مواد الارضيات على اساس يتكون من مادة مرنة غير موصل للضوضاء . من اهم المواد المستخدمة لهذا الغرض هي ألواح من ألياف السليلوز و البلاستيك

29. A third mechanism is to make an airtight ceiling below of a heavy, dense material such as plaster or gypsum board and to mount this ceiling on resilient clips or on hanger wire with springs. The springs or clips absorb most of the sound energy that would otherwise travel through the structure.

30. Thank you