What are the Merits / Advantages and Demerits / Disadvantages of Cement/Concrete Flooring?

Merits/Advantages:
1.It is non absorbent and it is useful for water stores.
2.It is durable and hence it is commonly used in kitchen, bathrooms, schools, hospitals, drawing rooms, etc.
3.It is smooth and pleasing in appearance.
4.It is economical and has the advantage of costlier types of floors.
5.It possesses good wearing properties.
6.It can be easily maintained.
7.It is fire resistant.

Demerits/Disadvantages:
1.Defects in carelessly made floor cannot be rectified and requires proper attention while laying.
2.It cannot be repaired by patch work.

Where is Cement/Concrete Flooring found?

It is suitable for residential, commercial, industrial and public buildings of all types.

It is found in countries like India and else where. E.g. White House, Parliament of India, Etc

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.
  

What are the Merits / Advantages and Demerits / Disadvantages of Mud Flooring?

Merits / Advantages:
1.It is cheap
2.It is hard
3.It is fairly impervious
4.It is easy in construction
5.It is easy to maintain
6.It remains warm in winter and cold in cold in summer and hence most suitable for places where the temperature is extreme during these seasons.

Demerits / Disadvantages:
1.It is only well suited for small towns and villages.

Where(which places) is Mud Flooring found?

It is found in tropical country like India.

Since these floors remain warm in winter and cold in summer. These are most suitable for the places where the temperature is extreme during these seasons. These are commonly used in small villages and towns of India. E.g.Small towns in TamilNadu, Karnataka. Andhra Pradesh. Etc.

How to construct Mud Flooring?

Firstly, the floor bed should be well prepared.

A 25 cm thick layer of selected moist earth is evenly spread out and is rammed well so as to get a consolidated thick ness of about 15 cm.

It is important that no water is used during the process of ramming.

In order to prevent the formation of cracks after drying, chopped straw in small quantity is mixed with the moist earth before ramming.

The floor is maintained by giving a thin cement cow dung wash (1:2 to 1:3) once or twice a week.

What are different types of Flooring?

• Mud flooring
• Cement concrete flooring
• Tiled flooring
• Terrazzo flooring
• Linoleum flooring
• Brick flooring
• Stone flooring
• Granolithic flooring
• Timber flooring
• Asphalt flooring
• Epoxy resin flooring
• Muram flooring
• Flag stone flooring
• Rubber flooring
• Acid proof flooring
• Marble flooring
• Glass flooring
• Cork flooring
• Plastic or PVC flooring
• Carpet flooring
• Mosaic flooring
• Ceramic flooring
• Laminate flooring
• Vinyl flooring
• Arc Rugs flooring
• Bamboo flooring