Construction

Methodology
(Plain Concrete & Finishing works)
Plain Concrete

 Concrete, or more properly Portland cement concrete, is one of the world’s

most versatile and widely used construction materials.
 Concrete structural members have traditionally been built in-place by placing
the plastic concrete into forms and allowing it to harden. The forms are
removed after the concrete has developed sufficient strength to support its
own weight and the weight of any construction loads.
Concrete Slab on Grade

 A concrete slab on grade is a level surface of concrete that lies directly on

the ground.
 Slabs on grade are used for roads, sidewalks, patios, airport runways, and
basements or ground floors of buildings
 To prepare for the placement of a slab on grade, the unstable topsoil is
scraped away to expose the subsoil beneath. If the exposed subsoil is too soft,
it is compacted or replaced with more stable material.
 Constructing concrete slab on grade
1. A layer crushed stone at least 4 inches (100
mm) deep, also referred to as a capillary
break, is compacted over the subsoil as a
drainage layer to keep water away from the
underside of the slab.
2. A moisture barrier (also called a vapor
retarder), usually consisting of a heavy plastic
sheet, is laid over the crushed stone to prevent
water vapor from rising through the slab from
the ground beneath.
3. A reinforcing mesh of welded wire reinforcing,
is laid over the moisture barrier or crushed
stone, to help protect the slab against cracking
that might be caused by concrete shrinkage,
temperature stresses, concentrated loads, frost
heaving, or settlement of the ground beneath.
4. Finally the concrete is poured into the
formwork.
CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES
 Concrete construction involves concrete batching, mixing, transporting,
placing, consolidating, finishing, and curing.

Transporting and Handling

 A number of different items of equipment are available for moving concrete
from the mixer to its final position. Equipment commonly used includes
wheelbarrows, buggies, chutes, conveyors, pumps, buckets, and trucks.
 To avoid segregation when handling plastic concrete. The height of free fall
should be limited to about 5 ft (1.5 m)
Transporting and Handling

wheelbarrows buggies chutes

conveyors concrete pumps Mixer truck

Placing of Concrete
 The movement of plastic concrete into its final position (usually within forms)
is called placing. Before placing concrete, the underlying surface and the
interior of all concrete forms must be properly prepared. Concrete forms must
be clean and tight and their interior surfaces coated with form oil or a parting
agent to allow removal of the form from the hardened concrete without
damaging the surface of the concrete.
 When concrete is poured directly onto a subgrade, the subgrade should be
moistened or sealed by a moisture barrier to prevent the subgrade from
absorbing water from the plastic concrete.
 When placing fresh concrete on top of hardened concrete, the surface of the
hardened concrete should be roughened to provide an adequate bond between
the two concrete layers.
 To improve bonding between the layers, the surface of the hardened concrete
should also be coated with grout or a layer of mortar before the fresh
concrete is placed.
Underwater Concreting

 Concrete may be placed underwater by the use of a tremie or by pumping

 A tremie is nothing more than a vertical tube with a gate at the bottom and a
hopper on top. In operation the tremie tube must be long enough to permit
the concrete hopper to remain above water when the lower end of the tremie
is placed at the desired location.
 With the gate closed, the tremie is filled with concrete and lowered into
position. The gate is then opened, allowing concrete to flow into place. The
pressure of the plastic concrete inside the tremie prevents water from
flowing into the tremie. The tremie is raised as concrete is poured, but care
must be taken to keep the bottom end of the tremie immersed in the plastic
concrete.
Concreting with tremie
Consolidation of Concrete
 Consolidation is the process of removing air voids in concrete as it is placed.
 Concrete vibrators are normally used for consolidating concrete, but hand
rodding or spading may be employed.
 Immersion-type electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic concrete vibrators are
widely used. However, form vibrators or vibrators attached to the outside of
the concrete forms are sometimes employed.
 Vibrators should not be used to move concrete horizontally, as this practice
may produce segregation of the concrete mix.
 Vibrators should be inserted into the concrete vertically and allowed to
penetrate several inches into the previously placed layer of concrete. The
vibrator should be withdrawn and moved to another location when cement
paste becomes visible at the top of the vibrator.
Methods of consolidation

concrete vibrator form vibrator

Vertical immersion of concrete vibrator

Finishing
 Finishing is the process of bringing the surface of concrete to its final position and
imparting the desired surface texture.
 Finishing operations include screeding, floating, troweling, and brooming
 Screeding is the process of striking off the concrete in order to bring the concrete
surface to the required grade. When the concrete has hardened sufficiently so
that a worker’s foot makes only a small impression in the surface, the concrete is
floated with a wood or metal float.
 Floating smooths and compacts the surface while embedding aggregate particles.
 Troweling with a steel trowel follows floating when a smooth dense surface is
desired.
 Finally, the concrete may be broomed by drawing a stiff broom across the surface.
This technique is used when a textured skid-resistant surface is desired.
Finishing of Concrete surface

screeding, floating

troweling brooming
Curing
 The completion of cement hydration requires that adequate moisture and
favorable temperatures be maintained after concrete is placed. The process
of providing the required water and maintaining a favorable temperature for
a period of time after placing concrete is referred to as curing.
 Methods used to retain adequate curing moisture include covering the
concrete surface with wet straw or burlap, ponding water on the surface,
covering the surface with paper or plastic sheets, and applying curing
compounds.
Hot-Weather Concreting

 The rate of hardening of concrete is greatly accelerated when concrete

temperature is appreciably higher than the optimum temperature Ninety
degrees Fahrenheit (32° C) is considered a reasonable upper limit for
concreting operations.
 In addition to reducing setting time, higher temperatures reduce the amount
of slump for a given mix. If additional water is added to obtain the desired
slump, additional cement must also be added or the water-cement ratio will
be increased with corresponding strength reduction.
 High temperatures, especially when accompanied by winds and low humidity
greatly increase the shrinkage of concrete and often lead to surface cracking
of the concrete.
Steps to reduce the effect of high
temperatures
 The temperature of the plastic concrete may be lowered by cooling the mixing
water and/or aggregates before mixing.
 Heat gain during hydration may be reduced by using Type IV (low-heat) cement or
by adding a retarder.
 Air-entraining agents, water reducing agents, or workability agents may be used to
increase the workability of the mix without changing water/cement ratios.
 It is also advisable to reduce the maximum time before discharge of ready-mixed
concrete from the normal 11⁄2 to 1 h or less.
 The use of shades or covers will be helpful in controlling the temperature of
concrete after placement.
 Moist curing should start immediately after finishing and continue for at least 24 h.
Cold-Weather Concreting

 The problems of cold-weather concreting are essentially opposite to those of hot-

weather concreting.
 Concrete should not be placed on a frozen surface and must not be allowed to
freeze during the first 24 h after placing to avoid permanent damage and loss of
strength.
 Concrete forms and reinforcing steel should be free of frost, ice, and snow and at
a temperature above freezing.
 Specifications often require that, when air temperature is 40˚/F (5˚ C) or less,
concrete be placed at a minimum temperature of 50˚ F (10˚ C) and that this
temperature be maintained for at least 3 d after placing.
 However, the American Concrete Institute (ACI) recommends that a temperature
of 70˚ F (21˚ C) be maintained for 3 d or 50˚ F (10˚ C) be maintained for 5 d after
pouring to ensure that the concrete will attain its design strength.
Steps to reduce the effect of low
temperatures
 Type III (high early strength) cement or an accelerator may be used to reduce
concrete setting time during low temperatures.
 Mix water and/or aggregates may be heated prior to mixing to raise the
temperature of the plastic concrete.
 However, cement should not be allowed to contact hot water. Therefore, the
aggregate should be mixed with the heated water prior to adding cement to
the mix.
 The use of unvented heaters inside an enclosure during the first 36 h after
placing may cause the concrete surface to dust after hardening. To avoid this
problem, any fuel-burning heaters used during this period must be properly
vented.
 When heat is used for curing, the concrete must be allowed to cool gradually
at the end of the heating period or cracking may result.
Finishing Works
Wall Finishes

 Wall finish is a general term for a permanent covering of a wall. It is expected

to protect and extend the life of the walls while providing an attractive
appearance.
 Types of Wall Finishing include
 Plastering
 Pointing
 Cladding
 Painting
PLASTERING
 Applying mortar coats on the surfaces of walls, columns, ceiling etc. to get
smooth finish is termed as plastering.
 Requirement of good plaster are:
1. It should adhere to the background easily.
2. It should be hard and durable.
3. It should prevent penetration by moisture.
4. It should be cheap and economical.
5. It should possess good workability.
Pointing
 Pointing, in building maintenance, the technique of repairing mortar joints
between bricks or other masonry elements. When aging mortar joints crack
and disintegrate, the defective mortar is removed by hand or power tool and
replaced with fresh mortar, preferably of the same composition as the
original.
 This treatment not only protect the joints, but also magnifies the appearance
of the surface by exhibiting the patterns of joints, their color and texture
prominently.
Building cladding

 Cladding is a construction technique that refers to the components that are

attached to the primary building to form distinctive external surfaces.
 There are various types of claddings
1. Stone cladding
2. Tile cladding
3. Timber cladding
4. UPVC cladding
5. Metal plate cladding
6. Glass cladding
Types of Claddings

Stone cladding Timber cladding UPVC cladding

Tile Cladding Metal plate cladding Glass cladding

Painting
 Paint is a solution of a pigment in water, oil, or organic solvent used to cover
the walls, ceilings for protection and appearance.
 For different surfaces different types of paints are used
Floor Finishes
 A floor finish is a general term for a permanent covering of a floor. It is
expected to protect and extend the life of the floor while providing an
attractive appearance and slip resistant surface.
 Types of Floor Finishing
1. Terrazzo Flooring
2. Stone Flooring
3. Timber Flooring
4. PCC Flooring
5. Brick Flooring
Terrazzo Flooring
 Terrazzo is a flooring material traditionally made by exposing marble chips on
the surface of concrete and then polishing until smooth.
 However terrazzo is now available in tile form.
 It’s often used in public buildings because it’s long lasting and can be
refinished repeatedly.
Stone Flooring
 Stone flooring is a type of flooring in which the floor is covered with stone
slabs or stone tiles
 Types of Stone Flooring
1. Marble
2. Slate
3. Granite
Marble Flooring
 Various colors depending on origin.
 Fine and prosperous looking floors.
 Mainly used in homes for interior flooring reason
 Expensive flooring.
 Available in different sizes
Slate Flooring
 Can be used in homes for outdoor flooring reasons.
 Very hard in nature.
 Variety of colors.
 Extremely durable.
 Slip-resistant .
 Available in different sizes and shapes
Granite Flooring
 Granite is composed of quartz and feldspar mixed with particles of mica.
 Coarse-grained,
 Light-colored
 Long life and easy to install
Timber Flooring

 Timber flooring is any product manufactured from timber that is designed for
use as flooring, either structural or aesthetic.
 Common choice as a flooring material due to its environmental profile,
durability, and restorability.
 Used in interiors as well as exteriors.
 Divided into two categories:
1. SOLID
2. ENGINEERED
Solid/Hardwood
 One of easiest ways to add value to a home.
 Cost effective, durable and classy, solid wood floors are one of the few long-
lasting home fixtures
 Made of planks milled from a single piece of timber.
 Many genuine timber floors are immediately distinctive by the width of the
planking, weathered patina and distinctive grain.
Engineered Wood
 Most common type of wood flooring used globally.
 Composed of two or more layers of wood in the form of a plank
 TOP LAYER :Aluminum oxide and is specially treated to achieve high wear
resistance.
 SECOND LAYER :Real hardwood veneer.
 CORE LAYER : stacked layers of plywood,
 HDF (high density fiberboard) or MDF (medium density fiberboard) lay at 90
degree angles to each other.
 This gives the flooring better structural stability and bonded together under
heat and pressure.
 More suitable in high moisture areas or in areas of frequent temperature
changes. It does not warp or cup during climatic changes.
Wood Floor Finishes
 Wood Floor Finishes are very popular as they are durable, water-resistant, and
require minimal maintenance.
 These are blends of synthetic resins.
 Most popular modern finishes for wood flooring are oil-modified Urethane and
water-based polyurethane.
 WATER BASED:
1. Appear clear and will resist turning yellow over time.
2. They have a mild odor when applied, and will dry in two to three hours.
3. Water-based finishes are very durable.
 OIL BASED:
1. Appear amber in color.
2. They have a moderate odor when applied, and will dry in about eight hours.
3. Produces sheen appearance of the floor.
Oil Based Vs Water Based Finishes
PCC Flooring
 The mixture of cement, sand and aggregate is called plain cement concrete
(PCC)
 Plain cement concrete composition 1:2:4 (cement : sand : stone ) by volume
 They are economical as they require negligible maintenance cost
 They can be finished with a pleasing appearance.
 Provide a smooth & non absorbent surface
Brick Flooring
 Floor that has brick /brick tile as its covering.
 The flooring is done with laying bricks down in a bed of mortar and arranged
in a pattern.
 Commonly used in
 Warehouses
 Stores
 Godowns
 Places where heavy articles are stored
 Porches