Understanding Building Floors and Finishes

A rigid building assembly that divides space horizontally into stories.
Forms the bottom of a room.
Can be made of various materials including:
- Joist-supported wood planks or panels
- Decking or panels supported by wood or steel beams
- A slab of stone or concrete on the ground
- A reinforced-concrete slab carried by concrete beams and columns
Provides structural support for the contents of the room, its occupants, and the weight of the floor itself.
Resists the passage of moisture, heat, and sound.
A surface finish can contribute to the look, feel, and acoustics of a space.
Sometimes forms an integral part of the primary structure of the building.
May include elements of building services, such as wiring, pipework, ducting, drainage, lighting, ventilation, and so on.

A material applied to the surface of a floor to enhance its appearance, durability, and functionality.
Serves to protect the underlying flooring material from wear and tear, moisture, and stains.
Provides aesthetic appeal.

These are materials that are applied or installed directly on-site rather than being pre-manufactured and assembled off-site.
Allows for a seamless and customized finish tailored to specific design requirements.

A type of floor finish made by mixing molten mass of specific grade asphalt with clean sharp sand or gravel or grit in a specific ratio.
Poured on the concrete floor in hot form with enough consistency to be dropped freely and then troweled keeping uniform thickness of 13 to 25 mm.

A type of jointless floor finish made from a mixture of pitch and aggregates like limestone or silica sand.
When heated, this mixture becomes fluid and is spread to a thickness of 16-25 mm.
Once it cools, it forms a durable, seamless surface.

Also known as GRANOLITHIC PAVING OR CONCRETE.
A durable construction material made from cement and fine aggregates like granite.
Typically used for flooring or paving in areas where appearance isn’t a priority.
Laid as a screed over a structural element to provide a level surface for the final flooring.

Made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Plastic-based materials formed into tiles or sheets that can be laid over floors.

Made from materials that become soft when heated and hard when cooled, allowing them to be molded into various shapes.

Flooring made from natural or synthetic rubber, available in either tile or sheet form.

A resilient flooring made from natural materials such as linseed oil, wood flour, cork dust, and resins.
Has a durable surface.

A soft floor covering made from fibers such as wool, nylon, or polyester, woven or tufted into a backing material.

Flooring made from cork, a natural material harvested from the bark of cork oak trees.

Unglazed ceramic tiles made from natural clay that is fired at high temperatures, resulting in a dense and durable finish.

Ceramic tiles made from molded natural clay that is fired in a kiln.
Can be glazed (providing a shiny finish) or unglazed (offering a more natural appearance).

Solid wooden sheets that are robust and of high quality.
Designed for durability and aesthetic appeal, often featuring a laminate or veneer surface that mimics the look of solid wood.

These strips are typically manufactured to specific dimensions and can be made from various types of wood, each offering different aesthetics and durability.
Can provide a classic look and are often installed in a tongue-and-groove pattern for stability and ease of installation.

Often used as a subflooring material, providing a stable and level base for various floor finishes.
Popular for their strength, durability, and ease of installation, allowing for efficient construction and renovation.

Blocks, called laminated units, are produced by gluing together several layers of wood.
Unitblocks are commonly produced in 3/4-inch thicknesses.
Dimensions (length and width) are in multiples of the widths of the strips from which they are made.
Wood block flooring is usually tongue and groove.

The term used to describe the geometric patterns made from multiple wooden panels.
“Parquet” is French for “a small compartment.”
Wooden pieces are decoratively laid in an intricate pattern.

The Herringbone design is made up of panels of wood of equal length, cut into rectangles with flat 90° angles.

Similar to the herringbone design, the length of the planks of wood in Chevron parquetry are made equal.

The mosaic or “brick” pattern is a simple, yet effective design, made up of small rows of wooden panels that form square tiles.

Laminate consists of layers of paper that harden with resin, while the wood veneer is a thin slice of natural wood that usually gets lacquered, both over the same core substrate material!
Since laminate manufacturing uses high pressure and temperature, laminate surfaces are more durable and resist scratches, moisture, and wear & tear compared to veneer wood surfaces.