CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE V.

SAIDEEP

Principles to be observed in the construction of Stone or Brick masonry:

1. Stones or Bricks used should be as per specifications

2. Stones or Bricks should be laid on their beds
3. Stones or Bricks should be well-watered before use
4. Stones or Bricks should be cured for 2 to 3 weeks
5. Stones or Bricks should not have any cracks or flaws
6. Mortar should completely cover the bed
7. Mortar used should be as per specifications
8. Formation of continuous vertical joints should be avoided
9. Verticality of the wall should be checked by plumb bob
10. Maximum height should be constructed in one day is 1.5 M
11. Masonry at higher level requires scaffolding

Masonry: The Systematic arrangement of bricks or stones by using mortar to form

a wall is known as ‘masonry’
Stone Masonry: The Systematic arrangement of stones and mortar is called as
stone masonry
Brick Masonry: The Systematic arrangement of bricks and mortar is called as brick
masonry

COURSE: A course is a horizontal layer of bricks or stones.

HEADER: Shorter face of the brick is known as header
STRETCHER: Longer face of the brick is known as stretcher
ARRISES: The edges formed by the intersection of plane surface of brick are called the
arrises
Closer: The portion of the brick cut along its length is known as closer.
Bat: The portion of the brick cut along its width is called Bat.
Queen Closer: When a brick is cut along its length, making it two equal halves then it is
called queen closer
King Closer: It is obtained by cutting out a triangular portion of the brick between the
centre of one end (Header side) and the centre of the other end (stretcher side). Thus it has
half header and half stretcher face.
Frog: It is an indentation or depression on the top face of a brick
English bond: The brick bond in which headers and stretchers are laid in alternate courses is
called as “English bond”.
Features of English Bond

1. Alternate courses consist of stretchers & headers

2. A course will show only stretcher or header
3. Stretcher course does not require any closer
4. Continuous vertical joints are not formed
5. Queen closer is not required for a stretcher course
6. It is a strong bond for walls

Door: A door is a panel or barrier, usually hinged, sliding, or electronic, that is used to cover an opening in
a wall or partition going into a building or space.
 It allows passage between the inside and outside, and between internal rooms. When open, they
admit ventilation and light
Window: A window is an opening made in a wall for providing daylight, vision and ventilation

Principles for locating Doors & Windows

 Minimum number of doors & windows for security and economy purpose
 Should give proper ventilation
 Least interference with interior decoration
 having good wind movement
 No dark corner is left in the room
 Functional requirements
 Control of ventilation
 Privacy
 Climate conditions of the locality
 Good Lighting
 Cross Ventilation etc.

Lintel: A lintel is a horizontal structural member spanning over any opening to support the
loads of the structure coming over it
• Lintels are also horizontal structural members like beams.
Types of Lintels: Wooden, Steel, Stone, Reinforced cement concrete.

Functions of Lintel
 To take loads from the wall constructed above the lintel and to distribute to the walls
on either side of the lintel
 To facilitate the fixing of the door and window frames
Sunshade: Horizontal projections from the wall is called as sunshade
• Cast in R.C.C along with the lintels
• Provided for external walls only
• Sunshades protect the doors, windows and ventilators from rain and sun-rays
Roof: A roof is defined as the topmost part of a building constructed to give protection to
the building.
Functions of Roof:
• It protects the building against rain, snow, wind etc.,
• It provides insulation against sound and heat
• It distributes the loads coming on it to the supports
• It acts as a floor for the next storey in case of multistoried buildings
• It drains the rain water safely

Truss: It is defined as the framework, usually of triangles and designed to support the roof
covering or ceiling over rooms (or)
A truss is essentially a triangulated system of straight interconnected structural elements.
Ceiling: Ceiling of any room is the underside of roof slab.
It gives elegance for the interiors of room, besides reducing radiation of heat from terrace
Functions of Ceiling:
• To provide decorative finish to the under side of a roof
• To conceal projections such as beams
• To conceal irregularities of sloping roof
• To cover fixtures , service ducts , electrical wirings etc
• To provide insulation against heat or cold
• To provide special acoustic effect

Flooring: The Horizontal bottom part of a Room over which people perform various
activities is known as flooring.
It has two parts 1) Base course or sub floor 2) wearing course or floor covering

Requirements of a good floor:

• A pleasing appearance
• A smooth and even surface
• Low initial cost and maintenance cost
• Sufficient resistance to fire
• Resistance to wear and tear
• Resistance to temperature changes
• Noiseless
• Damp proof
• Durable
 Construction of Flooring (CC, Stone, Tile, Mosaic, Marble.):

1. First properly compact the earth below flooring with proper slope
2. Over this compacted earth filling, uniformly spread a layer of base course
3. Level the top of the base course and left it to set
4. Sub grade layer is cleaned, dusted and wetted
5. Lay the wearing course with suitable material

• Thoroughly clean the surface upon hardening.

• Divide the top of the floor into panels, rectangular or square in shape
For CC Flooring
• Moist the top of the base concrete and apply cement slurry on it.
• The surface is cured for a period of 7 to 14 days

• Mosaic floor is made of small pieces of broken tiles or marble pieces

• These pieces are cut to desired shapes and sizes
For Mosaic Flooring • They are arranged in different patterns
• During fixing of tile pieces, dry cement is sprinkled and the pieces are tamped with a
wooden flat
• They are firmly set into cementing layer

• Prepare the layer for laying tiles

• Prepare the adhesives for fixing the tiles
For Tiles Flooring • Lay the tiles with desired pattern
• Trim the tiles for fit and finish
• Finally apply the grout and sealant.

Scaffolding or Staging:

Scaffolding is a temporary frame work having plat forms at different levels to enable the
masons to work at different heights of a building
Or
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support labor and materials to aid in the
construction, maintenance and repair of buildings

Formwork: A temporary casing or mould supported by temporary supports for placing

fresh concrete
Or

Formwork is the horizontal or vertical arrangement, made to keep concrete in position until
it gains desired strength and shape
• Shuttering is a vertical temporary arrangement (columns, retaining walls)
• Centering is a horizontal temporary arrangement (beams, slabs)
Requirements of form work:
• It should have enough strength
• Durability for repeated use
• Rigid enough to withstand the pressure of wet concrete
• Satisfy dimensional tolerances
• Smooth surface
• Water tight to prevent water or mortar leakages

Slipform: Slipform construction is a method in which concrete is poured into a continuously

moving form.
 Slip forming is used for tall structures, as well as horizontal structures,
 These are also known as climbing forms
 In this, the forms are raised while the concrete is in a plastic state
Parts of Slipforms: Sheathing, ribs, Yokes, deck.

Advantages of Slip Forms

• reduction in construction time

• Builds structure on continuous basis
• For Vertical structure an average progress of 3-4 m /day can be easily achieved
• The construction of joints is eliminated
• Most suitable for water tight, structures
• They can be used several times.

Stairs: The stairs are series of steps properly arranged to connect different floors of a
building
The room of a building, in which the stairs are located, is called a staircase room
Plastering: The process of covering masonry walls and other surfaces with a plastic binding
material is called as Plastering
Objectives of Plastering:
• To provide even ,smooth, regular, clean and durable surface
• To protect the surface from atmospheric influence
• To give decorative effect
• To cover the inferior quality of material
• To act as a base for color washing ,painting or distempering
Procedure of plastering:

• Surface preparation
• Preparation of mortar
• Application of mortar
• Finishing
• Curing

Dubbing: Filling the holes and depressions if any with mortar so as to make the surface
even is called as Dubbing.

Pointing: It is the finishing of masonry joints with a rich mortar in a decorative manner

PLASTERING POINTING
It is applied to entire surface. It is provided only at exposed joints.
It provides smooth surface. It does not provide smooth surface.
It conceals defective workmanship in the It is used to expose beauty of well built
masonry construction masonry work.
It provides a base for applying white/ color White washing or color washing are ruled
washing out.

Painting: Application of paints on different surfaces is called as Painting

Need for Painting:

 To protect the surfaces from weathering agencies
 To prevent wood from decaying
 To prevent corrosion in metals
 To provide decorative & pleasing appearance to the surfaces
 To make the surfaces clean and safe
Painting process:
 Prepare the surface (clean and dry)
 Apply primer (type of primer depends on material)
 Apply wall putty to bring smooth surface (
 Apply wall putty second coat if required
 Apply selected paint coat and allow to dry
 Apply selected paint coat — Final coat.
White Washing: White Washing is a Process of giving wash coating to
the plastered or pointed surface.
White washing is made of lime and water
Colour washing: Colour wash is prepared by adding mineral colours of desired shade to the
prepared white wash

Objectives of white washing and color washing

 To improve the appearance of plastered walls
 To provide brightness to the walls and thus improve the lighting in the rooms
 To protect the plaster from the action of atmosphere
 To kill the germs and insects and acts as disinfectant

Distemper: Distempers may be defined as water paints made up of pigments, lime and
chalk
• Distempers can be directly applied to the walls without primers.
• These are cheaper paints when compare to Emulsion paints.
• It is also called as cement paint
• They are less durable when compare to emulsions.

Termite proofing: The treatment given to a building to prevent or control the growth of the
termites is known as termite proofing
Chemicals used for Termite Proofing are

1. Chlorpyrifos 20 EC
2. Lindane 20 EC
3. Aldrin. etc,

Termite proofing is also known as Anti-termite treatment

Termite proofing is divided into two categories.
They are
1. Pre-construction treatment (Soil Treatment at foundation)
2. Post-construction treatment