(A CASE STUDY OF FLOOR FINISHES WITHIN ENUGU METROPOLIS).

COMPLETE PROJECT  MATERIAL COST 5000 NAIRA

Note: our case study can be changed to suit your desire location . we are here for your success.

                                   ORDER NOW

WE HAVE SECURITY IN OUR BUSINESS.   

MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

                                   ABSTRACT

Floor finishes is a vital component in any building structure and lots of

defects happen to the floor finishes though many of them could be

traceable to the sub floor defect. The objective of the study is to clearly

identify the various types of floor finishing prevalent in Enugu Metropolis,

their strength and weakness, also to study the cause of failure in floor

finish and how to correct them. Finally the research will evaluate the

maintenance culture of occupants regarding their floor finishing within the

metropolis. The study commences with the review of some past relevant

literature with the intention of making use of the important facts.

Data were collected using the questionnaires and analysis of the collected

data also made line with the hypothesis and are processed by the use of

tables, focus was on the generation summary statistics such as

percentages. The result of the study showed that without a proper

maintenance culture on floor finishes, deterioration and failure in floor

finish will be a reoccurring decimal in our building structure. The study

revealed that most of the defects in floor finishes emanated from defects

in structural floors or the improper laying of beds or joint on which applied

floor finishes are laid and as a result of this, where defects occur relaying

of the finishes is the only answer to the problems but care must be taken

to avoid dis-stabilizing the stability of the structural floor and maintain even

level between newly laid finishes and old ones. The following

recommendations are made:

1. Before any material is used as floor finishes, it should be tested and

analyzed in order to determine and establish the compressive strength

and duration.

2. Emphasis should be laid on suitable materials /finishes than cheep

materials/finishes, so as to reduce failure in finishes.

3. Knowledge of finishes serviceability duration should be known.
4. A good maintenance culture should be maintained.

As this will go along way to enhance the life span of our various floor finishes.

Chapter one

1.0 Introduction ========================================= 1

1.1 Background of the study ================================ 4

1.2 Aims and objective of the study =========================== 5

1.3 Statement of the study ================================== 5

1.4 Research questions =================================== 6

1.5 Research hypothesis =================================== 7

1.6 Scope and limitation of study ============================= 7

1.7 Definition of terms common in this study ===================== 7

Chapter two

2.1 Literature review ====================================== 9

2.2 Floors and their associated finishes ========================= 10

2.3 Concrete Finish =================================== 11

2.4 Terrazzo Finish =================================== 13

2.5 Granolithic Concreting ================================= 17

2.6 Thin Surface Finish =================================== 21

2.7 Jointless Floor finish ================================== 22

2.8 Linoleum =================================== 25

2.9 Cork Tiles and Carpets ======== ======================== 27

2.10 Appearance ========================================= 31

2.11 Slipperiness ========================================= 31

2.12 Warmth ============================================ 32

2.13 Quietness ============================================32

2.14 Resilience ========================================== 33

2.15 Resistance to abrasion ====================== =========== 33

2.16 Resistance to water and other liquids ====================== 33

2.17 Atmospheric moisture ================================ 34

2.18 Indentation ========================================= 34

2.19 Impact ============================================ 35

2.20 Resistance to sunlight ================================== 35

2.21 Resistance to moulds and fungi =========================== 35

2.22 Resistance to temperature and fire ========================= 36

Chapter three

3.1 Methodology design ================================== 37

3.2 Sample Size ======================================== 38

3.3 Method of collecting data =============================== 39

3.4 Primary data ======================================== 40

3.5 Secondary sources ==================================== 40

3.6 Questionnaire Design ================================= 40

3.7 Description of questionnaire ============================ 41

3.8 Technique for data organization/analysis ==================== 41

Chapter four

4.0 Data Presentation/analysis ============================== 42

Chapter five

5.0 Summary conclusion and recommendation ================== 52

5.1 Summary ========================================= 52

5.2 Conclusion ======================================== 53

5.3 Recommendation =================================== 53

Reference ============================================= 55

Appendix ============================================= 57

List of the table

Table 3.2.1 Percentage of returned questionnaires 39

Table 4.2.1 Stratification of responding professions 42

Table 4.2.2 Classification of building type 43

Table 4.2.3 Type of floor finishes in use by respondents 43

Table 4.2.4 Factors influencing choice of floor finish 44

Table 4.2.5 Years of occupancy of property 45

Table 4.2.6 Frequency of maintain ace work on floor finish 45

Table 4.2.7 Relationship between failures in finishes and maintain ace

Culture 46

Table 4.2.8 Can the failure in floor finishes be caused by functional

Failure in the structure 47

Table 4.2.9 Can the cost of maintaining floor finishes affect the

Maintenance culture of such a floor finishes 48

1

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Floor finishes are the final substance applied on the surface of floor

before the floor is put to use. Most floor systems of a building are not

exposed to the climatic element and their weathering effects, since a

floor system must support traffic however durability, resistance to wear

and easy of maintain are critical factors in the selection of a floor

system and its finish. The desired finishes and their visual properties

(materials, color, texture and pattern) help to determine the choice of

floor system which can mostly support these finishes

The choice of and preparation of specification for flooring systems to

protect substrates from chemical attach or provide hygienic finishes is

an exercise all too often couched in financial considerations.

Floor finishes except in a few special constructions do not contribute to

the strength of floor; they are therefore used for one or more of the

following reasons.

1. To provide an attractive appearance.
2. To increase the comfort and safety to the user.

iii. To hide certain services like cable/pipes in the floor.

1. Protect the structural floor from wear tear or corrosion.

Each of this primary function that is considered to be the most

important will depend on the proposed use.

Many materials that are used as finishes on floors, each one have

properties suited to a particular usage, durability and ease of cleaning

are essential in all. Case of specific services requirement may call for

special properties such as resistance to hard wear, comfort to users

2

and attractive appearance. At home good appearance and comfort will

be more important.

Any given floor finish must provide the desired balance of properties

and must be sufficiently durable. It will be expected to last for a period

commensurate with its initial cost, the cost of replacement and any

cost arising from disorganization associated with its replacement and

this implies that from all ramification of its need, a good value is

required.

A lot of factors affects the life of a floor finish, most important is the

ever-present abrasive action of traffic, the action of liquid in producing

dimensional changes, erosion and corrosion, the impact of falling

object and the dent caused by heavy loads. There is therefore a series

of secondary requirement that the finish must fulfill, which will depend

on the condition of services though they must be considered in relation

to those four mentioned above.

When selecting floor finish many factors deserve consideration but not

all the factors are of equal importance, furthermore, requirement vary

in different parts of the building, for instance, resistance to oil, grease,

moisture is relevant in a kitchen but not on a bedroom, and

appearance could be important in a lounge but is of little consequence

in a store.

The essential properties to be considered are:

1. a) Durability: The material must have a reasonable life to avoid

premature replacement with resultant textured, cost and

inconvenience.

1. b) Resistance to wear: This includes resistance to indentation

where the floor has to withstand heavy furniture, fittings or

equipment and resistance to abrasion in building subject to

heavy pedestrian traffic and moveable equipment.

3

1. c) Economy: Reasonable initial and maintenance cost, having

regards to the class of building and the particular building.

1. d) Resistance to oil, grease, and chemicals: This is particularly

important in domestic kitchen, laboratory and some factory.

1. e) Resistance to moisture: This is important in domestic

bathrooms, entrance passage and halls and in some industrial

buildings.

1. f) Ease of cleaning: This is of increasing important in many classes

of building as the labour intensive cleaning cost continue to rise

in a disproportionate rate.

1. g) Warmth: Some finishes are much warmer than other and this

may be an important consideration.

1. h) Non – Slip qualities: These are particularly important in

bathrooms and kitchen where floors may become damp.

1. i) Sound absorption: Libraries need floor finishes with high degree

of sound absorption.

1. j) Appearance: This is an important consideration in many rooms

of domestic building, although the current tendency to fully

carpet rooms may not justify the provision of more expansive but

attractive floor finishes such as wood blocks and strip flooring.

1. k) Resilience: Some flexibility or “given” is often desirable.

For industrial installations, despite the importance of floor

specifications for floor finishes generally reflect short-term budget

rather than long term stability, inviting early failure. Financial

considerations for floor finishes should be confined to comparing bids

for the ideal specifications complied with the end use in mind.

There are many specific considerations to be taken into account when

deriving a suitable specification for a given situation, not least the

following:

4

1. The location of the structure to be protected, its method of

construction and condition if it is an existing substrate.

2. The composition, concentration and temperatures of all fluids or

solids which may be in contact with floor surface as a result of

the inherent processes, if these vary from area to area it should

be clearly stated and designated area clearly marked to allow

selection of materials appropriate to each area.

3. Loading characteristics of the substrate and their ability to

withstand additional superimposed loads from toppings, tiles,

brick or composite surfacing.

4. Details of pedestrian and wheeled traffic, including wheel

loadings and the nature of wheel contact surface.

5. Detail of isolated activities such as drum handling and storage

and the loading involved, and the areas to which they apply.

6. The type of floor drainage contemplated i.e. outlets or drainage

channels.

7. The nature, concentration and temperature of all cleaning agents

which will be used on the floor including any materials used for

cleaning equipment and pipe work since these are usually

discharged on the floor or preferable into channels.

Comprehensive information from the end user in these respect will

give the specifier the maximum information with which to derive an

appropriate specification for a durable finish.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Finishes generally do not contribute to the strength of the floors but it

adds beauty or co lour to the floor. There is wide variety of material for

floor finishes and each should be evaluated within the context of

5

Enugu Metropolis in relation to the above mentioned requirement, so

that it can be suitable for any particular type of usage.

Enugu is the capital city of Enugu State, Nigeria. It has a population of

668,862 (2007 estimate). The people of Enugu belong largely to the

Igbo ethnic group, which is one of the three largest ethnic groups in

Nigeria. Enugu was originally the capital of the Eastern Region from

Nigeria’s independence in 1960. On May 27, 1967 Enugu was made

the capital of East Central State, while on May 30, 1967, it was

declared the first capital of the short-lived nation of the Republic of

Biafra. Enugu became a major center for the mining of the coal

discovered by Albert Ernest Kitson in the Udi plateau. The Nigerian

coal corporation has been based in Enugu since its creation in 1950.

In this study, the research will evaluate the floor finishes in building as

prevalent within the Enugu Metropolis (Residential, Industrial and

Office buildings). The research will also study the cause of failure in

finishes and means of handling the causes so as to improve on the

performance of different floor finishes.

The research will identify maintenance medium of floors in order for

the serviceability strength of these finish to be maximized.

1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to ascertain the durability of some floor

finishing in building projects within Enugu Metropolis.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY ARE AS FOLLOWS

1. The various types of floor finishing prevalent in Enugu

Metropolis, their strength and weakness.

6

2. To study the cause of failure in floor finish and how to correct

them.

3. To evaluate the maintenance culture of occupants regarding

their floor finishing within the metropolis.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE STUDY