Deck 36: Floor Coverings

Question 1

A cementitious terrazzo floor covering

A)requires divider strips at spacing not exceeding 3 ft.
B)requires divider strips at spacing not exceeding 7 ft.
C)requires divider strips at spacing not exceeding 5 ft.
D)requires divider strips at spacing not exceeding 4 ft.
E)does not require divider strips except at floor transitions and change of mix color and pattern.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

For a ceramic tile floor covering on a wood subfloor

A)a sanded plywood underlayment is recommended.
B)an unsanded plywood underlayment is recommended.
C)a hardboard underlayment is recommended.
D)a cement or fiber- cement backer board underlayment is recommended.
E)B or D.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A cementitious terrazzo mix is laid on a mortar bed, not directly on the subfloor.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Terrazzo floor covering is like concrete in that it

A)is a mix of binding agent and aggregate.
B)is liquid when placed and cures hard.
C)is saw- cut to control cracking.
D)all of the above.
E)A and B.

Question 5

For setting the ceramic tiles on the subfloor, the most commonly used mortar is thick- bed mortar.

Question 6

An epoxy terrazzo floor covering

A)requires divider strips at spacing not exceeding 4 ft.
B)requires divider strips at spacing not exceeding 3 ft.
C)requires divider strips at spacing not exceeding 7 ft.
D)requires divider strips at spacing not exceeding 5 ft.
E)does not require any divider strips except at floor transitions and change of mix color and pattern.

Question 7

The coefficient of friction of a floor surface measures its

A)slip resistance.
B)cleanability.
C)resistance to mold and mildew.
D)walking comfort.
E)wear resistance.

Question 8

The two most common types of subfloor for floor coverings are

A)concrete and steel.
B)wood light- frame and plywood panels.
C)concrete and wood panel.
D)steel decking and wood plank.
E)carpet and vinyl flooring.

Question 9

A thick- bed mortar is proprietary to the manufacturer, while a thin- bed mortar is generic.

Question 10

The terms "stone panel and stone tile" are used interchangeably in building industry.

Question 11

Stone panel flooring is laid on the subfloor using

A)the polymer- modified Portland cement mortar.
B)the epoxy mortar.
C)the thick- bed mortar.
D)the thin- bed mortar.
E)any one of the above depending on the type of stone.

Question 12

An epoxy terrazzo mix is laid on a mortar bed, not directly on the subfloor.

Question 13

A rubber float

A)is used in laying thick- bed mortar.
B)is used in laying thin- bed mortar.
C)is used in laying grout.
D)all of the above.
E)is not used in laying floor coverings.

Question 14

A thick- bed mortar consists of

A)Portland cement, lime, sand, and water.
B)lime, sand, and water.
C)Portland cement, sand, and water.
D)lime, limestone powder, sand, and water.
E)none of the above.

Question 15

The texture of the pile in a fusion- bonded carpet is

A)multilevel loop pile.
B)level loop pile.
C)frieze pile.
D)cut pile.
E)none of the above.

Question 16

To ensure that the width of joints between ceramic or natural stone tiles are uniform, the installer uses

A)plastic spacers.
B)2 × 4 wood straight edge.
C)steel ruler.
D)chalk lines.
E)a laser beam.

Question 17

A notched trowel

A)is used in laying thin- bed mortar.
B)is used in laying thick- bed mortar.
C)is used in laying grout.
D)all of the above.
E)is not used in laying floor coverings.

Question 18

The carpet pad under a typical broadloom (wall- to- wall)carpet is typically 1 in. thick.

Question 19

A cementitious terrazzo floor covering is

A)approximately 3/4 in. thick.
B)approximately 1/2 in. thick.
C)approximately 1/4 in. thick.
D)vapor permeable.
E)B and D.

Question 20

The vapor retarder below a concrete slab- on- ground should be of an extremely low permeability. This requirement is more important if the floor covering is polymer based.

Question 21

A typical broadloom carpet has two layers of backing.

Question 22

Name five important performance properties of floor coverings.

Question 23

Explain why the stiffness of the subfloor is more important for ceramic tile or natural stone floor covering than for vinyl tile or carpet floor covering.

Question 24

Ceramic floor tiles are laid with a joint separating the adjacent tiles. What is the approximate width of the joints?

Question 25

Terrazzo flooring is divided in two types: (i)thick- set (i.e., cementitious)terrazzo and (ii)thin- set (i.e., epoxy)terrazzo. Describe the anatomy of thin- set terrazzo.

Question 26

The floor covering in which the base trim and the floor covering can be made jointless and continuous is

A)marble panel floor.
B)sheet vinyl floor.
C)ceramic tile floor.
D)cementitious terrazzo floor.
E)epoxy terrazzo floor.

Question 27

Is a thin- bed mortar a pre- blended and ready- to- use mortar or is it prepared by on- site mixing of various ingredients?

Question 28

What does terrazzo flooring consist of?

Question 29

What is a thick- bed mortar and where is it needed?

Question 30

Which are the two steps that must follow after the ceramic floor tiles have been laid?

Question 31

The subfloors (floors over which floor coverings are laid)are of two basic types. Name them.

Question 32

Which of the two terrazzo flooring types (thick- set and thin- set)is vapor permeable?

Question 33

To ensure that a broadloom (wall- to- wall)carpet stays in position and does not move, it is typically

A)stretched and tucked under the base trim and adhered to a 4- sq- ft adhesive patch in the center of the room.
B)stretched and adhered to the subfloor along the room perimeter.
C)stretched and hooked to tack strips along the room perimeter and adhered to a 4- sq- ft adhesive patch in the center of the room.
D)stretched and hooked to tack strips along the room perimeter.

Question 34

The seams between vinyl floor covering sheets are

A)adhered together with a urethane adhesive.
B)adhered together with a vinyl adhesive.
C)adhered together with an epoxy resin.
D)welded together with hot air and vinyl bead.
E)welded together with hot air.

Question 35

Explain why a thick- bed mortar is needed under large natural stone floor panels on a concrete subfloor.

Question 36

The subfloor for all floor finishes is either a concrete subfloor or wood subfloor. Which of the two subfloors is appropriate for terrazzo flooring?

Question 37

Terrazzo flooring is divided in two types: (i)thick- set terrazzo and (ii)thin- set terrazzo. Describe the anatomy of thick- set terrazzo.

Question 38

Explain why the joints between natural stone tiles and panels are much narrower than those between ceramic tiles.

Question 39

A mortar bed is required under brittle floor coverings, such as ceramic and natural stone floor tiles. What type of mortar is needed under such tiles?

Question 40

A flash cove base is used with

A)engineered wood floor covering.
B)sheet vinyl floor covering.
C)epoxy terrazzo floor covering.
D)vinyl tile floor covering.
E)none of the above.

Question 41

What type of floor covering would you recommend for the patient room in a hospital? Give reasons.

Question 42

Sketch in three dimensions a typical ceramic tile floor with a thin- bed mortar on: (a)concrete subfloor and (b)T&G OSB subfloor. Identify all components with labels.

Question 43

Which floor coverings are considered resilient coverings and what are the advantages of resilient coverings?

Question 44

How is sheet vinyl flooring laid as joint- less floor covering using sheet vinyl rolls of finite width?

Question 45

Explain how sheet vinyl floor covering is made seamless.

Question 46

Using sketches, explain the difference between the construction details of a cementitious terrazzo floor and an epoxy terrazzo floor.

Question 47

Draw the detail of a typical flash cove base used with sheet vinyl floor covering.

Question 48

What are the major advantages and disadvantages of carpet flooring?

Question 49

Explain why it is necessary to install a good vapor retarder under a concrete slab- on- ground over which thin- set (epoxy)terrazzo is laid?

Question 50

Draw the detail showing how a broadloom carpet is anchored to the subfloor.

Question 51

Using sketches, explain the difference between the construction details of a natural stone tile floor and a natural stone panel floor.

Question 52

Explain why it is necessary to ensure that the concrete subfloor over which sheet vinyl (or vinyl tiles)are laid is smooth, i.e., the subfloor should be ground smooth and depressions in it filled with a patching compound.

Question 53

Explain why sheet vinyl floor covering is the preferred covering for hospital operating theaters and patient bedrooms in a hospital?