Chapter 24
Finish Ceilings & Floors
‘Interior’ Ceiling @ the Venetian Hotel (Las Vegas)
Functions of Finish Ceilings
Visual - color, texture, pattern, shape
Control diffusion of:
 light
 sound
Conceal MPE
Accommodate: lights, diffusers,
communication, sprinkler…
May assist with
fire resistance
distribution / return of HVAC
Types of Ceilings
Exposed Structural & MPE
Tightly Attached
Suspended
Interstitial
Exposed
Exposed Structure & MPE
Industrial, warehouse, …
 Economy & ease of maintenance
Timber, trusses, etc.
 Often for appearance
Flat Plate, PC plank (HC)
Painted - hotels & apartments
Minimal MPE services in ceiling
Economy and reduces story height
Exposed Structure Ceiling
“Joint” Preparation for Sprayed on Textured Ceiling
Textured Ceiling
Exposed Timber & MPE Services @ a Ski Lodge
Tightly Attached
Attached directly to joists or slabs
Special arrangements / accommodations for:
 Structural members (beams, girders)
MPE systems
Suspended Ceilings
Suspended from the Structure
Generally by wires
Materials: drywall, plaster, fibrous (acoustic)
Structure
Ceiling
Plenum space
Support
Wires
for
ducts, pipes, conduit ...
Support System
•Metal Framing
•Furring Channels
•“Metal Grid
Suspended Ceiling
•Drywall
•Plaster
•Acoustic (incombustible fibers)
Suspended Plaster Ceiling (note the delamination of the finish coat)
Acoustic “Lay-in Panels”
•Exposed Metal Grid
•2x2 or 2x4 Lay-in Panels
•MPE “sized” to fit grid or
cut into the acoustic tile
•Economical
Acoustical Ceiling Grid Systems
“Difficult” to access
Main Runners
Cross Tees
•Provide Main Ceiling Support
•Intermediate Support
•Generally 4’ o.c.
•“Rest”/ attach to Mains
•Attached to “Hangers”
•Spacing depends on tile
•Additional hangers may be
required to support MPE “loads” Wall Angle
•Attaches to wall
“Recessed” Grid
(also can be Flush, …)
Ceiling mounted - lights, sprinkler,
smoke detector, communication
Multiple Tile Finishes Available
Diffuser sized 2x2
Common Support Grid Profile
Suspended Ceiling
used as a
Fire Resistant Membrane
Combination Light/Diffuser
The Integrity
of the Fire
Resistant Rating
Must be Maintained
at the
Ceiling Penetrations
Suspended Acoustic Ceiling with a Gypsum ‘Fire’ Ceiling Above
Interstitial Ceilings
Common with elaborate MPE systems
Hospitals & laboratories
Purpose:
Accommodate extensive MPE systems
Provide access for maintenance & updating
services
Finish Flooring
Functions & Considerations
Functions:
Visual
Acoustics
Light
Wearing Surface
Considerations
Life / durability
Skid resistance
Sanitation
Noise
Fire (resistance, combustibility)
Other (conductivity,..)
Under-floor Services
Distribution of electrical /communications
Methods
Conduit
Cellular Raceways
Cellular Decking
Raised Flooring
Under-floor Electrical Services
Placed in the concrete slab
Reducing Noise Transmission
Use of a Soft material
Padded carpet
Cushioned resilient flooring
Resilient underlayment
Selection of surrounding material
Dense ceiling material below (plaster, drywall)
Mount ceiling on resilient clips or spring
hangers
Skid & Fire Resistance
Skid Resistance
Measure by its static coefficient of friction (SCOF)
Skid resistance – desirable to minimize slipping
Flame Resistance
Most flooring required to meet minimum criteria
Exit corridors typically have higher requirements
Hard Flooring Materials
Resistant to:
Wear
Moisture
Noisy -conduct sound
Types
Concrete, stone, brick, tile, terrazzo
Concrete Flooring
Advantages
Low initial cost
Durable
Common Uses
Parking decks
Warehouses
Industrial
Exposed Concrete with a pattern & tinting
Stone
Types
Marble
Granite
Slate
Sandstone, …
Installation
Setting Bed
Grouted joints
Marble
Granite
Bricks & Brick Pavers
Typically laid on face (but can be laid on edge)
Often with a setting bed
With Grouted Joints
Without Grouted Joints
Paver Patterns
Quarry Tile
Fired Clay tiles
Multiple shapes/sizes
Installation
 Setting Bed (typical)
 Thin Set
 Grout Joints
Ceramic Tile
Fired Clay
Often Glazed Finish
Floors & Walls
Multiple sizes & colors, smaller tiles shipped with backing
sheets
Laying Ceramic Tile
Reinforced ‘Mesh’
Bridge Cracks in Floor
Applying Adhesive with a Notched Trowel
Spacers Being Installed
Tile Placement
Cutting Tile
Small tile shipped with backing sheet
Decorative Ceramic Tile
Terrazzo
Ground/polished concrete
Typ. granite or marble chips w/ colored cement
Divider strips
 At changes in color/texture, expansion/contraction
Brass Divider Strips
Wood Flooring
Materials
white & red oak, pecan, maple, pine, ….
Types
Wood Strip Flooring - blind nailed
Square edge - fasteners visible (or filled)
Parquet
Pre-finished or finished in-place (except parquet)
Blind Nailed Strip Flooring
Multiple Floor Finishes
wood, tile, & carpet
Resilient Flooring
Vinyl Composition
Thin (1/8”), rolls or tiles (VCT)
Will show substrate irregularities
Multiple colors & patterns
Low cost, moderate durability
Installation - glued
Carpet
Multiple styles, colors, …
Indoor and Outdoor
Installation
Glued directly to substrate, or
Pad & tackless strip
Edge Strip
Glued Carpet abutting Terrazzo
Sustainability in Floors and Ceilings
Indoor air quality: problems often caused by finish
materials and coatings ( glues, binders, fabrics, etc.)
Mold & Mildew: can be a problem in carpets, wall
coverings, & fabrics
Vinyl common in finishes: manufacture of vinyl
releases significant amounts of air pollution
Recycling of interior materials in its infancy