8. INTERIOR FINISHES FOR WOOD
LIGHT FRAME CONSTRUCTION
8.1 INTERIOR FINISHING OPERATIONS FOR WOOD
LIGHT FRAME CONSTRUCTIONS - OVERVIEW
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8.1 INTERIOR FINISHING OPERATIONS FOR WOOD LIGHT
FRAME CONSTRUCTION - OVERVIEW
8.2 INTERIOR FINISHING OPERATIONS
8.3 THERMAL INSULATIONS AND VAPOR RETARDERS
8.4 DESIGN OF FINISH STAIRS
Interior Construction Sequence
Interior Partition Framing
 Rough-in (& Equipment)
 Code Compliance Inspection
 Thermal Insulation & Vapor Retarder
 Building Inspection
 Ceiling & Wall Materials
 Interior Millwork, Interior Finishes
 MPE Fixtures, Devices, Trim, & Appliances
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Waste/Vent
Piping
WC Roughin
Copper Water
Piping (joints)
Why not PVC?
Pipe
Insulation
4
Vent Pipe
Plumbing
Why “Stack” Plumbing Fixtures??
Insulated
“Flex” Duct
6
Sprinkler Pipe
Rare in
Residential
Construction
WHY?
Insulation
Flexible Duct
Duct Anchorage
7
Round
Duct
8
Square Ductwork
9
Electrical Roughin
10
11
Electrical roughin using flexible metal conduits
12
13
Nail Protectors and Sealant to prevent smoke migration
14
8.2 INTERIOR FINISHING OPERATIONS
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After the framing carpenters and roofers finish the exterior roofing and siding of the
platform frame building, they are joined by a number of building trade persons to
complete the building on the inside
Plumbers begin the installation of piping - First the drain-waste-vent (DWV) pipes
(larger diameter pipe) are installed since they need to have the right-of way - Second
the small supply pipes, that bring hot and cold water; and gas pipes are laid - If the
building is to have a hot water system, the plumbers put the boiler and instal the
heating pipes and convectors - Then sheet metal workers instal the furnace and
ductwork for central warm-air heating and/or air conditioning
The electricians complete the wiring of the building
After this “rough” installation, inspectors from the municipal building department
check each of the installed systems for compliance with the plumbing, electrical and
sheet metal codes
8.2 INTERIOR FINISHING OPERATIONS
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(Cont’d)
Thereafter, connections are made to the external sources of water, gas, electricity
and communication services, and to a means of sewage disposal (to a main sewer
or a septic tank and a leaching field)
At this point, the general building inspector of the municipality is called to
examine the framing, exterior finishing and insulation for compliance to the code
provisions. Any deficiency found at this stage must be corrected immediately
before proceeding further.
The second phase of interior finish operations start
The elaborate tangle of ‘framing members, ducts, pipes, wires and insulation’
rapidly disappears behind the finish wall and ceiling materials
The interior millwork - doors, finish stairs, railings, cabinets, shelves, closet
interiors , and door and window casings - is installed by finish carpenters
Finish flooring materials are installed as late as possible to save them from
damage by the passing armies of workers
Finish carpenters then install the baseboards
8.2 INTERIOR FINISHING OPERATIONS
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(Cont’d)
Painters prime, paint, stain, varnish and paper the interior
Family the plumbers, electricians, and sheet metal workers return briefly
to install the plumbing fixtures, electrical receptacles, switches, light
fixtures, air grills and registers
A final round of inspection are carried out to remedy the lingering defects
Now the building is ready for occupancy
8.3 THERMAL INSULATION AND VAPOR RETARDER
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Thermal insulation keeps a building cooler in summer and warmer in
winter by retarding the passage of heat through the exterior surfaces of
the building - Keeps the occupants of the building more comfortable
by moderating the temperatures of the interior surfaces of the building
and reducing convective drafts - Reduces the energy consumption of
the building for heating and cooling, to a fraction of what it would be
without insulation
Thermal insulation is any material added to a building assembly, for
the purpose of slowing thee conduction of heat through the assembly
Thermal Insulation
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Purpose
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Materials
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Installation
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R-Values
Vapor Retarder
Outside Wall
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8.3 THERMAL INSULATION AND VAPOR RETARDER
(Cont’d)
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8.3.1 Types of thermally insulating materials: Glass fiber batts
(blankets) are the most popular type of insulation for wall cavities in new
construction - Widely used in attic and roof insulation
(i) Batt or blanket - Glass/rock wool - R value 3.2-3.7 - Incombustible
(ii) High density batt - Glass wool - R value 4.3 - Incombustible
(iii) Loose fill - Glass/rock wool - R value 2.5-3.5 - Incombustible
(iv) Loose fibers with binders - Treated cellulose, glass wool - R value 3.1-4.0 Incombustible
(v) Foamed-in-place - Polyurethane - R value 5-7 - Combustible
(vi) Foamed-in-place - Polyicynene - R value 3.6-4.0 - Combustible but selfextinguishing
(vii) Rigid board - Polystyrene foam- R value 4-5 - Combustible, but selfextinguishing
(viii) Rigid board - glass fiber - R value 3.5 - Incombustible
(ix) Rigid board - Cane fiber - R value 2.5 - Combustible - Low cost
8.3 THERMAL INSULATION AND VAPOR RETARDER
(Cont’d)
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8.3.2 Increasing Levels of Thermal Insulation: Thicker walls,
insulating sheathing materials and various schemes have been developed
during the past twenty-five years - Insulation levels can be increased from R12
of a normal stud wall by using either 2x6 framing and thicker batt insulation or
2x4 framing with plastic foam sheathing in combination with batt insulation Treated wood foundations can also be insulated to high R-values - Ceiling
insulation batts usually must be compressed to fit them into the diminished
space under the roof sheathing
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8.3.3 Radiant Barriers: In warmer regions radiant barriers are being
increasingly used to reduce flow of solar heat into the building - These are thin
sheets or panels faced with a bright metal foil that reflects infrared radiation;
they are installed over the rafters or studs and beneath the sheathing - Effective
only if the bright surface of the barrier faces a ventilated airspace. Solar heat
that has passed through the outer skin of building is removed by convection;
also these barriers are configured with folds that would automatically provide
the ventilated airspace - Radiant barriers are used in along with conventional
insulating materials to achieve the desired overall thermal performance
8.3 THERMAL INSULATION AND VAPOR RETARDER
(Cont’d)
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8.3.4 Vapor Retarders: Vapor retarder is a membrane of metal foil,
plastic, or treated paper placed on the warm side of the thermal insulation to
prevent water vapor from entering the insulation and condensing into liquid;
its role increases in importance as the thermal insulation levels increase Many batt insulation materials are furnished with a vapor retarder layer of
treated paper or aluminum foil already attached - Designers in cold climate
prefer to use unfaced batts and apply a separate vapor retarder of polyethylene
sheet, since a vapor retarder attached to batts has a seam at each stud that can
leak significant quantities of air and vapor
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8.3.5 Air Infiltration and Ventilation: Much attention is given to
reducing the air infiltration between the indoors and outdoors, since leakage
often accounts for the major portion of the fuel burned to heat the building in
winter - This trend has resulted in houses and apartments that exchange so
little air with the outside leading to accumulation of moisture, odors and
chemical pollutants indoors - Hence air-to-air heat exchangers have been
installed to recover the heat from the exhausted air from the building
Vapor Retarders
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Purpose
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Materials
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Installation
8.3 THERMAL INSULATION AND VAPOR RETARDER
(Cont’d)
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8.3.6 Airtight Drywall Approach (ADA): As an alternative to vapor
retarders, airtight drywall approach has been used in buildings - It is based on
the assumption that most condensation problems are caused by the air leaking
out from the interior of the building to outside - Hence if all the interior joints
in the gypsum (drywall) board is sealed by using compressible foam gaskets or
sealants then air leakage is eliminated - In addition to providing good control
of water vapor, ADA also reduces heat losses that occur because of air
infiltration from the outside
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Radiant Barriers
– Used to reduce the flow of solar heat
– Thin sheets of panels faced with metal foil
– Reflects infrared radiation
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Airtight Drywall Approach
– Reduce / eliminate air infiltration
– Effect:
» Control the flow of water vapor
» Reduce heat loss (gain) because of air infiltration
Gypsum Drywall - stacked
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Joint Reinforcing Tape
Corner bead
Joint Tape Applied
Joint Compound
28
Applying Joint Compound
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Wall & Ceiling Finish
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Plaster
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Gypsum Drywall
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Veneer Plaster
Millwork & Finish Carpentry
Window Casings
 Baseboards
 Cabinets
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Flooring & Hard Tiles
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Floor Preparation
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Flooring Materials
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Wall Materials
Floor Underlayment
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Purpose:
– Level Floor
– Increase Fire Resistance
– Reduce Sound Transmission
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Materials
– Poured Gypsum
– Lightweight Concrete
Flooring & Hard Tiles
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Floor Preparation
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Flooring Materials
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Wall Materials
Finish Flooring
Functions & Considerations
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Functions:
– Visual
– Acoustics
– Wearing Surface
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Considerations
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Life / durability
Skid resistance
Sanitation
Noise
Fire (resistance, combustibility)
Stone Flooring
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Types
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Marble
Granite
Slate
Sandstone, …
Installation
– Setting Bed
– Grouted joints
Marble Flooring
Quarry Tile
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Fired Clay tiles
Multiple shapes/sizes
Installation
» Setting Bed (typical)
» Thin Set
» Grout Joints
Ceramic Tile
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Fired Clay - Typ. Smaller than Quarry tile
Often Glazed Finish
Floors & Walls
Multiple sizes & colors
Wood Flooring
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Materials
– white & red oak, pecan, maple, pine, ….
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Types
– Wood Strip Flooring - blind nailed
– “Square edge” - fasteners visible (or filled)
– Parquet
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Pre-finished or finished in-place (except parquet)
Resilient Flooring
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Vinyl Composition
Thin (1/8”), rolls or tiles (VCT)
– Will show substrate irregularities
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Multiple colors & patterns
Low cost, moderate durability
Installation - glued
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MPE Fixtures, Devices & Trim
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Plumbing Fixtures
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Electrical Fixtures, Devices & Trim
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HVAC Trim
Fire Protection Methods
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Codes Limit Size based upon Structural Materials
Interior Fire Construction
– Rated Corridors & Exits
– Firewalls / Building Partitioning
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Detect Fire / Smoke
– Self-Contained / Battery Powered - Alert Occupants
– Hard-Wired - Alert Occupants &
» Activate Life Safety Systems (HVAC) - Zones
» Alarms @ Control Panel & Fire Department
Fire Protection Methods
continued
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Detect / Extinguish Fire - Sprinkler Systems
Components (rare in single family homes)
– Distribution of Water @ appropriate pressures
» Piping (vertical and horizontal)
» Booster pumps (high rise)
– Dispense water @ the appropriate time
» Sprinkler
– Activate Life Safety & notify
(flow valves/switches)
8.4 DESIGN OF FINISH STAIRS
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8.4.1 Finish stairs are either constructed in place or shop built; site built
stairs tend to be fitted more closely to the walls - Stair treads are usually made
of wear-resistant hardwoods like oak and maple, whereas the risers and
stringers are made of any reasonable hardwood like oak, maple or Douglas fir
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8.4.2 Proportioning of Stairs: BOCA National Building Code
specifies: (a) Stairs within a residence to have a minimum width of 36”,
maximum riser height of 7 3/4”, minimum tread width of 10” and a minimum
headroom of 6’8”; (b) Nonresidential stair with a occupancy load of 50
persons or fewer to have a minimum width of 36”, maximum riser height of
7”, minimum tread depth of 11” and minimum headroom of 6’8”; and (c)
Nonresidential stair, with a occupancy load greater than 50 persons:
Minimum width of 44”, maximum height of 7”, minimum tread depth of 11”
and a minimum headroom of 6’8”
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8.4.3 The Design Formula is (2R + T) = 25” for indoors and
(2R + T) = 26 or 27” for outdoors