Final BCM Book 2015 Edition 1

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
AND MATERIALS
EXAM ORIENTED Q & A SERIES 3 RD YEAR

B.ARCH
Ar.Aniruddha Kolhatkar
FIRST EDITION
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
AND MATERIALS
FIRST EDITION
2015
Aniruddha Kolhatkar
Architect
Architects Academy Publication
Price: Rs.300/- only
1
Architects Academy , Pune
INTRODUCTION & AUTHORS NOTE
This book has been written with a view to provide help to Architectural students
appearing for university exams. This book is a part of a series of books written for
various years of the B.Arch. Course in Architecture.
This book does not claim to be a substitute for text books written on the subject but
provides information in a nutshell required for answering questions. The student is
advised to also refer to various textbooks to have comprehensive knowledge about
the subject. I hope that this book will suffice the long standing demand of students
for Q & A book on Building Construction topic.
After using this book students are encouraged to provide their feedback to make
future editions more comprehensive.
Ar.Aniruddha Kolhatkar
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CONTENTS
No Subject Page .no
1 Cantilever beam Balcony with edge beam 05

2 Cantilever beam Balcony without edge beam 06
3 Cantilever Slab balcony 07
4 In situ Bored Piles 08
5 Driven cast in situ pile foundation 09
6 Pre cast pile foundations 10

7 Built up steel sections 11
8 Castellated Beam 12
9 CBRI ‘plank and beam system’ 13,14
10 CBRI ‘Channel system’ 15
11 CBRI ‘L pan roofing system’ 16
12 Drained cavity system 17
13 External Mastic Asphalt W.P system 18
14 Internal Mastic Asphalt W.P system 19
15 Shahabad tile waterproofing 20
16 Terminology of Retaining Wall 21
17 Brick gravity retaining Wall 22
18 Mass concrete Retaining wall 23
19 Aluminium sliding window 24
20 Central spine cantilever folded stair 25
21 R.C.C Stringer Beam and typical stair 26-28

22 Spine Beam 29
3
No Subject PageNo.
23 Setting out of a structure 30,31
24 Important properties of soil 32-34
25 Timber Joinery for Single Bed 35
26 Reinforced brick work 36
27 Raft foundation 37,38
28 Single skin partition 39
29 Double skin partition 40
30 Sliding Folding doors 41,42
31 Stub column and stanchion fixing details 43,44
32 Teak Wood Bay Window 45,46
33 Types of Glass 47
34 Types of Lift 48
35 Guniting 49
36 R.C.C canopy and Balcony 50
37 Comparison between dense and light weight 51
concrete
38 Stainless Steel 52,53
39 Ready-mix Concrete 54
40 Painting of Wall 55
41 Polishing of Timber 56
42 Modular Coordination 57
43 Light Weight concrete 58
44 Painting of steel and wood 59
45 Polishing of Steel 60
46 Gypsum Board Ceiling 61-65
47 Metal and their Alloys 66
4
Q. Cantilever beam balcony with edge beam
Ans:
1. The figure shows a cantilever beam balcony with edge beam.

2. CB1 and CB2 are the two cantilever beams and B1 and B2 are the simply supported
beams on which the balcony is supported
3. Since there is an edge beam (B5) the slab of the balcony is a one way slab spanning
along B3 and B5
4. Bending moment and shear force are both maximum near the support in case of a
cantilever beam. Hence the shear reinforcement in the form of stirrups is closely
spaced near the support.
5. `In a cantilever beam there is tension on the top side of the beam and compression
at the bottom hence main reinforcement in the cantilever beam CB1 and CB2 is at
the top. The main reinforcement also continues into the beams B1 and B2 equal in
length to the cantilever span for proper anchorage of steel.
5
Q. Cantilever beam balcony without edge beam
Ans:
1. The figure shows a cantilever beam balcony without edge beam.

2. CB1 and CB2 are the two cantilever beams on which the balcony is supported
3. Since there is no edge beam the slab of the balcony is a one way slab spanning
along CB1 and CB2
4. Bending moment and shear force are both maximum near the support in case of a
cantilever. Hence the shear reinforcement in the form of stirrups is closely spaced
near the support.
5. In a cantilever there is tension on the top side of the beam and compression at the
bottom hence main reinforcement in the cantilever beam CB1 and CB2 is at the top.
The main reinforcement also continues into the beams B1 and B2 equal in length to
the cantilever span for proper anchorage of steel.
6
Q. Cantilever slab balcony
Ans:
1. The figure shows a cantilever slab balcony.

2. In this case the slab is a cantilever slab and does not have beams supporting it at the
edges
3. In the cantilever slab there are tensile stresses at the top and compressive stresses
at the bottom
4. The main reinforcement in the balcony is at the top and is anchored into the slab
behind by a length equal to the span of the cantilever
5. Alternate bars in the slab behind which are bent up for shear resistance are carried
forward into the balcony as the main reinforcement at the top of the balcony.
7
Q. Write a short note on cast in situ bored piles
Ans.
1. In this type of piles a hole is made in the ground using an instrument called as
‘Auger’
2. The ‘Auger’ is a screw like instrument which digs the hole in the ground. The soil gets
stuck to the blades of the Auger and is pulled out along with it.
3. This type of pile foundation is suitable for clay soils.
4. This is a type of non- displacement pile as the soil is not displaced and gets taken out
of the hole.
5. If the soil is loose and tends to fall back within the hole, bentonite slurry is poured into
the hole. Bentonite slurry prevents the soil from falling back into the hole. Bentonite is
a naturally occurring clay which has ‘thixotropic’ properties which means that when it
is left undisturbed it acts like a gel and when disturbed becomes a liquid.
6. The reinforcement cage made out of steel reinforcement bars is fabricated on site
and lowered into the hole with the help of a crane.
7. Ready mix concrete is poured into the hole with a long funnel like instrument called a
‘Tremie’. Due to this segregation of the ingredients of the concrete is avoided.
8. The tremie is also used to vibrate the concrete for compacting it.Bentonite being
lighter than concrete floats on concrete and is displaced. The displaced bentonite is
collected in a tank for reuse.
8
Q. Write a short note on Driven cast in situ pile foundation.
Ans:
1. An open ended steel tube is filled with gravel at the base

2. The tube is placed in position and a heavy drop hammer hammers the gravel placed
at the end of the tube.
3. As the gravel starts to move down the tube also goes down with it.
4. This continues till the tube reaches the hard strata.
5. Cables are attached to the tube for lifting it out
6. The plug is hammered to form a bulb at the base
7. Reinforcement cage is lowered down with the help of a crane.
8. Concreting is commenced. As the concreting proceeds the tube is slowly pulled out.
9. The drop hammer keeps hammering the concrete to vibrate it
10. Finally the entire tube is lifted out and the pile is complete.
11. This type of pile is a displacement pile because the soil adjoining the tube gets
displaced and compacted as the tube goes into the ground.
9
Q.Write a note on precast pile foundations
Answer:
1) There are two types of pile foundations

a) Cast-in-situ pile foundations (concrete
cast on site)
b) Precast pile foundations (concrete cast
outside the site)
2) Precast pile foundations
a) Concrete piles of determined size are
cast in a factory.
b) Reinforcement cage is put in moulds
and concrete is cast.
c) A cast iron shoe is cast at the pointed
end of the pile to protect the tip during
hammering of the pile
d) The piles are provided with lifting holes
for lifting and placing the pile in
position with the help of a crane.
e) To improve strength the piles can also
be pre-stressed. TOP PORTION OF
f) The piles are transported from the PILE IS BROKEN
factory to the site and are positioned at
AND EXPOSED
the required location on a piling rig.
g) A hammer operated by a machine STEEL IS TIED
hammers the piles into the ground till WITH STEEL OF
they reach the required depth. PILE CAP
h) The top 300mm of the pile is broken to
expose the steel. The steel is then
joined to the steel of the pile cap and
concrete is cast for the pile cap to
complete the pile.
i) These types of piles are called
displacement piles as during
hammering the soil gets displaced and
compacted.
j) The advantages of these piles are that
quality control of concrete, adequate
cover to reinforcement etc. can be
assured.
k) These cannot be used where the soil
displacement and vibrations are likely
to affect adjoining structures
10
Q. Write a short note on steel built up sections
Ans:
1. Hot rolled steel sections are manufactured in standard profiles and sizes.
2. The various profiles available are plates, channels, ‘I’ sections, ‘T’ sections etc.
3. The standard sections can be joined together by welding to form more complex
sections called built up sections.
4. By combining various sections together the efficiency and load carrying capacity of
the section improves. Also different types of loads can be carried by the composite
section for example in a gantry girder both horizontal and vertical loads can be
carried by the girder.
Built up sections are used for making columns and beams as shown
11
Q. Write a short note on castellated beam
Ans:
1. A Castellated beam is an open web beam.
2. A standard 'I' section beam is cut along the web as shown in the figure. The
resulting two parts are again welded to each other as shown.
3. The resulting beam had a depth of 1.5 times the original beam. It also has
voids in the web.
4. Due to the increased depth the efficiency of the beam increases and it is able
to resist more bending than the original beam.
5. Due to the increased depth the beam can span a longer distance than the
original beam without deflecting.
6. It is more economical as the beam contains voids and has lesser weight than
a standard beam of the same depth.
7. The voids in the web can be used for passing service lines such as A.C. ducts
and electrical conduits.
12
Q. Write a short note on CBRI beam and plank system
Ans:
PRECAST RCC PLANK UNIT
PARTIALLY PRECAST BEAM
13
1. CBRI (Central Building Research Institute, Roorkie) has developed different precast
roofing and flooring systems for low cost housing.
2. Beam and plank system is a precast concrete roofing and flooring system used for
making flat roofs and floors for low cost housing.
3. The beams and planks are designed in a modular system (with modular dimensions
in multiples of 300mm)
4. The beam and plank units are designed in such a way that they can be easily
manufactured by local labour using low tech methods.
5. The beams span between two load bearing walls. The beams rest on a concrete
template on the wall. The beams are partially precast which means that the upper
part of the beam is left un-cast with the triangular rings projecting out. A horizontal
reinforcement bar is passed through these after the beam and planks are put in
position. The entire top portion of the beams and planks are then provided with a cast
in situ concrete topping.
6. When this system is used as a flat roof, water proofing treatment is provided over the
roof.
7. The dimensions of the moulds (form work) reinforcement details etc. are provided by
CBRI.
8. With some amount of training the local labour can manufacture and install this type of
roof /floor at low cost.
14
Q. Write a short note on ‘Channel’ system of flooring and roofing developed by CBRI
Ans.
2. Channel system is a precast concrete roofing and flooring system used for making
flat roofs and floors for low cost housing.
3. The Channel units are designed in such a way that they can be easily manufactured
by local labour using low tech methods.
4. The channel units are designed in a modular system (with modular dimensions in
multiples of 300mm)
5. The Channel units span between two load bearing walls they are designed in such a
way that when placed next to each other a wedge shaped space is formed between
two units as shown in the figure. Reinforcement is laid in this space and concrete is
cast to form a sort of beam. A layer of concrete is placed on top to act as a levelling
topping. If the system is used to form the roof a water proofing treatment is provided
on top of the roof. The channel units have grooves in a certain pattern to act as a
shear key.
6. The ‘C’ shape if the channel units give it strength and hence they can span between
load bearing walls without any other support.
CBRI.
roof at low cost.
15
Q. Write a short note on ‘L’ pan roofing system developed by CBRI
Ans:
2. ‘L’ pan roofing system is a precast concrete roofing system used for making sloping
roofs for low cost housing.
3. The ‘L’ pan units are designed in such a way that they can be easily manufactured by
local labour using low tech methods.
4. The ‘L’ pan units are designed in a modular system (with modular dimensions )
5. The ‘L’ pan roofing panels span between two load bearing walls and overlap each
other so as to prevent water from entering through the joint as shown in the figure.
6. The top most portion of the roof (ridge) is constructed in cast in situ RCC.
CBRI.
roof at low cost.
16
Q. Write a short note on drained cavity system of water proofing.
Ans:
1. This type of system is used in situation where it is not possible to do water proofing
treatment on the external side of the basement.
2. In this system a continuous cavity is created next to the retaining wall and at the top
of the raft slab.
3. The purpose of the cavity is to collect any water which has seeped from the retaining
wall and the raft slab and prevent it from coming into the interior of the basement
4. The cavity is created next to the retaining wall by constructing a brick wall at a
distance of 50mm. At the bottom the cavity is created by using special interlocking
tiles called as dry angle tiles. The water seeping through the retaining wall and the
raft gets collected at the base of the retaining wall, collected in a underground water
tank and pumped out.
Ref: The construction of buildings -Barry
17
Q. Water proofing for basement external mastic Asphalt tanking treatment
Ans.
1. The excavation for basement is done upto the required strata

2. Base PCC is laid. The purpose of the base PCC is to provide a even and hard
surface.
3. Water proofing treatment in the form of Asphalt in 3 coats to a thickness of 30mm is
applied over the base PCC.
4. A protective coat of cement mortar is placed above the Asphalt layer
5. The reinforcement is laid and the RCC raft slab is cast with a small part of the
retaining wall termed as kicker.
6. Water bars are provided at the kicker and at horizontal construction joints before
casting of concrete
7. The reinforcement for the retaining wall is put in position and the retaining wall is cast
8. After the retaining wall is set the vertical surface is applied with 3 coats of Asphalt to
a thickness of 20mm
9. A brick wall is constructed next to the waterproofing layer leaving a gap which is
grouted with cement grout.
10. The purpose of the brick wall is to provide a protective layer for the Asphalt
waterproofing
18
Q. Write a short note on Internal Asphalt mastic water proofing treatment
Ans:
1. This type of waterproofing treatment is done in cases where it is not possible to do

waterproofing from the external side of the basement.
2. Excavation is done till the required level.
3. Base PCC is cast. Base PCC provides a hard and level surface for casting the raft
slab.
4. Reinforcement is laid on top of the PCC and concrete is cast with water bars
provided at construction joints.
5. Part of the retaining wall is also cast along with the raft. This is termed as the ‘kicker’.
6. The reinforcement for the retaining wall is placed in position and the retaining wall is
cast with water bars provided at construction joints.
7. Asphalt mastic is applied on top of the raft in 3 coats to a total thickness of 30mm.
8. Protective screed of 50mm thickness is provided on top of the water proofing.
9. Asphalt mastic is applied in 3 coats on the inner face of the retaining wall to a total
thickness of 20mm.
10. A second RCC slab is cast over the protective screed. This slab forms the floor of the
basement.
11. A brick wall is constructed adjoining the retaining wall and the space between the
brick wall and the retaining wall is filled with cement sand grout. The purpose of the
brick wall is to provide a protective layer over the waterproofing treatment.
19
Q. Write a note on Shahabad tile water proofing
Ans:
1. Shahabad tile water proofing is one of the most commonly used water proofing
treatments for basements, underground water tanks and swimming pools.
2. Shahabad tile is used as it is an impervious material and is cheap.
3. Procedure for Shahabad tile water proofing is as follows
a) Excavation of basement is done up to required strata.
b) PCC bed is constructed.
c) After the PCC has set Shahabad tile flooring is done on top with rich cement
screed 1:4. The Shahabad tiles are laid leaving a gap of about 10 to 15 mm
between the tiles. The gap is then filled with water proof joint sealer.
d) The raft slab reinforcement is laid and the raft slab is cast leaving water bars
where ever construction joints occur. A part of the retaining wall is also cast along
with the raft. This is called a ‘kicker’. A water bar is constructed at the kicker and
the rest of the retaining wall is cast.
e) A rough layer of plaster is applied from the outside. Shahabad tiles are laid
vertically on the plastered surface by applying pure cement paste on the back
side of the tile and pressing it on the rough plastered surface. An entire row of tile
is thus laid.
f) The gap between the tile and the plastered surface is filled with cement grout till
the grout overflows from the space. This procedure is continued row by row till
the entire wall is covered.
20
Q. Write a short note on terminology of retaining wall
Ans: The figure is showing a cross section through a typical RCC cantilever retaining wall.
The retaining wall consists of mainly two parts
1. The horizontal part called the Base forming the foundation of the retaining wall
2. The vertical part called the Stem which supports the retained soil.
The other terms used in the retaining wall are as follows
1. Toe: Front part of the base which projects on the side opposite to the retaining side.
The toe is having a widened part at the end like a beam. This is to resist the sliding
action caused due to the retained soil
2. Heel: The part of the base towards the retaining side. The pressure of the soil above
the heel helps to counter balance the overturning of the retaining wall.
3. Weep Holes: These are holes made in the retaining wall which are lined by pipes.
The purpose of the weep holes is to let out the water which is present in the retained
earth thereby relieving the pressure of water on the retaining wall.
4. Over burden: Additional loads that may come on the retaining wall. For example
load from an adjoining building or from vehicles passing on a road near the retaining
wall.
5. Granular back fill: The part adjoining the retaining wall is filled with coarse material
like gravel. This allows the water in the soil to percolate down to the weep holes and
prevents clogging of the weep holes due to soil.
6. Angle of repose: It is the angle at which the soil remains stable without sliding when
placed on a horizontal surface.
21
Q. Write a short note on Brick gravity retaining wall
Ans:
1. Gravity retaining walls retain earth by their sheer weight alone. The brick retaining
wall shown in the figure is made of brick masonry.
2. Brick retaining walls can be built of limited height.
3. Pipes are place across the retaining wall to act as ‘weep holes’. The weep holes
allow the water in the retained soil to escape thereby relieving the load of the water
on the retaining wall.
4. Part of the excavation near the retaining wall is filled with loose gravel. Water present
in the retained soil percolates through the gravel towards the weep holes. The gravel
also does not allow the loose soil to block the weep holes.
22
Q. Write a short note on mass concrete gravity retaining wall
Ans:
1. Gravity retaining walls retain earth by their sheer weight alone. The concrete
retaining wall shown in the figure is made of mass concrete.
2. Steel dowel bars are placed at 900 mm apart along the length of the wall. The steel
dowel bars resist the shear caused due to sliding action of the retaining wall.
3. Pipes are place across the retaining wall to act as ‘weep holes’. The weep holes
allow the water in the retained soil to escape thereby relieving the load of the water
on the retaining wall.
4. Part of the excavation near the retaining wall is filled with loose gravel. Water present
in the retained soil percolates through the gravel towards the weep holes. The gravel
also does not allow the loose soil to block the weep holes.
23
Q. Write a short note on Aluminium sliding window
Ans:
1. Aluminium sliding window is the most commonly used window in buildings.

2. The window consists of extruded aluminium profile sections which are manufactured
for specific requirements of the Aluminium window.
3. Aluminium windows are classified according to number of shutters and tracks as 2
track, 3 track, 4 track windows.
4. The window consists of a aluminium frame which is made out of two type of sections.
The section which contains the tracks is located at the bottom of the window. The
other type of section which does not contain tracks is situated at the side and top of
the window.
5. The shutter of the window also consists of different profiles. The bottom profile
houses the wheel at the bottom and glass at the top. One of the side profile sections
has the lock and handle for operating the window. The central side section has an
interlocking arrangement in which the two shutters interlock.
6. The glass is fixed to the shutters with pvc gasket.
7. The frame profile contains small tracks in which the wool pile is inserted. The wool
pile is necessary to make the window air tight and to prevent rattling of the shutter
due to wind.
8. Apart from the glass shutter the window can also be provided with a mosquito
shutter.
9. Finishing used – Powder coating or anodising.
24
Q. Folded central spine wall cantilever stairs
Ans.
1. The RCC stair is a folded plate stair.

2. The stair cantilevers out through a central spine wall (RCC wall)
3. The riser portion of the stairs act as a cantilever beams while the tread acts as a
slab spanning over the cantilever beams.
4. Being a cantilever the main reinforcement in the riser is at the top.
5. The top bars have to be anchored behind by the same distance as the cantilever.
Since there is no slab or beam behind the riser part the bars are turned down into
the spine wall to give sufficient anchorage to the reinforcement. (refer to dotted
lines in the figure)
6. The mid landing is supported by a cantilever beam from the central spine wall.
The mid landing itself is a balanced cantilever slab above the cantilever beam.
7. This type of stair is mainly used for its aesthetical beauty as there are no
supports seen on the side of the stairs.
8. This type of stair is very costly as compared to conventional stairs as large
quantity if reinforcement is required.
25
Q. RCC stinger beam stairs
Ans:
1. This stair consists of an inclined stair slab which is supported by two inclined beams
at the sides. B1 and B6 these beams are called ‘Stringer beams’
2. The stair slab acts as a simply supported slab spanning along its shorter span and
transferring the load to the stringer beams
3. The main reinforcement in the slab is at the bottom
4. Alternate bars in the slab are bent up at 45 deg near the support to resist shear force.
26
27
Section through folded plate stairs.
28
Q. Write a note on spine beam.
Ans:
1. Spine beam is a central beam like a spine which supports cantilever structure on
either of its sides. Examples of use of spine beams are shown in the sketches below
a) Spine beam staircase: A central spine beam supports cantilever treads
b) Spine beam used in design of bridge: A central spine beam supporting cantilever
slabs on both sides
c) Spine beam used in supporting a landing for staircase
29
Q. Write a short note on setting out of a structure.
Ans:
1. Setting out of a structure means correctly marking out the proposed building on the
plot. While setting out of columns or walls means marking out centre lines of columns
or walls and marking positions of column pits or wall trenches on the site.
2. The Architect has to produce a setting out plan and a centre line plan for the
reference of the contractor.
3. The setting out plan shows the dimensions of the plot, north direction, access road
and profile of the building. The plan shows the out-out dimensions of the building,
dimensions of offsets, distances to be left from the road and other plot boundaries.
4. The plan should also include diagonal dimensions for verification of right angles.
5. A reference point called as the temporary bench mark should also be indicated on
the drawing.
Procedure of setting out and marking centre lines:
a) The plot dimensions are measured and confirmed as per official documents.
b) The diagonal dimensions are measured and confirmed
c) The road line is established on site
d) The Temporary bench mark is established on site
e) The setback lines from the road and other boundaries are established
f) Wooden pegs are place at the corners of the building line and the building line is
marked on the site with lime powder
g) A sight rail or profile board is constructed with wooden planks and wooden posts
corresponding to the building line.
h) The profile board is established at a certain distance from the building line in such
a way that it remains undisturbed during excavation and other building activity.
i) Centres of columns are marked on the profile board by nails punched on the
boards in both x-x and y-y directions.
j) The column numbers are marked with oil pint on the profile board.
k) Strings are stretched from the nails in x-x and y-y directions, the crossing points
of the strings indicate the centre of the column. This centre is transferred on the
ground with the help of a plumb bob.
l) The right angles between the strings are checked by using 3/4/5 rule which is as
follows, 3 unit distance is marked on the first string and a marking is made. 4 unit
distance is marked on the other string. The distance between the marks is
measured if the distance is 5 units then both the strings are at right angles.
m) Once the centre point of footing is established the PCC size of the footing is
marked on the ground with lime powder and excavation proceeds.
n) Once the PCC is cast the centre of the column is again marked on the PCC for
reference of placing the footing reinforcement.
o) The centre line is again checked at the time of casting column footing and also at
the time of casting the columns.
30
31
Q. Short note on important properties of soil in foundation design
Ans:
 Important properties of soils
a) Compressibility
b) Cohesion of particles
c) Internal friction
d) Permeability
e) Load bearing capacity
 As far as properties are concerned soils are broadly categorized into two types
1. Cohesive soils
2. Non- Cohesive soils
(Ref: The construction of Buildings, Barry)
a) Compressibility:
For sandy or non-cohesive soils compression takes place quickly and for a short time. There
is no disturbance to the surrounding soil. For cohesive soils compression takes place slowly
and there is heaving of surrounding soil
32
 Cohesion of particles (plasticity):
There is less cohesion between sandy soils and hence they are not plastic. There is more
cohesion between clay soils and hence they are plastic
 Internal Friction:
There is considerable friction between coarse grained soils. If subject to very heavy loads
the soil may shear and cause sudden settlement.
There is very little friction between fine particles of cohesive soils. Under heavy loads
surrounding soil will get displaced. If the displacement is uneven it can cause slippage and
building can tilt on one side due to uneven settlement.
33
 Permeability:
1. Sandy soils are permeable and water passes through them easily.
2. Clay soils have low permeability. There is constant swelling and shrinking of the soil
due to change in moisture content of the soil. This is detrimental to the building
 Load bearing capacity:
Different soils have different load bearing capacities. The load bearing capacity can
be termed as the resistance the soil offers to the imposed load. Safe bearing capacity
means load bearing capacity X factor of safety. The foundation design is greatly
dependent on the load bearing capacity of the soil. Lesser the bearing capacity more
is the area of foundation.
This is determined by the equation P= F/A
Where P= load bearing capacity, F= load of the structure, A= Area of the foundation
The safe load bearing capacities of some common soils are as follows,
( Ref: Construction Handbook by Mantri)
34
Q. Explain with sketches timber joinery for single bed
1. The sketch shows simple timber joinery for a single bed.

2. The legs of the bed are made up of 4 75x75 t.w. posts
3. The horizontal members are made up of 40x75 t.w. members joined by tennon and
mortise joints.
4. There are two intermediate supports of timber 35x40 which are joined to the
horizontal members by dove tail tennon mortise joint. The dove tailing prevents the
members getting pulled out of the horizontal member.
5. The top of the bed is made of 12mm plywood which is fixed in a 12x12 rebate made
in the horizontal members
35
Q. Write a short note on reinforced brick work
Ans:
1. Brickwork is good in taking axial loads i.e. compressive loads acting vertically
downward.
2. However bricks are not strong in inclined or horizontal loading.
3. Brick work can be strengthened by using steel reinforcement
4. The reinforcement can be used in the form of reinforcement bars, weld mesh,
expanded metal etc.
5. The reinforcement can be placed in hollows made by using conventional bricks as
seen in quetta bond or rat trap bond. The hollow portions are then filled with concrete
to form a RCC member.
6. Reinforcement can also be placed in specially made bricks such as hollow bricks.
7. Reinforcement in the form of welded bars or weld mesh or expanded metal can be
placed within the joints of the brick work.
8. Reinforced bricks slabs are made for small spans by placing reinforcement in the
joints of the brickwork as shown in the figure. Reinforced brick lintels can also be
made in the same manner.
9. The main advantage of placing reinforcement in brickwork is to offer resistance
against earthquake loads in load bearing structures.
36
Q. Write a short note on Raft foundation?
Ans.
1. Raft foundations are special foundation used for buildings where the bearing capacity
of the soil is low.
2. There is an inverse relationship between the bearing capacity of soil and the area of
the foundation. That means lower the bearing capacity of the soil more is the area of
the foundation and vice versa.
3. In case of very low bearing capacity of soil such as black cotton soil, the area of
foundations may become so large that they may start overlapping each other. In such
a case the entire base of the building becomes the foundation. This is termed as Raft
foundation.
4. The Raft foundation consists of a thick RCC slab which may or may not have beams.
If beams are present they can be either up stand or down stand beams depending
upon the site conditions.
5. The columns of the superstructure can bear directly on the raft slab or can be made
wider at the base as shown in the figure to avoid ‘Punching Shear’.
6. The Raft slab can bend in two ways, downwards due to load and upward due to the
pressure of sub soil water. Hence both the top and the bottom of the slab can be
subject to tensile stresses.
7. Due to the above mentioned reason, the slab of the Raft is doubly reinforced
meaning that main reinforcement is present on both the top and bottom faces of the
slab.
8. Another type of raft constructed is called a ‘Cellular Raft’ in case of cellular raft the
top and bottom of the basement and the walls are all made in RCC and act as cells
which increases the efficiency of the raft foundation.
9. Raft foundation needs to be provided with water proofing to avoid leakage into the
basement due to presence of sub soil water.
37
38
Q. Single skin and double skin partitions
Ans:
SINGLE SKIN PARTITION
1. It consists of a frame which is exposed ie. seen outside

2. The panels or glass are fixed within the frame.
3. The frame may consist of timber, aluminium or steel
4. The panels can be plywood, pre laminated particle board, MDF board etc.
5. Part of the partition can be of glass panels fixed with beading
6. The finish to the frame can be oil paint or polish
7. The finish of the panels can be laminate, veneer, paint etc.
8. These partitions are not suitable for acoustic insulation
9. The framing is joined to the ceiling slab, floor and the walls with screws or anchor
bolts
10. Joints used to join frame work are tennon and mortice joint, cogged joint, half lap
joint etc.
SINGLE SKIN PARTITION
39
DOUBLE SKIN PARTITION
1. In this type of partition the frame of the partition is hidden inside the partition.
2. The frame is covered on both sides by a covering material giving the partition a
flush appearance from both the sides.
3. The frame can be made of timber, aluminium, steel etc.
4. The covering material can be plywood, MDF, gypsum board, acoustic board etc.
5. The finishing of the partition can be in laminate, veneer, paint, polish etc.
6. As the frame is covered from both the sides there are hollows left within the
partition these hollow spaces are useful for concealing services such as
electrical, telephone, data cables. The hollow space can also be filled with
insulating material such as glass wool, rock wool, expanded polystyrene
(thermacol) etc. to make the partition into an acoustic partition
7. `The joints used in the framing can be tennon and mortice joint, cogged joint, half
lap joint etc.
40
Q. Types of sliding folding doors
Ans:
1. SLIDING FOLDING DOORS ARE USED IN THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS
A. Door leading from living spaces to balcony, terrace, patio etc.
B. As sliding folding partition between two spaces.
2. ADVANTAGES OF SLIDING FOLDING DOORS
A. Since the doors fold they occupy lesser space in open position
B. Since they are supported on channels above they are easier to operate than
folding doors.
3. TYPES OF SLIDING FOLDING DOORS
A. Centre supported
B. End supported
4. End supported sliding folding doors are supported by roller wheels which move in
channel fixed to the lintel. The lower part of the door has a channel and roller whose
purpose is to maintain the door moving in a straight line and prevent it from moving
sideways. The lower roller is like a cylinder and does not touch the bottom. The roller
is connected to the hinges fixed to the door shutter.
41
5. In centre supported sliding folding doors the roller is put at the centre of the
shutter. The roller slides within a channel connected to the lintel. The lower part has
another roller similar to the end supported sliding folding door. The end shutters of
the centre supported sliding folding doors have a width of half that of the central
shutters (refer figure)
42
Q. Write a short note on stub column and stanchion fixing detail.
Ans:
1. A steel column is called a stanchion.

2. Steel stanchions are provided with RCC foundations as RCC is a better material
than steel to be used below ground where due to presence of moisture steel is
likely to rust and corrode.
3. The RCC foundation extends up to the plinth level after which the steel stanchion
gets attached to the RCC foundation
4. The RCC foundation consists of a footing which may be trapezoidal or
rectangular in shape. A short column rises from the footing to the plinth level.
This is called a ‘stub’ column.
5. Foundation bolts are cast in the stub column during construction
6. A template is used to position and align the bolts.
7. The bolts are also tied at the bottom with a steel rod to ensure that they stay
vertical during casting of concrete.
8. The steel stanchion is provided with a base plate which has holes corresponding
to the foundation bolts. The base plate is secured to the steel stanchion by
triangular plates called ‘stiffener’ plates.
9. The steel stanchion is lifted by a crane and placed over the stub column in such a
way that the bolts pass through the holes in the base plate
10. A gap is maintained between the top of the stub column and the base plate by
providing check nuts on the bolts at the bottom of the plate
11. The stanchion is leveled to make it perfectly vertical. Steel wedges are used in
the process of leveling.
12. After leveling the nuts are provided at the top of the bolts and tightened. The gap
between top of stub column and steel base plate is filled with non shrink grout.
13. The property of non shrink grout is that it is free flowing and self leveling. It does
not shrink during setting like regular cement grout.
43
44
Q. Write a short note on teak wood bay window
Ans:
1. Window which projects outside the external face of the wall with glazing on all three
sides can be termed as a bay window
2. The bay window may be supported by sill height walls or can be cantilever at sill
level.
3. Bay windows can take different forms namely
a) Square bay window.
b) Angular bay window at 60deg or 45 deg angle.
c) Circular or segmental bay window also called as ‘Bow window’.
4. The bay window may project from 450 to 750mm outside the wall face.
5. The sill is normally at 450 above floor level and can be used as a seat from inside the
room
6. Bay windows can be constructed out of timber, aluminium or steel.
7. Bay window can have sliding or open able shutters and fixed glazing in some parts.
8. Advantages of bay window
a) Aesthetical look from outside
b) Can be used as a seat from inside the room
c) Because of projection outside the face of the wall offers more view of the exterior
d) Admits more light into the interiors
45
46
Q. Write a short note on types of glass
Ans:
1. Types of glass
a) Float glass: A clear and distortion free glass. It is manufactured by pouring
molten glass on a surface of molten tin. The glass is then rolled into sheets which
are cut to the required size. Most of the glass used in modern buildings is float
glass
b) Toughened glass: This type of glass is used for building facades, shop fronts,
tables, selves etc. Toughened glass is a break resistant glass. Even if the glass
breaks it falls into rounded pieces and hence is a safer type of glass. The
toughening process involves heating the glass and then rapidly cooling it to
induce compressive stresses on the outer face and tensile stresses on the inner
side of the glass. One point that should be noted that any holes, cuts to be made
in the glass have to be done before toughening process.
c) Insulating glass: Also termed as insulated glass unit or IGU. This type of glass
unit consists of two panes of glass which are sealed at the edges and the space
in between the glass is filled with an inert gas like Argon.
d) Reflective glass: This glass has a translucent thin metallic layer on the outer
surface which reflects the heat and light incident on it. This type of glass is used
for solar control in buildings
e) Tinted glass: Glass with different colored tints like green, brown, blue etc. is
manufactured for reducing incident heat and glare. This glass is used for curtain
walls and as window glass.
f) Laminated glass: This glass consists of two layers of glass with a layer of
polyvinyl butaryl resin in between. This type of glass is used for automobile
windows. If the glass breaks the pieces of glass are held together by the inter
layers and do not easily separate.
g) Wired glass: A square or diamond wire mesh is embedded within the thickness of
the glass during manufacture. This type of glass is used for fire doors and north
light glazing. In case of fire or breakage this type of glass does not easily shatter
into pieces
h) Patterned glass: Glass surface is given a texture or pattern during the
manufacturing process to improve the aesthetical look of the glass.
i) Obscure glass: This type of glass is used to act as translucent glass which allows
light to pass through but cuts visibility. The surface can be acid etched or sand
blasted to make it translucent.
j) Glass blocks: glass blocks are square shaped blocks which can be laid like bricks
to form a glass wall. Such glass walls can be used as partition walls. Glass
blocks are also embedded in slabs to act as sky lights
47
Q. Write a short note on types of lifts
Ans:
A. Lifts are classified according to their use as follows:

1. Passenger lifts
2. Hospital lifts
3. Dumb waiter
4. Vehicle lifts
5. Goods lift
6. Scenic lift/capsule lift
1. Passenger lifts- Passenger lifts are used to carry people from one level to another.
Passenger lifts are classified according to their passenger carrying capacity as 4
passengers, 5 passengers, 8 passengers and so on. These lifts are used for
residential buildings and for offices.
2. Hospital lifts- Hospital lifts are designed to carry a patient on a stretcher along with an
attendant. These lifts have lesser width and more depth. The speeds of these lifts are
slower than passenger lifts.
3. Dumb waiters- Dumb waiters are small lifts used to carry food in a hotel from the
kitchen to the upper floor pantries. They do not carry any passengers and hence are
of a smaller size.
4. Vehicle lifts- These are used to carry two wheeler and four wheeler vehicles. They
are used in multi-storey car parks, service stations and for some apartment buildings
where cars can be taken up to the apartment. The lift has doors on both sides for
easy entry and exit of vehicles.
5. Goods lifts- These are used to carry goods in godowns, cold storages, logistics
warehouses etc. These lifts are heavy duty lifts with large opening doors.
6. Scenic lifts/capsule lifts- Scenic lifts have the outer face made in glass. This offers a
view of the exterior while the lift is moving. Capsule lifts also have a glass facade on
three sides the glass facade projects outside the face of the lift shaft.
B. Lifts are also classified according to the type of mechanism used to operate the lift
into,
1. Traction lifts
2. Hydraulic lifts
1. Traction lifts-Traction lifts consist of an electrically operated motor situated on the

top if the lift shaft. The motor pulls the lift car by the help of steel ropes attached
to the lift. It also has a counter weight which helps to balance the weight of the lift
car and reduces the load on the motor.
2. Hydraulic lifts- In Hydraulic lifts the lift car is moved up and down with the help of
a piston shaft attached to the bottom of the lift. The piston shaft works on oil
pressure. A motor situated at the lower floor pumps oil into the telescopic piston
shaft. The shaft moves the lift upwards due to the oil pressure. When the oil
pressure is released the lift moves down
C. Lifts can also be classified according to the type of door used for the lift as
1. Lifts with manual doors
2. Lifts with automatic doors
48
Q. Write a short note on Guniting
1. Guniting and Shotcrete are synonymous terms

2. Guniting can be defined as spraying of concrete on a surface under high pressure
3. Air pressure is used to spray the concrete
4. There are two processes of guniting
5. Dry mix process
6. Wet mix process
7. In dry mix process ingredients are placed in dry condition in a hopper and are
pumped under air pressure through a pipe to the nozzle. The water gets added at the
nozzle. The operator sprays the concrete on the surface to be concreted.
8. In wet mix process ready wet concrete is pumped under air pressure through a pipe
to the nozzle.
9. In wet mix process there is less wastage of material.
10. Wet mix process is used for larger volumes of concrete.
11. Dry mix process is preferred for repair work
12. Applications of Guniting:
a. Stabilization of slopes
b. Concreting of tunnel walls
c. For swimming pool walls
d. For organic shaped structures
e. For repairing concrete work
49
Q. What is the difference between RCC canopy and RCC balcony?
Ans:
1. RCC Balcony
a) A balcony is a protection of the floor outside the building which is used as a space
by the occupants. While as a canopy is generally meant to act as a cover and not as
a floor
b) A balcony is situated at the floor level of the building while a canopy may be at
floor level or at intermediate level.
No RCC BALCONY RCC CANOPY

1 A balcony is a protection of the A canopy is generally meant to
floor outside the building which act as a cover and not as a floor
is used as a space by the
occupants.
2 A balcony will generally have A canopy will generally have
lesser projection outside the more projection outside a
building than a canopy(there building than a balcony(there
could be exceptions) could be exceptions)
3 Structurally balconies are of Structurally a canopy can also
two types be similar to balconies. Only
1. Cantilever slab balcony in since the canopy has a greater
which case the slab is cantilever than the balcony, the
cantilevered from the structure cantilever beam canopy is
2. Beam cantilever balcony in normally used.
which case the beams are
cantilevered from the structure
and the balcony slab is a
simply supported salb
spanning across the beams
4. Balconies are at the same A canopy need not be at the
level as that of the floors and same level as that of the floor
are approachable from the and is normally not
floor approachable from a room
5. The cantilever reinforcement at If the canopy is not at the floor
the top of the balcony is level the cantilever
anchored to a equal distance reinforcement at the top is
behind in the beam or slab as anchored into the column for an
the case may be. (ref. figure) equal distance as the cantilever
(ref. figure)
6 Since a balcony is
approachable from the floor it
must have a protective railing
or parapet
50
c) . A canopy is a cantilever structure. This means that when subjected to load the upper
part of the canopy will develop tensile stresses while the bottom part will develop
compressive stresses. Hence the main reinforcement in the canopy will be situated at the
top of the canopy as is shown in the figure.
d). It will also be observed from the figure that the main reinforcement is continued into the
column supporting the cantilever beam. This is done for the proper anchorage of the
reinforcement. There is a rule for this anchorage which states that the length of the
anchorage should be equal to the length of the cantilever.
e). A balcony must have a protective railing or parapet while as a canopy may or may not
have a railing or parapet.
f). A balcony is generally covered at the top and hence no special waterproofing treatment is
required while a canopy is always exposed at the top and hence special waterproofing
treatment is required
Q. Explain the difference between dense concrete and lightweight concrete
Ans:
Dense Concrete Light weight concrete

1. Hard and dense aggregates are used 1. Light weight low density aggregates
eg. Basalt, Trap stone, Granite etc. are used eg. Pumice, Scoria,
manufactured aggregates from
materials such as clay, shale, slate or
from industrial bye products such as
fly ash.
2. Formed by mixing cement, sand and 2. Formed by various processes such
coarse aggregates in a mechanical as Autoclaved aerated concrete,
mixer foamed concrete, or by standard
method
3. Density of Dense concrete is 3. Density of light weight concrete can

between 2240- 2400 kg/cu.m. be between 300-1750 kg/cu.m.
4. Greater strength than light weight 4. Lesser strength than dense concrete
concrete
5. Good conductor of heat and sound 5. Bad conductor of heat and sound
6. Used as main structural material for 6. Used as filling material over the
strength structural system to reduce the
weight of the structure. Also used for
its heat and sound insulating
properties
7. Homogeneous and impervious 7. Material with air cells less impervious
material than dense concrete
51
Q. Write a short note on stainless steel and its use in buildings.
Ans:
1. Stainless steel is a corrosion resistant and high temperature steel.
2. Corrosion resistance of stainless steel is due to the formation of chromium rich

oxide film on the surface.
3. There are several types and grades of stainless steel
4. Types of stainless steel
a) Ferritic stainless steel-
• It is composed of Iron and Chromium
• It is magnetic in nature
• Grade type is 430 grade
• It is the least expensive but it is difficult to form and weld
• Uses: used for automotive trims, inside dishwashers, clothes dryers etc.
b) Martensitic stainless steel:
• These are formed by increasing the carbon content in the steel
• They are magnetic in nature
• Grade type 420
• Uses: Knives, razor blades, corrosion resistant bearings etc.
c) Austenitic stainless steel
• This is formed by addition of Nickel
• It is a non-magnetic steel
• Grade type is 304
• Another grade is called 204Cu
• Type 304L with lower carbon content is used in corrosive environment
• This is the most widely used type of stainless steel in the world
• Uses: Kitchen sinks, Building facades, railings, commercial food processing
d) Stainless steel with Molybdenum
• Addition of Molybdenum increases corrosion resistance
• Used in marine and acidic environments
52
Type grade 316, 316L
e) Duplex stainless steel
• This is composed of 50% Ferritic and 50% Austenitic steel Nitrogen is added
• Due to duplex nature it has high strength and is resistant to corrosion from
chlorides
• Most common duplex stainless grade is 2205
• Uses: Tanks for sea going chemical tankers, rods and connectors for curtain
walls
Use of Stainless Steel in buildings:
1. Hardware:
a. Aldrop, latches, towerbolts
b. Hinges
c. Patch fittings used to join glass to glass
d. Curtain wall fittings
e. Towel rods, curtain rods, etc.
2. Handrails and Balusters for stairs
3. Kitchen platforms in commercial kitchens
4. Used in the following famous buildings
a. Chrysler building
b. Petronas Towers
c. Jin Mao building
d. Parliament house of Australia
e. Edmonton composting facility
5. Cladding material for building facades
6. Suspended ceilings
7. Bridges:
a. Cata Galdana Bridge, Spain
b. Padre Arrupe Bridge, Spain
c. Sant Fruttos Bridge, Spain
Finishes given to stainless steel
1. Brushed finish
2. Satin finish
3. Matte finish
4. Reflective finish
5. Mirror finish
6. Bead blast finish
53
Q. Write a short note on Ready Mix Concrete
Ans:
1. Ready mix concrete is also known own as RMC or RMX

2. Ready mix concrete is produced in a concrete factory (plant).
3. Various ingredients of concrete ate stored in large containers called silos or
hoppers.
4. The ingredients are mixed in required proportion by computerized control.
5. The ready concrete is transported to the site on truck mounted mixers called
transit mixers. These mixers have a rotating drum mounted on them.
6. The mixer keeps rotating continuously till the concrete is deposited on the
site. This ensures that the concrete remains in a plastic state and does not
set.
7. In addition chemicals called admixtures may be added to the concrete to
prolong its setting time.
8. When the transit mixer arrives on site the concrete is poured in position by
using concrete pumps. The tamping and compacting is done on site.
9. Ready mix concrete has a tendency to shrink fast and hence tends to develop
shrinkage cracks if not cured properly. Curing should start early and should
be properly supervised. Another method that is employed is to cover the
surface with plastic sheet immediately after casting, remove the sheet the
next day and continue with regular curing.
10. Advantages of ready mix concrete over conventional cast in situ concrete
a) Assurance of consistent and uniform quality of concrete of the required

strength.
b) There is less wastage of material
c) Space for storage of materials on site is reduced
d) There are fewer nuisances of noise and dust during concreting.
e) Saving in labour requirement and cost of supervision
f) Custom made concrete to suit the specific requirement is possible
11. Ready Mix Concrete is bought and sold on volume in cubic meters.
12. The manufacturer issues a certificate stating the strength of the concrete
provided at the site.
13. Some of the well-known manufacturers of RMC are ACC, Godrej, Ultra Tech,
Lafarge
14. Ready mix concrete costs slightly more than cast-in-situ concrete. However
considering the advantages the additional cost is easily compensate
54
Q. Write a short note on the process of applying dry distemper paint to wall.
Ans.
1) Preparing putty
a. 3 kg whiting powder.
b. 0.25 litre cement primer.
c. 0.25 litre synthetic enamel.
d. 0.15 litre linseed oil.
e. 1.0 litre water.
f. This will cover 10 sq.m area of wall area.
2) The following is the method for surface preparation and painting using distemper paint
a) Fill the minor cracks and undulations with putty. This is done with a small metal sheet.
b) Larger cracks should be filled with plaster of Paris.
c) After 24 hours surface is rubbed with fine sand paper.
d) Surface is cleaned with dry cloth to remove dust.
e) Prepare paint with 1 kg distemper +0.8 litres of water + fevicol. Stir mixture constantly
while applying paint.
f) 100 mm brush strokes first horizontal then vertical.
g) First coat to dry for 24 hours before applying second.
h) Apply the second and third coat.
55
Q. Write a short note on polishing of timber
Ans:
1. Polishing is one of the best surface finishes that can be applied to timber.
2. Polishing of timber also called as French polish is a traditional method of polishing
3. A substance called shellac is the main ingredient in French polish. Shellac is a substance
obtained from insects in Indian and Indonesian forests.
4. Shellac is dissolved in denatured alcohol and is applied to the timber in layers.
5. Before starting polishing it is necessary that the timber to be polished has to be free from
oil, stains and previous paint etc.
6. The surface of the timber is lightly sanded by using a sand paper. Pumice powder may also
be applied and is a mild abrasive.
7. In cracks or holes in the timber are filled with wood stopping.
8. If the colour of the timber is to be changed then wood dye is applied to the timber.
9. The existing colour of timber can only be changed to a darker shade. If a lighter shade is
required the timber has to be bleached.
10. Layers of shellac dissolved in denatured alcohol are applied with a soft cloth dab which
consists of cotton wool covered by soft cloth.
11. The layers are applied in a pattern going along with the grain in the wood.
12. Many layers of shellac are applied till a shining and smooth finish is achieved.
13. The finished surface may be given a coat of laquer ,polyurethane or melamine to make the
surface more durable.
14. Bees wax can also be used to give a final shining finish to the surface.
56
Q. Write a short note on modular coordination
Ans:
1. Modular coordination means the design of components of a building such that their
dimensions are modular
2. The dimensions are based on a basic module. The components of building are
designed so that they are in multiples of this module
3. This is known as dimensional coordination
The purpose of dimensional coordination is:
a) To permit the assembly of components on site without cutting
b) To reduce the variety and sizes of components used
c) To allow the building designer greater flexibility in the arrangement of components
. Components manufactured with modular system are called ‘Standardized’ components
4. The standardization is done in such a way that building components fit with each
other without any modifications required to be done on site
5. Standardization allows components to be manufactured in different industries which
may be located at different locations in the world. This leads to specialization of
components by industries.
5. Standardization leads to economy
6. Standardized components are used for different types of buildings
MODULE:
 A standard unit of size used to coordinate the dimensions is represented by ‘M’

where 1M = 100mm
 The building components are manufactured as multiples of the basic module these
are called as multimodules
 To avoid too many variations in the number of sizes used they are standardized as
per international convention as 3M, 6M, 12M, 30M and 60M
SUB MODULAR INCREMENTSWhere there is the need for dimension lesser than the
basic module, sub modular increments are used which are M/2= 50Mmm, M/4= 25mm, M/5
= 20Mmm
57
Q. Write a short note on light weight concrete
Ans:
1. Conventional concrete has a density of 2200 to 2600 kg/cu.m.

2. Light weight concrete has a density between 300 to 1750 kg/cu.m.
3. Light weight concrete has some advantages which are
a) It reduces the weight of the building leading to economy
b) It has thermal and acoustical insulation properties
4. There are different methods of preparing light weight concrete, they are
a) Use of light weight aggregate such as Volcanic pumice, scoria and artificially
manufactured aggregates from clay, shale, slate or fly ash
b) Foamed concrete- This contains up to 50% entrained air. This concrete is self-
levelling and self-compacting. It is used for filling voids where access is difficult
c) Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC)- This type of light weight concrete was first
produced in Sweden. It is stronger than foamed concrete. Air cells are formed
within the concrete which make it light in weight. It is used for making masonry
units, precast floor units and precast wall panels. It can be sawn and sculpted.
One of the brand names under which it is manufactured is ‘SIPOREX’.
d) No fines concrete- In no fines concrete the fine aggregate namely sand is
eliminated from the mix. No compaction is required for this type of concrete.
Density is between 1600 to 2000 kg/cu.m. It is used for making pavement around
trees, parking areas, load bearing walls, in fill panels, etc. It is not used for RCC
work.
5. Light weight concrete is used as a non-structural topping for steel deck floors.
6. Light weight concrete is not as strong as conventional concrete.
58
Q. Write a short note on painting of wood and painting of steel
Ans: 1. Painting of wood:
a) Surface to be painted should be sanded by using a sand paper.

b) If earlier paint exists it should be removed by scraping, flaming or using chemical
solvent
c) If any part of the wood is not to be painted it should be masked by using masking
tape.
d) Any holes cracks should be used by using a sealer
e) Wood primer should be applied to the surface
f) Putty should be applied after the primer has dried
g) The surface should be sanded again by using a 180 no. Sand paper
h) Apply second coat of wood primer
i) Apply enamel paint of approved shade and make by using a brush or by spray gun
j) Care should be taken to see that no brush marks are left on the surface
k) The Enamel paint should be applied in two coats.
l) Additional coat of polyurethane can be given to make the surface more durable
2. Painting of steel:
1. Steel structures get damaged due to corrosion
2. Corrosion is caused due to action of moisture on steel
3. Corrosion causes rust formation which reduces the cross section of the steel member
4. Painting is used to protect the steel against corrosion
5. Surface preparation:
a) All types of scales, rust grease, oil etc. have to be removed
b) The following methods are used for surface preparation
i) Flaming with blow torch to remove existing paint
ii) Blast cleaning by using steel shots, coarse sand
iii) Manual cleaning by scraping /rubbing the surface by Emery paper and wire brush
iv) Mechanical cleaning using electrical tools such as power disc, sander, rotary
descaler etc.
v) Chemical cleaning by using chemical solvents
6. Application of primer: Surface is given a primer coat of any one of the following
depending upon the atmospheric conditions
a) Red oxide primer
b) Zinc chromate primer
c) Zinc phosphate primer
59
7. Finishing coat: This is a paint applied in two coats . Paints of different type are used
based on the application. They include, Synthetic enamel, Epoxy based paints,
Bituminous paints, Silicon based paints, Rubber based paints, Polyurethane paints etc.
8. Different methods of application include:
a) Brush application
b) Roller application
c) Conventional spray
d) Airless spray
Q.Write a note on polishing of steel
Ans:
1) Steel is polished and buffed to give it a shiny appearance, to remove oxidation and to
prevent corrosion.
2) Polishing is carried out with an abrasive which is applied by a work wheel or a leather
strap. The abrasive is glued to the work wheel. Polishing is a harsher process than
buffing.
3) Buffing is carried out using loose abrasive is less harsh than polishing and is used to
give a smooth and shiny finish.
4) Silicon based pads or diamond solution can be used in the polishing process.
5) The polishing is done first with a rough abrasive and then further polishing is done with
progressively finer abrasives.
6) a. Aluminium oxide abrasives are used for high tensile metals
b. Silicon carbide is used on hard and brittle metals
c. Cemented carbide is used for low tensile strength materials such as aluminium, brass,
copper
7) Common materials used for polishing wheels include wood, leather, canvas, cotton cloth
8) Buffing wheels are made from cotton or wool cloth.
60
Q. Write a short note on Gypsum board ceiling.
 Gypsum board ceiling is a type of false ceiling .

 A false ceiling is a ceiling created below the floor/slab/roof of a building
 A false ceiling is also called a suspended ceiling or drop ceiling
 The purposes of providing a false ceiling are
a. To hide structural members
b. To hide service lines such as AC ducts, electrical conduits etc.
c. To provide acoustical and thermal insulation
d. To conceal lighting fixtures
e. To improve the aesthetics of the interior of a room
 The false ceiling is a non structural element and is hence made from lightweight
materials to minimize the load on the structure
 There are basically two types of false ceiling used commonly
1. Gypsum board ceiling
2. Modular tiled ceiling
In this presentation we are going to learn details of Gypsum board ceiling
 The gypsum board ceiling consists of main two components that is
1. Frame
2. Covering material
 The frame is made up of galvanized cold rolled steel sections
 The covering material is gypsum board
 The frame: It consists of the following components

1. Intermediate channels : These are ‘c’ shaped profiles as shown in the figure and are
placed at approx. 1.2m apart.
61
The frame: It consists of the following components
3. Perimeter channel: Perimeter channel is fixed at the edge of ceiling and wall as shown in
the figure.
The frame: It consists of the following components
4.
Ceiling angle: Ceiling angle is used to suspend the frame work from the slab/roof
5. G.I. cleat or angle cleat : It is used to connect the ceiling angle to the slab/roof by anchor
fastener. Anchor fastener is a type of bolt which expands after it is put into the hole made in
the slab. Thereby preventing it from being pulled out.
Gypsum board:
Consists of gypsum sandwiched between two layers of paper to form a total thickness of
12.5 mm
Paper tape: Is used to cover joints between gypsum boards

Drywall screws: self-tapping screws used to fix gypsum board to ceiling channels
62
Advantages of Gypsum board ceiling
1.Provides a neat and clean surface for ceiling which is relatively maintenance free
2. Can be painted in any color to match room décor
3. Can be easily cut and rejoined
4. Easy to provide concealed lights, a.c. diffusers
5. Is a fire resistant material. .Has acoustical insulation properties

6. Has sound insulation properties
63
64
65
Q. Write a short note on metals and metal alloys used in building.
Ans:
Different types of metals used in building construction are
1. Iron: cast iron used for pipes, gates, fences, spiral stairs etc.
2. Wrought iron: used for grills, gates etc.
3. Copper: electric cables, hot water pipes, gas pipes, hardware etc. Copper has anti
bacterial properties and can be used in environments like hospitals where germ free
environment is required
4. Zinc: Zinc is used for the process of galvanizing. Galvanizing means giving a coat of
zinc on mild steel. Mild steel items like roofing sheets water pipes etc. are
galvanized to protect them from rusting.
5. Mild steel: Mild steel is an alloy of iron. It is used for various purposes in the building
including, structural steel members, reinforcement bars, manufacture of pipes,
hardware, roofing, etc.
6. Stainless Steel: It is an alloy of iron in which chromium is added. Stainless steel is
combined with other metals to create special property stainless steels. Grade 304
stainless steel is the most commonly used stainless steel in building industry.
Stainless steel is used for manufacturing, pipes, rods, sheets, hardware etc.
7. Brass: is an alloy of copper and zinc. It is used for manufacturing hardware. Various
hardware items such as hinges, latches, handles, aldrop, tower bolts are made of
brass.
8. Gun metal is used for manufacturing various types of hardware and valves for
plumbing.
9. Titanium has been used as a cladding material for its durability. It is a very costly
metal one of the examples is the Guggenheim museum in Spain.
10. Nickel: Nickel is used for plating various hardware and decorative items.
11. Aluminium: Aluminium is used widely in buildings for windows, roofing sheets,
cladding panels, framing members and for hardware.
66
References
1) The construction of Buildings volume 1-4 - Barry

2) Building construction handbook - Chudley
3) Practical Building construction and its management – Sandeep Mantri
4) Internet sources.
67
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
Q & A Series 3rd Year B.Arch.
For Further Information
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COMING SOON………
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the fresh Architect. Study and interpretation of byelaws, site monitoring,
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required for submission and working drawings required for execution are
included in this course. Attending this course will increase your chances of
getting placed in good Architectural firms across Pune.
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About the Author
The author of this book Ar.Aniruddha Kolhatkar has over 25+ years of
experience in Architectural practice and teaching in Architecture
colleges.
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BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

EXAM ORIENTED Q & A SERIES 3 RD YEAR

Architects Academy Publication

Price: Rs.300/- only

No Subject Page .no

1 Cantilever beam Balcony with edge beam 05

6 Pre cast pile foundations 10

21 R.C.C Stringer Beam and typical stair 26-28

1. The figure shows a cantilever beam balcony with edge beam.

1. The figure shows a cantilever beam balcony without edge beam.

1. The figure shows a cantilever slab balcony.

1. An open ended steel tube is filled with gravel at the base

1) There are two types of pile foundations

PRECAST RCC PLANK UNIT

PARTIALLY PRECAST BEAM

Ref: The construction of buildings -Barry

1. The excavation for basement is done upto the required strata

Ref: The construction of buildings -Barry

1. This type of waterproofing treatment is done in cases where it is not possible to do

Ref: The construction of buildings -Barry

The retaining wall consists of mainly two parts

The other terms used in the retaining wall are as follows

1. Aluminium sliding window is the most commonly used window in buildings.

1. The RCC stair is a folded plate stair.

 Important properties of soils

e) Load bearing capacity

2. Non- Cohesive soils

(Ref: The construction of Buildings, Barry)

 Load bearing capacity:

This is determined by the equation P= F/A

( Ref: Construction Handbook by Mantri)

1. The sketch shows simple timber joinery for a single bed.

SINGLE SKIN PARTITION

1. It consists of a frame which is exposed ie. seen outside

SINGLE SKIN PARTITION

1. SLIDING FOLDING DOORS ARE USED IN THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS

A. Door leading from living spaces to balcony, terrace, patio etc.

B. As sliding folding partition between two spaces.

2. ADVANTAGES OF SLIDING FOLDING DOORS

3. TYPES OF SLIDING FOLDING DOORS

1. A steel column is called a stanchion.

A. Lifts are classified according to their use as follows:

1. Traction lifts-Traction lifts consist of an electrically operated motor situated on the

1. Guniting and Shotcrete are synonymous terms

No RCC BALCONY RCC CANOPY

Q. Explain the difference between dense concrete and lightweight concrete

Dense Concrete Light weight concrete

3. Density of Dense concrete is 3. Density of light weight concrete can

1. Stainless steel is a corrosion resistant and high temperature steel.

2. Corrosion resistance of stainless steel is due to the formation of chromium rich

3. There are several types and grades of stainless steel

4. Types of stainless steel

a) Ferritic stainless steel-

• It is composed of Iron and Chromium

• Grade type is 430 grade

• It is the least expensive but it is difficult to form and weld

b) Martensitic stainless steel:

• These are formed by increasing the carbon content in the steel

• They are magnetic in nature

• Grade type 420

• Uses: Knives, razor blades, corrosion resistant bearings etc.

c) Austenitic stainless steel

• This is formed by addition of Nickel