ROOF GUTTERS

AND
DOWN PIPES
 Roof Gutters
The general arrangement of roof eaves gutters are
shown below. Gutters are fixed about 2.5 cm below the
edge of the roof. They are supported on and fixed to
gutter brackets.
 Roof Gutters
Gutters are made of GI plain sheets or available in
cast iron, asbestos cement, PVC or zincalume. When
making the gutters with GI sheets they are cut to
the required size and bent semi-circular or
rectangular.
 Roof Gutters
PVC Gutters are available either in rectangular or semi-
circular shapes. Cast iron (CI) Gutters are semi-circular.
Most commonly used Gutters in Sri Lanka currently are
out of PVC and Zincaluminium. The semi-circular gutters
are 150 mm in dia. The rectangular gutters for normal
residential building are 150 mm wide and 100 mm deep.

Gutter brackets for supporting the gutters are spaced at

specific intervals. Maximum spacing for CI and GI gutters
are about 1.5 m, while for PVC the spacing should not
exceed 600 mm. The brackets are nailed to the roof
timber and valance board.
 Down Pipes & Accessories
For connection to down pipes, a drop
end of funnel shaped connecting
piece must be provided. For PVC
systems these are factory made.
When using GI system these must be
made with GI sheets of the same
gauge. Down pipes are to be of the
same material as the eaves gutters. GI
down pipes are made 75 or 100 mm
rectangular. PVC down pipes are
manufactured in 75 or 100 mm
diameter circular or rectangular.
Rainwater Pipe System - Zincaluminium
Roof Gutters & Accessories

7
Down Pipe Accessories

8
Rainwater Pipe Accessories
FLOORS & FINISHES
 Floors
Floors are an important component of a building.
They give working/useful area for the occupants.

The ground floor is generally prepared by filling brick

bats, waste stones etc. on well compacted soil.
Alternatively, lean concrete is also used. On this a
damp proof course may be provided. Then floor
finishing is done as per the requirement of the owner.

Upper floors are generally made out of reinforced

concrete (RCC).
 Floor Systems
There are various types of floor systems.
• Cast insitu reinforced concrete beam and slab
floors.
• Floor systems using precast concrete ribbed
elements (no formwork or props required).
• Timber floors supported on timber or steel
beams.
• Composite floors – combinations of concrete,
steel and timber.
Beam and Slab Precast Concrete
 Concrete Floors
There are several types of concrete floors:
• RCC slabs
• Beam and slab
• Flat slab
• Ribbed slab
• Waffle slab
• Precast concrete ribbed elements
Any type of floor covering can be used on top of
the concrete floor types listed above.
 Timber Floors
Timber floors have poor fire resistance and insulation
properties. Timber floors are basically of three types.
• Single joist timber floor – this is the simplest type of timber
floor used when spans are short or moderate and loads are
light. Floor consists of wooden joists spaced 300 to 400mm
supported on end walls over which timber planking or
boarding is fixed.
• Double joists timber floor – this type of flooring is stronger
and is used for spans between 3.5 to 7.5m. Bridging joists are
supported on intermediate wooden supports called binders.
• Framed or triple joists timber floor – suitable for spans
greater than 7.5m. Intermediate supports known as girders
are provided for the binders.
Single Joist Timber Floor
Double Joist Timber Floor
Double Joist Timber Floor
Triple Joist Timber Floor
 Composite Floors
When steel is used as the structural material to
construct floors decking of the floor is generally
provided either in timber or concrete.
 Floors
The purpose of a floor is to provide a level surface
capable of supporting the occupants and furniture.
Following requirements need to be satisfied by a
floor:
• Strength and stability.
• Fire resistance.
• Sound insulation.
• Thermal insulation.
• Damp resistance.
 Flooring Materials
• Cement rendering
• Floor tiles
• Terrazzo / Terracota
• Marble / Granite
• Wood
• Rubber
• PVC
 Selection of Flooring Material
Following factors need to be considered when selecting the
suitable flooring material:
• Initial cost – to match the type of building and likely use.
• Appearance – some materials give a pleasing appearance.
• Cleanliness – non absorbent materials are easy to maintain.
• Durability – resistance to wear, disintegration with time etc.
• Fire resistance – fire resistant floors provide fire barriers
between different levels of a building.
• Smoothness – should be smooth but not slippery.
• Hardness – resistance to indentation should be high.
• Maintenance – should require least maintenance.
 Cement Rendering
This is the most commonly used flooring type and is
moderately cheap, durable and easy to construct:
• Can be laid on concrete or brick pavings.
• 1:3 cement sand screed is placed on the brick
paving or the concrete slab and finished smooth
with grey, red, brown or black cement slurry,
which is prepared by mixing the cement with
sufficient water. The slurry is placed on the leveled
screed and smoothened with the masonry trowel
till the required finish is obtained.
 Floor Tiles
Generally 100 to 300 mm square, these are made
in a similar way to bricks.

They are laid on a concrete floor leveled with 1:3

cement sand screed. When this is partially set, tiles
are bedded on a 6 mm thick neat cement slurry.
Alternatively, purpose made adhesives can be used
as bedding material.

The joints are filled with coloured tile grout to

match the colour of the tiles.
Floor Tiles
 Terrazzo
A mix of 2 parts of cement with 5 parts of special
coloured marble aggregates (chips) of varying sizes (3
to 6mm) is used.

This screed is laid on the floor to a thickness of

19mm in panels. These panels are not more than 900
mm square and separated by brass, copper or glass
strips. The hardened surface is dressed smooth with
polishing machines.

Alternatively, precast terrazzo tiles can be laid on a

concrete bed similar to laying ceramic tiles.
Terrazzo Flooring
 Parquet Flooring
Pieces of hard wood are glued under great
pressure to a soft wood backing. The thicknesses
of the pieces vary from 5 to 9.5mm. These are cut
into slabs of various sizes and shapes, the common
being 300 mm and 600 mm square.

These slabs are glued and pinned to the soft wood

boarded sub floor.
Parquet Flooring
 Wood Board Flooring
Narrow boards of size 50 - 115 mm wide by 25-32
mm thick are generally used. These boards are
tongued and grooved mostly. The ends are
sometimes tongued and grooved and sometimes
square ended. These boards are nailed to bearers
which are partially embedded in the concrete floor
beneath. Another method of securing the bearing
to the concrete is using floor clips.
Wood Board Flooring
Wood Board Flooring
 Rubber Flooring
These are either in the sheet form in rolls or
available as tiles. The thicknesses are 5, 6 or 10
mm. These are secured to the concrete or wood
sub floor with an adhesive. The flooring provides a
durable, quiet, non-slip floor.
Rubber Flooring
 PVC Flooring
These are available in tiles which are manufactured
from poly-vinyl chloride with asbestos fibre
available in very attractive colours.

Tiles are secured to the concrete sub floor with an

adhesive.
PVC Flooring
 Carpets
Widely used when thermal insulation is required.

These are generally available in the sheet form in

rolls.

Frequent maintenance is required since dust

accumulates.
Carpet Flooring
 Flooring Materials
Flooring
Material Advantages Disadvantages
Ceramic or Durable, water and Grout lines can be hard to clean, low-
Porcelain Tile stain resistant, wide quality tiles may chip, fragile items
choice of colors, dropped on the surface probably will
textures, and shapes break, glossy tiles can be slippery when
wet, difficult to repair
Wood Wear-resistant, long- Vulnerable to moisture, softer woods,
lasting, provides a such as pine, may dent easily, may
warm look, can be darken with age, some finishes wear
refinished unevenly and are difficult to repair, can
shrink and expand, creating gaps or
warping
 Flooring Materials
Flooring Advantages Disadvantages
Material
Carpet Soft, quiet, warm Can Stain
underfoot.
Brings in color and Low-quality carpets may quickly show
texture. wear
Stain-resistant fibers
available .
PVC Durable. Difficult to repair
Water-resistant in
sheet form. Less expensive grades may discolor
Easy to clean.
Comfortable. In tile form, moisture can get into seams
Less expensive than between tiles
most flooring choices.
DOORS AND WINDOWS
 Joints in Wood Work
Joints play the most important role in timber
construction since they provide structural stability,
provide aesthetic appearance and facilitate the
construction. Various types of joints used in wood
work may be classified into following categories:
• Spliced / lengthening / joints
• Widening / side joints
• Bearing joints
• Framing joints
• Angle / corner joints
• Oblique shouldered joints
 Spliced Joints
A splice joint is a method of joining two members
end to end in woodworking. The splice joint is used
when the material being joined is not available in
the length required.
 Widening / Side Joints
These joints are used for extending the width of
boards or planks.
 Bearing Joints
Bearing joints are provided when two members meet at
right angles, to give sufficient strength to the function.
 Framing Joints
Framing joints are used to construct the doors,
windows etc. These joints are similar to bearing
joints.
 Angle / Corner Joints
Corner joints are used where two members are to
be framed so as to form a corner or angular edge.
 Oblique Shouldered Joints
These joints are used where members to be joined
meet at an acute or obtuse angle such as in timber
truss construction.
 Doors
A door is an openable barrier secured in a wall
opening for the purpose of giving access to the
inside of a room or a building.

Basically a door consists of a door frame and a

shutter.
 Windows
A window is a vented barrier secured in a wall
opening for the purpose of admitting light and air
to the building and to give a view to the outside.

A window consists of a window frame and window

sashes.
 Doors and Windows
Definitions of technical terms:
• Frame – assembly of horizontal and vertical
members to which the shutters are fixed.
• Shutters / Sashes – openable parts of a door or
window comprising stiles, panels and rails.
• Stile – vertical outside member of the shutter of a
door or window.
• Rail – horizontal member of a shutter.
• Panel – area of shutter enclosed between the
adjacent rails.
 Doors and Windows
• Horn – horizontal projections of the head and sill
of a frame to facilitate fixing to the wall.
• Holdfast – mild steel flats (30 x 6mm) generally
bent into Z shape to fix the frame to the wall.
• Rebate – Recess made inside the frame to receive
the shutter.
• Mullion – vertical member of a frame which is
used to sub divide a window or door vertically.
Components of a Door
Components of a Door Frame
 Fixing the Door Frame
Hold fasts attached to the
frame are well embedded in
masonry with concrete
around the hold fasts.

In case the frame is to be

fixed later, wooden plugs are
embedded in masonry with
their ends flushing with the
face of the opening. The
door frame is later screwed
to these plugs with screws.
 Doors
Doors are classified as follows:
• Ledged and battened door.
• Ledged, battened and braced door.
• Flush door.
• Framed and Paneled door.
• Louvered door.
• Revolving door.
 Ledged and Battened Door
Battens are 100 mm to 150 mm wide and 20 to 32
mm thick wooden boards. Their length is that of
door opening. The battens are connected by
horizontal planks, known as ledges of size 100 to
200 mm wide and 30 mm thick. Usually three
ledges are used one at top, one at bottom and the
third one at mid-height. This is the simplest form
of door and the cheapest also. Battens are secured
by tongued and grooved joint.
Ledged and Battened Door
Ledged, Battened, and Braced Doors
If doors are wide apart from using battens and
ledges diagonal members, known as braces, are
provided to strengthen the door.

These braces must incline upwards from the

hanging side.
Ledged Battened and Braced Door
 Flush Doors
This is the most popular type of door. The shutters
of these doors are made of plywood or block
boards. They are of uniform thickness. These
shutters are available with different attractive
veneer finishes.

There are two types – laminated flush door and

framed flush door.

These doors are suitable for interior portion of a

building. Nowadays flush doors are commonly
used in residential and office buildings.
Flush Door
Laminated Flush Door Framed Flush Door
 Framed and Paneled Doors
This type of door consists of vertical members,
called stiles and horizontal members called rails.

The stiles and rails are suitably grooved to receive

panels. The panels may be of wood, glass etc. The
panels may be flat or of raised type to get good
appearance. These are very commonly used doors.
They may be of single shutter or of double shutter.
If glass panels are used they may be called as
glazed doors.
Paneled Doors
Paneled Door Types
 Revolving Door
It consist of a centrally placed pivot to which four
radiating shutters are attached. The central pivot is
supported on ball bearing at the bottom and has a
bush bearing at the top. The shutters may be partly
or fully made up of glass. A circular space of
entrance is provided within which shutters rotate.
As shutters rotate they give entrance on one side
and exit on other side. These doors are preferred in
public buildings like stores, banks, hotels, theatres
where continuous use of doors is necessary. They
are very much required in entrance to air
conditioned public buildings.
Revolving Doors
 Swing Door
Swing door has its shutter attached to the frame by
means of double action springs. Hence shutter can
move both inward and outward. They may be
single shuttered or double shuttered. Such doors
are preferred in offices and banks. Since these
doors can open on both sides it is desirable to
provide glass panels or peep holes to enable user
to see the persons from other side.
Swing Door
 Sliding Doors
In this type of doors, shutter slides on the sides.
For this purpose runners and guide rails are
provided. Sliding shutters may be one, two or even
three. Such doors are used in banks, offices etc.
Sliding Door
 Louvered Door
Whenever privacy as well as ventilation is required
such doors can be used. Louvers are of glass or
wood sheet strips fixed in the frame of shutter
such that they prevent vision but permit free
passage of air. The doors may be fully or partially
louvered. Such doors are commonly used for public
bathrooms and latrines.
Louvered Door
 Collapsible Steel Door
Steel channels 16 to 20 mm wide are used as
verticals. They are placed with 12 to 20 mm gap.
Steel flats 16 mm to 20 mm wide and 5 mm thick
are hinged to them. The rollers are provided at
their top as well as at bottom so that shutter can
be pulled or pushed side ways with slight force.
There may be single or double shutters. Usually
these doors are used for additional safety. They are
commonly used for front doors, bank locker rooms,
school and college entrance doors.
Collapsible Steel Door
 Roller Shutter Door
Roller shutter door consists of a frame, a drum and
a shutter made of thin steel plates. The width of
the door may vary from 2 to 3 m. The shutter
moves on steel guides provided on sides and can
easily roll up. The shutter can be easily pulled
down. This type of doors are commonly used as
additional doors to shops, garages, offices, banks,
factory, buildings from the point of safety.
Roller Shutter Door
 Windows
A window is a opening in a wall that allows the
passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and
sound and give a view to the outside. There are
several types of windows:
• Fixed.
• Single hung.
• Double hung.
• Sliding.
• Casement.
• Sash.
• Louvered.
 Fixed Window
These windows are provided for the sole purpose
of admitting light and/or to give a view to the
outside.
 Single Hung Window
One sash is movable (usually the bottom one) and
the other fixed. This is the earlier form of sliding
sash window.
 Double Hung Window
This type of window consists of a frame and a pair
of shutters, arranged one above the other, which
can slide vertically within the grooves provided in
the window frame.
Double Hung Window
 Sliding Window
These windows are similar to sliding doors. The
shutters move horizontally. Suitable openings or
grooves are left in the frame or walls to
accommodate the shutters when they are slided to
open the window.
 Casement Window
These are the most common types of windows
usually provided in buildings. The shutters in the
window open like shutters of the doors. The
window has a frame which is rebated to receive
the shutters. The shutters consist of stiles, top rails,
bottom rails and intermediate rails thus dividing it
into panels.
Casement Window
Casement Window Details
Casement Window – Cross Section
P
P
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X:
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 S
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