This document provides information on finishing cement, including tools, site operations, design considerations, preparatory work, bedding, laying tiles, grinding and polishing, and maintenance. It discusses screeding boards, damp proofing, filling pores, and bringing the floor to an even surface. Tiles are laid with cement slurry and joints are cleaned before grouting. Grinding exposes the aggregate and polishing brings out the sheen. Proper storage, laying, curing, and regular cleaning are necessary to maintain the tile floor over time.

1. Finishing of Cement
(IS : 1443 – 1972)
Rahbar Usmani 141110017
Prabhat Chhiroliya
141110016
Mohd Shah Hassilly
141110043

2. TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES
Screed : Narrow strips of wood, bands
of plaster laid or pieces of tiles laid on
the floor to act as guides for bringing the
work to a true and even surface.
Screeding Board : A straight edged
wooden plank used for floating a plane
surface.

3. SITE OPERATION
• Bedding : A layer of mortar applied to the base or sub floor
and brought to a defined level.
• Damp Proofing : Covering the sub-floor with a continuous
layer of impervious material so as to prevent penetration of
moisture.
• Filling : A plain or coloured cement paste with which the open
pores of terrazzo tiles are filled or plastered aftergrinding.
• Grinding : The process by which the aggregate of tiles is
exposed by means of mechanical or natural grinding.
• Polishing : Rubbing of tiles mechanically or by hand with
polishing stones after they have been laid, and bringing out
their sheen.
• Screeding : Bringing The floor to a true and even surface by
means of screeding boards and screeds.

4. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
1. The Flooring may be laid out on most types
of reasonably rigid base with sub-floor of
sufficient strength for type of flooring
proposed. However Cement flooring are not
recommended where they may be exposed
to alkalis ans acids
2. The range of tiles for flooring, dado work,
facings, is wide and choices must be made
on aesthetics and technical considerations.
3. For purpose of selecting tiles, floors are
generally classified into the following types :
a. General purpose or light duty floors e.g.
hospitals, houses, etc.
b. Medium duty floors e.g. railway
platforms, factories, etc.
c. Non – slip floors (where chequered tiles
are needed) e.g. footpaths and pavements.

5. NECESSARY INFORMATION
For the efficient planning and execution of work,
detailed information with regard to the following
is necessary beforehand :
1. Floor and wall area to be covered
2. Details of sub-floor.
3. Type of flooring and size of units of the
covering to be fixed.
4. Types of grinding and polishing of surfaces.
5. Type of finishing treatment, if any, to be
applied over the tiles.
6. Any work consequent upon services passing
through the flooring, walls, skirtings, etc.
7. Types of bedding and joining.

6. PREPARATORY WORK (HANDLING AND STORAGE)
1. The delivery of tiles should be
such that it minimizes handling.
Precautions shall be taken to
prevent accidental damage to
tiles while unloading.
2. Clean, dry storage shall be
provided at the site for all
materials. Tiles shold be
protected from exposure to
dampness, sun, rain or staining.
Cement shall be stored under
cover. Lime mortar and sand
may be prepared in the open
but as near as possible to the
entrance of the building (see IS

7. BEDDING
1. Preparation of mortar – Both cement and
lime mortar can be used for preparation of
bed for laying of tiles.
2. Cement mortar : It consist of one part of
portland cement and six parts of coarse
sand by volume thoroughly mixed manually
or a mechanical mixer. The quantity of
water should be minimum to give sufficient
plasticity and workability for laying.
3. Lime mortar : Lime mortar may be prepared
in any of the following proportions :
a. 1 Lime, 1 SURKHI, 2
Coarse sand
b. 1 Lime, 3 SURKHI
c. 1 Lime, 3 Coarse sand

8. LAYING OF TILES
• Laying of tiles should commence on the next morning after bedding. Neat
cement slurry of honey like consistency shall be spread over the mortar bed,
over such an area at a time that it would accommodate 20 tiles. The mason
shall keep the joints in straight lines. The joints are normally between 1.5mm
wide.
• After tiles are laid the surplus cement slurry and the joints shall be cleaned
and washed fairly deep with the hepl of broom stick.
• The day after tiles are laid, the joints shall be filled with cement grout of the
same shade as the colour of the matrix of the tile. Barricading should be
provided at freshly completed work.

9. • Tiles which arefixed in the floor adjoinings the walls go about 100 mm
under the plaster, skirting, or dado as may be required by the
designer.
• In odd situations whwere a full tile canot be provided, tiles shall be
cut to size and then fixed.
• After fixing, the flooring should be kept moist and allowed to mature
undisturbed for seven days so that bedding and joints set properly.
• Wherever big areas of floor are to be tiled, the level of the central
portion of the floor should be kept 10 mm higher than the level mark
ed at the walls unless specified.

10. GRINDING AND POLISHING
• Grinding and polishing shall be done only after floor and joints have
properly set and in no case earlier than 14 days of laying.
• Grinding should be done preferably with the help of machine except for
skirting.
• For grinding terrazzo tile flooring, the first grinding shall be with
machine fitted with carborundum stones of grit 48 to 60. All pin holes
become visible when floor is rubbed even. Grouting in the same shade
is then briskly applied so that all pin holes are properly filled in.
Thereafter the second grindng with 120 grit is commenced. Again
grouting is done. After this, floor is kept covered till other works are
completed and the workers quit. Final grinding is done after the floor is
swept, with carborundum 220 to 350 grit stone

11. • When surface is rendered smooth, it is washed with water.
Afterwards oxalic acid powder is vigorously applied with
machines to bring out sheen. Wash the floor clean and apply dry
linen to sck in moisture.
• In case of plain cement and coloured tiles, all the processes
shall be same except the grinding with carborundum 48 to 60 grit
may not be necessary.

12. MAINTAINANCE
Care immediately after work
1. After laying, the floor shall be allowed to
remain calm and free from cement, oil,
paint, distemper, plaster droppings and all
materials likely to stain or spoil the tiles.
2. If appliances such as trustles, ladders,
steps, etc. are to be used for electrician’s,
plumber’s and other light works, it shall be
ensured that parts that contact with the
flooring are padded.
3. Stair finishes, particularly nosings, are
liable to be damaged by the dragging or
dropping of articles up or down the stairs.
It is therefore, necessary to protect the
stairs against such causes of damage.

13. Subsequent
Maintainance
1. Polished tile floors shall be regularly
swabbed with clean water followed by
brisk rubbing with dry linen. If they are very
dirty, water and soap can be used but any
soap film should be carefully removed.
Use of soad, acid, etc. shold be avoided.
2. Resistance to staining is, to a greater
extent, dependent upon degree of
maintainance.
3. Proper maintainance of the floor, after it
has been completed with the final polish
rests with the owner and he should be
furnished with the necessary information
and instructions for such maintainance by
the tile-laying contractor.