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Ceramic Tile

 

There are many kinds of ceramic tiles, commonly referred to merely as “tile,” for use on floors, walls, and other surfaces. Ceramic tile is made from nonmetallic minerals, fired at a very high temperature.

 

• Ceramic tiles come in sizes from 3/8″ square to 16″×18″ units. Popular wall sizes are 4 1/4″ × 4 1/4″, 4 1/4″ × 6″, and 6″ × 6″.

 

Hexagonal and octagonal tiles are also available.

 

The tiles can be glazed or unglazed.

 

Glazed tiles are usually 5/16″ thick. Unglazed (faience) tiles vary from 7/16″ to 3/4″ thick.

 

• Mosaic tiles can be laid to form a design or pattern. They are normally smaller than 6″ (typically 1″) square, and can be glazed or unglazed.

 

• Quarry tile is used for floor coverings and is produced from clays that provide a wear resistant surface.

 

• Fired-clay tile is used primarily for floor coverings. It is produced from clays and is fired in a kiln to harden the surface.

 

Tile-setting Materials

 

There is a wide variety of tile-setting materials available for use, based on flooring types and final use of the tiling products. Typically, ceramic tile is set in Portland cement, latex adhesive, or epoxy mortar.

 

There are two applications types: tile set on plywood using a cementitious backer board with a bond coat, and tile set directly on a concrete slab surface.

 

The joints between the tiles are grouted, with different types of grout available to meet varying kinds of joint and tile exposure. The grout consists of Portland cement modified to meet various joint conditions.

 

Glass

 

Glass is a ceramic material formed at temperatures above 2300°F (1260°C). It is made from sand (silica), soda (sodium oxide), and lime (calcium oxide). Other chemicals can be added to change its characteristics.[1]

 

Float glass is the most common type of glass. A continuous ribbon of molten glass flows out of a furnace and floats on a bath of molten tin.

 

Irregularities melt out and the glass becomes flat.

 

The ribbon of glass is fire-polished and annealed, without grinding or polishing. Over 90% of the world’s flat glass is made by the float process.

 

After the float process, other processes can further modify the properties of the glass, producing several types

• Sheet glass is commonly used for windows in thicknesses of 3/32″ (single strength, or “SS”) and 1/8″ (double strength, or “DS”). Thick glass is sheet glass that is 3/16″ to 7/16″ in thickness.
• Plate glass is sheet glass that has been heat-treated during forming, producing a brilliant surface that is ground and polished when cooled.
• Bent glass is produced by heating annealed glass to the point where it softens so it can be pressed over a form.
• Safety glass was developed to overcome the hazards of sheet glass in large, exposed, or public areas. Three types of safety glass are available: tempered, laminated, and wired glass.

        I.            Tempered glass is developed by heating annealed glass to near its melting point, then chilling it rapidly. This creates high compression on the exterior surfaces and high tension internally, making the piece of glass three to five times as strong as annealed glass. Tempered glass can be broken, but it shatters into small, pebble-like pieces rather than sharp slivers.

 

Tempered glass must be ordered to the exact size needed before tempering, because it cannot be cut, drilled, or ground after it has been tempered.

 

      II.            Laminated glass consists of a layer of vinyl between sheets of glass. The layers are bonded together with heat and pressure.

 

This glass can be broken, but the plastic layers hold the small, sharp pieces in place.

 

    III.            Wired glass has a wire mesh molded into its center. Wired glass can be broken, but the wire holds the pieces together. Wired glass can be obtained with an etched finish, a sandblasted finish, or a patterned finish.

 

• Insulating glass is a unit of two or more sheets of glass separated by an air space that is dehydrated and sealed. These units serve as a good insulator for heat and sound transfer.

 

• Patterned glass is sheet glass with a pattern rolled into one or both sides to diffuse the light and provide privacy.

 

• Stained glass, sometimes called art or cathedral glass, is produced by adding metallic oxides in the molten state. This glass can be used in sheets or cut into smaller pieces and made into leaded glass for windows and decorative pieces.

 

Glass Block

 

Glass block is made by fusing two sections of glass together. A partial vacuum is created between the pieces, providing good insulating qualities. Edges are left rough to improve the bond with the mortar.

 

Glass block is used in nonbearing applications, such as interior walls, screens, curtain walls, and windows. Blocks are manufactured in three nominal sizes: 6″ × 6″, 8″ × 8″, and 12″ × 12″.

 

Special blocks are available for forming corners and curved panels.

 

Plastics

 

Plastics have many uses in construction.

 

Plastic laminates serve as counter tops, door veneer, and wall surfacing. Panels of wood or gypsum are printed, textured, and given a plastic vinyl coating. Plastic rain gutters and downspouts collect and distribute rain water. Plastic pipes are used for water-transmission, sprinkling, drainage, and sewage systems.

 

Plastics are also used for many trim and ornamental items, such as moldings on doors and simulated wood carvings. Plastic materials are usually noted on the drawing and detailed in the specifications.

 

Insulation

 

The purpose of thermal insulation is to reduce heat transmission through walls, ceilings, and floors. When the outdoor temperature is warm, insulation keeps the heat from entering the structure. When the outdoor temperature is cool, insulation helps keep the warm air indoors.

 

Insulation is manufactured in a variety of forms and types to meet specific construction requirements. Each type will have an R-value (resistance to heat transfer), depending on the manner of application and amount of material. A high R-value means good insulation qualities.

 

Insulation materials are classified as:

 

• Flexible (blanket or batt).

 

• Loose-fill.

 

• Reflective.

 

• Rigid (structural and nonstructural).

 

Flexible insulation is available in blanket and batt form. Blankets come in widths suitable to fit

 

16″ and 24″ stud and joist spacing and in thicknesses of 1″ to 3 1/2″. The body of the blanket is made of mineral or vegetable fiber, such as rock wool, glass wool, wood fiber, or cotton. Organic materials are treated to resist fire, decay, insects, and vermin. Blankets are covered with a paper sheet on one or both sides. The vapor barrier is installed facing the warm side of the wall. Batt insulation is made of the same material as blankets, in thicknesses of 2″ to 6″ and lengths of 24″ and 48″

 

Loose-fill insulation is available in bags or bales. It is poured, blown, or packed in place by hand. Loose-fill insulation is made from rock wool, glass wool, wood fibers, shredded redwood bark, cork, wood pulp products, vermiculite, sawdust, and shavings. This type of material is suited for insulating sidewalls and attics of buildings. It is also used to fill cells in block walls.

 

Reflective insulation, is designed to reflect radiant heat. It is made from aluminum foil, sheet metal with tin coating, and paper products coated with a reflective oxide composition. To be effective, the reflective surface must face an air space of at least 3/4″. When the reflective surface contacts another material, such as a wall or ceiling, the reflective properties are lost along with its insulating value. This material is often used on the back of gypsum lath and blanket insulation.

 

Rigid insulation is made of a fiberboard material in sheet form. Common types are made from processed wood, sugarcane, and other fiber.

 

These produce a lightweight, low-density product with good heat and acoustical insulating qualities.

 

Rigid insulation is used as sheathing for walls and roof decks when additional insulation is needed.

 

Material Symbols on Drawings

 

Besides showing the location and sizes of different construction components, drawings also identify the materials that are used. Materials are identified in several ways:

 

• A section of a drawing may contain a pattern that is unique to a specific material.

 

• Often, materials are specified in the notes included on a drawing. This allows for easy reference.

 

• Materials are also included in the project specifications.

 

Materials may be shown differently in plan, elevation, and section views. For example,..concrete is represented in the section view as small dots with a scattering of small triangular shapes. On plan views, concrete is shown blank or with the concrete hatch pattern.

 

If the concrete area is large, the pattern may be shown in portions, rather than the entire outline.

 

Section views that cut across structural framing members show these pieces with a “×” within each member. Finished lumber (trim, fascia boards, and moldings) in section shows the wood end grain. For a wood frame wall on the plan view, the usual practice is to leave the wall blank, Some architects shade this area lightly to better outline the building and its partitions.

 

When shown in small scale, plywood is represented with the same symbol as lumber. In section (if the scale permits), lines may be drawn to indicate the plies (not necessarily the exact number). In elevation views, wood siding and panels are represented.

Symbols for glass consist of a single line on plan drawings and section drawings. The symbol may consist of several lines on large scale drawings.

 

Glass areas in elevation views are left plain or consist of a series of random diagonal lines