Components of Building

1.
2.

Substructure
Superstructure
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

3.

Frame
Floors
Roof
Stairs
Walls
Windows
Doors
Internal Finishes and External Rendering

Preparatory work and finishes to surfaces of walls and columns internally.

The finished surface of walls of brick, concrete, stone and concrete or clay
blocks is generally so coarse textured that it is an unsuitable finish for the
internal walls of most building.
These surfaces are usually rendered smooth by the application of two or
three coats of plaster.
Similarly the soffit (ceiling) of concrete floors and roofs is usually rendered
smooth with plaster.
It is not fashionable today to leave the joist of timber floors and roofs
exposed in the rooms below and they are covered with plaster spread on
timber or metal lath or with plasterboard, to provide a smooth, level ceiling
and to give the timbers some protection again damage by fire.
The purpose of plaster is to provide a smooth hard level finish to walls and
ceilings.
Plaster undercoats
The first coat of plaster is described as the first undercoat or render coat and
it consists of sand, mixed with lime or cement, or both, or with gypsum and
water.
The material is spread and struck off level with a straight edge to a thickness
about 11.
If the surface on which the render coat is applied is uneven it is good practice
to spread a second coat, called the second undercoat or float coat, of the

same materials and mix as the render coat and finished to a thickness of
about 6.
Finally a coat of some fine-grained material, such as lime or gypsum plaster,
mixed with water, is spread and trowelled smooth to a thickness of about 2.
The final thin coat, of fine material, is describe as the finishing or setting
coat.
Sand for plastering
Sand for plastering should be clean and contain not more than 5% of clay or
other soluble adherent matter.
Lightweight aggregate for plaster
Recently lightweight aggregate has been used instead of natural sand in
plaster.
The aggregates commonly used are perlite and exfoliated vermiculite.
Perlite and vermiculite are minerals
lightweight materials when heated.

which

expand

into

multicellular

For use as an aggregate in plaster the expanded mineral is crushed. These

lightweight aggregates are supplied ready mixed wit gypsum plaster class B.
Plaster for machine application
Two types of plaster are made for application by machine to wall and ceiling
backgrounds:
A Gypsum-based plaster for application by machine spreading in one coat to
a thickness of from 5 to 13, and a plaster made of fine marble aggregate
with PVA binders for spraying on to wall and ceiling finishes principally as a
thin veneer of plaster in two coats 1 to 3 thick on level dense surfaces such
as concrete.
Materials used in Plaster
The undercoats in plaster, i.e render and float coats, consist of some coarsegrained material such as natural sand which is hard, insoluble and inert,
bound with a matrix of lime, cement or gypsum.
Lime Plaster

Before 19th century Portland cement was not manufactured and the matrix
(binding agent) then used was lime. This was mixed with sand in the
proportion 1 part of lime to 3 parts of sand by volume and water, and was
termed coarse stuff by plasters.
Cement Plaster
A mixture of cement and clean sand forms a very hard surface as it sets, It
requires a deal of labour to spread.
Cement and sand, or cement, lime and sand undercoats (render and float
coats) are the cheapest undercoats in use today for brick and block walls and
in consequences are more used than other types of undercoats.
Gypsum Plaster (chalk-like mineral mined in several parts of
England)
During the last seventy years the use of gypsum plasters has increased
greatly so that they have superseded lime as a finishing (setting) plaster and
are also used as a matrix with sand for undercoats to a considerable extent.
The advantage of the gypsum plasters is that they expand very slightly on
setting and are not therefore likely to cause cracking as are cement and lime.
4. Fitting and Furnishing
Fixed fittings including shelving, cupboards, wardrobes, benches, counters
and the like.
Blinds, curtain tracks and pelmet.
Suitable ironmongery to fittings.
5. Services
Sanitary Appliances
Baths, Basins, Sinks and the like
Other bathroom and toilet accessories including toilet roll holder, towel rails,
hand driers, mirrors and the like.
Plumbing Installation
Hot and cold water services, soil, waste and vent pipes, storage tanks and
tap.

Refuse Disposal
Waste compactor, shredders, incinerators etc.
Air-Conditioning and Ventilation System
Air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation system
Electrical Installation
Electric supply, electrical fitting and lightning conductors.
Fire Protection Installation
Fire fighting and warning installation including wet riser, dry riser, sprinklers,
extinguishers, smoke detectors, alarm and the like.
Lift and Conveyor Installation
Lifts, escalator, travelators etc.
Communication Installation
Telephone installations and the like.
Special Installation
Kitchen equipment, laundry, security system, gas installation and the like.
6. External Works
Site Work
Clearance and demolitions
Preparatory earthworks to form new contours.
Retaining walls, roads and footpaths, car park, turfing, landscaping, fencing
and gates.
Notice board, flag poles, seat, signs etc.
Drainage
Surface water drainage, sewerage treatment etc.
External Services
Water mains, fire mains, gas mains, electrical mains, etc.