Cement Concrete Flooring – Layer composition (identify the incorrect layer specification) For a typical multilayer cement concrete floor over ground, which of the following layer specifications is incorrect?
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AThe lowest layer consists of consolidated ground
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BProvide a 10 cm thick clean sand layer over the consolidated ground
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CLay a 10 cm lime concrete layer of 1:4:8 over the sand blinding
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DProvide a 10 cm thick 1:2:4 cement concrete wearing course as the top layer
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ENone of these
Answer
Correct Answer: Provide a 10 cm thick 1:2:4 cement concrete wearing course as the top layer
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Ground-supported concrete floors are built in layers to control dampness, provide uniform support, and deliver a durable wearing surface. Knowing typical thicknesses and mixes helps spot incorrect specifications that would be uneconomical or technically unsuitable.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Floor constructed over compacted subgrade.
- Sand blinding to even out the surface and break capillarity.
- Lean base concrete (often lime concrete or weak cement concrete).
- Wearing course (topping) of denser concrete.
Concept / Approach:Common practice is: compacted subgrade → 7.5–10 cm sand → about 7.5–10 cm lean base (e.g., 1:4:8) → wearing course 2.5–4 cm thick (e.g., 1:2:4 or granolithic). A 10 cm thick 1:2:4 topping is excessively thick and atypical for a wearing course, making that statement incorrect.
Step-by-Step Solution:Check base: consolidated ground (correct).Sand layer: ~10 cm clean sand (correct and common).Lean base: 1:4:8 around 7.5–10 cm (acceptable).Wearing course: usually 2.5–4 cm, not 10 cm ⇒ the given top-layer spec is incorrect.
Verification / Alternative check:Flooring handbooks and schedules of rates list thin toppings for economy and performance; thicker structural concrete is reserved for slabs, not merely as wear layer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Options a–c reflect commonly accepted construction sequences.
- Option e is wrong because one option (d) is indeed incorrect.
Common Pitfalls:Confusing structural slab thickness with wearing course thickness, or omitting the sand layer that assists in leveling and damp-proofing.
Final Answer:Provide a 10 cm thick 1:2:4 cement concrete wearing course as the top layer