Information to be Supplied by the Purchaser It is recommended that a meeting must be held between the purchaser and the producer of concrete. In the meeting the following points should be discussed. Details of concrete mix Use of concrete Type of structure Performance requirement Notice to be given prior to delivery Delivery rate Purchaser’s … Read more
Storing of Cement on Site – Guidelines Store cement in a building which is dry, leak proof and as moisture proof as possible. There should be minimum number of windows in the storage building. Stack the cement bags off the floor on wooden planks in such a way, so that it is about 150 mm … Read more
What is Efflorescence on Plaster Surface? Efflorescence is one type of defect found on plaster surface. Efflorescence is the whitish crystalline substance which appears on the surface of walls due to presence of soluble salts, such as suphates of sodium, calcium and magnesium. Why Efflorescence Happens on Plaster Surface? Presence of salts in the lime, … Read more
Thickness of Plastering Finishing coats (and single-coat work, where employed) should be of such minimum thickness as just to provide a sufficient body of material to harden satisfactorily under the site conditions in any particular case. The total thickness of two-coat work exclusive of keys or dubbing out shall be generally about, but shall not … Read more
Number of Plaster Coats for Different Backgrounds The ideal number of coats, where practicable, is two, namely, the undercoat followed by a finishing coat. It is recognized, however, that much successful work has been carried out in the past with only a finishing coat plaster on reasonably plane backgrounds of brick, concrete and similar materials. … Read more
Blistering The development of one or more local swellings on the finished plaster surface. Cracking The development of one or more fissures not assignable to structural cause. Crazing The development of a series of hair cracks on the finished plaster surface. Known as ‘map crazing’, when it forms a haphazard pattern over the wall surface … Read more
Consistency of mortar is tested by using a standard cone apparatus. In this test a cone weighing 300 g is allowed to fall from a specified height to penetrate through the mortar. The depth of penetration of the cone is called its consistency value. It is expressed in mm. To read the test procedure click … Read more
In order to check the quality of masonry mortar, we have to conduct different tests on mortar. The quality and accuracy of test result is dependent upon the type of sample tested. Therefore it is required to follow some guidelines at the time of sampling. Samples of masonry mortar are obtained in equal increments and … Read more
Storing of Aggregate on Site Store aggregate at site on a hard dry and level patch of ground If such a surface is not available then prepare a platform of planks or old corrugated iron sheets, or a floor of bricks, or a thin layer of lean concrete so as to prevent contamination with clay, … Read more
Storing of Timber on Site Store the timbers in stacks upon well treated and even surfaced beams sleepers or brick pillars so as to be above the ground level by at least 150 mm. Store members of different length and material separately. Materials of equal length are piled together in layers with wooden batters, called … Read more