Chapter 28

Finishing the Building

Objectives

• After reading the chapter and reviewing the materials presented the students will be able to:

• Describe finish work• Describe the process of installing cabinets• Explain the purpose of caulking• Describe what is done to the plumbing system during the

finishing stage

Introduction

• Finish work: Construction work phase that provides an attractive, completed appearance and provides protection to the building.

• Finish work includes enclosing interior walls and ceilings, installing finished flooring, cabinetry, doors, moldings, cover interior and exterior surfaces, and completing plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and communication systems.

Interior Walls and Ceilings• Plaster: A mixture of gypsum, aggregate (sand or vermiculite), and water. It is used

to cover interior wall and ceiling frames.• Drywall is used more extensively than plaster in modern structures.• Joint compound: A gypsum based paste used to fill and cover joints and nail or

screw dents.• Furring strips: Thin strips of wood attached to a wall to provide an attachment

surface for a finish material such as paneling.• Concrete board: Sheet of concrete reinforced with fiberglass mesh on both sides.

Used in kitchen and bathroom walls that often come in contact with water.• Ceiling tiles: Provide a finished look to ceilings.• Suspended ceilings: Cover mechanical systems like pipes, electrical wiring, or

heating ducts.• Partition walls: Temporary walls that divide interior space and extend to the ceiling.• Room dividers: Temporary walls that do not reach the ceiling.

Finished Flooring

• Concrete finished floors: are commonly used in commercial and industrial structures.

• Resilient flooring: is made of materials such as cork, vinyl, linoleum, and rubber.

• Carpet: is placed over underlayment of padding. The pads are made of sponge rubber or plastic foam. Tack strips placed around the edge of the room secure the carpet to the floor.

• Wood flooring: comes in bards and tiles and is installed over waterproof concrete or wood subfloors.

• Ceramic tile, stone, and terrazzo: floors wear well and are attractive.

Cabinetry, Doors, and Molding

• Cabinetry: Nearly all cabinetry is manufactured and delivered to the site prefinished and ready to install.

• In general the installation procedure involves six steps. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for specific information about cabinet installation.

• Doors: Carpenters install doors, stairways, and handrails. Doors and stairways are installed before the painting begins.

• Moldings: or trim such as baseboard, door and window casing, and chair rail are installed to cover joints and improve the finish appearance. Moldings are installed on the exterior of a building to cover cracks to repel weather, birds, and insects.

Interior and Exterior Surfaces• Both interior and exterior surfaces that are not prefinished should be covered or

coated. Coating applications include paint, varnish, and stain. Covering applications include wallpaper.

• Caulk is a sealant used to protect against leakage and infiltration. It is commonly used to seal cracks around windows, bathtubs, and sinks.

• Paint is an opaque liquid that covers, protects, and improves the appearance of a surface. Pigments are finely ground powders that provide color and make paint opaque. Binder is a substance in paint that produces a thin film that adheres to the surface being coated and holds the pigment.

• Stain is a transparent protective wood finish that adds color, helps make wood color more consistent, and lets most of the grain show through.

• Varnish is a transparent protective finish that is applied directly to wood or over the stain to preserve the stain, and protect the wood.

• Wallpaper is paper that is pasted to the walls inside a building.• Gutters are channels designed to collect water that drains off roofs.• Downspouts are vertical tubes or pipes designed to drain water from gutters and

direct it away from the building foundation.

Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, and Communication Systems

• Various system equipment is installed throughout the construction process.

• Plumbers install fixtures such as toilets, sinks, and lavatories and connect appliances and fixtures to supply lines and drains. Piping systems are checked for leaks and flow rates.

• Electricians install switches, outlets, and lights. The supervising electrician checks out all circuits.

• Communication technicians install the telephones and other communication devices. Units are connected and checked.

Summary• Finish work: Construction work phase that provides an attractive, completed appearance and

provides protection to the building.

• Finish work includes enclosing interior walls and ceilings, installing finished flooring, cabinetry, doors, moldings, cover interior and exterior surfaces, and completing plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and communication systems.

• Plaster: A mixture of gypsum, aggregate (sand or vermiculite), and water.

• Concrete board: Sheet of concrete reinforced with fiberglass mesh on both sides. Used in kitchen and bathroom walls that often come in contact with water.

• Concrete finished floors: are commonly used in commercial and industrial structures.

• Carpet: is placed over underlayment of padding.

• Wood flooring: comes in bards and tiles and is installed over waterproof concrete or wood subfloors.

• Ceramic tile, stone, and terrazzo: floors wear well and are attractive.

• Cabinetry: Nearly all cabinetry is manufactured and delivered to the site prefinished and ready to install.

• Caulk is a sealant used to protect against leakage and infiltration. It is commonly used to seal cracks around windows, bathtubs, and sinks.

• Paint is an opaque liquid that covers, protects, and improves the appearance of a surface.

Home Work

• 1. What does finish work include?• 2. What is the difference between partition walls

and room dividers?