DURABILITY OF SOME FLOOR FINISHES IN BUILDING PROJECTS (A CASE STUDY OF FLOOR FINISHES WITHIN ENUGU METROPOLIS)

DURABILITY OF SOME FLOOR FINISHES IN BUILDING PROJECTS (A CASE STUDY OF FLOOR FINISHES WITHIN ENUGU METROPOLIS)

ABSTRACT

Floor finishes is a vital component in any building structure and lots of defects happen to the floor finishes though many of them could be traceable to the sub floor defect. The objective of the study is to clearly identify the various types of floor finishing prevalent in Enugu Metropolis, their strength and weakness, also to study the cause of failure in floor finish and how to correct them. Finally the research will evaluate the maintenance culture of occupants regarding their floor finishing within the metropolis. The study commences with the review of some past relevant literature with the intention of making use of the important facts.

Data were collected using the questionnaires and analysis of the collected data also made line with the hypothesis and are processed by the use of tables, focus was on the generation summary statistics such as percentages. The result of the study showed that without a proper maintenance culture on floor finishes, deterioration and failure in floor finish will be a reoccurring decimal in our building structure. The study revealed that most of the defects in floor finishes emanated from defects in structural floors or the improper laying of beds or joint on which applied floor finishes are laid and as a result of this, where defects occur relaying of the finishes is the only answer to the problems but care must be taken to avoid dis-stabilizing the stability of the structural floor and maintain even level between newly laid finishes and old ones. The following recommendations are made:

1. Before any material is used as floor finishes, it should be tested and analyzed in order to determine and establish the compressive strength and duration.
2. Emphasis should be laid on suitable materials /finishes than cheep materials/finishes, so as to reduce failure in finishes.
3. Knowledge of finishes serviceability duration should be known.
4. A good maintenance culture should be maintained.

As this will go along way to enhance the life span of our various floor finishes.