Flooring quality-control plan

The standard for exterior flooring differs from the standard for interior flooring, and both are covered by SI 1555 (Israeli Standard 1555 Part 3) and SI 314. A home inspection (bedek bayit) that covers the flooring plan is essential for anyone buying a house or an apartment: it confirms that construction meets these standards and, just as important, that there are no defects that will cause problems later.

A home inspection company runs a thorough check of everything you need to know before continuing construction or completing a sale. For background, see what is a home inspection.

How the quality-control process works

The quality-control process runs from the delivery of the flooring to the site through to handover of the finished work to the client. Here is a breakdown of the stages:

1. Delivery

The tiles, materials and fittings will be delivered to the site as follows:

1.1 Tiles for interior areas, exterior areas, baseboards
The flooring order will specify the intended use of the flooring (exterior or interior). In addition, the tiles will be supplied as follows:

1.1.1 Ordering
The order will be placed in accordance with SI 314, section 2.2.

1.1.2 Special requirements for exterior tiles
Exterior tiles will meet the requirements for floor tiles in SI 314 on the following subjects:

a. Resistance to abrasion.
b. Average water absorption not exceeding 3%.
c. In areas with cold conditions, the tiles will meet the requirements of SI 314 regarding absorption and frost resistance.

1.1.3 Marking
The packaging will be marked in accordance with SI 314, section 2.1.

1.1.4 Delivery note
The delivery note accompanying the shipment will provide the information required under SI 314, section 2.3.

1.1.5 Tile quality
Tile quality will be checked based on their conformity with the requirements in Table 1 of SI 314 and with the requirements of section 3.2 of that standard.

1.1.6 Transport and handling
The transport and handling of the tiles will comply with what is specified in SI 1555 Part 1.

1.1.7 Conformity with the order
Upon receipt of the tiles, the delivery note will be checked against the order form for conformity.

1.1.8 Marking and storage
The marking and storage of the tiles will comply with what is specified in SI 1555 Part 1.

1.2 Cement
The cement will be Portland cement conforming to SI 1, Part 1.

1.3 Aggregates
The aggregates for mortar and sand will conform to SI 3 for concrete aggregates.
The sand will be clean, dry, angular sand.
The moisture content of the sand will not exceed 6% in a laboratory test, as specified in SI 1555 Part 3

1.4 Water
Water will meet the requirements for water for concrete in SI 466 Part 1.

Exterior flooring standard

1.5 Joint filler material (grout)
The filler materials will be ordered according to their intended use: exterior flooring, interior flooring, dry/wet areas. Ordering and storage will be carried out in accordance with SI 1661 (regular joint-filler materials between tiles).

1.6 Expansion joints
1.6.1 Backing components for expansion joints
The material from which the backing components are made will match the waterproofing material used with it. The backing components will have mechanical and chemical properties as specified in SI 1555 Part 3, clause 2.1.9.2

1.6.2 Angle profiles
The angle profiles and profiles used in expansion joints, in separation joints, as end fittings, for stepped transitions and so on, will be resistant to friction and to the planned loads. In places expected to be exposed to radiation, the angle profiles and profiles will also be resistant to UV radiation.

1.6.3 Sealing material for expansion joints
The sealing materials for expansion joints and separation joints will meet the requirements of SI 1536.

For more on construction defects, see construction defects: questions and answers.

Checking the design before installation

2. Conformity with the design

2.1 Drawings Before execution, it is necessary to obtain all the most up-to-date project drawings. The drawings will show the following details:
·A typical detail of the floor system's layers
·Joint details
·Waterproofing details
·Stepped-transition details
·Details of the connection between the floor system and the wall-cladding system
·A layout of the floor system, including the location and width of the joints

2.2 Level differences between areas

Identification of level differences according to the plans, and carrying out the following actions:
2.2.1 Marking them
Clearly marking the separation areas between levels.

2.2.2 Preparing separation fittings
Confirm that suitable separation fittings have been ordered, in the appropriate quantity.

2.2.3 Separation collars
Confirm that sealed concrete collars with bituminous material exist between wet and dry areas.

2.3 Expansion joints
Identification of the expansion joints in the structure according to the plans and the situation on site.
The expansion joints will be marked.
Confirm that suitable separation fittings and sealing materials have been ordered, in the appropriate quantity.

2.3.1 Structural joints
Above every structural joint in the base, there will be an expansion joint in the flooring system, continuing from the joint in the base. The joint width and typical design details are according to SI 1555 Part 3, clause 4.7.2 and figure 2.

2.3.2 Intermediate joints
Intermediate joints will be identified and marked in places where:
a. Movement is expected as a result of bending moments, such as above walls or beams. The location of the joints will be determined by the designer.
b. On large floor surfaces. Their location will be determined by the designer or in accordance with SI 1555 Part 3, Table 2.

2.3.3 Separation joints (between different flooring materials, between floor and walls)
Separation joints will be marked according to the plans and according to the requirement in SI 1555 Part 3, in which these joints are designed between the floor system and other structural components, such as: joints between the floor and columns, and according to clause 4.7.4 of the above standard.

2.4 Determining joint width

Regular joints will be designed as follows:
2.4.1 Joint width
The minimum joint width according to SI 1555 Part 3 is 3 mm.

2.4.2 Joint depth
The joint depth will not be smaller than the thickness of the tile.

2.5 Thermal insulation
Checking that the thermal insulation was carried out according to the design; for floors above open spaces (such as a pilotis floor) and floors above closed spaces in the building that are not heated or cooled (such as shelters), thermal-insulation design is required in accordance with SI 1045.

2.6 Acoustic insulation
Checking that the acoustic insulation of floors in residential buildings meets the requirements of SI 1004 Part 1 and the instructions in SI 1555 Part 3, clause 4.1.2.

2.7 Waterproofing
Identifying areas where waterproofing is required and checking that sealing details were carried out according to the design, as follows:

2.7.1 General
In wet areas, the waterproofing layer will extend upward to the planned height of the flooring surface.

2.7.2 Uncovered areas
Preparation of the substrate in uncovered areas will meet the requirements of SI 1752 Part 1.
Preparation of a waterproofing system made of bituminous sheets in uncovered areas will meet the requirements of SI 1752 Part 2.
Installation of a waterproofing system made of other materials will comply with the instructions of the designer and the manufacturer.

2.7.3 Transitions
For the transition between wet areas and non-wet areas, a stepped transition will be designed, such as a sealed concrete collar.

3. Checks before execution

3.1 Parallelism of walls
The parallelism of the walls and their compliance with the requirements of SI 789 (permitted deviations in building work) will be checked.

3.2 Completion of plumbing works
Get confirmation from the site manager that all plumbing work has been completed.

3.3 Protection of pipes
All pipes laid on the floor will be protected by a layer of mortar.

3.4 Waterproofing of wet areas
All wet areas have been waterproofed in accordance with section 2.7 of this document.

3.5 Preparing the wall for baseboards
The walls have been prepared for the installation of baseboards.

3.6 Completion of welding and metalwork
Welding works and other works that could damage the flooring have been completed.

3.7 Thermal and acoustic insulation works have been completed
The thermal- and acoustic-insulation works have been completed in accordance with sections 2.5 and 2.6 of this document, and their continuity and completeness have been checked.

3.8 Preparation for expansion joints
All the preliminary work required at the expansion joints has been carried out, such as grooving and cleaning the joint.

4. Treatment of the base

4.1 Curing of the base
Get confirmation from the main contractor's site manager that the concrete base layer was cured for 6 weeks.

4.2 Reinforcement
Exposed reinforcement was treated in accordance with the designer's instructions.

4.3 Cleaning the base
The base was cleaned of all construction debris, contamination, dust, concrete laitance and grease.

5. Preparing the substrate

5.1 Sand layer
The moisture content of the sand for the substrate will not exceed 6% in a laboratory test, drying at a temperature above 105°C.

5.2 Sand layer stabilized with mortar
The mixture used for the layer placed above the sand layer in the substrate will include cement and sand in a ratio of 100 kg of cement to 1 cubic meter of sand.
5.3 Cement mortar (bonding mortar)
The mortar will be cement-based, without lime, with additives to improve bonding capacity and workability.
The thickness of the mortar layer will be between 1.5-3 cm.

6. Installing the flooring

6.1 Marking
Marking the central axes of the floor and matching them to the expansion joints.
6.2 Notched trowel
The size of the notched trowel's teeth is matched to the size of the tile, according to Table 1 in SI 1555 Part 3.
6.3 Appearance of the tiles
Before starting to lay the flooring, the following visual checks will be carried out on the tiles:
6.1.1 Production batch

The tiles are from the same production batch, the same shade and the same production size.

6.1.2 Cleanliness
The tiles are free of stains or construction debris. Stained tiles will be rejected.

6.1.3 Integrity
The tiles are intact and free of defects exceeding what is permitted in SI 314. Defective tiles will be removed and replaced with intact tiles.

6.4 Mixing tiles from different packages
Before laying the flooring, it is necessary to mix tiles from different packages.

6.5 Tile coverage with mortar
During the flooring work, it will be checked that the tile is covered with mortar over at least 85% of its area.

6.6 Joints
6.6.1 Waiting time after completion of the flooring
Filling the joints in the flooring system will be carried out after at least 10 days have passed since the flooring was completed.

6.6.2 Uniformity
Checking that the joints are straight and their width is uniform and matches the design requirements.

6.6.3 Cleanliness
The joints will be clean of bonding materials (mortar) along their entire length and depth.

6.6.4 Completeness and shade
The joint filling is uniform, without gaps, and matches the shade that was ordered.

6.6.5 Parallelism
Parallelism of the joints with the walls and openings will be maintained.

Final checks and finishing

7. Checks upon completion of the flooring

7.1 General inspection
The general appearance is checked visually against the defects permitted in SI 314 and under the lighting conditions mentioned in that standard.

7.2 Height differences between adjacent tiles
Height differences between adjacent tiles will not exceed what is permitted in SI 789, and according to the check described in SI 1555 Part 3, clause 5.2.2.

7.3 Tap-test inspection
The check will be carried out in accordance with SI 1555 Part 3, clause 5.2.3.
If the results of the tap-test inspection do not meet the requirements of the standard, an axial pull-off bond-strength test must be carried out in accordance with SI 1555 Part 3, clause 5.2.4.

7.4 Slip-resistance testing
In areas where there is a risk of slipping, as specified in SI 1555 Part 3, clause 3.3, a slip-resistance test will be carried out in accordance with SI 2279.

7.5 Impact-sound insulation testing
The test will be carried out in accordance with SI 1034 Part 7 in two different spaces (such as a bedroom and a living room) in one of the typical units in the project. The test results will meet the requirements of SI 1004 Part 1.

8. Protection and cleaning

8.1 Protection
Upon completion of the flooring work, the flooring will be protected in accordance with SI 1555 Part 3, Appendix A.

8.2 Cleaning
Cleaning before handing over the areas will be carried out in stages, in accordance with SI 1555 Part 3, Appendix A.

More information about home inspection and technical specifications.