The College Of Estate Management Building Technology 01

University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Answer for question 02

The roof, External walls, floor, doors and windows are the main exteriors of the
house. This envelope is the environmental separator, generally between the
inside and outside of a building including the ground. The proper designing,
construction techniques, proper materials and proper maintenance can increase
the durability and longevity of the building and as well as the durability of
exteriors. The durability of the material which is used for construction is very
important for the life span of the building. A building's lifespan has mostly
depended on the structure of the building and the exteriors should have to be
tightly covered the structure from the effects of external environment. The
effective control of the following external climatic or environmental factors by
the exteriors achieves the durability and longevity of the house.
• Water/moisture
Water /moisture enters building’s exteriors due to condensation, from rain
or melting of snow and is responsible for the swelling and rotting of some
organic materials such as wood and the corrosion of metals. It is involved in
the freeze-thaw deterioration of porous materials.
• Air pressure/ wind
The wind will decay the surface of the materials and the physical damages
by removal of part of building and wind will cause air leakages. Air leakage
is a major cause of problem in exterior walls, cause dampness by driving
moisture into building fabric and excessive heat loss from the interior.
• Solar radiation
Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight affects the durability of organic materials
such as polymers, wood and bituminous materials.
• Temperature
Due to the variation of temperature, building materials change volume and
if change in volume is not allowed for in the form of movement control
joints and it will form cracks and thereby affecting the durability of the
component.

Roofing system
The proper pitched roof determines the durability and longevity of the house
with appropriate water proofing system. The selection of pitched roof (Pitch
around 350 - 400 minimum) and the materials such as; the roof covering
materials, wooden rafters, battens, damp proof membrane, gutters, down pipes
and fascia board has to be appropriate for the design function, detailing for the
application and the proper installation is essential. Especially for the rain, roof
is the hardest tested surface in wet weather. Water proofing is necessary for
the pitched roofs with continuous DPM and the edges of the high supporting
cross walls must be covered with flexible metal stepped flashing.
The College Of Estate Management Building Technology 01

University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 02….

The overlapped fibre cement slates must be nailed to battens for the
unmovable position and the curvature determines the broken capillary path.
The ridge tiles must be detailed and installed properly overlapped with the top
raw of fibre cement slates. The treated timber has to be used for the roof
structure and it does not attacked by uncontrolled damp and fungal attacks.
If there is no any water leakage to the inside of the house from roof means the
proper material selection, design and workmanship achieved. The proper and
regular maintenance is essential for roofs and concentrate for the collection of
the rain water and got away immediately through the down pipes. If it were
just left to be shed from the edges, it would soak and damage the external
wall. The eve also helpful to cover the external wall from direct storm water.
(Refer Figure 2.1 for details of pitched roof water proofing).

External walls
The external walls involve to providing the environmental control between the
external and internal climate of the house and is required to support the
imposed and wind loads of the roof and floor and transfer its own combined
loads safely to the foundation. The external walls pay a major role for the
durability and longevity of the house. The selection of appropriate materials
according to the climatic effects, construction methods to resist water
penetration through the envelop, controlling of expansion of walls (maintaining
expansion joints and contraction joints), controlling of capillary action on the
external surface of the wall and detailed solution for the erosion are sought to
be address.
The walls can be segregated as the permeable, semi permeable and
impermeable. For this construction, the semi permeable is used as the cavity
wall with block work inner leaf and brick outer leaf. Water penetrates through
the bricks, the cavity allows flowing down the water and coming out through
the bottom weep holes. The non corrosive ties must be embedded within the
horizontal mortar of the joint in order to provide adequate restrain to each leaf
of the wall. The type of bond is stretcher and the type of mortar joint is
affected by the variation of temperature. So the allowable expansion is
necessary. The providing of insulation is for the thermal comfort inside the
building and the block work must be properly constructed as per the
performance requirements. The opening of the walls must be properly sealed
after the fixing of door or window to avoid water penetration through these
gaps. Mastic fillers should be used. The maintenance of the external brick face
gains the durability of the external wall. Especially the mortar joints should be
maintained and inspected. The top of walls should be properly covered in Gable
walls and with cobbled end.
The College Of Estate Management Building Technology 01

University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 02….

Solid ground floor slab

The type of the ground floor is very important part of a house for the durability
and its longevity. The ground bearing insitu concrete slabs and suspended
timber floors are common in small house construction. For both, the damp
proofing system, firm base and the finished level should be properly detailed
with appropriate construction method. To address the heat loss, insulation
material can be placed on the damp proof material.
Removing of top soil and filling with appropriate filling material to the required
thickness with full compaction using mechanical hammers up to the dry even
top surface for the laying of concrete slab. The thickness of hardcore and the
concrete slab is minimum 100-150 mm. The greater mass of concrete will offer
a greater resistant to rising moisture. The ground water table must be
considered when the slab designing and the proper detailing is sought for the
damp proofing system. The more thickness slabs, (more than 100 mm thick)
the reinforcement mesh is required to avoid the shrinkage due to weak subsoil
condition. For the insulation can be placed to reduce the heat loss either before
casting the ground slab on the 50 mm thick concrete screed or on the ground
slab covered with 50 mm thick screed. Both methods can be used and after the
casting of ground slab. We have to select the appropriate and economical
system for the above application.
(Refer figure 2.2 and 2.3 for the details of ground bearing concrete slab with
damp proofing system)

Doors and windows

The openings must be fulfil the following functions such as; access, weather
protection, appearance, ventilation, lighting, view, privacy and security.
Construction methods used to resist water and wind penetration through door
and window opening is essential for the durability of the building. The wooden
door frame or aluminium coated window frame fixing to brick work, threshold
and sill details, the seal between door, window frame and glass and draught
excluding devices can be fitted in the gap to eliminate the flow of air is
essential for proper detailing of door and window. Double glazed units will
reduce the heat and sound from the external environment as well. Weather
protection must be provided for timber doors by non absorbent finish and a
weather board fitted across the bottom. For windows also the same applicable
for weather exclusion. It is important to reduce the water streaming down the
window face. Head moulding and window setback within the wall depth help to
fulfil the above requirement.
The College Of Estate Management Building Technology 01

University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Answer for Question 03

For the determination of the form and layout of the building, the consideration
of the environmental factors is necessary. The selection of appropriate location
The College Of Estate Management Building Technology 01

University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 03….

The College Of Estate Management Building Technology 01

University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 01b….