Correct Answer: B. To provide cushioning, sound absorption, and a moisture barrier
Solution:
Underlayment is a thin layer of foam, felt, or cork placed between the subfloor and the floating floor. It is not a structural component but serves multiple important functions: it provides a slight cushioning effect for comfort, absorbs impact sound to reduce noise, and often includes a vapor barrier to protect the flooring from moisture coming from the subfloor (especially concrete).
Correct Answer: C. A self-leveling compound
Solution:
A self-leveling compound is a cement-based mixture with polymers that make it very fluid. When poured over an uneven subfloor, it flows into low spots and creates a perfectly flat, smooth, and strong surface. This is essential for a professional tile installation, as it prevents tiles from cracking or having uneven joints (lippage).
Correct Answer: B. Athangudi Tiles
Solution:
Athangudi tiles are handmade, eco-friendly tiles originating from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. They are famous for their vibrant colors and intricate, free-hand patterns. The process involves pouring colored cement mixtures into stencils placed on a glass plate, which gives them a uniquely smooth and glossy finish after curing in water. They are not machine-pressed or fired in a kiln.
Correct Answer: B. LVT has a PVC core and is waterproof, while laminate has a fibreboard core and is water-resistant
Solution:
The main distinction lies in their core material. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), a plastic that is 100% waterproof. Laminate flooring, on the other hand, has a core made of High-Density Fibreboard (HDF), which is essentially compressed wood fibers. While the top layer of laminate is water-resistant, if water penetrates to the HDF core, it can swell and be permanently damaged.
Correct Answer: B. Support the ends of joists that are cut short for an opening (e.g., a staircase)
Solution:
When an opening is needed in a floor for a staircase or chimney, the regular joists (called 'trimmed joists') have to be cut short. A 'trimmer joist' is a heavier joist that runs parallel to the main joists at the edge of the opening. It supports the ends of these cut joists via a perpendicular member called a 'trimming joist' or 'header', effectively framing the opening and transferring the load to the supporting walls.
Correct Answer: C. Naturally pitted, porous surface with holes and troughs
Solution:
Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs. Its defining feature is the presence of natural pits, holes, and channels created by the escape of water and gas during its formation. In flooring tiles, these pits are often filled with grout or resin and then honed or polished to create a smoother surface, but the underlying pitted character gives travertine its unique, earthy look.
Correct Answer: C. To allow the wood's moisture content to equalize with the environment of the room
Solution:
Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture from the air, causing it to expand or shrink. Acclimation involves leaving the packaged wood in the room where it will be installed for several days. This allows the wood to adjust to the specific temperature and humidity of that space. Installing it without acclimating can lead to excessive gapping or buckling after installation as the wood later expands or contracts.
Correct Answer: A. It reduces the dead weight of the floor slab while maintaining strength
Solution:
Hollow pot flooring involves using hollow terracotta or concrete blocks as permanent formwork between reinforced concrete ribs. The blocks act as void-formers, displacing concrete from the tension zone of the slab where it is not structurally necessary. This creates a ribbed slab that is significantly lighter than a solid slab of the same thickness, reducing the load on the foundation and structural frame, making it more economical.
Correct Answer: C. Crushed natural quartz mixed with polymer resin
Solution:
Engineered quartz is a man-made composite material. It is manufactured by combining approximately 90-95% ground natural quartz (one of the hardest minerals on Earth) with about 5-10% polymer resins and pigments. This mixture is compacted into slabs under intense pressure and heat, resulting in a non-porous, extremely durable, and scratch-resistant surface.
Correct Answer: B. A DPM stops liquid water, while a vapor barrier stops water vapor (a gas)
Solution:
While often used interchangeably, there is a technical distinction. A Damp-Proof Membrane (DPM) is placed under a concrete slab to stop liquid moisture rising from the ground through capillary action. A vapor barrier (or vapor retarder) is typically placed on the 'warm side' of insulation, such as directly under hardwood flooring, to control the movement of water in its gaseous state (humidity), preventing it from condensing within the floor structure.
Correct Answer: C. Hard-wearing concrete topping with a smooth finish
Solution:
IPS flooring is not a stone. It is a cast-in-situ concrete flooring method where a topping of rich cement concrete (typically a 1:1.5:3 mix) is laid over a base course. It is then finished to a very smooth, hard, and level surface using steel trowels. It's a durable and economical choice often used in utility areas, garages, and as a base for other floor finishes.
Correct Answer: C. To provide cross-ventilation to the sub-floor void to prevent dampness and rot
Solution:
The space (void) beneath a suspended timber ground floor can become damp due to moisture from the ground. Air bricks are installed on opposing walls to create a flow of air through this void. This constant ventilation removes moist air before it can condense on the timber joists, preventing the conditions that lead to fungal decay (wet and dry rot) and protecting the structural integrity of the floor.
Correct Answer: A. Very long spans where double joist floors are inadequate
Solution:
A framed (or triple joist) floor adds a third level of support for covering very large areas without interior walls. It consists of floor joists (bridging joists) supported by intermediate beams (binders), which are in turn supported by even larger main beams (girders). This hierarchical system allows loads to be transferred efficiently over very long spans, making it suitable for large halls or assembly rooms.
Correct Answer: C. High resistance to chemicals, oil, and abrasion
Solution:
Epoxy is a thermosetting resin that is applied as a coating over a concrete floor. When cured, it creates a hard, durable, and non-porous surface. This makes it exceptionally resistant to damage from spilled oil, grease, brake fluid, and other common automotive chemicals. Its toughness also provides excellent resistance to abrasion from tools, jacks, and vehicle traffic, making it ideal for garages and workshops.
Correct Answer: B. Sleepers
Solution:
Sleepers are pieces of timber that are embedded in or laid on top of a concrete slab. Their primary function is to provide a nailing substrate for fixing solid wood floorboards. They create a small air gap between the concrete and the wood, which can also help with moisture control. This method is a traditional way of installing a timber floor over a solid base.