Flooring, Tiling and Finishing
Flooring, Tiling and Finishing tests floor construction, tile and stone laying, skirting, grouting, polishing and surface finishing. The exam focuses on level, bond, adhesive coverage, expansion joints and curing.
Core rules
- Cement concrete flooring needs a clean base, correct slope, compaction and curing; a bond coat helps the topping adhere.
- Tiles must be laid on a sound, flat, dust-free substrate. Use the specified adhesive and a notched trowel; back-butter large or vitrified tiles for full contact.
- Keep joints uniform with spacers and provide movement joints at large areas, perimeters and changes of material.
- Grout after the adhesive has set; clean excess before it hardens.
- Skirting should be plumb, aligned and neatly mitred at corners.
Worked example
A room is 3 m × 4 m, so floor area = 12 m2. A 600 mm × 600 mm tile covers 0.36 m2. Nominal tiles = 12 ÷ 0.36 = 33.33, so 34 tiles. Add 10% for cutting and breakage: 34 × 1.10 = 37.4, so order 38 tiles. Check that the layout centres cuts and avoids a narrow sliver at the door.
Traps that cost marks
Laying tiles on dust, using too little adhesive, omitting perimeter movement joints and grouting before the adhesive sets are common. Hollow-sounding tiles usually mean poor adhesive coverage, not a cosmetic issue.
Key points
- A 600 × 600 mm tile covers 0.36 m2.