The appearance of cracks often raises many questions. Cracks can appear in structures at an early stage or over time and it must be recognized that certain types of cracks are unavoidable in the home.

Cracks can be large or small, structurally or non-structurally, or indifferent shapes, different widths, and different shapes.

All can be a nuisance either by damaging the structure in appearance or bypassing air pollutants and moisture into the body of the concrete.

TYPES OF CRACKS AND THE ORIGIN OF CRACKS AT DIFFERENT AGES:

Since cracks are natural in concrete, what really matters is the type of structure and the nature of the cracks.

The following table generally indicates the types of cracks:

Plastic Shrinkage Cracks

·       This type of cracks appear appear within the first minutes to hours after the concrete is made.

·       Plastic shrinkage cracking occurs when new concrete is subjected to a very rapid loss of moisture. It is caused by a mix of factors such as air and concrete temperatures, relative humidity, and air velocity at the concrete surface. These factors can cause excessive evaporation in hot or cold climates.

Plastic Settlement Cracks

·       Plastic Settlement Cracks appear in first few minutes or hours after concreting.

·       This type of cracks appear in cement concrete just placed / placed in a reinforced structure, sometimes occurring on the surface even before the concrete is set, when there is a relatively large amount of bleed and some types of barriers settling by the solids.

Cracks due to Corrosion

·       Corrosive cracks usually, appear after a year or several years.

·       Corrosion cracks appear in the reinforcement line and expand over time.

·       It is mainly manifested by discolouration of paint or rust stains.

Cracks due to Loads

·       It occurs After the loads are imposed for the first time

Cracks due to Dead Weights

·       It occurs After the formwork supports are removed.

·       This type of crack will appear if there is insufficient size or reinforcement bars section that cannot carry own dead weight.

Cracks due to chemical changes in Hardened Concrete

Chemical reaction (sulfate) or internal (ASR) depending on the chemical attack from the outside after one or several years.

STANDARD SIZES OF DOORS & WINDOWS FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

The best reference to Indian conditions are government publications and design manuals, which provide guidelines for window and door size measurement. Here we share the Central Government Department (CPWD) Handbook with guided guidelines from the Government of India: 'Guide for Doors and Windows Sizes for Residential Buildings', which states:

RECOMMENDED OPENING SIZES – 'WINDOWS'

   Kitchen Island Sizes: All You want to Know!

Typically, an island is a kitchen-centric countertop that allows access from all sides and is primarily used for preparing food and storing cooking utensils. Therefore, it is an elegant solution to the problem of finding a workspace that can be used in a typical home kitchen with enough space in the kitchen.

Here are the standard sizes of the kitchen island, which will give you a clear idea of ​​the space required for kitchen island in your kitchen!

Minimum Size of Kitchen Island:

Kitchen Island is an additional counter with multiple uses, recommended only for kitchens

Its minimum dimensions of kitchen

Length – 4.50m

Width – 3.60m

Which can have a kitchen island

Length – 1.20m

Width – 0.60m

So for the small kitchen, the island is not a suitable solution. For smaller kitchens, extra movable islands are preferred. If you need an island in the kitchen, a foldable kitchen island and portable kitchen island can be useful when there is confusion over the actual counters. After use, it can be moved to another area and stored in other rooms.

Height of Kitchen Island:

The island countertop is usually positioned at above waist level or at waist level, with a few drawers for storing utensils, barrels, and cookware. The kitchen island varies according to its use,

i.e breakfast bar or table, Kitchen counter, service table, etc.

For general use, it is used as a countertop and its height should be

0.90 m to 0.85 m (3'-0" to 2'-9")

kitchen counter or base so that the person who is going to use it comfortably without any back pain.

If used for service purposes, it should be

0.75 meters (30 inches)

higher than the height of the island table because its comfortable and downward force is more convenient.

Width of Kitchen Island:

The width of the kitchen island will vary depending on its purpose.

At a minimum, an island should be 1.20m (4 feet) long and 0.60 m (2 feet) wide and deep, but within the distance required for people to move around and work on it.

If using a breakfast bar instead of two parallel widths, consider 2ft (0.60 m) per counter and 1ft (0.30 m) in addition to breakfast. Therefore, the overall width should be considered to be 0.90 m (3 ft).

Space Required Around Kitchen Island:

Ideally, there should be enough space in the room for one person when someone is standing and working on the island, so there should be enough space in the room for two people to stand next to each other or pass comfortably. At the same time, space should be filled in such a way that problems related to movement in a wheelchair or walking can be accessed.

Therefore, the standard width around the kitchen island or two parallel counters or cabinets should be at least 1.20 m (4 ft) and a minimum of 0.9 m (3 ft) is required if there is only a counter.

BITUMINOUS PAINT

Made of - bitumen or coal tar,

which are soluble in mineral vapours or oil.

Known as

a)  bituminous asphalt, (it is sticky& black)

b)  highly viscous liquid

c)  semi-solid form of oil.

USES OF BITUMINOUS PAINT

Bituminous paint is ready to use and does not need to be thinned. This can be applied with a brush or spray.

Bituminous paint can be applied to most substrates, including iron and steel structures, metal products, castings, asbestos cement sheet and structural concrete surfaces.

PROPERTIES OF BITUMINOUS PAINT

a)  Bituminous paint is a type of bituminous coating product that provides weather resistance and corrosion resistance to elements.

b)  It has good adhesive properties. A bituminous coating is used to create vapour-proof protective layer in accordance with its formulation and polymerization standards. Bituminous coating is also called as asphalt coating.

c)  Bituminous paint is strong, waterproof, durable and inexpensive. Resists the production of harsh chemicals and ultraviolet light. It also protects steel surfaces.

d)  Some companies claim that it contains "zero volatile organic compounds" while others claim that it contains 400-500 g / LDR.

e)  Available Quantity:

1.  1 Litre

2.  2.5 Litre

3.  5 Litre

4.  25 Litre packages.

f)    Coverage per litre depends on the porosity of the surface. The Coverage of smooth metal surfaces is 10 square meters per litre.

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USES OF BITUMINOUS PAINT

1.  Bituminous paints have alkaline resistance, so it is used for the water system, weather protection steelworks, waterproofing, wood, concrete and potable water tanks.

2.  It is also used for exterior metalwork and steelwork such as fire escape, ladders, pits, under pipes, rails, fences and gates. It is used for coating ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and other building materials. In the marine environment.

3.  It is a flexible coating solution that can be applied both above and below the floor.

PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN

Bituminous paint contains solvents that degrease the skin and, in extreme circumstances, cause dermatitis. If paint comes in contact with your skin, remove it immediately with a hand cleaner and wash it off with soap and water. 

  WHY SHOULD INSTALL FALSE CEILING IN YOUR HOME

The design of the false ceiling adds attraction and helps to determine the overall decor of the homes. But the question is the false ceiling used only to enhance the aesthetic view of the house or does it have a functional role? After all, our older homes worked well without a false ceiling.

This article gives you 5 reasons WHY TO FALSE CEILING IN YOUR HOME

Have you exposed the structural beams running on the roof layer as in this example? do not worry. Installing a false ceiling is a great way to cover the beams and give the ceiling a seamless look.

2.  For a very high ceiling

If the ceiling height is too high, the ceiling size should be reduced with the false ceiling to give the space a more proportionate look and ensure optimally cooling by the air conditioner.

Note: If your room has a low ceiling (less than 9 feet 6 inches in height), it is not a good idea to go for the false ceiling because space will appear small and claustrophobic. A false ceiling reduces the height of a room by at least 6 to 8 inches.

3.  In case the home has a ducted or cassette AC

If your home has AC plumbing or AC cassette, a false ceiling is essential for your home. The gap between the actual ceiling and the false ceiling is used to install pipes, condenser pipes and AC vents.

Note: For removable air conditioners, the motor door must be arranged so that the air conditioner can be easily serviced without interfering with the indoor unit or breaking the defective ceiling.

4.  If your actual ceiling is exposed to electrical wiring on it

In some homes, exposed wires for lighting, integration of smart home technology, music system and many other functions can go through the ceiling. Install a false ceiling so that these wires are hidden from view.

Tip: If water is leaking from the roof or walls of the house, electrical wires and the false ceiling should be repaired before installing a false ceiling to prevent moisture.

5.  If there are not enough spotlights for your current ceiling

An adequate

number of light points during the construction phase is usually built into the ceiling of the RCC. However, if you need more light points, it is necessary to go to the wrong ceiling. It gives you the flexibility to change the positions of light spots and ventilation points, as well as hidden general lighting and diffused lighting to suit the decor of the room.