Barry's Introduction to Construction of Buildings, 4th Edition

10Surface Finishes

Finishes form the interface between building users and the building, and hence affect the way in which we interact and perceive our built environment. Surfaces are seen, touched and smelled by building users. Colour, or the lack of it, affects our perception of space and has an influence on our mood (psychology). Some materials, such as natural timber, give off scent, and this too will influence our reaction to the internal environment. Many materials and finishes also give off pollutants that may negatively affect our health. The focus of this chapter is on applied surface finishes to buildings. These are usually applied as a second fix once the main building work is complete. There is a wide variety of applied finishes available. In this chapter, we have confined ourselves to the wall and ceiling finishes most commonly found in domestic properties and small‐office developments. Discussions on finishes associated with commercial buildings, such as raised floors and suspended ceilings, can be found in Barry’s Advanced Construction of Buildings.

10.1 Functional requirements

The primary function of a surface finish is to provide a durable, visually attractive and low‐maintenance surface to floors, walls and ceilings. There may be differences between the functional requirements of the finish, depending on whether it is an external finish that needs to resist weathering, or an internal finish that needs to resist daily use by the building occupants.

External ...