---
title: "Floor tiles and over burnt brick"
subject: "Civil Engineering Materials"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_3/civil_engineering_materials:good-floor-tiles-overburnt-brick"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/good-floor-tiles-overburnt-brick
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Floor tiles and over burnt brick

Civil Engineering Materials · Chapter 3: Clay Products

- Asked in: 2079 Bhadra, 2+2 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/good-floor-tiles-overburnt-brick
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/chapter-3

## Question

What are the qualities of good floor tiles? Describe properties of over burnt brick.

## Short answer

Good floor tiles are hard, dense, abrasion-resistant, with low water absorption (≤3–10%), uniform shape, and a ringing sound. Over-burnt bricks are dark, vitrified, irregularly shaped, very hard with high crushing strength but brittle, and used as aggregate in foundations and road metal.

## Answer

#### Qualities of good floor tiles
1. Uniform shape and size, with true plane surface and sharp edges, and no warping or cracks.
2. Hard, dense and strong, with a smooth, uniform surface and a good colour and finish.
3. High abrasion and wear resistance for foot traffic.
4. Low water absorption (not more than about 3 to 10% depending on type).
5. Good resistance to stains, acids, chemicals and frost.
6. Adequate flexural/breaking strength, and a ringing sound when tapped.
7. Slip resistance on the surface and easy cleaning.
8. Durability and fire resistance, with a low cost.

#### Properties of over-burnt brick
- Dark brown or blackish colour, with a vitrified (glassy) surface.
- Irregular, distorted, shrunk shape and brittle nature because of fusion.
- Very hard, high crushing strength but low impact resistance.
- Very low water absorption.
- Poor bond with mortar because of the smooth surface.
- Used as aggregate for lime concrete, in foundations and road metal (jhama brick).

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Good floor tiles have:
   A. High absorption
   B. Low water absorption
   C. Soft surface
   D. Irregular size
   Answer: B. Absorption about 3 to 10% by type. (Key point: Tile absorption)

2. Over-burnt bricks are:
   A. Bright red
   B. Yellow
   C. Dark brown or blackish with glassy surface
   D. Pale
   Answer: C. They are vitrified. (Key point: Over-burnt colour)

3. Over-burnt (jhama) bricks are used as:
   A. Face bricks
   B. Plaster
   C. Fire bricks
   D. Aggregate for lime concrete and road metal
   Answer: D. Poor bond with mortar due to smooth surface. (Key point: Over-burnt use)

## Related in Civil Engineering Materials

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- [Characteristics of good bricks](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Acharacteristics-good-bricks) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 3, asked 4×
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