---
title: "Construction of marble flooring"
subject: "Building Technology"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_6/building_technology:marble-flooring"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/marble-flooring
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Construction of marble flooring

Building Technology · Chapter 7: Flooring

- Asked in: 2075 Bhadra, 6 marks; 2072 Asoj, 6 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Process Of Marble Flooring At Site I Learning Technology](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSkXp3RjqZw) — L&T - Learning Technology
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/marble-flooring
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-7

## Question

Explain construction method of marble flooring.

## Short answer

Marble flooring lays 18-25 mm polished slabs on a 20-30 mm cement-sand mortar bed (1:4) over concrete. Method: clean and wet base, spread stiff mortar, apply cement slurry, place soaked slabs from corner, tap level, keep thin joints, grout after 2-3 days, cure 7 days, grind and polish with oxalic acid and wax.

## Answer

**Marble flooring** uses polished marble slabs (usually 18-25 mm thick) laid over a mortar bed. It gives a smooth, durable, attractive, easy-to-clean surface, used in halls, temples, offices and houses.

#### Materials
Marble slabs of uniform colour and thickness (e.g. 300 x 300 or 600 x 600 mm), cement, sand, white cement for joints, and polishing wax.

#### Construction method
1. **Base:** clean the concrete sub-floor, remove dust, and wet it.
2. **Marking:** set levels and lines with a string and level at the floor edges.
3. **Mortar bed:** spread a 20-30 mm cement-sand mortar (1:4), stiff (just damp) and levelled to the correct slope.
4. **Neat cement slurry:** spread over the bed so that the slab bonds well.
5. **Laying slabs:** soaked slabs are placed on the bed starting from a corner or the centre, tapped with a wooden mallet and checked with a straight edge and spirit level. Joints are kept thin (1-2 mm) and straight.
6. **Joint filling:** after 2-3 days the joints are cleaned and grouted with white or coloured cement paste.
7. **Curing:** kept wet for 7 days.
8. **Grinding and polishing:** the floor is ground with a machine with carborundum stones, then polished with oxalic acid and wax.

```text
   marble slab 20 mm      =========
   slurry                 ~~~~~~~~~
   mortar 1:4 (25 mm)     .........
   PCC base               ---------
```

**Precautions:** use marble of good quality; keep the bed well compacted; avoid hollow spots and lippage between slabs; do not walk on the floor until it has set (about 3 days).

## Check yourself

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

1. What mortar bed is used under marble slabs?
   A. 100 mm 1:2:4 concrete
   B. 3 mm lime
   C. 20-30 mm cement-sand 1:4, stiff
   D. Wet fluid 1:1 mortar
   Answer: C. A stiff bed prevents hollow spots. (Key point: Mortar bed)

2. Why is neat cement slurry spread over the bed?
   A. To drain water
   B. To reduce cost
   C. To make the bed level
   D. So the slab bonds well
   Answer: D. Slurry gives bond between bed and slab. (Key point: Slurry)

3. What joint width is kept?
   A. 1-2 mm, thin and straight
   B. 10 mm
   C. 20 mm
   D. No joints
   Answer: A. Thin straight joints are grouted with white or coloured cement paste. (Key point: Joint width)

4. Which is a precaution?
   A. Lay on dry base
   B. Avoid hollow spots and lippage; do not walk until set
   C. Use slabs of varied thickness
   D. Skip curing
   Answer: B. Slabs must be of uniform thickness and well bedded. (Key point: Precaution)

## Related in Building Technology

- [Construction of terrazzo flooring](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aterrazzo-flooring) — Building Technology, chapter 7, asked 4×
- [Construction of mosaic flooring](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Amosaic-flooring) — Building Technology, chapter 7, asked 2×
- [Granite flooring, pros and cons](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Agranite-flooring-pros-cons) — Building Technology, chapter 7
- [Suspended ground floor; tile flooring](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Asuspended-ground-floor-tile) — Building Technology, chapter 7
- [Flooring for low cost rural housing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aflooring-low-cost) — Building Technology, chapter 7