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{{Primary sources|date=March 2009}}{{About|the floor of a room}}

[[File:Floor Glass Auckland Skycity.jpg|right|thumb|Floors may include mosaic or other artistic expression.]]

A '''floor''' is the walking surface of a room or vehicle. Floors vary from simple dirt in a cave to many-layered surfaces using modern technology. Floors may be stone, wood, bamboo, metal, or any other material that can hold a person's weight.

The levels of a building are often referred to as floors and are described in the article [[storey]]. This article describes the structure of floors.

Floors typically consist of a subfloor for support and a floor covering used to give a good walking surface. In modern buildings the subfloor often has electrical wiring, plumbing, and other services built in. Because floors meet many needs, some essential to safety, floors are built to strict [[building codes]].

== Special floor structures ==

Where a special floor structure like a [[floating floor]] is laid upon another floor then both may be referred to as subfloors.

Special floor structures are used for a number of purposes:

*[[Balcony]], a platform projecting from a wall
*[[Floating floor]], normally for noise or vibration reduction
*[[Glass floor]], as in glass bottomed elevators
*[[Nightingale floor]] makes a noise when an intruder walks on it
*[[Raised floor]], utilities underneath can be accessed easily
*[[Sprung floor]], improves the performance and safety of athletes and dancers

==Floor covering==
{{Main|Flooring}}

[[File:Flooring.jpg|right|thumb|An example of a floor.]]

'''Floor covering''' is a term to generically describe any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface. '''Flooring''' is the general term for a permanent covering of a floor, or for the work of installing such a floor covering. Both terms are used interchangeably but floor covering refers more to loose-laid materials.

Materials almost always classified as floor covering include [[carpet]], area [[Rug making|rugs]], and resilient flooring such as [[linoleum]] or [[vinyl]] flooring.  Materials commonly called [[flooring]] include [[wood flooring]], laminated wood, [[ceramic tile]], [[Masonry|stone]], [[terrazzo]], and various seamless chemical floor coatings.<ref>http://www.wfca.org/ World Floor Covering Association</ref>

The choice of material for floor covering is affected by factors such as cost, endurance, noise insulation, comfort and cleaning effort. Some types of flooring must not be installed below grade (lower than ground level), and laminate or hardwood should be avoided where there may be moisture or condensation.

The subfloor may be finished in a way that makes it usable without any extra work, see:
*[[Earthen floor]] adobe or [[clay]] floors
*[[Solid ground floor]] cement screed or granolithic

There are a number of special features that may be used to [[ornament (architecture)|ornament]] a floor or perform a useful service. Examples include [[Floor medallions]] which provide a decorative centerpiece of a floor design, or [[Grating]]s used to drain water or to rub dirt off shoes.

== Subfloor construction ==

The subfloor provides the strength of a floor. Many floors have no separate floor covering on top. The subfloor may also provide services like [[underfloor heating]] or [[Duct (HVAC)|duct]]s for [[air conditioning]]. 

A ground-level floor can be an [[earthen floor]] made of [[soil]], or be [[solid ground floor]]s made of [[concrete slab]]. Floors above may be built on [[Beam (structure)|beam]]s or [[joist]]s or use structures like [[hollow core slab]]s.

=== Ground floor construction ===
{{Main|Solid ground floor}}

Ground-level slab floors are prepared for pouring by [[grading (construction)|grading]] the base material so that it is flat, and then spreading a layer of sand and gravel. A grid of [[rebar]] is usually added to [[reinforced concrete|reinforce the concrete]], especially if it will be used structurally, i.e., to support part of the building.

=== Upper floor construction ===

Floors in [[Framing (construction)|woodframe homes]] are usually constructed with joists centered no more than 16&nbsp;inches or 40 centimeters apart, according to most [[building code]]s.{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} Heavy floors, such as those made of [[Masonry|stone]], require more closely-spaced joists. If the [[Span (architecture)|span]] between load-bearing walls is too long for joists to safely support, then a heavy crossbeam (thick or [[laminate]]d wood, or a metal [[I-beam]] or [[H-beam]]) may be used. A "subfloor" of [[plywood]] or [[waferboard]] is then laid over the joists.

===Utilities===

{{Main|Building services engineering}}

In modern buildings, there are numerous services provided via [[Duct (HVAC)|duct]]s or wires underneath the floor or above the ceiling. The floor of one level typically also holds the ceiling of the level below (if any). 

Services provided by subfloors include:
*[[Air conditioning]]
*[[Telecommunication|Communication fibers]]
*[[Electrical wiring]]
*[[Compartmentalization (fire protection)|Fire protection]]
*[[Thermal insulation]]
*[[Plumbing]]
*[[sanitary sewer|Sewerage]]
*[[Soundproofing]]
*[[Underfloor heating]]

In floors supported by joists, [[Public utility|utilities]] are run through the floor by drilling small holes through the joists to serve as conduits.  Where the floor is over the basement or [[Basement#Crawl space|crawlspace]], utilities may instead be run under the joists, making the installation less expensive. Also, ducts for air conditioning (central heating and cooling) are large and cannot cross through joists or beams; thus, ducts are typically at or near the [[HVAC#Plenum space|plenum]], or come directly from underneath (or from an attic).

Pipes for plumbing, sewerage, underfloor heating, and other utilities may be laid directly in slab floors, typically via [[cellular floor raceways]]. However, later maintenance of these systems can be expensive, requiring the opening of concrete or other fixed structures. Electrically heated floors are available, and both kinds of systems can also be used in wood floors as well.

==Issues with floors==

Wood floors, particularly older ones, will tend to 'squeak' in certain places. This is caused by the wood rubbing against other wood, usually at a [[Joint_(building)|joint]] of the subfloor. Firmly securing the pieces to each other with [[screw]]s or [[nail (fastener)|nails]] may reduce this problem.

[[Floor vibration]] is a problem with floors. Wood floors tend to pass sound, particularly heavy footsteps and low [[Low-frequency effect|bass frequencies]]. [[Floating floor]]s can reduce this problem. Concrete floors are usually so massive they do not have this problem, but they are also much more expensive to construct and must meet more stringent building requirements due to their weight.

The flooring may need protection sometimes e.g. a gym floor alternately used for seating in a graduation ceremony. A [[gym floor cover]] can be used to reduce the need to satisfy incompatible requirements.

==Floor cleaning==

{{Main|Floor cleaning}}

[[Floor cleaning]] is a major [[employment|occupation]] throughout the world. Cleaning is essential to prevent injuries due to slips and to remove dirt. Floors are also treated to protect or beautify the surface. The correct method to clean one type of floor can often damage another, so it is important to use the correct treatment.

==See also==
{{multicol}}
*[[Floor plan]]
*[[Storey#Numbering|Floor numbering]]
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*[[Sidewalk]]
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== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary}}

[[Category:Floors| ]]
[[Category:Building materials]]
[[Category:Structural system]]

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