Suspended Timber Floor Construction Uk

Previously floor timbers had been prone to damp and rot thanks to their direct contact with the moist ground.

Suspended timber floor construction uk.

Concrete floors are high mass and will act like a giant storage heater staying warm for many hours without any heat. The floor can be formed in various ways using timber joists precast concrete panels block and beam system or cast in situ with reinforced concrete. A typical wood frame floor covered with carpet or vinyl flooring has a dead load of about 8 pounds per square foot. Suspended timber floors which are typically found in older houses are normally made from timber floorboards which are then attached to joists just above the foundations of a house.

Just how well this works depends to a great extent on the floor construction. The answer to this problem can also be found in our project about stopping creaking floors and stairs. If there s wall board covered ceiling suspended from the underside of that floor the dead load increases to about 10 pounds per square foot. 6 3 10 construction of steel framed partitions.

That leaves an opening to improve moisture management and airtightness by fitting a tyvek membrane and carefully sealing the gaps and joints. All you need to know. Moisture management for suspended timber floor construction many suspended timber floor constructions have discontinuous insulation between the joists. This creates a small gap and allows ventilation and air movement to prevent damp forming in the timber joists.

Most self builders now fit underfloor heating into their homes. This construction is similar to the timber floor above but uses either pre cast concrete planks or small pre cast concrete beams with concrete blocks laid between the beams. They can normally span greater distances than timber joists. 6 3 9 construction of timber partitions.

A suspended floor is a ground floor with a void underneath the structure. Suspended hollow or timber floors also have a tendency to creak as the nails work loose over time. 6 3 11 construction of proprietary systems. The dead load on a floor is determined by the materials used in the floor s construction.

At the turn of the 18th century when construction techniques moved from boarded floors installed directly on the ground to suspended timber floors over a ventilated chamber the innovation solved a significant problem. This chapter gives guidance on meeting the technical requirements for suspended ground floors including those constructed from. Suspended timber 58 m. Ventilation is required in the same way as a suspended timber floor.