Suspended Timber Floor Construction

That leaves an opening to improve moisture management and airtightness by fitting a tyvek membrane and carefully sealing the gaps and joints.

Suspended timber floor construction.

Suspended timber ground floors consist of the finished timber floorboards being attached to floor joists which are suspended above the subfloor of the foundation. 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 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. A suspended floor is a ground floor with a void underneath the structure.

All you need to know. 6 4 12 joists connected to steel. 6 4 11 joists supported by intermediate walls. This creates a small gap and allows ventilation and air movement to prevent damp forming in the timber joists.

These floor joists are raised above the subfloor on small supporting walls called tassel walls or sleeper walls. 5 2 suspended ground floors. Previously floor timbers had been prone to damp and rot thanks to their direct contact with the moist ground. Ventilation is required in the same way as a suspended timber floor.

Suspended timber floors need to have spaces underneath ventilated via air bricks through the outer walls and gaps in any internal walls so that the air can move across the building underneath the floors to prevent the build up of moisture in the timber which could lead to fungal attack. The big benefit for choosing a suspended floor whether concrete or timber is that the construction is simple. This chapter gives guidance on meeting the technical requirements for suspended ground floors including those constructed from. The dead load on a floor is determined by the materials used in the floor s construction.

The materials can be more expensive than other flooring options but there is very little needed in the way of ground preparation which makes the overall cost lower on the whole particularly for the labour involved. 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. Moisture management for suspended timber floor construction. 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.

Many suspended timber floor constructions have discontinuous insulation between the joists. A typical wood frame floor covered with carpet or vinyl flooring has a dead load of about 8 pounds per square foot. 6 4 13 joists into hangers. They can normally span greater distances than timber joists.