Suspended Timber Ground Floor Construction

We explain how hollow or suspended floors are made and what the key building regulations that affect them are.

Suspended timber ground floor construction.

The ground floors in most medieval domestic buildings were simply compacted earth. Solid floors are a lot more substantial and require the ground to be made up in layers of ground sub base sand compacted hard core damp proof membrane insulation and concrete. There are 2 types of floor construction used in construction today. Suspended timber floor as a requirement of the building regulations the structure should be protected against the growth of weeds and other plant life.

5 1 18 laying the ground bearing floor slab. Unlike standard ground floor construction suspended floors are not sitting directly on the ground. Different types of ground floor suspended flooring. Floor construction concrete or timber floor.

The ground should have a layer of concrete poured across and there should be a ventilated gap of at least 150mm between the underside of the timbers and the concrete to prevent moisture. These floor joists are raised above the subfloor on small supporting walls called tassel walls or sleeper walls. This allows air flow and ventilation to prevent the mould and dry rot that would otherwise occur over damp ground. 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.

These vary depending upon the age of the building its structural form limitations of the timber available and the local traditions. There are 2 types of floor construction used in the building industry today. These can be classed as either suspended or solid. Solid floors are a lot more substantial and require the ground to be made up in layers of ground sub base sand compacted hard core damp proof membrane insulation and concrete.

These can be classed as either suspended or solid. Whether building a ground floor suspended timber floor or a first floor hollow floor we explain the different options and techniques that you can use in its construction. 6 3 9 construction of timber partitions. Supports underneath the floor are permanent and include sleeper walls or timber props placed at regular intervals.

Concrete vs timber floors. 6 3 10 construction of steel framed partitions. Building and understanding a suspended or hollow timber floor. 5 1 17 ground floor slab and concrete.

Suspended timber ground floors consist of the finished timber floorboards being attached to floor joists which are suspended above the subfloor of the foundation. Previously floor timbers had been prone to damp and rot thanks to their direct contact with the moist ground.