While the use of timber floors to add a suspended second level to a building was previously commonplace, in more recent times, concrete flooring has become the norm! Solid floor vs suspended floor | DIYnot ForumsSuspended floors | BRANZ Buildbeam and block versus suspended timber floor - DIYnot Forums Suspended floors are typically an older style of floor that are known for being cold, especially in the winter months. Durable and high-quality. For most heritage properties, the most effective and appropriate way to insulate a suspended floor and improve its airtightness is to retrofit insulation beneath the floorboards, between the supporting joists (figure 2). Concrete slab would be more expensive but how much more per m2?? Not the floor surface. To a large extent, suspended timber ground floors gave way to solid slab concrete floors throughout much the 20th century and then, from around 1976 onwards, following a prolonged period of drought with many foundation and oversite failures, suspended concrete beam and block floors started to gain prominence. Concrete slab floors do require that all subgrade utility rough ins be completed before the slab is poured and be accurately located. Why Replacing a Suspended Timber Floor with Concrete is ... Suspended Timber Floors. Suspended floors vs solid floors - TheGreenAge A suspended concrete slab is also a premium floor system, but it's price tag makes it a total budget buster. Oversite refers to a concrete covering of the sub-floor. Suspended Floors - All You Need To Know - ThermoHouse It's also common for a timber floor to warp over time, which leaves gaps in the structure which can result in . Any info would be . Furthermore, timber is a more affordable option if you are tight on budget. Should we pour a new slab or construct for a timber suspended floor? If you take the existing timber floor out and replace with concrete ( insulated of course ) then you can set the floor down by about 150mm , maybe more. Rotten wood should be cut out and remaining timbers treated. To a degree this type of floor can give more comfort when your intention is to carpet the . A concrete floor can take on the pressure of continuous vibration (like kids jumping up and down) and noise (coming from the second floor). On a flat site in any of the main centres, concrete flooring is up to $20 per metre cheaper than a timber floor. A suspended floor is a ground floor with a void underneath the structure. Your builder is right that a beam and block floor may eliminate the need for concrete oversite - whereas one is always required beneath a timber floor. Durable and high-quality. Concrete Vs Wood Flooring | Screwfix Community Forum To a degree this type of floor can give more comfort when your intention is to carpet the . I currently have a suspended timber floor approx 0.6m above a crawlspace in my kitchen (dimensions are 5m x 3m approx, joists run across the 3m span). This is because a suspended floor has a large air gap underneath which holds cold air. Suspended floors vs solid floors. There are various pros and cons to these types of floor, some of which impact on the energy efficiency of the building and how you go about insulating them. Type 1: Suspended Floors Suspended timber floors are normally made up of timber joists suspended from bearing walls, which are then covered with either floor boards or high quality sheets of tongue and groove. Timber floor needs a DPM, lean mix, sleeper walls, 150x2 floor joists, insulation, a membrane and 18mm moisture resistant chipboard. A thinner but still non-wood alternative is fibre-cement sheeting. However, not 100% on whether to go with a concrete slab first floor or a suspended timber first floor. It's also common to have suspended concrete floors . One additional benefit is that it is much easier to supervise a suspended timber floor installation as its various components are more exposed and visible for inspection than a concrete floor would be. However, the floor structure is supported by external and internal walls. Many old houses were designed with suspended timber floors. The increase in floor to ceiling heights is not just a nice to have it is a massive architectural improvement. 4 men over two trades and about a week to do (including drying times and snags). Suspended floors can be either concrete beam and block or timber, but I can think of any advantages of using timber other than for DIY and easy to lift/move materials. The job takes concrete, two men and a days work (for just the concreting bit). A concrete floor can take on the pressure of continuous vibration (like kids jumping up and down) and noise (coming from the second floor). There are two basic ways to make the floors of a building. Or you could have suspended beam and block with a screed. Retrofits for plumbing or mechanical changes later can be difficult and costly.Wood framed floors with a crawlspace (or basement) below have the advantage of access to space that can be utilized for running . Internal ground level - Regs state the ground covering should be "above the highest level of adjoining ground". Figure 1 Suspended timber floor joist layout (redrawn from NZS 3604:2011 Figure 7.2). Concrete slab would be more expensive but how much more per m2?? Timber flooring (especially solid timber) is also not suitable for wet areas and should not have moisture on it for sustained periods as it can cause warping and swelling. While the use of timber floors to add a suspended second level to a building was previously commonplace, in more recent times, concrete flooring has become the norm! However the concrete/screed floor is higher than the timber boarded floor in the kitchen by about 2" to 1". This is similar to cement sheeting used for wall cladding, but is thicker and stronger and can be used as a load-bearing floor directly. They will need to be re-sealed regularly and may require re-staining as well. I'm trying to gauge if it's better to get a suspended concrete beam and block floor in my kitchen or a traditional suspended timber floor. You can either have a concrete base or a suspended floor, usually made out of timber. Now this is where I need advice, I see I have options here, firstly I cannot raise the timber floor to suit the concrete because . discuss Concrete or Timber floor systems. Option 1 - Suspended timber. 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. If your floor features stone or ceramic tiles, then we'd also recommend a concrete slab - a timber joisted floor will be more prone to bounce and deflection, which risks cracking the tiles. One example is BGC Durafloor, which can span 450 mm joist spacings and is 19 mm thick. 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. Fibre-cement sheeting. Timber floors look great but they will require more maintenance than other types of flooring. Suspended timber vs solid concrete floors? These were designed into houses to keep them dry (at the expense of draughts). You can either have a concrete base or a suspended floor, usually made out of timber. Floor cost versus concrete costs. A suspended timber floor on bearer's and joist's can sometime's be comparable cost wise on a flat site but is better suited if there's quite a bit to significant fall on the site. Many old houses were designed with suspended timber floors. Concrete oversite - Based on the damp issue, should we lay a concrete oversite or shall just lay 50mm of inert fine aggregate? Going half/half on a ground floor can be of benefit if just one area of the house is out over a fall in contour, meaning that most of the house makes sense to be . These were designed into houses to keep them dry (at the expense of draughts). Figure 1. Screed and flooring another 1 1/2 - 2 days. Should we pour a new slab or construct for a timber suspended floor? Suspended timber vs solid concrete floors? I currently have a suspended timber floor approx 0.6m above a crawlspace in my kitchen (dimensions are 5m x 3m approx, joists run across the 3m span). Internal ground level - Regs state the ground covering should be "above the highest level of adjoining ground". Suspended floors are normally made up of 2 materials, either timber joists or a concrete beam system. Option 1 - Suspended timber. Figure 3. For most heritage properties, the most effective and appropriate way to insulate a suspended floor and improve its airtightness is to retrofit insulation beneath the floorboards, between the supporting joists (figure 2). They will need to be re-sealed regularly and may require re-staining as well. Suspended slab may be the most expensive compared to the other's. Generally, a suspended floor may have advantages of speed, ease of construction and prevents the need to import lots of fill if you have high floor levels Suspended floors can be either concrete beam and block or timber, but I can think of any advantages of using timber other than for DIY and easy to lift/move materials Suspended timber floor with floorboards removed. In which case if you original house is timber suspended then go for timber suspended on your extension. Suspended floors are typically an older style of floor that are known for being cold, especially in the winter months. discuss Concrete or Timber floor systems. Indeed concrete costs would need to rise substantially before timber would become cost competitive in most locations, (see Figure 1 ). In contrast to this, a concrete slab would need to have all the air-conditioning ductwork suspended underneath the slab, and then a false ceiling suspended under that. The timber joists and floor boards were vented underneath at the front and back of the house to allow a draught to whisk away any rising moisture from the foundations. Timber flooring (especially solid timber) is also not suitable for wet areas and should not have moisture on it for sustained periods as it can cause warping and swelling. 2. Furthermore, timber is a more affordable option if you are tight on budget. Total area of first floor would be 125m2. Nine of the most common questions are answered here. Suspended slab may be the most expensive compared to the other's. However, the floor structure is supported by external and internal walls. Concrete vs Timber Floors. The BRANZ Technical Helpline often receives queries for designing and building suspended timber floors and dealing with uplift. Figure 2. Concrete oversite - Based on the damp issue, should we lay a concrete oversite or shall just lay 50mm of inert fine aggregate? However, the floor structure is supported by external and internal walls. There are two basic ways to make the floors of a building. There are 2 types of floor construction used in the building industry today; these can be classed as either Suspended or Solid. Retrofits for plumbing or mechanical changes later can be difficult and costly.Wood framed floors with a crawlspace (or basement) below have the advantage of access to space that can be utilized for running . When compared to timber, concrete is stronger and a more durable option of the two. 2. Figure 2. Also, what are the main advantages/disadvantages of having a concrete slab first floor rather than a timber floor?? While completely, concreting takes a lot of time to set, it is labour intensive and messy, which means it's not an efficient and cost effective option for flooring . To a large extent, suspended timber ground floors gave way to solid slab concrete floors throughout much the 20th century and then, from around 1976 onwards, following a prolonged period of drought with many foundation and oversite failures, suspended concrete beam and block floors started to gain prominence. There are various pros and cons to these types of floor, some of which impact on the energy efficiency of the building and how you go about insulating them. Suspended floors. All Photos By: Unsplash. bear in mind your site levels - you may need a suspended floor if your backfilling more than 600mm with hardcore. This is because a suspended floor has a large air gap underneath which holds cold air. The existing kitchen is suspended timber floor whereas the scullery is concrete, poss concrete and screed. When compared to timber, concrete is stronger and a more durable option of the two. I'm trying to gauge if it's better to get a suspended concrete beam and block floor in my kitchen or a traditional suspended timber floor. See our detailed installation guide for more details. However, not 100% on whether to go with a concrete slab first floor or a suspended timber first floor. Architectural considerations. Suspended Timber Floors. Once dried out, new treated timbers can be fitted. This isn . This applies both to residential projects and commercial ones too. Concrete slab floors do require that all subgrade utility rough ins be completed before the slab is poured and be accurately located. This isn . The end result might be a significantly deeper floor zone, which will impinge on the ceiling height in the rooms below. Timber floor costs for a 150 m 2 house. A suspended timber floor on bearer's and joist's can sometime's be comparable cost wise on a flat site but is better suited if there's quite a bit to significant fall on the site. It's also common for a timber floor to warp over time, which leaves gaps in the structure which can result in . The entire ground floor level will feel a lot nicer. 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. The timber joists and floor boards were vented underneath at the front and back of the house to allow a draught to whisk away any rising moisture from the foundations. Depending on other features of your house, a concrete slab can also offer better performance in terms of thermal mass and insulation. 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. See our detailed installation guide for more details. However, there are situations where concrete oversite may be needed beneath a beam and block floor as well. If you go for suspended timber you may still have to dig out alot of . Type 1: Suspended Floors Suspended timber floors are normally made up of timber joists suspended from bearing walls, which are then covered with either floor boards or high quality sheets of tongue and groove. This creates a small gap and allows ventilation and air movement to prevent damp forming in the timber joists. Total area of first floor would be 125m2. All Photos By: Unsplash. Often a hybrid floor can work, and at the end of the day this is the most commonly used system for two storey homes - the ground floor is on concrete and the upper floor is timber. This applies both to residential projects and commercial ones too. Also, what are the main advantages/disadvantages of having a concrete slab first floor rather than a timber floor?? 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. Timber floors look great but they will require more maintenance than other types of flooring. With a suspended floor you would have a concrete oversite (slab) over the ground beneath the floor or you could lay a ground sheet and gravel. A suspended floor is a ground floor with a void underneath the structure. A suspended floor is a ground floor with a void underneath the structure. 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