Foundations, subfloors and screeds: Watchpoints
Latest stories
in Advice, Budget & Financing, Construction overview, Design, Energy Efficiency, Airtightness & The Environment, Foundations, subfloors and screeds: Watchpoints, On site, Other key structural decisions, Pre design, Ventilation, Working out your requirements
Where to start when renovating an old farmhouse
More stories
-
in Advice, Building methods, Foundations, subfloors and screeds: Watchpoints, Other key structural decisionsHow foundations are built for timber frame
If you’re building a timber frame house, your foundations will need to be built to suit. In this article we cover: Foundations for timber frame buildings should be designed to suit the site conditions and the loads that they are intended to support. Any of the usual concrete foundation options might be used, such as […] More
-
The stick build method
A stick build is the DIY way to build a timber frame house; it’s also the method that the late self-build architect Walter Segal favoured. In this article we cover: Stick build describes a method of creating structures that are built up on site from individual pieces of timber. The main architectural objective is to […] More
-
in Advice, Before you start to dig, Budget & Financing, Foundations, subfloors and screeds: WatchpointsFoundation costs
Substructure costs refer to everything below finished floor level; here we look at your foundations costs. In this article we cover: The cost of the substructure is influenced by various factors, including the type of soil (this determines if you need the simplest, cheapest foundation or a more expensive option), level of the water table […] More
-
Floor construction choices
What lies beneath the finished floor surface is something every self-builder needs to consider; here are your floor construction choices. In this article we cover Naturally when people look at a floor, they see only the surface, not the construction underneath. But designing a floor requires thinking not only about how it will look but […] More
-
How are suspended floors built?
Suspended floors are usually either made of timber or concrete with steel elements. Find out how they’re made and what to watch out for on site. In this article we cover: A suspended floor is one that’s built across walls, beams, columns or foundations, spanning across an open space or void underneath. Upper storey, intermediate […] More
-
in Advice, First fix: Watchpoints, Foundations, subfloors and screeds: Watchpoints, Other key structural decisionsFloors with underfloor heating: watchpoints
Things to bear in mind when building your floors if you plan to use underfloor heating. In this article we cover: Underfloor heating (UFH) systems usually consist of hot water being fed through a series of pipes, known as a wet system, but can also utilise electric heating mats. Either system is used to heat […] More
-
in Advice, Construction overview, Direct labour tasks, Foundations, subfloors and screeds: Watchpoints, Quality control inspectionsSchedule your build
So you want to schedule your build and take charge of the construction programme of your self-build project? Here, structural engineer and architectural technologist Les O’Donnell explains where to start. In this article we cover: Project management costs run around 10 to 15 per cent of the total build cost and sometimes maybe more, not […] More
-
in Advice, Foundations, subfloors and screeds: Watchpoints, Other key structural decisions, Quality control inspectionsWorking with concrete in hot and cold weather
Working with concrete to make your floors requires a bit of prep, to protect it from the weather and from chemical or environmental conditions. In this article we cover: Defects in concrete can occur because of chemical and environmental conditions, construction or workmanship issues, or unexpected loading. A gradual loss of performance is usually described […] More
-
in Advice, Foundations, subfloors and screeds: Watchpoints, Other key structural decisions, Quality control inspectionsConcrete construction issues
Some common mistakes tend to crop up on site when working with concrete; here’s what most commonly causes construction issues in Ireland. In this article we cover: Many problems with concrete can be designed out during the design phase. If the design and specification processes are properly carried out, it’s then down to the contractors […] More
-
in Advice, First fix: Watchpoints, Foundations, subfloors and screeds: Watchpoints, Other key structural decisionsConcrete Types
Find out what type of concrete is suitable for the job at hand. In this article we cover: Specifying the concrete you’re going to be using can be a complex task, with five main methods for compiling the specifications. These are known as designated, designed, prescribed, standardised and proprietary. Every project has different requirements, so […] More
-
Floor screeds explained
What floor screeds are, how they’re most commonly installed in Ireland today and what to watch out for on site. In this article we cover: The screed is the upper layer of the floor ‘sandwich’ upon which the flooring is laid, so it must be finished level, flat and dry. Incidentally (and I have seen […] More
-
in Advice, Foundations, subfloors and screeds: Watchpoints, On site, Other key structural decisions, Pre designSolid ground floors
A solid ground floor relies on the existing ground underneath to support it; this is how they’re made. In this article we cover: A solid ground floor should not be confused with the similar term solid floor which generally applies to any floor construction that does not contain hollow spaces or voids. Just to complicate […] More
Load More
Congratulations. You've reached the end of the internet.
English