The intended purpose of the ceilings can be between floors and attics. They can be made of wood or reinforced concrete (monolithic and prefabricated). The type of flooring must be selected in accordance with the type of house, as well as the purpose of the floor itself.

The design of the floors must take into account the calculated permanent and temporary loads. The permanent design load includes the dead weight of the structure, including coating materials and insulation.

Temporary (variable) loads are the weight of furniture, boiler, plumbing and other equipment, as well as people in the room. If we are talking about permanent stone houses, then their interfloor ceilings are usually made of reinforced concrete.

Wooden structures are used, as a rule, when arranging attic floors and interfloor ceilings of wooden houses. When calculating temporary loads, it is necessary to take into account that the load of basement and interfloor floors is on average twice as high as the load of attic floors.

Reinforced concrete floors

This type of flooring is used only in those houses that are built of brick, stone or concrete. An important advantage of reinforced concrete floors is their very high load-bearing capacity. These floors require additional insulation, since they have a low level of thermal insulation and a high level of sound permeability. Depending on the manufacturing method, there are monolithic and prefabricated floors.

Factory-produced slab floors made of prefabricated reinforced concrete have a calculated load-bearing capacity, their nomenclature is provided for by the project. Thanks to the use of such floors, it is possible to significantly reduce construction time and save costs.

Precast concrete factories produce a wide range of slabs:

• solid,
• hollow,
• made of heavy and light concrete.

Today, hollow core slabs are the most popular. This is facilitated by their low cost and better performance in terms of heat retention and sound insulation. In addition, hollow products have less weight, i.e. there will be less load on the foundation and load-bearing walls.

To install these prefabricated floors, it is necessary to use specialized lifting equipment. The slabs are laid on a bed made of sand-cement mortar. The bed is placed in those places where the ceilings will rest on load-bearing walls.

Leveling the slabs

The alignment of the slabs when installing interfloor ceilings is carried out along the lower surface, while drawing the horizontal line using a level, level or spirit level. The support on load-bearing walls must be at least 12 cm - 14 cm. If the slabs have prestressed reinforcement, then they should be supported only on the ends (support by the middle of the surface and the side edges of the slab is not permissible).

If the construction site is not equipped with lifting equipment, i.e. installation of prefabricated slabs is impossible, then monolithic reinforced concrete floors are created.

Monolithic type ceilings

Monolithic type ceilings are slab, beam, ribbed and with liners. These floors are made directly on site, cast into specialized formwork.

Since monolithic floors are a very important structure, they must be manufactured strictly according to the design and by qualified craftsmen.

Most often, a monolithic slab floor is used. The areas where this structure is supported on load-bearing walls must be at least 10 cm and at the same time exceed the thickness of the slab itself. The reinforcement cage is placed from the bottom of the slab (in the tension section of the structure).

The ends of the reinforcement should be located at a distance of 3 cm - 5 cm from the formwork. When making monolithic consoles, the reinforcing layer is placed on the top of the structure.

For a monolithic floor, the maximum span length should not be more than 3 m. If the distance is greater, then a monolithic beam floor is used. In this design, reinforced concrete beams are installed and the outlets of the reinforcement of these beams are connected to the reinforcement of the monolithic slab.

On load-bearing walls, the support of the beams should be at least 20 cm - 25 cm. The cross-section and installation pitch of the beams is indicated by the project. Reinforced monolithic belts are created along the load-bearing walls, and beams are attached to them with anchors.

Technology for making monolithic floors

The design of monolithic floors with liners is rarely used today. The technology for making such floors involves placing ceramic liners of various shapes in the gaps between the load-bearing beams.

During the production of a monolithic ribbed floor, the liners serve as formwork for the slab and ribs. The disadvantages of this design are the complexity of implementation, as well as the high level of sound permeability.

Wooden floors

The advantage of wooden floors is their ease of assembly, which does not require the use of specialized mechanization. In addition, such floors have excellent thermal insulation properties. The load-bearing capacity of wooden floors is ensured by wooden beams.

The cross-section of the beams is calculated taking into account the total magnitude of the loads, as well as the span length between the supporting walls. Beams are made of glued or solid timber. On small spans, paired, pre-fastened beams from boards of at least 50 mm can be installed.

The ends of the beams must rest on load-bearing external walls. If we are talking about long-span structures, then the middle part of the beams is additionally supported by load-bearing internal walls. Lay the beams to the center from the edges, setting the step according to the calculations for the project.

The step size can only be changed to a smaller value than the value planned by the project. The position of the outer beams must be verified using a level or building level. Intermediate beams can be aligned along the rail or along the thread. All wooden structural elements are treated with antiseptics and fire retardants.

Installation of floors in a stone house

If wooden floors are installed on stone walls, then the beams are tarred or wrapped in roofing felt before being embedded in the wall. In the process of supporting beams on load-bearing external walls, the gap between the end of the beam and the wall is laid with mineral wool insulation.

In this case, it is necessary to leave a ventilation gap - this will prevent the formation of condensation on the wood. The beams are attached to the walls with anchors that are embedded in brickwork or a monolithic reinforced concrete belt.

Installation of floors in a log house

If the ceiling is installed in a log house, then the beams are tightly cut between the crowns (no additional fastenings are used). If the ceiling is erected in a frame building, then the beams are supported on the frame, secured with staples, pins or nails.

In order to save heat and provide sound insulation, the space between the beams is filled with insulation. They do it this way: sheets of glassine are laid over a continuous boardwalk, then heat-insulating material is placed or poured onto the glassine.

What the cross-section of the beams should be can be found out from specially designed tables.

When installing wooden floors, special attention must be paid to the passage of chimney, stove and boiler pipes through the floor. The distance between the pipe and the wooden structural element must be at least 25 cm. A heat-insulating gasket must be installed around the pipe itself. For this, sheet basalt or asbestos is used.

The advantages of houses made from aerated concrete blocks are the short construction time. This promotes rapid housing construction, including private housing. The choice of covering the first floor of a house from aerated concrete depends on many factors: the purpose, number of storeys of the house, the possibility of using special equipment, the cost of work, the level of professionalism of the builders and knowledge of the structural features of the materials. The reliability and durability of a building largely depend on the correct solution to this issue.

Requirements for flooring for a house made of aerated concrete

A house made of aerated concrete is built no higher than three floors, since the cellular structure of the blocks has less compressive strength compared to conventional concrete. The ceiling in such buildings should be selected taking into account:

• self-gravity and floor walls, or weight load calculations;
• strength and optimal rigidity;
• sufficient degree of sound insulation;
• fire safety factor.

The resulting force on the load-bearing walls is redistributed by the ceiling. It is recommended to make a reinforcing belt for any of its types, which enhances the spatial rigidity of the building and provides protection against crushing of fragile aerated concrete.

The upper cut of load-bearing walls must be strictly horizontal; if a defect is detected, elimination can be done by erasing aerated concrete blocks for leveling.

Types of floors

The selected overlap depends on the method of execution and construction material. The following modifications are most widely used:

• slab;
• prefabricated monolithic;
• monolithic;
• based on wooden or metal beams.

Other types of flooring: coffered, brick, hipped, are structurally complex and expensive, and are not used in the construction of low-rise buildings made from aerated blocks.

Slab floor

The first floor slab is assembled at the construction site using reinforced concrete slabs or aerated concrete. The choice between them is determined by the fundamental difference in weight. Such construction is the fastest in terms of time and is not related to the seismic activity of the region. The number of slabs depends on the size of the object and the standard dimensions specified at the factory. The main thing is that the span between the walls is 30 cm less than the overlap for a support installation of 15 cm on each side and meets the standards for the maximum distance:

• 6 meters - smooth slabs;
• 9 meters - with ribbed top.

The thickness is selected taking into account the potential load, since the ceiling is a kind of rigidity disk. For a two-story aerated concrete house, a height of 12 to 20 cm is sufficient for smooth surfaces and 25 to 30 cm for ribbed surfaces.

The slabs are laid strictly along the load-bearing walls of the first floor of the same level. The construction of internal partitions takes place later. Before installing the ceiling, a distribution brick pad one brick thick is built on the top row of aerated concrete blocks. After securing the strength, the slabs are placed on the layer of cement mortar using a crane.

Advantages and disadvantages of aerated concrete floors

Advantages of flooring made of aerated concrete or reinforced concrete slabs:

• fast installation in a short time;
• durability and reliability;
• high load-bearing capacity, from 600 to 800 kg/sq.m;
• excellent heat and sound insulation due to internal voids;
• factory production is distinguished by high-quality processing of materials;
• affordable price.

The disadvantages include:

• the need for special lifting equipment;
• the presence of access roads to the house made of aerated blocks for placing large slabs;
• limiting the choice of slabs by size;
• restrictions in application when load-bearing walls are curved;
• installation experience.

To adhere the slabs, a sand-cement mortar is used or mineral wool is laid, which strengthens the thermal insulation of a house made of aerated concrete.

Prefabricated monolithic floor

The technology does not require special equipment due to the design, which allows for not the heaviest elements for covering the first floor.

The installation process consists of initially placing the beams at a distance of 60-80 cm. Between them, expanded clay or polystyrene concrete blocks are placed on the lower flanges of the beams. A formwork is formed, on top of which a reinforcing mesh is placed. The structure is poured with concrete and takes time to dry completely.

Insulation is carried out using expanded clay, expanded polystyrene, high-density basalt wool or other thermal insulation materials.

Pros and cons of the design

The advantages of the design are manifested:

• in carrying out installation without special equipment;
• excellent sound and vapor insulation;
• strength of prefabricated monolithic composition.

But building codes, unfortunately, do not include information and recommendations for this type of flooring. Therefore, its use is allowed in houses made of aerated blocks of no more than 2 floors.

Monolithic ceiling

This modification is being prepared at the site for building a house. The process is quite complex and labor-intensive, but indispensable for non-standard building shapes. The resulting flat surface and the absence of work on sealing seams attracts the choice of this type of flooring.

At the beginning of the process, it is necessary to install formwork to form a monolithic slab. Based on your financial capabilities and availability of time, you can buy ready-made inventory formwork or make it yourself from sheet materials or boards at the installation site.

Concrete for pouring the floor is prepared according to the classical scheme: three parts sand and one part cement. Add crushed stone or gravel as desired. The first layer of concrete should not exceed one third of the floor; a reinforcement cage is placed on it. Then, using the pie principle, the second filling and laying of the reinforcing mesh is done. After the third pouring of concrete, the total thickness of the floor is 15-20 cm.

Increasing the layer thickness significantly affects the overall weight of the structure. For a house made of aerated concrete blocks, these are significant parameters. When the concrete reaches approximately 80% strength, this occurs within 3-4 days, the formwork can be dismantled.

To reduce the thickness of the floor and the overall structural weight, a ribbed monolithic slab is made, which includes beams and thin concrete layers. In this case, the pressure is redistributed not to the aerated concrete walls, but to the beams.

It takes much more time to install formwork with lower sheets of profile metal, which will become the reinforcing base. This option is indispensable in rooms with large spans between load-bearing walls of up to 9 m.

Monolithic slabs do not allow self-production of concrete in small-sized mixers. The solution must be ordered in the parameters and volume for one-time filling of the surface from an organization that guarantees product quality.

Pros and cons of monolithic flooring

Advantages:

• high load-bearing capacity;
• options for non-standard configurations with geometric complexities;
• application in case of significant spans between walls over 6 m.

Flaws:

• large time costs to set the strength characteristics of concrete;
• mandatory calculation of loads on the structure;
• high cost of overlapping;
• application of equipment: mixers and concrete pumps;
• extensive preparatory work;
• strict adherence to the solution preparation technology;
• limitation of work depending on temperature conditions.

Beam floors

Floors in a house made of aerated blocks can be made using metal or wooden beams.

The first option has a low price and is popular for installing interfloor structures. The second, similar in construction technology, is very expensive due to the price of rolled metal products and the need for equipment to install heavy beams.

Heat-insulating material is placed between the wooden beams. A sheathing is installed on the beams on both sides, which, on the one hand, serves as the basis for the subfloor, and on the other, as the ceiling surface.

It should be noted that wooden beams must be treated with fire and bioprotective impregnations, and metal floor beams are subject to mandatory anti-corrosion treatment. To prevent moisture from penetrating from the concrete to the beams, a layer of waterproofing is needed.

The beam floor of a house made of aerated blocks has significantly lower load-bearing capacity, so its use is recommended in buildings with a small area and a distance between walls of up to 6 m. This is especially significant for areas with seismic activity over 7 points.

Advantages and disadvantages

Positive properties of beam technology:

• availability of installation work with metal beams and wooden floors;
• low cost.

Flaws:

• use only in two-story houses;
• shorter service life compared to concrete floors;
• the presence of restrictions due to the flammability of materials.

Any ceiling can be installed in an aerated concrete house, provided that the load on the load-bearing walls is accurately calculated. The optimal load for small buildings of 2-3 floors is when installing aerated concrete slabs. The weight, size of the slabs, average price and technological features of constructing floors with aerated concrete slabs make this choice available in mass housing construction.

If you carefully look at the estimate for the construction of a typical private house (cottage), then such structural elements account for about 15-20% of all costs. It is by increasing the number of storeys of any building that the problem of more rational “development” of even a relatively small plot of land can be solved. What types of floors are there, how they are characterized, when it is advisable to use one or another of their options, what you can do yourself is the topic of this article.

Main characteristics

Any private house, even one-story, is conventionally divided into several levels. When arranging interfloor ceilings with your own hands, you should take into account that depending on the location of these structural elements, different requirements are imposed on them. First of all, according to the main characteristics. These include:

1. bearing load. Sometimes they talk about the strength of the interfloor ceiling, that is, its ability to withstand not only its own weight, but also the weight of everything that is located above - furniture, household appliances, and so on;

2. resistance to deformation. First of all, for a break. This characteristic is interconnected with the previous one and determines the linear parameters of the samples (slabs, beams) that separate the floors of the cottage;

3. sound permeability. The lower this indicator, the lower the cost of installing sound insulation;

4. thermal conductivity. This is especially true for the lower and last floors of a private house. This characteristic of the material directly determines how heat will be retained in its rooms.

5. fire resistance. Fire safety requirements for residential buildings are much stricter than for ancillary buildings (warehouses, utility buildings, etc.).

Classification

1. At the installation site.

• Attics.

The main criterion for assessing quality is minimal heat loss. Consequently, such interfloor ceilings require additional insulation. If the cottage has an attic room, increased attention is paid to this stage of finishing work. It is also taken into account that all evaporation rises to the ceiling. Therefore, proper installation of a vapor barrier for the uppermost floor of a private house is of great importance.

• Basement (basement).

Here, a lot depends on how the technological floor is arranged, and whether there is one at all. There are quite a lot of options for foundations on which cottages are built, if we take into account combined ones (for example, piles + shallow tape). If there is a basement, the main requirements for this type of interfloor ceilings are the same as for the previous one. Another condition is added - reliable protection from dampness, especially if there is no heating circuit on the technical tier. In this case, there is specificity in the installation of the vapor barrier layer - it is laid on top of the insulation material, since vapor diffusion will occur from the warm zone (room) to the cold zone (basement).

• Interfloor.

They are subject to slightly different requirements. Since in all rooms of the cottage the microclimate is, by definition, maintained at the same level, such a characteristic as the degree of protection from noise comes to the fore. For interfloor ceilings located above (and below) rooms with excessive humidity (kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, etc.), reliable waterproofing is also important.

2. By purpose:

• Bearers.
• Fencing.

3. By execution.

3.1. Beamless options:

• Monolithic.

Based on manufacturing technology and the final result, such interfloor ceilings are divided into ribbed, “with liners” and a number of other varieties. The common thing is that during the work you will not have to use complex equipment, much less transport samples to the construction site. A horizontally oriented formwork is first prepared into which the solution is poured. After hardening of the artificial stone between the floors, a monolithic dividing structure is obtained.

Perhaps the only drawback is the preparation time. You will have to wait until the solution is completely strengthened. But there is also a big plus - this technology can be used in certain segments. For example, if it is necessary to update the interfloor ceiling in a wooden house, without large-scale work to dismantle any part of it.

• Prefabricated.

They are the most reliable, as they are mounted from reinforced concrete (hollow slabs). But this technology, when applied to a private home, has a number of limitations. Firstly, an increase in the cost of work due to the need to use lifting equipment. Secondly, the complexity of transporting and laying slabs. Their maximum length is 9 m, and it may not coincide with the design parameters of the cottage. Thirdly, the walls must withstand the weight of reinforced concrete products. Consequently, such interfloor ceilings in a house made of aerated concrete, for example, cannot be used. As an option - for brick buildings.

• Prefabricated monolithic.

It is the best engineering solution when arranging interfloor ceilings between floors with your own hands, although it is still extremely rarely used in the construction of private houses. Mainly due to poor awareness of developers about the advantages of this option. The main thing is that you can do everything yourself, and in the shortest possible time.

The name suggests that this is a combined technology, including elements of prefabricated and monolithic structures. The basis is beams on which hollow blocks are laid. In fact, they play the role of molds, and the solution is subsequently poured into them. One of the significant advantages is that it can be anything. For example, an interfloor prefabricated monolithic floor made of aerated concrete.

3.2. Beam:

The main difference is in the material of the blanks used.

• Reinforced concrete beams.

They are practically not used in the process of building cottages. High labor costs, installation complexity, increased load on the foundation - these are just some of the problems that will have to be faced. For example, such interfloor ceilings in a house made of foam blocks are not an option due to the fragility of the wall material. The division of floors during individual development can be done in other, more acceptable ways.

• Metal blanks.

In the construction of private houses, interfloor floors based on I-beams or channels are used quite actively. But, as a rule, only to separate the first and technological floors. Pros - high strength and small sections compared to wooden counterparts (with the same design load); the ability to do the installation yourself. Disadvantages: susceptibility to corrosion and high thermal conductivity of metals. Therefore, when laying them, some protective technologies are used. For example, wrapping the end parts of blanks with felt.

• On wooden beams.

There are many advantages - the cost of production makes it affordable, low thermal conductivity, and the flexibility of the material to be processed with the simplest tools. In most cases, this is the best option for separating floors in a small cottage.

There are other varieties. For example, coffered, hipped, arched. They are practically not used in the private sector. Perhaps in cottages whose roofs have a complex configuration. To do any of them, you need not only accurate engineering calculations, but also professional skills. Therefore, independent execution is questionable. As a rule, such structural parts with a small area are installed on their own only in outbuildings located on the personal territory.

The article gives a general overview of options for how to divide the floors of a private house. You need to understand that it is necessary to decide, first of all, on the cross-sections of the samples used; therefore, the services of a specialist will be needed. But in most cases, all the rest of the work on installing the interfloor ceiling can be done on your own.

The ceiling must have the necessary load-bearing capacity, minimal deflection, in order to withstand both the load from its own weight and the useful load (static and dynamic). The ceiling must be rigid, i.e., under the influence of loads, it must not give deflections exceeding the values ​​​​permissible by standards, and have sound-proofing and heat-protective properties. The strength and durability of the entire structure will depend on the quality of the materials used for covering and strict adherence to technology. The type of ceiling is determined by the project; experts, a designer or an architect, can only adapt and change anything themselves. House floors, depending on the location in the building, there are interfloor, attic, basement (basement), etc.

Types of floors
Depending on the materials used for the floors and the design features of the manufacturing and installation technologies, the following are distinguished: types of floors:

• slab floors made of precast reinforced concrete;
• monolithic reinforced concrete floors;
• prefabricated monolithic (frequently ribbed) floors;
• wooden floors.

During construction, a combined solution is also possible: some of the floors are made prefabricated, some are made monolithic. Combinations of various materials are also possible (if this is provided for in advance by the project), for example, an unused attic can be covered with wood, and reinforced concrete can be used for interfloor ceilings.

Factory blanks
The option of floors made from special slabs manufactured at the factory is widely known and often used. Slab floors made of prefabricated reinforced concrete can be solid or hollow, made from light and heavy concrete. Traditionally, hollow core slabs are used for the construction of a private house due to their lower cost and better sound insulation and thermal conductivity. In addition, they weigh less, so load-bearing walls and foundations experience less load. Hollow-core reinforced concrete slabs are manufactured at the factory, their maximum length is about 7 m, thickness is 220 mm. The slabs come with round, oval and polygonal voids that run through the slab along its entire length.
Installation of prefabricated reinforced concrete floors requires the presence of specialized lifting equipment (crane) at the construction site. Laying is carried out on a bed of cement mortar, made in places where it rests on load-bearing walls. Such slabs rest on two sides. The recommended depth of support on load-bearing walls is 10-15 cm. It is necessary to lay the floors in a smaller size, that is, for a cottage of 5x7 m, it is better to use 5-meter slabs. The seams between the slabs are cleared of debris and carefully filled with cement mortar. When installing interfloor ceilings, the slabs are leveled along the bottom surface (at the location of the future ceiling), bringing the horizontal level to the level. If slabs with prestressed reinforcement are used, then they can be supported only on the ends; they cannot be supported by the side edges and the middle of the surface of the slab.
If, after delivery of floor slabs to the construction site, their installation is delayed, it is necessary to ensure that they are stored correctly, because the slabs will quickly begin to deteriorate in the open air. To ensure that the products do not lose their quality, when unloading, it is necessary to fold them horizontally, in a stack, no more than 2.5 m high, lined with wooden spacers.

Reinforced concrete floors
Without resorting to heavy equipment during installation and the services of reinforced concrete and enterprises, it is possible to produce floors of the required format directly on the construction site. This flooring is made of concrete and steel reinforcement. This type is interesting because it is suitable for any planning solutions. In a monolithic floor, the maximum width depends on the thickness and reinforcement of the slab - the thicker and stronger the floor, the wider it can be. On average, with a width of 6 m, a monolithic floor has a thickness of 10-16 cm. The technology makes it possible to create spans 12 m wide or more, but they are not practical for a private house. Monolithic floors can withstand a load of 600-1250 kg/m2 (depending on the thickness and length of the slabs).
The location of the reinforcement (in one or two directions or crosswise), as well as the method of support on the walls, is determined by the project. A slab reinforced in two directions will be thinner than a slab with rods of the same thickness laid in one direction. Arches from steel reinforcing rods are made either using welding technology or knitting technology. The welded frame is made by welding reinforcement rods; a knitted frame is made by tying reinforcement together using soft knitting wire. With this type of flooring, it is necessary to install formwork over the entire area of ​​the future slab. You can use ready-made formwork from manufacturers (rent, for example), or use wooden panels of your own production, where, of course, it is preferable to use plywood, then the finished surface will be smooth, with a minimum of flaws that require elimination during finishing.
When pouring concrete, you must carefully ensure that it is laid completely, that no voids are left, and that the frame is covered. Filling should be done at one time, and not in parts. If work is carried out at sub-zero temperatures, it is necessary to add special anti-frost additives to the concrete, or to heat the installation site.
A monolithic concrete floor acquires full grade strength 28 days after pouring, although you can walk on it after just a few days; the recommended period for resuming construction work (laying the walls of the next floor) is two weeks.

Structural tandem
Also used in private housing construction are prefabricated monolithic (frequently ribbed) floors - structures made of load-bearing reinforced concrete beams and lightweight hollow blocks. The beams are either factory-ready or concreted on site during the construction process. The blocks used can be ceramic, expanded clay concrete, cellular concrete, expanded polystyrene, etc. When installing such a floor, the beams are laid in the direction of the smaller span, supported by the load-bearing walls of the house and the main beams. They are installed in such a way that the hollow blocks, on one side, only touch the inner edge of the wall and are supported by the mounting support, and on the other, they rest on the floor beam. The remaining beams are installed parallel to each other at equal intervals, the size of which depends on the width of the block liners. An installation option is possible when the first row of hollow blocks rests on the wall on one side and on the floor beam on the other. The maximum length of beams is usually 7-8 m, respectively, this is the threshold for the maximum span of the floor. When creating large openings in such a ceiling (stairs, stoves, fireplace chimneys, etc.), additional beams are installed perpendicular to the floor beams. Along the perimeter of all load-bearing walls, a special belt with a height of 23-28 cm is concreted (the ends of the beams extend into it by 8-12 cm). After assembly, the floor is poured with concrete with a layer thickness of 4-6 cm, resulting in a monolithic structure. In general, the thickness of the frequently ribbed floor reaches 20-29 cm. Its weight, depending on the type of filling blocks, ranges from 160 to 340 kg/m2. After pouring concrete, you can walk on the floor within a few days, but the subsequent construction of walls can be continued only after 10-14 days, and it is necessary to avoid the impact of increased loads on the floors, because it will acquire its final strength, like a monolithic one, in a month. With frequently ribbed floors, the correct placement of interior partitions (walls) on the floor is extremely important. Only light structures up to 50 kg/m2 (plasterboard + mineral wool) and walls running perpendicular to the floor beams can be placed arbitrarily. In other cases, precise calculation and accuracy are required. Walls should not be allowed to run parallel to floor beams directly above hollow blocks. This can lead to destruction of blocks, damage to the ceiling, and collapse of the wall.

Floors in a wooden house
In wooden houses, it is possible to install only floors made of a similar material; in buildings built from other materials (brick, stone, monolithic frame technologies), wood serves as an alternative to reinforced concrete. Wooden floors are made from solid or laminated wood. The span, or width of the wooden floor is usually 5-6 m, however, it can reach 12-15 m, the thickness is 20-28 cm. In this case, the thickness of the load-bearing elements of the floor is selected in such a way that during operation they do not sag or springy. By design, there are several types of such floors: beam (the load-bearing element of the beam is 20-40 cm high, 8-20 cm wide. The distance between individual beams in such a floor is quite large - from 60 to 150 cm), ribbed (in ribbed floors the main load-bearing element are ribs located every 30-60 cm. Their length is usually 5-6 m. The cladding on such floors is made of plywood, ordinary chipboards or OSB boards, boards) and beam-ribbed (the load-bearing elements are beams and ribs. Ribs either rest on beams or are attached to them using special metal brackets).
The wooden floor is installed when the walls around the perimeter of the house are brought to the desired level. Part of the wooden beams that will be in the wall must be covered with roofing felt. If this is an external wall, then it is advisable not to bring the beam to the street edge by about 5 centimeters. This space must be sealed after the wall is built.
When installing wooden floors, special attention is paid to the places through which stove, fireplace and boiler pipes pass. The distance between the pipe and wooden structures must be at least 25-35 cm, and a heat-insulating gasket made of non-combustible materials is installed around the pipe.
Wood for beams and ribs should not have large knots or cracks, the workpieces should be smooth, without bark, with a moisture content of no more than 15-20%. All wooden parts of structures are treated with fire retardants and antiseptics. Discussion of this topic on

Provides stability not only with a reliable foundation, but also with a system of durable floors. They are also necessary in any case in order to equip a basement or garage under it, and build a roof above it. Overlapping structures take up to 20 percent or more of all construction costs. Therefore, their installation is a very serious and responsible matter.

Installation of interfloor ceilings in a timber house

• Interfloor;
• Basement;
• Basement.

The greatest load in the house falls on the basement and basement. Their horizontal partitions must withstand the weight of kitchen equipment, as well as the weight of the internal walls dividing the first floor into the hallway and dining room.

Scheme for arranging concrete interfloor slabs

In addition, they, together with the foundation, must ensure stable rigidity of the body made of any material: wood, brick, aerated concrete. For some, it rises above ground level. If it is heated, then the structure covering it is practically no different from interfloor devices.

The horizontal partition, designed to separate floors, has a relatively small load: its own weight, furniture, residents. It is important that for a comfortable stay it has good sound insulation. or this problem is not so acute. Moisture insulation and insulation are important for them.

Types of floors by material

• Wooden;
• Reinforced concrete;
• Metal.

However, in some cases, when building a house, you can do without them, because according to the structural design, the following types of floors are used:

Some ceiling systems are supported by horizontal beams. They are not required for the installation of other beams; slabs of the required sizes ordered at the factory are sufficient. They are laid in the house using lifting equipment. And monolithic floors are poured directly on the construction site. Prefabricated monolithic devices between floors are a combination of beam supports and a concrete monolith.

Coffered horizontal structures are usually used for arranging the ceiling. On their lower side there are ribs that make up rectangles, which together resemble the surface of a wafer. They are used very rarely in private housing construction. A tent roof is a flat slab bordered by ribs. Usually one is enough for the ceiling of the entire room, to the size of which it is made.

Arched devices are necessary when it is necessary to cover the shaped spans of houses. In private one- and two-story houses, aerated concrete slabs are used. The overlapping structure made of it has very good sound insulation and retains heat for a long time, so additional insulation in interfloor partitions may be unnecessary. The material is light, odorless, and does not emit any fumes or harmful substances.

Its fire resistance is also very high. But it needs effective waterproofing, as it absorbs environmental moisture well.

In construction practice, partitions with a mixture of various materials are used. Wooden beams are reinforced with metal to increase strength. Monolithic structures use a variety of permanent formwork. Sometimes their main part is hollow concrete panels, and the ceiling of a semicircular bay window is made of aerated concrete slabs, which can be easily given any shape and thickness using a hand saw.

Option for aerated concrete block floor construction

This variety of materials expands the architectural capabilities of ceiling devices, their sound insulation and insulation.

Requirements for floors

General requirements apply to all interfloor devices:

1. Strength is the ability to withstand the weight of all building elements.
2. Rigidity that allows you not to bend under the weight of your own weight or heavy things on the floor.
3. Effective thermal insulation and sound insulation of floors.
4. Fire resistance, which is characterized by resistance to fire for some time.
5. Service life corresponding approximately to the time of use of the entire building.

Wooden beams

In the construction of country houses, larch or pine solid beams are widespread. They are used for the installation of floors 5 m wide. And for large spans, glued ones are used, the strength of which is much higher.

Installation of floors made of wooden beams

Rounded timber is a wonderful building material for floors. It is laid with the north side down, identifying it at the end by the density of the growth rings in the wooden log. In Rus', huts have long been built with the stronger side of the round timber facing out.

A wooden I-beam has high strength. Its profile is the letter “H”, glued together in the factory from three parts. Some craftsmen assemble it in a home workshop or in the country. Interfloor partitions using them provide effective insulation and excellent sound insulation.

Scheme of the construction of wooden floors made of logs

They are very convenient not only for lining the ceiling, laying insulating materials and laying the subfloor, but also for installing all communications. The niches in the I-beam seem to be specially designed for hidden installation of water supply pipes, gas pipelines and electrical wires.

Wooden beams are used in almost any low-rise dwelling: wooden, block. But most of all they are suitable for buildings made of aerated concrete blocks. This material is porous, inferior in strength to all others and cannot withstand the point load of load-bearing beams. Since wood is not heavy, aerated block walls can easily withstand its weight. Installation of the overlapping structure is possible without the use of complex technical means. And it will cost the developer relatively inexpensively.

Laying wooden beams

Builders are aware of the shortcomings of wood and try to reduce them to a minimum. Before installing the ceiling, all wooden parts are treated with antiseptics to prevent rotting and damage by insects. The places where timber beams come into contact with brick, concrete slabs and aerated concrete blocks are insulated with various materials.

And in order to increase fire safety, the wood is treated with solutions that do not allow it to flare up immediately when an open fire appears.

The installation of interfloor structures begins with pre-prepared load-bearing beams. They are laid parallel to the short wall of the home. The laying step depends on the width of the span, but on average it is 1 m. Next, you will need simple materials that provide insulation, and you cannot do without the following tools:

The process of laying a wooden floor from beams and boards

• saws;
• hammer;
• assembly knife;
• roulette;
• construction stapler.

The beams are reinforced with anchors in the niches of the brick wall. But before laying, they make an oblique cut at the ends of the timber and impregnate it with an antiseptic. The area of ​​contact between the wood and the brick is tarred and wrapped in roofing felt. The ends of the supports in the niches must be tightly closed. The gaps can be eliminated with polyurethane foam.

Then floor joists are laid on the supporting beams, and rubber pads are placed under them to reduce the vibration of the structure. The ceiling is lined underneath. Attic and basement ceiling systems require insulation. Interfloor partitions can do without it, but good sound insulation is required.