|
Suspended timber floors
Timber floors that are
fixed to a support grid of joists and bearers are called
suspended timber floors.
Suspended timber floors
fall into one of three categories, dependent on the
construction method adopted:
1. Fitted (Cut In)
Floors
- Fitted floors are
those where the flooring is laid when the
building is weather proof, generally after the
roof cladding, external wall cladding, windows
and doors are installed. The floor is fitted
between vertical elements such as wall framing.
- The flooring does not
provide a working surface for construction.
- This method is
strongly recommended for the installation of
feature floors. Installation after the building
is weatherproof prevents degrading of the timber
due to water and sunlight exposure and reduces
damage from trades during construction.
- There must be an
expansion gap between the fitted floor and the
surrounding wall. The size of this gap will vary
with the size of the floor and any expected
movement due to change in either temperature or
humidity. The minimum gap is 12mm.
2. Platform Floors
- Platform floors are
those where the floor is laid continuously over
the subframe before the walls are erected.
- Platform floors
provide a working platform for construction.
- As the building is
still open to the weather when a platform floor
is laid, the timber requires protection from
degradation due to sunlight, water and rain, and
from wet trades.
- Full coating of the
underside of highset floors is beneficial to the
stability of flooring where it is exposed to
windy or moist environments.
- Platform construction
is not recommended for tongue & groove
feature floor construction.
3. Composite Floors
- This method combines
structural sheet flooring and tongue & groove
timber flooring to provide the benefits of both
fitted and platform construction methods.
- A structural sheet
floor is laid as a platform floor in accordance
with the manufacturer’s specifications.
- After erection of the
wall and roof framing and installation of
cladding, lining, windows and doors, a feature
floor is fitted over the sheet floor.
References: Toby Technical
Bulletin TB011. Timber Research and Development Advisory
Council of Queensland (TRADAC) Report, September 1994
|
