This document describes different types of ground floors for buildings, including suspended ground floors from the 1890s, improvements made over time such as adding drains and insulation, modern timber floors, suspended concrete floors, ground supported concrete floors, and upper floors. Key aspects covered are the structural supports used, methods of ventilation, additions like damp proofing to prevent rising damp, and modern construction materials and techniques.

1. Types of ground floors

2. Suspended Ground floor-1890’s
 Joists supported on sleeper & external wall
 Minimal ventilation
 Rising Damp
 No insulation

3. Ventilation for a suspended floor
 Terra cotta air brick through wall

4. Improvements in design
 Joists sitting on sleeper wall with attached
wall plate.
 Incorporation of dpc to prevent rising damp
 Sleeper walls built in ‘honeycomb’ style to
allow extra ventilation
 Extra air bricks

5. Modern Timber Floors
 Timbers are longer
 Extra ventilation
 Insulation incorporated

6. Suspended concrete floors
 Typical block and beam floor
 Quick and cheap to install
 Inverted ‘ T’ shaped beams
 Concrete blocks placed in between them

7. Ground Supported floors
 Solid ground of hardcore supports concrete
floor
 Thick damp proof membrane placed under
concrete with a layer of insulation
 Typical slab – 150mm with reinforcement

8. Upper floors
 To provide extra stability for external walls
 Joists built into wall
 Chipboard typically placed on top of joists

9. Upper floors
 Galvanised joist hangers are built into wall
 Forms a ‘shoe’ or ‘seat’ for joist to sit in.
 Modern prefabricated joists with metal
banding are now commonly used

10. Upper Floor
 Chipboard upper floor with water proof
covering and taped joints