How are suspended timber floors constructed?

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. This creates a small gap and allows ventilation and air movement to prevent damp forming in the timber joists.

Do Victorian houses have suspended floors?

Most houses at the end of the Victorian period (1900) were built with suspended ground floors. The scullery floor was often 6 inches or so (150mm) below the main house floor in case of leaks or flooding. Some of these solid floors were made from concrete.

When were suspended timber floors used?

The development of the suspended timber ground floor began in the 18th century to overcome the difficulty of damp-proofing floors next to the ground. The standard form of construction became the timber floor structure positioned over compacted earth with an air-space in between.

Should I replace suspended timber floor?

Rising damp is of more concern to homeowners with a raised timber floor. It can get into the wooden flooring causing it to weaken its structural integrity. Eventually, it may become a danger with a surveyor recommending its immediate replacement to avoid a potential collapse of the suspended timber floor above.

Why did they start using suspended timber floors?

At the turn of the 18th century, when construction techniques moved from boarded floors installed directly on the ground to suspended timber floors over a ventilated chamber, the innovation solved a significant problem. Previously, floor timbers had been prone to damp and rot thanks to their direct contact with the moist ground.

How is the span of a suspended floor determined?

The span: It is possible to create a suspended floor of any size using sleeper walls to bridge the span. The span that can be achieved is determined by the size of the timber joist used. There are published tables that tell you how far a particular timber size can span – See our project with the table from the Building Regulations here.

How can suspended timber ground floors reduce heat loss?

Previous estimates suggest around 60% of the heat loss through suspended timber ground floors might be reduced by insulating them [27].

How many suspended timber ground floors are insulated?

However, it is unknown how many of these floors are insulated and their performance has not been widely investigated. This study investigates the impact of retrofitting insulation on the thermal performance of suspended timber ground floors through the detailed investigation of a UK case study dwelling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmMk28-cOLo