Concrete floors are the bases on which other finishes are laid on in a house. In the construction of a building, the walls rest on this base. This is cast level across the whole floor be it ground or upper floors. Form work is normally done to a height from four to eight inches thick. This thickness depends on which floor it is being cast and the use of the floor. On balconies or verandas the floor is cast lower than the main slab. This is due to rain water entering the house at the door way level. The water may cause damage to the wall and floor finishes.
When casting concrete floors in a building, the depth difference is four to six inches. This enables a smooth step that is easy to climb just like on the stairs. When a design of a house is done, the laundry, balconies and verandas should face away from the wind direction. This will also assist in preventing driving rain from entering the house at the floor level. It is important to use a good finish on this areas. It should be easy to sweep water away. Slabs, ceramic, clay tiles, terrazzo, granolithic or other appropriate finishes are suitable externally.
Once the slab form work is in place, the level for the concrete floor slab is taken. The level for the main house is taken as one when concreting. The area of for the split level then is marked. This is on the main door entrance, laundry, kitchen and lounge or dinning external doors. The depth is put at four inches lower. This is then marked out with a timber piece of four by three inches. The timber piece is for dividing the main house area and the split level area. The timber is to be flush with the external slab form work on top with the four inches side upright.
The concreting process starts with the external areas of veranda or balcony first. This is done below the four by two timber level. When it is completed, the next higher level of four inches above is then cast. This is done flush with the four by two inches timber top. The external concrete surfaces should be laid to fall away from the main house by half an inch. When the building structure is complete and ready for finishes, note that the floor finish should also be laid to fall by a quarter inch away from the house.
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