ᐅ Floor construction with a high volume of loose fill material?!
Created on: 9 Jun 2024 17:37
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GrotixHello,
I need some advice regarding the floor structure. The problem is that I require an extremely thick layer of infill.
The room was completely gutted, and now it’s time to install a new floor structure.
From the concrete slab to the finished floor height, it’s 29cm (11.4 inches)!
I am planning to use lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) as infill again, followed by a vapor barrier, screed, and finally a leveling compound. I am not yet sure if the final finish will be tiles or laminate.
I have accounted for 1.5cm (0.6 inches) for the tiles or laminate/vinyl including the leveling compound.
The screed will be 6cm (2.4 inches) thick.
That leaves 21.5cm (8.5 inches) for the infill height.
The room measures 3.9 m² (42 ft²).
I have researched using Liapor 8/16 expanded clay infill because it can be installed at unlimited height.
According to my calculations, I would need about 15 bags, which costs around €300 here at our local hardware store.
The screed at 6cm thickness costs about €50, which is manageable.
Are there any alternatives or tips for improvement? The price for the infill shocked me quite a bit.
I could simply increase the screed thickness to reduce the amount of infill, but that would mean significantly more work and carrying more materials upstairs...
The plan is to start with the infill on the 24th. So I’m a bit stressed with the organization.
Best regards
I need some advice regarding the floor structure. The problem is that I require an extremely thick layer of infill.
The room was completely gutted, and now it’s time to install a new floor structure.
From the concrete slab to the finished floor height, it’s 29cm (11.4 inches)!
I am planning to use lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) as infill again, followed by a vapor barrier, screed, and finally a leveling compound. I am not yet sure if the final finish will be tiles or laminate.
I have accounted for 1.5cm (0.6 inches) for the tiles or laminate/vinyl including the leveling compound.
The screed will be 6cm (2.4 inches) thick.
That leaves 21.5cm (8.5 inches) for the infill height.
The room measures 3.9 m² (42 ft²).
I have researched using Liapor 8/16 expanded clay infill because it can be installed at unlimited height.
According to my calculations, I would need about 15 bags, which costs around €300 here at our local hardware store.
The screed at 6cm thickness costs about €50, which is manageable.
Are there any alternatives or tips for improvement? The price for the infill shocked me quite a bit.
I could simply increase the screed thickness to reduce the amount of infill, but that would mean significantly more work and carrying more materials upstairs...
The plan is to start with the infill on the 24th. So I’m a bit stressed with the organization.
Best regards
Hello questioner.
Assume that for a ground-contacting slab, you would also need thermal insulation. Possibly even a waterproofing layer, as far as it is in contact with the ground.
Of course, you don’t mention any of this.
If it is an upper floor where the concrete ceiling is located, then it would be necessary to consider whether it is a multi-family house.
You do not mention any of these details, which are important for recommending a proper build-up.
In general, a bonded fill layer to increase the build-up height is a reasonable option.
In my opinion, however, a screed thickness of 60mm (2.4 inches) is oversized.
A 45mm (1.8 inches) thickness with an F4 flexural tensile strength mortar is completely sufficient.
You can still consider which build-up you choose.
For example
- waterproofing layer
- bonded fill layer
- intermediate layer (MDF/HDF)
- thermal or impact sound insulation
- PE foil layer as a separating and slip layer
- conventionally installed cement or calcium sulfate screed
---------------------
Good luck: KlaRa
Assume that for a ground-contacting slab, you would also need thermal insulation. Possibly even a waterproofing layer, as far as it is in contact with the ground.
Of course, you don’t mention any of this.
If it is an upper floor where the concrete ceiling is located, then it would be necessary to consider whether it is a multi-family house.
You do not mention any of these details, which are important for recommending a proper build-up.
In general, a bonded fill layer to increase the build-up height is a reasonable option.
In my opinion, however, a screed thickness of 60mm (2.4 inches) is oversized.
A 45mm (1.8 inches) thickness with an F4 flexural tensile strength mortar is completely sufficient.
You can still consider which build-up you choose.
For example
- waterproofing layer
- bonded fill layer
- intermediate layer (MDF/HDF)
- thermal or impact sound insulation
- PE foil layer as a separating and slip layer
- conventionally installed cement or calcium sulfate screed
---------------------
Good luck: KlaRa
Thank you for your response.
I am on the upper floor. It is a multi-family house. The rest of the apartment is old construction, so the floor structure is unlikely to change anytime soon.
The plumber and electrician will probably lay their pipes and cables directly on the concrete floor. Can I install around the perimeter the first 10cm (4 inches) with polystyrene boards and then approximately 10cm (4 inches) of loose fill?
After that, a separating membrane and then the screed?
This way, I could save a considerable amount of loose fill.
I am on the upper floor. It is a multi-family house. The rest of the apartment is old construction, so the floor structure is unlikely to change anytime soon.
The plumber and electrician will probably lay their pipes and cables directly on the concrete floor. Can I install around the perimeter the first 10cm (4 inches) with polystyrene boards and then approximately 10cm (4 inches) of loose fill?
After that, a separating membrane and then the screed?
This way, I could save a considerable amount of loose fill.
Grotix schrieb:
Thank you for your response.
I am on the upper floor. It is a multi-family building. The rest of the apartment is part of the original structure, and the floor construction there will not change anytime soon.
The plumber and electrician will probably run their cables and pipes directly on the concrete slab. Can I install around the edges 10cm (4 inches) of Styrofoam boards and then about 10cm (4 inches) of loose fill? Later, a separating film and then the screed?
That way, I could save a lot of loose fill material. With these additional details, we now have everything needed for a proper floor assembly.
In a multi-family building, you will encounter significant problems in your home if you do not consider sound insulation properly!
Since the electrician and plumber will fix their installations directly on the raw concrete floor, the only viable procedure to meet the required standards is as follows:
- Installations (on the raw concrete slab)
- Rigid (bound) loose fill applied evenly up to the top edge of the highest installation
- Full coverage of the rigid loose fill with thin boards (3–5mm MDF boards, loosely laid side by side)
- Two layers of 25mm (1 inch) impact sound insulation, with the upper layer rotated 90° relative to the lower layer
- PE foil with overlaps of at least 25cm (10 inches), taped to prevent movement; the foil should be extended up the walls at least 5cm (2 inches) above the height of the finished floor covering and trimmed flush after the floor covering is installed
- Cement or calcium sulfate screed, 45mm (1 3/4 inches) thick for conventional installation
---------------------------
Note: If you try to cut costs in the wrong places, you essentially end up building twice (because you have to dismantle everything later) and get the added bonus of conflicts with other tenants.
Good luck: KlaRa
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