Although laying floor slabs may appear like a difficult undertaking, it can be a manageable and satisfying project with the correct planning and direction. In order to ensure stability and durability, floor slabs give buildings a strong foundation and aid in the even distribution of weight. Knowing the fundamentals of laying floor slabs is essential whether you’re working on a small-scale home renovation or a larger construction project.
It’s crucial to carefully plan your project before you start. This entails measuring the space where the slabs will be installed, figuring out how many slabs are required, and making sure you have all the equipment and supplies you need. Making the right plans now will save you money and avoid costly errors later.
Setting up the location is another crucial step. This include removing any debris from the area, leveling the ground, and, if necessary, installing a suitable sub-base. To guarantee that the slabs sit properly and stay stable over time, a well-prepared site is essential.
Lastly, take your time placing the slabs, making sure they are all placed precisely. To attain a polished finish, pay close attention to alignment, spacing, and leveling. You can successfully lay floor slabs and provide a strong, dependable floor for your construction project with perseverance and attention to detail.
Step | Description |
1. Prepare the Area | Clean the site and ensure it"s level. Set up formwork around the area where the slabs will be placed. |
2. Place the Slabs | Use a crane to carefully position the slabs. Align them properly according to the plan. |
3. Check Alignment | Ensure all slabs are level and correctly aligned. Adjust if necessary. |
4. Secure the Slabs | Fix the slabs in place using appropriate connectors or mortar. |
5. Finish the Joints | Fill the joints between slabs with grout or concrete to create a smooth surface. |
6. Cure the Concrete | Allow the concrete to cure properly. Keep it moist to avoid cracks. |
- What floor panels are used in construction
- How to properly lay floor slabs on the walls – the main requirements
- Minimum size of the base surface during the installation of slabs
- How to properly lay floor slabs on walls – installation technology
- Preparing to lay floor slabs – preparatory activities
- Scheme of laying slabs on the surface of load-bearing supports
- Video on the topic
- LAYING FLOOR SLABS
- Installation of floor slabs. How to lay floor slabs.
- Anchoring the dressing of floor slabs – why is it needed
What floor panels are used in construction
Different kinds of overlapping structures are used during construction to separate the built building into functional zones:
- monolithic floor. To construct a solid slab, formwork is installed, a reinforcement frame is placed, and then concrete is poured. The structure has an increased load-bearing capacity and an increased safety margin. However, the monolithic version has serious drawbacks. The process of constructing the structure is quite expensive and labor-intensive. A solid slab requires an increased volume of concrete mortar. In addition, a massive reinforced concrete platform exerts an increased load on the foundation;
- precast floor. For its installation, standard panels manufactured at industrial enterprises are used. Consisting of individual elements, floor slabs have increased strength and are quickly installed using lifting equipment. It is important to ensure the flatness of the supporting surface at the laying site, as well as to seal the gap between the reinforced concrete slabs. When based on two sides or P-shaped, the rigidity of the structure is guaranteed. After installing the floor slabs resting on the load-bearing walls, internal partitions are erected.
It is simple to drastically cut the construction cycle, lower the labor intensity of the tasks, and lower the overall cost of construction by building the floor with hollow or solid slabs. In the specified indicators, the prefabricated version outperforms the monolithic structure, and its strength properties do not deteriorate either.
Different panel types are used, with variations in the design version:
- Solid. They are easy to distinguish from other types of slabs by the absence of internal channels on the end surface. Solid products, reinforced with steel reinforcement, have increased strength, but have an increased mass. Increased thermal conductivity and reduced sound insulation characteristics are the main disadvantages of a solid structure.
- Hollow. The internal cavities of the plates in the cross section have the shape of a circle or oval. The popularity of hollow-core panels is due to the reduced load transferred by hollow slabs to the foundation base. The products have improved noise insulation characteristics, as well as thermal insulation properties.
- Ribbed. Panels are also called tent-shaped due to the shape of the cross-section formed by longitudinal stiffeners. Parallel ribs increase the safety margin of the slabs and provide high load-bearing capacity. Ribbed slabs are resistant to deformation, but are inferior to hollow ones in terms of thermal insulation.
The methods used in the manufacturing of slabs used in the construction industry also vary:
- slabs with the PK marking are formed in collapsible formwork and have standard dimensions;
- PB brand panels are manufactured by continuously pouring concrete and are cut into blanks of the required length.
One of the differences in the floor panels used is the method of connecting the elements of the reinforcing grate.
To put the power frame’s components together, use:
- knitting wire;
- electric welding machine.
The general dimensions, which vary based on the kind of slabs, are:
- length – 2.5-12.0 meters;
- width – 1.0-1.5 meters;
- thickness – up to 0.22 meters.
Once the type of panels has been determined, you need to work out the best way to install the floor slabs on the walls.
How to properly lay floor slabs on the walls – the main requirements
Proper slab laying is critical to the dependability of building structures.
When performing installation tasks, adhere to these guidelines.:
- install on the end plane of the load-bearing walls. Perform the construction of internal partitions after the completion of installation operations;
- maintain the recommended dimensions of the support surface. The length of the support platform corresponds to the width of the slab, and the width of the support is 100-250 mm;
- ensure reliable fixation of the panels. Fastening the plates with special anchors, as well as connect the products by the rigging eye;
- check the horizontality of the end plane of the main walls. It is important to prevent the formation of height differences after laying the floor slabs;
- use a uniformly mixed cement mixture. Stone impurities in the cement mortar can cause distortions of the panel during installation.
Following the guidelines provided by building codes, installing floor panels should be done as follows:
- with the short parts of the slab resting on two surfaces located on opposite sides;
- with the floor slabs laid on three end planes of the box, forming a contour in the shape of the letter U.
If the specified conditions are met, installation distortions can be avoided, and troublesome scenarios can be avoided.
Minimum size of the base surface during the installation of slabs
At the design stage, the value of the minimum allowable support is calculated based on a number of factors, including:
- overall dimensions of the floor slab;
- weight of the overlapping structure;
- thickness of the building box;
- dimensions of the thermal insulation layer;
- presence of external finishing;
- earthquake resistance of the building;
- forces perceived by the plate.
Both the length of the load and the intensity of its application are considered during the design phase. Design organization representatives use specialized software tools to perform calculations. Specialist-determined tabular indicators should serve as a guide for private developers when carrying out settlement operations.
Current regulatory documents and construction rules specify the dimensions of the supporting platform for walls constructed of various building materials.
- laying floor slabs on a brick wall is carried out provided that the width of the supporting surface is 90-120 mm;
- the width of the support area for walls erected from gas-filled blocks and foam block composites is 100-120 mm;
- the maximum width of the contact surface of panels with the capital walls of buildings reaches 250 mm.
When installing slabs on large-panel load-bearing structures, the minimum allowable size of the support area, which is equal to 60 mm, is allowed. If the current standards’ recommendations are followed, the dependability of the built floors is assured.
To ensure a solid and level foundation, laying floor slabs requires precise execution, appropriate equipment, and careful planning. From preparing the site and choosing the appropriate materials to putting in the slabs and finishing touches, this guide will take you step-by-step through the entire process. Knowing the fundamentals of laying floor slabs will help you create a sturdy and long-lasting floor for any building project, whether you’re a professional or a do-it-yourself enthusiast.
How to properly lay floor slabs on walls – installation technology
The following key phases are included in the technology used to carry out floor panel installation activities:
- preparatory work. They provide for the transportation and storage of slabs at the construction site. It is important to prepare the supporting surface of the walls and know how to cut solid slabs into pieces if necessary;
- main installation activities. To carry them out, it is necessary to prepare lifting equipment, the necessary building materials, tools. Then seal the internal cavities, lay them and perform anchoring.
Every stage has unique qualities. Let’s focus on the subtleties of carrying out operations.
Preparing to lay floor slabs – preparatory activities
The following steps are part of the responsible process that gets ready for floor panel installation:
- Preparing the site for placing lifting equipment
- Delivery of purchased panels to the construction site and storage.
- Preparing equipment and tools.
- Cutting additional elements.
Let’s examine the particulars of carrying out each step.
The following tasks must be completed in order to get the work site ready for the crane to be placed:
- Remove large rocky inclusions and vegetation from the surface.
- Prepare convenient access routes for vehicles with slabs.
- Check the density of the soil, which should not be loose.
- Plan the surface of the work site.
To ensure a stable position for the truck crane, lay road slabs over the entire surface of the platform when performing construction work in the spring or fall. Use a vehicle with the necessary carrying capacity and a body length that corresponds to the product dimensions to transport the slabs to the installation site. Place wooden shims in the spaces between the car’s body panels.
It’s critical to store the slabs correctly to avoid cracking. Please take note of the following information:
- horizontal storage area;
- installation of wooden spacers of the same thickness.
It is important to avoid touching the hollow panels and place the support bars in a vertical plane.
You will require the following tools and equipment to complete the task:
- lifting equipment;
- slings;
- anchors for fixing slabs;
- massive sledgehammer;
- Bulgarian;
- assembly scrap;
- cement mortar;
- level, trowel and plumb line.
In the event that solid panels cannot be used to form the ceiling, they must be cut into elements that meet the necessary measurements.
To accomplish this, you must:
- Draw a line with chalk corresponding to the required size.
- Place a lining on the cutting areas to make it difficult to chip off the concrete.
- Make a cut along the drawn line with a grinder.
- Hit the top of the slab several times with a sledgehammer.
- Punch the bottom of the slab with a crowbar and cut the reinforcement bars with a grinder.
After finishing the preliminary work, move on to the installation of the panels, which is the major portion of the job.
Scheme of laying slabs on the surface of load-bearing supports
Verify the floor slabs’ horizontal position before attaching them to the walls. Eliminating height disparities with a cement mixture is crucial.
The following action:
- Lay a 2-3 cm layer of cement mixture on the end plane of the load-bearing walls.
- Secure the floor slab by the lugs and move it to the installation site.
- Guide the panel to the desired position with a crowbar.
- Check the size of the supporting surface and lower the slab.
- Disconnect the rigging equipment and fix the products with anchors.
- Seal the gap between the ends of adjacent slabs.
In the event that there is more space between the slabs and the wall than before, formwork, reinforcement, and concreting should be done. Seal the end channels on both sides of the product with mineral wool, rubble brick, or concrete mix to a depth of 20 to 25 cm to ensure better thermal insulation. After sealing, apply a cement mixture to the channels.
Although laying floor slabs may seem difficult, it is a task that can be accomplished with careful planning and close attention to detail. The first step is to make sure the foundation is strong because it gives the slabs the support they need. Prior to starting, make sure the ground is level and adequately compacted.
It’s important to properly align the slabs when placing them and to use spacers to keep the gaps constant. This permits minor motions and thermal expansion in addition to guaranteeing an even surface. Take your time in order to prevent problems in the future.
Using the right mortar or adhesives to hold the slabs in place will increase the stability and durability of your flooring. Keep in mind that these materials require a certain amount of curing time to properly set. To prevent any displacement, wait until the slabs are completely cured before walking on them.
Lastly, using sealant to the joints between the slabs will help stop water seepage and lengthen the life of your floor. To guarantee that your floor slabs stay in good condition for many years to come, you can prevent possible problems from arising by performing routine maintenance and inspections.