Reinforcing concrete floor slabs
Lessons from the Canterbury earthquakes mean that all concrete floor slabs must now be reinforced with steel bars or welded mesh with a reasonable degree of ductility.
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Lessons from the Canterbury earthquakes mean that all concrete floor slabs must now be reinforced with steel bars or welded mesh with a reasonable degree of ductility.
One of the keys to good-quality cured concrete is correct vibration after it’s poured. This compacts it and consolidates the mix by removing trapped air. But how do you get it right?
Many builders have had a concrete and formwork failure that they would rather forget. It’s an area of construction where listening to the wisdom of experienced tradespeople is vital, but the following pointers may also help.
Concrete shrinks as it sets and will continue to shrink for at least 12 months after placing, depending on drying conditions. About 50% of the shrinkage occurs within the first 4 months.
Renovations or extensions can often mean a new slab is laid abutting an old one. There’s plenty to consider before starting work to ensure the junction is weathertight, strong and Building Code compliant.
Covering a concrete slab too soon can result in the floor covering being damaged. To get the timing right, it helps to understand what the various measurements are telling you.
Although steel framing in domestic construction has only a small market share, there are signs it may be on the increase. Since steel is a good conductor, builders need to be aware of potential pitfalls, such as thermal bridges and condensation.
In Build 155 Within tolerance, we outlined some of the allowable tolerances to work within for a quality result. Here, we’ve summarised that information into convenient tables.
Natural drying of a concrete slab will take several months and it’s important to ensure fixed floor coverings aren’t installed too soon.
Do you know the minimum bending diameter for reinforcing steel and its cover requirements in concrete footings? This determines the minimum width you need to make your concrete footings.