ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the evolution, the principles and the practice of traditional and modern ground floor construction. In the past, timber was a commonly used material for suspended ground floors – these are very rare in present construction. Nowadays floors largely comprising of pre-cast concrete components dominate suspended ground floors. The ground floor must meet the following criteria: strength, stability and a lack of excessive deflection; resistance to damp penetration; resistance to contaminants; and resistance to heat loss. The majority of houses built before the 1930s had square-edged floorboards. They could be in various sizes but are generally 150–175mm wide and 18–25mm finished thickness. Damp proof membrane can be applied as hot applied asphalt or as a multi-coat coating painted on top of the concrete slab. However, the cheapest and most common method of protection is to use a barrier or damp-proof membrane made from polythene.
