Beam and block on upper floors

[ln1234]

Is it possible install beam and block flooring on the 1st floor of an existing old house (build circa 1930's)?. Current house is going through a complete renovation, and we are looking into the posisbility of doing this. The idea is to create a floor with minimal bounce, and be able to lay wet ufh in a concrete screed (over the beam and block floor). The house is detached,has cavity walls and is of standard brick construction.

All the guides i've seen concentrate on ground floor installation - maybe retrofit to upper floors isn't possible because the b+b load bearing walls aren't cost effective or practical to take up to the first floor?

Has anyone done this before on an existing property?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

It's bonkers. Just use bigger joists.

 

[KenGMac]

ln1234, good evening.

Agree with freddiemercurystwin as regards your idea.

Beam and Block is OK if you have the "Luxury" of the multiple "Adjustments" needed for this form of flooring, that is on both axis, vertical and horizontal, every B&B floor I have seen is ground floor only to allow the movement needed to accurately align the system to ensure that there is structural stability in the floor.

Transpose the above scenario to a retro fit first floor, where the cutting of the pockets to hold the beam ends in a wall at a precise level combined with getting the centering of the beams correct?? at a first floor level ??

At least Joists give a wee bit more "flexibility"

Ken

 

[Anstiss Ltd]

Bigger joist spec'd to take the load of screed between them.

Or use metal heat spreader plates.

There are underfloor heating solutions for joist floor