Why use concrete for an upper floor?
Most people think of beam and block as a ground floor system, but it works just as well higher up. A concrete upper floor is heavier and stiffer than a timber joisted floor, which brings some useful benefits:
- Sound insulation: mass is the enemy of airborne noise, which is why concrete floors are common between flats.
- Fire resistance: concrete does not burn, which helps where fire separation is needed, such as rooms over integral garages.
- No movement or squeaks: a grouted concrete deck does not shrink or bounce.
- A working platform: once grouted, the deck can be used straight away by the following trades.
Things to plan early
An upper floor in concrete puts more weight on the walls and foundations below, so it needs to be considered in the structural design from the start. Bearings, wall strengths, openings for stairs and services, and how the floor is restrained to the walls are all set out in the design. Beams can be doubled or trimmed around stairwells, and the layout drawing shows exactly where.
Lifting is the other consideration. Upper floor beams are usually placed by crane, so tell us about site access, overhead cables and where a lorry can stand.
Common uses
| Project | Why beam & block |
|---|---|
| Rooms over garages | Fire separation and a solid floor |
| Flats and apartments | Sound insulation between dwellings |
| New-build houses | A quiet, stiff first floor without joist shrinkage |
| Commercial upper floors | Higher loads and a robust finish |