A concrete floor is a floor structure made from cast-in-situ or precast concrete, with or without reinforcement. Concrete floors serve as ground-floor slabs, upper-storey floor slabs and screeds. They are strong, durable and form the base for virtually any floor finish.
Types of concrete floors
- Ground-bearing slab — a concrete slab cast directly onto compacted hardcore or sand
- Reinforced concrete slab — an in-situ slab with mesh or bar reinforcement for larger spans
- Hollowcore slab — a precast slab of prestressed concrete with hollow cores
- Lattice girder slab (filigree slab) — a thin precast plank topped with in-situ concrete
- Ribbed slab — a slab with ribs for long spans at reduced weight
Application
- Residential — ground-floor and upper-storey slabs
- Commercial — office floors, car park decks, retail units
- Industrial — factory and warehouse floors with high load capacity
- Agricultural — barn floors and yard hardstandings
Key considerations
- Insulation — ground-floor slabs require floor insulation (below or above the slab)
- Shrinkage — concrete shrinks during curing; shrinkage joints or crack-control mesh prevent cracking
- Finish — a concrete floor can be finished with screed, tiles, resin or a coating
- Underfloor heating — concrete floors are ideally suited for underfloor heating systems
Related terms
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