Green Building Forum - Beam and block problem with studwork

Beam and block problem with studwork

tony — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 00:08:46 +0000

I have discovered a systematic problem with beam and block

While surveying the ground floor of a beam and block home I noticed some dark staining to the edge of a light coloured carpet (I had seen this before upstairs with wood floors before) this dark staining is not due to poor hoovering but due to wind blowing through the edge of the carpet, leaving some dirty duet staining behind.

For a while I couldn't understand how there could be a draught but the sole plates of the internal walls had been fixed before screeding and in order to save time grouting seemed to have been left to the screeders, not a bad idea except may be they wetted everything and didn't really do the grouting.

Then disastrously and predictably the plate shrank back a little as it dried out, 1/8" each side, just enough to leave a nasty draught in every home built this way, which of the big boys cuts corners like this.

In the kitchen there were draughts coming in under the skirtings, visible on thermal imaging!

Pictures to follow.

Beam and block problem with studwork

tony — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 00:11:14 +0000

Picture, note edges of carpet of this solid floor home look a bit dirty

Beam and block problem with studwork

DandJ — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 20:32:36 +0000

Unfortunately it appears to be more of a problem associated with poor workmanship than a particular building method, as is generally the case.

Beam and block problem with studwork

tony — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:44:15 +0000

Not really as it will do the same even when built well unless the grouting is done well, even then the floor is likely to develop hairline cracks that will let air in.

Beam and block problem with studwork

ringi — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 16:02:03 +0000

Why not put a membrane under the studs and the first few inches of the screed?

Beam and block problem with studwork

tony — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 16:53:39 +0000

No idea why they don't do that nor why they build such poor quality houses

Beam and block problem with studwork

ringi — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 22:21:03 +0000

Putting the screed down first would be my choice unless UFH was being put in. But getting the company to come in to do the screed may create delays to the build.

Beam and block problem with studwork

Mike George — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 14:44:57 +0000

Best practice is to grout the floors with a cement slurry.. though generally left for the screed layers hence the problem .. If it were done by the beam and black installers then there would be no air infiltration.

I'm surprised that timber studs are built directly on the beam and block though - poor practice to put timber in a zone where it will ultimately be embedded in cement.

Beam and block problem with studwork

DandJ — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 07:36:19 +0000

Posted By: Mike GeorgeBest practice is to grout the floors with a cement slurry.. though generally left for the screed layers hence the problem .. If it were done by the beam and black installers then there would be no air infiltration.

I'm surprised that timber studs are built directly on the beam and block though - poor practice to put timber in a zone where it will ultimately be embedded in cement.

On site it is always done by the beam and block installers in my experience

Beam and block problem with studwork

Mike George — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 08:18:38 +0000

Hi Dand J. Do you mean the floor grouting? or the timber sole plate?