Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jul 07, 2010 11:36 am Hello Our builder does not concrete the floor of the alfresco/outdoor room in standard (same for the porch). However we can do it as an option and would be part of the house slab then (cost is ~ $135/sqm). What would be the pros and cons of doing this by the builder versus after handover? If we want a timber deck is it better not to have concrete under? Thanks in advance for your help DKP. Re: Alfresco/Outdoor room - concrete by builder or not? 2Jul 07, 2010 11:54 am It all depends on you if you want the concrete included in the slab, our engineers recommended we go with including it in the slab as they feel that strip footings for alfresco areas would lead to problems down the track, it cost us approx $600 extra to include which we have. I know some ppl think its a waste if you are decking, but I dont know when we can afford to deck, so at least in the meantime we have concrete there and not dirt/mud. Site Start: 10th September, 2010 PCI : Friday 27th January, 2011. Handover: 3rd February, 2011 Build Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37677 Re: Alfresco/Outdoor room - concrete by builder or not? 4Jul 07, 2010 2:33 pm My builder included the concrete slab to our alfresco, and their reasonings behind it was exactly as ring09 suggested. The alfresco cost a whopping $10K, but it was great to have just the concrete out there to use before we decked the area. (except the concrete dust coming in the house from feet was a real pain!) One thing we did find difficult, was making sure all the joists for the decking were level, as the slab was not in places, so the joists bounced around a bit. If there wasn't a slab there to start off with, it may have been easier to just dig the posts into the ground and level them that way...but you live and learn! Being a complete DIY job, there may have been an easier way to level them out instead of packing and dyna bolts...but we didn't know! We could have used leveling compound, but that's expensive too. Also, having a concrete slab underneath, the water can sit ontop of it underneath the deck for longer than what would be absorbed by the ground. Also our deck is pretty much completely enclosed underneath because of the slab and water doesn't 'freely' drain away. It's only been down for a couple of months, and hasn't had much use now it's winter. The water used to pool near the back door as the slab wasn't level...but I can't tell you if it does now..must check next time it rains and I'm home! The deck cost us just over $2K and 6 weekends...not sure how much a deck of the same size (7 x 4m) would cost without the concrete and on posts. Long term, I cannot say what is better...I'll let you know in 5 years time how it's holding up! It was a pain to get it level and not 'bouncing' for complete DIYers! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Henley - Wilshire Mk 3 ... I love my house!! Site start: 4th Feb 09 Handover: 10th Sep 09 Blog: http://stormygirlscastle.blogspot.com/ Build Thread: viewtopic.php?t=7166 Re: Alfresco/Outdoor room - concrete by builder or not? 5Jul 11, 2010 8:02 pm Stormy... the bounce comes from the joists. Would suggest you had them a little closer together- 450 centres is the max. Assuming you've used 45mm joists, that means about 400mm between joists is enough. Re: Alfresco/Outdoor room - concrete by builder or not? 6Jul 12, 2010 10:46 pm I reckon even if we had put them closer (they are 450 centres and 140 x 45), then they still would have bounced around anyway, as the joists were not completely straight, and the slab was not completely flat, leading to the 'bounce'! Hence the packing, planing and dyna bolting! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ It hasn't moved, and I don't notice the 'bounce'....but then it's freezing outside, and we haven't used it much yet! (Too much else to do!). Anyway, it will be interesting to see how it weathers over the years with the slab directly underneath instead of soil. Henley - Wilshire Mk 3 ... I love my house!! Site start: 4th Feb 09 Handover: 10th Sep 09 Blog: http://stormygirlscastle.blogspot.com/ Build Thread: viewtopic.php?t=7166 Re: Alfresco/Outdoor room - concrete by builder or not? 7Jul 12, 2010 11:22 pm The majority of our alfresco was included in our price, we added an extra 2m width by the length included in the house for $950. The credit to exclude the existing concrete was not worth the value. From the research I did the advantage was in the construction as part of the slab. Less likely to separate from the body of the house. It would also be included in the builders warranty period which would not be included if we had it done through an external concretor. It can become messy if we tile over the area but our budget may only allow for paving or painting over the concrete for the first several years after construction anyway. Re: Alfresco/Outdoor room - concrete by builder or not? 8Jul 13, 2010 10:55 am One other thing to consider is if you want a different surface. Tiles straight over a slab would work either way, same with polished concrete. But say you wanted exposed aggregate, post handover would be the only option. Some people don't have time to do the job right the first time, but seem to have plenty of time to fix their mistakes. Build Thread thanks. the above one is white Mat tiles and have gripness so going for this Mat tiles for both indoor and outdoor. Beaumont told it can be used in both indoor and… 2 1700 Hi everyone, Newbie renovator here, after some advice for combining our family room in the picture and the alfresco and make a larger family room. There is a flush sill… 0 4899 |