Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Apr 20, 2009 11:22 pm Hi all, I am a new forum member. Can someone give me a step-by-step description of the processes involved in doing a sub-floor on concrete stumps. Also, I am re-building in the bushfire areas and have been advised that I cannot use timber decking on the verandahs due to the new BAL (Bushfire Attack Level). Does anyone know of any other fire-resistant materials which can be used as decking? Thanks Re: Concrete stumps/sub floor 2Apr 21, 2009 11:14 am Adjustable galvanised steel piers are much easier to use than mucking around with concrete piers. You ust be in a bad area if you can't use a fire-rated timber species for decking Re: Concrete stumps/sub floor 3Apr 21, 2009 1:43 pm As Duke said use steel adjustable stumps instead of concrete/timber As for decking you can use 19mm compressd cement sheet and tile your decked areas, or suspended slab with expossed aggregate concrete. How high of the ground is your house? What sort of style is your home. Can you post a floorplan or pics of what you have so far? What region are you in? kinglake/churchill etc Ben LEADING THE WAY IN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION BUILDERSEDGE PTY LTD Re: Concrete stumps/sub floor 4Apr 21, 2009 4:27 pm Hi Ben, Thanks for the reply. I checked out the adjustable steel stumps and they look like they will do the job. I need to cost them to see whether they are more expensive than using concrete stumps. From what I can see they look pretty straightforward to install so I will probably do that myself. I am looking at a Harkaway Home. Single-storey Federation style home of approx 32sqs living and then 2.1m verandahs to front and side of house. I am from Kinglake and am going through all the ........ now in regards to the new building regs based on the BAL. I had my land surveyed and was classified in the worst rating FZ, but if I can remove all the dead and dangerous trees then I will get the land surveyed again which will bring my BAL rating down to hopefully BAL19. That will give me more scope in which materials I can use to build. The land I am building on drops approx 1m from front to back of the building envelope. Craig Re: Concrete stumps/sub floor 5Apr 21, 2009 7:45 pm For what its worth i would build a suspended slab that incorparates your decking/veranda area then as i said early just tile, or pour and overlay around the outside, no real maintenace ever, sleek clean lines can be obtained, no re-oiling every 18 months etc Other options i thought of: Paving Reconstituted stone (would go well with federation style home) Polished concrete (taratzo) Expossed aggregate Mod wood decking (not dure if its fire proof though, man made from recyled plastic) Cement sheet and tiling Cement sheet and pebble mix Slate Concrete sleepers Hope something there helps Ben LEADING THE WAY IN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION BUILDERSEDGE PTY LTD Re: Concrete stumps/sub floor 6Apr 21, 2009 9:45 pm Thanks for the replies on this, the feedback is very helpful. I am unsure of which way to go now. As you will see from the picture this house looks great on stumps and would look great with timber decking. My problem is I am not sure that it will look OK with slate or tiling on the verandah floors. I am now thinking of building the house on a slab and incorporating the verandah as part of the slab and then laying slate crazy paving but I am not sure that this will look OK with the Hardiplank cladding which is used in the picture. Any further advice will be greatly appreciated. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Concrete stumps/sub floor 7Apr 21, 2009 10:44 pm hey craig im not sure about the fire rating on mod-deck system but its expensive. by the way craig we went to kinglake west on saturday and i couldnt believe the devastation the hills looked like a bald head to me. we got as far as the milkbar in kinglake west which we always stopped at in the past and i totally lost it there hubby had to drive and i just wanted to get out it was all too much.you see it on tv but its no where near as bad on tv as when you actually see it.we only saw a small part of it and well it was bad real bad. im so sorry for your loss and your communitys loss im glad your rebuilding and i hope all your family and loved ones survived the devastation stay safe happy building Re: Concrete stumps/sub floor 8Apr 22, 2009 2:45 pm G'day Craig, welcome to the forum. I would imagine you need a soil test, then the draughty or whoever draws up the plans should have the footing requirements etc for your stumps...but I must admit I like the steel adjustable subfloor idea...looks good. Also...I have to say those Harkaway Homes certainly look impressive...nice choice. Good luck with the re-build in Kinglake...and once you get started keep the forum informed of your progress. Re: Concrete stumps/sub floor 9Apr 22, 2009 2:49 pm Sorry....just read the post on the decking...certainly the best choice would be timber decking...but if you go for a slab...(which I don't think would suit the house by the way)...what about solid old reds...gives the australian rustic look...might look ok. Re: Concrete stumps/sub floor 10Apr 22, 2009 8:49 pm Modwood is not fire-rated. It is dear to buy initially but ends up cheaper in the long run against a properly maintained hardwood deck Theres always timber-stamped concrete as well if you want the timber look. Re: Concrete stumps/sub floor 11Jun 12, 2009 12:34 pm **edited as spammer is gone** Hope everything worked out for you Craig Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! If you're in a flood zone, not only are you dealing with the importation of fill and laying it down in 150 lifts to achieve compaction, you're going to have to consider… 4 5528 Are they stumps or screw piles ? How much fill is there, is the site a class "P" ? A "H2" site is not supposed to have stumps it is supposed to have grid beams according… 1 6933 Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1. optional, you can but normally just use the earth from the main switch board 2. should be enough but the distance determines voltage drop - sparky should work it… 1 28804 |