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Finishes And Services
Information
Further to the information provided here you may wish to visit the www.construct.org.uk website, where you can find a list of UK locations where you can view display panels with the different surface types and finishes.
We have also reproduced the Concrete Advisory Services' Data Sheet on "Concrete Surfaces for Painting" Click Here to read or download the PDF document.
Floor Finishes
The grouted precast floor provides a firm working platform for following trades and is a suitable base for either sand / cement screeds or timber finishes. Where beam and block floors are required to take heavy point loads, e.g. domestic garages, a 50mm minimum thick sand / cement screed is recommended, reinforced with A98 fabric.
If there is a need to meet Building Regulations’ Sound Insulation requirements, additional screed may have to be applied to certain types of precast floor to increase the mass of the floor base.
As all prestressed floor units are cambered, levelling screeds or packing may be required when laying floating finishes. Milbank Reinforced plank floors are not cambered.
Ceiling Finishes
- Directly applied: Textured paint finishes, or plaster finishes may be applied to Hollowcore planks in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Plaster manufacturers may require the use of a bonding agent.
- Suspended ceilings: Plasterboard manufactures have developed ceiling fixing systems using galvanised metal channels and hangers that can be fixed directly to the soffit of all types of floor. These fixing systems may be used instead of timber battens.
Ceiling Fixings
Proprietary site drilled anchor systems are suitable for fixing suspended ceilings, and when installed to the manufacturer’s instructions, these provide a simple and economic fixing method. Anchor fixing systems can be suitable for suspending disabled persons hoists.
For Beam and Block floors, galvanised ceiling clips are available, specifically designed to be installed after the Beam and Block floor has been laid, so that they cannot be displaced when the floor is grouted.
Shot firing of fixings into prestressed concrete is not recommended.
Horizontal Services
The essential services for a modern dwelling including plumbing, central heating, lighting and power circuits, etc, can be accommodated in ducts within the floor finish or the suspended ceiling void. Larger services such as waste pipes can be run in skirting ducts around the perimeter of the floor.
- Timber finishes: Timber battens can be fixed directly on top of the precast floor, or supported on spacers. Services can be run between the battens.
- Screeded finishes: The screed should be deep enough to bury insulated pipework and conduits for electrical wiring.
Vertical Services
- Hollowcore planks: Small holes up to 100mm in diameter may be drilled on site through the cores in the planks. Other holes such as for soil pipes etc, may be formed during manufacture of the units, or subject to the design capacity of the unit, may be cut on site. Large openings for services or roof lights are normally trimmed with steelwork.
- Beam and Block: Drilling through the block can accommodate smaller openings, whilst larger holes such as soil pipes etc, may be formed by removing floor blocks.