Brick veneer, Slab on Ground Building Construction Part 1

To watch the video go to ‘Section through a Brick veneer, Slab on Ground Building’.

The Slab on Ground (SOG) is probably the most common construction method used here in Sydney.The SOG method relies on the block of land that you are working on being level so the first step is to have the block leveled.

Next the slab needs to be formed up. This can be done different ways, the method shown is just one.

Watch this video to see how it is done.’Formwork to Slab on Ground’

NOTE: The drainage should be installed at this point in the process along with any other services that you are going to run through the slab. DO NOT POUR CONCRETE WITH OUT THE DRAINAGE.

The concrete only needs to be around 100mm thick through the centre of the slab while the perimeter must be thicker to carry the weight of the building that is transferred through the walls.

This can be achieved a couple of ways. The most common method these days is to use foam blocks called ‘Waffle Pods’ to fill up the bulk of the area forming a grid pattern of beams to support the floor. The above video also shows this.

Another method is to use hardcore compacted fill in a similar way. This can be achieved by filling the entire slab area with the compacted fill and then digging out the trenches for the beams. With this method a layer of sand 50mm thick called a ‘Blinding Layer’ is used on top of the fill to help level out the surface and prevent the fill from puncturing the membrane.

Both these methods need some sort of waterproof membrane to stop ground moisture from passing through the slab and entering the building. This is usually a 200 micron polyethylene plastic called ‘Forticon’.

With the ‘Waffle Pod’ method the membrane is placed on the ground with the ‘Waffle Pods’ sitting on top. When the fill is used the membrane is placed on top of the fill.

Once the membrane is down then the reinforcement can be placed. The amount and type of reinforcement will be specified in the plans however you will generally have one or two layers in the beams and a layer of fabric mesh across  the top of the slab

Once the concrete has been poured and cured for around a week the formwork can be removed taking care not to damage the membrane.

Now the construction of the frame can commence.

To see more go to Brick veneer, Slab on Ground Building Construction Part 2