Walls can be built off SpanWright slabs in most cases. The type of wall construction depends largely on the span of the slabs. The SpanWright design division will indicate on each customer drawing whether concrete block, lightweight block or studwork partitions are suitable.
Are deeper foundations required?
Generally foundations are capable of carrying the additional load without changing the design. Piled foundations sometimes require additional design. Please inform your engineer/architect that you are planning to use slabs, asearly as possible.
Is it necessary to build thicker walls?
Wider walls are usually only required where two slabs meet on a wall. Our design division will highlight any requirement for wider walls when producinga slab layout drawing.
Are concrete floors more costly than timber joists?
Precast concrete floors are generally more expensive than timber joists. SpanWright’s special design makes them the most cost effective precast option. Overall cost will vary depending on the finishing method used. Additional costs can be as little as 10%. [Maurice Creighan (Local Building Contractor) reported that he saved one weeks labour per house by using SpanWright Slabs, therefore increasing speed and reducing labour costs].
Is SpanWright suitable for use on small sized houses?
SpanWright slabs have been used on various sites ranging from small semidetached houses to large apartment blocks.
When is SpanWright used at ground floor level?
Some building authorities recommend use of a suspended slab for structural reasons where depth of fill exceeds 600mm. Generally a suspended slab becomes the cheaper option where depths exceed 900mm. This however is dependent on availability of stone and labour.
Are heavier lintels required?
In most cases lintels carrying slabs are required to be 225mm deep. Stronger lintels are required for openings over 1800mm wide. Your architect/engineer should however be consulted as this is only a guideline.
