The sub-flooring
One of the big concerns with a timber framed house on a bush block is the risk of bush fires.
As a fire preventative requirement, the local council specifies the minimum height permitted between the ground and any timber is
450mm, which for us with steel piers, happened to be the timber bearers.
In order to keep the floor height as low as possible to the ground at the front
of the house, we opted for a low profile sub-floor construction. This
meant suspending the joists on metal joist hangers nailed to the inside faces of
the bearers, and not on top of the bearers as is the norm. The bearers
specified were H3 laminated beams and the joists were H3
fabricated I-beams, both Hyne engineered structural members.
Nailing the metal joist hangers on the bearers was a job for the "nail gang",
all done at waist height set up on trestles. All six bearers were
raised and placed in position, bolted to the piers and bracketed to each
other. The I-beam joists were then trimmed to length and lowered down into each pair of
opposing hangers.
The sub-floor assembly was finally pulled together and stiffened with a series of M12 threaded
tie-rods.
The "nail gang" marking
out and nailing the metal joist hangers to the bearer beams.
Fixing the 12 metre long bearer
beam to the gal piers.
Using a jig to drill
holes to bolt up the bearer beams.
IN GO THE JOISTS (Viewed
CW)
Early morning start...
Surrounded by joists...
All joists are in ready for the flooring...
(The rain gauge could do with a prop)
