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In architecture, a 'floor' is generally the lower horizontal surface of a room, and/or the supporting structure underneath it. It also commonly refers to flooring, or a wall-to-wall floor covering, which forms the decorative surface of the floor.
The various levels in a building are also called floors, levels or stories/storeys, ie^[1] "ground floor" or "main floor", "first story", "mezzanine floor," etc.

Contents

Structure

Utilities

Issues

See also

References

Structure

A ground-level floor can be soil, or be built on a 'slab', such as a concrete slab. Floors above may be built on beams or joists or use structures like hollow core slabs.
Ground-level slab floors are prepared for pouring by grading the base material so that it is flat, and then spreading a layer of sand and gravel. A grid of rebar is usually added to reinforce the concrete, especially if it will be used structurally, i.e. to support part of the building.
Floors in woodframe homes are usually constructed with joists that are centered no more than 16 inches or 40 centimeters apart, according to most building codes. Heavy floors, such as those made of stone, are more closely-spaced. If the span between load-bearing walls is too long for joists to safely support, then a heavy crossbeam (thick or laminated wood, or a metal I-beam or H-beam) may have to be run used. A 'subfloor' of plywood or waferboard is then laid over the joists.

Utilities

Utilities are also run through the floor, by drilling small holes to go crosswise. Where the floor is over the basement or crawlspace, they may instead be run under the joists, making the installation less expensive. Ducts for air conditioning (central heating and cooling) are large and cannot cross joists or beams, thus they are typically at or near the plenum, or come directly from underneath (or from an attic). The floor of one level typically also holds the ceiling of the level below (if any).
Pipes for plumbing and sewerage, as well as for underfloor heating, may also be laid directly in slab floors, which is also sometimes the case for some other utilities. Maintenance of these systems can be very expensive however, requiring the opening of concrete or other fixed structures. Electrically heated floors are also available, and both kinds of systems can also be used in wood floors as well.

Issues

Wood floors, particularly older ones, will tend to 'squeak' in certain places. This is caused by the wood rubbing against other wood, usually at a joint of the subfloor. Firmly securing the pieces to each other with screws or nails will remove this problem.
Wood floors also tend to pass sound, particularly heavy footsteps and low bass frequencies. Concrete floors are usually so solid they do not have this problem, but are also much more expensive to construct, and much heavier, resulting in further requirements regarding the structure of the building.

See also

★ Floor plan

★ Flooring

★ Floor numbering

★ Floor construction:

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★ Glass floor

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★ Floating floor

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★ Raised floor

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★ Sprung floor

★ Underfloor heating

References

1. Singular: ''story'' or ''storey''; plural: ''stories'' or ''storeys'', respectively. See American and British English spelling differences.