Residential stucture w/ masonry walls w/ raised wood floor

[eng003]

I am looking at a plan for a one-story residence. The architect has proposed masonry wall construction with a raised wood floor system inside. You don't see this combination often but I am struggling to think of reasons not to do it. Any thoughts?

 

[ishvaaag]

You need to allow for seasonal humidity and thermal movements of the wood floor and roof, and of course care for any eccentricities appearing from the vertical loadings. Upon such scheme, you may not be able to produce diaphragm action to keep the walls braced at floor and roof contact points, and this specific type of construction may not be tolerated by some vigent code.

Code permitting, if you allow for the extensions and shortenings, absent from diaphragm support, having the walls stabilized with counterforts-transverse inner smaller yet structural walls (or having the exterior walls with entrants and salients) may help to gain the required structural stability.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Raised floor?? How high?? 12'' wouldn't really bother me.

 

[ToadJones]

I have no clue what you are describing here.

 

[AELLC]

It looks like you are willing to pay extra for comfort in a cold weather location, but the masonry wall may not be cost-effective. ICF (concrete) walls may be more cost-effective.

If it were me, I would opt for 2x6 wood studs with premium insulation.

 

[msquared48]

By raised wood floor, do you mean a crawlspace under the floor?

If so I see id tone all the time, but maybe not where you live. It gives better access to plumbing, particularly for repairs, but has to be vented to the outside, and any insulation placecd between the joists. There are other requirements too.

Also, if it is on a slope. you do not have to cut and fill to place a slab.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com