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Participant

Join Date: Feb 2011
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Granite Laying on a Concrete Floor

02/02/2011 9:32 AM

Some people say the Granite 20mm cannot be laid on the first floor due to its weight. what is the minimum specification for a residential slab. 20mm granite weighs maximum 6-7 kgs / sq. ft. Please clear this doubt and if i can get any proper documented proof for the same.

Thank you

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Guru

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#1

Re: Granite Laying on a Concrete Floor

02/02/2011 2:06 PM

It depends. If you are talking about a structural slab, you would need to know the design load.

If you are talking about a grade slab, the compaction of the subgrade is the concern. If the slab is subject to soil movement due to volume change, joints between granite slabs may crack. These can be repaired and in time the soil movements should achieve an equilibrium condition.

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#2
In reply to #1

Re: Granite Laying on a Concrete Floor

02/03/2011 11:58 AM

But generally wht is the minimum load a structural engineer keeps in mind while designing the slab and even if we talk of something lesser load wht is the alternative suggested for the flooring

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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Granite Laying on a Concrete Floor

02/05/2011 11:59 AM

You need to provide more information before we can even contemplate answering your questions.

1st Q: First off, where are you located, as in what country, or state if in the USA? Each state in the USA has a State Building code that will govern the live (movable, as in the weight of people, furniture, appliances, etc) and dead (immovable objects, like the weight of the floor construction and utilities) that a suspended floor must support...you're bet off talking to your local Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer before proceeding any further...they can give you guidance, but not determine what reserve carrying capacity your existing slab is capable of carrying (that may be an unlawful act in your locale).

2nd Q: Is the slab on the ground, or is it suspended meaning that it has a space underneath it.

3rd Q: Do you know if this concrete slab was designed by a Licensed/Registered Structural Engineer? If yes, then that Engineer should have the design calculations for that slab and can tell you what the reserve load of the slab is. If no, you're going to have to have a certified testing agency come to your house and perform what is referred to as a "Windsor Probe Test". It is a non-destructive test that a gun shoots a hardened steel penetrator (dart) into the top of the concrete floor slab. This is required to determine the concrete compressive strength, so as to perform analysis calculations to see what the safe carrying capacity of a suspended slab is. No less than 3 Windsor Probe shots must be performed per 500 square feet of floor space. You may need more depending on the size of the area you want to install the granite floor tiles. You also need to have the testing agency perform a sonographic analysis to determine: the minimum slab thickness; the size of the reinforcing steel bars, their depth in the slab, and their center-to-center spacing. All of this information is need to perform the structural analysis. Without that information no engineer will give you an answer to your problem, unless they want to make a wild arse guestimate...no good engineering practice and should the suspended slab fail or crack that engineer will most likely be fined, lose his/her engineering license, and possibly jailed. They'll also be liable in a court of law for any and all damages caused by a slab failure.

4th Q: Is there any floor material covering the slab now?

5th Q: What is the approximate age of the slab?

6th Q: Who built the slab?

Aside note: If the existing concrete floor slab is on grade (meaning it is resting on soil), I highly doubt that the additional weight of new granite floor tiles will adversely affect the soil's carrying capacity, unless there is a void under the slab or the slab is resting on organic soil, silty soil or clay soil. 6 or 7 Kg per square foot is not a heavy load to bear (on good soils) as it amounts to only 15.5 Pounds/SF of force.

Why did you mix-up the the weight of the tiles (Kg, as in Metric system) with the area (Square Feet, as in English measurement system)? Mixing up the two units is not standard practice....instead you should have used compatible, or like, system units such as Pounds-force per Square foot (Lb.-f/SF).

Have a great day!

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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Granite Laying on a Concrete Floor

02/05/2011 12:39 PM

Good response, CaptMoosie.

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#5
In reply to #4

Re: Granite Laying on a Concrete Floor

02/05/2011 12:45 PM

Thanks ba, I liked your response too!

Hope that you're staying warm up there! A couple of Molston Goldens will help! CHEERS!

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#6
In reply to #3

Re: Granite Laying on a Concrete Floor

02/06/2011 12:54 PM

thanks for the answer sir,

i am in india and selling granite but customers give the excuse of weight on the first floor and i am unable to convince them by any means. a few structural engineers also talk the same over here which becomes all the more difficult to convince the customers. so if i could get some written guidelines for the basic designing of the slab.

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#7
In reply to #6

Re: Granite Laying on a Concrete Floor

02/06/2011 3:39 PM

Dear Guest,

I am sorry to hear that the customers have backed out of the purchase of your granite tiles.

If the first floor slab was constructed on soil and there is no basement, mechanical tunnels, or a root cellar under it then I see no reason why the granite cannot be installed. Just make certain that there's at least 4-inches (~102 mm) of concrete floor slab present.

You have my permission to print this posting to show the customer if you so desire.

Have a great day in India! One of these days I'll visit there. I've been wanting to do so for a very long time now.

===Signed,

Captmoosie, New York State Licensed Professional Engineer / PhD

Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineer

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#8
In reply to #7

Re: Granite Laying on a Concrete Floor

11/23/2012 2:43 PM

That's well explained !!
In General, with heavy load, any structure that matters... wont the life span decreases!? Ultimately its 'rod and concrete' structure that's bearing the load, which by nature will get weaakened in span of years which is proportionate to load. right?

For e.g an house with Granite flooring may span a life of 50 years to form a minor crack (say), but with an house with Tiles flooring may span a life for 70 years to form same minor crack, considering soil movement other factors keeping common in both the cases.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

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