Erecting a Building On Ground Level That is Above the Basement Roof Slab Floor

Your first task is to calculate the load the existing structure can support.

I need the construction methodology of erecting a one-storey building that is situated directly above the basement roof slab. There shall be no more excavation works because there is an existing basement underneath. Will it ever be feasible to build something like this? It is just an office building with 4 rooms and a toilet&bathroom.

What is your location? Are there no codes mandated to be enforced? Or are you the Monarch of all you survey?

the location of the building is in UAE. I was told that it is possible to install the columns without the foundation even if there is a basement underneath and the elements possible to which the columns and blocks will attach are the roof beams and roof slab of the basement. I wonder if it is really feasible to anchor the new columns and blockwalls above the basement.

It is better to hire a civil engineer before making too much alteration.

By watching the site he can suggest the plan and as a civil engineer I can tell it is quite possible but the thickness of wall and slab etc should be taken into account.

You need to hire a licensed Structural Engineer from the UAE to determine what is and what isn't structurally feasible for your building. It is virtually impossible to help you determine what is feasible. We are thousands of miles away.

As Moosie said, you need a professional Engineer to evaluate your situation.

One possibility is to build the walls above the existing exterior walls and span across without columns. Another, if you need interior columns, is to punch holes in the slab to allow new columns to go through to new foundations cut into the basement floor. These are generic solutions, there may be more depending on the form of the existing structure.

Hi... Would that require core drilling? Up to what depth? I was also thinking if it would be fEasible to cut through the beam or column below to expose the rebars and then tie or splice the rebars to new column bars and cast the concrete. Thanks.

First things first. You need to have adequately designed concrete foundations for any new concrete column to properly distribute the imposed concentrated column loads and bending moments into the soil mass. I highly doubt that your existing concrete floor slab (on grade?) in the basement will be sufficiently strong enough to resist any imposed load such as from a heavy concrete column.

Second. I highly doubt that tying-in new columns into the existing reinforced concrete beams will work. By tying-in new columns, say at the mid-span of an existing beam, you will be inducing negative bending moments in a portion of that beam on both sides of the column......these areas most likely were only originally designed for positive bending moments, where you'll find the main longitudinal rebar in the bottom portion of the beam. For negative bending moments in the beam near to the column (on both sides) you'd have to have main rebar in the upper portion of the existing beam. I doubt it exists there now.

In terms of adequately resisting shear stresses in the existing beam, you need stirrup bars of the proper size and spacing that are dictated by the beam reactions. By introducing a new column along an existing beam, the shear force and stresses are essentially redistributed. In other words, your existing beam will not be able to safely resist the imposed floor loads and their transfer to the new column. You would need to strip-off all of the concrete from the beam in order to install the stirrup bars in the required locations.......

As we have already told you, hire a licensed Structural Engineer to properly evaluate your building, otherwise whatever modifications you do to it may most likely result in a catastrophic collapse and either hurt someone or kill them.

Frankly, end your "fishing expedition" in this forum to gain a few freebie points. We cannot supply the answers that you want to pay nothing for......

Thanks for all the responses. The roof slab of the basement is I believe well reinforced. The basement is on raft foundations and piles. I just thought there could be any other mehanical means or approach or strategy to build something like this. Core drilling could be messy and noisy. I was thinking of resorting the use of adhesive bolts to anchor the column to the existing slab as well based on my research. Your inputs will be much appreciated.

Ohhh boy, you're not going to give up are you, well at least until such time as you've have a collapsed building and killed the occupants......

Say, what the punishment in the UAE for murder? Is it Decapitation like they have in the Kingdom of Saud, correct? That is something I had personally witnessed in Riyadh following Desert Storm. Not a pretty sight.....

THINK BEFORE YOU ACT!!!

I was just soliciting advices re my proposed method if it was indeed possible. I understand your position for the outburst and violent reaction. Thanks for the inputs well appreciated.

This (non)response to the question posed by Hendrick, "I need the construction methodology of erecting a one-storey building that is situated directly above the basement roof slab," indicates that you are not equipped to proceed with this project, even in UAE.

Get some professional help!!!!!!!! Collapsed buildings can kill people. What is a life worth in UAE?????

GET PROFESSIONAL HELP!!!