Concrete warmer in winter

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 33

Concrete warmer in winter

It may be an old fable that if the feet are warm the entire body is warm.

The New Zealand Ready Mixed Concrete Association has issued a pamphlet which says that one of the benefits of a concrete floor is warm toes.

The association says that in summer a house with a concrete slab floor is undoubtedly cooler, because a slab floor with its thermal mass makes the house react slowly to outside temperature fluctuations. The result is that a good comfortable temperature level inside the house is maintained with the minimum of energythirsty heating or cooling devices. A concrete floor has other benefits. One is quietness, which is particularly noticeable in a two-storey slab home where sound is confined to each room and not carried right through the house. Concrete is also draught-free. The nature of concrete means that there are no tiny spaces for those chill winter winds to whistle through. The association claims that a slab floor saves on energy. Heat loss in winter from a timber floor can be as much as 25 per cent higher than a slab floor.

A slab floor also saves on maintenance. One a slab is.down it stays down. There is virtually no maintenance required during the life of the, house and because of the rigidity of the slab maintenance problems, associated with “moving” windows, doors and walls,

tend to be eliminated. A concrete floor will outlast most other floors resisting chemicals, rot, fungus, vermin and insect attack. A home with concrete floors has the added benefit of being highly fire resistant.

In a two-storey home, should fire break out at one level, non combustible concrete slabs will help prevent the flames spreading to the other floor. Concrete floors, when set on the ground, eliminate hazardous steps between outside and inside providing easy access for playing children, concerned parents, those entertaining in the garden and the less agile. Versatility is a feature people often forget when considering slab floor construction. Suspended, elevated or even split-level floors are all possible using slab construction techniques. The floor covering is a major component in the interior design of any home. Concrete also allows homeowners complete freedom of choice as to interior floor coverings. Carpet, vinyl, ceramics, slate, stone parquetry or cork can all be laid over concrete and its rigid, even base will help lengthen the life of the covering.

Finally, there is the resale value of the property. A house with concrete floors and brick walls tends to retain its value more than a home with timber floors. The cost difference between a timber floor and a concrete floor can be up to $3OOO lower.