Other stone floor with steel beams

A steel-girder sandwich floor is a system floor consisting of steel beams with concrete elements and a compression layer between them. A steel mesh is placed on top of the sandwich floor, which serves as reinforcement for the concrete poured on top (the compression layer). This compression layer is also called a cement screed. This type of floor can be visually inspected from below.

• The risk is that this steel can rust in unfavorable conditions such as a damp crawl space.
• In well-ventilated and dry crawl spaces, these floors pose no risk.
• Steel girders can also rust on non-visible sides or tops and cause damage.
• Ventilation in crawl spaces is super important and often not in order!

Because this is a high-risk floor, the crawl space and the underside of the floor must be absolutely dry. The crawl space must also be properly ventilated. In many cases, a thorough inspection has revealed that rust on the steel beams may be present in limited quantities.

If the cement screed (compression floor) is damaged on the top, one possible cause could be rusting of the iron beam. Rusting materials expand in size and can develop enormous forces. This can certainly cause such damage and recur at some point after repair. Loose sections of the cement screed can be removed and repaired. The extent of the damage will only be clear after a thorough inspection and tapping of the concrete floor.

If the steel beams are severely rusted, this will damage the cement screed, floor structure, facades, and walls of the house. Repair will likely be virtually impossible; at some point, the entire floor will have to be replaced. If there's any point, we recommend removing as much rust as possible and treating the steel with red lead. Ensure the crawl space is well-ventilated; ventilation openings should be present at both the front and back of the crawl space.

• The crawl space and the underside of the floor must be absolutely dry.
• The crawl space must also be properly ventilated.
• Read an interesting related article about steel girders and support beams in crawl spaces here.
• In a building inspection report, you will not only be identified as to the defects, but we will also provide advice on how to repair or improve them.