Which floor structure is best for your home?

renovated stone cottage with exposed beams
(Image credit: Ben Knight)

Few things are as important in any homebuilding project as ensuring the floor structure under your feet is stable, level and generally fit for purpose. 

Unless floor structures are carefully designed early on in your self build, you could end up with uneven, sloping or springy floors in need of expensive remedial work. So before finalising your design it’s worth taking a look at the main options for floor construction and how the choices you make can have an important impact on the rest of the build.

Ian Rock
Ian Rock

Chartered surveyor Ian Rock FRICS is the author of the Loft Conversion Manual, and is founder of www.rightsurvey.co.uk

Ian Rock

Chartered surveyor Ian Rock MRICS is a director is Rightsurvey.co.uk and the author of eight popular Haynes House Manuals, including the Home Extension Manual, the Self Build Manual and Period Property Manual.


Ian is also the founder of Zennor Consultants. In addition to providing house surveys, Zennor Consultants provide professional guidance on property refurbishment and maintenance as well as advising on the design and construction of home extensions and loft conversions, including planning and Building Regulations compliance.


Ian has recently added a 100m2 extension to his home; he designed and project managed the build and completed much of the interior fit-out on a DIY basis.