I have a few question im building a 30 by 40 2 story home, with poured concrete blocks, the deck for the second floor will be poured concrete, how far apart so i have to put steel in the hallow concrete blocks to support the second floor deck?

you need an engineer to determine that

What it will cost to determine that ?

In the caribbean we dont really have much off a coding system, I just wanted to get an Idea. Most off the house are built from clay blocks Since concrete blocks are much heavier I just wanted to get and idea

Posted By Trini on 14 Feb 2010 11:30 AM
In the caribbean we dont really have much off a coding system, I just wanted to get an Idea. Most off the house are built from clay blocks Since concrete blocks are much heavier I just wanted to get and idea

Haiti is in the Caribbean and is now suffering from inferior block/concrete construction, Jamaica is also on a major fault line and at risk, both not only from quakes , but also hurricanes.

Not all of the Caribbean is without codes, often the Bahamas would require an engineers seal for permit plans, I am not familiar with all of the diferent island requirements, but coming back from a recent trip to Guayna and Trinidad, I can tell you that "engineered" systems are of great importance

I,m planning to build this house in Trinidad We don,t have structure designing over there As i said most off it is done with a few 12 by 12 colum You pour a deck use clay blocks then plaster it add a roof and thats your house, I been in the construction industry in Florida for a few years I do electrical And it look so simple they will form the slab use concrete blocks then hambro then pour the deck and keep going. But the cost for hambro is really expensive So i was trying to figure out a way to hold up the beck

Trini;

You do have what is called "Town & Country " approval, which also regulates any new building technology, As I am going thru that process right now.
Concrete and block are predominantly used, wood is viewed as a cheap method of construction.

But to form and pour an elevated concrete floor it would require, plywood forms, 2 x cross supports and many adjustable  posts, probably about 5+ tons of reinforcing steel mat, it is not something one wants to guess at, it must be determined by an engineer.

a less expensive method than Hambro would be the Deitrich trade ready with steel pan and light weight concrete topping. You would need a center beam/post support as it would not go the distance you are trying to accomplish

I totally understand what you saying what would it cost me to redesign the structure shell, I do have an approve blue print from town and country , this is how its design with a stem foundation 4 feet under 16'' by 12'' footer Comes up with 3 layer off foundation blocks Then pour the slab 12 12'' by 12'' Columns goes up 8' tie on the top with 12'' by 12'' Concrete tie beam, All i want to do is use 8'' by 16'' column, concrete blocks Since its gonna be 30' by 40' I know I would need additional support.

This is what I want from finish floor to ceiling to be 10' on Both floors I want to use concrete blocks for the whole structure