Block and beam is a popular floor system due to its durability and how quickly it can be installed.
It requires very little ground preparation, meaning there are big labour savings costs. This makes it a cost-effective construction method despite higher material costs.
This article will cover the expected costs of installing block and beam floors and what affects the cost.
Cost Per m²
Below is a breakdown of the costs that make up a typical block and beam floor. The rates are for South East/Outer London regions.
| Item | Cost per m² Labour | Cost per m² Materials | Cost per m² Plant | Total Cost Per m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excavation | £13 | - | £8 | £21 |
| Disposal of Excavated Material | £7 | - | £20 | £27 |
| Hardcore Fill | £7 | £10 | - | £17 |
| Oversite Concrete | £6 | £26 | - | £32 |
| Sleeper Walls | £3 | £4 | - | £7 |
| Beam & Block Floor | £14 | £68 | - | £82 |
| Insulation 100mm thick | £5 | £15 | - | £20 |
| Damp proof membrane | £1 | £2 | - | £3 |
| Screed - 65 thick | £7 | £16 | - | £23 |
| Floor Finish (Approx) | £11 | £20 | - | £31 |
| Total | £74 | £161 | £28 | £263 |
Since the material shortage affects a number of items involved in block and beam flooring, we recommend adding an extra 20% onto the material costs. If these costs seem high, remember to factor in the location indices too (shown in factors) as these are some of the highest.
Why You Can Trust this Data
We worked directly with a Quantity Surveyor of 7+ years involved in £600M capital expenditure works for a large hotel chain to develop these costs back in 2020. If you see similar cost values and breakdowns on other websites, then you can probably assume they have taken them from this article and Quantity Surveyor.
Factors Affecting Cost
There are various factors that may affect the cost. These are as follows:
Depth of Excavations Required
This will also impact disposal and hardcore costs.
Design of the Floor Structure
The floor design affects the size of the items. These include the insulation, concrete, screed and floor finish. These differences impact cost. Some examples include:
- High-performance insulation like Kingspan Thermafloor may only need to be 100mm thick to reach a certain U-Value. Lower-grade mineral wool insulation may need 200mm/300mm thick.
- Larger buildings need a thicker concrete base, more support and reinforcement.
- Screed thickness varies depending on the finishing requirements. For example, when the beam and block slab is placed it may be 100mm below external door openings, meaning 100mm screed is required to level the floor. Equally, a 50mm space means 50mm screed.
How Far the Floor Spans
Sometimes where the floor spans over a long distance, more sleeper walls or intermediate support is required. This will increase the material and labour costs.
Location
The rates shown above are for the South East/Outer London Area. You can use the following adjustments depending on where the work is needed. These are based on the BCIS and Spon indices.
| Region | % Adjustment |
|---|---|
| South East (Southampton, Oxford, Kent, Outer London) | 0 |
| Inner London | +4% |
| South West (Bristol, Exeter) | -4% |
| West Midlands (Birmingham) | -10% |
| East Midlands (Northampton, Nottingham, Leicester) | -10% |
| East Anglia (Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich) | -5% |
| North West (Liverpool, Manchester) | -12% |
| Yorkshire and Humberside (Leeds, Sheffield) | -11% |
| North East (Newcastle, Sunderland) | -10% |
| Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow) | -6% |
| Wales (Cardiff, Swansea) | -9% |
| Northern Ireland (Belfast) | -12% |
How Does the Material Shortage Affect Prices in 2022?
Prices within the construction industry have continued to rise into 2022. Because certain material costs are fluctuating rapidly, tradespeople pricing up jobs longer than a month away may add extra to mitigate the risk.
Block and beam floors use a number of materials that have been affected by the material shortage. These include:
- Concrete
- Blocks
- Aggregates
- Steel
Get Prices on Block and Beam Flooring Near You
We’ve done our best to give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay for block and beam flooring.
However, our guides are not a substitute for a fixed written quote specifically for you.
We work with all the best block and beam floorers ready to price your job. Get free, no-obligation quotes in your local area and compare prices using the form below.
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About the Author
Alex Johnson is a qualified quantity surveyor and writer with a passion for conducting original research and uncovering the true cost of jobs. His cost data has been referenced by EDF Energy and the Scottish Government.
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