How can I stop my beam and block floor from bouncing?

My beam and block flooring seems to bounce when I walk on it. I am in the middle of my project; the floor has been grouted and I have noticed it is flexing so much that the walls are rattling a great deal. Can I retrospectively put in midspan support for the 5m clear span?

Some beam and block floors do have a bounce, especially if they are at their upper span limit of around 5m. e beams are pretensioned precast reinforced concrete and they have a slight camber in the middle. Some are designed to settle when the insulation and floor screed has been loaded and cast.

However, I have been to properties where there is still a noticeable bounce in concrete floor beams when the house is finished and this can cause problems with kitchen units and furniture rattling. At 5m, this is a long span and you ought to go back to your manufacturer and ask them to confirm if the movement you are currently experiencing is part of their design, and will be rectified once the floor screed is cast.

If this isn’t the case, then you may have an issue. If you want to add another midspan support then you can but you must once again consult the manufacturer (and designer). You don’t want to add an additional intermediate support and load the floor with screed, only to find that the beams then can’t settle into position. In summary, this issue is specific to your manufacturer and they should be consulted before you take any action.