Cyprus-Forum.com

[Svetlana]

Hi GG

But we are talking about timber framed properties, you cannot see the frame after completion, they look the same as a 'reinforced concrete' property. They have brick or stone finished walls.

Lana

[nhowarth]

Hi Sotos

Although properties constructed of reinforced concrete and brick form the majority of property built on the island, other construction methods are gradually appearing. These include:

Timber frame.
Steel frame.
SIP (structural insulated panel).

These are cheaper to build and some may have better insulation qualities than their concrete and brick counterparts. However:

Their ability to withstand the voracious appetite of the indigenous insect life and the long-term effects of the climatic and seismic conditions has yet to be established.

Companies using these construction methods are relatively new and, with one or two exceptions, have yet to establish their credibility in the marketplace.

The cost of insuring a timber property can be twice that of an equivalent property built using the reinforced concrete and brick infill technique due to the increased fire risk.

Before deciding to buy any type of property, carry out thorough inspections of both old and new properties and establish the credentials of the developer.

[Sotos]

Thanks everyone for the info When I will build my home time will not be an issue. I will not go cheap either. What I care most is for the home to be strong and to last for many many years with the least maintenance possible. Personally I don't like wood that much. You can get termites, you can hear the person walking on the floor above you or somebody talking in the next room etc. Can a steel frame be combined with brick or rock walls? I thought that the steel frame would be stronger and more anti-seismic than concrete. Is that wrong?

[Svetlana]

Hi Sotos

Steel and timber framed properties have brick or stone finishes, identical to a concrete one.

Lana

[nhowarth]

Hi Sotos,

There are two types of steel frame:

In one, the concrete beams and columns are replaced with RSJs (Reinforced Steel Joists) to form a steel skeleton. The rest of the property is built using brick in the same way as a 'traditional' reinforced concrete & brick property.

In the other, a steel frame is used in the same way as a timber frame (see http://www.ikodomia.com/ ) using a drywall construction of gypsum board. The exterior walls can optionally be faced with stone, render, grafiatto, etc.

One problem you may have with the 'type 2' is that the upper floors flex slightly and are therefore unsuitable for ceramic tiles. The upper floors can be strengthened, but this will add to the overall cost.

Regards,

[Sotos]

So is 'type 1' stronger than reinforced concrete? I saw the frame of some steel framed building and it looks more neat than those concrete columns with the often rasted iron bars inside them!

[nhowarth]

Hi Sotos,

> So is 'type 1' stronger than reinforced concrete?

I don't know. But all property built in Cyprus needs to comply with strict anti-seismic regulations. With a reinforced concrete structure, the reinforced concrete skeleton remains intact after an earthquake, while the brick infill walls, which are not structural elements may fail.

It's all down to cost - the labour required to erect a steel skeleton is much less than that needed to erect a reinforced concrete structure.

Incidentally, 'type 1' is often used in the UK for commercial buildings such as warehouses, office blocks & supermarkets. And last year in Reading, I saw a block of apartments being built using reinforced concrete - the same as in Cyprus.

Don't worry about the rusted rebar - as long as none of it is left exposed to the atmosphere it'll be OK.

Regards,

[Sotos]

With a reinforced concrete structure, the reinforced concrete skeleton remains intact after an earthquake, while the brick infill walls, which are not structural elements may fail.

So whats the way to make your home totally anti-seismic? To make everything from concrete?

[Mikros]

Nope, still concrete is not totally anti-seismic.

[nhowarth]

Hi Sotos,

> So whats the way to make your home totally anti-seismic?

I don't believe you can make it totally earthquake-proof - all you can do is minimise the effect.

When your house is designed, you could discuss this with the structural engineer, but whatever you do, you can't make it indestructable.

There are some parts of the island where you shouldn't build. There's a rock/mineral called 'bentonite' that's found near the areas of pillow lava that's extremely unstable. The area least at risk, or so I've been told, is the Troodos massif.

I believe that some of the tower blocks in the San Francisco have an 'active' foundation system employing sophisticated monitoring systems and jacks designed to enable the building to better withstand earthquakes.

(Incidentally, there are a few documents on my website relating to building & earthquakes in the download area of my website - including an earthquake risk assessment study carried out by Stella Kythreoti & Kypros Pilakoutas of the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK).

Regards,