A to Z of building your own home... M
A-to-Z of building your own home... MMezzanineA Mezzanine is an intermediate floor (or floors) in a building which is open to the floor below, but it does not count as one of the main floors in a building. The flooring of the mezzanine can be used for a variety of functions including storage, bedroom, office, work platforms, manufacturing space or archive storage. Mezzanine floors are easily accommodated in buildings with a clear height of 5m and above. An alternative multi-tier mezzanine flooring could be considered to take full advantage of cubic space if available.It is usually located halfway up the wall which has a ceiling at least twice as high as a normal floor. According to the International Building Code, the total dimension of the mezzanine could have as much as one-third of the floor space directly located below. If a multi-tier mezzanine floor is considered, the sum of total floor space of all the mezzanines is not greater than one-third the floor space of the complete floor below. Although there is no need for Planning Permission, you have to be careful when dealing with local authority building regulations and make sure the installation of the mezzanine meets the requirements including Disability Regulations (DDA), Part B (Fire Regulations) and Part L (Energy Conservation). It will be useful to consult an architect in order to determine whether the floor of the building can support a mezzanine, and to ensure that the final design is appropriate to the spatial dimensions and conforms to building regulations.Mezzanines are commonly used in modern architecture due to their functionality in order to create additional floor space, also due to their heavy emphasis on natural light and space. MouldGeneral conditions that allow for development and growth of mould:
- Mould spores
- Moisture
- Oxygen
- Warmth
- Darkness
Moisture is the principal cause of mould growth, alongside with humidity. Another important factor that determines mould growth is the location. For example, if the your house is going to be built by the coast or another large body of water, then you have to be careful because the humidity in the air is naturally high and mould growth will be a recurring problem.Drying clothes indoor could contribute to increasing moisture if there is no effective ventilation system and it ends up evaporating into the air. Some people consider using humidifiers, but certain types of moulds need the humidity level to be slightly higher than 55% to start growing. Not only does high humidity feed mould, but it means that puddles of water and damp materials in the home take longer to dry out. These wet surfaces can in turn create mould growth of their own.Another principal cause of mould growth is leakage. Leaking pipes and leaks in the roof are a common cause of mould growth and most of the time they go unnoticed because they are hidden out of view. You have to take into consideration checking the attic regularly for leaks, and make sure that there are no signs of water damage on the ceiling.