Temporary flooring options
If you’re faced with an uneven ground surface and don’t want to go to the expense of having a permanent base laid for a temporary solution, there are a number of temporary flooring options.
The budget option is to have a plastic portable floor (similar to those used at festivals and events to create pathways), which simply lays to your existing surface like this one which was installed at the temporary cruise line baggage hall at Liverpool.
This system works well on level surfaces and is capable of withstanding 2.5tonne forklift trucks. It’s also very quick to install and relatively cheap to hire.
The biggest downside with this type of floor is it can lift in extreme heat (which we don’t get a lot of in the UK) and of course, if you get any water ingress due to sloping ground, the water will run across the top of the portable floor.
A better option can be a ‘heavy-floor’ system which is designed to level the ground and has the added benefit of acting as the base for the temporary building, so there is no need to penetrate the ground to anchor the building into place.
The image above, shows a temporary building installed on top of a ‘heavy-floor’ on a grassed area.
These are used extensively when temporary buildings are supplied to power stations and oil refineries when they are used as site workshops and offices.
It can also be used for car show rooms and retail areas as seen here, at a temporary Pret-A-Manger coffee lounge.
The best feature of this floor is that as it is a sub-structure system, it lifts the entire building off the existing ground surface, so any water runs underneath and it guarantees a level surface.
It is limited in its weight baring capacity to 500kg’s m² so it is not feasible to use it for fork lift trucks or heavy palletised goods.
It is possible to run a pump truck across it, so providing fork lift access is not needed, this floor system is a very fast and effective way to create a solid level base, when the existing ground surface is either too uneven or there is only a grassed or hardcore area.
In some situations a raised concrete base might be better, but if the intention is only to use the temporary building for a few months, as opposed to years, then a new concrete base would probably be cost prohibitive.
Author bio: Sophia writes for Smart Space, Britain’s leading specialist in flexible building solutions since 1985.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
ECA's public affairs priorities
Member consultation opens to shape priorities for 2027 to 2030.
Dutyholder responsibilities from 1 July 2026.
Where performance meets practice
The Building Envelope Stage at UKCW Birmingham.
CIAT publishes briefing on planning reforms.
Leaders in Learning for Practice Network
Call for conservation leaders in learning to register interest in new network.
The importance of early engagement
Construction lessons from the Trillium HealthWorks Experience Centre.
Mayors are to be given planning call in powers
Mayors across England will be able to make the most important planning decisions.
The Master Builder: William Butterfield and his times. Book review.
Why construction can't afford to ignore the skills gap.
Building Safety Regulator, 19 August
Gill Kernick appointed Independent Chair of Residents’ Panel.
Connecting knowledge, technology and conservation
Building competence for the future of built heritage.
Building Regulations and Building Safety Act
CIOB publishes free advice for non-domestic clients.