I'm going to pour a slab for an open fireplace on top of a wooden joist system (the slab will lie over 3 joists, right next to the existing chimney).
The open fireplace will be a water-cooled insert, which will be encased in lekablock, so it won't be particularly heavy (the insert weighs about 300kg including water, plus the lekablock and plaster).
One of the builders suggested using a metal plate (about 6mm and 700*1000mm) instead, which we would bolt to the joist system and then cover with self-leveling compound when we use it for the rest of the floor. The bricklayer, who will be doing the fireplace, hadn't done this before but didn't mind.
I talked a bit with my dad, who is an old metalworker, and he was a bit worried that the self-leveling compound might cause the metal to rust. So he suggested placing a plywood board or floor gypsum on top of the metal plate before applying the self-leveling compound (with reinforcement). I have some doubts that the metal plate will rust at all, and plywood is a living material, so it might cause cracks.
Does anyone know/think this will work or have any alternative solutions?
The open fireplace will be a water-cooled insert, which will be encased in lekablock, so it won't be particularly heavy (the insert weighs about 300kg including water, plus the lekablock and plaster).
One of the builders suggested using a metal plate (about 6mm and 700*1000mm) instead, which we would bolt to the joist system and then cover with self-leveling compound when we use it for the rest of the floor. The bricklayer, who will be doing the fireplace, hadn't done this before but didn't mind.
I talked a bit with my dad, who is an old metalworker, and he was a bit worried that the self-leveling compound might cause the metal to rust. So he suggested placing a plywood board or floor gypsum on top of the metal plate before applying the self-leveling compound (with reinforcement). I have some doubts that the metal plate will rust at all, and plywood is a living material, so it might cause cracks.
Does anyone know/think this will work or have any alternative solutions?
Spontaneously, I might NOT have poured a slab on the wooden joists.
Self-leveling compound: 75 kg?
Insert: 300 kg
Lecablock: 20 pcs * 20 kilos = 400 kg?
Mortar: 100 kg?
Plaster: 200 kg?
You quickly reach an impressive load.
Do you have a basement underneath, or what does the joist rest on?
We have installed a stove. We have wooden joists with a basement underneath. We made a support change, i.e., cut two joists in the floor structure and cast a slab. No load on the joists. The slab rests on a heart wall and build-up leca from the basement.
Pictures are available on our website:
http://www.fasting65.se/byggdagbok/dagboken/dagboken_2005_december.html
Self-leveling compound: 75 kg?
Insert: 300 kg
Lecablock: 20 pcs * 20 kilos = 400 kg?
Mortar: 100 kg?
Plaster: 200 kg?
You quickly reach an impressive load.
Do you have a basement underneath, or what does the joist rest on?
We have installed a stove. We have wooden joists with a basement underneath. We made a support change, i.e., cut two joists in the floor structure and cast a slab. No load on the joists. The slab rests on a heart wall and build-up leca from the basement.
Pictures are available on our website:
http://www.fasting65.se/byggdagbok/dagboken/dagboken_2005_december.html
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