New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

[Liteceeper]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

Time for a update, started on oven build now I have completed render (stucco) of patio in area of WFO. Cut calcium silicate board to size and laid straight on top of hearth slab. Covered with aluminium foil to prevent moisture being drawn out of heat bank too fast whilst curing.
Next made form work for refactory castable heat bank 25mm thick, mixed, poured and let cure for three days.

[Liteceeper]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

More update - sorted precut bricks and did a dry fit to check if I know what I'm doing.
Ignore floor tiles not central to calsil outline I mucked up my centres

Pays to do a dry fit first I guess.

What,s the consensus do I mortar down floor tiles or bed in sand?

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

If your castable is level and tiles fit well you should be good, no mortar, tiles need to float since they will expand and contract. If tiles need leveling, use a 50/50 mix of sand and fire clay installed with a 1/4" or 3/8" or so notched tile trowel right on your castable base. Nice looking kit.

[oasiscdm]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

Hi Liteceeper

Ditto with Russell

[stonecutter]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

Don't go too far ahead with dry fitiing, you'll find that things change once you start mortaring the brick.

Looks nice so far, and I'll be interested to see how that castable skim coat holds up. Did you add reinforcement to it?

[Liteceeper]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

If your castable is level and tiles fit well you should be good, no mortar, tiles need to float since they will expand and contract. If tiles need leveling, use a 50/50 mix of sand and fire clay installed with a 1/4" or 3/8" or so notched tile trowel right on your castable base. Nice looking kit.

Hi Liteceeper

Ditto with Russell

Thanks for advise Russell & Colin but I have stuck to Ben's plans and used a mortar mix to set floor as the castable had a dip on LHS throwing tiles out of whack.

2 refactory mortar
2 sand
1 lime
1 GP cement

I guess the bricks and floor will take up their own positions once the oven gets fired up.

Don't go too far ahead with dry fitiing, you'll find that things change once you start mortaring the brick.

Looks nice so far, and I'll be interested to see how that castable skim coat holds up. Did you add reinforcement to it?

No reinforcement used but appears OK, see above quotes, it may allow some movement of floor tiles?

Had a good weekend finally building oven, Friday afternoon laid floor, Saturday morning ground edges of floor tiles to remove slight raised edges on a few tiles, then laid first 3 courses.
Today (Sunday) I filled wedge spaces between bricks with castable, thought best do this whilst bricks are still wet from laying them. Then laid fourth course.

Anthony

[stonecutter]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

No reinforcement used but appears OK, see above quotes, it may allow some movement of floor tiles?

I had made that comment thinking your castable was the finished floor. Concern about the castable is all moot, since you covered it with floor tile...I don't know how I missed that.

[cobblerdave]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

Gudday Anthony
Building with a precut kit... I can see the advantages of not having to worry about the arch transition etc etc. It's certainly coming ahead quite well.
Are you still aiming for the "oven pic " you posted earlier with the oven hearth height the same as the surrounding base. That look is certainly smart and clean.
Love your work
Regards dave

[Liteceeper]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

Gudday Anthony
Building with a precut kit... I can see the advantages of not having to worry about the arch transition etc etc. It's certainly coming ahead quite well.
Are you still aiming for the "oven pic " you posted earlier with the oven hearth height the same as the surrounding base. That look is certainly smart and clean.
Love your work
Regards dave

Thanks for your kind words Dave,
I was surprised at progress over weekend but I guess all the hard yakka cutting bricks has been done for me.
Yes still planning to finish level, will place cut down face bricks around edge to finish about 30mm below hearth top surface then build up base with perlite concrete to level of bricks (-30mm) and then have some granite tops made to sit flush.
Not sure if perlite concrete will give a solid enough base to secure granite too, any ideas.

[cobblerdave]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

Gudday Anthony
I can't see why not ..... You could upgrade the Portland cement content and add some sand as well. When you think about its not like you are trying to get the best insulation layer ... That's already there.
Just a thought
Regards dave

[david s]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

Yes the addition of sand and more cement also makes the mix easier to work and it behaves more like normal concrete to level.

[Awild8]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

looking good mate, great to see Bens kit being built just before I starting putting mine together in the next few weeks.

[Liteceeper]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

Gudday Anthony
I can't see why not ..... You could upgrade the Portland cement content and add some sand as well. When you think about its not like you are trying to get the best insulation layer ... That's already there.
Just a thought
Regards dave

Yes the addition of sand and more cement also makes the mix easier to work and it behaves more like normal concrete to level.

Thanks, any suggestions on volume ratio perlite, sand, cement?

[david s]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

For your application I'd be using 3:1:1 vermicrete, sand , cement.It will give you a lightweight concrete that's fairly strong, not a bad insulator and easy to work.

[Liteceeper]

Re: New pre-cut kit build in Adelaide

For your application I'd be using 3:1:1 vermicrete, sand , cement.It will give you a lightweight concrete that's fairly strong, not a bad insulator and easy to work.

Thanks Dave