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Post by molliejollie on Apr 16, 2013 18:15:34 GMT
finally started and got the base built this weekend. its gonna hopefully house a 36" oven, build in a gas BBQ and have a prep area. How high should the finished base be ? how thick should the concrete slab be 4 -5 inches with 3 inch insulating layer on top ? Are aerated blocks any good ?. Sorry for all the questions Mike Attachments:
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Post by bookemdanno on Apr 17, 2013 12:33:24 GMT
Looking good there boy!  Base height...err finished height for an oven floor is usually around elbow height, although that is pretty darn high! I'd say most opt for a finished height around what you'd have for a kitchen worktop rounded up or down by a brick course. It looks as though you're currently about that point right now, to be thinking that this is where i'll pour the base or add a course of bricks or two. On my build with brick outer shell, I worked everything out in multiples of 3", to keep it all spot on for brick courses. Didn't do a poured slab for mine, so can't comment, but thats quite a span! Aerated blocks work well as your under hearth insulation layer. Good luck, and keep those photos flowing! |
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Post by DuncanM on Apr 17, 2013 13:58:57 GMT
My height is probably a touch above elbow height and I'm glad it is that height, but if it's within that range then it would be fine. I guess the concrete slab depends on how much weight it needs to support. There are probably clever engineer minded people out there who could either tell you or point in the direction of a calculator to give you a minimum thickness (and always add in some resilience). Or you can do what I did and go overboard because I'm not engineer minded and I wanted to be sure You could always use the block and beam method which seems very quick to do, but I don't know much about it. Insulation - A lot of people use thermolite blocks, it's down to personal preference / cost / local availability of resources. Some use ceramic fibreboard, others (like myself) use vermicrete. |
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Post by cannyfradock on Apr 17, 2013 19:22:00 GMT
Mike
Seems a lot of us differ slightly with technique, but I think the overall result is usually the same.
This is the method I use..... I go for the finished hearth height of elbow height of the main person using the oven. .....this works well for me.
After the base walls are built I fix a piece of timber on the wall to be used as a datum. On this I mark the finished hearth height. I then make a mark below this where the fire-bricks start.....plus a bed. Then (I use thermal blocks....) ...mark where the blocks will be laid. Then I mark the concrete....5" is better but 4" will do as long as you use 10 or 12mm re-bar tied at 100mm spacings.
Terry
p.s....never worry about asking too many questions.....we all did that. If ever you ask an important question and don't get an answer....just "bump" your thread.
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