Vermiculite Layer

[Archena]

Move whatever the little one got up there with. Toddler versus DYI project - the project always loses!

[Mojoe]

I've secured the perimeter of the oven with razor wire and pungee sticks so he'll have to pole vault over or repell from a nearby tree.

[Archena]

:smile: LOL!



That only stops adults - toddlers are immune to anything they don't realize should kill them (unless Mom is there to scream in panic).

[Mojoe]

My 2nd attempt provided much better results. It is stiffer than a cork partly because I lowered the ratio to 4:1 and I got the right amountof water. I lowered the ratio because I wanted to ensure I could lay brick over the upcoming 3-day weekend. The layer does give and according to this chart-> Vermiculite Insulating Concrete--The Schundler Company I haven't lost much thermal conductivity (K factor). Hearth is comprised of 4" vermiculite concrete, 4" regular reinforced concrete, and 1/2" backerboard underneath. I had some scrap backerboard laying around so I thought why not.

One definite plus to the lower ratio is the set time of the layer. I poured it Tuesday night and I stood and walked around on it this morning without a crumb being disturbed.