Constructing a platform

Re: Constructing a platform

Ed Mulligan, Cape Cod

>Yes, put in the floor and tile it before putting in the table and benches. 3/4 ply over 2x4's will work fine. Or, you could lay two 2x4's on their face to make 3".

How will you treat the edge or step-up? Wood? Metal strip? Decide now so you can build the platform to accomodate your design.

Ed

Re: Constructing a platform

Jeremy Osner

>The issue of the edge is nagging at me a bit. My idea was to incorporate a gentle curve into part of the edge, I was going to cut the (concave) curve into the plywood floor and nail a 1/4" plywood strip to it, flexed into the curve. But the two questions are: would this be stable? and, what would it look like painted? The other thing I could see doing is, stack layers of 3/4" plywood, each with the curve cut into it, so that the edge is solid, and then smooth it with spackle and sandpaper. As I write this I am leaning toward this solution as it seems like it will hold up better over the years with people stepping on it all the time.

Wh not use...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>Poplar (pretty inxpensive) or another solid that takes paint well. Seems to me you'd save alot of time not spackeling and sanding.

Re: Wh not use...

Ed Mulligan, Cape Cod

>Good idea, Scott. Ply edges are very hard to get smooth and spackle will tend to flake off over time.

Jeremy could cut a rabbet in the back to receive the 3/4" ply and tile

Jeremy, if you use the 1/4" ply method, (your first idea) you'll need something behind it for strength.

Ed

Why?

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>What's the advantage of putting in a platform?

Re: Why?

Jeremy Osner

>Because I want the table top to be level with the sill of the window in the kitchen which is 33" off the floor, but I want the table top to be 29" above the "floor" because I find that to be a comfortable height for eating -- In order for both of these things to be the case I need a platform.

Re: Wh not use...

Jeremy Osner

>Thanks, Scott and Ed -- poplar sounds like a great idea. Something that just occurred to me today is, does there need to be some kind of a lip at the edge in front of the tile, or can the tile just run to the edge of the floor? If I made a rabbet in the poplar to accept the plywood, then I could just put a little extra height in the rabbet so that it would rise up to the level of the tile.

Tile edge

Ed Mulligan, Cape Cod

>IME tile (vinyl, lino etc) tends to chip if the edge is exposed. Best to protect it with something. You can get aluminum strips for this at a flooring store, but it would be tough to bend into a curve.

So yes, the rabbet depth should include both the ply and the tile. Another way would be to just butt the poplar to the ply/tile and have a separate support under the ply - a 'two-piece rabbet' so to speak. Not as much fun, tho.