Sugar shack floor

[DMF]

My wife told me this is the last year we boil outside! I have been thinking about building a sugar shack since last year anyway and have actually had some logs from our woodlot milled with that in mind. My question though concerns the floor. We live on the side of a mountain which makes it great for gravity feeding sap but is lousy for most everything else, but especially for building.

My plan calls for a 14' x 16' building with a 4' porch on the front which the roof line from the shack will continue over. I could easily build it on sonotubes with a wood deck floor but seeing how much ash/coals come out of the arch now I'm concerned about fire and being able to clean it. A cement floor means a ton more work and money. I'll need to dig into the hillside, put in footings, concrete blocks, drainage etc.

What are your thoughts or solutions you've found for your sugar shack floors?

[Sugarmaker]

Concrete has its advantages. That would be my first choice. Disadvantage is it has to be put in right or it may heaveI have seen one wood floor sugarhouse with the 4 x 8 sheets of aluminum antiskid plate put down for protection.
Regards,
Chris

[Ghs57]

I am also considering a new floor. While my shack sits on a concrete foundation, my current floor is crushed stone, which I would not recommend.

I'm leaning toward pouring a concrete floor. I know it will cost more, but for me I think it's the best choice. In your case though a wood framed floor would work fine. There are plenty of ways to protect the wood structure, and would in fact be required by the building code. For example, a wood stove installation in a wood frame residence has to have specified clearances to combustible surfaces, and sit on a non-combustible surface.

Whether wood or concrete, a solid, level, easy to clean floor is a must.

[johnpma]

They make fire retardant plywood that you could lay down......

https://www.chicagoflameproof.com/fi...rdant-plywood/

[bstewar]

I would have preferred to lay concrete down but had slope and cost issues. I did advantech plywood floor. Under the arch/firebox I put 3x5 durarock, 2500 degree fabric (5 layers) and 2" pavers. The durarock extends 3' out in front of the fire door to catch embers that may pop out. I have heard alot of people doing less on a wood floor with no issues.

[DMF]

I would have preferred to lay concrete down but had slope and cost issues. I did advantech plywood floor. Under the arch/firebox I put 3x5 durarock, 2500 degree fabric (5 layers) and 2" pavers. The durarock extends 3' out in front of the fire door to catch embers that may pop out. I have heard alot of people doing less on a wood floor with no issues.

Do you have any photos you can share? Thanks!

[bstewar]

Sure. I can grab some more pics if you want. [/ATTACH]FullSizeRender.jpg

[sugarwoodacres]

When i used to boil on a deck I would put down 2 layers of durock like what goes under tile and the fire brick on top of that . This may work if you had to build a deck floor
.

[claystroup]

I am getting costs right now on building either a 12 x 16 or 14 x 18 shack this summer and the costs for concrete are through the roof. I can do a wood foundation using all treated material with 2 x 8 floor joists for about $1000 less than concrete. On a $4000-4500 budget job thats a 20-25% premium for a concrete floor in a building I am going to use 4 to 6 weeks a year. My 2 x 5 Mason arch has a seperate ash cleanout pan that sits about 10" off the ground so heat is not a factor just ashes that fall so I think a sheet of Durarock under that area of the arch would be sufficent. Thoughts?

[johnpma]

1/2" Cement Board, made a frame around the perimeter of the cement board and filled in with red brick I had laying around. We then swept fine sand into the voids to solidify, and tie it all together. Last night for kicks i checked the temp of the bricks during a hard boil with the blower cranking and it was 79 degrees