mes7a
Structural
- Aug 19, 2015
- 163

(file photo 2 years ago but all parts topped with concrete now)
On top of my roofdeck is floor that is waterproofed then topped off with 1 to 2 inches of concrete to even the floor. This is because prior to putting the waterproof.. the floor is not even and rainwater is pooled on some part. So we put topping to make the water sloped towards the drain. This is our standard practice in our poor country. I know the idea is foolish but we just can't level off the original slab.
Now I plan to make the roofdeck a floor. The slabs were originally designed as a floor. Should I remove the topping to avoid unnecessary seismic load (imagine 4" slab carrying 2" concrete topping to even the slab)?
Can you put wooden tile directly on the floor without any membrane or should the topping act as membrane or substrate of the wooden tile? The reason being that when the floor deflects under seismic loading, the topping can act as cushion and avoid directly cracking the tile. What do you make of this?
And should removal of the 1 to 2" concrete topping be necessary. What is the best way to remove it. The wire mesh were just wires put on the floor so the concrete would stick. There is no adhesive put in between concrete and waterproof surface so if I can just jack it up with a hydrolic jack used in car.. it may be one way to remove the topping (in parts)?