On Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:01:35 +0000, Steve wrote:

Cicero wrote:
On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:38:15 +0100, Owain wrote:

Cicero wrote:
Google pictures suggest that it's on castors which in turn suggests
very localised loading. It would be worth considering some kind of
load spreader made from material other than wood which can't be easily
penetrated or indented by pressure.
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I'm slightly more concerned about the point loading too. I think I'd be
inclined towards thickening the floor rather than the joists.

If belowfloor supports are used, it might be worth recessing polished
metal plates into the finished floor to (a) spread the load, and reduce
indentation into a soft floor, and (b) indicate the correct location of
the piano feet.

Owain

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I, too thought of inset metal load-spreading plates, but the hard
plastic castor cups mentioned by the OP (and recommended by Steinway)
seem to be a sensible compromise. It gives the OP an option to move the
piano to an entirely different position if he should decide to do so
without having to re-work the whole of his floor. Of course the OP, if
he wished, could prepare a fixed location with inset plates and use the
castor cups for occasional use in other locations.

Cic.
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The finished floor will be thickened by a further 15mm as we have T&G
engineered oak floor to go on top of the Caberboard. This should help with
the point loading but will not help much with any bounce if there is any.

Metal plates would be a good idea but would be difficult to implement with
the oak floor.

It is unlikely that the piano would be moved from the spot. There just
isn't the room!

Steve
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Seems like a good example of 'Hobson's Choice' then!

If you like the idea of metal plates you might consider three rectangular
plates (rather than circular) which could be the exact width of your t&g
flooring but each plate long enough to bridge two joists. Short sections
of the 15mm t&g could be planed down sufficiently to accept the plates
(about 3mm thick) which wouldn't be too visible as t&g is quite normally
laid randomly. This would effectively take almost all the weight off the
floor boards and put it on the underlying joists.

You could keep a few offcuts of the flooring to make good when / if you
eventually move or dispose of the piano.

Cic.



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Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
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