Floor burns in basement ceiling, likely under stove - DIY Chatroom

brokenknees · 10-21-2009, 04:02 PM

While in my basement this AM, I looked up among the floor joist and noticed on the plywood underlying the first floor what appeared to be two "burn" mark - irregular ciricles about 3 inches wide. The two marks are below the stove in my kitchen, as best as I can see. I beleive that the marks correspond to the "feet" of the stove. I suppose the reason for this is as obvious as it is alarming. Though I suspect it will prove to be burned as well, the flooring immediately under the stove's not yet been examined (the stove is a massive six-burner unit with a vent hood and warming rack arrangement afixed to it, so there'd be a good amount of dismantling before I can get it out). What I am wondering is if this has occured to anyone else? Presuming the floor beneath the stove is still viable, would lining the area under the stove with cermaic tile offer sufficient protection? (Currently there's hardwood throughout the kitchen).

ArmchairDIY · 10-21-2009, 04:59 PM

One never knows for certain from only a written description, but I highly doubt you are seeing burn marks caused by the stove.
Is there copper plumbing pipes near the burn marks. I'm thinking they may have been burned by a plumber soldering fittings possibly.

brokenknees · 10-21-2009, 05:11 PM

"Is there copper plumbing pipes near the burn marks. I'm thinking they may have been burned by a plumber soldering fittings possibly."

Good point. I'll check that. My recollection is that there is not a pipe running along the area question (and definitely not immediately beneath the burns) but I will look. Consistent with your suggestion, the burns would otherwise seem to be coming from the bottom up (i.e., the obviously burned "skin" of the plywood is on the ceiling side in the basement.

hyunelan2 · 10-21-2009, 05:17 PM

Are you sure they are burns, and not something like spray-paint from when the wood was stacked somewhere? To actually scorch the wood on the outside, from above, I think the board would have combusted before those char marks would appear on the other side of the wood.

ArmchairDIY · 10-21-2009, 05:18 PM

My thought is if the floor was burned from the top side to the extent it was visible in the basement the stove would be falling through the floor and you would have smelled smoke in the upstairs. I believe there is another explanation for the spots.

rusty baker · 10-21-2009, 07:33 PM

If it had burnt thru, the flooring above would be scorched in a bigger area.

Leah Frances · 10-21-2009, 08:04 PM

Any kids/teenagers in the house?