Drilling holes through limestone cap
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At my family’s winery we’d like to add a roof over a patio. There is a 24″ block wall surrounding the patio, with 2″ limestone capping on top.
The blocks cores are all filled, and there is rebar going down to the footing. What I’d like to do is bore through the limestone cap into the first course of the block, then install some threaded rod with epoxy. I could then use the threaded rod to mount some anchors for posts for the roof.
Should I be worried about drilling through the limestone? Will it crack? I’m thinking SDS hammer drill with a 1″ bit.
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How wide are these caps? While drilling these might not crack them, the anchors and epoxy over time might. Is there a way to place these anchors at joint in the cap (so you drill into the ends of two mating pcs.)? If the layout doesn't support that, maybe cutting the location would be a possibility.
Since this roof will have serious structural stresses being placed on this wall, was this method and the resultant framing engineered with that in mind?
Not knowing diddley about where this is and what it's going to look like when finished, I'd caution just going into the top course of block. Since these post anchors are hold downs, I'd think you'd need to go down at least two courses.
Were the anchors spec'd and if so, please link to them.
Thanks! Just some questions that came to mind.
Use a hole saw made for stone, drill whatever size hole you need through the limestone then you can drill the holes for the snchors with a hammer drill and bit.
It's impossible to predict whether a given piece of limestone will crack or not, if you attempt to drill it with an hammer drill. It depends on the size of the stone, the size of the drill relative to the stone, the type of bit, the care taken, the composition of the stone, and the presence/absence of any flaws in the stone.