CMU Filled Opening in Existing Concrete Wall
CMU Filled Opening in Existing Concrete Wall
(OP)
I am filling an opening (26' wide x 16' high) in an existing 12" solid concrete wall (not tilt-up) with 12" CMU in a running bond pattern. The opening is currently installed with a folding (4 leaf) metal door that operates much like a closet bifold door. The metal door is a corrosion headache and leaks energy and water.
The new CMU partition will have in the middle a 16' high overhead roll-up door which I will anchor to the existing heavily reinforced concrete lintel/header of the opening. I am also installing a personnel door to one side about 3' away.
My quandry is that I wish to properly fill and reinforce the cells next to the overhead door, and I am uncertain whether I am required to "tie in" the top course with the existing lintel.
This is an issue of constructability, and I am uncertain about current techniques for pumping concrete horizontally to achieve a good bond beam.
I'd like to hear if anyone has tackled a similar issue and how it was solved.
Thanks
jmm
The new CMU partition will have in the middle a 16' high overhead roll-up door which I will anchor to the existing heavily reinforced concrete lintel/header of the opening. I am also installing a personnel door to one side about 3' away.
My quandry is that I wish to properly fill and reinforce the cells next to the overhead door, and I am uncertain whether I am required to "tie in" the top course with the existing lintel.
This is an issue of constructability, and I am uncertain about current techniques for pumping concrete horizontally to achieve a good bond beam.
I'd like to hear if anyone has tackled a similar issue and how it was solved.
Thanks
jmm






RE: CMU Filled Opening in Existing Concrete Wall
RE: CMU Filled Opening in Existing Concrete Wall
To pump like that, you'll have to have holes knocked in the lintel block of the bond beam and use grout with a high slump. When you hit the top you have to dry pack or use a stiffer grout to plug the hole and finish what you need to do. It's not impossible but it won't be pretty. Usually you'll have a rebar epoxied into the existing bond beam and the existing jamb to help tie the new to the old.