Masonry control Joint .. or not
Masonry control Joint .. or not
(OP)
Typically in CMU load bearing wall we place vertical control joint every 20 ft or so. Has anyone have the experience to reinforce a wall based on TEK 10-3 to increase spacing between joints (say 120 ft)? In a recent projct the Arch is asking so but I am hesitating to blindly follow TEK 10-3. Thanks a lot.






RE: Masonry control Joint .. or not
RE: Masonry control Joint .. or not
RE: Masonry control Joint .. or not
RE: Masonry control Joint .. or not
An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field
RE: Masonry control Joint .. or not
Bob
RE: Masonry control Joint .. or not
Understood, but when you solidly grout a wall with lots of horizontal reinforcement, why do you say you have bond beams?
RE: Masonry control Joint .. or not
I understand not using CJs if you have lots of horizontal reinforcement as others have stated.
Stay in your comfort zone!
RE: Masonry control Joint .. or not
I think you might be successful in long runs of walls without openings, if using intermediate bond beams, without control joints. But as soon as you start adding openings or intersecting walls, or wall height changes, you definitely should be adding control joints.
I have reviewed masonry cracking on several projects, some mine and some designed by others. Usually I find they have the typical control joint layout/spacing covered, but have not paid enough attention to locating joints at critical locations. So these get missed, cracks develop, and then on review it becomes obvious why the wall cracked where it did.
Bottom line, you can't have too many control joints. If you are not comfortable, make them put the joints in. Or make the architect and owner sign a release relieving you of any responsibility for wall cracking, moisture ingress, corrosion damage to wall reinforcing, interior and exterior finish failure, and any other issues that may arise from cracked masonry walls. I think when you put them on the spot, they will allow the joints.
RE: Masonry control Joint .. or not
I also routinely spec heavyweight sidewire reinforcement for joint reinforcement, even in low seismic areas, to help control shrinkage cracking.
RE: Masonry control Joint .. or not