Cause for broken concrete blocks.
Cause for broken concrete blocks.
(OP)
Hey, I looked at an out-building and a garage for a client yesterday, and came across what's in the attached photo. This is an exterior wall for an attached garage with a bedroom above. It appears that the sill plate is twisted downward towards the middle and the concrete blocks supporting the wall are cracked at floor level and have deflected inward at their tops.
I was unsure of what could have caused such a failure. My best guess is that at some point in the past, someone overloaded that wall and crushed the inside face of the blocks, which must not be sufficiently reinforced. The garage floor kept the whole thing from collapsing inward, but the top course of blocks are all messed up.
Any ideas on what caused this?
Thanks.
I was unsure of what could have caused such a failure. My best guess is that at some point in the past, someone overloaded that wall and crushed the inside face of the blocks, which must not be sufficiently reinforced. The garage floor kept the whole thing from collapsing inward, but the top course of blocks are all messed up.
Any ideas on what caused this?
Thanks.






RE: Cause for broken concrete blocks.
CMU stem wall foundation that extends above the floor slab and then stops, providing a bearing surface for a wood framed wall? Or is this a monolithic foundation with a concrete stem wall?
Some more pictures may help, I can't tell what's going on from that one. Maybe a sketch of the wall cross section with some arrows to show how you think the wall has moved?
RE: Cause for broken concrete blocks.
RE: Cause for broken concrete blocks.
RE: Cause for broken concrete blocks.
RE: Cause for broken concrete blocks.
I attached a section showing what I think it looks like.
RE: Cause for broken concrete blocks.
In general it looks like relative horizontal slippage of the building atop on the foundation; and not vertical (except if the wall has been repaired) from tilt under lateral forces.