Existing Masonry Wall Extension
Existing Masonry Wall Extension
(OP)
I've got an existing house constructed of cmu walls with #4 verts at 48" o.c. at the exterior up to about 10' to the plate height. The architect wants to extend the existing walls up to a new top of wall plate height to 12' and 14' in some cases. There is not any space to brace these walls at the new "hinge" that will be created. I will drill and epoxy dowels each face of wall as required to add up to 4' of vertical cmu, but wanted to know if any of you have had problems with cracking at the seam of the new interface or have had other problems with this issue.
Thanks,
Thanks,






RE: Existing Masonry Wall Extension
RE: Existing Masonry Wall Extension
RE: Existing Masonry Wall Extension
Your other question is about the cold joint between the old bond beam and the new CMU extension, and you may expect that to crack if you are covering it with stucco. I'd have the architect address that with lathe or some other reinforcement, or perhaps make it into an architectural reveal or add some banding over top of it. I do forensics on residential structures all of the time, mostly CMU with stucco, and see stucco cracks along construction joints constantly.
RE: Existing Masonry Wall Extension
If you just have a bond beam at the top, remove the grout in the bond beam at 48" o.c. (or whatever spacing you need), drop in full height rebar and grout the cells with new rebar solid. Use a clean out at the bottom to make sure the bar is positioned properly.
RE: Existing Masonry Wall Extension
"I think the more conservative but better procedure is to go in between the existing cells and sawcut slots in the wall and through the bond beam to add rebar and solid grout."
RE: Existing Masonry Wall Extension
Thanks,
RE: Existing Masonry Wall Extension