Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
(OP)
Putting a doorway in an existing 10" CMU wall. If this were new construction we would place reinforcement on either side of the opening, parallel to the jamb. What is typically done for placing a door in an existing wall?
Thank you in advance.
Thank you in advance.
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
1) Run some numbers and do nothing.
2) Cut some blocks vertically and install new bars (difficult).
3) Install some backup steel behind the jambs (ugly).
4) Over cut the opening and infill with reinforced blocks (pretty).
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
As always, you all are very helpful.
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
Please remember: we're not all guys!
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
If any major wall steel is cut for the door, as in column steel in the wall from a beam above, this is not "just a mandoor".
The cut steel will have to be compensated for...
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
msquared48 - I agree. If we were eliminating a major support such as a column, we would need to make other provisions. I do apologize for not provided enough information at the beginning of the post.
Please don't think that I am taking what is said here as gospel and running with it. I wanted to make sure there were no industry practices that I was missing. Calculations will be made and the load paths will be analyzed.
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
Amen. Half the battle is figuring out what "normal" looks like in any given situation.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
Let's call them gender-free doors
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Creating an opening in existing masonry wall
shows that the OP was referring to the wall's resistance to out-of-plane loads. Some people proceeded to give recommendations for that, some for in-plane gravity loads over the opening, then gender jokes. Vewy intwesting.
Food for thought on unvoiced concerns...
Does the masonry span vertically only for O-O-P loads? Horizontally only between pilasters, etc? Both? It matters...
Is it a shear wall for the overall LFRS of the building? If so this gets awfully tricky and may dictate where the door goes or it may culminate in deciding not to cut in a door at all.