Will this be a problem in 10 years?

[mullivan]

Maryland, USA.

This is taken from the interior of what will be a single story garage. I'm looking at the steel above the door (left) and window (right). Window looks fine. The steel over the door is barely wide enough to span the door opening. I worry if my builder doesn't put in a wider piece of steel now that arch may crack down the line. Thoughts?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... The steel overlaps the sides of the blocks by 2 or 3", don't it,..??

That makes it solid block to the bottom,.......

I don't see a problem,.....

 

[wssix99]

I don't think it's a problem. If that steel were to bend, it would do so in a "U" shape, resting on single points at the edges of the arch.

That steel shouldn't be that critical. It's only on the inside with the concrete block, right? I expect the other outer half of the arch is supported with straight brick work.

 

[mullivan]

Ayuh,.... The steel overlaps the sides of the blocks by 2 or 3", don't it,..??

That makes it solid block to the bottom,.......

I don't see a problem,.....

You are correct. It's about 2" on either side. If that's enough, I'm happy.

 

[mullivan]

I don't think it's a problem. If that steel were to bend, it would do so in a "U" shape, resting on single points at the edges of the arch.

That steel shouldn't be that critical. It's only on the inside with the concrete block, right? I expect the other outer half of the arch is supported with straight brick work.

Correct: the opposite side is brick. But the interior half of this wall (the cinder block you see) will be notched to fit the joists that will run perpendicular to this wall. So the load will be born entirely by the half of the wall facing the photo. Essentially, the roof joists will be sitting on this steel.

 

[Firebrick43]

I would worry about the absolutely terrible masonry skills you builder has.

 

[Metal-Marc]

The flatbar rests on the arch. No problem. Also, is an arched doorway the ancient way to build without a steel flatbar?

 

[rustyjames]

I've never seen a masonry detail like like that, what's with the red brick courses?

 

[captain14]

I've never seen a masonry detail like like that, what's with the red brick courses?

The red bricks tie the inside wall to the outside wall. This is how they did it years ago before they started using the wire mesh.

The red bricks are laid perpendicular every seven courses. The term used is a header course.

OP- is this in a historic district /area? Take a photo of the outside portion of the wall and post it here.

 

[ZRX61]

I would worry about the absolutely terrible masonry skills you builder has.

No kidding. I've done much better than that & I'm an aircraft mechanic, not a brickie. That top course looks like the height varies by 1/2in or so

 

[brownbagg]

whole walls going fall, no brick ties

 

[The Cobbler]

brick ties to what exactly? and for what purpose?

 

[kaymccampbell]

That's more than was in my first place. It's still standing, all 3 floors of it, with just those little brick arches, after 100 years.

 

[mullivan]

OP here. My original photo above is the interior of the wall that will be framed and dry walled, so won't be seen. Exterior photo below.

 

[mullivan]

The red bricks tie the inside wall to the outside wall. This is how they did it years ago before they started using the wire mesh.

The red bricks are laid perpendicular every seven courses. The term used is a header course.

OP- is this in a historic district /area? Take a photo of the outside portion of the wall and post it here.

Correct on all points. See photo immediately above.

 

[racecougar]

The lintel placement looks completely fine from the photo.

 

[goldtang]

My two cents, are you in a harsh climates and exposed to consideration etc then may be the use of galvanized steel lintels may have been a better choice as the ones in the picture look like that are plain angle iron . I live on the coast on the west coast of Australia and I have seen the issues that uncoated steel has caused later down the track my mate had to have the back of his house repaired due to steel lintels it did take about 20 plus years for it to rear its ugly head and was not a cheep exercise to fix

 

[txvwnut]

I can't believe no ones mentioned it looks like they are using what appears to be a fence past it last years and the top of a port-a-******* for scaffolding.

OP since your on here now you should do a build thread so we can see the process and the finished product.

 

[racecougar]

I can't believe no ones mentioned it looks like they are using what appears to be a fence past it last years and the top of a port-a-******* for scaffolding.

Likely using that as a brick shelf while standing on the boards/bucket below.

 

[nadogail]

Looks ok from here, not real pretty but acceptable.

 

[yeldogt]

Is this in the USA ....

That's how they did brick and block years ago .... nothing odd and no need to be super neat on the inside if covered.

The arch detail are odd -- but that's just me. What going on with the bricks on the right side of the outside photo ?

 

[mullivan]

Is this in the USA ....

That's how they did brick and block years ago .... nothing odd and no need to be super neat on the inside if covered.

The arch detail are odd -- but that's just me. What going on with the bricks on the right side of the outside photo ?

Yes, USA. Maryland.
The bricks on the right side outside will be hidden by a new fence running perpendicular to that wall. I would have preferred that control joint was on the other side of that corner, but no big deal since it will be hidden.

 

[dutchgray]

We would push that over and start again in the UK, its absolutely horrific.
The lintels would need 100mm (4") bearing.
There shouldn't be any straight joints in the brickwork and most of the stretcher courses are full of them.
The expansion joint in the corner, they have managed to get a pig in it which is day one bricklaying apprenticeship something you don't do.

That said I doubt it would fall over, just looks like it was built by someone who has no clue.

 

[mullivan]

We would push that over and start again in the UK, its absolutely horrific.
The lintels would need 100mm (4") bearing.
There shouldn't be any straight joints in the brickwork and most of the stretcher courses are full of them.
The expansion joint in the corner, they have managed to get a pig in it which is day one bricklaying apprenticeship something you don't do.

That said I doubt it would fall over, just looks like it was built by someone who has no clue.

Thanks for all the insight. My builder has replaced the 4' door lintel shown previously with a 6' lintel.

The pig on the right is due to tying into an old wall that has much wider mortar joints than we wanted on this back wall. There was going to need to be an expansion joint somewhere. Unfortunatly by the time I caught it, they had starting placing this join on the rear wall facing the house that I care most about, instead of the other wall to the right of that corner that I can't even see. But that expansion join will be covered by a new fence, so not a big deal to me.

I agree the stretcher courses look odd, but too late to do anything about it other than start over, and we're not doing that at this point. A bummer, but as you say, it won't fall over in my lifetime.

 

[Lightning rod]

It sounds like it will bother you going forward (like it would myself)
What do the construction drawings say?
Are they stamped by the appropriate authority?
Check with the building inspector/architect/engineer etc

If it's bothering you now, resolve it now with the proper folks.
After all , you are paying the bill.

 

[mullivan]

It sounds like it will bother you going forward (like it would myself)
What do the construction drawings say?
Are they stamped by the appropriate authority?
Check with the building inspector/architect/engineer etc

If it's bothering you now, resolve it now with the proper folks.
After all , you are paying the bill.

You're right. I'll bring it up with them. As I've done with other more minor issues that they were happy to fix along the way. Thanks for the encouragement! I can't fathom what they might do about this at this point though... Any ideas?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Maryland, USA. Like Baltimore or a big city with limited space to build and add on to current structures ?

 

[mullivan]

Maryland, USA. Like Baltimore or a big city with limited space to build and add on to current structures ?

Yes. This is a city townhouse. 16 foot wide lot. Space is extremely tight.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Yes. This is a city townhouse. 16 foot wide lot. Space is extremely tight.

Yeah, I'd guess those guys that are working in those areas have adopted a slightly different building method of "working with what they have at hand or what's already there" as to not have to completely start over.

Starting completely over in some of those locations can cause issues with serious cost to customer or having to retain the original footprint. . . . permits. .. . . inspectors. .. . . blah blah stuff we all hate.

 

[driftpin]

Well, I'm no structural engineer but how much extra effort or cost would there be to have had say six inches of overlap on either side for the metal lintels? As mentioned, what spec is shown on the approved plan? There should be a typical detail for that shown in the structural drawings. What is the called-out dimension?

 

[mullivan]

Well, I'm no structural engineer but how much extra effort or cost would there be to have had say six inches of overlap on either side for the metal lintels? As mentioned, what spec is shown on the approved plan? There should be a typical detail for that shown in the structural drawings. What is the called-out dimension?

The lintels are fixed. Both now extend more than 6" over on each side.

 

[Uncle murph]

Maryland, USA.

This is taken from the interior of what will be a single story garage. I'm looking at the steel above the door (left) and window (right). Window looks fine. The steel over the door is barely wide enough to span the door opening. I worry if my builder doesn't put in a wider piece of steel now that arch may crack down the line. Thoughts?

The steel is overkill,it would be fine without it.

 

[Uncle murph]

No kidding. I've done much better than that & I'm an aircraft mechanic, not a brickie. That top course looks like the height varies by 1/2in or so

It’s fine,the side we can’t see would tell you the quality of the work,what we’re seeing is going to hidden behind the interior walls.

 

[ZRX61]

It’s fine,the side we can’t see would tell you the quality of the work,what we’re seeing is going to hidden behind the interior walls.

That's a piss poor excuse to do piss poor work. Imagine flying on a airliner that was put together with the "No worries, no will see it" QC.

 

[Uncle murph]

That's a piss poor excuse to do piss poor work. Imagine flying on a airliner that was put together with the "No worries, no will see it" QC.

It’s not a excuse its a industry standard,tens of thousands of buildings constructed from about the 1920s on were built the same way.the exterior gets struck and brushed,the inside gets the excess mud cut off flush in preparation for plaster or whatever the inside finish is going to be.Its like suggesting the bottom of a footing should be trowled smooth,its unrealistic and just aint gonna happen.Comparing it to a extremely complex mechanical device is just silly.

 

[ZRX61]

It’s not a excuse its a industry standard,tens of thousands of buildings constructed from about the 1920s on were built the same way.the exterior gets struck and brushed,the inside gets the excess mud cut off flush in preparation for plaster or whatever the inside finish is going to be.Its like suggesting the bottom of a footing should be trowled smooth,its unrealistic and just aint gonna happen.Comparing it to a extremely complex mechanical device is just silly.

Maybe in the US, certainly not in Europe...& The inside doesn't show "excess mud cut off flush". There are turds protruding & numerous holidays.

 

[acer66]

Maybe in the US, certainly not in Europe...& The inside doesn't show "excess mud cut off flush". There are turds protruding & numerous holidays.

Of course not, we look at the way they do things in Europe or in the rest of the world for that matter and do the opposite just to show them that we can.

 

[ZRX61]

Of course not, we look at the way they do things in Europe or in the rest of the world for that matter and do the opposite just to show them that we can.

More than you realize....
H/C Faucets are backwards
Bicycle brakes are backwards
ViseGrip release lever works opposite direction
Light switches are upside down

& there's at least another 20 things I've noticed that are back asswards

 

[Sweetcorn]

More than you realize....
H/C Faucets are backwards
Bicycle brakes are backwards
ViseGrip release lever works opposite direction
Light switches are upside down

& there's at least another 20 things I've noticed that are back asswards

So what's keeping you here?

 

[ZRX61]

So what's keeping you here?

Perhaps you could point out where I said it was a problem?