question for the block mason'

[DTE]

I am getting ready to start back on my building and I called to get a quote on block, mortar and lintels. The last 2 block buildings I put up (35 and 24 years ago ) I used solid 8in by 8in 12 foot concrete lintels. I see that now they have concrete lintels with a channel in them. So my question is which are better ? Any thoughts, I will have 12 ft lintels spanning a 9 ft opening. My mason has seen them but has not set any. So I assume you add your rebar and fill them with ready mix concrete, seems like after all that you would be farther ahead just using the solid lintel, but he channeled ones I have seen online have a slot on the bottom at the ends, would that allow you to bend some rebar and tie them to the previous courses ?

 

[brownbagg]

I am a masonry inspector for the city, they are both about equal, just if you got enough hands on deck to pick up the concrete ones

 

[AndyCBR]

I am getting ready to start back on my building and I called to get a quote on block, mortar and lintels. The last 2 block buildings I put up (35 and 24 years ago ) I used solid 8in by 8in 12 foot concrete lintels. I see that now they have concrete lintels with a channel in them. So my question is which are better ? Any thoughts, I will have 12 ft lintels spanning a 9 ft opening. My mason has seen them but has not set any. So I assume you add your rebar and fill them with ready mix concrete, seems like after all that you would be farther ahead just using the solid lintel, but he channeled ones I have seen online have a slot on the bottom at the ends, would that allow you to bend some rebar and tie them to the previous courses ?

Down south we don't see a lot of concrete lintels. Any block openings are spanned with a U block. Long/shallow U ("lintel") for short openings and Deep U ("horse collar") for wider openings. Once filled with rebar and concrete you essentially have built a concrete beam inside the masonry unit.

If you already have masons onsite pouring cells the concrete filled U blocks are the way to go and much more economical. Also if the block is exposed they tend to look better due to the bonding of the blocks being consistent across the opening.

 

[DTE]

No Mason's around today?

 

[Ironcrow]

I use Powers Steel galvanized sheet metal lintels, shore them up, lay the block across with rebar bond, pour the cells full.

 

[chops101]

It is going to depend on your location as to what is accepted practice. What works in one area may not pass in another.

I'm no mason, but I have done a deep dive on construction practices in my area out of necessity.

Here where it is all about wind survivability, there are two practices: precast manufactured concrete lintels that are spec'd by a design engineer to work with the roof structure and tie in the walls laterally; and "cast-in-place" lintels that are formed completely (no block involved) with a specific concrete type and specific rebar size with specific rebar count (usually 2 of #5 rebar in the bottom of lintel, and 2 of #5 in the top)

 

[kbs2244]

If allowed by local code, the U shaped ones filled on site with rebar and concrete, not mortar, are easier to install just because they are lighter to lift into place.
You do tie them in to the course below.