Strange looking Stem Wall Change

[tampascl]

Not a garage question, but I've got a stem wall going up on my new house. The tallest portion of the stem wall was initially built to about 6 or 7 feet, but that was a mistake, so more blocks had to be brought in to add another three courses (2 feet) of height. when the masons came today, I expected them to simply add more block, but instead they cut out sections of the wall so they could insert what seems to be columns every 5 feet or so. I've never seen this before. Anyone else? They added these not only on the back wall of the house, which will end up being around 9' tall, but they did the same thing on the side walls, even where it will be around 4 or 5 feet tall.

 

[The Cobbler]

looks like columns to support the inward pressure of the walls. are they core filling & dowelling the blocks?

 

[Hank11]

Somebody lost their *** on that job.
I'd sure ask the GC what's the plan.

 

[yeldogt]

why are do you have twin walls ?

 

[billconner]

Well, it's very interesting, but I don't know the answer. The inspection ports for the grout suggests a very careful and experienced designer.

 

[mike93lx]

Looks interesting...subscribing to see what the feedback is.

 

[jarhead]

It’s called a parapet, at least that’s what it was called on my foundation plans 28 years ago.

 

[WNYflyer]

I call them "Pilasters". In commercial construction they are often supporting a beam/truss/ etc. Pilasters are also used to force the masonry block to span horizontally between pilasters rather than vertically between horizontal supports such as roof and floor diaphragms. In this case it looks like perhaps someone decided the masonry wall was not capable of spanning vertically for whatever reason so they reinforced the wall with pilaster's spaced appropriately to force the wall to also span horizontally, if that is the case I would be interested in seeing how they are tying off the top of the pilasters since lateral load would now be concentrated at those locations assuming it is not some type of retaining wall design. Without all the plans tough to tell reasons why they were added though. But as always ask the contractor.

 

[walrus]

Are the new additions on a/the footing?

 

[strutaeng]

CMU pilasters, but normally are 16x16 or larger. Not sure what's going on. Can't comment from just one photo.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I call them "Pilasters". In commercial construction they are often supporting a beam/truss/ etc. Pilasters are also used to force the masonry block to span horizontally between pilasters rather than vertically between horizontal supports such as roof and floor diaphragms. In this case it looks like perhaps someone decided the masonry wall was not capable of spanning vertically for whatever reason so they reinforced the wall with pilaster's spaced appropriately to force the wall to also span horizontally, if that is the case I would be interested in seeing how they are tying off the top of the pilasters since lateral load would now be concentrated at those locations assuming it is not some type of retaining wall design. Without all the plans tough to tell reasons why they were added though. But as always ask the contractor.

Well, I think I'm following you or what you're saying. I was going to suggest that the cut block laying on top are going to be bond beam. But looking at them again, one side is cut, not the center like a bond beam. Further looking at the picture, I spy another row of block right side of the picture.

So this makes me wonder if this is a front porch area with a poured concrete floor. OP, what part of the house is this ? More pictures ?

 

[billconner]

Where is this? in US?

 

[Toolfool]

Where is this? in US?

His screen name says Tampa.