Hi guys, I usually post in knots but this time I have a construction question for you.
I need to cut a 3’Hx5’W opening from my garage (attached) into my basement shop. I’ll be cutting into cinder block and brick. The garage was added on a later date from the house and they butted the cinder blocks onto the original brickwork. My question is how do I support the opening? The cut has to be at ground level to the garage in order for the opening to be at 4′ height in the basement. Is this too big a project for a furniture maker? Let me have it!
George
Replies
5' wide is pretty wide.. you have to make provisions for a header or lintel to carry whatever load the wall is currently carrying..
cutting the hole is the easy part...
you can smash it with a sledge hammer and trim the sides with a diamond blade ... wear a respirator.. keep the block/brick damp
NAPALM
We always get it right!!!
the third time....
"Almost certain death, small chance of success.... What are we waiting for???"
you still have some left over??
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I got thre recipe.
isnt it Gasoline and Mr Bubble ??
We always get it right!!!
the third time....
<!----><!---->
"Almost certain death, small chance of success.... What are we waiting for???"
nope...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Hey! Mr.Bubble ain't got nothing on me...
sobriety is the root cause of dementia.
Someone else will need to confirm this, but I beleive attached garages must have a 8" high concrete wall along the side that is attached. By cutting flush with the garage floor you will have a violation.
As for cutting the opening: a 5' wide opening will require temp support. One way to get this is to pop out a block, two courses above your intended opening, run a header through it (perp to the wall) and then install some temp support legs for the header.
Next: mark the cutline of the opening. The top line should extend 6" beyond the vertical lines. Then mark a line for one brick course (concrete or clay) + 2 mortar joints, above the top line. Also, extend this line 6" beyond the vertical marks. The 6" is for the seat of the lintel.
Rent a mason's/ concrete saw from the local homecenter. This is a big saw. Only do this if you are VERY comfortable with power tools. Not a job for tourists. It also kicks up alot of dust. Have someone there with a vacuum sucking up the dust as you cut. Wear ear protection.
Cut out the perimeter of the opening first. Then start breaking out the block using a sledge hammer. This is a lot of work. Aim for the third points on the block. After you break out the block, then cut the shoulders/ seats for the lintels.
The lintels should be 3" x 3" L's. You will need 2 of them, each 6' long. The vertical part of the L will be in ther center of the wall thickness. The horizontal leg will support the header course of brick. Be sure to tuck in adequate mortar between the brick and the existing block above.
After installing ther header, you can parge the side walls, even embed some blocking for the jamb or trim.
Remove the temp support 7 days after the lintel and brick header is installed.
Frankie
The first rule of Fight Club is - you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is - you DO NOT talk about Fight Club. Third rule of Fight Club, someone yells Stop!, goes limp, taps out, the fight is over. Fourth rule, only two guys to a fight. Fifth rule, one fight at a time, fellas. Sixth rule, no shirt, no shoes. Seventh rule, fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth and final rule, if this is your first night at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I certainly do not know details, but I believe there is a way to cut a slot for the steel lintel, slide it in (probably with epoxy), and then cut the opening.
As for creating a penetration is a fire wall, I think you just need to use a fire rated door, such as a steel one. Perhaps it also has to have an automatic closer or something. Otherwise, how could you ever have attached garages?