Hey all its DIY Pino here.
I’m removing a window from my old rock face CMU basement wall. The top of the window frame rested right up against the bottom of the mud sill, no header and spans about three feet. I’m going to be installing a new window that is shorter, hence I’ll put in place a steel angle lintel with a row of CMU on top, tight up to the mud sill.
My question is simple – Do I set the CMU in a bed of mortar or just mortar the joints?
Hope this makes sense.
Edited 3/4/2006 11:43 am by pino
Replies
repair work is diffucult, if it was me. I would tapcon some plywood to the opening making a form. add some rebar and pour concrete through a hole at top of form. most lintels around here or open litnel block or U shape lintel block with rebar and concrete.
How old is the house/ basement? It must have a lintel. How else would the CMUs be staying in place?
My guess is the exsiting wood frame was motared into place since it could not be nailed into a lintel. Note: The lintel is not full wall thickness. It may only be 4" wide.
Frankie
There he goes—one of God's own prototypes—a high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.
—Hunter S. Thompson
from Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
The house is 85 years old. I don't think I made myself too clear. Currently the top of the window frame rests directly against the mud sill. (pic 1) I want to reduce the window opening size and run a course of CMU on top of the new window frame, hence I assume the need for a lintel. (pic 2)FWIW, the rock face CMU in pick two were made from my antique machine and have been acid stained. I haven't yet wire brushed down the acid stain finish. On previous samples once done, the new block looks almost identical to the 85 year old stuff.
Oh.Yes, the CMUs, when set on a lintel, are set in mortar for continious bearing. Mortar top, sides and bottom.FThere he goes—one of God's own prototypes—a high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.—Hunter S. Thompson
from Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
Thank you.