Masonry

Essentials of
Masonry

shpslogo.jpg (6992 bytes)

Part 2--Construct a Concrete-Block Wall

INTERSECTING WALLS

Depending on the type of wall, intersecting walls are tied together with tie bars or meal laths.

2-23. Bearing Walls. Bearing walls or blocks in intersecting load-bearing walls should not be interlocked in a bond. Instead, terminate one wall at the face of the other with a control joint at the point where they intersect.

a. Placing Tie Bars. Tie bearing walls together with a tie bar that has a right angle bend on each end. Place a metal lath over the core in the outside wall to support the concrete or mortar for the next course (Figure 2-23).

Figure 2-23. A tie bar and metal lath

b. Spacing Tie Bars. Space tie bars no more than 4 feet apart vertically. Fill the core of the block with mortar or concrete and embed the right angle bend of the tie bar in the core (Figure 2-24).

Figure 2-24. Filling the core with mortar

2-24. Nonbearing Walls. To tie nonbearing walls to other walls, place metal-lath strips across the joints in alternate courses between the two walls (Figure 2-25). If one wall is constructed first, build the metal laths into the first wall. Later, tie the metal laths into the mortar joints of the second wall and construct control joints where the two walls meet (Figure 2-26).

Figure 2-25. Metal lath spanning the joint

Figure 2-26. Metal lath built into the first wall

ANCHOR BOLTS

To fasten top plates to the top of concrete-block walls, you must use anchor bolts.

2-25. Spacing of Anchor Bolts. Anchor bolts should be spaced no more than 4 feet apart. Place a metal lath in the second horizontal mortar joint from the top of the wall wherever you plan to install an anchor bolt (Figure 2-27).

Figure 2-27. Placing metal lath

2-26. Installing Anchor Bolts. In the top course of the wall, place the bolts in the cores of the selected blocks. Fill these cores with concrete or mortar, and extend the threaded end of the bolt above the top of the wall (Figure 2-28). Attach the top plates to the anchor bolts after the mortar has set.

Figure 2-28. Installing anchor bolts in the top course of the wall

Primary Content Provider: U.S. Army
Publisher: SweetHaven Publishing Services