How to set up windows in concrete wall

If the function of specific spaces is changed or lights are necessary in garages or basements, the windows should be installed in concrete wall. The work should be carried out in a perfect manner based on the relevant codes other than taking suggestions of a structural engineer so that the loads can be transmitted perfectly over the window throughout making opening, erection of lintels, and window installations.

The window installation process in concrete wall comprises different steps like indicating boundary of the window on the wall, arranging L- shape steel or building up reinforced concrete beam as a lintel, creating an opening inside specified boundary, smooth edge of the opening, placement of windows, and at the end deployment of water proving agent around the frame of the window.

Installation methods of Windows in Brick Masonry Wall

Forming Opening:

1. Prior to form opening, verify that the wall apart from opening is sufficient to sustain the load delivering to the structure.
2. Inspect different obstacles like buried utilities, shrubbery, indoor wiring and ductwork.
3. All the structural members standing on the walls with direct bearing over the area in which opening are created, should be perfectly supported with props to reduce the load from masonry wall unless the lintel over the opening can bear the load sufficiently.

4. The segment to be disassembled should be properly labeled on both sides of the wall.
5. Disassembling should be done from top to bottom inside the marked area.
6. The sides of the opening should be equivalent and perpendicular to the plane of wall.

Construction of Lintel:

1. The lintel should be constantly cast first in the opening made for the purpose.
2. One side of the shuttering should be uncovered initially till the concrete is placed.
3. The shuttering should then be secured for half of the opening and concreting is finished.
4. Curing of lintel casted should be kept for a minimum period of 7 days.
5. Sometimes, L-shaped steel beam may be applied as a lintel.

Installing Window:

1. Make a wood casing that is attached with the concrete opening with screw.
2. Frame the bottom shelf with an angle in order that the water striking the window will get away from it.
3. Flash the complete wood casing with the primer perfectly.
4. Install window in the flashed opening and provide sufficient space all around the window for insulation.
5. Fill that space with low expansion polyurethane spray foam.
6. In a concrete wall with no wood framing, install the window framework by fixing it into the concrete wall with self-tapping concrete screws.
7. For a block wall installation, fix with rust-resistant screws with a toe-nail method through the jambs into the head and sill boards at each corner.

8. Reduce the window into the framed opening, inserting the bottom window edge initially, then tipping in the top.
9. Shim the window from both the interior and exterior sides till it is level, square, and flush with the exterior side of the basement wall. Keep in mind that the window should not get damaed with extreme shim pressure.
10. Use expanding foam to the window frame gap created by the shims. Allow the foam to cure for minimum one hour before trimming the excess.
11. Use sealant around the window frame joint on both the exterior and interior sides.

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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
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Variations among Load Bearing Wall and Partition Wall

The wall is categorized as follow: Load Bearing Wall, Partition Wall.

Load Bearing Walls: If beams and columns are not utilized (Frame Structure), load from roof and floors are transmitted to foundation through walls. Such walls are known as bearing walls.

The purpose of these walls is to securely transmit the load. The vital section of the walls is located adjacent to the openings of doors and windows and the positions where concrete beams stand. Minimum wall thickness should be 200 mm. The slenderness ratio of wall called as ratio of effective length or effective height to thickness should not surpass 27.

Effective height of walls with respect to actual height H

a. Lateral as well as rotational restraint 0.75 H
b. Lateral as well as rotational restraint at one end and only lateral 0.85 H restraint at other.
c. Lateral restraint but no rotational restraint at both ends 1.0 H
d. Lateral and rotational restraint at one end and no restraint at other 1.5 H

Effective length of walls of length L

a. Continuous and supported by cross walls 0.8 Length.
b. Continuous at one end and supported by cross walls at 0.9 Length the other end.
c. Wall supported by cross walls at each end 1.0 Length.
d. Free at one end and continuous at other end 1.5 Length.
e. Free at one end and supported by cross wall at other end 2.0 Length.

2. Partition Walls: If the structure belongs to frame structure than partition walls are constructed to separate floor area for different Utilities and it stands on floors. The partition walls are used to bear only self weight. Generally partition walls are thin. According to the requirement, these walls range from clay brick partition, Fly ash bricks partition, glass panel partition, wood panel partition, and aluminium and glass panels partition.

Variations among load bearing wall and partition walls

LOAD BEARING WALL

a. They bear loads from roof, floor, self-weight etc.
b. They are solid and capture more floor area.
c. Since the quantity of material is more, the construction cost is higher.
d. Stones or bricks are the main material for building up the wall.

PARTITION WALL

a. They bear self-weight only.
b. These walls are thin and as a result capture less floor area
c. Since, the quantity of material is less, the construction cost is reduced.
d. Stones are not applied for building up the walls.

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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
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Distinctive Construction Joints Details and Spot for Beams and Columns

During the need of concreting termination for the day or more than 30 minutes or so; construction joints in RCC beams and columns are necessary. In such circumstances, regular construction joints shall be provided for the reason that bond is maintained between set concrete and fresh concrete properly.

The provided images below portray proper process of construction joints to be provided in columns, beams and beam-column junction.

1. Construction Joints in Column

The figure below highlights accurate procedure of supplying construction joint in column. One thing should be kept in mind that smooth or tilted surface is not appropriate for providing construction joint in column. With parts of visible coarse aggregates the column’s top surface should be rough.

2. Construction Joints in Beams and Beam-Column Joint

The figure as following give you an idea about the typical construction joint to be provided in beams and beam column joints.

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

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How to place stirrups with proper structural drawings in a column

This construction video is recorded on the topic of how to organize stirrups for a column that contains 12nos of vertical bar. Learn to apply various structural drawings for organizing stirrups.

Stirrup can be defined as follows :-

1. A reinforcement useful for withstanding shear and diagonal tension stresses in a concrete structural member.

2. A steel bar that is curved into a "U" or box shape and arranged perpendicular to, or at an angle to the longitudinal reinforcement, and perfectly anchored.

3. Lateral reinforcement that is developed with separate units, open or closed, or of uninterruptedly wound reinforcement. The word stirrups is generally used with lateral reinforcement in flexural members and the term is linked with lateral reinforcement in vertical compression members.

Concrete beams contain different depth. If the beam contains more depth, the shear strength will be increased. If the depth is insufficient, steel stirrups should be included to enhance the shear strength of the beam. These stirrups generally refer to one piece of steel that is curved into a quadrilateral shape. Generally small diameter steel like #3 and #4 rebar is applied. The stirrup normally covers around the bottom and top bars of the beams.

As the stirrup is built up from two pieces having insufficient lap splice, it is recommended to set up a stirrup simultaneously when the horizontal reinforcement is being set up.

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

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