I have opened two of my walls to convert double windows to french doors. Discovered all my stud bays havd been filled to a floor height of two feet with concrete. The house is framed with the studs running to the top sill plate which is on the concrete foundation. In the basement there is 2X8 blocking on the sill. When this is removed there is concrete. The concrete was poured after the shingle nails were placed. The house is 40 -50 years old. Is this some kind of fire stop or is it some kind of bullet proofing? The concrete is much harder to break up than usual foundation concrete. It gives the Hitachi demolition hammer a work out.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Old masonry may look tough, but the wrong mortar can destroy it—here's how to choose the right mix for lasting repairs.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
I've never seen it done with concrete but I have seen it in similar aged houses with that cavity filled in with brick. It might be firestopping but I think it's an attempt at insulation.
I've seen it on a few older homes in my area, but never to the depth of 2 ft. Try snaking something through there ;)PaulB
You can't snake through it. It is solid and very tough concrete. It gives the demolition hammer and me a workout. Above it is regular fiberglass insulation, so unlikely to be for insulation.
Tell me about it, that's why I said what I did. And you can snake through it, but boy does it suck.PaulB
And you can snake through it, but boy does it suck.
I'm guessing (and to let kdd "off the hook") that you mean with the laborious abuse of electrical tools and the complete disregard for any sort of expected lifespan for flex bits, right? <G>Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Indeed...with lifespan measured in inches bored (the bits, that is)
But it was a billable expense.PaulB
But it was a billable expense
LoL! Frightening to contemplate the sins carried out under that aegis . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Yep, sounds like old school firestopping and it's always a PIA to deal with. Can't for the life of me imagine why it would extend 2' though. I'm sure someone older and wiser than myself will be along to explain it though.
I've seen it done with brick and plaster up that high.I wonder sometimes if maybe vermin proofing was part of the deal. Kind of a "let's be unfreindly to rats" game
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Good point about the rats.... never thought of that.View Image