I need to hire a contractor to extend an existing cinder block wall. It’s a relatively small project about 30 feet long by 5 feet tall.
What are the key things to make sure the wall contractor does ?
How do they attach the wall to the exisit wall ‘pillar’, or does it just butt up against it ?
What about footing, how deep should they dig, should they pour a base foundation first ?
Should they ‘fill’ the cinder blocks with concrete ? Rebar ?
The ground has been untouched for at least 50 years, will the new wall settle and how should they account for it ? Anything else ? The job is in So. California if it matters. Thanks for your inputs !
Kirk
Replies
The wall wont settle if the footings are dug a minimum 6" INTO the hard gound. In earthquake country dig a 2' post hole every 10' , it will keep the wall from tipping.
To determind if the footing is on good soil, try stabbing a piece of rebar into the ground. If the bar can only be pushed in an inch with all you weight, its good. Ground too soft will let a rebar sink a few feet.
Have you noticed brick or block caps falling off all the time. Masons dont wet them first, so the dry units suck out all the mortar and so it doesnt bond. Wet the masonry units with a hose.
Look at your neighbors walls, do they have big crack? It will indicate the type of ground in the area. A joint might be needed if cracking is common there
There are building code standards in CA for free standing block walls. Go to the building department and get the true word. Not that I'm disagreeing with anything the previous responder wrote.
Follow up to Uncle Dunc.
You will need to have some rudimentry drawing of what you are proposing. Is it a screen wall, retaining wall, etc. There is a lot more to doing it right than just laying seven courses of block, but you know that already.
Dave