Fixing Wall to column

[richard7761]

Hi. In the picture, you see a half-brick wall on the left side of the thick line I've drawn on the brickwork. To the right of the thick line, is brickwork I've called the column. I was going to put angle iron at the corner, welded to struts that were going to be screwed into the column brickwork. But, I've changed my mind. I've now decided to fix the wall to the column using some sort of screw/bolt fixing system at points indicated by the dots. Then, I'll put a regular corner piece at the corner, that plasterer's use.

Okay, I think I may need screws or bolts about 200mm long. Why? Because the screw/bolt has to go through brick 100mm deep (thickness of the half-brick wall), then, I'm guessing, it needs to sink 100mm into the column brickwork.

Can anyone recommend the kind of fixing I'd need? Any comments? Thanks.

Edit1: I'd put plates on ends, as giant washers.

Fixing wall to column

• richard7761
• 6 May 2013
• 1

 

[richard7761]

http://www.tooled-up.com/product/ra...//www.tooled-up.com/subcat/frame-fixings/775/

I don't know if frame fixing components are kosher, or not.


Or maybe sleeve anchor fixings like:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M16-X-150..._Material_Nails_Fixing_MJ&hash=item2eab52fbb7

 

[tony1851]

Screwing or bolting brickwork-to-brickwork is not ideal.
Is this wall/column junction structural? Is it an existing arrangement that you wish to strengthen, or is it a proposal?

 

[richard7761]

Screwing or bolting brickwork-to-brickwork is not ideal.
Is this wall/column junction structural? Is it an existing arrangement that you wish to strengthen, or is it a proposal?

Well, the half-brick internal wall (which is central, running parallel with roof apex) is structural inasmuch as it holds up bedroom ceilings. But, it's not taking forces from the roof. The half-brick wall is tied-in to another wall, running perpendicular to it, about 3 foot back from the corner point. So, it's not likely the wall is going to move away from the column as it is at present. But, I am just thinking about putting some bolts in because it can only make things better than they are.

 

[tony1851]

It's ok to set bolts or threaded bar into brickwork. But if you are tightening up against a second brickwork element, you will risk cracking the brickwork behind the nut and washer. If you think about
it, you need to tighten the nut up with considerable force to get the two elements together. This will cause tension in parts of the thinner wall, which will crack, probably along a mortar joint(s)

Why bother tying the walls together, if the thinner one is only supporting a ceiling?

 

[^woody^]

Why can't you just bond it?

 

[richard7761]

That picture shows how it is. I've done the work already. If I had been smarter, I'd have bonded the wall into the column. But, I was thinking about making it simpler for myself, (I thought, by using angle iron at the corner, with struts bolted into the column) so the wall is not bonded to the column brickwork.

Given that the wall is bonded to a perpendicular wall, no more than 4 feet from the end of the wall, things are pretty stable. But, I still feel to affix that wall end to that column brickwork.

If I use bolts, I'd have to tighten to a level that was not inducing stress into the wall. Yes, that is a very relevent an important issue and I'm glad that was pointed out.

Another way, is to simply use 4mm steel bar bent at right angles and to screw that to brickwork. That would work for the top section of the wall and might be adequate.

I think bolts would probably be okay, actually, but there cannot be induced stress in that wall.

If I did use bolts, would it be better to drill in-between bricks? That is, in the cement between bricks? Thanks.

EDIT1: What I also could have done, is used wire ties I think.

 

[tony1851]

Why do you feel so strongly that the two walls SHOULD be fixed together?
Yes, in an ideal world they would be bonded or otherwise connected, but if the half-brickk wall is supporting a ceiling, it will receive some lateral restraint; it might also be receiving some restraiint fom a floor?

What forces would have to arise to make you concerned about the situation?