Building Types - your views

[rtcosic]

I understand the purpose of pillars in single skin walls.

The garage in my son's garage has the strangest pillars I have seen.
The ones I have seen before are made of the same material as the wall and bonded into the run of bricks or blocks.
I can understand how such pillars can prevent the wall from bowing etc.

These pillars are block 'attached' to a brick wall solely by the mortar bond. The block joints do not align with the vertical or horizontal brick ones so there cannot be any metal ties in there.
The mortar 'join' is cracking.

One pillar happens to be about 50mm into a space we want to use for the workbench so we would like to take the angry grinder and diamond disc to trim 50mm off the vertical run for its full height.

I don't see these 'tacked on' pillars doing very much structurally so I don't see a problem with this.

Views?

View media item 9769
No there is no purpose to the row of bricks at the top - the pillars are NOT directly supporting any vertical load.

 

[Shedendman]

They might be tied in to the skin behind the blocks,judging by the course runs i cant see that

 

[tflnemesis]

Could they be there just to try and take some flex out of the wall? Just giving it a bit of rigidity? I would have thought they would need to be tied in somehow?
Sorry no answers just more questions...

 

[GW8IZR]

If it was added after the original build to satisfy some requirement, maybe the ties are resined into the original wall?

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

Are the pillars on opposite sides of the garage? If so, might they have been a later addition, installed to support a cross-beam for an engine hoist?

 

[GW8IZR]

Are the pillars on opposite sides of the garage? If so, might they have been a later addition, installed to support a cross-beam for an engine hoist?

yes, even if the beam was never fitted.. half finished project.

 

[garethp]

I've used ties that are half tie and half screw;

Drill and put a plug into the wall to match the course of the new wall or pillar, screw the tie in and build. I don't think you'll ever know for sure if they are tied in. The cracking could be shrinkage due to too much cement in the mortar.

 

[Fazerruss]

The builder could have used these ties which don't require the joints to line up.


If the pillar is in the way it's an easy job to move it if you are good with a trowel. Couple of hours at most

 

[Wallace]

Ties might show up with a stud finder.

 

[rtcosic]

They might be tied in to the skin behind the blocks,judging by the course runs i cant see that

Course runs don't match up, so 'traditional' wall ties can't be in there.
But look at other types of ties posted by Garethp and Fazerruss.

 

[rtcosic]

Are the pillars on opposite sides of the garage? If so, might they have been a later addition, installed to support a cross-beam for an engine hoist?

No. Located where pillars ought to be. This particular pillar is opposite the up and over doors. The original owner was not a DIY type.

 

[rtcosic]

Ties might show up with a stud finder.

Purchase of one is in the plan.

 

[rtcosic]

The builder could have used these ties which don't require the joints to line up.

If the pillar is in the way it's an easy job to move it if you are good with a trowel. Couple of hours at most

I have built a small garden wall before. Plumb, straight and true, but took me ages and the first few courses did wondrous things to my back!

So not exactly 'handy' with a trowel, but good enough to tackle a job like that inside a garage where it won't be seen and covered with paint at a later date.

Thanks for pointing those ties to me. I have seen them before but didn't think of them for this application.

Similarly thanks Garethp for pointing out the screw-in type - they seem cheaper and appeal to my Northumbrian sensitivities.

I knew this Forum would deliver a sensible response to ANY vaguely rational question.

Off to Google screw-in wall ties.

 

[rtcosic]

So:

https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Co...ainless+Steel+Screw-In+Wallstarter+Tie/p63017

https://www.screwfix.com/p/sabrefix-screw-ties-25-pack/31633#product_additional_details_container

https://bsfixings.uk/bluebird-screw...1L_-bMLjYLUmaZkYldYvgKwLC8hkPN7RoCkF4QAvD_BwE

Toolstation or Screwfix are easiest to get - my son rides past them both on his commute.

The BS Fixings ones look 'best'.

Toolstation look OK and are stainless.

Any reason NOT to get the Toolstation ones?

 

[pedrobedro]

Do any of the courses line up ? They don't put a tie in every one. Wire ties can be bent to accommodate some mismatch if the joints are close enough

 

[bigegg]

I used the toolstation ones (the first picture) to tie my conservatory half wall to the house - it's only 45in tall, but its not fallen down yet.
They were easy enough to use, and seem to be ok.
IANABuilder.

 

[fixerupper]

There used be a thing we called crocodile tyes....a galve strip that got hilti nailed to the wall ...got used when building an extension very easy and quick ....

 

[rtcosic]

IANABuilder.

Oh goody - a new acronym to learn!

 

[wookie]

How about replacing them with something else ?

When I lived up north the building inspector was happy with my pillars when I built a garage, I used 2x4 steel box bolted to the joists above and rawlbolted to the wall and floor.

Minimal protrusion into the garage, that was important because it was a narrow garage that I squeezed in, and once he's gone you can weld all sorts of stuff to the box

 

[rtcosic]

How about replacing them with something else ?

When I lived up north the building inspector was happy with my pillars when I built a garage, I used 2x4 steel box bolted to the joists above and rawlbolted to the wall and floor.

Minimal protrusion into the garage, that was important because it was a narrow garage that I squeezed in, and once he's gone you can weld all sorts of stuff to the box

Ah - you were listening in to the conversation we had about doing just that on the pillar between the two up and over doors. That one is a 'proper' 1 and 1/2 bat square brick pillar supporting the two lintels (or possible one continuous lintel) and with a two block 'support' behind it protruding into the garage.
We considered replacing the block 'support' with whatever was the largest column lurking in my brother in law's workshop.