What is supporting the bricks above my window?

Ruski

Tut, tut, tut...

cyclonebri1

Ruski wrote: »

Nope!

Outer skin built around and atop the original timber windowframes, inner skin supported by 6x1 (whilst being laid) and then the cavity between is filled with rebar and concrete (aka cast in situ) - thus making the skins 'at one' with eachother and the rebar gives it the strength. Weep holes in the next course up.

Obviously building control wouldn't allw this any more - but it was common practice on the 60's, especially on bungalows.

As they say - you learn something new every day :beer:

HTH

Russ

I must admit I haven't seen any like this, maybe it's a regional thing.
Most 30's houses and bungalows in my area had substantial wooden windows with, as you say, the outer skin brick work simply sat on the window. A wooden 6 x 3 timber provided support for the inner skin.
The worrying thing is that 1 know of many that have had the old load bearing windows removed and NO support lintel installed before fitting plastic windows :eek::eek:

I apologise if they ever did them like you state above, it sounds incredible, you would have the weight of 2 skins of brick work and the concrete resting more or less totally on the window frame. Ok some slight support from the over hangs, but then again I've seen stranger things than that.

Ruski

Your apology is accepted.

Russ

tony6403

Ruski wrote: »

That's why they fail over time and like I said wouldn't be allowed now - but that's what I've got - in fact all the properties in my close are the same (no suprise there!)

Absurd it is - all I'm enlightening you to is the fact that this IS a method used in the past

Have fun with your new knowledge, just don't go copying it :beer:

Russ

Mate , built as you describe , I would think that they would fail after half an hour.
Out of interest do you have a pic. showing where this has been done?
Are you totally sure that a reinforced lintel has not been formed on top of the inner leaf and not just some concrete in the cavity?
Otherwise the window frame would offer support to the outer leaf but the more important ( structurally ) inner leaf would have nothing to hold it up.

cyclonebri1

tony6403 wrote: »

Mate , built as you describe , I would think that they would fail after half an hour.
Out of interest do you have a pic. showing where this has been done?
Are you totally sure that a reinforced lintel has not been formed on top of the inner leaf and not just some concrete in the cavity?
Otherwise the window frame would offer support to the outer leaf but the more important ( structurally ) inner leaf would have nothing to hold it up.

Tony, this is a new 1 to me too, I also think it ludicrous.
But, I think I understand how it could work if done perfectly.

It totally depends on the concrete extending over the wall at either side of the window void. (albeit inside the cavity.)
If at that point reinforcing is inserted across all 3 skins, then there is some support:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: Crap method although plausible I suppose.

Congrats Russ on the most obscure construction method of the past this year.:T:T:T:T, ;)