Strengthening openings in any walls. Strengthening openings. Strengthening load-bearing walls Strengthening openings using reinforcing mesh

When the standard layout does not suit homeowners, they decide on their own apartment, trying to change it in accordance with their ideas about comfort and coziness. The same applies to owners of non-residential premises, who sometimes have to improve the quality of the operated areas of the building and change their functional purpose.

Very often, such redevelopment involves a load-bearing wall or an expansion of an existing one. In this case, it is necessary to reinforce it with metal profiles to maintain the strength and reliability of the house structure.

Reinforcing a doorway in a load-bearing wall

Typically, all measures to strengthen the doorway in the load-bearing wall are carried out before the door block is installed, and only in accordance with the redevelopment project, which was developed by the author of the house project or a design organization with SRO approval and approved by the housing inspection.

This is preceded by a procedure for examining the condition of the building and the degree of deterioration of its supporting structures. Based on the collected facts, the author of the house project prepares a technical report, which gives an unambiguous answer to the question whether redevelopment in this room with the creation of a doorway in the wall is possible or not.

Technical conclusion on the admissibility and safety of repair work:

If the author of the house project allows such work to be carried out, then development is necessary. It will contain detailed information (drawings, diagrams, materials consumption sheet) on the design and strengthening of the doorway, including the procedure for carrying out the work, the location of installation of the metal structure, the method of its fastening, the tool used, etc.

Measures to strengthen the opening in a brick wall

Load-bearing walls and partitions in a number of houses (old buildings, individual and some standard projects) are made of brick. Strengthening a doorway in a brick wall has its own peculiarity, which lies in the need to strengthen it in a special way even before the dismantling work begins. To prevent cracking and crumbling of the masonry, builders make horizontal grooves on both sides of the wall above the proposed entrance, install a reinforcement lintel of two channels with a plant along the edges of the opening and fasten them together with tie rods. After this, an opening is cut out and a U-shaped frame is installed from metal profiles - channels or corners, which gives the brick wall additional stability.

In interior non-load-bearing partitions, the opening, as a rule, does not need to be reinforced with metal structures. In this case, the door frame takes on the load immediately after installation.

How to strengthen a doorway in a concrete wall

When an opening is made in a concrete wall, it partially loses its load-bearing capacity. Therefore, before dismantling work begins, temporary support safety posts are installed in panel and brick houses, taking on part of the load of the upper floors. The type of temporary supports, their number and installation location are determined by the calculations presented in the design documentation.

These can be formwork telescopic racks, operating on the principle of a jack, which are extended to the required height. Or ordinary metal pipes with a fixed size.

After the additional supports are installed, the doorway is constructed and subsequently strengthened in the concrete wall using a U-shaped frame made of channels (corners) and transverse metal plates, which is welded to the support heels at the base. The structure is fastened to the wall with reinforcement pins or anchors, after which the voids between the metal and concrete are filled with cement mortar.

The timing and cost of strengthening a doorway depend on the size of the structure, the type of rolled metal, the complexity and scale of the work performed.

As practice shows, it will be better if all the measures for constructing and strengthening openings are carried out by one company. This provides an additional guarantee of the quality of the work performed, and thanks to the coherence and coordination of actions, it significantly saves the customer’s time and money.

Only organizations with an SRO certificate for carrying out repair and construction work have the right to carry out work on cutting and strengthening a doorway in a wall.

The SpetsStroyMontazh company has such permission. Therefore, at any time, at your request, as part of the redevelopment of residential and non-residential premises, we can cut out an additional opening for the door and carry out the necessary actions to strengthen it. Contact us!

Many people do redevelopment of residential premises during major renovations, but do not always comply with the necessary requirements for carrying out such work. However, it is important to take into account all the standards for the safe implementation of structural changes in the load-bearing elements of the building.

How to properly reinforce an opening in a brick wall

The design of each building must be as safe as possible. Therefore, such elements as window and door openings are always given special attention when carrying out construction or repair work. After all, if they are not strong enough, this can lead to the destruction of the building.

In brick houses built from such small-piece material, the use of especially reliable technologies for strengthening openings is required.

When you need to strengthen

If a new house is being built, then when drawing up the project, the most suitable method of strengthening door and window openings and arches is taken into account. But there are situations when it is necessary to strengthen the opening in an existing building.

Cases when it is necessary to strengthen openings:

1. If the walls of the building have become deformed, cracked due to time or mechanical damage. The technical condition of the house needs to be monitored. If cracks appear, the cement bonding layer is destroyed, or bricks fall out, restoration work must be urgently carried out. Timely measures taken will help keep the premises in good condition longer.
2. When redevelopment is carried out, the holes are widened or they are made in other places. In these cases, reinforcements are installed even before new openings are dismantled. First, you need to draw up a project for carrying out the work, after consulting with a specialist, whether it is possible to break through the wall in the chosen place, and whether this will weaken the structure of the building.
3. When replacing windows, you need to check before carrying out the work how strong the opening is, and, if necessary, pre-strengthen it before dismantling the old window.

Do I need permission?

Reconstruction and strengthening of a finished window or door unit is not reconstruction and therefore does not require special permission. But during redevelopment, when you have to punch a new hole in the wall, you must fill out the appropriate documents. Without them, such work will be considered unauthorized and may entail not only administrative problems, but also lead the building into disrepair.

First of all, you need to conduct a survey of the premises, inviting specialists to do this. If the house is already old and multi-storey, then due to its dilapidation it is unlikely to be able to obtain such permission. Another situation is when the neighbors above or below have already done redevelopment. Then the new door can only be made on the same level as the one in their apartment. Because placing openings in one wall at different levels can greatly weaken its load-bearing capacity.

Methods for strengthening openings in a monolithic or brick house

The strengthening technology is selected depending on the thickness of the wall, what material it is made of, and the size of the hole itself. Several options are used to strengthen brick walls:

Unlike brick walls, it is much more difficult to make openings in monolithic ones, because there is reinforcement inside the concrete. Here it is necessary to use diamond cutting to cut the metal and also to create a hole without the risk of cracks in the wall.

Since almost all monolithic walls are load-bearing, it is necessary to involve specialists to calculate the location for a new hole in which the strength of the structure will not be compromised. The opening is strengthened with a U-shaped welded metal structure.

Before installing the fasteners, all metal elements must be treated with protective compounds against corrosion.

Door

The design of a door frame is similar to a window frame. The difference is that the horizontal bar below is the threshold. Doors can be external (the openings are located in load-bearing walls) or internal (then a particularly reinforced frame is not necessarily required).

1. To strengthen the holes in the load-bearing walls, high-strength channels are selected, corresponding in size to the thickness of the brick wall. A U-shaped frame is made from them. Then this structure is mounted in the opening and secured with anchors.
2. Internal openings are reinforced with corners. They fit more tightly, which makes finishing work easier in the future, and the openings look neater. First, vertical posts are made that carry the main load, which are then connected with corners. Afterwards, the corners are installed in the upper opening and the entire structure is tightened with studs.

Window

Windows are located in external walls, which are load-bearing and are subject to heavy loads. Therefore, reinforced structures are used for such openings.

Most often used for windows of brick buildings:

1. Channel profile. At the place where it is attached to the opening, a groove is made, into which the channel is then tightly inserted and secured with cement-sand mortar. To connect the profiles, special studs and washers with nuts are used.
2. Vertical supports made of two channels. Installed with wide window openings (more than 1.5 m). Such racks are welded to channels secured along horizontal jumpers.

Welding of the structure is not done spotwise, but along the entire length at the joints - for greater strength.

The work performed to create and strengthen openings in walls made of brick or other materials is very responsible. Therefore, first of all, you need to make the correct calculations, select the appropriate materials and tools, and take into account all the features of the wall.

What you need to know about the wall before carrying out work:

• is it load-bearing or is it an ordinary partition;
• its thickness;
• whether pipes or fittings are installed in it;
• where the electrical wiring goes.

What materials to choose to reinforce openings:

• channels are suitable for brands 10P, 12P, 14P;
• the thickness of the corners must be at least 5 mm, and the dimensions of their shelves must be at least 60×60 mm;
• stud brands from M16 to M23 and the distance between them is no more than 30 cm.

To carry out the work efficiently, you will need the following tools:

• perforator;
• wall chaser;
• welding machine;
• spanners;
• devices for markings.

Before punching an opening in the wall, install an upper horizontal beam to strengthen it. The length of the steel crossbar must exceed the width of the opening by 1 m. Therefore, 0.5 m recesses are made for it on the sides.

Strengthening openings requires a responsible approach from drawing up a work project to its implementation. You shouldn’t rely only on your own strengths, especially if you don’t have enough experience. You definitely need to use the services of specialists - architects, engineers, skilled workers.

You should not save on materials and labor costs. Timely completion of work to restore the strength of a window or doorway will allow you to avoid unnecessary problems and expenses later, and ensure safety and comfortable living.

Useful video

Window openings are one of the most difficult components when finishing a facade with ceramic bricks. High loads often lead to collapses or the appearance of cracks, which not only spoil the exterior of the house, but can also lead to more serious consequences at any time. For this reason, the laying of brick lintels over windows, doors, arches, and portals should be carried out using reinforcement technology. Otherwise, it will be necessary to strengthen the openings of the building in use, and this operation is expensive and often leads to changes in the exterior of the building.

Strengthening openings with reinforcing mesh

Traditionally, reinforcing mesh made of high-quality steel or composite materials is used to strengthen window openings. It fits into the seam of the masonry every 4-5 rows and allows you to redistribute the loads and make them more uniform. This significantly increases the load-bearing capacity. The meshes have a width from 250 to 600 mm, so they are most often used to strengthen rough masonry above window openings. In the case of cladding and ventilated facades, reinforcing rods, brackets and a clamp system are used.

Strengthening openings with reinforcing bars

Currently, there are many interesting products on the market that make the work of builders easier. This includes reinforcing rods, which are two parallel rows of steel wire securely connected to each other by zigzag jumpers. They are laid in the seam of the facing masonry; the width of the structure allows this to be done. A simpler version of a reinforcing rod consists of fasteners and a reinforcing rod. The design of the fastening element allows you to connect two reinforcement bars along their length and lay the bars at a certain width between them. Clamps can be attached to the rods, making the reinforcement frame three-dimensional. Different shapes of clamps make it easier to work with all types of masonry. They can also be used to create brick arched lintels, but still the strength characteristics of such structures depend more on proper masonry.

Brackets for strengthening window openings

Ventilated facades made of ceramic bricks are not uncommon today. To strengthen the window opening in this design, a system of brackets is used. They are reliable and durable structures that can transfer the load from the facing layer to the load-bearing wall. It is easy to select brackets with offset to the required distance, which will allow the use of insulation of a certain thickness.

The brackets are a shelf made of steel angle with a support system. Clamps can be attached to the shelf to strengthen the first row of bricks above the window opening. You can use clamps for both vertical and horizontal masonry. The brackets are attached to the supporting structure using a chemical anchor. This ensures high reliability of fastenings subjected to significant loads. The bracket system is used in low-rise construction.

Obviously, it is necessary to strengthen the opening if the strength of the building materials from which it is built is insufficient. The need for this procedure is determined based on the requirements that the customer puts forward for the door.

Reasons for strengthening the doorway

First of all, you need to figure out why exactly the strength of the doorway is not enough. And there can be two such situations:

· the walls around the opening are not able to withstand dynamic loads - that is, the door itself and the forces from its movement when opening and closing;

· there are doubts about the ability of the partitions to withstand forceful break-ins - in this case, it is necessary to obtain an expert opinion after strengthening the opening.

Such situations most often arise in the following cases.

1. The wall is not load-bearing, thin, laid out in half brick.

2. The opening is made of foam concrete - this problem exists in almost all new buildings. Foam concrete is cheap and lightweight, which makes it very attractive for builders. But such a wall will not withstand a massive steel door, and therefore needs additional reinforcement.

3. In old houses, plaster walls are quite common, which are also not very durable.

4. Wooden houses require special reinforcement of the doorway due to the fact that several years after construction they shrink, which inevitably leads to deformation of the opening.

There are also situations when the opening does not seem reliable enough. For example, if it was unprofessionally laid with bricks for the purpose of narrowing. Or there is simply a desire to achieve the highest possible strength.

Ways to strengthen doorways

There are several common amplification options. The appropriate one is selected in each specific case, taking into account the material from which the walls are made, their thickness, the weight of the future door and other particular features. For the chosen method, taking into account the above, the materials from which the reinforcement will be made are selected.

If construction technologies are followed, openings are strengthened even at the stage of building construction. This is the most correct and reliable option. But, unfortunately, quite rare. Therefore, much more often you have to resort to those methods that involve the presence of an already built house.

Use of mortgages

This method is especially relevant for modern buildings made of foam concrete or aerated concrete. A mortgage is a metal corner that is fixed in the opening. Reinforcing “whiskers” are welded to it and placed in the joints of the masonry. Such a mortgage is installed on each side of the doorway. Subsequently, the door frame is mounted directly to these elements.

The procedure for installing mortgages is as follows.

1. Measurements are taken, according to which the required number of embedded parts are made and reinforcement is welded to them in the right places.

2. Treat the parts with an anti-corrosion coating.

3. During the masonry process, mortgages are installed.

The length of the reinforcing “whiskers” must be at least 1200 millimeters. Anti-corrosion coating is mandatory.

Strapping with steel corners

This is the most common option for strengthening doorways. For this purpose, steel corners are used, from which the frame for the opening is made. The number of corners, their size and the number of mounting plates required to connect the frame are determined in each specific case.

The procedure for strengthening the opening using this method is as follows.

1. The metal corner is cut according to the height and width of the opening

2. Weld them together into two frames - one for the outside, the second for the inside of the opening.

3. The frames are installed in the opening and connected to each other by welding with metal plates.

All metal elements are primed and painted to prevent corrosion. This method of strengthening a doorway is no less reliable than using mortgages.

Reinforcement with pins

This method is used for weak-bearing walls. Here, metal rods with a thickness of 10-14 millimeters are used, which are driven into the wall at different angles at a distance of 15-35 centimeters. Instead, you can use plates that are mounted on the wall and connected with metal corners.

The method with pins cannot be used for foam concrete, since it will simply crumble, and over time the door will begin to noticeably wobble in the opening.

Strengthening an opening in a narrow wall

In such a situation, it is basically pointless to strengthen the wall itself due to its small thickness. That’s why channels are used. They are installed on the wall and attached with fittings to the floor and ceiling. The door frame is attached to these channels, and not to the wall itself.

Strengthening openings in wooden houses

As a result of the shrinkage of the house, it is impossible to simply install a door in the opening. Otherwise, in a few years the wall will rest on the door frame, which will lead to its deformation, and deformation of the door leaf too. The result may be the complete impossibility of using the steel door.

It uses its own technology. A sliding casing is performed on the doorway - it plays the role of a rough frame. This box is attached to the frame with spacers, and a gap is left on top where the seal is placed. The metal box is already installed on the casing. As a result, when shrinking, the logs simply slide along the rough frame without affecting the door itself in any way.

What you need to pay attention to when strengthening a doorway

First of all, only a specialist can offer the best option for strengthening a doorway. Qualified installers will be able to perform this work efficiently and reliably. However, like any other type of construction work.

When strengthening a doorway, you need to remember the following points:

· foam concrete cannot withstand shock loads, therefore all fasteners can only be screwed into it;

· all metal elements must be treated with a primer or special paint to protect against corrosion.

Despite such difficulties, branded door sales stores provide a full range of related services. This includes strengthening doorways. A specialist will be able to determine the very need for this, as well as select the most rational method and the most suitable materials.

One of the most effective ways to restore the load-bearing capacity of a wall after constructing an opening in it is to reinforce it with a corner. This profile has a number of advantages over the equally popular channel.

In particular, it is easier to install the corner flush with the wall. It fits more tightly to the wall, and it is easier to caulk the gaps between the corners and the wall with mortar to obtain a monolithic connection between the wall and the metal structure.

But channels are considered stronger than corners However, the choice of type of reinforcement is influenced not by established opinions, but by the decision of designers and engineers, depending on the required compensating load.

Reinforcing the opening with a corner photo:

So, Let's look at the main types of corner metal structures. Reinforcement of the opening with a corner can be carried out along the perimeter (contour) of the opening with a welded U-shaped frame, or only with a lintel. As a rule, reinforcement along the perimeter is used for standard panel houses, the authors of which are SUE MNIITEP, and reinforcement with the help of jumpers is sometimes carried out in brick houses.

When strengthening a doorway, the corners are fixed at its edges (overlapping or underface) and secured to the wall using anchors (angle reinforcement pins or chemical anchors). From the outside, the corners are connected by welding transverse plates (wedges) onto them. Then the gap between the corners is sealed with mortar. At the corners of the opening frame, small strapping corners can be additionally welded on top of the main corners.

To distribute the load on the floor slab, metal heels are welded under the frame supports from the corner.

When working with brick or wide concrete walls, as in the case of installing channels, reinforcing the opening with an angle can be carried out before cutting the opening. The corresponding grooves are made with a wall chaser, and corners are inserted into them, which will take on the load immediately after dismantling the section walls.

The corner for strengthening openings can be equal-flange (equal height and width of the shelves) or unequal-flange (different height and width of the shelves).

Standard openings with reinforcement according to standard projects of the State Unitary Enterprise MNIITEP in panel houses developed by this institute need to be strengthened only unequal corners with dimensions 100x63x8 mm. This condition complicates the work, because unequal-flanged corner metal products are much less in demand in construction, and accordingly, not so much of it is produced, and the required assortment is more difficult to purchase.