Load Bearing Concrete Block Wall

A load bearing wall or bearing wall is a wall that is an active structural element of a building which holds the weight of the elements above it by conducting its weight to a foundation structure below it.

Load bearing concrete block wall.

For instance a 10 by 8 by 16 inch concrete block made with stone dust may support more weight than a 15 by 12 by 24 inch block made with sand because stone dust exhibits greater weight and strength than sand. For load bearing walls tie rods should be set a minimum of 6 inches into the concrete footing before it is set. The development of the flying buttress in gothic architecture allowed structures to maintain an open interior space transferring more weight to the buttresses instead of to central bearing walls. The material used in the construction of a concrete block affects its load bearing capacity.

Bond beams are usually used under floor or roof joists to spread the load and provide a continuous tie. Rebar should be placed in every other masonry core to provide structural support. For masonry cores over 4 inches wide quikrete core fill grout coarse should be poured around the rebar. Load bearing walls are one of the earliest forms of construction.

For masonry cores under 4 inches wide quikrete core fill grout fine should be used. Bending can be resisted by reinforced cells. Under concentrated loads vertical cells can be filled with concrete and reinforced. Hollow block has been used as load bearing walls for many years.

It the type of load bearing wall that is mostly constructed by casting concrete in a reusable wall mould or form which is then cured in a controlled environment transported to the construction site lifted and placed in position.