Hello!
I have a garage with a load-bearing exterior wall that has 4 major cracks. One goes through the entire wall and is visible on the outside. The cracks are located where the windows are. They likely appeared when blasting was done in the area 15 years ago.
We are now planning to install larger windows, and by doing so, 3 of the cracks will disappear as the wall will be replaced with windows. Are there risks or anything specific to consider when you start modifying a load-bearing wall with so many cracks/subsidences in it? Is it beneficial to eliminate the cracks by replacing them with windows? We will be installing a beam above the new windows, thereby removing the weight from the windows and the current cracks...
Should the ground be reinforced when doing this? We will demolish the floor slab and lower it, and build a new floor slab. Should extra reinforcement be done where the cracks are?
Best regards, Nora
I have a garage with a load-bearing exterior wall that has 4 major cracks. One goes through the entire wall and is visible on the outside. The cracks are located where the windows are. They likely appeared when blasting was done in the area 15 years ago.
We are now planning to install larger windows, and by doing so, 3 of the cracks will disappear as the wall will be replaced with windows. Are there risks or anything specific to consider when you start modifying a load-bearing wall with so many cracks/subsidences in it? Is it beneficial to eliminate the cracks by replacing them with windows? We will be installing a beam above the new windows, thereby removing the weight from the windows and the current cracks...
Should the ground be reinforced when doing this? We will demolish the floor slab and lower it, and build a new floor slab. Should extra reinforcement be done where the cracks are?
Best regards, Nora
