Hello!
2 quick questions...
I just bought a brick villa that was newly drained since last year.
The basement is partially finished, but there are still some concrete walls left.
The question is, can I glue drywall onto the concrete wall? Now, I don't mean the concrete wall that faces the "ground" but the concrete wall located in the middle of the house in the basement, running lengthwise along the house. I hope you understand...
The next question is of a different nature.
I tore down a wall yesterday as the corner angled out from the wall, and out of curiosity, I was interested to see what was behind it. What I found was a built-up pillar of gray masonry blocks. It protrudes from the concrete wall that sits against the ground. My question is simply, can I knock away this pillar of blocks? Or is there a risk that the concrete wall will give way in some way? The pillar seems to have been built afterward.
2 strange questions, but I hope I can get some interesting answers.
2 quick questions...
I just bought a brick villa that was newly drained since last year.
The basement is partially finished, but there are still some concrete walls left.
The question is, can I glue drywall onto the concrete wall? Now, I don't mean the concrete wall that faces the "ground" but the concrete wall located in the middle of the house in the basement, running lengthwise along the house. I hope you understand...
The next question is of a different nature.
I tore down a wall yesterday as the corner angled out from the wall, and out of curiosity, I was interested to see what was behind it. What I found was a built-up pillar of gray masonry blocks. It protrudes from the concrete wall that sits against the ground. My question is simply, can I knock away this pillar of blocks? Or is there a risk that the concrete wall will give way in some way? The pillar seems to have been built afterward.
2 strange questions, but I hope I can get some interesting answers.
1. I wouldn't have done that. There is a rec. on how to allow air circulation. Water can rise in this wall even if it is in the middle of the room.
2. You don't have an open fireplace above on the next floor.
2. You don't have an open fireplace above on the next floor.
Member
· Västra Götalands Län
· 529 posts
1) If you have a good environment in the basement, it should be fine. However, don't place the shelves directly on the floor, mount them 2-3 cm above the floor. Let the foot molding cover this gap.
2) Check the next floor. It sounds like a reinforcement of some kind. Maybe you have a fireplace above, or a newer wall. Or a toilet that, with its plumbing, has weakened the beams right there...
2) Check the next floor. It sounds like a reinforcement of some kind. Maybe you have a fireplace above, or a newer wall. Or a toilet that, with its plumbing, has weakened the beams right there...
Oh, 2 quick answers! Thanks for that! 
Regarding the walling up, there's nothing directly above of significant weight. That's why I found this walling up strange. Upstairs directly above is a Bedroom/Computer room and nothing heavy. The bathroom is on the other side of the house and there's no fireplace upstairs. I've contacted the previous owner, and he thought it was to prevent the concrete wall from giving way to the masses, but that sounds strange.
Any other suggestions on what it could be? Or should I go at it with a sledgehammer?
Regarding the walling up, there's nothing directly above of significant weight. That's why I found this walling up strange. Upstairs directly above is a Bedroom/Computer room and nothing heavy. The bathroom is on the other side of the house and there's no fireplace upstairs. I've contacted the previous owner, and he thought it was to prevent the concrete wall from giving way to the masses, but that sounds strange.
Any other suggestions on what it could be? Or should I go at it with a sledgehammer?
The plasterboard has paper on both sides, not ideal against a wall in a basement space. In older houses, tar paper was used when building up the walls. In my house, this is placed about 10 cm up. Below this level, I would never place organic material. The tar paper is meant to prevent water from traveling upwards with the help of capillary forces.
Could have been something earlier, e.g., a heavy safe or similar. Should be possible to remove it.
I'll post a picture of the masonry tonight, so maybe I can get a more precise answer. Hard to say when you can't see it, I imagine.
The image of the bricked-up
Perhaps should also describe:
The wall to the left of the bricked-up blocks is a concrete wall facing the "ground"
Last edited by a moderator:
Another question.... Where can you get the blueprints of the house? Is it possible to obtain them somewhere? Perhaps you can see if anything has been added on for some reason.
Member
· Västra Götalands Län
· 529 posts
I mean, this looks completely messed up, I can't for the life of me figure out what purpose that construction serves. It makes you a bit suspicious. Is someone trying to hide something in that corner???
When you say there is a concrete wall on the left in the picture, do you mean a lecawall that is plastered?
The wall on the right is just a framed wall, right?
Do you have a properly cast ceiling or is it just a wooden floor structure?
The masonry construction goes into the wall with a half-brick and is an earth pressure pillar/
buttress and stabilizes the basement wall, it's needed unless the interior walls are embedded in the outer wall.
Conclusion: Don't tear it down/MLj
The wall on the right is just a framed wall, right?
Do you have a properly cast ceiling or is it just a wooden floor structure?
The masonry construction goes into the wall with a half-brick and is an earth pressure pillar/
buttress and stabilizes the basement wall, it's needed unless the interior walls are embedded in the outer wall.
Conclusion: Don't tear it down/MLj
Okay, rookie as I am, what is a cast vault? I can't tell if it's a plastered block wall or not. But I don't think it looks like these masonry blocks are set into the wall with a half brick. It looks like this pillar was constructed afterward. Yes, the wall to the right is framed with steel studs. I've been told that a mason lived in the house two owners ago and could he have had some idea with this creation in that case? I'll request drawings from the city planning office to see if that clears things up.
A cast vault is when the ceiling in the basement is made of concrete.
If it is cast on site, it is laterally stabilized by the basement's outer wall.
Have you bought a house without knowing what type of flooring it has?
How long is the wall that the column is against? How high is the ground level on the outside?/MLj
If it is cast on site, it is laterally stabilized by the basement's outer wall.
Have you bought a house without knowing what type of flooring it has?
How long is the wall that the column is against? How high is the ground level on the outside?/MLj
In that case, it is a cast vault as the entire ceiling in the basement is made of concrete.
The wall it leans against is probably about 12-14 meters long and runs along the long side of the house. I would guess that the ground level is 1.70 from the basement floor, the wall is 2.20 high from floor to ceiling.
The actual brick pillar is built 4 meters from the corner of the house.
The wall it leans against is probably about 12-14 meters long and runs along the long side of the house. I would guess that the ground level is 1.70 from the basement floor, the wall is 2.20 high from floor to ceiling.
The actual brick pillar is built 4 meters from the corner of the house.
Congratulations on a solid house with a cast vault. If it had been a Jordtryckspelare, it would likely have been centered on the wall. The earth pressure is greatest during the first years after backfilling before the masses have settled. It is dangerous to say that you can remove the pillar without an on-site inspection; checking the construction drawing is a good thought./MLj