Old basement coal shoot replace with glass block window

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

i have a 1942 brick cape cod with a cinder block foundation. I'm about halfway done re-pointing my basement. The next project i want to tackle is ripping out the old coal shoot and replacing it with a vented glass block window. The other glass blocks in the basement are 31" x 13 1/2" so i got the same size preassembled with a window/vent, but can take it back if necessary if what i have planned shouldn't be attempted and I'll just get smaller DIY blocks.

See attached pictures- It looks like the coal shoot might have been added on after the house was built. A single cinder block is lying horizontal to the coal shoot unlike the rest of the blocks which are verticle. I was wondering if i could remove that block and cut into the brick to size both next to the block and on the outside of the house.

This foundation wall is not load bearing, the floor joists go parallel to this wall and the load bearing beam goes perpendicular from it so there shouldn't be any structure issues with opening this up should there? Or should i just block it in where the opening is? Thanks for the advice!

Featured Answer

Bruce in Northern Virginia

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

All openings in a brick wall of this type need a steel L-shaped lintel above the opening to support the wall above. The lintel will extend 3-4" on either side and be supported by the surrounding brick/block.

If the current lintel goes all the way across, including bridging the embedded concrete block, then the entire opening is still supported after you remove the block and it should be fine. However, if it only extends across the coal chute, then you would need to install a new lintel to bridge the entire opening if you remove the block.

Also consider how difficult it will be to remove that block. You can rent a concrete saw to make the cuts through the mortar, but its a heavy saw with a lot of torque. Its especially hard to handle when trying to make level horizontal cuts. If your foundation wall is double thickness (likely), you have to make the cuts from both sides, since most smaller concrete saws won't cut more than about 5-6" deep. You should also wear a respirator mask with a good filter, since the concrete saw mostly pulverizes the mortar and creates fine dust, and you are going to be very close to it.

Bruce

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Comments (7)

cat_ky
7 years ago
Foundations are load bearing. Your house is sitting on top of them.
shaggyfox44
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thanks for answering a question i didn't ask with the many details you provided you must be very knowledgeable... but seriously I'm a landscaper not a freaking brick mason nor any type of construction guy, I don't care if its load bearing or not all i want to know is if i can take out that brick to install a bigger window or just block up the existing hole. Obviously it can be done because i doubt the house was built with glass block windows that only look a few years old
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DavidR
7 years ago
You seem a little on edge, Shag. Summer heat getting to you? :)

A look around Gardenweb might show you that you don't get people here to help you by jumping on them with both feet when they try. But then, do you really need anyone's help? You already know that "Obviously it can be done."

In case you care, if I were doing what you're doing, I'd leave that cinderblock right where it is. I'd consider it too much trouble to mess with it. I'd also want as much support for the sill right above it as possible, and wouldn't especially care about how big the window was,

In fact, I might just fill in the hole with cinderblocks or bricks, rather than messing around with glass block.

But that's me, and I'm not an expert, just an aging old-house-hacker, so feel free to throw a punch at me too. I'll duck. :)

By the way, it's spelled "chute."
shaggyfox44
Original Author
7 years ago
Not trying to jump down anyones throat, but if i wanted a one sentence answer with no description I'd go to yahoo answers or something. I'm just a first time homeowner, watched my dad fix his house for years, good with my hands and watching youtube videos, trying to learn to fix up my house and don't want to mess anything up lol. Thanks for your opinion
cat_ky
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thank you Bruce for your explanation in full. I dont have knowledge of how to make that repair, but, I did say something about the foundation being load bearing as up above he said it wasnt. I guess, he didnt like that sentence. I have lived in two houses with old coal shutes, but, never removed either of them. I just made sure they didnt leak, and locked them on the inside and left them alone.
geoffrey_b
7 years ago
Keep the original opening and get a glass block window to fit the opening. I replaced several basement windows with premade glass block. Shimmed them level, and used Great Stuff foam to hold them in place.