I am building a cavity wall that will rise up to meet a 9" solid wall
that is supported by a 5" wide x 6" tall RSJ. RSJ is existing and I
don't want to mess with it since it is also
embedded in the side wall of the house. There is 2" of brick
overhanging the front of the RSJ.
Part of the cavity wall just below the RSJ will have a narrow window
(about 700mm wide). An angle-iron type lintel 1 brick tall in the
outer leaf should be sufficient to support a few bricks courses over
this small window if required, so enough space under the RSJ for that.
But, the front of the RSJ has to be covered somehow. I wonder now if
it would have been better to build the cavity wall slightly forward,
such that there would be space for a 100mm brick skin in front of the
RSJ, but can't change that now, and anyway, it would look bodgy with a
step where it met the solid wall.
So, I have a recess a few brick courses high to fill in front of the
RSJ to stop it being "outside" ! The recess is 2" to the flange of the
RSJ and 4" into the web.
I am thinking that the RSJ should be kept "dry" to avoid rusting, so
not a good idea to build the outer cavity wall skin into and around
the RSJ.
Any ideas (e.g. brick slips etc.) ?
Thanks,
Simon.