I have a masonry block residence. I wish to install a window in the
middle of an outside wall. Are there any construction details
available which explain how to modify/hold the blocks above the
cut-out so that the wall remains structurally sound? In new
construction the course of blocks abour a window opening are filled
with concrete and a reinforcing steel rebar. I do not know of any way
to do that at this time. Thanks for any assistance.

Hey there Truck6169,

I figured I would go directly to someone who could help and see what
they had to say. I contacted Frank Veneroso of Mohawk Valley Masonry
and this is what he said you could do to keep the masonry structually
sound abouve the cut out, without doing the rebar and concrete option.

He said to install metal angle iron in the opening above the window.

"Install metal angle iron above the window.
Good luck, Frank"

Hehe. Seems Frank is a man of few words. However, I then called my
local Home Depot store and they said that they agreed with the answer,
and they would reccomend that option as well. They said when you went
to purchase the angle iron, depending on the size/type you get, they,
or any other supply store could direct you on the best way to mount it
to the masonry and that it was preety simple for a "Do-it-yourself-er"

So, there you go. Hope you get a beautiful view out of your new window :)

Nenna-GA

Google search used:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=masonry%20remodeling&btnG=Google+Search

Mohawk Valley Masonry
http://www.mvm1.com/

Angle Iron
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=angle%20iron
http://capemetals.dreamhost.com/angle.html

Home Depot Angle Iron - prices etc...
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1957480886.1081872009@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccckadclelhijmjcgelceffdfgidgjk.0&CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=storehome/pg_storehome.jsp&MID=9876&pos=p02

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Request for Answer Clarification by truck6169-ga on 15 Apr 2004 07:10 PDT

Thanks for your answer, however, "install" is the oprative word. For a
6 ft cut out I would think you must secure the angle before you remove
the blocks below it. Is one angle sufficient and how would you secure
it so that it takes the load immediately?

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Clarification of Answer by nenna-ga on 15 Apr 2004 08:12 PDT

I would remove the blocks, and as I go, make sure to keep it
structually sound by bracing wood pieces, such as 2 X 4's, throughout
the cut out in the masonry in a vertical manner about every 9 inches
or so until you get your entire cut out done. Then, I would install
the angle iron, once you have the entire opening in front of you, so
you can make sure you have the right size pieces that will keep it
structually sound. I wouldn't try and install it 1/2 way through the
removal, just in case you run into some sort of difficulty.
To install the angle iron, I would get masonry screws to attach the
angle iron. In this PDF, on the bottom left, it tells about masonry
screws.
http://www.primesourcebp.com/protwist/Wall%20Chart.pdf
And, also, here are some other brands/types you could use
http://www.itwbrands.com/buildex.htm
"Window frames, jambs and sills to masonry"

So, there you go. I can't give you a 100% answer, because so many
unexpected or silly things can happen in a home improvement project.
Like I suggested before, take the information you now know, and talk
to your local hardware or home improvement store as well. I ran this
by Frank again too, and he said it sounded like the best way for
someone new to brace it up.

Nenna-GA

Although this article is about installing a basement window, it sounds
like what I would do to install any window in a block wall.
http://www.improvenet.com/adviceandresources/popularmechanics/basement_window.html