General question: How many of you design a projecting pilaster into cast in place walls?
My experience has been that they are sometimes needed and sometimes can be accomplished as an integral pilaster (flush with wall) via additional steel reinforcement. Years back with CMU walls they would always be included per design loads and also Building Code requirements. Have a current job whereby I have a long and deep basement wall alongside what will be a very active driveway. Mason bid the plans and is now installing form work. Of course, now he decides to alert homeowner that the two pilasters I have in the plans are not needed. Mason claims the pilaster is doing absolutely nothing structurally. I think he's just being lazy and trying to get to the next job. Thoughts appreciated.
My experience has been that they are sometimes needed and sometimes can be accomplished as an integral pilaster (flush with wall) via additional steel reinforcement. Years back with CMU walls they would always be included per design loads and also Building Code requirements. Have a current job whereby I have a long and deep basement wall alongside what will be a very active driveway. Mason bid the plans and is now installing form work. Of course, now he decides to alert homeowner that the two pilasters I have in the plans are not needed. Mason claims the pilaster is doing absolutely nothing structurally. I think he's just being lazy and trying to get to the next job. Thoughts appreciated.