Structure and method for reinforcing a wall

A method of reinforcing an existing wall including a face and comprising a plurality of blocks with vertically aligned passages, said wall having a sill plate positioned on top thereof and a joist or rafter extending from said plate which includes the steps of:

• (a) forming a lower opening at said wall face and adjacent a bottom of said wall into said aligned passages;
• (b) forming an upper opening in a plurality of said blocks at said wall face into a respective plurality of said aligned passages in spaced relation above said lower opening;
• (c) forming an aperture in said sill plate;
• (d) placing a lower reinforcing bar through said upper opening and in a lower portion of said aligned passages;
• (e) placing an intermediate reinforcing bar through said upper opening and in an upper portion of said aligned passages;
• (f) placing an upper reinforcing bar having a threaded portion through said upper opening and in said upper portion of said aligned passages and through said sill plate aperture;
• (g) connecting said lower and said intermediate reinforcing bar;
• (h) connecting said intermediate and said upper reinforcing bars and thereby forming an elongate reinforcing member;
• (i) placing a cementous material in said aligned passages;
• (j) curing said cementous material to a hardened state whereby said reinforcing member is fixedly attached to said wall within said aligned passages;
• (k) threadably engaging a nut on said reinforcing bar threaded portion;
• (l) tightening said nut against said sill plate;
• and
• (m) attaching a mechanical anchor to said sill plate and said joist or rafter.