1. Concrete blocks
Concrete blocks are made of very hard concrete and are therefore excellent for building load-bearing or partition walls, basements, and other structures that must support heavy loads. They are also hydrophobic, which means they are waterproof. Two basic types of block exist – hollow and solid. Both types can be stacked on top of each other like bricks. The gaps between the blocks are filled and then the whole wall can be skimmed. One advantage is that the wall does not need plastering, meaning time and money is saved. There are different shapes, colours and dimensions of concrete block available on the market. Concrete blocks can be used to reinforce the joins between walls, while corner blocks are specially designed for creating sharp corners and maintaining the structural integrity of walls. Concrete lintel blocks can also be used to create horizontal supports above openings like doors and windows. They have a deep groove that gives them the shape of a long U and the groove is typically filled with concrete and reinforcing bars. Hollow concrete blocks are more commonly used than solid ones. Reinforcement and pipes can be passed through them before concrete is poured.
2. Concrete column and pillar blocks
Concrete column and pillar blocks make building load-bearing pillars easier. These blocks are placed on a supporting base and the entire height of the wall is reinforced with steel reinforcement running through the middle of the blocks. The rebar is connected to the upper and lower structures. The main advantage of these blocks is that there is no need for separate formwork. As soon as concrete is poured, the pillar is finished. Concrete pillar and column blocks and caps come in the following dimensions:
pillar/column block 19x19x19 cm, cap 26x26x6 cm
pillar/column block 29x29x19 cm, cap 35x35x6 cm
pillar/column block 39x39x19 cm, cap 50x50x6 cm
pillar/column block 50x50x19 cm
3. Concrete blocks for retaining walls, price
Concrete blocks enable the simple and quick construction of retaining walls with square, curved, bevelled, or split face blocks available depending on the look you want. These blocks are resistant to moisture, frost and heat. Retaining walls made of concrete blocks can easily be adapted to the terrain on which they are located. Building with concrete blocks requires concrete foundations with the blocks then laid on top of this row by row. The height of the retaining wall depends on the slope of the terrain.
4. Formwork blocks
When concrete formwork blocks are used, there is no need for traditional wooden formwork. Construction begins with preparation of the footings and then the concrete blocks are dry-stacked on top with iron reinforcement wedges added to run both horizontally and vertically. Concrete is then poured into the cavities of the concrete blocks and concrete caps are placed on top of the wall.
5. Split face concrete blocks
These are a special type of concrete block, but, in essence, they are no different to standard blocks. Split face blocks are rectangular and appear to have been hand-chiselled (or split) to give them a very textured, uneven look like natural stone. They may be textured on two sides or all four. Two-sided split blocks are used for facades and walls, while four-sided split blocks are used for columns and pillars. As they have an interesting appearance, they are mostly used to give walls a decorative finish. They are robust and weather-resistant and are easy to build with.
6. Building properly with concrete blocks
Load-bearing walls require concrete blocks that are 25-30 cm thick and also corner blocks. For partition and other non-load bearing walls and structures, 12-20 cm blocks will suffice. Concrete blocks are mass manufactured and are therefore identical in size. This means they can be laid easily and neatly, which is especially convenient for walls in industrial or agricultural buildings that are left unplastered.
If mortar is going to be used to bind the blocks, then it should be made in accordance with the manufacturers standards. First, a 1 cm thick layer of mortar is applied on top of the footing or levelling course. The first row of blocks is then placed on top, followed by another layer of mortar and another row of blocks. Care needs to be taken that the blocks lie flush with each other. The entire height of columns, pillars and concrete fences should be reinforced and then poured with liquid concrete. If the column is to have a cap on top, a waterproof layer of mortar should be applied before placing the cap.
Concrete blocks - price
How much do concrete blocks cost? The price of concrete blocks varies.