Hardscapes - Concrete Blocks
About Concrete Blocks
Why Use Concrete Blocks?
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Concrete blocks are versatile, durable and strong. They are also completely fire resistant and excellent for sound insulation. Concrete blocks are an ideal background for dry lining, wet finishes and fixings. Concrete block has an inherent thermal mass that acts as heat store. It is recyclable and proven as “no risk” in building method. It does not cost much and is widely and readily available in the market. |
Concrete Block Components
Concrete blocks are made form dry mixture of Portland cement, aggregates, water, and admixtures. Aggregate mixture may be sand, gravel, or fly ash, while admixtures can be coloring agents, air entraining materials, accelerators, and water repellents. Aggregates and admixtures are mixed then molded into the desired shape. It is compacted to make the material more thick.
| The units are later cured under controlled moisture and temperature conditions. The cured solid concrete blocks are cut lengthwise or crosswise by a machine to achieve the rough, quarried stone surface texture of a split face CMU. Concrete block’s surfaces are irregular and sharp, with the aggregates breaking through various plains. A wide variety of colors, texture, and shapes are produce by manufacturers by varying cements, aggregates, color pigments, and unit size. |
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The most used nominal size of concrete block is the 8x8x16” hollow unit and the half-length units, return corners, and other multiples of four are also available. The concrete block’s weight is about 18-19kgs. Concrete blocks can be surface engineered by using pieces of stone or ceramic waste on their face. The hollow concrete blocks are made with a richer mix, and have a lot of advantages: it is lighter in weight, easier handling and facility for conducting or reinforcement through the hollows.
Production of Concrete Blocks
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The specification and the characteristic of a concrete block depends on the machine used to manufacture concrete block. Concrete Blocks are usually produced by a semi-mechanized stationary type machine. With manual molds that require hand tamping, a mobile semi-mechanized egg-laying machine and fully mechanized system that combines compression and vibration, Concrete blocks are completed with this production system. |
Building with Concrete Blocks
| Like any other masonry unit, Concrete blocks are used to build foundations, walls, arches, and corbels, etc. Construction of concrete blocks is faster than with any other units because a typical concrete block is equivalent to 4.5 bricks. The mortar used is also, less which results in cost saving. Concrete block is used in combination with conventional roofing system like RCC, RBC, GI sheets, ACC sheets etc. Concrete block is also compatible with other materials like fired bricks, dressed stone and compressed earth blocks for composite wall construction. |
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In urban areas, concrete blocks are used for all types of buildings. Concrete blocks are very popular because of its long lasting, low maintenance and investment for institutional and industrial buildings. The durability of a cement-based product is making concrete blocks a preferred choice in rural areas as well. |
Concrete Block Technology
The Concrete Block Technology is a highly profitable business for micro and small scale building material producers and construction companies. The market for concrete blocks is growing at a fast rate, especially in areas where burnt bricks are not easily available or are of poor quality.
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