Concrete block construction basics?

[scoutcub]

I just built a 30X32 block garage, here; TractorByNet.com > General Forums > Projects > Breaking into the bank

Sorry, have to figure out how to insert a thread?

Anyways, I thought for a brief second about trying to lay block myself, but I definitely didn't have the time to do it, especially having never done it. Found a great block sub, and the rest is history.
I would agree with the other great opinions, conventional construction would be cheaper and just as soundproof. I used block to also act as a retaining wall against a bank.

ICF's are great, but that's even more money with the forms and poured walls....

I personally think you would get overwhelmed by that size of a building laying block, having never done it. Wood would definitely be an easier route.....

Good luck!!

 

[Redneck in training]

Google "celular concrete block". My brother build his house from those. The blocks are much ligter than wood so even 6'X8"X12 block can be handled by single person. You can cut them with regular hand saw. Since they are precise made you need only very small amount of mortar. More like glue. They also have quite good R value.

 

[mojoinco]

Sounds to me like a pole barn frame with siding that is cheapest would be better. Might take two put siding up with any speed, but a lot easier. At some point noise is noise. You would also have to insulate your ceiling in any case.

Not cheap, but good insulation value, fast assembly: SIP construction.

 

[scgargoyle]

The OP did mention he could get a good price on block; $.065 each, IIRC. That's less than half the usual price. ICF and SIP's are great, but will run about $5-6 per square foot of wall space.

One thing you could look into is surface bonding the block. The block are dry laid (no mortar), then skim coated with a fiber reinforced mortar. I believe you have to put in rebar and fill the cavities, too. It's claimed to be stronger than conventionally laid block. Personally, I can't begin to imagine laying that much block!

I would do a monolithic slab, footer and all, then build my walls on top of that. They have ways of insulating footers these days to keep the slab warmer. Concrete would be best for controlling noise, if it really is that much of a problem. Another way to control noise would be to be to build the walls 8" thick with staggered 2X4's, half of them flush with the inside; half of them flush with the outside. You would have to put up interior sheathing as well as exterior. The staggered studs prevent the internal vibrations from reaching the outside, and provides a lot of room for insulation. Still a lot of trouble to go to for a shop, though.

 

[zmoz]

Thanks for the information everyone. One of the reasons I'm thinking about concrete blocks is because the 24x30 shop I have now is made out of them. I like it. Fireproof, waterproof, floodproof, bugproof and vandalproof. Isulation isn't too much of a concern here, right now my shop is only insulated in the ceiling, and just barely. It rarely gets below 45-50 degrees in there. As for looks, there would be some split face blocks mixed in in certain areas. I can still nail things to the wall...I just need stronger nails.

I still don't know what I'm going to do, but at a minimum I think I'll be building a block foundation for my building. One thing I have thought of is maybe block walls up to about 6' high and then a metal or wood structure on top of that. I have heard about dry stacking them before filling the voids with concrete...but that sounds a little "iffy" to me...

 

[captaincrab55]

zmoz, Are you planning on a chimney?? Keep in mind that if you build to code, that's the minimum standard...

What part of the world is this building being built???

 

[PA hayseed]

can you lay the block yourself? Sure you can. Will it look like a pro did it? Probably not. WIll it take you forever and a day to get done with it? Most likely.

My buddy is a mason, laid the block for my house. Did a great job and I paid him well. I wanted a pad in my basement for my pellet stove. Found some cheap brick from an old school house they tore down. Got the brick for .15 each. I read everything I could, ask a lot of questions, cleaned the brick, and built my own pad. It took me a long time to do it, but I had roughly 15-20 dollars in brick and a couple of bags of mortar. Does it look like a pro did it? Heck no. Does it hold the pellet stove? You bet it does, and it will likely outlast me and the next person who owns my home. Was I fast? No. My buddy told me that he could have laid the whole thing in four hours or less - it took me a significantly longer time. Using a trowel and laying the block is not as easy as it looks.

Rod and coring block is required in my area and the concrete adds cost.

You could always volunteer to be a mason's tender to learn a few tricks. You could also go to your local vocational/technical school and take a 3 month night course if your not in a hurry.

 

[zmoz]

zmoz, Are you planning on a chimney?? Keep in mind that if you build to code, that's the minimum standard...

What part of the world is this building being built???

No, I'll probably have a wood stove inside though. This is in NW Oregon. Just trying to figure out what I want to do before I approach the code nazis. I was thinking about using a metal shipping container as part of one side of the building, that would eliminate a lot of block work. Probably hard to get through code though...

The entire thing is going to have to be as DIY as possible...I've never been accused of being in a hurry. I am trying to scrounge as much materials as I can from craigslist and a local building recycling place...

 

[aczlan]

Have you thought of going with a pole barn, having someone come in and spray foam insulation and then putting up plywood (or something) on the inside?
That should take care of your sound issues and should be easier than laying block.

Aaron Z

 

[captaincrab55]

I'm looking at building up to a 40x60 building, not sure how tall yet.

Sounds like you will need expanion joints in your walls to prevent cracking, from expanion.. The heigth of the wall may change the width of the footer.... Keep in mind that an extra 2' of block adds a lot of weight on the footer...

IMHO, When you start the laying the Block, start by laying the first one in the N E Corner.... (grin)