Concrete Block Wall Construction

Concrete block wall construction is primarily used for home additions, garages or other kinds of buildings. While the primary material may be easy to work with, concrete block wall construction is still a process that needs caution and a sharp eye.

One of the first steps in concrete block wall construction is laying out the dimensions of the wall. Once the measurements are taken, the dimensions must be laid out on the ground, by chalk or paint. Markings need to be made for the location of the control joints and the locations the wall will link up with the foundation as well.

The first actual step of the concrete block wall construction process is laying the first level of block without mortar so a check can be made to make sure the dimensions are indeed correct. The next step in the concrete block wall construction is the building of the corners of the wall; the rest of the wall can follow. Corner poles should be used every four to eight inches in order to make sure the wall is being built exactly level.

The next step is the application of the mortar. About an inch of mortar is spread across the foundation, except where reinforcing rebar is sticking out of the slab. Once the mortar is spread out properly, the corners can be assembled permanently. Once the corner blocks are in place, the lead blocks--three or four blocks extending from each side of the corner--are set. The first layer should then be laid from one corner to another, with the change to the second row only occurring once the first row is done.

Builders should be careful not to place a concrete block directly on top of the one below it, but stagger the blocks so that the block above is placed over half of the one below and half over the one next to it. This eliminates weak spots in the concrete block wall construction. When the top row is reached, a wire mesh should be placed across the blocks below it so the mortar on the top level will be held in place.

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