How to Make a Concrete Block
Concrete blocks are used for building walls in construction and can be referred to as concrete masonry units, or cmu's. They are formed and hardened before they are brought to a job site. They are stacked one at a time and held together with concrete mortar when creating a wall. One block is equivalent to 4 to 5 bricks. Gravel, sand and water are mixed with concrete to create a strong cement block. A typical weight of a block is 38 to 43 pounds.
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Things You'll Need
- Cement Sand Gravel Water 5 planks of 8" by 16" plywood Screws Drill 16" by 32" plastic
Instructions
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How to Make a Concrete Block
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1
Make a mold. Drill the screws (not nails) into 5 planks of wood, 8 inches long and 16 inches wide. There will be one on the bottom while four other planks should be screwed into the bottom and each other in order to make a box. This will be what the cement will be poured into in order to make an 8 x 8 x 16 block.
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2
Place plastic in the mold. The plastic will need to be larger than the box for the concrete. It should have enough plastic overlaying on the outside so that you will be able to lift the cement rather than taking a chance of it cracking by placing it upside down.
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3
Mix the concrete with its elements. You will need one part cement and 12 parts gravel and sand. You will mix water once the materials are completely blended. Add water in order to make the mix moist. Mix the concrete, sand, and gravel for at least 8 minutes. Make sure it is able to be poured. If it is too stiff then add more water.
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4
Pour concrete inside the mold. Hit the walls of the mold with a hammer to get rid of air bubbles in the concrete, and this will also help to eliminate cracks.
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5
Wait 24 hours for the cement to dry. Once the cement is dried, then you can remove the block by pulling it out with the overlaying plastic.
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1
Tips & Warnings
You can use a stationary mixer that will help blend the dry mix and the cement added with water.
Use a broom for blocks with a rough texture and a trowel for a smooth texture.
