How to Make Textile Concrete Blocks

Textile concrete blocks were created by an architect named Frank Lloyd Wright. He decided to mix up his own concrete using sand, gravel and minerals found at his home. The earth colored blocks were embossed with gorgeous patterns and designs created within the concrete block forms. Wright was an advocate of creating homes and buildings that blended in with the earth and environmental surroundings. Textile concrete blocks were used in most of Frank's construction because they were cheap, inexpensive and simple. His mass produced ornamental block homes became known as famous architectural beauties. Follow these steps to make your own.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plywood
• Wood glue
• 8-penny nails
• Dremel tool
• Router
• Paint brush
• Diesel fuel
• Concrete
• Bucket
• Trowel

1. Cut out four pieces of plywood, 12-by-12. Apply wood glue on the edges, and attach them together to make a box. Drive 8-penny nails into the sides to hold the box together. Prior to constructing the box, create patterns and designs on the inside of the wood, with a dremel tool or router, if you desire.

2. Make another box, 3 inches smaller than the first box. Connect it together also with wood glue and nails. This box sits inside the first box to create a form for your textile concrete block.

3. Paint a coating of diesel fuel over the wood on the inside of the block form. The fuel creates a non-stick surface so tthat he concrete will not stick to the wood.

4. Mix up a batch of concrete using cement, sand and aggregates in a ratio of 1:1:2. Add enough water to make it smooth but not runny. Trowel the concrete into the 3-inch section created between the two block forms. Let the concrete cure for a day.

5. Pull the form up and let the textile concrete block carefully fall out onto a flat surface. Tap the block lightly with a mallet to help loosen it.

Tips & Warnings

• Frank Lloyd Wright made his textile concrete blocks 3 inches thick. You can construct your concrete forms to make blocks any size you choose. Just make the inside wood form as small or as big as you need to create the necessary space.
• The strength of the concrete is determined by mixing a proper ratio of ingrediants.