How to Measure Cinder Block Walls
Cinder blocks (also called concrete blocks) got their name because they are usually manufactured from a combination of coal ash and cement. Cinder blocks are versatile and inexpensive. You can use cinder blocks for retaining walls, utility buildings like garages and a variety of other structures. Cinder blocks are sold by the block, not by the square foot. For this reason, you'll need to measure your proposed walls in terms of the number of blocks needed for the project. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Use a tape measure to find the length of the wall. Some cinder block walls are curved, not straight (a decorative or retaining wall, for example). Measure along the curved path the wall will follow, not straight from end to end. A curved path is longer, so measuring a straight line will leave you short on building material.
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2
Convert the length in feet to the number of blocks in one horizontal row. Divide the length of one cinder block into 12 inches (1 foot) to find the blocks per foot. Multiply this figure by the length of the wall in feet. Most cinder blocks are about 16 inches in length, so you'd have 12/16 = 0.75 blocks per foot. If the cinder block wall is to be 20 feet long, you have 20 feet times 0.75, which is equal to 15 blocks per horizontal row.
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3
Determine how many horizontal rows of cinder blocks you will need to reach the wall's planned height. Since the wall hasn't been built yet, you can't physically measure it. You must decide how high you want the wall to be. Be sure to take into account factors like the clearance needed for a garage door or the distance below ground to the footing (see Step 4). Cinder blocks are usually 8 inches high and you find the blocks per foot as in Step 3. For 8-inch blocks, you have 1.5 blocks per foot of height (12 inches divided by 8 inches). If the wall is to be 10 feet from base to top, you'll need 1.5 times 10, or 15 rows of cinder blocks.
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4
Make sure you measure a cinder block wall from the base (or footing) to determine the height. In some cases you will need to do some preparatory work. For example, you'll need to set the footing of a retaining wall below ground so it will be firmly anchored. The below-ground portion usually needs to be about 4 feet, but terrain varies. You'll probably need to dig a footing trench before you can determine how high the wall will be from base to top.
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5
Multiply the number of blocks per row times the number of rows to find the quantity of cinder blocks required. You should add about 5 percent to allow for breakage. For the example cited, you have 15 horizontal rows of 15 blocks each, or 225 cinder blocks. Add 5 percent, or 11.25 blocks (round up to 12) for a total of 237 cinder blocks.
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