Concrete Block Projects
Improve the appearance and value of your home with a selection of inexpensive preformed concrete block projects. Masonry constructed with these blocks provides soil stability, especially in regions with earthquakes or uneven building gradients. Blocks are resistant to weather damage and a versatile medium; types with a textured finish are suitable for staining or painting to match existing structures. Does this Spark an idea?
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Concrete Block Garage
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Lower your household bills by building a simple concrete block garage. Vehicles kept in a garage qualify for a lower insurance rate and "Structures built with concrete walls and roofs often cost less to insure because they resist natural disasters such as high winds and fire," according to manufacturer Genie Block. Concrete blocks are larger than regular bricks, so speed up the building process. The block garage is less prone to molds and suits damper regions, since concrete blocks absorb less moisture than standard brick masonry. A concrete block garage for two vehicles measuring 20 feet by 20 feet, built by four workers, takes approximately five days to complete. Tools and materials required include concrete blocks, a bucket, wheelbarrow, trowel, level, mortar and gravel grout. Carrying out the work yourself saves approximately half the amount of money you would expect to pay a contractor to build the garage, according to syndicated columnist and building expert Tim Carter.
Concrete Block Retaining Wall
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Concrete block retaining walls are weekend projects with a variety of uses. Walls like these stop soil erosion from causing muddy paths during rains, provide a level edge for a patio project and produce a new bed for planting. Required tools include a 3 pound hammer, hammer, measuring tool, caulk gun, shovel, level, wheelbarrow and trowel. Materials needed are concrete blocks, sand, concrete adhesive, compactable and crushed base gravel. Advantages of making a retaining wall from concrete blocks include speed of installation, durability and low moisture absorption rates. The finished wall resists moss and mold growth.
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Concrete Block Staircase
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Concrete block stairs, such as those leading from a door to the garden, are an inexpensive project which takes between six and eight hours of work. To speed up the process, consider using interlocking concrete blocks which require no glue. Preparation is crucial; lay bricks on leveled ground, on top of a layer of compacted crushed rock, followed by a thin layer of sand. A poured concrete pad foundation is an optional extra, which ensures stairs last longer without cracking or crumbling. Remember to check the first layer of blocks for the proper angle of tilt to ensure water runs off the stairs.
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- Photo Credit concrete block wall image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
