From steel, wood, or cement, concrete blocks are produced. With high strength, concrete block is a hard building element. Next, in one continuous pour, workers pour concrete into wooden forms to harden (cures) on site. While the poured wall wins for lateral strength, the cinder block wall when constructed correctly beats out poured wall for compression strength. (Note: leveling the ground for a shed is a better solution) The problem with using cinder blocks is that it can create problems with your storage building down the road. Due to the use of such ash instead of aggregates they are comparatively lightweight in comparison to concrete blocks. Cinder Block is also made of concrete material. 8-in blocks weigh 36lbs, 10-in blocks weigh 42lbs. The block will provide both the structural integrity of the wall as well as the exterior facing wall. Due to concrete blocks harder structure and other advantages, these are used more. There are many types of concrete blocks in different shapes and can be either hollow or solid. All Rights Reserved. 4 in. Pros. Cinder blocks are similar in shape and construction to concrete blocks, except that, instead of sand or gravel, much of the aggregate filling material is ash – specifically coal cinder. Your email address will not be published. If spalling (when the concrete surface peels, crumbles, or flakes off) occurs during curing, the poured concrete foundation can lose its strength. By comparison, the average 8-inch concrete block has an R-value of 0.08 per square inch – or 2.5 for the entire block. Fox Blocks offers a poured concrete method that creates a more durable, strong, and energy-efficient foundation over either traditional poured concrete wall or CMU block foundations. They take less time to construct than CMU block foundations. Concrete blocks are also used in foundations and piers. #2: Concrete blocks feature a flattened structure while cinder blocks tend to display a hollow rectangle structure. The Cons of Cinder Block (CMU) Foundation Concrete masonry units are heavy to handle. When it comes to residential retaining walls, there are a variety of materials to choose from. Structural foundations are the backbone of every new building, which is why it’s critical to make sure that they are done right. Contractors may find it difficult, time-consuming, and costly to truck in wet concrete to the job site. This heavy weight solid block is uniformly square and free of large chips. More termite resistant - Termites don’t eat concrete, so the block wall itself is immune to damage, but the wood furring strips running up the interior of the wall as nailers for drywall and the wood baseboard at the floor are fair game for termites to start working their way up the wall. Although the same materials are used in the construction of the two, there is an extra material in the cinder block. ICF foundation walls may be designed with 6" or 8" reinforced concrete. Wood framed homes are easy to build with labor and the resources themselves in comparison to concrete block. Lintel Blocks. is manufactured to ASTM C 90 specifications and used in foundations and above-grade masonry walls. The blocks are a much lighter alternative to bricks. To optimize strength and stability, workers install the blocks in a running bond pattern and may insert steel reinforcing bars in the core of the blocks. Nearly every house was built with a masonry foundation. Are you in the process of designing and building a new home? Solid Concrete Block The 16 in. And which is the better choice for your project? Poured Concrete Foundations. A CMU block wall often requires installing an air and moisture barrier, which adds another trade and more labor to the foundation project. CMU block foundations have good load-bearing strength; however, the foundation will lose its lateral strength if not fully grouted with rebar. Meaning it can hold more weight on top of the foundation. To download this file, please fill out this form. CMU blocks may be reinforced with steel rebar and filled with mortar to create strong foundations. A concrete masonry unit (CMU) is a standard size rectangular block used in building construction.CMUs are some of the most versatile building products available because of the wide variety of appearances that can be achieved using them. The Fox Blocks all-in-one wall assembly combines five construction steps into one, structure, insulation, air barrier, vapor retarder, and attachment. Reinforcing steel can be used to strengthen either material. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, traditional wood framing cost around $13 per square foot of living area in 2002. Cinder block vs concrete block comparison may not be understood at first glance. #4: As a result of the previous point, concrete blocks … All you need to do is make sure the installer has access to a stack of inexpensive cinder blocks. This makes them less susceptible to cracking than poured concrete foundations. Almost every house was built with this style of masonry work. According to the National Association of Home Builders, conventional 8-inch concrete cinder blocks cost around $1.46 per square foot of foundation before installation. The blocks are a much lighter alternative to bricks. Poured concrete foundations cost more than CMU block foundations. Poured walls have a better lateral strength, which means they are able to resist more pressure from the water and the soil from the outside. The difference between concrete and concrete block are the two foundation types dominate... 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