#Concrete block install
#Concrete block drivers

Cost: Concrete slabs can ultimately be the more cost-effective choice when considering parts and labour.

#Concrete block install

Clay bricks are lighter and also smaller, making them easier to transport and install by hand. Weight: Concrete blocks are heavy, with one block weighing around 20kg.Concrete blocks should offer around 100 years of performance, whereas clay bricks can offer up to 500. In smaller projects, this difference is likely to have minimal impact, but concrete blocks offer superior strength. Strength: Standard concrete blocks are slightly stronger than bricks offering 3500 PSI (a measurement of resistance per square inch) compared to 3000 PSI for clay bricks.By using different aggregates and additives, there are now more options for the look of concrete blocks than before. Concrete blocks are seen as less attractive due to their dull colour and flat appearance, and can often be covered by facades or by a thin wall of bricks to improve their appearance. Appearance: Bricks are generally considered to be a more visually pleasing material than concrete blocks, and are installed as-is for buildings like houses.Here are some of the key comparisons between the two: When looking to build a smaller property within the UK, such as a house, the two main material options for structural work will be concrete blocks or clay bricks. Strong: Concrete Block walls, especially when reinforced, can offer a great level of strength, helpful for those in areas with high levels of wind, and for larger building projects where load-bearing walls are required.Especially compared to a timber-framed building, the density of concrete will resist damage and keep our pests well. Animal Resistance: Concrete is inedible to insects and burrowing animals like rats.Thermal insulation also helps to keep a building cooler in the summer, by keeping the heat from entering. This means that heat takes longer to escape from a building, lowering heating costs and energy bills. Thermal Insulation: Using concrete blocks as the external wall of a building will offer solid thermal insulation.This can help to limit loud noises such as traffic from passing into the interior and reduce noise pollution moving within a building. Acoustic Insulation: Concrete blocks offer excellent soundproofing, giving benefits within both a house and a commercial property.There are several specific benefits to using Concrete blocks within a construction project: The first concrete blocks were manufactured in the 1850s, and today there is a wide range of products available, with both dense and lightweight options, alongside hollow blocks.Ĭontemporary concrete block production is fully automated, with precise mixtures of cement and aggregate shaped into moulds and cured within a kiln What Are the Benefits of Concrete BlocksĬoncrete blocks have become a popular choice for a wide range of buildings, from commercial to domestic. In the modern world, concrete is used within almost all skyscrapers, and within a wide range of smaller buildings and construction projects.Ĭoncrete blocks, sometimes called Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs), are standardised dried concrete blocks that can be used within construction much like clay bricks, with mortar bonds between each join.

Concrete has been used in buildings as far back as ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece, with architectural wonders like the Pantheon in Rome still standing today.

In contemporary concrete production other materials, called admixtures, can also be added to give it special characteristics. What Are Concrete Blocks?Ĭoncrete is a building material that has been used for millennia, comprised of cement, a mixture of fine and coarse aggregates, and water. We’ll also take a look at some of the building projects where concrete blocks can be used, and the common sizes they’re sold in. In this guide from Building Materials Nationwide, we’ll cover the essentials of concrete blocks, their benefits and drawbacks, their costs, and the different types on sale within the UK. Abrasives, Fillers, Sealants & LubricantsĪ sturdy building material used throughout the construction industry, concrete blocks offer strength and versatility, suitable for use within a huge range of building projects.Cable Reels, Site Lights & Transformers.

#Concrete block drivers

Screwdrivers, Impact Drivers & Wrenches.Nailers & Staple Guns (Gas & Pneumatic).Batteries & Chargers for Cordless Tools.

Angle Grinders, Wall Chasers & Metalworking Tools.