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Started By
Message
Cinder blocks vs. poured concrete pilings
Posted on 3/2/22 at 9:02 am
Posted on 3/2/22 at 9:02 am
Looking at building a house approximately 10-12 feet up. Definitely going with concrete foundation (no wood pilings).
Looking for info on the strength of cinder blocks filled with rebar and concrete vs. concrete poured in forms. Most builders are telling me the concrete blocks are just and strong and cost significantly less. Is this accurate? I’m willing to spend the additional money if the poured concrete pilings are in fact stronger.
Looking for info on the strength of cinder blocks filled with rebar and concrete vs. concrete poured in forms. Most builders are telling me the concrete blocks are just and strong and cost significantly less. Is this accurate? I’m willing to spend the additional money if the poured concrete pilings are in fact stronger.
8
Posted on 3/2/22 at 9:22 am to Mr Wonderful
You’re looking for anecdotal evidence essentially? An engineer would be able to tell you the properties of each. I’m sure concrete would be stronger in general but filled reinforced cmu’s will likely be well above what you need. So at that point you’d be deciding if the extra extra betterness of concrete is worth it.
This post was edited on 3/2/22 at 9:23 am
Posted on 3/2/22 at 9:25 am to Mr Wonderful
Better off spending a few hundred to get a structural guy to give you the specifics. My understanding is the ground that you are placing it on will also have to come into the decision.
Been told be several people that you should not fill the cinder blocks. The concrete fill would actually weaken it as it expands/contracts. But, a structural guy could properly advise here.
quote:
cinder blocks filled with rebar and concrete
Been told be several people that you should not fill the cinder blocks. The concrete fill would actually weaken it as it expands/contracts. But, a structural guy could properly advise here.
Posted on 3/2/22 at 9:33 am to poochie
quote:
You’re looking for anecdotal evidence essentially?
Not necessarily anecdotal evidence, but opinions from engineers or anyone who knows more about the subject than I do.
Posted on 3/2/22 at 9:40 am to Mr Wonderful
My opinion: concrete columns will be stronger but possibly overkill.
As far as filling, you’d fill with grout, not concrete. That makes it one solid unit with the rebar.
As far as filling, you’d fill with grout, not concrete. That makes it one solid unit with the rebar.
Posted on 3/2/22 at 9:42 am to Mr Wonderful
This is what I've got for foundation. Slab with a ground floor, ceiling height of 7 ft. 3 in. then a 2nd floor with 10 1/2 ft. ceilings with all the inside of the 2nd floor being plaster and lath.
In other words, heavy as shite.
My foundation for the 2nd floor are multiple piers, 2 cinder blocks wide, no concrete fill in them and sitting on the ground floor slab topped off with 6 x 6 sills.
My house is damn near 100 years old and still solid and straight. The ground it's built on is heavy clay soil, so take that into account.
In other words, heavy as shite.
My foundation for the 2nd floor are multiple piers, 2 cinder blocks wide, no concrete fill in them and sitting on the ground floor slab topped off with 6 x 6 sills.
My house is damn near 100 years old and still solid and straight. The ground it's built on is heavy clay soil, so take that into account.
Posted on 3/2/22 at 10:08 am to gumbo2176
Contact a structural engineer to do an analysis for you. Given that you have an existing 100 y/o house, you don't want to do anything that would negatively affect that...
Posted on 3/2/22 at 11:11 am to Mr Wonderful
quote:
Looking for info on the strength of cinder blocks filled with rebar and concrete vs. concrete poured in forms.
Concrete should have a minimum compressive strength of 3,000 psf. Blocks are 1,500 psf.
Unless you plan on building up more than 3 stories blocks are plenty strong enough.
Look around and all piers for elevated houses/camps are block. You can always put a skin on the blocks if you don't like the look. There's a house on Lanier (I like cutting through the ghetto) that was on grade and recently elevated. They lifted everything including the grade beams, shored, and installed the piers. Then came back with what looks kinda like stucco (from the street) and skinned all of the grade beams and piers. Doesn't look that bad at all.
Posted on 3/2/22 at 11:16 am to Weekend Warrior79
quote:
Better off spending a few hundred to get a structural guy to give you the specifics. My understanding is the ground that you are placing it on will also have to come into the decision.
Another good reason to use blocks. It weighs less than concrete so you won't need as much bearing capacity.
quote:
Been told be several people that you should not fill the cinder blocks. The concrete fill would actually weaken it as it expands/contracts. But, a structural guy could properly advise here.
A non-shrink type N or S mortar should be used with rebars in each cell.
Posted on 3/2/22 at 8:20 pm to Mr Wonderful
If you are looking for the strongest brute force material, why not build on a steel foundation?
If you are looking for a cost effective way to get the job done, blocks will be fine for you just like everyone else
Engineers spec the cheapest material that will get the job done. That's blocks. If you want to pay extra for peace of mind, go for it, but it will not have an engineers justification because it is not needed. It's just your feelings
Spend the money elsewhere
If you are looking for a cost effective way to get the job done, blocks will be fine for you just like everyone else
Engineers spec the cheapest material that will get the job done. That's blocks. If you want to pay extra for peace of mind, go for it, but it will not have an engineers justification because it is not needed. It's just your feelings
Spend the money elsewhere
Posted on 3/2/22 at 9:19 pm to Mr Wonderful
Had a camp in Bay St Louis for Katrina. Generally speaking, not an absolute, every camp on block fell over and was destroyed. Timber held up better because it can sway with a lateral load. Block can't take a lateral load.
Concrete in sonotube w rebar will prove superior to all these. Not sure where you are building just some lessons learned/observation.
Hope it helps
Concrete in sonotube w rebar will prove superior to all these. Not sure where you are building just some lessons learned/observation.
Hope it helps
Posted on 3/3/22 at 6:40 am to Mr Wonderful
quote:
approximately 10-12 feet up
I don't like the idea of having a pivot point at the bottom of my house piers if I was building this high.
Posted on 3/3/22 at 12:05 pm to Mr Wonderful
Not to detour this thread, but does anyone have recommendations for a company/crew I could contact to for CMU work? Building a shop with Cinderblock on the first floor in Baton Rouge soon-ish.
If this is already in a thread somewhere, sorry for the inconvenience.
If this is already in a thread somewhere, sorry for the inconvenience.
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