12″ Concrete Block Layout Questions
We’ve just started the foundation for a 600sf pool house. The architect has specified 12″ blocks for the foundation walls which I’m not used to working with. My question is how do I layout the alternating courses since the 12″ thickness at the corners will throw off the 8″ interval spacing. An older FHB article on block foundations talks about these specialized corner blocks with indentations. My masonry supplier doesnt carry these so my question is do I just cut the blocks down to 12″ and use these as the second block from the corner? or is there another way? The structure has at least 20 corners so its going to get tedious. Any help would be appreciated.
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We just cut 'em. Do your best to keep your joints staggered & if you don't have a diamond blade saw rent one. Depending on how many courses you have and how your layout works, cutting your own special corner blocks might be quicker than cutting a bunch of line blocks.
We installed 12" block in portions of basements for years ( and still do) I have never heard of a concrete block manufacturer who didn't make 12" corner blocks. We have three different manufacturers within 50 miles and they all make them. I can't imagine that they could sell many basement jobs without them! I would find a supplier who can give you what you need!
Your right, perhaps I should have checked other suppliers. I've had a good relationship with years with the one I use so I never shop around, but considering the extra work involved I will. Generally speaking we only end up doing foundations ourselves on about half our jobs, most of which are additions - this is the first job we have used anything other than 8" blocks, so the issue has never presented itself. This project is way over specified by the architect, but I build what's on the plans.
Here in the NW, none of the masonry suppliers make the 12" corner either. The corner unit is simply a regular, 8x8x16 so that the bond works out, keeping the cells in vertical allignment. A 4" x 8" "plug" is used on the other side - the inside corner - to make everything flush.
I hope you can view the attachment for a visual explaination.
Thanks Brickie - big help - hopefully I can find some of those 4x4x8 blocks tomorrow. I was going to cut the 12" blocks I had to 12" long from 16" and alternate those in the corners - but that would involve alot of cutting since I have so many inside and outside corners and the alignment would be off in the corners. I'll let you know how it works out
Well, here's the thing: You can just use a regular "4 x "8 brick (concrete or clay, nominal dimension - think "2 x 4") for the "plug". Nothing fancy.