The building supply-home centers around my home seem to only stock finished end/corner concrete blocks (one end is flat and smooth, the other has a vertical groove about 1″ wide) but not stretcher blocks.
Just curious if there was any structural downside to building a wall out of only finished end blocks.
Seems to me the stretchers would be preferable for applying mortar, handling the block, and once cured the mortar would effectively key adjacent blocks together–but perhaps these are just conveniences and not necessary provided the mortar adheres to the block as it should.
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Replies
Just curious if there was any structural downside to building a wall out of only finished end blocks.
Not really. Many block producers make cubes of block with every third unit being a corner unit. Most machines produce three at a time. Some masons even say that the mortar is as much about keeping the block apart as holding them together.
Mike
Thanks.
Anytime you need to be resisting that much lateral load, you should be using ladder wythe wire in the joint anyway
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