Concrete blocks for the foundation

Concrete blocks are an essential part of contemporary architecture, particularly when it comes to creating sturdy foundations. They provide a sturdy foundation that can sustain a structure’s weight, guaranteeing stability and durability. It’s important to comprehend the function of concrete blocks in foundation work whether you’re building a house, a garage, or even a small shed.

The strength of concrete blocks makes them an excellent choice for foundations. These blocks are perfect for supporting buildings because they are made to withstand a lot of weight and pressure. They also resist a variety of environmental elements like moisture and pests, which can weaken other materials.

Their adaptability is an additional advantage. Because concrete blocks are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, builders can tailor the foundation to meet unique requirements. This adaptability can be especially helpful when navigating uneven terrain or fulfilling certain design requirements.

Moreover, working with concrete blocks is not too difficult. Construction can proceed more quickly because they are easily stacked and fastened. They are an affordable option for many projects because of their efficiency, which not only saves time but also lowers labor costs.

Concrete blocks not only have practical uses but also improve a building’s overall insulation. By supplying thermal mass, they aid in controlling indoor temperature and can lower heating and cooling expenses. An extra benefit for homeowners trying to furnish a cozy living space is its energy efficiency.

All things considered, concrete blocks are a dependable and adaptable option for building foundations. They are a well-liked choice for both residential and commercial projects due to their strength, longevity, and simplicity of use. You can guarantee a solid foundation for your structure and make well-informed decisions about your building requirements by being aware of their advantages.

Type of Block Benefits
Solid Concrete Blocks High strength, durable, ideal for load-bearing walls
Hollow Concrete Blocks Lightweight, better insulation, easy to handle
Aerated Concrete Blocks Good thermal insulation, fire-resistant, eco-friendly
Paving Blocks Strong, versatile, ideal for driveways and paths

Design features and types of blocks

Concrete blocks in the heavy and medium varieties are used for prefabricated foundation bases. These products come in a standard version that is rectangular, but cushion-type panels, which are trapezoidal and have a larger support area, can be used to lay the bottom row of a strip foundation (primarily on wet soils).

For crane movement, embedded lugs extend from the block’s upper edge. The panel is installed and then the metal loops are cut off.

Products are categorized based on concrete type, reinforcement type, and configuration. Producers create:

  • FBS – solid panels without reinforcement, suitable for the arrangement of foundation bases of high-rise buildings, construction of basements;
  • FBP – hollow concrete blocks for the foundation, they serve as non -removable formwork during the construction of the walls of operated basements, for the construction of industry facilities (during the installation of the void structures, they are poured with a solution, having previously installed the reinforcement);
  • F – reinforced concrete (with reinforcement) full -bodied concrete blocks for the foundation;
  • FL – foundation pillows designed to install tape type bases;
  • BF – high -strength blocks made of heavy concrete, designed for increased loads;
  • FBV – full -bodied blocks that have a longitudinal seizure for laying communications, installing jumpers.

You should consider the material’s marking when selecting components for the foundation assembly. It includes the following details: dimensions, concrete type, and block type.

Concrete density depends on the brand of cement, type of filler, etc.. This characteristic directly affects the weight of the product, its compressive strength. Foundation blocks are made of three types of concrete:

  • T – heavy. The product is characterized by maximum density and the ability to withstand high loads, frost resistance.
  • C – silicate. Has an average density and corresponding performance characteristics.
  • P – porous. The use of expanded clay filler allows you to get blocks with a relatively small weight. They are less durable, but cheaper and require less investment in transportation.

Dimensions and weight of concrete blocks for the foundation

Take the block sizes into consideration when selecting a material for a prefabricated underground foundation arrangement. Please take note that the marking gives the dimensions (length * width * height), rounded to the nearest decimeter.

The most typical dimensions are:

  • width 300, 400, 500, 600 mm (3, 4, 5, 6 dm);
  • length 780, 880 mm (8, 9 dm) for additional blocks, 1180, 2380 mm (12, 24 dm) for standard panels;
  • height 280, 580 mm (3.6 dm).

Panels measuring 280, 380, 480, 580, and 1780 mm (3.4, 5.6, and 18 dm) in length and 380, 480 mm (4.5 dm) in height are less common. Because of the expanded base, the concrete blocks used in strip foundations (FL) have a trapezoidal cross-section, which deviates from the standard grid of sizes.

Apart from the panels with the specified measurements, 200x200x400 mm concrete blocks are also made. These blocks weigh 310 kg and are the result of a different standard FSB-4. They are actively employed in the building of private homes.

The following table lists the primary attributes of heavy concrete (represented by the letter T in the marking) FSB panels in the most popular sizes.

Product brand Dimensions (mm) Concrete class Product weight (kg)
length width height
FBS 9.3.6-T 880 300 580 87.5 350
FBS 9.4.6-T 880 400 580 87.5 470
FBS 9.5.6-T 880 500 580 87.5 590
FBS 9.6.6-T 880 600 580 87.5 700
FBS 12.4.3-T 1180 400 280 87.5 310
FBS 12.5.3-T 1180 500 280 87.5 380
FBS 12.6.3-T 1180 600 280 87.5 460
FBS 12.4.6-T 1180 400 580 87.5 640
FBS 12.5.6-T 1180 500 580 87.5 790
FBS 12.6.6-T 1180 600 580 87.5 960
FBS 24.3.6-T 2380 300 580 87.5 970
FBS 24.3.6-T 2380 400 580 87.5 1300
FBS 24.3.6-T 2380 500 580 87.5 1630
FBS 24.3.6-T 2380 600 580 87.5 1960

The density of the material determines how much weight concrete blocks for a foundation will weigh. For instance, if heavy concrete of class 75 or 100 is used to make panels, the weight of the finished product with the same dimensions will vary from the above table by a certain amount.

The density of the material, the cross-section of the reinforcement (for reinforced blocks), the volume of products, and other properties are included in more comprehensive tables that are used to calculate foundation bases.

Concrete block foundation: pros and cons

The advantages and disadvantages of a structure composed of prefabricated components must be taken into account when deciding between a monolithic and prefabricated foundation base. When concrete blocks are used for a house’s foundation rather than a monolith, you can:

  • spend a minimum of time on construction – there is no need to wait until the solution hardens and gains strength, you can immediately start erecting walls;
  • reduce the amount of manual labor, since there is no need to install formwork, assemble a reinforcement frame and prepare a large volume of cement mortar;
  • carry out work in adverse weather conditions.

Any size and shape of building can have its subterranean foundation installed on a variety of soil types using concrete blocks. Products with a high density have a high resistance to frost and can withstand large temperature changes. A well-installed foundation should last a minimum of 100 years.

Additionally, using pre-made blocks has a number of drawbacks:

  • special equipment is required to carry out the work, since the products are heavy;
  • it is impossible to arrange a prefabricated foundation on soils prone to heaving;
  • the finished underground structure requires reliable waterproofing to protect against groundwater and flood waters;
  • the final cost of a prefabricated foundation is usually higher than a monolithic one.

Concrete blocks provide the strength and stability necessary for any structure, making them a dependable and long-lasting choice for building foundations. They offer good resistance to weather and pests and are inexpensive and simple to work with. Building can be expedited and made more efficient by using concrete blocks, which also guarantee a sturdy foundation that will last for many years.

How to make a foundation from concrete blocks

The building’s characteristics, the loads on the subterranean portion, the properties of the soil, and other elements all influence the technology choice for setting up the foundation base. A strip foundation composed of prefabricated panels is a versatile choice that can be employed in the construction of single-family homes, multi-story buildings, and buildings serving different functions. Columnar foundations are also made with FBS-4 standard blocks (200x200x400 mm) in private housing construction.

Concrete block strip foundations are set up in a closed loop configuration. The intended loads on the subterranean foundation determine the strip’s height and width. For a uniform distribution of loads, the strip should be situated beneath the internal capital partitions and external walls.

  1. On the prepared site, mark out and dig a trench with sloping walls for the strip foundation. The depth of the foundation depends on the characteristics of the soil and the depth of freezing.
  2. A cushion of washed sand is arranged at the bottom of the pit. The height of the carefully compacted sand layer is about 10 cm, the surface of the cushion should be leveled horizontally.
  3. When constructing massive buildings or on soil with high humidity, trapezoidal FL blocks are laid on top of the cushion, centering them along the axes of the trench;
  4. Laying of FBS begins from the corners. The blocks are aligned along the axes, fastened together with mortar, which is placed on the upper edge and ends. Installation is carried out according to the principle of brickwork. Before laying the upper tier, the loops are cut off from the lower layer blocks.
  5. The finished structure is waterproofed, after which you can start erecting the walls.

The following steps are involved in building a columnar foundation out of concrete blocks:

  • pits are prepared in such a way that the supporting columns are located under all corners, intersections of walls and partitions, at the base of doorways, at several points under long walls;
  • a sand cushion is rammed at the bottom of the pits;
  • the columns are assembled from solid blocks with dressing of each row, the minimum section of the columns is 400×400 mm;
  • for the rigidity of the base, a monolithic grillage is arranged or the columns are connected into a spatial structure using a steel channel, I-beam or beam, fixed to the heads of the columns, welded from a 4×4 cm angle.

You can construct a prefabricated foundation with your own hands for a private home, cottage, bathroom, or outbuilding.

Conclusion

At the building design stage, the kind and size of the foundation blocks are decided. The technology and quality of the blocks directly affect the subterranean foundation’s dependability and longevity. Utilizing GOST-compliant products is advised as it ensures the strength and homogeneity of the prefabricated foundation components.

A dependable and adaptable option for building a foundation are concrete blocks. They are a great choice for bearing the weight of a building because of their strength and longevity, which will guarantee stability for many years to come. These blocks offer a sturdy foundation that can tolerate a range of environmental circumstances, whether they are used for residential or commercial buildings.

The ease of installation of concrete blocks is one of their main advantages. They can be positioned swiftly and effectively, which can reduce labor costs and construction time. Concrete blocks also provide long-term protection for the foundation and the entire structure by being resistant to fire, moisture, and pests.

Concrete blocks also come in a variety of sizes and shapes, which promotes design and application flexibility. Because of their versatility, they can be used for both small and large commercial buildings’ foundations. They can be combined with other materials to improve the foundation’s overall functionality and strength.

To sum up, using concrete blocks for foundation construction is a wise and useful decision. They are a great choice for both builders and homeowners due to their robustness, simplicity of use, and versatility. Having a concrete block foundation can give you peace of mind because you’ll know that the building is supported by a sturdy and dependable base.

Video on the topic

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Installing a bathhouse on foundation blocks. Zhar Parych

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Marina Petrova

Candidate of Technical Sciences and teacher of the Faculty of Construction. In my articles, I talk about the latest scientific discoveries and innovations in the field of cement and concrete technologies.

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