How to Strengthen Concrete Block?

How to Strengthen Concrete Block? One of the most frequently asked questions by those who do small renovation works or construction for decoration purposes is “How to Reinforce a Concrete Block?” it could be. This is because most hobby builders have witnessed the collapse of concrete block walls they had built, even as a result of minor accidents. If enough support is not provided to the blocks, these accidents are inevitable.

It is suitable for use in almost all kinds of construction works; How to strengthen the concrete block, which has been proven to be suitable for all residential, commercial and industrial applications? There is no need to doubt the quality of a material whose durability and strength are widely accepted in the industry. It is enough to know how to strengthen it.

How to Strengthen Concrete Block? What are the tricks?

The most important point during the construction of concrete block wall is tension. The mortar filled between the blocks creates a sufficiently strong holding effect. But the bending and stretching potential of the wall is quite low. Most masonry products, whether made of concrete block or other material, have a tensile strength of around 10%. Here’s what you need to do to increase this rate:

● The hollow parts of the concrete blocks should be filled with pea gravel concrete.

● The high tensile strength of the steel should be utilized.

● The wall must be attached to the concrete floor.

● The wall can be strengthened by using recessed feet.

Concrete Blocks Must Be Filled

Most of the concrete blocks consist of voids. If these empty parts are not filled, the strength of the wall will not be much. Concrete material containing small pebbles should be filled into the cavities. The mortar that connects the blocks and the concrete materials that fill the voids may seem strong enough to you. However, the tensile and bending strength of these materials is not that high. That’s why steel reinforcement is also important.

Use Steel

The best material with tensile strength is steel. For example, half an inch of reinforcing steel used in a residential project translates to about 18 tons of tensile strength. Thicker steel bars can be used to withstand higher forces.

Fix the Block

Using reinforcing steels to connect the concrete blocks to the concrete floor of the wall is ideal for getting the most positive results. It will be sufficient to place the steel bars on the ground so that they protrude approximately 60 cm and to ensure that they overlap with the steel bars inside the wall.

Pay Attention to the Position of the Steel Bars

Make sure that the steel rods passing through the empty spaces of the blocks are completely surrounded by pea gravel concrete. Therefore, the bars must be precisely centered on the empty spaces of the blocks. Of course, it is necessary to take into account the purpose for which the wall was built. For example, if a retaining wall is being built, it may be necessary to position the steel closer to the untouched wall surface. It may be helpful to seek advice from an engineer.

Recessed Feet

Recessed feet can be incorporated into concrete block walls to make the wall stronger. Decorative embroideries can also be made on the built-in feet. It is suitable for both strengthening the wall and giving it a different look.

We shared tips that can answer the question of how to strengthen a wall made using concrete blocks. We would like to remind you again that it is the healthiest solution to learn from an engineer at which points these elements should be used correctly.