There are several products on the market that are made with cement and can be used in masonry, construction, and hardscapes. Next time you search, be sure to choose concrete block of cinder block – Concrete block is the strongest building material in the world and continues to harden as it ages. Cinder blocks are made from coal cinders and compromise the integrity of the block via bowing and buckling. However, cinder blocks are very different from concrete blocks.
Like cement blocks, cinder blocks is a term confused for concrete blocks. Concrete is a mixture of aggregates, cement, and water.The power is heated to high temperatures and then combined water to create cement. Cement is a mix of limestone, shale, iron ore, and clay that is crushed to a very fine power.In fact, cement is an ingredient of concrete. These are blocks of concrete made of cement and aggregate.Ĭoncrete and cement are often used interchangeably but are actually different products. Concrete Brick-A concrete brick is what most people think of when considering solid concrete block.They often come in a variety of colors and sizes to add aesthetic value to a hardscape project. Concrete paver-A concrete paver are rectangular or square blocks of concrete designed for paving or walkways.Solid Concrete Masonry Unit-This is a solid concrete block unit made in various sizes and is typically used for foundations, steps, or wall designs to protect against natural elements like high wind.These blocks make space for beams or door lintels and help with load bearing. Lintel Block-A lintel block looks like solid, rectangular block with a deep, u-shaped groove cut along the length of the block.They can have two or three holes and are used to create partitions. Partition Block-Partition concrete blocks are long, thin blocks with standard-size lengths, but short ends.They’re connected to stretcher or corner blocks. Jamb Block-Jamb concrete blocks are specially shaped to accommodate large openings for double hung windows.They’re often stacked on top of each other and reinforced from the inside to create a column. Column Block-Column concrete blocks are square blocks with a single hole in the middle.This block is used when both ends of a corner are visible, as in the case of pillars or piers. The length and ends of pillar block are flat. Pillar Block-Pillar concrete block is probably what you think of when you imagine hollow block.Bullnose Block-Bullnose concrete blocks are like corner blocks in function, but the visible end is rounded for a different aesthetic effect.The specially shaped end locks with the stretcher block and the flat end creates the corner. Corner Block-Corner concrete blocks have flat lengths, one flat end and one specially shaped end.They have a flat length and specially shaped ends that are used to connect the corner in masonry work. Stretcher Block-Stretcher concrete blocks are smaller than standard hollow concrete blocks.It’s popular for building because of the unique texture. They are created by manufacturing a larger block and “splitting” it to reveal the aggregate. Split Face-Split face concrete blocks have two smooth, flat ends and one smooth, flat length.Within these two categories you can find variations in shape, size, and function. They work well for foundations, steps, pavement, or walls designed to be protective against natural elements like high winds. Solid concrete blocks are fully solid and look like large grey bricks.They are lighter and are often used in building large structures because the holes reduce dead load and make it easier to run wiring, piping, or rebar through them. Hollow concrete blocks are manufactured with holes in them and are sometime referred to as Knock Out Block.
There are two primary types of concrete block: hollow and solid. It’s just one more reason to consider this high-quality building material for your next project. You may know that concrete masonry units (CMUs for short) are durable, environmentally friendly, and energy efficient, but did you know how versatile shapes and sizes they are produced in? It’s true, there are several different types of concrete block created to suit specific needs. Different Types of Concrete Blocks-How To Tell Them Apart