Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Information needed
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Ronald#1
02-26-07, 03:58 AM
I am thinking about building a chicken house out of concrete blocks, I am not sure how to figure out how many I will need. The building I am wanting to build is 12'x 24'. Can anyone tell me how many blocks I will need. Thanks so much for your help.
chfite
02-26-07, 06:12 AM
Considering that CMU are 8"x16" including an allowance for the mortar joint, you would need approximately 54 blocks per course. There will be variances for doors, windows, and such. Each course will be approximately 8 inches high, depending upon mortar joint. So a six foot wall would take 9 courses. Your building with 6 foot walls would take approximately 486 blocks.
Concretemasonry
02-26-07, 06:17 AM
You need a plan first. - Use 8" wide block (actually 7 5/8")
Make a floor plan keeping in mind that a block with the mortar is a 16" module length. You can also get half block to use at wall ends and openings. Lay out how the block would be laid to eliminate any cutting or odd lengths. - This is your first course of block. - count the block.
Do the same for the next course of block with all block set off 8" so you have what is called "running bond". This is your second course of block. - count the block.
Your building will be alternating layers or courses. Figure out how many courses or layers you will need for the height you plan on. Add everything up and you have the number of block, but add a few for errors, breakage and goofs.
A contractor would not do it this way, but it forces you to understand how you would build the walls.
Dick
Make a floor plan keeping in mind that a block with the mortar is a 16" module length. You can also get half block to use at wall ends and openings. Lay out how the block would be laid to eliminate any cutting or odd lengths. - This is your first course of block. - count the block.
Do the same for the next course of block with all block set off 8" so you have what is called "running bond". This is your second course of block. - count the block.
Your building will be alternating layers or courses. Figure out how many courses or layers you will need for the height you plan on. Add everything up and you have the number of block, but add a few for errors, breakage and goofs.
A contractor would not do it this way, but it forces you to understand how you would build the walls.
Dick