Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Laying cement blocks
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Laying cement blocks
07-08-01, 09:24 PM
I am planning on building a garage and am having a cement slab poured. My plans include three rows of cement blocks around the outside on top of the slab. I would like to lay the blocks myself and am looking for more information, tips and tricks. Is there anything I really need to do or know? Or, is there a "how to book" or good web site you could recommend?
2000
07-13-01, 09:05 PM
Since the integrity of the framing will depend on you, it might be a good idea to know as much as possible.
How to books, pamphlets, and videos abound. A few publishers have been previously mentioned within other posted messages. If the local library is closed visit the doityourself.com main pages. I'm sure that your patronage will be appreciated.
On the other hand a relatively new masonry site is on the waves. Information that applies to your circumstance is available free, as PDF downloads (at least for the moment). The chapters were written by masons to benefit Average Joe, and to promote masonry. Each chapter has a test at the end (something other delivery systems lack). Poke around here http://www.concretemasonry.com/ Signing their guest book would be a nice way to say thanks. You may want to visit http://www.bhglive.com/homeimp/ also.
Since you will be handling a trowel and mortar often the following exercise was drilled into me as a kid. Practice mortar is made with sand and lime only. It can be remixed and reused many times over as long as it doesn't react with Carbon Dioxide in the air or another source.
Place a mortar board at hip height, then load one half with practice mortar. Using the source lessons above - work the mortar and load the trowel. Then practice throwing it. When you're comfortable throwing a smooth even line throw it onto the widest dimension of a 2x4. Then finally stand the 2x4 on edge, and throw it again, and again, and again.
Marshalltown http://www.marshalltown.com/ is a very old name when it comes to trowels.
How to books, pamphlets, and videos abound. A few publishers have been previously mentioned within other posted messages. If the local library is closed visit the doityourself.com main pages. I'm sure that your patronage will be appreciated.
On the other hand a relatively new masonry site is on the waves. Information that applies to your circumstance is available free, as PDF downloads (at least for the moment). The chapters were written by masons to benefit Average Joe, and to promote masonry. Each chapter has a test at the end (something other delivery systems lack). Poke around here http://www.concretemasonry.com/ Signing their guest book would be a nice way to say thanks. You may want to visit http://www.bhglive.com/homeimp/ also.
Since you will be handling a trowel and mortar often the following exercise was drilled into me as a kid. Practice mortar is made with sand and lime only. It can be remixed and reused many times over as long as it doesn't react with Carbon Dioxide in the air or another source.
Place a mortar board at hip height, then load one half with practice mortar. Using the source lessons above - work the mortar and load the trowel. Then practice throwing it. When you're comfortable throwing a smooth even line throw it onto the widest dimension of a 2x4. Then finally stand the 2x4 on edge, and throw it again, and again, and again.
Marshalltown http://www.marshalltown.com/ is a very old name when it comes to trowels.