Masonry: How to properly lay Concrete Hollow Blocks (CHB)

Masonry: Concrete Hollow Block Laying

One of the most common building material used is Concrete
Hollow Blocks. Most construction systems in the Philippines lay
out the structural “skeleton” of the building, usually reinforced
concrete columns and beams, and then layout the rest of the
building in CHB, as it is abbreviated. The popularity of hollow
blocks or CHB comes from its modular use and portability. It is
easy to transport, is standard like a lego block that can create all
kinds of walls – even curves and cylinders!
There are different materials having modular use such as sand
bags, bricks, stone and adobe blocks. But CHB wins over
because of its simple composition – sand, fly ash and cement. Stones and adobe must be quarried from special
location (its sources) and transported to thousands of kilometers to the site while CHB can be cast in all kinds of
location on Earth.
There are many kinds of concrete blocks because molding them allows one to customize what one needs. But
concrete hollow blocks evolved to mean the most commonly used ones: 4″ (100mm), 6″ (150mm) and 8″
(rarely used 200mm) which come in the same height and width 8″x 16″ (0.1×0.2x.4). Different structural
strengths can also be produced by varying the amount of cement in the mold. Standard strength for CHB is 500
psi for Bungalow up to 4 Storeys and 700 psi for High Rise Construction. Walls in 700 psi CHB is considered
as load bearing.
Because hollow blocks are a common material, non-professional people take them for granted in the site. As
construction sites require large areas to be programmed for CHB, Sand and Gravel, careful planning for location
on site ensures that masons working will have enough space to mix the mortar and install CHB.

Concrete Block (CMU) Sizes, Shapes, and Finishes

Concrete blocks, also known as Concrete Masonry Units or CMUs, provide very durable structural and non-
structural partitions. They are generally used as a backup wall that gets covered with a finish material or
exposed in utilitarian spaces like mechanical rooms or basements. They can be painted to provide a cleaner
finish, but they are also manufactured with different finishes that help improve the aesthetic quality over the
traditional gray CMU

Nominal vs. Actual Dimensions

As with brick, CMUs have actual dimensions and nominal
dimensions. The nominal dimension of a CMU is the actual
dimension plus the width of the mortar joint. Typical CMU
mortar joints are 3/8". The nominal dimension works within the
4" grid that other construction materials follow. The graphic
below shows the difference between nominal and actual sizes.
Concrete Block (CMU) Sizes
Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs) are manufactured in a variety of sizes. They are identified by their depth –
i.e. the thickness of the wall they create. For instance, a 6" CMU is nominally 6" deep while a 10" CMU is
nominally 10" deep.

Concrete blocks also come in half-sizes, which are helpful in reducing the need to cut blocks in the field at
corners or the end of walls. The architect should always attempt to design buildings using the nominal
dimensions to the nearest half-block size to reduce waste and labor due to cut blocks.

The following table provides concrete block sizes in both nominal and actual dimensions. While 4", 6", 8", 10",
and 12" are the standard sizes, some manufacturers offer other sizes not listed below.
Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) Specifications
CMU manufacturers must conform to ASTM standards when fabricating concrete blocks. The standards
identify appropriate materials, compressive strength, dimensional tolerance, moisture absorption, and other
performance characteristics.

Concrete brick is made from concrete similar to concrete block, but concrete bricks are fabricated in sizes that
match traditional clay bricks (i.e. 2 2/3" tall).

The weight of concrete masonry units varies depending on the density of concrete mix used. There are three
classifications of CMU: lightweight (less than 105 lb/ft3), medium weight (between 105 lb/ft3 and 125 lb/ft, and
normal weight (more than 125 lb/ft3. Lighter CMUs are less expensive, require less labor to install, and tend to
have better fire resistance properties. Heavier units tend to reduce sound transmission, have much higher
compressive strengths, and have greater thermal storage capacity; however, they are more expensive and cost
more to install. Architects must specify the CMU weight if a particular weight is required.

The following table provides the ASTM standards that apply to concrete masonry units. ASTM C90 covers
most conventional CMU construction and is the standard referenced by the ICC codes.
Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) Shapes
There are an almost infinite number of CMU shapes available. The images below cover the most common
shapes, but you should check with your local CMU manufacturer if you need special shapes or finishes.

Stretcher Ribbed (number of ribs

varies)

Column with Pilaster Scored

(various sizes)

Column (various sizes) U Lintel

Bullnose Knockout Bond beam

(radiused corner)
Sash (allows control joint Bond Beam
or door/window frame)

Single Corner Double Corner

Double Open End Open End

Kerf
Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) Surface Finishes
As with shapes, there are a large number of finish options so you can make the utilitarian gray concrete block
look much more aesthetically pleasing. Be sure to meet with your local CMU representative to learn about what
types of finishes they offer and at what cost premium.

Colored CMU
Pigments can be added to both the concrete block as well as the mortar. The allows for the block and mortar to
blend together or to have a sharp contrast. Keep in mind that there will be a natural variation in the color of the
CMUs, even if they come from the same manufacturing batch. Therefore, it is important that the architect
review at least 3 sample blocks that demonstrate the expected color variation.

If the color needs to be consistent or exact, you may consider painting the block and mortar. Painting is
generally done on the interior, but can also be accomplished on exterior surfaces. Be sure to work with your
CMU manufacturer and paint supplier to select the right paint for your situation.

Glazed CMU
Glazed CMU has a tile-like glazed finish made from a resin-based coating. The coating offers a wide variety of
color as well as some faux material patterns. These surfaces may offer improved resistance to graffiti and
chemicals. Glazed CMU is covered via ASTM C744, but the blocks still need to adhere to the ASTM C90
standard for load bearing CMU.

Split Faced CMU

Split faced CMU is manufactured by molding two units side-by-side and then mechanically splitting them apart
after firing. This creates a very rough texture that some people think looks like stone, especially since the
aggregates in the block are also split or exposed.

Ribbed or scored units (graphics above in the Shapes section) can also have a split faced finish to add more
texture.

Soft-Split CMU
Soft-Split CMU is made with special molds that create a split-faced appearance instead of mechanically
splitting the blocks. The effect is a bit less rough than split faced. In addition, the mold means that aggregates
are not exposed.

Burnished or Polished CMU

Also referred to as Ground Face CMU, concrete blocks can be burnished or polished to expose the natural
aggregates in the concrete mix. It is important to work with the manufacturer to select appealing aggregate and
to test the polishing process to ensure you get the aesthetic you are looking for.
Sandblasted CMU
Sandblasting concrete masonry units also exposes the aggregate, but also blasts away some of the sand and
cement to create a rougher appearance. Some people believe this creates a natural weathered look instead of the
smoother look of burnished or polished CMU.

Raked CMU
Raked (or Striated) units have vertical rake marks introduced during the molding process. The rake marks are
not as deep as the scored or ribbed blocks identified above in the Shapes section, but they do add an appealing
texture to the block. You can also specify that scored or ribbed blocks have an additional raked pattern applied
for more texture.

REFERENCE/S: https://www.archtoolbox.com/materials-systems/masonry/concblocksizes.html
https://www.slideshare.net/vijay1230/04-masonry