Greetings! I've been searching the web to try to find how does one
build a n engineered cinder block wall for a shop. Here is the
confusion, I've never done it before. The county I live in wants me to
start with 12" wide blocks for the first couple of layers, then use 8"
block for the mid and top layers. How do I go about putting in rebar to
make sure it will go through both blocks with the different width?
Where can I find an illustration? Part of the wall will be 6 ' high and
another section will be 8' high. It will be used as soil retaining and
is also for a shop addition. I greatly appreciate any information,
suggestions and ideas. Thanks
Pete
AndyS - 29 Sep 2006 12:48 GMT
> Greetings! I've been searching the web to try to find how does one
> build a n engineered cinder block wall for a shop. Here is the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> suggestions and ideas. Thanks
> Pete
Andy comments
This could get tricky. The soil retaining wall will have a lot of
horizontal pressure and may need the rebar and concrete filler.
The shop wall will have mostly downward pressure and doesn't
need to be as "solid". So it depends on how high the soild retaining
wall is and whether the shop wall is being built on top of it........
If you put drainage pipe on the "soil side" and use gravel as
backfill,
there will be a lot less pressure, assuming you can find a place to run
the drainage off to..... Also, the wall will probably leak, and may get
your shop wet.....
So, you see, your question can get complicated...
Here's an idea: Excavate about two feet back from the shop
wall, and there put a second, lower wall for your soil retention.
That till give you easier specs for each wall, and a place to
store your lawnmower and pictures of your mother-in-law.
Drainage will be easier, also, tho you might have a small
moat after a rain, but, heck, you can stock it with fish......
Andy in Eureka, Texas
peterjgibson@sbcglobal.net - 29 Sep 2006 15:47 GMT
> > Greetings! I've been searching the web to try to find how does one
> > build a n engineered cinder block wall for a shop. Here is the
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> need to be as "solid". So it depends on how high the soild retaining
> wall is and whether the shop wall is being built on top of it........
Andy Thanks for the reply. I did forget to mention that this wall will
have both rebar and be filled with cement as per county approved plans
that were engineered. I'm assuming that they know about the pressures
as you are and mentioned.
Bob Morrison - 29 Sep 2006 15:35 GMT
In a previous post peterjgibson@sbcglobal.net wrote...
> Greetings! I've been searching the web to try to find how does one
> build a n engineered cinder block wall for a shop. Here is the
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> is also for a shop addition. I greatly appreciate any information,
> suggestions and ideas. Thanks
The simplest thing would be to have an engineer design the wall with the
necessary details. Then the county will have very little to complain
about.

Signature
Bob Morrison, PE, SE
R L Morrison Engineering Co
Structural & Civil Engineering
Poulsbo WA
bob at rlmorrisonengr dot com
peterjgibson@sbcglobal.net - 29 Sep 2006 15:43 GMT
> In a previous post peterjgibson@sbcglobal.net wrote...
> > Greetings! I've been searching the web to try to find how does one
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> necessary details. Then the county will have very little to complain
> about.
Thanks Bob. It actually is an engineered, county approved wall that is
requiring me to start with the 12" wide and then going to 8" wide block
towards the top. It will also be filled with cement and rebar. I not
sure how to place the rebar or the placement of the 8" block on top of
the 12" block at the trancition?
> --
> Bob Morrison, PE, SE
> R L Morrison Engineering Co
> Structural & Civil Engineering
> Poulsbo WA
> bob at rlmorrisonengr dot com
Bob Morrison - 29 Sep 2006 15:56 GMT
In a previous post peterjgibson@sbcglobal.net wrote...
> Thanks Bob. It actually is an engineered, county approved wall that is
> requiring me to start with the 12" wide and then going to 8" wide block
> towards the top. It will also be filled with cement and rebar. I not
> sure how to place the rebar or the placement of the 8" block on top of
> the 12" block at the trancition?
The engineer didn't give you details? He or she should have. There
should be complete details showing required bar placement with dimensions
at all locations. If you do not have this information then the wall has
not been properly engineered and the county should not have approved the
design.
Go back to the engineer and ask for more information. Did you pay this
person?

Signature
Bob Morrison, PE, SE
R L Morrison Engineering Co
Structural & Civil Engineering
Poulsbo WA
bob at rlmorrisonengr dot com
Glenn - 29 Sep 2006 15:58 GMT
When I was younger, cinder block was used occasionally but at
least around here, I haven't seen one for 50 years. Do they still
make those poor quality things or is "cinder block" a regional
euphemism for the concrete block of today?
> Greetings! I've been searching the web to try to find how
> does one build a n engineered cinder block wall for a
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> information, suggestions and ideas. Thanks
> Pete
Glenn - 29 Sep 2006 18:48 GMT
OT. I see dozens of mile long coal trains go through this area
daily. That has to make a lot of ash, ie cinders. Yet I never
see any.
I know most furnaces at the P & L's powder the coal and then burn
it. Now I know there is no such thing as burning anything
completely. even gas has an exhaust. Does the coal ash go up the
flue?
> When I was younger, cinder block was used occasionally
> but at least around here, I haven't seen one for 50
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> > greatly appreciate any information, suggestions and
> > ideas. Thanks Pete
DanG - 30 Sep 2006 06:21 GMT
Yes. It is collected and marketed as fly ash. It is used as a
substitute for lime in ground stabilization and is used as a
pozolin in concrete manufacture taking the place of much of the
Portland.
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)
dgriff237@7cox.net
> OT. I see dozens of mile long coal trains go through this area
> daily. That has to make a lot of ash, ie cinders. Yet I never
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>> > greatly appreciate any information, suggestions and
>> > ideas. Thanks Pete
AndyS - 30 Sep 2006 01:12 GMT
> When I was younger, cinder block was used occasionally but at
> least around here, I haven't seen one for 50 years. Do they still
> make those poor quality things or is "cinder block" a regional
> euphemism for the concrete block of today?
Glen,
I read a post a couple weeks ago about this. Blocks in olden
times were actually made from cinders. They weren't very
strong. Today all blocks are concrete of some form. They
are much better quality. However, the "cinder block" term is
a holdover. I doubt you could buy a real cinder block anywhere.
Anyway, that's what I read.... somewhere.... maybe here ...
Andy in Eureka, Texas
Glenn - 30 Sep 2006 02:55 GMT
> I read a post a couple weeks ago about this. Blocks in
> olden times were actually made from cinders. They
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Andy in Eureka, Texas
Careful with that "olden times" expression. I remember they very
well and I ain't "that" old. :)
Actually they weren't too bad but needed to be used above ground.
They were lighter by about 1/3. They were porous though and easy
to break. You needed to lay them with gloves because they were
hell on the hands as in sharp rough. They were used mostly for
inside partitions. Came in modular 4" and 8" but I don't remember
ever seeing 12" although they probably did.
The cinder block name slays me though, we just call them concrete
blocks around here and I haven't heard the other term for many,
many years so as I said, it must be regional. Kansas City area,
Jonny - 30 Sep 2006 14:46 GMT
> Greetings! I've been searching the web to try to find how does one
> build a n engineered cinder block wall for a shop. Here is the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> suggestions and ideas. Thanks
> Pete
Cinder block in my part of the woods comes in 16" and 8" wide blocks. The
16" version is essentially two 8" blocks combined. Other than width,
remainder dimensions are approximately 8"X8" for both blocks.
Since am unaquainted with 12" cinder block, I cannot know the cavity
dimensions or if there is more than one cavity and in standard 16" wide
cinder block. Fill me in.

Signature
Jonny