The poured concrete will attain its final set in about a week, after which time the forms can be removed and reused. Each course should add a height of 8 inches to the wall, including a 3/8” mortar joint. After each course is laid, measure the overall height and be sure the wall remains level and plumb.

The blocks are laid in courses in a stretcher pattern so that the vertical joints of every other course are aligned. Concrete should be spread evenly throughout the forms and should be rodded manually or vibrated mechanically to remove trapped air. The built-in hollow cores in standard 8-inch blocks allow for steel reinforcing bars embedded in grout to be inserted into the vertical shaft that results when the cores are aligned.Ĭoncrete should not be dropped or poured from a height greater than 3 or 4 feet, or segregation will occur. Vertical reinforcement can be added after the wall is in place. Horizontal reinforcement can be done with small diameter steel “ladders” or webs, usually installed at every second or third course. All reinforcing is set in place after the forms have been built and before the concrete is poured. Concrete walls would have vertical rods at regular intervals footings would have reinforcing running horizontally. Concrete blocks are manufactured in units ranging from 4 inches to 12 inches in width, but the most commonly used block has dimensions of 8 inches x 8 inches x 16 inches.Ĭoncrete walls and foundation walls, in particular, are sometimes reinforced with metal rods or rebar. Wall forms are reinforced with spreader blocks and tie wires to insure a uniform wall thickness once the concrete is poured.Ĭalculate the amount of mortar and the number of blocks needed to construct the wall. 2 x 4 vertical bracing is installed at every 2 feet along the wall, which is then braced diagonally. The total cost of ICF basement installed on concrete footings will come to around 22.00 26.00 per square foot of completed basement wall in Southern Ontario or around 40,500.00 48,000.00 for a basement discussed earlier. Total costs depend on the wall size, foundation type, and reinforcements required by building codes. The length of horizontal form boards should be multiples of 2 feet, or plywood sheathing can be installed in sheets 4 feet wide. A cinder block retaining wall costs 60 to 210 per linear foot for walls 3’ to 6’ high, or 20 to 35 per square foot, including gravel backfill and a poured concrete or gravel foundation. Step 1 - Build the Forms / Gather the MaterialsĬonstruct the formwork. A comparison of the construction method for each wall type is given below. Solid concrete walls are less susceptible to leakage and there is a greater likelihood of cracks developing in a concrete block wall due to settlement. It is also more versatile, limited only by the size and shape of the formwork. However, a solid concrete wall has superior load-bearing capacity. It is also more time-consuming in that the curing process must be completed before any additional work can be done. A poured concrete wall requires the construction of formwork and is, therefore, more labor-intensive.

Poured concrete walls vs block cost