xt7jh98zbf22 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7jh98zbf22/data/mets.xml   Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. 1946 journals kaes_circulars_004_434 English Lexington : The Service, 1913-1958. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 434 text Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 434 1946 2014 true xt7jh98zbf22 section xt7jh98zbf22 W i
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Y Circular 434 A` A
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Fig. `I.— Common shapes and sizes ot blocks:
(A) Three-core block; (B) Streamline corner block; i li
(C) Corner block; (D) Jamb block for steel sash; ’
(E) Jamb block for wood sash; (F) Partition block.  ; ll
it
After the blocks are made, it is necessary to keep them damp lor several  ~ (i
days to cure them properly. The time (or curing is normally 4- or 5 _ [¤
days but should be extended 3 to 5 days longer in cold weather, Under tw
no circumstances should blocks be exposed to freezing 1empt·ra1ur¤~ ._ h
while curing. Steam curing for 24 hours, which is used by some of the » ln
larger companies, takes the place of damp curing. ( I1
Buyers with no special knowledge of concrete blocks can judge : 'l
somewhat their quality by examining them [or soundness and 2ll1}’  ` `
tendency they may have to chip or pulverize easily. .i Il

 » = l .
` One way to be sure of buying good blocks is to check the test  
A ratings and buy only those that meet the requirements of the American ` I
  society for Testing Materials. Grade B blocks must have a compressive ( . ,
snength of at least 700 pounds per square inch, and Grade A 1,000  
I pounds, when laid in a wall. Test not later than 28 days after manu- (_
 ° facture. These grades must also have a water absorption limit of A . ~`
 _ approximately 6 pounds per block. A reliable blockmaker will be glad ._
to show the purchaser reports of tests for quality made on his products. A , A
lf the builder does not plan to use the blocks for a few weeks after A A _
 V purchase, he should put them under a shed or cover with a tarpaulin 1 i
to prevent exposure to rain or sunshine. Blocks that are too moist _  
 · when put into a building will later dry and cause wall cracks, while ‘
1 blocks that are too dry will draw moisture out of the mortar joints, a
{ before the joints are cured, and thus cause the mortar to shrink or 1
 . become powdery. Such walls are greatly weakened because the blocks . j
‘Y are not Hrinly held together.
’ How to Luy ¤ W¤II li "
Having an adequate foundation, though important with any build-
ing, is particularly important in buildings made with concrete blocks V A
Q because of their great weight and the danger of cracks if the foundation A
moves. Factors determining the size of the foundation are (1) the A
weight of the building, (2) the maximum live loads to which the _
. building will be subjected, and   the load—bearing capacity of the »
 . underlying soil. A rule of thumb method that fits Kentucky farm I
` building conditions is to make the footing twice as wide as the width of l
 I the wall. The foundation should extend below the frost line to lirm
footing and be as nearly watertight as possible.
_ ln laying the blocks, start at one corner of the footing or founda- A .
j tion. Spread mortar the full width of the block and place the corner jr
 Z block hrst (Fig. 1, B or C). Always lay the corners before laying the
A wall course. A course is one layer of blocks in the wall. After the ,
veral  ~ {irst course has been laid, each following course is laid on mortar strips A
or 5 _ placed only along the edges as shown in Fig. 2. ln building up the
ndet j corners, use a 1nason’s level to keep the wall plumb and straight and ‘
nnrt ( half lap the blocks above the course below (Fig.   Stretch a string ·
fthe » between corners at a height corresponding to the top of the course _
( being laid and proceed to build up the wall, using the string as a
ridge ; 'll?U`l__;____ . mea
.        <;;__· _ wor
s \ ~ —`..`     A and
\  \_ ____   ‘=.·‘;·;;·   _ wat
.       / A and
V ‘ x `."":—»e__`_  I ` . (  
` __     I *· Sll1`(
 ,,_.. _ AA~\__\   l 1 i joil
L I · \"`~i\ '   €I1C
_ »     A   are
    um
‘ I Fig. 2.- In laying up the block wall, ` Tre
’ A _ mortar is placed only along the edges. _
., ’ This helps to keep moisture from pass- .i
_ • ~. ing through the wall. » Clll
A A'  ' lllzl
V `   or
Plumb with level _ dig
Marker _ ; I
board V \`i T]
y V — gm
..1 V, é   lla
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l. Er Stretch line to z  _. Q;  my
_ I corner to lay _ _ i . A ~
`I _ — ` blacks b€?W€€l’l - . `_ I ` v_ up
A  -l'°  “ ‘ '  ‘ 
Q . `   ·g4_t;,_j·{_·_.·.; ._ f. _ I _ _ I ;
. ,','·“7~ "-:.   1 . 7 ·
'"' " ~   ` . `   A .· . _ im Q sill
· \ _` —— _ A _ ` , _ I P _ · , , jl   llO
»_ ` l A ‘ `   lil
F°¤"d¤’*<>¤ Mortar full width of block   ln
when laying bottom course   ln.
Fig: 3.-- Detail showing how each course is kept plumb ond straight and ll0W   all
’ laying of the bottom course differs from the others.  
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. [ j
V it is advisable to get a competent. engineer to figure out the amount. of .  
‘ steel needed and its proper spacing in the walls. i V
· Mortar mix for joining any blocks below grade should contain l it ‘ l
’ measure of portland cement and 3 measures of mortar sand. (Add 10  
_ pounds hydrated lime per sack of cement to make a more workable i .
· mortar.) Mortar mix for blocks above grade may have 1 measure of i ‘
i portland cement, 1 measure of lime putty or hydrated lime, and 6` M. V
_ measures of mortar sand. Another satisfactory mix for above-grade ‘
. work is 1 measure of masonry cement meeting federal specifications '
and 3 measures of mortar sand. Each of the above must have enough . i
j water to make a workable mix,. Thin mortar joints between %" ~ V
. and Ml" are best because such joints produce a stronger, more water-
tight wall —and a wall is no stronger than its weakest joint. To be
sure ol a watertight joint, always avoid raked, stripped, and struck l
i joints. Concave and V joints, Fig. 4, made by compressing the mortar ,
·jV enough to make a tight bond between the mortar and block unit
  are most satisfactory. This is known as tooling. Don’t do the tooling _
  until the mortar is stiff enough to hold its shape. ,* .
iwulll · Treating Weuther-Exposed Walls .
2%;;   The importance of waterproofing outside walls cannot be over-
J emphasized. Doing this at the time of construction is much easier
 j than doing it later. For waterproofing below grade, cement plaster
  or hot asphalt should be used. Cement plaster should be at least ·
  % inch thick. If the soil area around the building foundation is poorly i
» drained, provision should be made for drainage as shown in Fig. 5. it
.{ The tile must lead to a suitable outlet. For waterproofing above
>‘V V Y  grade, several waterproofing treatments are available, such as melted
V   wax, metallic stearate, or wax dissolved in a suitable solvent, and
.·  V ])0l`ll2lll(l cement paints. These products are handled by many COIH— i ¤
_   patties selling paints. Two coats of portland cement paint seem to f
c ‘ if be lhc 111OSl satisfactory and durable for normal conditions. ASpl1Hll
' _ =%  emulsions and special paints also are now available for special wall . V
V 3 iil>}1lll`i1li011s, but some ol` these are too (costly to be pralctliiéll fOl` II10Sl
·   farm uses.
V { l)l`(%Vt?1lllOI1 of condensation of air-borne moisture on the inner i
>   side of weather-exposed walls, especially in residences and buildings I
/ " l1<'>USing farm animals, is a Problem to which few builders give €H0l1gl1 l
  ronsideration. Good ventilation of the building helps prevent this
  <<¤1dt·nsation_ l|` the building is Poorly ventilated, rnoisturc will
dhow V  lV’;' kept {wut passing into the wall by treating the wall W\'l[h an
  . tnmmzed asphalt paint, two coats of portland cement paint, or other V
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l
  wats
1 barr
,.- , of 1
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V , J ’ » ' 4 0uLs
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IJHFJ /4// ` ; C
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n ¢•’ y ;
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jr 5 S .
) 4 V
“' Q 1   s
g,»’  , u u ·
_,J· 5 jj Rounqed ¤ or V-shqped
’ A { t00I is run olong jonnt ·
L»··’ / ‘ to compact mortar after -
/0,-* _,.·*§ 11 has stuffened  1
1 ‘ ,
¢°°` B •·"’, .
.~”’ _,/’ E d . . 1
3 ..— _ | &H A-1.T0oIe joints
i r' · . · ,I   . ~
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1     ;<·iT
[L'! _` _ D- \ ‘ _ , ". .
{lf _` ·` . _\' . x .
V . ` - V ` '
Fig. 4.— Proper tooling of the joints mokes for ¤ more uniform and more w¤ler· L I
tight wall.  y \
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.’?"?‘  ‘,— r¤v1j»1¤¤»¤~ GF ,f’F,, 1,,.,,. IEE', Betogpgrggic
srous caus va LL srme caus so ; wm
Room on cm  ;.,‘_‘ FWTING owen orc: [mans _ _ *'°°T'N6
  V/0 _ 3 ’ . ‘   `
DRAIN TILE` ·1»' » 'vf DRAIN TILE ;q_‘4'· ‘ ·. »
 [Q =>;·<_·‘.   [a ;;».»4·e  I
M4 11*lI ii H I
Fig. 5.—- In locations where there is uny possibility of soil water seepuge, d|'°l" I
tile leading to on open outlet is necessary at the lower port of the footing· F
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V I V in t

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waterproof coating. Sometimes buildings such as homes and dairy V  
1 barns need more insulation than the wall alone gives. Filling the cores ,
of the blocks with a gramnlar insulating material reduces heat loss 1 ‘ 1
‘ 20 to 25 percent and likewise reduces condensation of moisture on the Q
inside surface. Another treatment is to surface the inner side of the ’ . ·_
‘ Outside walls with moistureproof insulation board. Fig. 6 shows how 4 ‘ i
i insulation board may be fastened to furring strips. *4 y
i Good workmanship, good blocks, and correct mortar mixes are "
i essential in construction of all kinds of cement-block walls. The walls i _
· of many [arm buildings can be constructed without any special treat— · 1
ment. ln those buildings where it will be detrimental to have damp _ -— y
. / -
uped `   I 1
*lI`ll · r// i
after - /,/_
nts V   _. A
V A   /  iyg E ‘
_ . ` i /  s` I! 1   ·
~w¤ter· ¥ _ ' §® {   ` ‘•
. S 11 l
 l N -— i  \$   lt i
) V 1 1 ~*` ” 1  
,p _ i_ gv 1·       1
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g 1 w l l1
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Q   lh ` 1 it Y ‘ .
1 — s ll v   -
‘ K V 1 1 F `
GRADE i " NI ;   i i i i  
marina   /   U1! 1
mc y   /// _   ll   ty i .
{ Wire tre»’·’/ _     \ ·
2, drain ' i
Flg· 6-* Adding insulation board, The furring strips are held in pl¤C€ by Wl|'€ ldld ;
‘ I In me m0fl'¤f. Insulation board is ta be nailed to fufflng strips.  

 : IO i
walls, a damp-proof treatment and sometimes insulation are necessary, -——
In the home, many interior finishes or combinations of finishes are p  
used, such as plaster, portland cement paint, insulation board (Fig, 6), **
varnishes, and artistic designs.
, Construction Details  _'
Fig. 7 shows a common practice used in building around doors, .
The door frame must be well braced in place and the blocks set Q 
against it. Bolts to hold the frame in position must be spaced to fit }
l / 5
 
Fit strip into jamb  
Type block »·
Bruce door -    
frame _ . _ __ ·}  
.  ;   F 5 I .   ng.
. / _, , I, - J" WOO
il ` _ `_ _ -‘ -   is s
~ ‘ . - ~~ I `.   and
/ - `ct   · `:` if  _
If / ~._ g p . -   mt
' - `   ¥ “ if in
Bolt through A   , .,~—-  ..  
frame , '    ¤
   2     L/K _ g  · un
/   j_·_/2* [ry" _ /)/ ’ 
/._   ,,   .·i· c · 
2 ` ‘/V,   gg,  sw
ky   uu
  ala
Fig. 7.— Temporary bracing of the door in its corrct position is necessary l>€l°l€   In
V the wall can be set. Bolts through the door frame extending into the mortar joints gi ·l’
help to secure the door. {L  `

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. Q V
V · it 5
 V I l
tsary, _ _; ` li    ·_   .'_ (  
S U6 _    l1»‘::'..._”—'Z•?.;.'€'·.‘;*'.“.:G  i (J I; ·_;   I
g. 6), _ _t t
Reinforced J a m b ` _;
V Precast Concrete Block _ V
 · lil Lintel III . ‘ .
._-_ _•   Reinforced ‘ .
. . ; -.‘ Precast Concrete
[0015 ix: _ Split Lintel `nt
.s set I--6 ~ \ g_ I
\
to fit I" · t
  I I Il (
. ( ` '
· / .
ttl ( Ill if
  `
I lggm ` \ I WJ i
: I X '
i * ’ I l
V /
[ " i 1  
 ‘ I »°==— Precast Concrete (
· I   lf   Split Sill Q-
y    II (
/ - Precast Concrete . t
, . - sttt
\ I I (Bl ~ (
y IZ-
" J 9 · (A) ·
' ; Q  Fig. 8·—- Placing of wooden frames differs from putting in steel frames in that the ‘
', -   ttwaden frames are bolted into the mortar joints similar to the way in which a door `
A · is secured, while steel frames have flanges extending into the split sill and lintel
- 1   and into the outer cores of the blocks. The flanges are secured in mortar. ’ •
/   into the mortar mix between courses. Though jamb blocks are shown .
i in the sketch, ordinary blocks will work satisfactorily. Details for
  building around wood framed windows are shown in Fig. SA and V .
Q2  steel lramctl windows in Fig. 8B. Lintels, the horizontal top pieces - ·
ij  *>\'<’l` each door and window, are usually made Oli l`PlUliOl`(`l"‘(l t`0l1Ft“€i€
  étlttl can be obtained [rom the blockmaker. V r
f` With the use of a special block (Fig. lli) joists are easily placed in
p the walls as shown in Fig. 9. The limitation oi this arrangement is
tltat the ioists are not fastened to take care ol the outward wall thrust l
  \ll(ll HS SOHlClllll€S O(`Clll`S l~l`Olll Sl)l`G2l(lll]g l`OOiS Elll(l SlOl`€(l gffllll. `
(fc lrlolts, head down, are placed in the top course ol blocks with a (
; ttiortar mix to tic the plate to thc wall (Fig. 10). Paper is packed in
  tlt<· block cores below the level ol the bolt head to hold the mortar
before   ""X tttttil it l1ardens_ Under mn-mg;] (jcmditigng, %"xl¤l" bolts spaced
tr lomlt py ·l’ apart are sufficient.
`V I
2 (
.  l

 l 12 _  
 § ©»  
, }   Fig. 9.— Special blocks are 2; 
· §    ·.' ié   required for fitting ioists into  
_ ~. ‘ _. · Q, b,   the wall.  
.  l  
\ Plate of 2' lumber  
i Q   ‘ ,“
'_ ’ li Bolts must extend through  
A 4 ` top course into next course  iq,
~ 1, _  
 o it   M
l `~\_ l .    i PA
,  \»\\ _ ` _ l,  3
\_ x — n. _  ,_
\— _\V · _ “ h _»   St
‘ _ _‘ _ ll` _ I  i- S1
. ll a i ‘·.j‘
, ' . [I V r. _ `  L Sl
l \ l I ,  E B
Fig. l0.-— Upon completion of a block wall, it is necessary to add a wooden Pl¤l€  
in the manner shown. This plate furnishes a base to which the roof may be tied.  ‘1
\iVhere partitions are to be of wood, bolts or nietal ties should bt  si
placed in the mortar joints as the blocks are laid in the outside wnlli-    ___ j
Mzasonry partitions 4" or R" thick may be built without ties.  
Further information on construction with concrete blocks can  
be obtained from the Agricultural Engineering Section, Col-  
lege of Agriculture and Home Economics, Lexington.  ·
_ 7_aT....,/  if
Lexington, Kentucky June, 1947  
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics: College of Agflcllmlli  
nud Home Economics, University of Kentucky, and the United States Department of AW} Q 
vulture, cooperating. Thomas P. Cooper, Director. Issued in furtherance of the Acts ¤·  .
May 8 and June 30, 1914. MGH  
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