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Can you use Concrete Blocks for Footings?
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Can you use Concrete Blocks for footings?
Concrete blocks can be used as building components and can also be used for footings. Concrete blocks can be made from many different materials including sand, pumice, fly ash, slag, Portland cement, and even metals such as aluminium. The newer concrete blocks can have a higher compressive strength than traditional brick or masonry units.
When using concrete blocks in footings, you need to consider the type of soil conditions that you have for your project site. If there is no frost protection needed it will depend on the weight of the building load being supported by the footing. With regards to frost protection, if you expect a freezing temperature below 32 degrees F then it is best to step footings a minimum of 12 inches deep through non-frost protected soil.
When constructing concrete block footings, the footing can be filled with concrete, although it can also be filled with aggregate and rebar can be utilised for reinforcement depending on the compressive strength of the block. If you do not want to use a mixture in one footing, you can separate each course with 2 inches of space filled with compactable gravel.
As always, like with many different concrete uses, when using items other than their original purpose, there are variables that can affect your building project. In the case of using concrete blocks for footings I have listed some pros and cons below:
Pros:
- Concrete blocks can have high compressive strengths which allows them to support heavy loads such as a house foundation or even a slab floor system.
- Can be used in wet or dry conditions
- Can be stacked with the corrugated surface on either side to reduce any tripping hazards.
- Can have more variety in appearance than traditional footing choices such as brick, stone or tile pavers.
Cons:
- Depending on moisture level of soil can cause greater expansion and contraction of material compared to traditional masonry units. If this is an issue then it may require reinforcement within the concrete block unit.
- Can be more costly if you need higher quantities of block that are not readily available on site. If there are several product options available, this can also affect cost.
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