blocks

Hi all diy-ers, I just joined this forum to ask for some help and advice on a project I'm about to start. Last year my wife and I did a big garden renovation and part of it was building two retaining walls at the front of the bay windows. Basically what were two sloped flower beds now are two...

Hi everyone, I'm trying to get hold of x20 140mm dense hollow concrete blocks (7N/mm²) but I'm struggling to find any in my local area. I'm on the Hampshire/Berkshire/Surrey border. There are some showing on buildingmaterials.co.uk website but when I ordered them they came back and send they...

I want to build some pillars for a wooden patio roof cover to rest on, about 2m high. I could build brick ones but want to render to match existing features. Can lightweight blocks on end be used ? I was thinking I could put mesh between courses for added strength. I have stacked as example in...

Hi all, I hope you are well. I'll try to keep this short. I am building an outbuilding (hopefully to use as an office / gym). The size is approx. 7m by 4m. It is being built on the boundary so within 1m. I plan to build it all of the light breeze blocks (except two rows of bricks at the...

Hi! I have a few concerns about some cracks on my self build that I am half way through. This is my first project, I might add! I have found a few hairline cracks and wonder if I should be freaking out? Here is the story: the site is 8m x 7m I dug the foundations myself! I dug down...

I`ve got a surplus of Tarmac Toplite trench blocks. CAN i use them to build a raised garden bed and render them? I know they can be used under DPC and as trench blocks obviously, but are they okay for a raised bed and will they take render? o_O

Hi All, Ive been advised by my builder to use concrete blocks fro my outer skin of my outbuilding and internal skin/partition walls with ashblocks/ashlite.... i cant find much information on these on the net...has anybody else come across these (or if there is a different term for them)? Ive...

Hi I am nearly ready to install my wall plate for the roof trusses which have been ordered. The truss manufacturer has been out and measured so hopefully everything is going to be correct there. I asked the following question to the truss manufacturer (okay :rolleyes: might be a stupid...

Hi Iam planning a build of a large courtyard wall with the following dimensions; 10m x 2.4m and 38m x 2.2m Iam going to lay 6inch blocks flat could someone help and tell me how many blocks i need? Thanks

Hi I am nearly at first floor height for my extension and I have made a hole to check the existing floor level. The bottom of the existing floor joists sit level to the bottom of the hole I made and the top of the joists level to the purple line in the picture. Regs say: Restraint straps must...

Hi all, quick question - I am building a single skin brick shed to house my tools and kids bikes more securely. Have been perusing travis Perkins website and they have solid and dense concrete blocks - is one better than the other for my purpose? Am thinking hollow as they are wider and maybe...

I've bought a second hand conservatory that needs a dwarf wall. I've laid the foundations to the right size and now need to build a dwarf wall. I hope to build this out of blocks rather than bricks as I'm aiming to render the walls. What is the best block to use and any tips on building the...

Hello, We have a porch with decorative concrete blocks and the previous owners put up some plastic sheeting in order to cover them and create a makeshift room. However, the plastic is flimsy. Lots of soil, rubbish and insects come into the porch from under the plastic and it rattles in the...