Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Modern construction for basement walls typically falls into one of two categories: they will be made of poured-in-place concrete using concrete forms with a concrete pump, or they will use concrete masonry units (block walls). Rock may also be used, but is less common.
A pallet of "8-inch" concrete blocks An interior wall of painted concrete blocks Concrete masonry blocks A building constructed with concrete masonry blocks. A concrete block, also known as a cinder block in North American English, breeze block in British English, or concrete masonry unit (CMU), or by various other terms, is a standard-size rectangular block used in building construction.
In poured concrete foundations, cracks and pipe penetrations are the most common entry points for seepage. These openings can be sealed from the interior. Epoxies , which are strong adhesives, or urethanes can be pressure injected into the openings, thus penetrating the foundation through to the exterior and cutting off the path of the seepage.
Concrete masonry units (CMUs) or blocks in a basement wall before burial. Blocks of cinder concrete (cinder blocks or breezeblocks), ordinary concrete (concrete blocks), or hollow tile are generically known as Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs). They usually are much larger than ordinary bricks and so are much faster to lay for a wall of a given size.
Due to its low cost, concrete was a popular replacement for stone as a structural building element. [2] As a building material, concrete was historically consigned to unseen structural positions such as behind a veneer or in the basement, but evolutions in texturing technology produced concrete blocks that could perform aesthetically as well as structurally. [4]
A single concrete block, as used for construction. Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, [1] and is the most widely used building material. [2]
A common type of insulated slab is the beam and block system (mentioned above) which is modified by replacing concrete blocks with expanded polystyrene blocks. [11] This not only allows for better insulation but decreases the weight of slab which has a positive effect on load bearing walls and foundations. Formwork set for concrete pour.
The most common form of concrete is Portland cement concrete, which consists of mineral aggregate (generally gravel and sand), portland cement and water. After mixing, the cement hydrates and eventually hardens into a stone-like material. When used in the generic sense, this is the material referred to by the term "concrete".