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Hi,

Could anyone please suggest the ways to check quality of Solid Cement blocks? My contractor suggested a simple method as below –

- Drop the solid brick from a height ( 5+ feet) vertically, it should not crack
- Drop the solid brick from a height horizontally, it should not break

However according to me, this is a very crude method to check. I am just trying to come out of the dilemma of using Red Bricks Vs Solid Blocks for construction. My architect suggests that by using Solid bricks temperature inside of the house will be warm, but its perfectly fine as Bangalore temperature is more towards lower side in rainy and winter seasons, house needs to be warm!

Also, if I am going for the branded solid bricks (like APCO etc) cost to site is around 46+ rupees per 8” block. With plaster wall becomes 9” (both sides plastered), I will be using 4” solid blocks for inner walls. Architect also says that I should not compare Red brick ( 6 – 12 INR) price to that of solid block (46+ INR), the savings in construction comes from the amount of mortar that will be used, which minimum 50% lesser in case of solid blocks!

I am also looking for quality check methods to check red bricks, and very importantly Sand. How to differentiate between Filter sand and river sand?

Experts please help! Thank you!

if your buliding s is nonloadearing wall go with solid bricks with ready mix mortar

Sun,

For Solid blocks, you can check strength reports.

35 kg/cm sq is good enough for non load-bearing walls
50kg/cm sq is required for load-bearing walls

There is a price difference of 10% between the above two types of blocks. APCO blocks are strength graded and trusted.

I don't have much idea about sand quality check.

Sedementation test is avalible for Sand quality check. You can contact Civil aid to know more about this test. Google it for Civil aid you can find the address

sun wrote:Hi,

Could anyone please suggest the ways to check quality of Solid Cement blocks? My contractor suggested a simple method as below –

- Drop the solid brick from a height ( 5+ feet) vertically, it should not crack
- Drop the solid brick from a height horizontally, it should not break

However according to me, this is a very crude method to check. I am just trying to come out of the dilemma of using Red Bricks Vs Solid Blocks for construction. My architect suggests that by using Solid bricks temperature inside of the house will be warm, but its perfectly fine as Bangalore temperature is more towards lower side in rainy and winter seasons, house needs to be warm!

Also, if I am going for the branded solid bricks (like APCO etc) cost to site is around 46+ rupees per 8” block. With plaster wall becomes 9” (both sides plastered), I will be using 4” solid blocks for inner walls. Architect also says that I should not compare Red brick ( 6 – 12 INR) price to that of solid block (46+ INR), the savings in construction comes from the amount of mortar that will be used, which minimum 50% lesser in case of solid blocks!

I am also looking for quality check methods to check red bricks, and very importantly Sand. How to differentiate between Filter sand and river sand?

Experts please help! Thank you!

Quality of solid blocks can be seen before we check let see how??

The edges will chip-out during unloading the blocks from the truck, with no sharp edges.
Breakage of blocks during unloading and shifting to floors.
The above scenario happens when cement proportion is less during manufacturing and also less duration of curing time.
Quality of bricks/ blocks depends on brand because branded manufacturers have some regulation during the manufacturing process.
Some of them listed below are Apco, AVS, ACB, SSB, SVT, CCP,etc. These are some of the manufacturers who dwell on quality and fame in the market.


Quality check methods to check red bricks how??

Depends on the manufacturing type the quality is defined.
Some simple tests are :-
when two bricks are striked to each other they should make a hammer hitting sound tun tun, if they make dun dun they are fragile.
Weight the brick say 3 kgs and immerse in water for 24hrs and check the weight again, if the weight is more the 20% .ie 3.6kgs ,the actual weight i.e 3kgs then the brick is fragile or reject case. here the brick to be strong, it should absorb lesser water i.e not exceeding 20% of actual weight of bricks.
When its immersed in water its should not melt .
When brick is dropped from a height of 10ft it can break into pieces, but if its becomes powdered it is fragile i.e reject it.

Hi,
As city brick said a good brick will break when you drop from certain ht ,but the way it breaks is important.It should break in to two or more pieces in a shape,if just goes to tiny powder type pieces it should be rejected.
The other important thing is to keep brick wet when while constructing the wall ,since practically contractors are not immersing brick for 2-3 hours in water, you can pour good amount of water on brick at night or early morning while curing the structure .This avoids sudden drying of cement mortar in the wall joints.

Regards
Ar.Praveen.N
Ardes Architects and Interior designers
ardesarchitects@gmail.com
www.ardesarchitects.com

I have decided to go with APCO concrete blocks. 8" outer and 4" inner walls. Will be making a payment shortly in advance to get properly cured blocks. Do we need to pour water on the concrete blocks too?

I will be using brick work sump, so I will follow the above procedure of pouring water for that.

Thank you!!

Sun,

u have any specify reason for going to APCO blocks ?

i think in other threads there is a discussion about concrete block selection discussion.

One more thing during the Civil work time outflow of money will be less so you will commit to big brands and where you will spend more money and during the finishing stage the outflow of money will be exponential so better control the money from now. with out compromising with the quality.

This is my personal experience and no one was there to talk about it when i done my construction.
This is my advice if you dont like it please ignore it.

sun wrote:I have decided to go with APCO concrete blocks. 8" outer and 4" inner walls. Will be making a payment shortly in advance to get properly cured blocks. Do we need to pour water on the concrete blocks too?

I will be using brick work sump, so I will follow the above procedure of pouring water for that.

Thank you!!

Pouring water on blocks or immersing bricks in water just before masonry, it is just for chemical bonding that happen with the cement and the brick surface. Water acts as catalyst to cement,in the case of bonding.

Hi
I heard that while plastering v need to add an chemical ( name don't know) for water proof, later solid bricks should not absorb water is it true. Plz update.