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Hi,

Need one input. Can I use 6" block when the column width is 9"? That would mean 3" of offset and exposed columns. Is that something i can live with? Or should I explore using 8" blocks. My learning from this forum is that finding 8" blocks is difficult and due to its weight many contractors do not agree to use 8" blocks.
I want to avoid using red bricks.
Appreciate your suggestions.

Thanks,
RJ

Hi,

If you have setback, keep that 3" offset in external. So your interior space will be straight.

thank you @saran88.
Thinkig of going with 8" column. That should help.

Keep the columns 9 inch there is no visual difference between 2 inch and 3 inch offset.

I would say engage a structural engineer to give to column and beam design and in that case you can give your parameters to place columns in desired places. don't go by rule of thumbs.
There are two distinct advantages.
1. You will have very fair estimate of steel reinforcement required and size/number of rods. With number of rods and thickness known you can go to Jsw/Tata website and calculate how many bundles of which steel rod
Is required.
In rule of thumb method steel quantity in tonnes and number of bundles of each size will be going by experience of mistri and you may end up wasting money by spare steel.

Most independent house projects end up having lots of spare steel which will keeps on rusting till the owner finds a buyer at deep discounted price.

2) Mistris emotionally blackmail to put more number of rods or thicker reinforcement rods citing safety and you may endup spending more on over reinforced columns. Over reinforcement is as bad as under reinforcement.

Coming back to your problem If suppose somehow you are dead against offsets and it always offends your eyes
and you have budget, on the facade you can beautify the offset by cladding columns with Bangalore rough stone (rough handcut sadarhalli 4x9 tiles).

Hi Visualizer,
We have got the column details from structural engineer.
He suggested that with cement block i can consider using 8" columns instead of 9" without changing the steel.
I was not sure if I should stay with 9" or use 8" columns.
Appreciate your input.
We may stick with 9" columns as originanally suggested by the structural engineer.

8" solid bricks are heavy though.Labourers will cry if they have to carry it above 1st floor.He might even ask for extra amount if it is 8" blocks.

Btw why don't you go for wire cut red bricks if you want to stick with 9" pillar ? Or go with 8" pillar and 8" solid block.

Difference in 8 inch and 9 inch will be layer of cover concrete over same structuralreinforcement. Many times electrician and plumber cut grooves for 3/4 inch or 1 inch pipe.
Though column cutting is not advisable sometimes it becomes unavoidable to cut groove over column.
They will happily explain you that 3/4 inch is plaster so they are taking only 1/2 inch of concrete etc and in that case 9 inch works better as you have more cover around rods.
If you can do flawless electrical and plumbing plan and avoid conduit over columns then there may not be any concern

About carrying the blocks: in my construction 8 inch blocks were used in some walls (towards backyard) and they installed a pully and rope system. I never heard any complains so far from construction workers
Everyone from masons to plumbers and electrician loves solid block as they can work at will and plaster covers up all the mess.

In fact Exposed red brickwork and stone masanory is what masons don't like as it requires lots of time and attention for good finish and slow.

When we talked to few contractors, their opinion was to lift 8 inch blocks they need male workers as 8 inch solid blocks would be quite heavy to be lifted by females. And there is a price difference on daily wage between male and female which would add their final cost. That's the reason they were charging 1k extra per chadra.

I have no idea how much a pulley would cost to be installed on a day basis.