1.17 : Laying Concrete Masonry

Constructing a concrete masonry wall involves a series of steps designed to ensure durability, stability, and alignment. The construction starts with preparing the base, which includes cleaning the area where the wall will be erected. The next step involves spreading mortar where the first row of concrete blocks will be laid, typically starting at a corner section to help define the wall's boundaries.

Mortar application focuses on the face shells of the blocks, the sides that face outward, and at the ends of each block to secure the vertical joints. For additional stability, particularly in taller or load-bearing walls, reinforcement may be required which may be integrated into the horizontal and vertical joints using materials like steel bars.

As the wall construction progresses, each new row of blocks is carefully checked for level and alignment using a spirit level, and the height of each course is measured either with a folding rule or a story pole.

The final touches include tooling the mortar joints to a concave shape, which helps in water runoff and enhances the wall's aesthetic appearance. Any excess mortar is cleaned off using a soft brush to give the wall a neat finish. The typical 8-inch height of a standard concrete block is designed to align neatly with multiple layers of bricks, facilitating the integration of different masonry materials in composite wall structures.