The use of concrete blocks in enriching the grandeur, safety and strength of a building, through their use in flooring, foundations, roofing and walls has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially with regards to residential construction. These concrete blocks may be hollow or solid, and are fashioned in a variety of shapes and sizes, often customisable as well, to serve an array of purposes across a variety of projects. Given the fast pace with which baked clay bricks are being replaced with concrete blocks as the material of choice by architects, contractors, developers and private individuals, Maymaar has endeavoured to negotiate competitive prices with their manufacturers, and offers a variety of concrete blocks on its website. Those available on Maymaar, as well as the other variants of such blocks, are explained below.
Aerated Autoclaved Blocks
This type of concrete blocks is lighter and serves as an excellent alternative to baked clay bricks. While these are made with the same fixings as those of baked clay bricks, their diverse composition makes them considerably more cost-effective. With the use of this particular variant, the amount of concrete and steel required to reinforce the structure is also reduced by 10 - 15%. Furthermore, they are instrumental in reducing construction time, increasing imperviousness to fire, and enhancing surface flexibility. They may be bored and cut by utilizing conventional carpentry instruments, thereupon rendering them a profoundly easy to install/use construction material. Additionally, these blocks are excellent for sound and thermal insulation.
Bullnose Blocks
These blocks are often considered an alternate to concrete pillar blocks since they offer and possess similar features to the latter. Their circular and curved edges, as opposed to the flat edges of pillar blocks, are their primary distinguishing feature. They are the go-to solution to satisfy circular design requirements, especially vis-a-vis the piers, pillars, and walls.
Corner Blocks
These blocks are specifically used as corner fillers, in the stone work of a building and in the finishing of doors and windows. They have two very distinct sides: one is plain; and the other has a systemic pattern. The side with the systemic pattern acts as a lock so as to securely bind the block with the internal structure, whereas the plain side is placed facing out.
Expanded Clay Aggregate Blocks
This type of concrete blocks is made from lightweight extended clay, rendering them lighter in weight. This helps in decreasing the burden and load of and on the overall structure by 40 - 50%, and may be cut down into any required shape and size to fit in the structure. Furthermore, this type of blocks is also compound-proof, heat-proof and waterproof, and aside from offering outstanding insulation and sound proofing, they are also both environment-friendly and reasonably-priced.
Hollow Blocks
These concrete blocks have a hollow/void area exceeding 25% of its internal area, though the filled/solid portion still accounts for over 50% of the total area. The lighter weight of these blocks, in relation to solid blocks, makes them easier to use. Moreover, based on the intended use of the blocks, the specifications of the hollow/void area may also be further calibrated.
Jamb Blocks
These blocks have an end-slot, known as a "rabbet," on either one or both of its ends, as a type of concrete run channel, and are used to manoeuvre construction of elaborate window openings in walls. They essentially provide space and support to the casing of the door or window being installed, and are commonly used for construction of double-hung windows.
Lintel Blocks
These are essentially u-shaped concrete bricks, and are also referred to as channeled blocks. They are used particularly in beams and roofing slabs, wherein the lower part of the beams can be replaced with these blocks to allow for additional vertical reinforcement thereof. The considerable load of the floors above, especially on the doors and windows, is effectively borne by and distributed across these blocks. They may also be used to make bond beams for more vertical reinforcement.
Partition Blocks
These blocks may be likened to concrete pillar blocks, but their stature is bigger than their width. Their hollow internal part is subdivided into a smaller sections, usually in multiples of three. These concrete blocks are particularly favoured for the construction of partition walls as they provide good insulation, sound-proofing and sturdiness, without any excessive weight.
Paver Blocks
These blocks are usually rectangular or square in shape, and their colours may be customised per one's individual aesthetic and design requirements. They are most commonly used in the construction of durable surfaces requiring high load-bearing capacity, such as driveways, pathways, pavements, sidewalks and roadways as an alternate to cement, marble and tiles.
Pillar Blocks
These blocks are designed in a manner that clearly exhibits both of their enclosures, i.e. their hollow/void areas, thereby earning them the alternate name of double-corner blocks. These are specifically customised and manufactured for the construction of pillars and piers as a means of reinforcing the structure and equipping it with extra load-bearing capacity.
Solid Blocks
These are among the most popular and commonly-used concrete blocks, especially on account of their much greater density when compared to baked clay bricks or basic concrete bricks. These are generally used to construct load-bearing structures and walls, and are designed to be solid and weighty to be fully capable of bearing the heavy load of the building above. Their larger size results in faster construction of the structure in contrast to the time spent on smaller clay and concrete bricks.
Solid Bricks
These are are precisely shaped rectangular bricks, used for the construction and fabrication of walls, as a replacement for baked clay bricks. Along with enhancing the durability and strength of the walls, they provide a refined and smooth look. Depending on the specific construction requirements, solid bricks may be made from either pure cement or concrete.
Stretcher Blocks
These blocks are regularly used as a more customised alternate to hollow blocks. While they may also look like any ordinary hollow blocks, the dimensions are customised and designed in a manner that corresponds to the face of the wall. As a consequence of this, the blocks are able to assist in reinforcing the edges and ends of conventional brickwork structures.
The wide variety of concrete blocks comes with their own distinctive characteristics and features based on the specific role within the construction process that they are designed for. In general, concrete blocks are highly adaptable, and easy to use wherever necessary, thereby simplifying the effort and time required in completing a project. For this purpose, a wide variety of concrete blocks are readily available at truly competitive prices, with free, secure and timely delivery, on Maymaar.PK.
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