Even though cinder is not as strong as concrete, it is still excellent for various projects such as:
- Wall décor
- Add some character to structures
- Fix windows and doors
- Garden wall
- Decorative structures and pieces
What are the uses of cinder blocks?
Cinder blocks are made of concrete as well as coal cinders and because of the proportion of the aggregate components cinder blocks are much lighter. In some places, these blocks are avoided because these are not very strong and to bowing, and buckling these blocks are more susceptible, and also repairs are very costly. Used as a safety barrier.
What is cinder concrete?
What is cinder concrete used for? Cinder concrete slab construction, also known as cinder arches, “goulash” construction, or even “short span arch construction”, was a type of reinforced concrete slab system consisting of low strength concrete which used cinders as an economic substitute for stone aggregate and draped wire mesh as reinforcement.
What is the difference between cinder block vs concrete block?
Cinder block vs concrete block comparison may not be recognized at first look and in the construction, the same materials are used but in the cinder block, there is extra material.
What is a cinder slab called?
Cinder concrete slab construction, also known as cinder arches, “goulash” construction, or even “short span arch construction”, was a type of reinforced concrete slab system consisting of low strength concrete which used cinders as an economic substitute for stone aggregate and draped wire mesh as reinforcement.
What can cinder be used for?
Uses. Cinders have been used on track surfaces and roads to provide additional traction in winter conditions. Cinders are also employed as inorganic mulch in xeriscaping, because of excellent drainage properties and erosion resistance.
Where is cinder blocks used?
Cinder Block vs Concrete BlockCinder BlocksConcrete BlocksAlthough initially widely used, today are more common in small projects, non-bearing walls, fireplace or pit construction, and landscaping.Used in small to massive construction projects, plus landscaping, and retaining and garden walls.13 more rows
What is a cinder concrete?
Definition of cinder concrete : portland-cement concrete in which clean well-burned coal cinders are used as coarse aggregate.
What is the difference between concrete and cinder block?
Cinder blocks are lighter than concrete blocks. A concrete block contains stone or sand which makes it heavier. Cinder blocks don't have any tensile strength to withstand pressure. Concrete block is a hard, durable substance.
When did they stop using cinder blocks?
Did you know that cinder blocks aren't even made anymore? That's right! They haven't been manufactured since 1947 after WWII.
Why do they call them cinder blocks?
You're probably familiar with concrete blocks from your local hardware store, where you may have heard some of them called cinder blocks. This is because cinder blocks were originally made in part from cinders that were left over when coal was burned (often at coal-fired plants).
Are cinder blocks concrete?
Cinder blocks are also created from concrete, but the aggregate includes either coal cinders or ash. Consequently, cinder blocks are much lighter in weight than concrete blocks. Cinder blocks are hollow rectangle-shaped structures usually made of concrete and coal cinders which find use in construction sites.
What is cinder filling?
Product Description: Light Weight Cinder is a product which is used in filling the gaps in construction of buildings, dams, temples, bridges and others due to its quality of light weight and absorption of water and its form of sizes, and customization of the product.
What is meant by cinder fill?
A cinder fill is a type of drainage promoting fill material that is used around the foundation perimeter.
Can cinder blocks be used for a fire pit?
Cinder Block Fire Pit. A simple outdoor fire pit can be constructed out of cinder block. Create a backyard fire pit with little effort—or money—by using cinder blocks. A cinder block fire pit is quick, cheap, and doesn't require any special DIY skills to make.
Are cinder blocks good for retaining walls?
Add style and support to your yard with a concrete retaining wall. You can build one in just six steps. Concrete blocks are ideal for building walls to hold back the soil after you dig into a slope for a pathway, patio, or another landscaping project.
Is a cinder block a brick?
Brick—A solid or hollow manufactured masonry unit of either concrete, clay or stone. Concrete block—A hollow or solid concrete masonry unit. Larger in size than a concrete brick. Concrete brick—A concrete hollow or solid unit smaller in size than a concrete block.
When were cinder blocks used for foundations?
Concrete block first entered the public market in the 1860s, when a number of proprietary systems for the manufacture of precast concrete blocks were developed on the East Coast (Ann Gillispie, 1979). However, widespread production of the material did not begin until 1900, when Harmon S.
Can cinder blocks be used for a fire pit?
Cinder Block Fire Pit. A simple outdoor fire pit can be constructed out of cinder block. Create a backyard fire pit with little effort—or money—by using cinder blocks. A cinder block fire pit is quick, cheap, and doesn't require any special DIY skills to make.
What is a cinder block house?
What is concrete block (or cinder block) construction? Using blocks formed from concrete, which are then stacked to create a wall. They require both horizontal and vertical reinforcement, and then are filled with either concrete or insulation.
Is a cinder block a brick?
Brick—A solid or hollow manufactured masonry unit of either concrete, clay or stone. Concrete block—A hollow or solid concrete masonry unit. Larger in size than a concrete brick. Concrete brick—A concrete hollow or solid unit smaller in size than a concrete block.
What type of rock is a cinder?
Volcanic cinder in the Mount Cayley volcanic field, British Columbia, Canada. A cinder is a pyroclastic material. Cinders are extrusive igneous rocks; they are fragments of solidified lava.
Why are cinders used in xeriscaping?
Cinders are also employed as inorganic mulch in xeriscaping, because of excellent drainage properties and erosion resistance. In this context, they are referred to frequently with the name "lava rock".
What is the color of cinders?
Measuring not less than 2.0 millimeters in at least one dimension. Apparent specific gravity between 1.0 and 2.0. Typical cinders are red or black in color. Contain numerous gas bubbles "frozen" into place as magma exploded into the air and then cooled quickly.
Why do builders use cinder blocks?
If the building codes and formational needs of the job allow it, numerous builders choose ‘cinder block’ because it’s lighter in weight. Real concrete blocks are extremely heavy, and lifting them gets old fast.
What is concrete made of?
Concrete. Concrete is an item made from cement and aggregates. The moment the ingredients are mixed together, a chemical reaction happens, and concrete is the end result.
Is concrete stronger than cinder blocks?
Concrete blocks are far stronger than cinder blocks. Several building codes explicitly prohibit the use of cinder blocks in building and construction projects.
Is cinder block heavier than concrete?
Consequently, cinder blocks are much lighter in weight than concrete blocks. Cinder blocks are hollow rectangle-shaped structures usually made of concrete and coal cinders which find use in construction sites. Concrete blocks often, on the other hand, are flattened constructs made of steel, wood or cement. The significant differences can be ...
What is concrete used for?
Concrete contains water, cement, and aggregates such as gravel, crushed stone, or sand and mixed together and allowed to cure. For use in construction, these ingredients bond into a hard, strong, durable substance. There are many types of concrete blocks in different shapes and can be either hollow or solid. There are several uses of concrete ...
Why are cinder blocks avoided?
In some places, these blocks are avoided because these are not very strong and to bowing, and buckling these blocks are more susceptible, and also repairs are very costly. Cinder blocks are used for several purposes such as; Used as a safety barrier. Used for fixing windows and doors. These are used to decorate the walls.
What are concrete blocks made of?
Concrete blocks are made of gravel, crushed stone, or sand and mostly used in the walls and many other constructions, and also the use of these blocks is more as compared to cinder blocks because concrete blocks have strong strength and can stand with loads.
What is ash used for?
Ash is used in the construction of wall units, in concrete blocks. From concrete and cinder, cinder blocks are produced. From steel, wood, or cement, concrete blocks are produced. In weight, cinder blocks are lighter. In weight concrete blocks are heavier because it contains sand and stone. To withstand high pressure, the cinder block does not have ...
Is cinder block stronger than concrete?
Cinder blocks are not very flexible and used in lightweight projects. Concrete blocks are much stronger and can be used in almost any structure.
What is cinder block used for?
Today, 12 million tons of coal ash or cinder is used as a strengthening agent to make light-weight concrete blocks.
What are the drawbacks of cinder blocks?
Another drawback to cinder blocks was the toxic nature of the coal ash used in their manufacture. The toxins are linked to nervous disorders, cancer, health complaints, and decreased cognitive ability.
How much does a cinder block weigh?
A light-weight cinder or pumice hollow-core 8’x8’x16 stretcher block weighs approximately 28 pounds. It is about 10-pounds lighter than a standard concrete block of equal dimensions. Cinder blocks of different shapes and sizes will also be lighter than similar concrete blocks.
How many different shapes of cinder blocks are there?
Today, there are at least 32 different shapes and dimensions of cinder block. They are divided into pier, stretcher, sash, hollow return corner, and 45° angle. The dimensions range from 4”x4”x8” to 8”x12”x16”, with angle blocks reaching up to 21” long.
How much does an 8x8x16 concrete block weigh?
Widely manufactured and readily available today. Ash content and hollow core produces very good fire and insulating factors. Concrete blocks have lower fire and insulating factors. Weight of a 8x8x16 hollow core is 28 lbs. A 8”x 8”x16” hollow block weighs 38 to 40 lbs, and a solid block weighs 70 lbs.
What is a corner block?
Corner blocks have a smooth finished end for door, window, or passage openings, and a stretcher end to tie in with the wall construction. Lintel, channel, or beam blocks are U-shaped. The ‘U’ is filled with rebar and concrete to form a lintel or beam that transfers the downward load.
How many blocks are needed for a concrete foundation?
These blocks were lighter and less expensive to produce and are the foundation of the modern concrete block. Hand casting 1,200 to 4,000 blocks for a foundation, however, would have been labor-intensive, grueling back-breaking work for two people over several weeks.
History and Origin
Testing, Analysis, and Design
- Many tests were conducted in NYC, over several years, as part of the technology race for fireproof floor systems. One such test was conducted by Professor Ira Woolen at Columbia University in conjunction with the City Building Bureau in 1907 and 1908. The test consisted of a fire, water, and load test of a cinder concrete slab with 5-foot and 8-foot spans and reinforced with triangul…
Construction
- A typical cinder slab mix, often found on many old drawings, might be a 1:2:5 mix (1 part cement, 2 parts sand and 5 parts cinders) ranging in unit weight from 85 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) to 110 pcf. Touching a sample piece of cinder slab in the field feels like a piece of pumice stone. This light weight resulted in a material savings for the steel frames and foundations, making it v…
Performance
- The performance of cinder slabs is rather amazing when one considers some of the inherent weaknesses of their design. The demonstrated analytical and historical strength of steel cables is well documented. As an essentially pure tensile structure, there seems to be a robust capacity for overloading. However, the small diameters of the cables or mesh result in a small robustness on…
Modern Issues
- Since cinder concrete arches are no longer used, it would seem an “archaic” structure. In NYC, however, they are so ubiquitous that a working knowledge of their design and construction is a prerequisite to engaging in renovation work. The usual issues have to do with either planned renovations, where loading changes and opening or closing of stair,...
Renovation and Repair Examples
- One example of a renovation of cinder slabs that has been successful is to take advantage of the loose cinder fill atop the structural slab to gain valuable space for new structure. As mentioned, the fill layer on roof slabs (of apartment buildings with flat roofs) was often quite thick; six inches to twelve inches was not uncommon. The removal of 10 inches of loose cinder fill is equivalent t…
References
- Concrete Cement Age– Vol. II, July – December, 1913
- Men of Steel– The story of welded wire fabric and the Wire Reinforcement Institute.
- Handbook and Catalogue of Concrete Reinforcement– American Steel and Wire Co., 1908.
- Historical Building Construction, Design, Materials, and Technology, Donald Friedman.