Dry stack cinder block wall with 'mud brick' mix for grout
Dry stack cinder block wall with 'mud brick' mix for grout
(OP)
Hi all, if I haven't managed to offend the relevant folk in another forum would love any input on this idea.
I live in the high desert in California, and am looking at putting in a couple of fairly small raised beds (~ 4 courses of cinder blocks for about waist height for my 5'4" wife) in the garden for some herbs etc.
Per earthquake building regs they don't need reinforcing or mortar etc. at this height but just for strength I'm looking at grouting with some wet dirt with straw or something in it and putting in bamboo canes as 'rebar'. Essentially using mud brick construction with the cinder blocks as former's.
Based on the state of some of the dried out mud around here after a rain storm, and being in the Adobe region I figure this should work while saving $ and hassle on mortar and concrete etc. Plus I have a bunch of spare dirt and dried out sod from xeroscaping my front yard last year which this will help use up.
I did a bunch of searching on mud bricks etc. a while back which is where I got the bamboo 'rebar' idea, but I haven't been able to find reference to doing this 'wet dirt grout' - any input from anyone appreciated.
Cheers,
I live in the high desert in California, and am looking at putting in a couple of fairly small raised beds (~ 4 courses of cinder blocks for about waist height for my 5'4" wife) in the garden for some herbs etc.
Per earthquake building regs they don't need reinforcing or mortar etc. at this height but just for strength I'm looking at grouting with some wet dirt with straw or something in it and putting in bamboo canes as 'rebar'. Essentially using mud brick construction with the cinder blocks as former's.
Based on the state of some of the dried out mud around here after a rain storm, and being in the Adobe region I figure this should work while saving $ and hassle on mortar and concrete etc. Plus I have a bunch of spare dirt and dried out sod from xeroscaping my front yard last year which this will help use up.
I did a bunch of searching on mud bricks etc. a while back which is where I got the bamboo 'rebar' idea, but I haven't been able to find reference to doing this 'wet dirt grout' - any input from anyone appreciated.
Cheers,
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What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?





RE: Dry stack cinder block wall with 'mud brick' mix for grout
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Dry stack cinder block wall with 'mud brick' mix for grout
https://www.google.com/search?q=straw+bale+garden&...
RE: Dry stack cinder block wall with 'mud brick' mix for grout
For multiple reasons straw bales won't be an option.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Dry stack cinder block wall with 'mud brick' mix for grout
While we probably get more water up there than you do, it still gets real dry most of the year.
MikeL
RE: Dry stack cinder block wall with 'mud brick' mix for grout
Maybe I'll use a little structural adhesive, used some to resecure a cap on my front wall a few years back and it was easy to use and has lasted well.
I'm thinking about how best to 'cap' it - did you leave yours open?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Dry stack cinder block wall with 'mud brick' mix for grout
RE: Dry stack cinder block wall with 'mud brick' mix for grout
I helped a neighbor do a similar project (some tool dumped a bunch of damaged cinder blocks at an empty lot behind my cabin, that was the source of our community material), on his we didn't fill the holes quite to the top with dirt, added some gravel and did a mortar cap with a bit of a slope. It wasn't very big but it came out nice.
So other than some sweat and a couple of bags of mortar, it didn't cost anything and kept me from hauling the stuff to the dump and paying a fee for someone else's trash.
MikeL
RE: Dry stack cinder block wall with 'mud brick' mix for grout
It is certainly an interesting area of study.
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)
RE: Dry stack cinder block wall with 'mud brick' mix for grout
catserveng - thanks for the additional input. I'm thinking a mortar cap, sloped into the raised beds to make the most of the little rain we get but we'll see. You with the blocks is kind o like me with all the extra dirt I've accumulated!
Artisi - I did quite a bit of digging a while back when I first had this idea and found lots of info on mud brick like you say. I looked again before posting this question and still didn't find quite this idea. Closest I got was the exact opposite - mud brick wall with mortar grout! I figure mine is kind of like rammed earth but leaving the forms in place.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?