Talk:Concrete block

message: How are these related to "Besser blocks?" Is Besser block a brand name for concrete blocks? Australian and UK sites seem to refer to Besser blocks a lot. Images of them look a lot like what are called either "Cinder" or "Concrete" blocks in the US.Davidresseguie (talk) 01:29, 2 November 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: Concrete block, "Concrete Masonry Unit" (CMU) or "breeze block" (mistakenly called a cinder block), is a rectangular block or brick used in construction. -- Dogears (talk) 23:27, 26 March 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Move article

message: I'm starting to get the impression that this article is really about concrete blocks, and that its parenthetical about "mistakenly called concrete blocks" is just wrong.  I'm starting to get the impression that the bricks that were once called "cinder blocks" are no more, and that what people call "cinder blocks" today are really concrete blocks.  Perhaps the obsolete bricks this article calls "clinker bricks" are the ones that were once called "cinder blocks".  (Note, however, that the bricks described at the clinker brick article are quite different than this article describes.)
The cinder blocks I can buy today (in the U.S.) probably do weigh about 18kg, just as this article says "concrete blocks" do.  (They are, however, still quite cheap.)
I'd rework the article to say all this, but I'm just not sure.  I can't find any independent information about any of this on the web.  The National Concrete Masonry Association's website (linked to from this article) is useless.
—Steve Summit (talk) 03:48, 18 September 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: You are right; they are concrete block, CMU, and have no "cinder" in them, at least in modern US construction. I will start the changeover. --Justanother 21:00, 30 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: OK, did the deed. I looked on Google for present-day use of cinder but did not have much luck. Is it still used? Can someone add a bit about cinder, perhaps historical? --Justanother 21:43, 30 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I'm sure the same situation applies in the UK: breeze blocks (the same as cinder blocks) are no longer available, as their role in providing lightweight construction blocks has been filled by aerated concrete blocks. However, the term is widely used by the general public to refer to concrete blocks in general. I think it's probably useful to have cinder/breeze block redirecting here, but the lead should reflect the differences between the different types of block and the fact that the terms are often confused as many readers will arrive here by typing breeze/cinder block when they mean concrete block! I added a reference with more info on the UK situation Casper Gutman (talk • contributions) 15:05, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  cinder or concrete -- that is the question 

message: When were they invented? And when did they come in to common usage?
--According to family lore, my great great grandfather, Luke Thomas Lowe of Bristol Tennessee held patents for a "cinder block" molding process, along with patents for other inventions. I did not want to add it to the article, but if anyone has the ability to do research, or could point me in the right direction, it would be great. Obviously this patent has long since expired, but apparently an original "mold" still exists in my great uncle's care.
76.99.57.160 01:15, 21 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  History 

message: I'm not sure what value the 3rd and 4th photos are adding to this article, and maybe even the 2nd.  They show construction that includes CMU's, but don't really illuminate anything about how they are installed or designed.  Does anyone have a picture of speed blocks being installed, or of a half complete reinforced wall clearly showing rebar?  I think these would be more valuable.  Steve CarlsonTalk 06:17, 9 February 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Pictures 

message: The following section:-
When the rebar running vertically through a concrete block wall is anchored, as is usually the case, into the foundation or floor slab before the wall is built, it presents a potential problem in assembling the wall, since every block might need to be lowered from the rebar tops to its resting place in the wall. This problem is solved by using a style of open-ended block whose plan form resembles the letter "H", commonly known as a mortarless head joint or speed block. Speed blocks can be maneuvered between the reinforcing bars and tilted into place; the vertical spaces are then filled with concrete as with ordinary Concrete blocks.
Is totally misleading, of course rebar is anchored. What's the point otherwise?  Lap joints in rebar have been around since the first reinforced concrete, are we expected to have full height vertical bars set into the foundations? .
After using this method of construction for over forty years I have never heard of let alone seen glazed modular blockwork.  I think this section should be removed or the poster cite some references.  Glazed brickwork - yes but (in Victorian era buildings prior to cheap ceramic tiles), but not these things.  billbeee (talk) 12:32, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
thread_title: Misleading information

message: Didn't see a answer to why standard sizes/dimensions were chosen.  Isn't this a fundamental question?  Why are concrete blocks so thick as opposed to standard bricks?  Why the need for air space in concrete blocks and not standard bricks?  Etc... Rtdrury (talk) 01:05, 6 June 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  why on sizes? 

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thread_title:  External links modified 

message: Lower density blocks may use industrial wastes as an aggregate. 81.11.206.69 (talk) 11:03, 4 July 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  2teknikl+notoxic? 

message: ...cinder blocks! At least, non-masons in Eastern Ontario and English speakers in Quebec do. I've never heard anyone say "masonry unit", and when people say "concrete block", they usually mean solid poured blocks (e.g. the giant ones you shut down a road with). This is of course anecdotal, but the bit in the article about this is without refs, so no difference there. 50.101.248.225 (talk) 03:36, 24 February 2018 (UTC)
thread_title:  In Canada, we call them... 

message: Both the original *and* the archive link are broken. I'm not sure where to find a new one. OrangeDog (τ • ε) 20:45, 11 April 2019 (UTC)
thread_title:  OED reference broken 

message: There are 6 pictures with exactly the above caption in the article. What is Tabook? What is Schoolpadi? Kerala is India but what is "Kerala Openinig"? Very confusing and looks almost like a bad commercial.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.217.122.7 (talk) 15:17, 24 June 2020 (UTC)
thread_title:  Tabook unit Schoolpadi,Veliancode, Ponnani, Malappuram, Kerala Openinig. 

message: How about the fact that they are often used for economics and that it is inferior to a poured wall even when grouted and rebarred. B137 (talk) 22:50, 24 August 2021 (UTC)
thread_title:  General quality