Breeze blocks as pre-cast footings

[DaveFussell]

Hi,

I'm building an external staircase and had planned on pouring concrete footings for the newel posts, but a number of breeze blocks have become available which I'm considering using as 'pre-cast footings', since I've read of 'masonry' footings being used successfully for such applications

Provided they're sat on plenty of gravel at the bottom of the hole, they should do the job OK- shouldn't they?

Dave

 

[Static]

Only if the staircase is really lightweight.. and even then it may move/crack over some time.. hell chances are in the first winters frost the lot would crumble..

By all means build a footing from corbled engineering or good quality below dpc bricks.. but chances are a concrete footing would be cheaper

 

[noseall]

Sounds bonkers to me.