conservatory

[spx]

Quick question - if building a conservatory can you use breeze block from the foundation level (underground) on both sides or does the outer side have to be brick/engineers brick?

 

[The-brickie]

I hope I'm reading this right, yes you can use a clinker/light concrete block below ground, some light weight blocks can be used too.

If you want a fair face then brick it is, if rendering then blocks are fine.

 

[noseall]

you can build a conservatory out of twigs if you wish.

don't know if you will be able to sell the house though.

 

[spx]

Ha ha, thanks for the replies. It's just I've noticed that normally people use bricks up to ground level then standard blocks with render for the next 600mm or brick on the outside and block in the inside.

I'm not the greatest at bricking but I do a decent job with blocks so was wondering if there was any issue with blocks as they are porus if used below ground level.

Ta.

 

[^woody^]

It's not the porosity, but rather their frost resistance that is the issue.

The area of the wall just up and just below ground level is susceptible to frost & freezing, and so you should use a brick which is resistant to this

 

[The-brickie]

If the blocks are rendered or below ground would frost be a problem?

Its the fact that the building material can absorb moisture that can then freeze which causes the problem, so in my eyes porosity and frost resistance are one and the same.

I have seen garden walls built in celcons that have been around for a while with no ill affects, dont thick I would leave them open to the elements tho.