Solid or Hollow blocks for brick shed?

[Uncle phil]

Hi all,

quick question - I am building a single skin brick shed to house my tools and kids bikes more securely.

Have been perusing travis Perkins website and they have solid and dense concrete blocks - is one better than the other for my purpose?

Am thinking hollow as they are wider and maybe insert occasional iron rods around the corners

Any other pointers welcome

 

[tomfe]

4" with columns is going to be easier to lay than 6/8 inch hollows.

 

[^woody^]

You'll have great difficulty buiding a brick shed out of blocks - solid or hollow.

There is no reason not to use normal 100mm blocks - you can even get hollow 100mm blocks. The bigger decision is whether the blocks will be rendered or unfinished, as this will determine whether to use denser (heavier) blocks with a nice face, or lighter blocks with a rough face.

 

[Uncle phil]

will these buggers suffice?

https://www.travisperkins.co.uk/Paint-Grade-Solid-Dense-Block-7-3N-100mm/p/922448

vs

https://www.travisperkins.co.uk/Solid-Medium-Density-Concrete-Block-7-3N-140mm/p/922301

externally 3 sides will not be much visible only the door side which will be mostly door - could get it rendered worst case

 

[^woody^]

If you can a 3N block with a smooth face, then go for that if you ar edoing the lifting. Or rough face and render.

 

[nuzuki]

Im not exactly an expert but for what its worth id say go for 4inch solid blocks if someone else is doing the laying. If you are doing it as a DIYer then I would choose the hollows and fill them with concrete. It also depends on the longest wall length of the proposed building. You are meant to build peers or columns every 3 metres.

I would cover the external blockwork with SARKit roof lining or plastic sheets. Then attach batterns using hammer fixings, then clad with featheredge boards.

On my 5 car garage im building I opted for 6inch hollows and have placed rebar drilled into the slab every 1m or so. I think in the trade these are known as starter bars.

Good luck with the build.