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What kind of concrete mix do i need to use for building a retainer wall with center blocks?
I would like to build a water pond with a wall around the outside useing center blocks and brick on the outside. I know i just need to use a basic mortar mixture but i am not sure what to use on the center block. i want to use something very strong but dont want to do alot of work mixing sand and rock. i dont know what kind of product to use or if they even make such a product. i would also like to pour a concrete footer for both the center block and the brick to sit on and am not sure what to use or how to go about doing it. if you have the awnser to any or all of these questions it would be a lifesaver!!! Thanks!
Answer: I am a mason contractor, you want type"S" for cinder blocks. that is 3700 psi, when it gets hard it is like concrete. Type n is for bricks it will crack in the joints when a house settles, but type s is so strong it will break the brick if a house settles.
For your application you want type S for blocks, to figure how many blocks you need figure how long you want the wall to be and times that length by how high you want and times it by 1.125 that will give you the amount of blocks. I also word recommend drilling holes in the footing and installing rebar every 4 foot and filling those with cells with mortar also. it will improve the strength 1000 times and your wall will be their for ever.
