Block Walls

For some years it was fashionable to use concrete blocks as a fairface external wall finish. The blocks were accurately molded to uniform sizes and made from aggregates to provide a variety of colors and textures. Blocks made to give an appearance of natural stone with plain or rugged exposed aggregate finish were used.

The blocks are manufactured from cement and either dense or lightweight aggregates as solid, cellular or hollow blocks.  A cellular block has one or more holes or cavities that do not pass wholly through the block and a hollow block is one in which the holes pass through the block. The thicker blocks are made with cavities or holes to reduce weight and drying shrinkage.