sun wrote:Hi,
Could anyone please suggest the ways to check quality of Solid Cement blocks? My contractor suggested a simple method as below –
- Drop the solid brick from a height ( 5+ feet) vertically, it should not crack
- Drop the solid brick from a height horizontally, it should not break
However according to me, this is a very crude method to check. I am just trying to come out of the dilemma of using Red Bricks Vs Solid Blocks for construction. My architect suggests that by using Solid bricks temperature inside of the house will be warm, but its perfectly fine as Bangalore temperature is more towards lower side in rainy and winter seasons, house needs to be warm!
Also, if I am going for the branded solid bricks (like APCO etc) cost to site is around 46+ rupees per 8” block. With plaster wall becomes 9” (both sides plastered), I will be using 4” solid blocks for inner walls. Architect also says that I should not compare Red brick ( 6 – 12 INR) price to that of solid block (46+ INR), the savings in construction comes from the amount of mortar that will be used, which minimum 50% lesser in case of solid blocks!
I am also looking for quality check methods to check red bricks, and very importantly Sand. How to differentiate between Filter sand and river sand?
Experts please help! Thank you!
Quality of solid blocks can be seen before we check let see how??
The edges will chip-out during unloading the blocks from the truck, with no sharp edges.
Breakage of blocks during unloading and shifting to floors.
The above scenario happens when cement proportion is less during manufacturing and also less duration of curing time.
Quality of bricks/ blocks depends on brand because branded manufacturers have some regulation during the manufacturing process.
Some of them listed below are Apco, AVS, ACB, SSB, SVT, CCP,etc. These are some of the manufacturers who dwell on quality and fame in the market.
Quality check methods to check red bricks how??
Depends on the manufacturing type the quality is defined.
Some simple tests are :-
when two bricks are striked to each other they should make a hammer hitting sound tun tun, if they make dun dun they are fragile.
Weight the brick say 3 kgs and immerse in water for 24hrs and check the weight again, if the weight is more the 20% .ie 3.6kgs ,the actual weight i.e 3kgs then the brick is fragile or reject case. here the brick to be strong, it should absorb lesser water i.e not exceeding 20% of actual weight of bricks.
When its immersed in water its should not melt .
When brick is dropped from a height of 10ft it can break into pieces, but if its becomes powdered it is fragile i.e reject it.
