Garage Build #20 - Laying the First Course of Block

This video shows how to lay the first course of CMU block onto a concrete slab floor. This first layer is our bond beam blocks that will be filled with concrete and rebar for superior strength. Some tips on how to keep your joints uniform and your block set up for man doors also will be shown.

I’ve never seen a mason flatten out a mortar bed before laying a block down. Is there a reason why the blocks were laid upside down?

[banyetchetibrahim]

I understand this is a garage. Do you take the same approach when building a home, as in is this safe? I am from Nigeria, and our head joints are much larger (2 inches average), which means we use a lot of mortar both for the bed and header. What'a your opinion about it?

[Doomzdayxx]

Thanks for the video. Question, I'm in Ohio where the frost line is 32 inches below grade. If I were to build a block workshed (probably 14ft x 14ft), would my trench and footer need to be 32 inches deep, and 16 inches wide around the perimeter?

[jamietwigg]

Pour through/ knock out bond beams for first course, did you drill rebar in and knock the bond beams out add steel and pour?

[OptimusBananas]

This is a long time in the making I an thinking of doing about the same but opposite dimensions

Why didn't you show how you put the mortar in the vertical gap?

[andon]

Great stuff! can I contact you with questions on sight prep?

[JLH]

I came here to determine whether I needed to prep my slab before laying the block down. Does that mortar adhere to it directly?

[maamicogondwe]

I would like to know the size of that block plz coz it's very nice

What would be the first block type to lay coming off in existing wall or foundation?

[LoLoNationalForest]

No vertical rebar on your first course... Is it because you're on a slab? Trying to learn for when I start my project

[peterlawrence]

No moisture barrier between concrete and block?

[xemejio]

thats not plumb.. thats LEVEL.. NOT the same