Another Block Wall Fill Question

[madstat]

I have searched older posts on this forum it appears that standard practices for core filling your block wall foundation differ around the country.

Does anyone know what standard practices are for core-filling block walls in SE Michigan? Here are my specs:

Small 8ftx11ft addition.

10 rows of block on a 10"x24" footing with vertical rebar at each corner and maximum 4' o.c. in-between.

The first 7 rows are 12inch block below grade and the last 3 rows are 8inch above grade I plan to place anchor bolts for the sill in the same vertical core as the rebar.

I'm hoping for an answer from someone that has done something similar before and passed inspection under Michigan Residential Code (most recent is 2009). I have two questions.

1. Do I need to fill all the cores or just the ones with rebar?

2. It's such a small project, unless I'm filling the entire wall, I'll probably have to mix the block fill myself. In which case does anyone know what mix I should use? I know it should have a much higher slump than standard concrete and smaller 3/8" minus aggregate (and perhaps less?) so that it distributes easily within the block.

Thanks,

Madstat

 

[Milton Shaw]

The walls are much stronger filled with concrete. I used saccrete 80 lb bags and mixed it thin so it would pour. I did retaining walls 12"block and put rebar in every core and every other row for strength. Rent or buy a mixer as its a lot of work and have some helpers because you may play out before you get it done. I did use a ******** to get the concrete down into the 9 foot high walls. I will take three times as much if you vibrate it over just pouring it in. HF has a concrete ******** under $100 as i remember. At least do the corners and ends. I don't know code in Michigan but for strength of the wall is good money spent. A thief can take a sledge hammer to regular block wall and be inside in 5 minutes so think of it as security also.

 

[70redbee]

If you are filling the block with concrete, why not pour a concrete wall to begin with? Form it up and pour it...why do it twice and probably more expensive when you can do it once and done?

 

[brownbagg]

we do a # 5 in corner, 34 on each side of that #5 and then a #4 every two feet with a #5 on each side of doors and windows. a bond beam with corner bars every 4 foot vetical and top of wall. bond beam consist of 2 #5 with 16 inch lap, corner bars are 2 #5 bent at a 90 degree each leg being 0 inches long

 

[csp]

If you are filling the block with concrete, why not pour a concrete wall to begin with?

I wonder that every time I see a block wall on this site.

Nobody does block walls around here, so it's a foreign concept to me.

 

[blkhonda1991]

I wonder that every time I see a block wall on this site.

Nobody does block walls around here, so it's a foreign concept to me.

block walls dont NEED to be filled, you do bond beams ever so often, it really comes down to a cost/labor thing in the end