Author: Humaira Urme

Raised garden beds have become popular among gardeners due to their numerous benefits such as improved soil health, better drainage, ease of access, and even aesthetics. Beginner gardener enthusiasts will also know that raised garden beds help to grow more plants in a compact space.   One cost-effective and durable material to use for building raised garden beds is hollow blocks. 

Here’s how you can make raised garden beds using hollow blocks:

Step 1: Choose the Right Site

Select a location for your raised garden beds that receives adequate sunlight for the plants you wish to grow. Make sure the site is level, as you want your garden beds to be even and stable.

Step 2: Decide on the Size and Shape of Your Garden Bed

Choose the size and shape of your garden bed based on the amount of space you have available and the plants you wish to grow. Hollow blocks are available in standard sizes, so you can easily calculate how many blocks you need to build your garden bed.

Step 3: Prepare the Ground

Remove any grass or weeds from the site and level the ground. If necessary, you can add a layer of sand or gravel to ensure that the ground is level. Regular pest control will be necessary at one point, so stay in touch with experts who provide gardening care and pest control services.

Step 4: Lay the First Layer of Blocks

Start by laying the first layer of hollow blocks in a square or rectangular shape. Make sure that the blocks are level and securely placed on the ground. You can use a level to ensure that each block is level.

Step 5: Add the Second Layer

Add the second layer of blocks on top of the first layer, making sure to stagger the joints between the blocks for added stability. An additional advantage of raised garden beds is that they are sort of makeshift. You can always move the garden bed to another location, or reinforce the current one with more layers of hollow blocks. 

Step 6: Fill the Garden Bed

Fill the garden bed with high-quality soil that is rich in organic matter. Make sure to mix in compost, peat moss, or other organic matter to improve soil health.

Step 7: Plant Your Garden

Finally, you can plant your garden with the plants of your choice. Consider using a plant support system, such as a trellis, to help support tall plants like tomatoes and peppers. A great thing to do is compartmentalize types of plants. So, you can grow fruits on one bed, and vegetables on the other!

In conclusion, building raised garden beds with hollow blocks is a cost-effective and durable solution for any gardening lover. By following these simple steps, you can have a beautiful and productive garden in no time in your own home.

Shelter, along with food and clothes, is one of man’s three fundamental needs. Prehistoric humans lived in caves and eventually started building mud walls. Over time, numerous masonry techniques were created, eventually forming a structural component of the shelter. Burnt brick and stone masonry were common in the beginning.

With the growing demand for construction, cheaper and faster techniques and materials are the need of the hour. Keeping that in mind, then came the idea of concrete blocks. 

There are two types of concrete blocks. 1. Solid, & 2. Hollow. We will talk about hollow concrete blocks and their advantages in this following article.

Why Concrete Blocks?

Source: Arch Daily

Concrete blocks are the type of building material that makes it possible to build structures more quickly and affordably than traditional bricks.

Because of their uniform size and shape, these blocks are simple to install. They are also lighter, which allows for faster construction work. Hollow blocks are simple to deal with, even for newly trained workers. Concrete hollow blocks are extremely eco-friendly.

How Can We Incorporate Hollow Blocks Creatively Into Architecture?

Source: Arch Daily

The fundamental building component has evolved to give more comprehensive solutions, such as waterproofing. Some current models have additives added to the mixture that creates them to raise the surface tension of the block and prevent water movement. There are other blocks with varying edges to deflect water away from the surface.

Hollow blocks are used to build different kinds of walls for different purposes like retaining walls, decorative walls, classic walls, etc.

Advantages Of Hollow Concrete Blocks in Architecture

Source: Arch Daily

The excellent durability of concrete hollow blocks is one of their major aspects. Concrete hollow blocks are compressed by high pressure and vibration, resulting in exceptionally strong blocks that can bear a high amount of loading. 

They are also resistant to fire and have no salinity, which lowers their maintenance costs.

The use of larger concrete blocks minimizes the number of joints in the work and so saves mortar. Hollow concrete blocks have good insulating properties against sound, heat, and dampness.

The hollow blocks provide good stability to the structure. So, these blocks are used for a large work of masonry. They have been used in load-bearing walls as well as non-load-bearing walls.

Take Away

Source: Arch Daily

Working with hollow concrete bricks benefits both construction businesses and homeowners. Architects all over the world are taking advantage of the design adaptability that hollow bricks provide, allowing them to cut project costs while maintaining spatial and architectural quality in high-end, luxury venues. 

Construction firms are also beginning to experience operational gains, while homeowners are reaping the benefits of decreased heating, cooling, and maintenance expenditures.