Building a Small Block Wall

[Dann]

I am going to build a short block retaining wall in my basement (about 5' high, 3' long) to reinforce a thin concrete wall that is cracking to prevent dirt from spilling into the basement. I have read up about how to build the wall but am not clear on the following. I plan on putting in rebar but do I fill all the cells top to bottom with mortar or do I wait until the final row to fill them? Or is it OK to fill them when it is half way constructed and fill the rest later? I using 8-by-8-by-16-inch double bull nose. Are these Ok or should I be using the stretcher type blocks? Any other things to consider? Thanks.

[Shanley]

Cells reinforced with rebar can be filled either way.Cells that your grouting without rebar (if any) should be filled after the wall is complete in one lift. Bullnose block are OK if you don't care about the appearance of the wall. They will make your head (vertical) joints look very big.

[Dann]

Thanks for the info. Since the bullnose do not have ears like the stretchers, do I butter the entire surface or just the outer edges where the ears would be?

[Shanley]

Since the wall will be a sort of retaining wall, it wouldn't hurt to fill the head joints solid.

[Dann]

Thanks again. I just wanted to clarify an error I made. The blocks I am using are actually double corner or some places call then "regular"; they are basically just rectangular. I'll assume that your advice still holds for this type.

[Shanley]

We call them jamb block up here...your assumption is correcr...I would suggest tghat you use reinforcing wire (Dur-O-Wall) in alternating courses (rows).

[Dann]

Thanks! I am now ready to go a' building!