Poured Concrete versus Bricks as a Building Material

Basics

• For A Wall that isn't CEB or Wood, the main remaining options are Blocks/Bricks and Poured Concrete
• Concrete and Bricks are also the Main Options for Basements+Foundations
• This page attempts to settle the debate via compiling research and expert opinoins
• The main data will be strengths (Compressive, Tensile, etc), and Water Permiablity (IE will your basement flood more easily with one or the other?)
• Another bit of study may need to be done on steel reinforcement in both, as well as a study of adjoining methods for bricks/blocks

Basic Summaries of Materials

Bricks/Blocks

Fired Clay

• Fired Clay Bricks

Cinder

• Cinder Blocks

Aerated Concrete

• Aerated Concrete

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete

• Autoclaved Aerated Concrete

Concrete

• Cast Concrete Bricks

Autoclaved Concrete

• Autoclaved Concrete

Compressed Concrete

• Compressed Concrete Brick

Compressed + Autoclaved Concrete

• Compressed + Autoclaved Concrete

Poured Concrete

Note on other concrete mixes

• Concrete Mix "Cookbook"

Roller Compacted Concrete

• Roller Compacted Concrete

Possible Future Studies

• The Effect of Reinforcement (Beams, Fiber, Biomass (Such as Hay) etc) on Bricks/Blocks
• The Effect(s) Shape and/or Hollowness has on Bricks/Blocks

Longevity

Future Applications of This Study

• Load Bearing Walls
• High Strength Buildings (Hurricane/Tornado/Earthquake Proof Buildings)
• Dams

See Also

• CEB
• Brick
• Cinder Block
• Autoclaved Concrete
• Compressed Concrete Block
• Cast In Place Concrete
• Open Source Materials Science Laboratory
• Concrete Mix "Cookbook"

Useful Link

• This Article Comparing Brick and Poured Concrete Foundations (Essentially said both work if done right, but didn't go into too much detail