Concrete Blocks above Engineering Bricks

[jhfw2023]

Hi everyone, first post here.
I'm in the process of designing a garden hobby room which is to be built using a cavity wall. My initial idea was to construct it entirely from concrete blocks (considerably cheaper), however I have read here that engineering bricks are better around the DPC and frost levels. I have two questions in particular:
1) Can I build below the DPC with engineering bricks, and then lay concrete blocks on top?
2) Should I also put engineering bricks on the inner leaf below the dpc, or is this unnecessary as it will be protected?

Thanks in advance,
J

 

[noseall]

Hi everyone, first post here.
I'm in the process of designing a garden hobby room which is to be built using a cavity wall. My initial idea was to construct it entirely from concrete blocks (considerably cheaper), however I have read here that engineering bricks are better around the DPC and frost levels. I have two questions in particular:
1) Can I build below the DPC with engineering bricks, and then lay concrete blocks on top?
2) Should I also put engineering bricks on the inner leaf below the dpc, or is this unnecessary as it will be protected?

Thanks in advance,
J

You don't have to use engineering bricks at all. As long as the brick has adequate FL rating, crack on. You could build it entirely in block, but aesthetically, it will look rubbish. Internal leaf and unseen stuff, can be entirely in block - yes.

Water3

• noseall
• 10 Nov 2019

Garage1

• noseall
• 15 Mar 2019

Clay

• noseall
• 23 Oct 2018

 

[jhfw2023]

Thanks very much Noseall. Yes I agree about the aesthetics. The intention is to render over the concrete blocks, but obviously below dpc isn’t really an option to render.
The ground is also sloping so one side would have quite a high dpc relative to ground level, so a lot would be on show.
Thank you for the photos, I think I will go with engineering bricks just on the external leaf up until damp, like the house in the “garage 1” photo you sent.

 

[^woody^]

Match the house below DPC. No need for engineers internally, but may be more practical to just buy one type of brick.

 

[jhfw2023]

Thanks woody, appreciate your help. Definitely saves a lot of money by not putting them internally