PAVING BLOCK TOWERS

[nickbenedict]

I have built 4 towers in order to mount a gazebo on top so that I can raise its height to give clearance above a kids trampoline. I have used ordinary mortar to hold the blocks together but after 5 days of leaving it the towers just fall apart.

Any suggestions?

 

[xerxes]

What mix did you use for the mortar?

What was the temperature when you were building, and overnight afterwards?

 

[Thermo]

i assume you mean block paviors? you wont get a decent bond as they have no frog, which means that there is very little mortar between the joints to hold them together. youd be better off using bricks

 

[Blasphemous]

I agree with Thermo, you need blocks with a 'key' to enable good adhesion. However, xerxes is right to ask what your mix was and the ambient temp as they will both have an effect on adhesion and indeed whether the mortar actually 'goes off' at all.

On a separate note, you have:

built 4 towers in order to mount a gazebo on top so that I can raise its height to give clearance above a kids trampoline.

Point One, don't you think that's gonna be a bit high? Point Two, Do you think there's a chance that it might.... look ridiculous? Point three, I hope the kids don't bounce too high! Sore Heads!

 

[^woody^]

There is no problem with adhesion using block pavers and mortar. Similar smooth, non-frogged concrete bricks are available for house building

However, these piers are going to be way too high if they are simply 200x200 wide, and will flex and crack on that basis alone