Small foundations

[nearthemark]

Hi, I'm laying concrete to be the foundation of a small garden wall, which will be two blocks high.

I've some blocks that are smooth on one side and textured on the other, which were a previous wall. Am thinking of putting them smooth side down on the bottom of the foundation, which will leave about 4 inches for new cement of top.

This will save getting rid of the old blocks, and save time and effort on new foundations.

Is this a good idea or not?

Thanks,


Mark

 

[Markbon]

Do you mean you want to lay the blocks as the foundation, or within the concrete foundation, ? And are they made of concrete?

 

[^woody^]

You're better off laying the foundation the other way around - concrete first

 

[nearthemark]

Do you mean you want to lay the blocks as the foundation, or within the concrete foundation, ? And are they made of concrete?

I mean concrete blocks then fresh concrete on top.

 

[nearthemark]

You're better off laying the foundation the other way around - concrete first

Then old blocks making up the top section of the foundation?

 

[Markbon]

As mentioned, concrete first then the blocks laid on their side with 3 parts sand to 1 part cement to bed them/ Then the wall on top would be good.

 

[nearthemark]

As mentioned, concrete first then the blocks laid on their side with 3 parts sand to 1 part cement to bed them/ Then the wall on top would be good.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, my only concern with this is that the blocks are very uneven on one side (this side is fake decorative bricks), I was going to have the blocks at the bottom with the uneven side upwards so that the concrete could run into and join to the uneven surface. The other thing is that the trench is a bit wider than the blocks would be on their side, so having them at the bottom would allow concrete to go down the sides of the blocks.

Maybe I'll just pour only fresh concrete!

 

[Markbon]

In that case most people would break up the blocks and put them in the foundations.

 

[^woody^]

Lay the blocks face down in the concrete when its wet.