You can use cinder blocks as potting tables for your plants. You can pass planks of wood through the holes and raise the table to your desired height.
It is recommended that you use six cinder blocks in one arrangement so that you have a firmer table. Two for the ends and two for the middle. You will have a larger potting area and a stronger base for your table.
Cinder blocks can also be used to raise garden beds. You can do this if you do not want your garden to interfere with your lawn. You may also be growing plants that are not suited for the soil in that area.
You can raise the garden bed from the ground and prevent cross-contamination of the garden soil. They can also be used on the porch or terrace to support your kitchen garden.
Apart from being used as garden bed supports, cinder blocks also make great planters. All you need is some plastic sheeting, garden soil, and seedlings. Line the interior of the cinder block with the plastic. Fill in the space with soil up to three-quarters of the way.
Transplant the seedlings into the soil, add some water, and you are done. You can make different arrangements using the blocks and grow a variety of plants.
Concrete vases are great DIY projects. All you need is rapid setting cement, plastic containers of different sizes, cooking spray, and a mixing bucket.
Mix the cement as per the instructions on the packaging. Spray the inside walls of the bigger container with cooking spray.
Pour some of the cement mixture into the bigger container to form the base. Spray the outside of the small container and then place it onto the cement base.
Fill around the small container until your desired height. Let the mixture set and separate the containers once fully dry. You now have your concrete vase ready for your next plant.
The above is one way in which you can make a simple concrete vase. There are different designs that you can come up with, depending on the types of molds that you have.
6. Concrete block raised bed with eggplants and marigolds
As seen earlier, cinder blocks are solid foundations for raised garden beds. However, there are some drawbacks to using them for this purpose.
When used for a long time, they can cause indentations on the surface where they are placed. When used in the yard, they affect the growth of the lawn and leave unwanted yellow patches when removed. Cinder blocks are also porous meaning they can allow seepage of harmful fertilizer to the surrounding area.
Are cinder blocks safe for raised beds?
Cinder blocks are not only safe but are also solid foundations for your raised beds. They also allow you to create unique arrangements, given that they are easily movable.
Can you grow tomatoes in cinder blocks?
Cinder blocks can be used to grow a variety of plants, tomatoes included. They have a wide enough area allowing for the plant to take root and flourish.
Their porous nature also provides excellent drainage of the soil, reducing the chances of waterlogging.
How much does a cinder block cost?
Cinder blocks can be made from a variety of materials and also come in different shapes and sizes.
The difference in cost is not that great. A standard 2X4 cinder block will cost you as little as $1.
Conclusion
Cinder blocks are truly multi-use materials. Why not try the ideas mentioned above and spruce your home this coming season.
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Adding materials like pebbles or smooth rocks to the cement coating can also achieve a textured appearance. You can add color to the coating by painting over the cement after coating it with a concrete primer or mixing colored pigment into the wet cement.
Use several different sizes of blocks. stack them into a tier or pyramid formation, and fill them with your favorite selection of ornamental grasses, trailing vines, and flowering plants.
If you're tired of looking at that plain cinder block wall on your property, you have plenty of options for giving it a facelift. For a quick and simple cover-up, try concrete or stucco. To give the wall a more unique character, consider stone wall veneer or climbing plants.
If the conditions are right, concrete building blocks have a lifespan of 100 years or more. This makes them a very durable building material. Indeed, concrete created during the Roman Empire can still be found today, which demonstrates how long-lasting it can be.
Concrete blocks can cause seepage damage in areas with high water tables. Concrete blocks are strong but porous and allow water to penetrate. Water is persistent and will seek the path of least resistance. It can eventually make its way through walls and cause damage.
The simplest way to cover a cinder block wall is by using surface bonding cement to create a concrete finish. Concrete helps insulate the building and keep moisture out. It creates a smooth, finished surface you can leave as is or paint. Install fence.
Most cinder blocks come in a gray color, but you can paint cinder blocks to match the color scheme of your home. The process of painting can be broken into 3 simple parts, including cleaning, priming, and painting.
Add a layer of gravel on top of the landscape fabric to provide a sturdy foundation and to help ensure the ground beneath the ties doesn't become waterlogged. Tamp down the gravel and check your work with a level as you go. Once you have a gravel foundation, lay the first row of railroad.
You can have any two of the following: best, cheapest or fastest, but not all three at the same time. The cheapest way to cover an interior block wall would be to cover it with a coat of paint. The best way would be to erect a wood or metal stud wall in front of the blocks and cover that with drywall.
If your concrete-block basem*nt walls are dry and free of efflorescence (i.e. salt deposits) or mold, coat them with a masonry sealer or all-purpose water-base primer-sealer, and then paint with high-quality latex paint. A new wall color is an easy way to make the basem*nt feel warmer, brighter, and more welcoming.
You can even wallpaper over tile and other slick, nonporous surfaces, such as concrete block, or synthetic laminate paneling. On many of these surfaces, you'll first need to apply lining paper, which is a blank wall covering that provides a smooth surface for regular wallpaper.
Once your wall is erect, you can fill the blocks with sand to stabilize the structure. Filling cinder blocks with poured concrete is not recommended, as this will create moisture pockets within the wall, leading to wet concrete.
As you fill the hollow blocks of your precast retaining walls, avoid using products like soil and sand, as these materials can absorb moisture and expand, causing the same issues. Instead, use rock, stones, or gravel.
You've seen some of the advantages of both concrete block and wood frame construction, but what is the cost difference? For the equivalent square footage, concrete block homes tend to be more expensive to build.
I love to add stacked stone or Chicago brick. Both come as a veneer and will adhere to the cinder block. You could also paint it deep Navy or Black and large artwork. Or drape it with fabric attached to the ceiling with hooks.
Cinder blocks are used in construction because of their easy installation, durability and low cost. The appearance that the blocks provide, however, is very plain and utilitarian. One fairly easy way you can hide the cinder blocks' appearance is by faux painting them to look like a brick wall.
If your concrete-block basem*nt walls are dry and free of efflorescence (i.e. salt deposits) or mold, coat them with a masonry sealer or all-purpose water-base primer-sealer, and then paint with high-quality latex paint. A new wall color is an easy way to make the basem*nt feel warmer, brighter, and more welcoming.
Whitewashing may not be quite as much fun as Tom Sawyer claimed, but it is an efficient and simple way to take a cinder block wall from utilitarian to utterly fabulous. Exact formulas vary, but most whitewash is a mixture of water, slaked lime, salt and chalk that hardens to a crisp, clean white finish.
Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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