Anyone ever pour their own decorative concrete block?

[RickM]

I could use quite a few retaining wall blocks....as in several hundred. The price at the local home improvement places just went up. Lowes is at almost $2.50 per block.
I stumbled onto molds that are sold on Ebay and they look pretty interesting. Has anyone used these before? I'm guessing you can't pump too many of these things out unless one uses super fast setting concrete.

Probably more pain than it's worth. Any experience to the contrary?





"Designed with a key (ridge) on top to insure secure stacking and to allow for the construction of a strong, structural wall. It has also been molded with a split line - so if you require a half block you can, using a chisel, split the block in two.

You are buying directly from us, the manufacturer, so we are able to guarantee every item you purchase.

Our molds are made from high-grade, industrial strength polyethylene plastic – custom manufactured for us, to ensure durability, flexibility (for easy release), reliability and long life. Be aware that not all “Poly” plastic is created equal – if it isn’t polyethylene, you will not experience the same results – it is the exceptional performance of our material that makes our molds so successful.

For information and tips on: mixing and pouring concrete; coloring the stone; releasing the molds; and more – visit our website. Each purchase comes with an instruction sheet.

Size: 11.5" (widest point) x 8.5" deep X 4.5" (at highest point)

Model: Retaining Wall Blocks

Material: Custom Polyethylene

[fastpat]

I have a number of retaining walls to build here, and have looked at a number of types of blocks. I've not considered pouring my own, but I may if it appears feasible.

http://www.anchorwall.com/HomeOwners/HomeOwners_Index.asp

http://www.allanblock.com/

http://www.ultrablock.com/LOCK-BLOCKDetails.html

http://www.airvolblock.com/

There are many more, but I'm impressed with the Allan block type because it has many shapes and looks like cut stone.

[onewhippedpuppy]

You would be at that a LONG time. Go to some brick and stone places, often times they will sell direct, and quantity typically makes it cheaper per block.

[jhc]

Your mold is about 439 cubic inches. One bag of concrete costs about five bucks at the store and will cover half cubic foot or about 900 cubic inches. That is not including any color additive to make it look like stone plus you have to haul it home and mix it up and pour it into one mold and wait a day to set so two days to make two stones with one bag. You do the math.

[VINMAN]

Rick, try a local concrete plant. They usually make their own block.
Way cheaper

Do you have any Clayton concrete plants near you? Thats where I bought mine.

[RickM]

Thanks for the info....

Vin/Matt: I'll have to look at that option. I found a guy who sells them for about a buck a block....but he's in Indiana. LOL

Pat: Someone had shown me a block and paver manufacturer and their product was beautiful. I'll get the name and post here tomorrow.

[RickM]

Originally posted by jhc
Your mold is about 439 cubic inches. One bag of concrete costs about five bucks at the store and will cover half cubic foot or about 900 cubic inches. That is not including any color additive to make it look like stone plus you have to haul it home and mix it up and pour it into one mold and wait a day to set so two days to make two stones with one bag. You do the math.

Color would be grey and I've seen cheaper concrete...including the quickset stuff. Not sure if it's suitable though.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by RickM
Thanks for the info....
Someone had shown me a block and paver manufacturer and their product was beautiful. I'll get the name and post here tomorrow.

I'd like to see it. Allan Block works through local concrete block makers I think, shipping their stuff would be cost prohibitive beyond a few hundred miles, probably less.

Edit: A couple of pics:

[onewhippedpuppy]

Pat, if you buy in quantity many companies will ship for cheap or free. I used to manage a lumberyard so I dealt with this type of thing often. That is beautiful stuff, probably not cheap.

Pavers are a different story, the Quikrete patterns work quite well. Quick and easy way to make a sidewalk, border, etc. Multiple patterns and colors for the look you want.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by onewhippedpuppy
Pat, if you buy in quantity many companies will ship for cheap or free. I used to manage a lumberyard so I dealt with this type of thing often. That is beautiful stuff, probably not cheap.

Pavers are a different story, the Quikrete patterns work quite well. Quick and easy way to make a sidewalk, border, etc. Multiple patterns and colors for the look you want.

I figured they're not cheap but didn't know shipping was sometimes included. Those projects are down the road.

My current project is an attic stairs, found what I wanted from Bessler Stairs and they'll be here in about a week. Our attic has a huge amount of usable space in it, possibly as much as 1500+ sq. ft.

[VINMAN]

Rick, theres a Clayton Block up in Saddlebrook. Give them a try

http://www.claytonco.com/

[onewhippedpuppy]

No guarantees Pat, but it's worth a shot. Quantity is king in the construction world, so the more you can buy at once the better. You may have to bargain a bit, but there's enough mark-up on that stuff that they have room to come down.

[RickM]

Ok, the high end manufacturer mentined to me is www.EPHENRY.com .
I believe they're headquartered out of NJ.

"...now operate 5 fully automated manufacturing plants in 4 locations, with state of the art finishing process facilities. Our market has grown from South Jersey to the Middle Atlantic states from New York to Virginia."


From what I understand the more realistic products are tumbled to give a natural appearance.

[fastpat]

Very nice, Rick. In the long run using a first class product like these will pay off I think.

[RickM]

I agree. I always try to use the best.
The area I'm working on now is pretty much unseen. What I need is sturdy material with a decent appearance. For a more decorative product EBHenry looks to be a contender.

[fastpat]

We're having a landscape architect work out the details of what should go where, and to work out the details of somethings we have in mind, but need a pro to flesh out. In particular, an entrance gate for a driveway that is unusual in that it makes a hard 90 degree turn just after you enter our property. We need a gateway designed to take that in mind, and still keep an easement for overhead power lines clear. The power company may bury the lines in the next few years, but for now the easement stays the way it is.

The driveway, which is about 870 feet long, needs several stretches of retaining wall along it to hold back hillsides and erosion, probably about three places, each needing about 50-100 feet of wall. We have a steep, low lying area with very large, mature hard woods, and a spring that we want to make into a sort of nature walk, with a gazebo in which we can have afternoon tea (my wife's idea), or the odd luncheon and so forth. Then there's a few things we want to do in the area immediately around the house, decorative patios, an English knot-garden of sorts, and other things. The architect will have a complete plan for the whole works in a few weeks.