Fleetwood Building Block

Engineered Concrete Block Basements • The Industry Standard •
With modern construction techniques, concrete masonry walls can be laid up even under adverse conditions.	THE CONCRETE BLOCK BASEMENT ADVANTAGE VERSATILE- Changes can be made at any time without production delays, which cost you more in time and money. FINISHES- Concrete masonry units are offered in a variety of finishes, textures, and colors eliminating the need for additional wall coverings. LOW COST- Take the $2,000 to $3,000 extra it cost to use an alternative system and put that money into something you can see. ENERGY EFFICIENT- Block basements require no air conditioning in summer and minimum heating in winter to maintain a comfortable environment.
DURABILITY & STRENGTH- Concrete masonry has stood the test of time, 100+ years of dependable use. A single block can support 60 tons! STABILITY- Concrete masonry walls are constructed on steel reinforced solid concrete footers, unlike some walls that are constructed on stone, which can settle and cause stress cracks throughout the home. REINFORCEABLE- The cavities in concrete block easily accommodate vertical steel reinforcement where excessive soil pressures occur. INSULATES EASILY- Block has better "R" & "U" factors than poured concrete. That’s a fact. So, used naturally, without any insulation, concrete block will always be warmer. Yet the builder can add insulation on the outside of the basement wall taking advantage of the thermal mass and achieving any R value desired, thus creating an exceptionally energy efficient foundation. DRY AND QUIET- Concrete block walls breathe. They are dry. Poured concrete walls sweat. Block walls absorb sound. Poured concrete walls reflect noise back into the home. FREEDOM FROM FORMS AND RESTRICKTIONS- Concrete block is a modular building system. That means the size and shape of your basement aren’t limited by form size, as with poured or pre-cast concrete walls. Door and window openings can be adjusted easily to meet your needs. Builders can quickly and inexpensively customize basements according to the site and to buyer needs. Finally, only block walls give homebuyers the satisfaction of knowing that their basement foundation walls are crafted by hand by local labor – no forms and no machines. More and more conscientious buyers are expecting quality handwork and rejecting "prefabricated and stamped-out" formwork. Remember, when you build with concrete block, you build for keeps.

THE CONCRETE BLOCK BASEMENT SYSTEM
1.	Concrete Footer- Solid steel reinforced footer eliminates settlement cracks (drywall, brick).
2.	Steel Reinforcement- Bars and concrete filled block cores per specifications.
3.	Mortar- Use type S mortar (masonry cement or portland & lime) in mortar joints. Use a 45 degree bed of mortar at the base. A step in water control.
4.	Waterproofing- Use a quality product, installed to the manufacturer’s specifications, making sure the base is free of debris. A step in water control.
5.	Block- Use American Society of Testing & Materials C-90 load bearing units. One block supports 60 tons!
6.	Drain Tile- Install below the outside of the footer draining toward the sump pump or gravity drain. A step in water control.
7.	Stone- Clean 2B/1" stone, a minimum of 2 feet above the top of the footer. A key step in water control.
8.	Use filter fabric between 2B stone and backfill.
9.	Backfill- Use clean backfill, with finish grade sloping away from the house. A step in water control.
10.	Optional Joint Reinforcement.
11.	Optional Insulation.

Using This Recommended System Will Produce a Strong and Dry Block Basement