by Lacy Enderson

Created on: January 14, 2009

Introduction
Concrete block garages are stronger and more durable than wood framed or steel garages. Because concrete block garages are thicker, they tend to be more soundproof. Concrete block garages are insect and rodent proof. They rarely fall down or leak in a storm. Constructing a block garage takes skill and know how, but don't let that dissuade you. The building will require quite a bit of man power, and the costs are considerably more, but the pros far outweigh the cons.

Things You'll Need

Stakes
2-by-6 form boards
Double headed nails
Hammer
Shovels
1/2 Rebar
Tie wire
Sand
6-mil Vapor barrier
Rake
Dobey blocks
Concrete
Chalk line
Floor plan
Mortar
Bucket
Trowel
Concrete pumper
P-gravel grout
2-by-8 pressure treated sill plate

Step One
Place stakes in the corners where your garage layout is. Dig out all the dirt 6 inches deep within the layout area. Set up 2-by-6 form boards around the garage perimeter.

Step Two
Nail the boards together at the corners. Place support stakes behind the boards every 3 feet. Nail the stakes to the form boards with double headed nails so they are easily removed when you are finished.

Step Three
Dig out your footings 1 foot wide by 18 inches deep around the perimeter. A footing is the structural part of the slab that bares the weight load of the structure above.

Step Four
Place two 1/2 inch rebar horizontally all the way around the bottom of the footings, making sure the rebar is at least 3 inches away from the earth by placing a 3-inch by 3-inch dobey block every 3 feet underneath the rebar. Rebar is a structural steel rod manufactured to be placed in concrete to add strength. Rebar can be purchased at most hardware stores. Dobey blocks are small concrete blocks with tie wire bult into them to space rebar a given distance above the earth.

Step Five
Place two 1/2 inch rebar rods also at the top of the footings. Keep the rebar 3 inches away from earth and air.

Step Six
Attach 1/2 inch rebar rods vertically every 16 inches around the footings 4-inches in from the outside edge. These rods extend up. Concrete blocks are laid over the rods.

Step Seven
Tie the vertical rebar to the top and bottom horizontal rebar with tie wires. Tie wire is a spool of wire made to tie rebar together.

Step Eight
Pour 2 inches of sand into the garage slab area and a 6-mil vapor barrier between the sand. Although the vapor barrier isn't mandatory, it is highly advisable. The vapor barrier is a plastic that keeps the concrete slab from sucking moisture out of the earth. Without a vapor

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