what can you do with cinderblocks?

[Jinxie]

When taking a break from unloading the truck this weekend (some, know that we moved) we found a TON of cinderblocks. Other than putting them into a pile, and using them for the obvious, what can be done with them?

Open to any ideas. we've thought about outlining the firepit with them. Trying to think of if I can use em with the garden this spring. Thought about lying them down on their sides, and burying them, oh so far, and using the "holes" to actually plant in. Anyone ever do this?


Ummm what else??

[DaleK]

Tie bodies to them and throw them in the lake.
They come in useful if you're into stealing the wheels off parked cars.
I've used them to make terraces and flower beds out of.
Also made some steps out of them.

[Freeholder]

Don't know what outbuildings your new place has, or what you might need, but they might come in handy for building a chicken coop, or the back-side of a solar greenhouse. They are nice for outlining raised garden beds (and yes, you can plant in the holes, but if you turn them on their sides they give you a place to sit while you weed). Build a doghouse. Frame your compost pits. Keep a few in the back of your pickup in the winter for extra traction. Use some to support shelves in the shop or the barn. Don't get rid of them -- you'll find uses for them eventually!

Kathleen

[minnikin1]

Build walls.
Build smalls buildings.
They can be faced with stone or brick or stucco to make them attractive

Stack them and put counter top over them... instant potting area.

Stack them and face with brick - instant decorating solution...

If they are broken or they have bad spots that are weak, they make fine "clean" fill for low areas.

[daytrader]

I would make a nice cook out grill or a nice burn area.

If money is tight I woud sell them.

[Ravenlost]

Raised beds in the garden

Steps up to the potting shed

Cold frames

Foundation for a potting shed

Or you could just bring them to me!

[ceresone]

This post almost makes me cry! I need blocks soo bad, and to think, someone just has them sitting around--I need 1,500 more!!
All kidding aside, they make the best raised beds you ever saw-put two blocks high, make inside of beds four foot wide--and you can sit and garden all day!!

[Scrounger]

Bring them to Nebraska and I'll show you....

[cowgirlone]

How about a smoker or grill area or even an outdoor kitchen?

I'm with Scrounger, send them to me....

[pheasantplucker]

When you get junk mail with a return envelope, slip a cinder block or two inside the envelope and mail it back to them!!! Ha ha ha ha ha ahhhhhhhhhh.

[hunter63]

I guess I have trouble trying to figure out if the if this post is a complaint or brag.
Congrats, you have just saved, (depending on location) about $1.00 each.

I could (and did) have used 190 of then and paid easily $.50 each.
Blocked up the crawl space at "The Place".

[chickenista]

Build a cistern!

[Windy in Kansas]

Depending upon how many are in the ton of blocks you may wish to build a small building out of them. For convenience use Quikrete's Quikwall product instead of mortar joints. One simply stacks the blocks and then bonds them together with the Quikwall troweled onto the sides of them. Said to be stronger joinery than traditional mortar joints.
http://www.quikrete.com/ProductLines...dingCement.asp

Depending upon how many even a small shed to store flammable goods in is something you may wish to consider. Paint (non-freezable), gasoline, extra propane bottles, etc.

You might even wish to dig out for a root cellar and use the bonded blocks for walls. However for that I would want traditional mortar joints every few courses in order to install reinforcement wire between joints.

You might also think about asking a local block producer the cost of chipped, damaged or otherwise normally rejected blocks, but still usable, in order to add to your stash for a larger building. Who can't use an extra building on a homestead?

[Silvercreek Farmer]

A smoke house!

[albionjessica]

There are so many possibilities! I like all the ones listed here. I don't think anyone has mentioned lining a cellar though, and that would be very useful in Michigan. Squash, potatoes, apples, and many other things store a lot better in a cellar than a damp basement or kitchen.

[shelljo]

book shelves. Stack a couple, lay a pine board across, stack another, lay another board. Bingo, book shelves. You can even spray paint them to make them "pretty."

[KimE]

FREE HEAVY CINDER BLOCKS!!!!! We have(had) a four car garage that we yanked down that was made of heavy cinder blocks. If anyone is close enough and wants them your more than welcome to come get them. We want them out of our yard. Seriously, my husband picked a couple hundred up and said to get rid of them if I could so he doesn't have to mess with them.

Located about 1 1/2 hour North of Indianapolis, IN.

[L.A.]

Are talking true cinder blocks and not concrete blocks? I've found the old Cinder blocks fall apart with time. If they are "cinder" I would bust them up and make a nice road.

[Jinxie]

Sorry been busy unpacking and lost track of the thread!

It's a complaint to a certain extent as they are in the dead smack middle of the back yard area, through the quad track, and they are half frozen w/ mud around em. No bragging, I honestly had no idea there were so many uses for cinder blocks. As to if they're true cinder blocks or concrete, umm, I dunno LOL I didn't realize there was a difference!

The raised beds sounds interesting...Anyone have a step by step? I'm confused, do you make the whole thing out of cinder blocks, or just the outside (border/boundary) and then fill the inside w/ dirt? (still getting the raised effect) I have a bunch of scrap stained glass that I do mosaic with. I wonder if I could mosaic the outside of the blocks for color?

[seedspreader]

Build a evaporator.








Or a round raised bed for your corn...




Maybe a better question... what CAN'T you do with Cinder Blocks?