Blocks for garage wall

johnson1234567

Doing a garage extension and I am not sure about which blocks to get. There is a bit of a dispute of land with one of the neighbors, to put a 4+ inch wall would require breaking down the wall separating our back gardens and digging the foundation in territory where the neighbor has a garden with plants. I'd rather avoid that and was wondering if 4 inch thermal blocks would be enough for the extension as they could easily be placed on top of the foundation where the garden wall is after breaking it down. The garage would be used as a gym throughout the year and would have a tv with some electrical equipment such as a heater. The garden is long and narrow and building proper cavity walls is not an option as it would take too much space in terms of width.
Also if building a garage with thermal blocks, would all walls would have to be built with them to see any benefit or it's a complete waste of money if one wall is built using thermal blocks and other wall using cavity 9 inch blocks.
Would few heaters be enough to warm it up enough for it to be usable as a gym?

Metric Tensor

The first job of blocks is to make the building stand. Is a single 4inch leaf of blockwork sufficiently strong to hold the roof, rain and snow loads and resist wind loads from every direction as well as hanging TVs and whatever else inside?

Lumen

Why would you want a warm gym?

A few minutes on a stationary bike or treadmill and the sweat will be pouring off.

Do you need planning? If there's a boundary dispute you should expect enforcement.

Calahonda52

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/27/enacted/en/print#part8-chap3

Metric Tensor wrote: »

The first job of blocks is to make the building stand. Is a single 4inch leaf of blockwork sufficiently strong to hold the roof, rain and snow loads and resist wind loads from every direction as well as hanging TVs and whatever else inside?

And of course, OP, implied in the above is if the foundations, if any , under the existing wall will even support a wall of thermal blocks.

BryanF

OP we cant offer structural advice here. The materials youre proposing are not fit for purpose. What if that wall fell on you or your Neighbours kids

johnson1234567

BryanF wrote: »

OP we cant offer structural advice here. The materials youre proposing are not fit for purpose. What if that wall fell on you or your Neighbours kids

So what is the point of this board then? That is why I have asked if a 4inch wall is enough. It won't be holding a 2nd floor or anything heavy on top except a lightweight roof. Quite ridiculous that you cannot discuss advice here then what do you even discuss here? It's called CONSTRUCTION AND PLANNING.

johnson1234567

Lumen wrote: »

Why would you want a warm gym?

A few minutes on a stationary bike or treadmill and the sweat will be pouring off.

Do you need planning? If there's a boundary dispute you should expect enforcement.

Not a boundary dispute, more like not wanting to destroy what the neighbors built over the years to dig an extended foundation.

johnson1234567

Calahonda52 wrote: »

And of course, OP, implied in the above is if the foundations, if any , under the existing wall will even support a wall of thermal blocks.

It is enough, I've checked this. 30cm. I am more interested if 4 in blocks are safe and sufficient for garage application. Only one of the walls would be 4 in, other walls would be 9.

Gileadi

What happens if a user here gives advice and says “xx thickness wall will be fine" and wall collapses?

Will you be contacting boards.ie to get the users personal data to bring them to court?

In a nutshell, you are trying to do this on the cheap. Like any walk of life if you don’t know enough about a topic seek professional advice.

Lumen

johnson1234567 wrote: »

Not a boundary dispute, more like not wanting to destroy what the neighbors built over the years to dig an extended foundation.

Oh. But you wrote

johnson1234567 wrote: »

There is a bit of a dispute of land with one of the neighbors

_Brian

Could you timber frame the extension with the 4” leaf as the outside layer, similar to how timber frame houses have brick or stone as the outside layer.

Gumbo

johnson1234567 wrote: »

It is enough, I've checked this. 30cm. I am more interested if 4 in blocks are safe and sufficient for garage application. Only one of the walls would be 4 in, other walls would be 9.

No, they are not.

Metric Tensor

The forum is called "Construction and Planning" because it is for discussing construction and planning related items. It is not call "Free internet design service" - and even if it was, how much trust would you put in free design advice from faceless people on the internet?

Everything you have described so far is wrong and shows very little, if any, understanding of construction. You need the help of a professional to ensure this project is completed safely.

Would you put a filling in your own tooth? Or remove your own appendix? Professionals train and learn for years how to do things correctly - pay one a few quid to point you in the right direction.

BryanF

johnson1234567 wrote: »

It is enough, I've checked this. 30cm. I am more interested if 4 in blocks are safe and sufficient for garage application. Only one of the walls would be 4 in, other walls would be 9.

we can’t discuss the safety/design of a structure. Please read the forum charter before posting again. Do not respond to this post

johnson1234567

kceire wrote: »

No, they are not.

What is then. As I have mentioned, it is not a house so there are minimal requirements

johnson1234567

Metric Tensor wrote: »

The forum is called "Construction and Planning" because it is for discussing construction and planning related items. It is not call "Free internet design service" - and even if it was, how much trust would you put in free design advice from faceless people on the internet?

Everything you have described so far is wrong and shows very little, if any, understanding of construction. You need the help of a professional to ensure this project is completed safely.

Would you put a filling in your own tooth? Or remove your own appendix? Professionals train and learn for years how to do things correctly - pay one a few quid to point you in the right direction.

I would put all my trust, I've removed my own wisdom teeth using pliers and it worked fine.

Gileadi

johnson1234567 wrote: »

I would put all my trust, I've removed my own wisdom teeth using pliers and it worked fine.

Cool story bro!

You’ll have no problem completing the structural design of a wall with such a can do attitude....

In all seriousness, as mentioned earlier get professional advice. Site specific issues re: ground conditions, boundary issues, wind exposure etc are important and need assessing by competent person.

Wildly Boaring

johnson1234567 wrote: »

It is enough, I've checked this. 30cm. I am more interested if 4 in blocks are safe and sufficient for garage application. Only one of the walls would be 4 in, other walls would be 9.

As before blocks probably insufficient. Foundation possibly insufficient.
You may need planning even if small depending on Local Authority.

Could you get in a standalone structure?

sydthebeat

Ah shure, go ahead. Be grand.....

Gumbo

johnson1234567 wrote: »

What is then. As I have mentioned, it is not a house so there are minimal requirements

Your engineers design is what is sufficient.

BryanF

johnson1234567 wrote: »

What is then. As I have mentioned, it is not a house so there are minimal requirements

technical guidance document part A

BarryD2

OP - Garages, sheds and the like are often constructed with standard cavity or hollow blocks. https://www.goodwins.ie/products/Cavity-Concrete-Block-215mm-9-7.5N-Hollow.html

Lumen

The job of an engineer is not to design something that won't fall down, that's easy. The job is to design something that won't fall down and is as efficient as possible in terms of materials and labour.

I don't know why you're so attached to the existing wall foundations. If you want to build up to the boundary, take down the wall, dig them out, pour new ones, build it properly.

Or just work inside the boundary, giving yourself access for maintenance in future.

What's the planning position? Are you sure this is exempted development?