(fullscreen with narration)

Westbrook Commercial Building

10,000 sq. ft. retail/office/warehouse

Regular 8x8x16 CMU have been replaced by simple, strong & affordable VOBB concrete blocks

(4255 West Main Street, Gray, LA - 6/10 of one mile from the exit off of Hwy. 90 (& LA 24 - the Houma exit) - approx. 60 miles west of New Orleans - on LA 24, this is located shortly after the McDonald's)
map    *****  click here for large area map    

Dry-stacking VOBB over a window is simple.

NOTE: See the V-cut in the block for the horizontal rebar. Some people like this rather than drilling a hole on a vertical basis as it is easier for them to align the rebar.

Do not fill the cavity to the top so that the next pour will allow for a good setting

  

Rebar in the foundation makes the VOBB block wall have super strength

Front

The toughest building inspector - the OWNER who wants his money's worth!

Getting ready to put up the electrical pannel

With lots of windows.

Front of building

Back of building in process of covering of VOBB blocks

Side of building

Front of building

VOBB sign on-site

Construction foreman reviewing progress with owner

Owner and construction foreman

Corner with no steel column, just VOBB block

Almost finished

The exterior walls have been finished.

The insulation is put up. 1" * 4" is nailed on a vertical basis. (This helps to hang pictures.)

The owner painted the inside to seal water from coming in.

You can see VOBB block above the door.

Entrance

Front doors

Finished

 

open for business

 

   

WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO REGULAR 8" x 8" x 16" CMU WITH ONLY A WEAK MORTAR JOINT

Whoops. I am sure glad that I did not spend my money on this!!!

Now the owner will have to both clean up the mess and to replace the wall. Ouch