EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BEFORE YOU START 2

CONCRETE BLOCKS
» Things to consider TO BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME
INSPIRATION 6 While concrete Besser® Blocks are commonly used in commercial
building projects, did you know that coloured concrete blocks are being
INSTALLATION & CARE 8 increasingly used by leading architects to build designer residential homes?
» Installing Besser Blocks
®
The hardwearing and ever reliable Besser® Block is now available in a
»T ypes of projects to use designer range featuring contemporary colours, a variety of textures and
Besser® Blocks
multiple sizes which allows designers to create inspired architectural homes.
MAINTENANCE 10 As coloured concrete blocks become increasingly popular, Adbri has
» Finishing your wall compiled this booklet to help you understand the benefits of using
» Cleaning
architectural concrete blocks in your project.

ABOUT ADBRI MASONRY 19 This comprehensive guide includes everything you need to know about
Architectural Concrete Blocks to build your home or for use in home
landscaping projects.

For more information call:

1300 230 633 | www.adbrimasonry.com.au
PAGE 1
BEFORE YOU START

First things first, Besser® Blocks are a tried and tested

commercial building product, so if you are looking for
large quantities of Besser® Blocks for multi-residential
or commercial constructions, please contact an Adbri
Masonry representative direct for assistance. If you’re
looking to use architectural coloured concrete blocks
to build your home, or for a home landscaping project
then read on!

For more information call:

1300 230 633 | www.adbrimasonry.com.au
PAGE 2
BEFORE YOU START

THINGS TO CONSIDER
®
WHAT IS A BESSER BLOCK?

A Besser® Block is a common name used to describe a concrete building block. The word Besser® is a registered
trademark of Adbri Masonry. These can also be referred to as concrete blocks and cinder blocks. The most
common / traditional Besser® Block is the 20.01 full length block pictured below.

190mm

190mm

390mm

There are 12.5 of these standard Besser Blocks per 1 square metre of wall.

WHAT IS AN ARCHITECTURAL CONCRETE BLOCK?

Generally, ‘Besser® Block’ is the name used to describe standard grey building blocks. These blocks are fit for
purpose and hard wearing but because they are often covered with paint, render or framed around, the blocks
are produced in a natural colour. That’s why Adbri have developed a range of coloured concrete blocks.

The architectural ‘Besser® Block’ range is coloured with oxide meaning a wide range of colours are available.
There's lots of block sizes including half height blocks available in modern colours. Adbri also provide the
option of applying a designer ‘texture’ to the face of the block. Treating the face of the block is a great point
of difference and with Smooth, Traditional ‘Split’ face rock texture, Shot Blast and the Honed (polished) finish
available, your project can achieve a truly architectural look.

For more information call:

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PAGE 3
BEFORE YOU START

PROJECT TYPE AVAILABILITY AND COLOURS

The project type is the biggest consideration in
determining the right products to use. While coloured
concrete Besser® Blocks are great to build your home
with, they are equally good choices for building garden
beds and building retaining walls. The type of project
you are completing will determine what series (sizes)
and types of Besser® Blocks you will need.
The “series” when referring to block products refers
to the width of a range of blocks, for example,
the 100mm series refers to a range of blocks which
are 90mm wide, the 150mm series refers to a range
of blocks that are 140mm wide and so on.
Adbri produces a range of full blocks and fraction
components in the following series:
Adbri Masonry produces a comprehensive range
of natural grey Besser® Blocks, all of which are
Australian made and most of which are stock items
and readily available for use in your project.
In addition to the full range of grey Besser® Blocks,
Adbri also produce a select range of coloured
concrete blocks. These are the ‘Designer Masonry’
range of blocks which are available on a made to
order basis ensuring consistent colour throughout
your job. The coloured block range and availability
varies from region to region.
Note: Most architectural masonry products are Made
to Order. Minimum quantities and lead times apply.

• 100mm series (90mm wide blocks) View the range of coloured concrete
• 150mm series (140mm wide blocks) blocks in your area
• 200mm series (190mm wide blocks)
• 300mm series (290mm wide blocks)
It's important to note: As concrete blocks, both
• Brick series (110mm wide bricks)
traditional grey and the coloured varieties are
manufactured using natural raw materials like sands
View the full range of Besser® Blocks,
and aggregates, that minor colour variation can
fractions and components
occur from product to product and batch to batch.
available in your state.
This is natural and is not considered a defect.

DESIGNER MASONRY BLOCKS IN YOUR HOME

The trend toward creating unique, designer homes using coloured concrete blocks continues to grow and
architects are capturing the impressive visual appeal that masonry blocks bring to both the external facades
and the internal walls of a home.

Availability of the Desiger Masonry range varies from state to state. Please check the available range in your area
before ordering to avoid dissapointment.

For more information call:

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PAGE 4
BEFORE YOU START

COLOURED CONCRETE BLOCKS

FOR EXTERNAL WALLS

The use of coloured blocks

to construct the walls of your
home, either in its entirety
or simply a design feature is a
great way to separate your home
from the others in the street.

Many homes in upmarket

development sites will require
homes to feature a minimum
number of facades and coloured
concrete blocks are always
a great choice given how well
their use compliments other
facades such as brick, timber
and natural stone.

Architectural Masonry perfectly compliments

the steel and panel in this building

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PAGE 5
INSPIRATION

Various sizes for great effect

Multiple facades including

Architectural Masonry blocks.

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PAGE 6
INSPIRATION

Honed and Split blocks

Architectural coloured concrete blocks

of two sizes and colours were used to
contrast the facade, with honed blocks
a key design feature.

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PAGE 7
INSPIRATION

Honed Block house and fence

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PAGE 8
INSPIRATION

COLOURED CONCRETE BLOCKS FOR INTERNAL WALLS

Architectural Masonry blocks are inherently a strong,

reliable and hardwearing choice for use in homes
due to the sense of security that comes with product
produced from concrete. This sense of security
and permanency of structure has always ensured
coloured concrete blocks have been great for
external house walls, but the trend toward using
masonry blocks inside the home is taking off. This
is evidenced by the increasing number of architects
submitting these projects into Architectural Awards
like the Think Brick Awards.

A coloured block wall that has been treated to

provide an exposed aggregate Honed or Shotblast
texture is a great way to break up the overwhelming
form and repetition of painted walls.

Check out how architectural coloured concrete

blocks have been used to great effect for features
walls inside these buildings.

Harvey Taylor House - Internal feature walls

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PAGE 9
INSPIRATION

Shambles Brewery

Exposed Steel coloured

Architectural Masonry block walls

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PAGE 10
BEFORE YOU START - ARCHITECTURAL BRICKS

110mm

76mm

230mm

ARCHITECTURAL BRICKS - VIC, SA, NSW, TAS ONLY

In Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania, Adbri offer a range of designer Architectural
Bricks. These bricks are a traditional brick size and are available in a smooth, honed or shotblast texture.

This brick range offers a contemporary palette of colours and finishing options which are often hard to achieve
with other brick products and because they are concrete, they are durable and hard wearing.

For more information call:

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PAGE 11
BEFORE YOU START

Adbri's Architectural Bricks are available in a modern

range of colours to compliment the look and feel
of your home.

COLOUR OPTIONS - ARCHITECTURAL BRICK (VIC, SA, TAS, NSW ONLY)

Ebony

Steel

Fossil

Ivory

Oatmeal

Sunstone

UPGRADE TO ENHANCED ARCHITECTURAL BRICKS - TEXTURES

Honed Shotblast
Adbri bricks can be textured to provide a Shotblast or
designer polished look in the Honed finish, both premium
options expose the bricks inner aggregate.

For more information call:

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PAGE 12
DURING CONSTRUCTION

INSTALLING BESSER® BLOCKS

While concrete Besser® Blocks are great for a wide range of building applications around the home, for many
projects, it is best to engage a professional contractor to help with your project. While you can create simple
block projects yourself, they can be challenging as DIY projects due to the importance of working with a level
base and the need to mortar blocks together on all 4 sides. Blocklaying, like bricklaying, is a trade qualification
and installers make laying blocks look easy. In many instances, concrete block walls will be reinforced with steel
and corefilled with grout (concrete) either as one mass or using bond beams. Trade qualified blocklayers can
help with every step.

When you engage a professional, the blocklayer will also provide and mix the materials required for a mortar
at the right strength, organise and install the base as well as any steel reinforcing bars that are required with the
engineer’s design.

If you do want to install blocks yourself, the best tip is to do your research! There are some great visual guides
on YouTube that can help in your DIY project. Be sure to take your time, follow any plans or instruction from
council and always follow the guidelines on batching your mortar to the right strength.

For more information call:

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PAGE 13
DURING CONSTRUCTION

TYPES OF PROJECTS TO USE

BESSER® BLOCKS
BUILD YOUR HOME WITH BESSER® BLOCKS

Besser® Blocks are an excellent choice if you are considering a durable, sturdy and proven product to construct
your home. In many instances, block homes are constructed using traditional grey blocks which are then
rendered and painted.

In some areas such as tropical North Queensland, the Building Code of Australia requires homes to be
constructed using block to mitigate the risk of damage caused by cyclones. Besser® Blocks a tried and tested
material that can increase peace of mind.

Many homes, particularly those architecturally designed will use coloured and textured Besser® Blocks for home
construction. If you’re looking to make a statement with your home, then coloured designer masonry blocks
should be at the top of your list. Check out this gallery featuring some beautiful homes built with long lasting
coloured concrete Besser® Blocks.

Launch Gallery

For more information call:

1300 230 633 | www.adbrimasonry.com.au
PAGE 14
DURING CONSTRUCTION

BUILD A RETAINING WALL WITH BESSER® BLOCKS

Besser® Blocks are popular for the construction of retaining walls as they are pure vertical meaning they do
not consume valuable space and they can also be engineered and reinforced to reach great heights. While the
potential to retain at considerable height is an advantage of using Besser® Blocks for large retaining walls, it’s
important to check with your local council about their requirements for engineering and certification before
building any retaining wall.

The key difference in building a Besser® Block retaining wall and a segmental concrete block wall is the need
for a concrete levelling pad and mortar. It is vital that Besser® Block retaining walls are installed onto a concrete
foundation pad which is properly formed and levelled.

CORE FILLING BLOCK WALLS

In many applications, concrete block walls will be required to be corefilled with grout as per an engineer’s
design. In addition to making blocks lighter to handle, the large cores in concrete Besser® Blocks allow
for easy corefilling with buckets or for larger jobs, a concrete pump. Where required, concrete grout is an
essential element of the construction to ensure the solidarity of the wall.

There are general guidelines for corefill grout as indicated by the Concrete Masonry Association of Australia.

These minimum requirements are:

• Minimum characteristic compressive strength of the concrete to be 12MPa, preferably 20MPa

• Cement content of grout must not be less than 300kg/m2

• The aggregate in the concrete will be minimum of 10mm

• Cores must be completely filled

HOW MUCH COREFILL DO YOU REQUIRE?

The below table can help determine how much core fill grout will be needed to fill your concrete block wall.

Volume of Concrete to Fill Volume of Concrete to Fill (Approx.) No.of Blocks Filled
Block Type
1m2 Wall Area (m2) 100 Block (m2) by 1 Cubic Metre (m2)

15.01 / 15.42 0.054 0.43 220

20.01 / 20.42 0.100 0.66 150

20.48 'H' Block 0.100 0.80 120

30.48 0.180 1.44 69

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PAGE 15
INSTALLATION AND CARE

ARCHITECTURAL COLOURED
CONCRETE BLOCKS ON SITE

1
ON-SITE STORAGE AND UPKEEP

» Store masonry off the ground and loosely cover with a waterproof membrane during rain

» Cover unused pallets of blocks and tops of unfinished walls during rain to prevent water
penetration and excessive efflorescence

» Keep block work clean from mortar smears

2
DUST HAZARD

» Dust is generated during concrete masonry sawing - use appropriate PPE

» Use a wet saw

» ALWAYS WEAR APPROPRIATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

- DUST MASK, SAFETY GLASSES & HEARING PROTECTION

3
COLOUR BLENDING

» Concrete masonry blocks must be blended during laying

to create a seamless colour variation across the project

» Select blocks from down and across 3-4 pallets to ensure a natural variation across
the finished project

4
CLEANING

» DO NOT USE HYDROCHLORIC ACID

» DO NOT PRESSURE WASH

» Use a weak solution of an efflorescence removal chemical as a last resort

For more information call:

1300 230 633 | www.adbrimasonry.com.au
PAGE 16
INSTALLATION AND CARE

5
SEALING

» The use of sealants on Adbri Masonry’s concrete masonry range is not compulsory,
but is readily utilised to satisfy individual requirements. Sealer, whilst not recommended
for any structural purposes, can be used to protect your investment for years to come.

6
EFFLORESCENCE - A NATURALLY OCCURING SUBSTANCE

» Good laying practice and site procedures are necessary to mitigate efflorescence

» Efflorescence does not affect the structural integrity or strength of the product

» It may be removed with a stiff brush of the application of an efflorescence removal agent.
Read suppliers instructions before use

7
MORTAR

» For proportions of mortar mix please refer to table 11.1 in AS 3700

» An efflorescence inhibiting additive should be used in the mortar mix for coloured products

» The preferred finish for mortar joints in designer masonry is the ironed finish which makes
the mortar more dense. The mortar is pushed against the top and bottom faces of the blocks,
improving the bond between the mortar and the block.

8
COPING AND FLASHING

» Walls and parapets should have protection such as flashing or capping to the top of the
surface. A common source of staining and efflorescence of masonry is water entering walls
and cavities at this point via exposed horizontal surfaces.

» If this is not possible, the top of the block work must be sealed using Emer-clad
waterproofing membrane or equivalent before the capping is bedded to waterproof
the top surface.

For more information call:

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PAGE 17
 ON COMPLETION

FINISHING BESSER BLOCK WALLS

®

Capping units are available to sit atop finished block walls. This serves both aesthetic and functional purposes
providing the wall with a neat finished look while also serving to ensure no debris can enter the wall.

External grey block walls can be finished in a number of ways and if you’re building with traditional Besser® blocks,
you may wish to utilise one of these options to help enhance the finished look of your home.

The most popular options are;

1. Painting - quick and easy with every colour 3. Applying a facade – many materials such as stone
imaginable at your disposal. and panels can be applied direct to the wall.

2. R
 endering (and painting) the blockwork – 4. Texturing –There’s many coating products
premium finish that hides the block shape available that can finish your wall to a desired look.

Note: It is essential that external single skin masonry walls be finished with a weatherproofing product such as a sealant
or paint to prevent water penetration. Seek further advice when selecting a suitable product from your local supply store.

CLEANING EXPOSED CONCRETE BLOCK WALLS

For large projects and all commercial projects, professional cleaners should be engaged. Given that may be
overkill for many residential projects around your home, the following table can help you identify what type
of cleaning would work best for exposed block walls. With all cleaning options, consider your safety eye wear
and skin safety such as gloves. Be sure to always follow the instructions of the manufacturer when using
cleaning agents and chemicals.

Click here to view Concrete Masonry Association of Australia's

comprehensive cleaning / maintenance table

WHERE TO BUY?
Click the Request a Quote button for a quick and accurate price, Request a Quote
as well as details on your nearest Certified Partner store.

For more information call:

1300 230 633 | www.adbrimasonry.com.au
PAGE 18
ABOUT ADBRI MASONRY
Adbri Masonry is Australia’s leading masonry manufacturer supplying quality concrete bricks, Besser® blocks,
pavers, retaining walls, erosion control products and architectural masonry solutions from various sites
throughout Australia’s East Coast and South Australia. Adbri Masonry is a wholly owned division of Adelaide
Brighton Ltd, a leading integrated construction materials and lime producing group of companies and a
member of the S&P/ASX 100 Index. 

Adbri Masonry first produced concrete Besser® blocks in 1957 and has been committed to Australian
manufacturing and quality that is just as strong today.

In addition to supplying a full collection of quality concrete building and landscaping products, there are a range
of valuable benefits to working with Adbri Masonry including;

» Access to our Contracting Services Team (in-house
design, supply, installation and certification team
for commercial projects).
» Samples of all products are tested for quality
in our N.A.T.A accredited laboratory
» Our commitment to environmental sustainability
and environmental building products.
» Our suite of helpful step by step DIY videos
with landscaping expert Jason Hodges
» Our network of trained and experienced Certified
Retailers
» Service from dedicated and experienced consultants
» The benefit of dealing with knowledgeable local
sales teams

BRICKS | BESSER® BLOCKS | PAV E R S | R E TA I N I N G WA L L S

For more information call:

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PAGE 19