Cinder block construction

[RetirementHobby]

Hi, I am building a couple of in-ground garden ponds. The local expert came to my home and advised that I build the walls using cinder blocks, no mortar, because the soil is blow sand. Has anyone else done this? I ask because I am concerned that rodents might nest in the cinder block cores. The blocks will be completely buried and the liner will cove the block core openings at the top. Some of the cores on the turns may be slightly exposed.

So if anyone has experience with this type of constructions, I would like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

The cores of the blocks are typically filled with concrete. In some cases the walls are additionally reinforced with rebar. I certainly would not recommend dry-stacking.

 

[RetirementHobby]

Thank you for the reply. The local expert feels that since the walls will be totally underground, dirt on the outside and liner and water on the inside, then dry stacking will be fine. (He has been building pond for over 40 years.) He suggested filling the cores with crushed stone for rodent control. I am trying to determine how much of a problem this is.

Again, thanks for your reply.

 

[Tula]

The builds I've see that I like, use cement and rebar. It's pretty cheap insurance

 

[sissy]

Mine are filled with dry packed red clay but it is just the top 3 rows the rest is below ground .I also used rebar

 

[Mmathis]

You keep referring to this person as the "local expert." Have you gotten any recommendations or feedback from other pond owners regarding the quality and durability of his work? Have you gotten estimates/advice/opinions from anyone else? What makes him an "expert?"

Not trying to put this person down, but we read quite a few posts from pond owners who are given really bad advice from "an expert" [one lady joined us last year and she had to have her entire pond redone....]. Just saying that it doesn't hurt ot get more opinions.

How deep are you planning to go with these ponds, and what is "blow sand?" Sand is not very stable.

 

[DrCase]

I have heard of people dry stacking below ground.
Then they filled the cells with concrete to lock them together

 

[HARO]

My previous pond was walled with dry-stacked blocks, 3 high, but all under ground. When I tore it out about 8 years later, nothing had moved. I'm currently building another one the same way.
John

 

[tbendl]

My bog is stacked blocks and I just filled them with sand to give them a little weight, they haven't moved at all either.

 

[Mmathis]

My underground bog is also stacked blocks.