Questions & Answers.

Q. What colours are available?

A. There are many colour choices and five shades within each the colours are denoted from 0 to 4, the 4 being the darkest shade.

Q. Where can I view the product?

A. Our Project Examples section provides examples and locations of projects completed in the LOC-A-BLOC® Retaining Wall System.

Q. What stops the core fill oozing from the joints?

A. The concrete core fill material has a slump of 150mm and when components are tightly butted together then leakage does not occur. In the event of an accidental leakage, hosing down the wall with a fine spray of water immediately will prevent any discoloration.

Q. How do I repair a damaged face?

A. Faces can be rapidly repaired, ether with a bolstering hammer or with a special detailed mix available on request.

Q. How can I compensate for the footing not being level, straight and smooth?

A. Small fiber-cement packers can be used to level the first row of LOC-A-BLOC® components in all directions. The best method however, is to pour a thin bed of mortar on top of the footing and allow to dry before commencement of laying.

Q. Can backfilling occur before the core filling?

A. No, The minimum period that must be allowed after corefilling is three (3) days.

Q. How high can I build a wall?

A. There is no theoretical limit to the height of a LOC-A-BLOC® Retaining Wall System. Cantilever walls of up to five (5) meters in the 600 series and up to three (3) meters in the 400 series are economical. Beyond those heights, tenser Geogrids may be used to any heights.

Q. Can existing walls be matched?

A. That depends on the existing wall. In most instances the answer is yes. It is also possible to supply facing material (NSV) only to clad the existing wall to exactly match a new LOC-A-BLOC® Retaining Wall system.

Q. Can 400 series components be used as a marine wall?

A. No, this is because the core fill does not provide sufficient cover for reinforcing steel to meet marine standards for wall construction.

Q. Can normal reinforcing steel be used in marine walls?

A. Only galvanized or stainless reinforcing should be in a marine environment.

Q. How many blocks to a sq meter

A. 400 series =12.5 / 600 series = 5.5

Q. How many blocks to a pallet?

A. 400 series = 60 / 600 series = 18

Q. What is the difference between 400s and 600s.

A. 400 series - dimensions = 400 long x 200 deep x 200 thick / weight =27kg 600 series - dimensions = 600 long x 300 deep x 300 thick / weight =95kg Lifting devices are required.

Q. How much Core fill is required?

A. 400s = 1 cubic meter pre 20 sq meters or block work ( .5 cubic meter and over is advisable to use a pump) 600s = 1 cubic meter pre 10 sq meters or block work ( .5 cubic meter and over is advisable to use a pump) 1800s = .4 of a cubic meter per unit (either gravel or concrete - specification driven)

Q. What block fill or core fill is to be ordered?

A. Cannot use "normal" block fill. LOC-A-BLOC® core fill only (fax spec sheet to them with suppliers names and codes) LOC-A-BLOC® core fill = "5-7mm aggregate, 32 MPA, Ash free, 150mm slump"

Q. Do we lay a mortar bed and mortar each block?

A. No. The footing must be flat level and smooth just like a footpath as the blocks are placed on this surface. If there is a lump at the bottom then the wall can only get worse. If there is to be a slope make sure it is towards the rear because you can always pack the rear but never the front as the packers will show at the face.

Q. We chipped a few blocks when installing, what do we do?

A. LOC-A-BLOC® does supply a detail mix to suit shades ordered on the project for detailing purposes. Two and a half to one with off white cement and add water (make a dry mix and push into damaged areas then brush off).

Q. Do we need to place steel in cores or need starter bars?

A. In either 400s or 600s steel is not required up to 3 courses high over that yes. Please consult the design manual.

Q. Do we need to put a concrete footing down before laying blocks?

A. In either 400s or 600s a concrete footing is not required up to 3 courses high over that yes. 3 courses or lower only requires a thin level pad of concrete to ensure a flat level surface or a compacted crushed gravel base that is level and smooth. Please consult the design manual for higher walls

Q. How do we line up blocks?

A. String the face only not the rear.

Q. What do we do if we make a mess with the core fill?

A. Ensure a hose is handy in all core filling fazes. You will always have seepage between the surfaces that if not removed (hosed) immediately will detract from the finished product, so it must be hosed off properly.

Q. Vertical expansion joints- are they needed?

A. LOC-A-BLOC® is a segmental product when being installed and no mortar is used to bond the blocks together, so LOC-A-BLOC® has already induced cracks and a tolerance of 1-2mm within each block for expansion (in a marine environment temperature variation is smaller and has little effect).

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