Decorative concrete blocks were the rage in house building from about 1890’s to the 1930’s. These decorative concrete blocks came in an assortment of styles and sizes.
They could be purchased from a local building supplier but most likely made right on the construction site. A concrete block machine could be ordered from the Sears catalog for $42.50 in 1910.
Many homes were built entirely of decorative concrete block. Some Foursquare homes had concrete block on the first floor and clapboard or wood shingles on the second floor. Some homes only used
decorative concrete block for the foundation. Concrete block was also used for garages. The automobile was thought to be a fire hazard so people felt safer with their automobiles in a fire proof concrete block garage.
Seeing decorative concrete block on a Victorian is a good way to date the house. Although the architecture may look like it’s from the 1800’s, seeing the use of concrete block I have found can usually date the house to around the 1910’s. I have also discovered much older houses that have been moved to a new location and used concrete block for the new foundation.
The 1930’s saw the end of decorative concrete block due to mass production machines prohibiting the cast ornamental faces. The plain concrete cinder blocks were faceless and best never seen.
The above information comes from an article in The Old House Journal. For more detailed information read the full article here .
At the same time construction with decorative concrete blocks was booming, Thomas Edison was experimenting with building concrete houses from a single molding operation. This process turned out to be a failure. Here is the story .
Where Can I Get Decorative Concrete Blocks Today?
As of the time of writing this article there were two places making these blocks.
Another option is to contact your local cinder block company. They can make a mold of a historic block and reproduce the blocks. The process can take about two months.
The History of Concrete
Thank you to my neighbor Kathy M. for inspiring me and helping me with this article.
Great article. My “garage” is built of decorative concrete blocks and includes a stove chimney and the old hookups for an electric horse fence. Not on the 1910 Thompson map, it appears on the 1920 map, so was obviously built in the second decade. The size is about 1.75 cars—bigger than a single car garage, not big enough for 2. We believe it was for horse and carriage, even though this was a new suburb with new electric street car service
Awesome!
I have a ” Boyd Block” foundation. Several need replacement…the result of the dreaded concrete porch poured against the foundation…freeze/thaw sparling and salt damage.
Nice to know a source for replacements.
Live your site!
I have terra cotta decorative block on my foundation and garage. It seems pretty prevalent in Pittsburgh around 1920. It seems to keep water out better than most systems of the era.
Hello Ryan,
noticed your comment and was wondering where I could buy some of those terra cotta blocks from. I am wanting to build me a garage apartment and wanted those to build my foundation?
Tony
972-743-5005
text if you can
The website for Historic Rock Face Block Company is not functioning properly whether clicking on your link or accessing it through the web. Couldn’t find a phone number or email address to let them know. Could you contact them please?
Thank you for the article as I am an architect and always have loved the decorative blocks and wondered why they “don’t” still exist. ….but they do!!!
Hi – the site is working for me. If you have another problem, here is their number 1.518.279.1496
Great article! This made me think of a local Catholic Church here in Springfield, Missouri where I live. St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church was started in 1904, and completed in 1906, and is made entirely of decorative concrete blocks. An article from the time mentions the fact that it took so long because they had to make the concrete blocks on site, and wait for them to cure. The Rectory next door is also made of decorative concrete blocks. We have a few houses in our downtown area also made entirely of decorative concrete blocks.
We cannot thank you enough for this article and for the links you included to find companies selling these blocks. We recently bought our American Foursquare, which was built in 1901, and we have been scouring the internet to find blocks similar to the ones on our house. Our home is block on the first floor and siding on the second story. Some settling has occurred and some blocks need to be replaced. We are thrilled that you shared this with us. And one of the companies you suggested is only 45 minutes away! Thank you again!
WOW -I’m so glad my timing was right for once.
My house is completely built with these decorative concrete blocks. Do you have any information as to how to clean them? I’m thinkig a pressure washer would just eat it apart.
I would contact one of the places that makes them.
Sara, I’m just now reading this article on decorative concrete block home and was wondering the same exact thing. Some areas of my house have gotten so sun- beaten and dingy looking but I felt pressure washing would blow out the mortar. Did you ever get an answer?
Great article. I always appreciated our homes block style and was great to read up on it. Does anyone happen to know what you would call the color of the house with brown windows above? We are painting soon and wife and I fell in love with that look. Thanks again!
Any suggestions on who to call for repointing/repair? The foundation of my 95 year old home is in need of some tlc. I am located in southern NJ just across the Delaware from Philadelphia.
I’m in the same area and need the same repairs done. Were you able to find anybody?
How would I go about getting rid of it from my exterior? Thanks!
Very helpful information! My home is a decorative concrete block church. It was converted into a home in 2014. Built in 1910. There is one other building in town made with the same block. I wonder if they used the same machine!
Hi Lauren that’s really cool! I’m looking at doing a conversion on an old church made with the same blocks and would love to see some pictures of how the conversion was done. Do you have any issues with cracking? My email is joannalarson96@hotmail.com if you wouldn’t mind sharing.
The block making machine pictured in the article
Where can I see one or buy one
I have a few different machines and make these block to help repair old houses. They are made by hand and I have made a few videos showing how they work, what I use for material, and what I have to do to one of these machines to make them functional again. I will be doing more videos with different machines that people own so look for more videos in the future. Just type my name into YouTube to watch my videos.
The porch on my 1896 house has columns that are made from these types of blocks. We are currently scraping them and wanting to restore them. I need to know how to do if there are what not to do for restoration. The information in guidance or direction to sites that have restoration information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
We have a house/store combination building made entirely of these rusticated concrete blocks. It was built around 1910 as a general store with an apartment above that the family lived in. We’re in it now with a store below (bike shop now) and we live above. I think it could use some repainting both to spruce it up and to minimize wear on the blocks. Any idea what kind of color schemes were traditionally used? We have an old photo but of course it’s black and white. We’d love to stay true to its roots and in the photo it looks like the main bricks are darker with lighter accent bricks. Currently the main blocks are grey with the accent bricks painted dark red. Thanks for all this information about these houses!
Keep reading and you will see you can contact me about that. This is not the place for this post.
My shop got hit by the recent tornado. There are approximately 2800 on the ground….perhaps 2000 intact and some half blocks and jamb blocks.
The building was built around 1900 with the molded face. Most are 8 x 10 x24. Sime are 8 x 8 x 24 .
They are heavy into cleanup of the town. If anyone has an interest in them it is in western Kentucky.
Do you still have access to these blocks? I’m looking for 8”x8”x8” four sided rock face and also 8x8x16 corners. Thanks
I know this was 2 years ago, but if they’re still around, I’m interested.
My house has these exact blocks, and I was looking for some for repairs, and a porch addition. Thanks.
Dan
I have a home build almost entirely of this rock-faced blocks. The home was built in 1906 in Springfield, Ohio. I am curious what the R-Value and U-Value of the blocks are. Additionally, if wanting to add interior insulation, what the best product would be that would still allow the bricks to dry out.
Good question. I would also like to know.
You are certainly asking questions that an engineer would be asking. Most block are around 2.4 to 2.6 r value. Adding eps insulation into the cmu’s in the block would raise it to R4. Using corefill 500 foam, it would bring it to R10. Then attaching Z channel and adding more EPS along with dry wall will raise it significantly to meet the 12.2 requirement. Or you could use a DOW panel that you attach to the inside of your wall. Call your local block producer and they should be able to help you out if they are keeping up with the current building codes. I’ve dealt with several of these questions in Northwestern Ohio. We currently make a unit that meets a13.8 r value in static testing which exceeds the current 12.2 r value qualification from the 2018 energy codes. Or send me an Email at donavan@tricountyblock.com.
I have that exact antique concrete block machine in my basement with several attachments. It is so cool.
I believe it is the complete machine my wife’s folks bought this house in 1884 and the machine around 1900 or so from seers roebuck it is still in working order
I don’t know how much it would be worth today
It is probably worth a pretty penny if it has all the plates. I would say a $1,000+. If you are ever interested in selling it I would be interested.
I have a house in Bay City, Mi. made of concrete blocks. I’ve recearched the history of it and there was a home there in 1873. in 1906 it was bought by a mason who lived there. I’m wondering if it’s possible he put the blocks around the existing home because I can’t find that he lived any were else durring that time. I found an old map from 1879 and the house looked like mine. I found a phat map from 1906 that shows a block home there witch is odd because there was a saw mill (Sage) across the street at time. Lumber was cheap and the house was’nt very old at that time.Do you think it’s possible the older home is still there or was it torn down and a new on was built.
Is there any foe material they make now to get that ‘look’ without having to use the bricks?
Good question. I don’t know but if you find out anything please post it here.