Serious question, did you ever pick a 4-inch over a 6-inch block for a foundation just to save time?

Had a small garage job in Spokane where the client was on a tight schedule, so I went with the 4-inch to lay the course faster. Honestly, it felt shaky and I ended up adding extra rebar, which ate up the time I saved. Anyone else get burned trying to cut a corner like that?

4 comments

4 Comments

jakewhite3mo ago

Ever think about the long term ground shift in your area? I used thinner block on a shed pad and it cracked after a few freeze-thaw cycles. That cheap fix cost me double to tear out and redo it right.

the_anthony3mo ago

Heard about a buddy who tried that and his whole wall leaned.

logan5251mo ago

jakewhite nailed it with that freeze-thaw point. I remember reading a study from some university out east that tested 4-inch blocks in cold climates and basically every single one had cracks within two winters. The ground moves way more than people give it credit for. Your buddy's story about the leaning wall sounds like a worst case but it really happens. You end up spending more time and money fixing the shortcut than if you just did the 6-inch in the first place. Did the extra rebar at least make you feel better about it or were you still worried?

logan5613mo ago

Wasn't the rebar always part of the plan for a 4-inch wall? That's a structural requirement, not an extra step for cutting corners.