How to Start Rebar in a Block Wall

Steel rebar can be used to strengthen a concrete block wall by inserting the rebar into the holes in the centers of the blocks. Concrete blocks have tremendous compressive strength, but they lack tensile strength, meaning that they can be pulled apart relatively easily. Steel has tremendous tensile strength and makes up for what concrete lacks. Pieces of vertical steel rebar placed in the centers of concrete blocks makes the entire wall resistant to bending and cracking.

Mortar
4-foot level

Instructions

- 1
  Place pieces of steel rebar vertically into the center holes of the concrete blocks that make up the wall. Once the rebar is in place, you will need to lift the blocks up over the top of the rebar, so it makes the job easier to build several courses with blocks before inserting the rebar.
- 2
  Fill the holes in the centers of the blocks with mortar. Do this after you have assembled three or four courses of blocks. Place a piece of rebar into the mortar. Move the rebar up and down to compress the mortar and take out air bubbles. Check the rebar with a 4-foot level to ensure it's vertical.
- 3
  Place more blocks onto the wall after the rebar is in place by lifting them up over the rebar so the rebar is inside the holes in their centers. After seating a block on the wall, fill the holes in the centers with mortar packed around the rebar and check the rebar again to ensure it remained vertical.

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