Re using Brick and Concrete

[oxbridge]

Can anybody offer some guidance on whether brickwork and concrete (from an existing building on site) can be re-used in all or some of the following. General backfill to basement retaining walls, to a driveway and to a car parking area. The project involves the demolition of an existing building and the construction of a new detached property with basement.

If so, crushing, mixing?, placing compacting etc specifications will be needed I presume. Can anybody recommend where I can go for these. I'm in the UK.

 

[Ron]

Concrete can be recycled as a concrete aggregate or as a generally aggregate. Brick should not be used as a concrete aggregate, but can be used as a general aggregate for soil beneficiation and drainage. Brick can also be used as an asphalt aggregate. Be sure to test for durability, though, in either case.

 

[JedClampett]

There's actually businesses that buy used bricks. You might realize a few bucks if you're careful with them

 

[apsix]

If the existing building is large enough there are portable crushers which will come to your site.

I suggest googling for gravel/hardcore suppliers local to your site and discussing with them.

 

[ishvaaag]

Almost universally here in geotechnical reports when the soils involve masonry debris a chemical aggressivity level is assigned to the soil, check proper measures are in place if such is the case.

 

[BigH]

Ron - when I was a kid back in Ohio - our street was brick - made a good foundation (not aggregate - but actual brick). Near Calcutta they used crushed brick for foundations of a new roadway - everyone thought how nice it was - then the foundation settlement got to it - nothing to do with the brick but . . . We found on the road we were reconstructing that a lot of brick was used as subbase - we were do total rehab so as soon as the excavator pulled out a pile of bricks, the locals were in there taking it all - sure they made a few houses out of them - but then, they didn't stick to Western building codes . . .

 

[CJB66]

It's common to use recycled concrete as controlled fill, but it is crushed to about 3/4". You can use the brick too, but it must be crushed as well. Otherwise you risk future settlement.

Recycled concrete is not generally recommended where there is a high water table because the concrete will react with the water.

Thank you.

 

[aeoliantexan]

CJB -- How does the concrete react with the water, and what is the result?

TXDOT allows crushed concrete to substitute for crushed limestone as flexible base material. Iowa highway dept. was using a lot of crushed concrete as base for Interstate highway reconstruction a few years ago and tying it into edge drains. I have always assumed concrete didn't care about water.

 

[cvg]

portland cement which is present in recycled concrete aggregate may combine with water to cement the aggregate particles together. In general for road base and foundations, this is a good reaction. However, it is not recomended that recycled concrete be used for subdrains and filters etc.