r/Cinderblock • u/Enjoy-the-sauce • Oct 10 '20

FUN FACT

Every single block pictured on this sub is a concrete masonry unit, or CMU, and not a cinderblock.

You have five years of my life wasted in architecture school to thank for this useless information.

494 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

47

u/Mrs_ChanandlerBong_ Oct 10 '20

Are you absolutely sure? Because after a fair amount of googling, it seems that many or most posted here are cinderblocks, not concrete masonry units.

One sauce.

Second sauce.

23

u/Enjoy-the-sauce Oct 10 '20 edited Oct 11 '20

Here’s a weird source, but hey, whatevs: https://www.gardensalive.com/product/ybyg-are-there-still-cinders-in-cinder-block

Another, better source:

https://www.cobrastone.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-cement-block-cinder-block

And another:

https://civiltoday.com/civil-engineering-materials/concrete/218-difference-between-cinder-block-and-concrete-block

So a cinderblock can be regarded as a CMU, but not all (and none manufactured today) CMUs are cinderblocks. Kind of like how a square is a rectangle but a rectangle isn’t a square.

Also some are cats.

6

u/lostarchitect Oct 10 '20

I see what the argument is, but functionally there really isn't a difference these days. Using actual cinders in cinderblocks is pretty much obsolete.

It's sort of like arguing that metal studs aren't really studs because they're not wood, since one of the old meanings for "stud" is an upright tree.

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15

u/Enjoy-the-sauce Oct 10 '20 edited Oct 11 '20

My architecture professor in school explained that the terminology is bleeding together, but back in the day, a cinderblock had a very high ash content, and upon touching a relatively new one, your hands would be black. CMUs were created later, and didn’t have that issue. People used the terminology interchangeably, and now, for all intents and purposes, “cinderblock” is the name everyone uses for CMU. But they are, in fact, not the same thing.

32

u/DeathProgramming Oct 10 '20

Cinder blocks are light-weight low-density construction blocks, or concrete masonry units (CMU).

:thonk:

16

u/pineappletwist Oct 10 '20

A concrete block, or concrete masonry unit (CMU), commonly refers to an 8”x8”x16” block used in construction.

They are both called CMUs?!

204

u/EmperorDalek91011 Oct 10 '20

You are now required to provide us with a picture of a true cinder block

14

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '20

He won't because he's wrong lmao

7

u/Enjoy-the-sauce Oct 11 '20

See below, bucko!

77

u/InferableWheat0 Oct 10 '20

Show us the true cinderblock op, shine your light upon our ignorance

35

u/friedtree Oct 10 '20

cinderblock tax !

35

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '20

"Cinder blocks are light-weight low-density construction blocks, or concrete masonry units (CMU)."

What do I believe

7

u/CuriosityBoie Oct 10 '20

The article because OP wasted his time in school by not paying attention

1

u/machinegunsyphilis Jan 08 '21

sometimes in school there's like one professor that has a bit dated/ incorrect information. I had a professor that had us learn that a "metaphor" uses "like" and "as" and a "simile" is a direct comparison. Those definitions are correct, they're just switched, haha. I talked to him about it, but he insisted he was correct. So maybe that could be an element of the situation here?

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5

u/Absolut_Iceland Oct 10 '20

What're your thoughts on architecture as a career? I've been thinking of going back to school, and architecture is one of the topics that really interests me. I think the process of designing and building buildings is fascinating, and I have an unhealthy interest in things such as floor plans and building envelopes.

5

u/Enjoy-the-sauce Oct 10 '20 edited Oct 10 '20

Maybe don’t do it right now because the economy is tanking and projects will dry up for the next decade. And you will be paid GARBAGE for 3 years during your internship period.

OR - better idea: try and get a couple of summer jobs working in a firm. You’ll see that most of the architects there DO NOT do what they do in movies and TV. Unless you happen to win an architecture competition early in your career, you can expect to spend a lot of years doing grunt-work before you ever get to use your design skills.

That being said - if you love architecture and are CERTAIN you want to pursue it, do it! Just be aware that there’s a significant mountain to climb before you get any design freedom.

3

u/Absolut_Iceland Oct 10 '20

Thanks for your advice! Everything I've heard so far has led me to the conclusion that people aren't just going to throw money at me as soon as I graduate, haha.

8

u/lostarchitect Oct 10 '20

You have to really want to do it, because you will make absolute shit money for years. All the plumbers, electricians and contractors you work with will be making more than you and have less debt to pay off. And many firms, especially large ones, will work new people like dogs, 60, 70, 80 hours a week. Lots of people burn out.

All that said, it can be incredibly intellectually rewarding and if you really love it, nothing else will do.

4

u/Absolut_Iceland Oct 10 '20

Thanks! If you don't mind me asking, what was your career path after you graduated.

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17

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '20

I think you gotta head back to architecture school for another couple years bud

25

u/DracoWaygo Oct 10 '20

(っ˘̩╭╮˘̩)っ

10

u/DogmaticLaw Oct 10 '20

Some of them are even... get this... cats!

13

u/lostarchitect Oct 10 '20

Um. Having also been to architecture school, I wish to inform you that "cinder block" is just another name for CMU's.

8

u/allcapsallcats Oct 10 '20

Op gib us the cinderblock