There is also block that is specifically made to have concrete poured into the block, complete with rebar channels.įor concrete rather than using panel forms you can purchase ICF type forms. This is determined by local building codes. This means putting in rebar and filling the cells with grout to strengthen the walls. Most people have seen decorative block a thousand times in their life, but not realize what it is.Īlso there are reinforcing requirements that may apply in your area to a block wall. As you can imagine the greater the width of the block the greater the cost of the wall.Īlso you have standard block and then there is decorative block which is more expensive. In some areas of the country 14” and 16” block widths are also available. Block, also called CMU, generally comes in widths of 4”. There are all kinds of blocks in different dimensions. I have built several foundations with it and in all honesty a traditionally poured concrete foundation with the insulation fastened to the outside (where it does the most good) before back-filling is a better green solution. It has become increasingly popular for party walls in multifamily housing because of its superior sound insulation and the comparative difficulty of traditional forming on the main and second floors of wood framed structures. The major benefit of ICF is its insulation, half of which is on the inside where it does less good.ĭo not get me wrong ICF is a good product, but people try to sell it like it is the enviro wonder solution - and it isn’t. Electricians consider it a pain in the ass. The interior of the wall must be drywalled for fire code. Concrete forms generally are re-useable systems so there is very little waste anyways. It is more labour intensive, and slower because of that. More expensive, not cheaper than traditional forms. As a bonus, the foam stays in place as insulation and the walls of he house are pretty much one solid chunk. Much cheaper than forms, and faster, and less labour intensive, less waste than wood forms. Place the reinforcng rods inside the stacked bricks, then pour the hollow center with concrete. The same forms used for a hundred buildings are cheap.Īnother construction I have seen involves using foam bricks like leggo essentially a pair of foam sheets with plastic spacers. drainage is also an issue, as mentioned.Ĭonstruction of forms benefits from economies of scale. Unless a lot of relief is built in (maybe sand fill for 2 feet or more, styrofoam around the exterior) this expansion will crack even a concrete wall. In some areas, earth is mostly clay and will expand/contract with water content. However, as pointed out, the amount of concrete - a solid wall with reinforcing is a lot lot stronger than a bunch of blocks, which essentially are a pair of 2-inch walls. Much heavier than cinder blocks.ĭriving up to the site and pouring the wall into place is a heckuva lot less general effort than moving pallets of bricks around, ad then transferring them a few at a time into place. A friend is pouring concrete floors in his basement and we’ve been lugging bags of concrete around. You still need to transport concrete if you pour a wall.
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