I would love to see more discussion about insulating concrete walls. What R value is required? What about the cores of the walls? Are you leaving them open, or filling them... and with what? What about the vapor barrier? Does the stucco provide that? Looking to build a concrete block home myself this next year in Florida. Still have a lot of questions. Really appreciate this video.
On block walls above ground you install R-8 foam insulation (3/4”) and furring strips, you don’t install a vapor barrier typically. The exterior paint is your vapor barrier in that case. For the cells you only fill one every 4’ plus the corners and and the cells under lintels which go over window & door openings
@@HomeLoveConstruction I’m about to rock out with a massive cylinder block home /warehouse build with steel beams to support my w-deck roof! Armageddon home!
No Stucco is not a vapor barrier. In Florida the vapor barrier should be on the exterior of the walls to block humidity. This is the opposite of up North.
@@mistereearly1141 I'm very much interested in the same kind of house. You would need a lot of material if you're going to make a fallout shelter as part of the house.
Wow, fantastic video! I'm considering a block vs wood barn and wanted to go block to be more sturdy, cooler, and perhaps perform better in storms. Interesting that at this point, in the South, sounds like it's recommended for many reasons and now the same price as wood. Very interesting.
in long term wood roots, water damage, mold, termites - homes made of wood are not homes; they are just large sheds- that is why I say 90% of US residents are homeless
Not only that but fire, hurricane and flooding risk has gone up significantly in the past 5 years because of climate change and it is only getting worse. Block is way better against fire, flooding and hurricanes, which not only will save you a headache but will also decrease your home insurance cost. The only thing wood is better at is handling earthquakes.
@@jofujinoActually, there have been less hurricanes and tornadoes in the US as well as 97% less loss of life due to inclement weather. These events are caused by the arctic air hitting warm air. Warmer arctic air means less hurricanes, El Niños and tornadoes.
@jamesdellaneve9005 That's not what the data I looked at said. If you look at the number of hurricanes hitting the US by decade from 1960-2020 it has increased from 12 to 19. Admittedly, if you look at much older data there appears to be a U-shape to the number of US hurricanes. Scientists attribute the increase in hurricane in the Atlantic affecting the US east coast to decreasing pollution levels (which are having a stronger positive effect than the negative effect from warming oceans). That said, if you are talking about outside the US then globally you're right that the number of hurricanes and cyclones is trending down.
This video deserves an award🏆. I could see the steps in my mind. I want to get started with build to rent duplex’s and I am trying to educate myself on the best process. The plan is to buy the land with business credit cards and then get a construction loan. The problem is picking the correct crew etc who won’t take advantage because I am a lady.
I agree block is better and more secure especially in Florida weather. But you did fell to mission the concrete cell fill that goes inside the block cavities. It actually makes the block foundation stronger.
You are completely right. I’ve talked about that in a few other videos about how block walls are built. Also it only goes in certain cells and around the top course (sometimes top 2 courses) to create what is called the “tie beam”
I always wondered why they never used cinder blocks, especially in hurricane areas like Florida. I live in Guam and all homes mostly are cinder blocks and concrete roof.
Block is a very good idea in high wind or high moisture areas. Especially when there are lots of wood destroying organisms like termites. Thanks for watching!
We use hermlock, fir or spruce for our wood here. I don’t even think we can buy yellow pine. They build homes totally different there. Myself I built my place with double stud 2x4s on 2x8 plate. R40 foam walls for mornings like today where it is -20F. I have a reinforced block wall 8’ high for our basement with 4” of blue board to the footing because frost can go 6ft deep.
Yes . Build your foundation to code. I am a plasterer 30 years . If you live somewhere with high humidity try to leave air between stucco and substrate, But, I could be wrong.
You are correct. That’s why here we do the paper backed wire lathe between the stucco and the plywood. It also allows the wood to expand/contract without destroying the stucco. Cracks still happen but are minimized
Would highly recommend doing block over wood construction. With the costs being so close currently you’re getting a much better end product for about the same price. More energy efficient, more sound and less susceptible to deterioration over time
It all really depends on where you are building. In Canada I and in Winnipeg and I don't see any block or brick houses. Only 2X6 construction and you don't even need sheathing like plywood or OSB. I have only buffalo board on my exterior or just the SM insulation. The stucco is the only hard part of my exterior wall. So if I cut out a piece of stucco, then I can put in my hand and punch through to the inside of the house , through the drywall. You don't really need a wood sheathing. My walls are R30 and my basement also has 2 inches of SM to insulate the basement with R10 on the outside and I put R10 on the inside also with my finished basement. There are no termites in Winnipeg yet, to speak of and no hurricanes. I built an attached garage to my house with a caboose room above. I put 3 inches of SM insulation under the garage pad , so I can heat the garage and everything is insulated.
@@HomeLoveConstruction Yes, I know , the paint has to be waterproof, to withstand driven rain from a hurricane. I see many places in Florida where the first floor is cinder brick, second floor, wood frame , like my houses in Kissimmee. I just drove around the new houses being built in Winnipeg and they are all wood framing, no bricks in sight. I have never seen anyone use cinder bricks for the last 40 years that I have walked around the new houses. It is overkill as far as wall strength goes and it is very bad for insulation. The 2X6 construction allows you to put R20 fiberglass insulation batts in the walls and only the 1 1/2 inch wood of each 2x6 has less insulation value, about R6.88 from google. Cinder blocks have R1.9 -R2.5 which is pathetic. Even if you insulate the voids the cold can travel through the large side walls of each block. So in Florida you still need good insulation to keep your A/C electric bill down. R20 would make a big difference but the windows are bad, you can feel the heat on the inside of the windows from the sunlight. My Electric bill from just the A/C in Florida is $200 to $250 USD . My electric bill in Manitoba is $90 CAD for electricity and about $90 for natural gas for heat. In the summer my electric bill goes up to about $175 for four months , that is Canadian dollars. Electricity in Florida is more than double the cost of Manitoba.
We are building a home and came to the same logic. Have you heard of omniblock? Basically The block are insulated inside so you can just stucco the outside and for the interior either skim coat it or leave bare and wall is done
The REIT building the apartments sells to another REIT as a finished product. They make more 💰 on cheaper frame, lesser of a skillset is required to build with match-sticks + faster to put up saves on time & construction loans. Next acquiring REIT manages and occupies the units, in order to sell again for profit as no longer vacant value-add!! Next REIT sells once again just because they can flip, and eventually one of the stock tickers holding the bag goes to $0 🎉. The complex does not age well, and additionally costing more to maintain down the road is a contributing factor to a risk of distress escalators in the event of default.
For us not a big difference. The wood trusses are the slowest and they take the same time either way. Block if it’s in short supply could take an extra week to be delivered perhaps but not much more than that
Need to update please because I went yesterday to home Depot 4x8 plywood was 72.00 for the cheap Stuff. I was planning to build a 1500 SQ foot house/cabin And my cost went to 240 bucks per sqft, I think I'm going to build it block with only a wood roof.😕
the wood is half down now, what are you planning? I was going to go with bricks either way. :) what is the foundation required for cinder blocks? I see somewhere 8x24 foot.. Do I have to go down or can I have it just a foot below the grade for a single store house?
Just curious, I see these module type commercial buildings going up and a crane lifts these huge cement panels in place. I'm guess they are like 20feet X30feet panels. Why can't you get like 4feet X 10feet cement panels to build a house/cabin. You could use a form to create a log pattern on outside wall. So instead of laying a bunch of blocks just drop in concrete panels all in one day.
I got a house in Indiana that needs a total rehab was planning it in 2019 and ended up having a heart attack which sidelined my plans, now in 2021 it really looks like it would be cheaper to just tear the place down and slap a 34x80 CMU building to replace. we live in some crazy times.
Loved coming across your video today. Quick question if you have time to respond. We are currently in the orocess of rebuilding our home. We have a 36x36 basement we are currently building, trying to determine which direction to go once the basement is completed. I agree with you that block is the way to go... The big question we have that im hoping you can help with is how we attatch floor joists between the basement level and the first level if we do decide to proceed on up with block. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
My home, built in the 40s has actual 2x4s (not 1 1/12 inch) that are so dense you can't get a nail in them. It survived hurricane ian while my neighbors brand new house they didn't even move in yet lost the entire roof. Starting my research because I want to build a garage add on
Hi mate, great video, thanks. I'm in the middle of designing my 2 storey house and going through similar argument for timber vs brick construction cost. With the double brick on GF I'm considering the 1st floor to be a concrete slab construction (upper walls will be of timber with a single brick veneer), based on your experience have you seen the GF walls to bear the load of upper slab? The columns will be an expensive option I guess so want to avoid if I can. Also do you think the foundation slab be very expensive due to additional load of FF slab? Appreciate your inputs pls. thanks
You can do a slab for the 2nd story floor but I don’t see that often unless it’s actually out on the water, it is a costly option because it needs to have a TON of rebar in it. Way more than a slab resting on the ground. I’d recommend ground floor slab then block walls 1st floor. Then for the 2nd floor do floor trusses and frame (wood) walls. This is the most cost effective way to do it without sacrificing the stability. As long as the foundation that is in the ground is good you’re golden.
I think cinder block would be cheap and more safer then wood. In my Homedepo it's like 88c per cinder block, i cant imagine how much a strip of wood would be.
The labor for block is more expensive. It also requires a LOT of block to build a house. A normal 2000 sq dr house could be 3000+ block depending on wall height plus rebar, mortar, scaffolding and then labor to set it all.
In the Philippines my home country making your house made of wood is a bad idea block have been tested many times of how strong it is like no joke we experience lots of natural disasters everyday and block and concrete took it like a man.
@@Knightmare919 That's what am sayin' is more reliable then woods. Stones can handle a few whether and fire. Although the house might feel like an oven if it was on fire.
I just subscribed. I think you have tons of information I need. Quick question, I'm really interested in aircrete. I realize it's not mostly accepted for building in the states yet. But my plan will be 6" CMU exterior with rebar and poured. Wondering if that's enough for load bearing exterior walls. But I will install 2" x 6" interior stud wall on 48" centers and pour my aircrete in these spaces allowing for plumbing and electrical. So end result will be total wall depth 5 5/8" CMU load bearing plus 5 1/2" non load bearing for total 11 1/8". Do you think it will pass code here in Florida? Thanks in advance
Can we get an update for 2022 prices with the dropped lumber prices? I was strongly considered a barndominium, but I’m still on the fence, and would rather just build a large block structure instead for sturdiness and peace of mind if the cost wont be much higher still.
Im seeing a home in Florida in interested in being built with the 1st story as block, the 2nd with wood. Does this make make much sense? Also with things going slow in building phase, how can a dry out be done to make sure wood doesn't rot from mold from rain during building process?
1st story block/2nd story wood is totally typical. Dry out isn’t usually necessary if dry in happens quickly. People underestimate how much the sun in FL dries wood. It gets very dry very fast
What about someplace like Idaho. Would block be a good choice alternative to wood? Looking for heat retention in winder and cooler in summer, house is wood frame but it basically needs to come down at this point.
@@HomeLoveConstruction Thank you, It seams like a 2x4 nailer with 1.5" xps between would make it easier to maintain a flat interior wall and come out a little better than code requires. Do you ever consider putting the insulation on the exterior to take advantage of the considerable thermal mass of the CMU? This would also allow you to introduce a rain screen to help keep moisture from entering the building.
just found your channel. Tips on finding a contractor? I'm in sarasota so too far from you but I'm looking to get a few things done. Nothing big, but it is a 2 man jobs so I need partners like this. Thank you
Hey there, thank you so much for watching and commenting! We recommend looking up a contractor who is a member of NARI. That’s the National association of the remodeling industry. It’s a great way to ensure the contractor you’re using is reputable and takes their standards seriously.
I have a question. How do you build a corner window on a concrete block home? I have a house in Costa Rica with two big corner windows. It's just solid glass making up the corner. Also, how do you build corners that are other angles beside a 90°? My home has 45 and 60° angles. I really want to remake this amazing house in Texas. It's got an 18ft ceiling in the dining room, cathedral wood ceiling and little windows high up on the wall that match the roof line. How the hell do they do that. I never saw that in the US.
You do the corners out of cast in place concrete which means they form the concrete up with plywood and rebar then pour it solid. The angles are just done with angled block at 45 or 60 degree premade angles
In my opinion yes, absolutely. I would only build with wood in dry, temperate areas or places with light to medium rainfall. Heavy rain areas with a lot of humidity are a nightmare for wood. Block is unaffected. Being on an island I’m not sure what lumber vs block prices look like but in the US we’re about even on block vs wood price
@@HomeLoveConstruction thank you for replying. It will be my first ever build so am nervous about getting it right. We do get a lot of rain and in winter we can get very cold spells. I'm slap bang in the middle of the country so we get a lot of different micro climates also. I'll check the prices again soon for block...as I was also thinking it would last a lot longer than wood.
Not near the magnitude as building a home room but I am thinking about building a simple shed of 8x10 or 8x12 from 8 in x 8 inx16 from cinder blocks/from Home Depot and a simple slanted type of tin roof to keep the rain off a piece of farm equip. With 8ft high entrance. Will The Cinder Blocks and some mortar be fine for this application as opposed to using solid concrete blocks? Thanks
Cinder blocks are what I am referring to. I will do more videos in the future clarifying. They are hollow block that are mortared together with about 1/4” mortar joints every course and between the block
In the market for a property. I see old wood frame houses priced around just as CBS (Given these houses are old, about 40 years CBS and WF) Would it be a hassle caring for the place X years into the future if it's a wood frame? Anything to look out for? Thanks dude!
I would recommend not purchasing a wood frame home unless it is historic and has incredible history/character. If it has wood cased windows, original hardwood floors and a great substructure, you’re ok. However, a wood frame home on concrete slab is a termite infestation waiting to happen! We have rebuild many of them and it’s just not worth the risk when you can buy a block home and not have any of that risk. Also, insurance doesn’t usually cover termite damage which makes it even more risky
Not sure what hempcrete is. Fiber Crete is just a type of concrete that has fibers in it for strength. The same pros/cons apply for new construction vs additions
I live close to Tampa and have been looking into buying a shed to convert to a home. I am finding that's not really possible because they don't meet code for a dwelling. So I have been wondering how prices would compare to building a 16x40 wood framed tiny house or go concrete block, thinking concrete would definitely meet hurricane codes. Just not sure contractors do this type of work. I know a wooden shed of this size costs around 13k, also I know I would need about 1k blocks and a 640 sq ft pad, that comes to about 10k in materials which doesn't sound bad to me, I just have no idea what labor would be on the concrete shell vs wood shell which wouldn't need a pad
I would just buy a house brother man. The payments on the loan would be a lot less than the out of pocket for a project like that doing it from scratch and permitting on it would be very tough
For that I would recommend 2x6 wood with a spray foam insulation that is 3-4” thick. That will give a protective barrier to the wood and also give a TON of insulation to the interior. I’d say carry the foam insulation all the way through the roof too.
@@HomeLoveConstruction thank you for a very quick reply 😉 2x6 wood with foam isolation and also an exterior brick wall or there is no need of a brick wall ?
Hey David, typically in block homes a require causes a lot of drywall damage. If there is anything in the 3/4” gap that blocks the wire and prevents pulling it you will not be able to get it out or run the new wire in. You might get lucky and not have the wires stapled to the furring strips. If that’s the case it can work fine.
@@HomeLoveConstruction it works until it doesn't. Hurricanes and tornadoes blow away these wooden houses like papers. It baffles me why Americans priortize cheap and poor quality so much. The sad part is it's no longer cheap, but poor quality is still there.
Unfortunately we don’t at the moment. Check the national association of the remodeling industry in your area. Also check out local BNI members. They have a code by which they have to operate their businesses that makes for highly ethical members
It goes in that 3/4” if you check out our Facebook page you can see pictures of additions and remodels that have electrical run on block walls in that space. Plumbing usually goes in wood frame though due to soace
I'm looking for a quote now regarding enclosing a patio in Vero Beach Florida. The wall I want built is roughly 24 wide by about 9 tall. There's a cinder block pillar in the middle, a header to work with and the patio is under the main roof. I want to have an exterior door and a window built into the wall most likely 3x4 in size. The contractor was saying he could do the job cheaper with treated 2x6 lumber than cinder block. So far he has given us a tentative quote of 8400 to do the job. Of course I haven't told him exactly what door or window I want to use so I imagine that would affect the price. First question just based on the info given does 8400 to build a wall with 2x6's, stucco the outside to match the home, and cover all the permits necessary sound like a reasonable price? Secondly would it be cheaper with cinder block in all cases especially my own?
Thank you for asking! The answer to some extent is it depends! If you’re just building 1x wall to enclose a porch and the contractor has laborers who know framing well and can get it done quickly, you are saving money on the labor. I suppose this is the piece I left out of this video. Block masons are becoming less common therefore more expensive and harder to book. Sometimes small jobs make more sense to do out of wood versus block. In your case it sounds like it. $8600 does sound pretty reasonable if thats the wall and everything that has to go into it. No big sliders obviously as those are $3-6k cost. I hope this helps! It sounds like you’ve got a pretty good candidate to do the project.
@@HomeLoveConstruction When I asked him about why not build a cinder block wall and he did mention that it was really hard to find Masons to do the job and it would be more expensive because laborers were hard to come by.
YES! In most areas it is advisable to use what is called a “block filler” also called a “cementitious surface primer” before painting the concrete surface. That fills the porous concrete and allows a full waterproofing to occur after 2 coats of paint at full coverage
Per building code nothing - they both have to be insulated to the same effective R value in Florida. However in wood frame walls you have the option to do spray foam insulation which drastically increases the insulation properties of the wall. With block we use 3/4” furring strips so there’s not enough depth in the wall to accommodate spray foam Insulation
Usually you don’t build residential out of metal because it costs a lot to transport it and it takes specialty fabricators to handle all the structural connections. In a home the shape requires some custom welding/fabricating. It’s not quite the same as assembling a kit metal building like a garage or shed
Wat about new construction homes, doin block walls would still run more than the rising costs of Lumber.? So far I spunt 24k for my Lumber package including labor.. Now the price has gon up more! just want to see if goin block would be cheaper
@@HomeLoveConstruction true, one thing I noticed tho, is that if you figure jus the exterior walls only, then it would be cheaper, becuz with block, all you gotta do is paint it, but with osb sheathing, you HAVE to put an exterior finish which can run you between 5-9k depending on the finish, then you still have to paint, lol so those are three more extra cost than block....
Yes, con is similar to stucco and would just need to be applied thicker on the corners to give the rounded look of that’s what you’re going for. You can apply almost any finish over block construction
The only problem that you have with cement blocks is the low R-value readings. You will never get nearly as giod with blocks vs wood frame. I live in the area where we use mostly blocks, and it sucks. And second problem is the hard labour involved with blocks and overall construction timing, it takes 3 times as much time to finish a house made out of blocks.
Besides that, have in mind that the comparison was between a structural wood frame wall and a non-structural block wall. Apples and oranges. The correct comparison would add in the block side at least steel plus concrete, but more correctly steel, concrete, and molds to cast concrete.
@@avilabra That's not accurate, the intention of the video is to compare structural block to wood frame. I didn't get into the filled cells or lintels because that is all a part of the block mason scope so we don't call it out or think of it as a separate item. In the next video I will address this.
@@avilabra Additionally, very few residential projects require cast in place lintels, most are precast and go in just like blocks. Very little labor involved.
I see these commercial building warehouses going up and a crane just sets these big sheets of concrete in place. Why can't they do the same for a house like a 8'X10' slab for walls?
You can do this but the equipment needed to place it is quite expensive. Wherein the block and labor for a typical 2000 sq ft house might be $20k in FL the cost of the equipment and crews to do tilt-walls could be 40k. And that would be a minimum project size because usually they do 500k projects. Those are great for large volume projects but for smaller builds they just aren’t cost effective. Not a bad product, they just don’t usually fit the budget for most people
@@HomeLoveConstruction : Here in SE Michigan, ICF construction is becoming more popular. I know a guy who built two houses with FoxBlocks. There are problems in areas with termites if you have an ICF basement and wood structure, because termites may tunnel thru the polystyrene insulation and reach the wood.
Here in Oklahoma none of your “musts” or “nevers” apply. You RARELY see a 2x6 walls and never see 2x8 walls. Very few new houses built from block. And no one uses stucco.
Using blocks is very common in Europe, but I'm seeing more and more people opting for wood frame construction. All to do with houses having to be energy neutral as much as possible and being quicker to build (so, lower labour costs). Could build it with prefab concrete slabs too, but that is way more expensive and you need to know exactly where all you wall sockets, wiring etc go as these have to be "cut out" in the factory when pouring the concrete.
I know you explained the layers but I still have a question. Even on a block home you will need to frame it out for the electrical and drywall correct? On a traditional wood home, the electrical is ran along the wood frame and drywall is tasked to it as well. On a brick home you still need to frame it out for the electrical and drywall correct? Or could you fit the electrical in along with the insulation on the "furing strip" things you described? And would you just mount dry wall to those as well? Brick homes are so much better. The money you will save on your electric bill alone would cover the difference in cost.
The electrical and plumbing is run in the furring strip space, correct! The only exception to this would be a sink drain which may need to go through the bottom of a cabinet or up in a knee wall in a block construction home. Thanks for watching! Agree, block is wayyyy better!
An honest contractor? Looks like you earned a sub. Thanks for the information!
Thank you!!!
Very well explained, straight to the point ! So refreshing compared to other obnoxious youtube channels.. Thank you!
Thank you!!
This was super informative and convinced me that concrete block is the way to go. Thank you!
Nice! Good choice, you won’t regret it.
CMU- Concrete Masonry Unit, not cement masonary unit. Dropping some knowledge today
Boom!
Great information! I was just looking at building my new home in block.
Awesome!!!
Me too.
I would love to see more discussion about insulating concrete walls. What R value is required? What about the cores of the walls? Are you leaving them open, or filling them... and with what? What about the vapor barrier? Does the stucco provide that? Looking to build a concrete block home myself this next year in Florida. Still have a lot of questions. Really appreciate this video.
On block walls above ground you install R-8 foam insulation (3/4”) and furring strips, you don’t install a vapor barrier typically. The exterior paint is your vapor barrier in that case. For the cells you only fill one every 4’ plus the corners and and the cells under lintels which go over window & door openings
@@HomeLoveConstruction
I’m about to rock out with a massive cylinder block home /warehouse build with steel beams to support my w-deck roof!
Armageddon home!
No Stucco is not a vapor barrier. In Florida the vapor barrier should be on the exterior of the walls to block humidity. This is the opposite of up North.
@@mistereearly1141 I'm very much interested in the same kind of house. You would need a lot of material if you're going to make a fallout shelter as part of the house.
Wow, fantastic video! I'm considering a block vs wood barn and wanted to go block to be more sturdy, cooler, and perhaps perform better in storms. Interesting that at this point, in the South, sounds like it's recommended for many reasons and now the same price as wood. Very interesting.
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for watching
Does the block have to be 8x8 or can I use 8x6 block? It's just a single story dwelling..
Very informative. I really appreciate that you take the time to answer questions. You rock!
Thank you!!!
in long term wood roots, water damage, mold, termites - homes made of wood are not homes; they are just large sheds- that is why I say 90% of US residents are homeless
That’s a great point!
@@Nctbgs ok good for you, .XII CENTURY CASTLES ARE STILL STANDING...your grand grand grand ....children my use it.
Not only that but fire, hurricane and flooding risk has gone up significantly in the past 5 years because of climate change and it is only getting worse. Block is way better against fire, flooding and hurricanes, which not only will save you a headache but will also decrease your home insurance cost. The only thing wood is better at is handling earthquakes.
@@jofujinoActually, there have been less hurricanes and tornadoes in the US as well as 97% less loss of life due to inclement weather. These events are caused by the arctic air hitting warm air. Warmer arctic air means less hurricanes, El Niños and tornadoes.
@jamesdellaneve9005 That's not what the data I looked at said. If you look at the number of hurricanes hitting the US by decade from 1960-2020 it has increased from 12 to 19. Admittedly, if you look at much older data there appears to be a U-shape to the number of US hurricanes. Scientists attribute the increase in hurricane in the Atlantic affecting the US east coast to decreasing pollution levels (which are having a stronger positive effect than the negative effect from warming oceans). That said, if you are talking about outside the US then globally you're right that the number of hurricanes and cyclones is trending down.
Hey Brad .....more and more i watch your video convince me to hire you to build my little guest house in back yard...thanks again for real education.
No problem! I hope you do it!
Thank you for this information. Here in Eswatini I have never seen wood framing in home constructions and I have always wondered why
Thanks for watching!
When you go further and consider the cost of exterior siding, if you use split-face block, the siding is done as soon as the blocks are done.
That is correct, the only thing is not many people want split face for the whole exterior because it’s a bit of an extreme look
This video deserves an award🏆. I could see the steps in my mind. I want to get started with build to rent duplex’s and I am trying to educate myself on the best process. The plan is to buy the land with business credit cards and then get a construction loan. The problem is picking the correct crew etc who won’t take advantage because I am a lady.
Wowwww!!!!!
Thank you!!!! Trying to do even more to make it even clearer and this is just the encouragement I needed!!!
@@HomeLoveConstruction The Lord Works In Mysterious Ways. Thank you for the knowledge.
I agree block is better and more secure especially in Florida weather. But you did fell to mission the concrete cell fill that goes inside the block cavities. It actually makes the block foundation stronger.
You are completely right. I’ve talked about that in a few other videos about how block walls are built.
Also it only goes in certain cells and around the top course (sometimes top 2 courses) to create what is called the “tie beam”
I always wondered why they never used cinder blocks, especially in hurricane areas like Florida. I live in Guam and all homes mostly are cinder blocks and concrete roof.
Block is a very good idea in high wind or high moisture areas. Especially when there are lots of wood destroying organisms like termites.
Thanks for watching!
We use hermlock, fir or spruce for our wood here. I don’t even think we can buy yellow pine. They build homes totally different there. Myself I built my place with double stud 2x4s on 2x8 plate. R40 foam walls for mornings like today where it is -20F. I have a reinforced
block wall 8’ high for our basement with 4” of blue board to the footing because frost can go 6ft deep.
Yeah Alaska if very different from Florida
Yes . Build your foundation to code. I am a plasterer 30 years . If you live somewhere with high humidity try to leave air between stucco and substrate, But, I could be wrong.
You are correct. That’s why here we do the paper backed wire lathe between the stucco and the plywood. It also allows the wood to expand/contract without destroying the stucco. Cracks still happen but are minimized
Great video, I was thinking this was slightly the case, but this helps to confirm.
Glad you liked it!!
Just love your passion and experience...I just subscribed. Happy to watch all your videos going forward.
I really appreciate that! Thanks man
Since you love block I'd love to show you what we are doing in Orlando with an innovative concrete block
Please email me!
Thank you for the Knowledge drop !!
Thank you for watching!
I’m in Texas and my home burned down in the winter storm. I have a creek that runs throw my back ward. So block would be a better way to rebuild?
Would highly recommend doing block over wood construction. With the costs being so close currently you’re getting a much better end product for about the same price. More energy efficient, more sound and less susceptible to deterioration over time
In Poland almost no wood homes. It's cultural thing in USA I think. I would build from block even if it's more expansive. Wood only good for cottage
Thank you for the detailed explanation.
You’re welcome!
Brother ! Fantastic explanation. I have some land and I was wondering what the best cost would be . Thank you !
No problem! Like I said in the current pricing environment I pick block 10/10
It all really depends on where you are building. In Canada I and in Winnipeg and I don't see any block or brick houses. Only 2X6 construction and you don't even need sheathing like plywood or OSB. I have only buffalo board on my exterior or just the SM insulation. The stucco is the only hard part of my exterior wall. So if I cut out a piece of stucco, then I can put in my hand and punch through to the inside of the house , through the drywall. You don't really need a wood sheathing. My walls are R30 and my basement also has 2 inches of SM to insulate the basement with R10 on the outside and I put R10 on the inside also with my finished basement.
There are no termites in Winnipeg yet, to speak of and no hurricanes. I built an attached garage to my house with a caboose room above. I put 3 inches of SM insulation under the garage pad , so I can heat the garage and everything is insulated.
That’s interesting. Florida is much much more stringent about the exterior of the home
@@HomeLoveConstruction Yes, I know , the paint has to be waterproof, to withstand driven rain from a hurricane. I see many places in Florida where the first floor is cinder brick, second floor, wood frame , like my houses in Kissimmee. I just drove around the new houses being built in Winnipeg and they are all wood framing, no bricks in sight. I have never seen anyone use cinder bricks for the last 40 years that I have walked around the new houses. It is overkill as far as wall strength goes and it is very bad for insulation. The 2X6 construction allows you to put R20 fiberglass insulation batts in the walls and only the 1 1/2 inch wood of each 2x6 has less insulation value, about R6.88 from google. Cinder blocks have R1.9 -R2.5 which is pathetic. Even if you insulate the voids the cold can travel through the large side walls of each block. So in Florida you still need good insulation to keep your A/C electric bill down. R20 would make a big difference but the windows are bad, you can feel the heat on the inside of the windows from the sunlight. My Electric bill from just the A/C in Florida is $200 to $250 USD . My electric bill in Manitoba is $90 CAD for electricity and about $90 for natural gas for heat. In the summer my electric bill goes up to about $175 for four months , that is Canadian dollars. Electricity in Florida is more than double the cost of Manitoba.
We are building a home and came to the same logic. Have you heard of omniblock? Basically The block are insulated inside so you can just stucco the outside and for the interior either skim coat it or leave bare and wall is done
Yes, it’s new so there aren’t a ton of experienced installers. Once they catch up we’ll do lots of it
Great vids. Very informative.
Thank you!!!
The REIT building the apartments sells to another REIT as a finished product. They make more 💰 on cheaper frame, lesser of a skillset is required to build with match-sticks + faster to put up saves on time & construction loans. Next acquiring REIT manages and occupies the units, in order to sell again for profit as no longer vacant value-add!! Next REIT sells once again just because they can flip, and eventually one of the stock tickers holding the bag goes to $0 🎉. The complex does not age well, and additionally costing more to maintain down the road is a contributing factor to a risk of distress escalators in the event of default.
So block is preferable
Great video, thank you. What is lead-time difference between wood and block construction?
For us not a big difference. The wood trusses are the slowest and they take the same time either way.
Block if it’s in short supply could take an extra week to be delivered perhaps but not much more than that
@@HomeLoveConstruction oh wow so about the same. Didn't know that, thanks!
Four months
Honestly, this was a really great informative video. Im hitting subscribe 👍🏽
Thank you!!!
Need to update please because I went yesterday to home Depot
4x8 plywood was 72.00 for the cheap Stuff. I was planning to build a 1500 SQ foot house/cabin
And my cost went to 240 bucks per sqft, I think I'm going to build it block with only a wood roof.😕
the wood is half down now, what are you planning? I was going to go with bricks either way. :) what is the foundation required for cinder blocks? I see somewhere 8x24 foot.. Do I have to go down or can I have it just a foot below the grade for a single store house?
We have posted an update since this video but yes things have continued to increase in price almost non-stop!
Woof Hd come down a bit yes.
Usually for block you need approx 16” x 20” footing in Florida.
That would be single story home up to 10’ ceilings
Just curious, I see these module type commercial buildings going up and a crane lifts these huge cement panels in place. I'm guess they are like 20feet X30feet panels. Why can't you get like 4feet X 10feet cement panels to build a house/cabin. You could use a form to create a log pattern on outside wall. So instead of laying a bunch of blocks just drop in concrete panels all in one day.
The cranes and crews that do that are more expensive than the labor used to do block and set the block. Transport us also wildly expensive
A quality install of block no need for furing strip.paint and done ,I'm going block in north fla.
Cool
I think if we change architecture design so material readjusted with market of material and ecological condition
Sure!
I got a house in Indiana that needs a total rehab was planning it in 2019 and ended up having a heart attack which sidelined my plans, now in 2021 it really looks like it would be cheaper to just tear the place down and slap a 34x80 CMU building to replace. we live in some crazy times.
In many cases that’s correct. CMU is basically the same price or even cheaper than wood frame structures currently
But what about R value? 3/4" = R4? That's not enough in cold climates.
It’s different in cold climates. Wood may even be better in the cold. I’m in FL
Great video, thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Very good information. Thanks for sharing. Just a comment: at 5:00 , CMU stands for Concrete Masonry Unit, not cement...
Fair! We usually only do 1 take do no correcting little mistakes 😂
Yes small technicality... as a former mason block were commonly referred to as cement block years ago before CMU.
Loved coming across your video today. Quick question if you have time to respond. We are currently in the orocess of rebuilding our home. We have a 36x36 basement we are currently building, trying to determine which direction to go once the basement is completed. I agree with you that block is the way to go... The big question we have that im hoping you can help with is how we attatch floor joists between the basement level and the first level if we do decide to proceed on up with block.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
You simply hang them off the face of the block. Look up Simpson masonry truss hangers and that will give you the idea of how it’s done
I’m not an electrical guy, but is it more difficult to do electrical on a block home vs wood framing, or am I over thinking it.
It’s definitely a little harder because you have less room in the wall.
Does container building helps the do it yourself save?
Containers would be cheaper DIY I think yes.
this is so helpfulllllllll thank you!!!
Thank you for watching!
Glad you got value out of it!
Thanks for the honesty i do wonder How do you run cabling through blocks im curious
You run it between the block wall and the drywall. The furring strips create the space needed (approx 3/4”)
Thanks so much def got another subscriber
My home, built in the 40s has actual 2x4s (not 1 1/12 inch) that are so dense you can't get a nail in them. It survived hurricane ian while my neighbors brand new house they didn't even move in yet lost the entire roof. Starting my research because I want to build a garage add on
Wow!!!
Yes that’s called kiln dried wood. It’s the last thing termites will eat in an old house
Any minihome designs with blocks?
Not that I’m aware of. Most tiny homes I’ve seen are framed to save every inch
Great video!!
Thank you!!!
Yes, but what about the electrical wiring in the walls
You can run wires on block walls. Pipes too (just not drains)
THANK YOU!!!
You’re welcome!!
Hi mate, great video, thanks.
I'm in the middle of designing my 2 storey house and going through similar argument for timber vs brick construction cost. With the double brick on GF I'm considering the 1st floor to be a concrete slab construction (upper walls will be of timber with a single brick veneer), based on your experience have you seen the GF walls to bear the load of upper slab? The columns will be an expensive option I guess so want to avoid if I can.
Also do you think the foundation slab be very expensive due to additional load of FF slab? Appreciate your inputs pls. thanks
You can do a slab for the 2nd story floor but I don’t see that often unless it’s actually out on the water, it is a costly option because it needs to have a TON of rebar in it. Way more than a slab resting on the ground.
I’d recommend ground floor slab then block walls 1st floor. Then for the 2nd floor do floor trusses and frame (wood) walls.
This is the most cost effective way to do it without sacrificing the stability.
As long as the foundation that is in the ground is good you’re golden.
I think cinder block would be cheap and more safer then wood. In my Homedepo it's like 88c per cinder block, i cant imagine how much a strip of wood would be.
The labor for block is more expensive. It also requires a LOT of block to build a house. A normal 2000 sq dr house could be 3000+ block depending on wall height plus rebar, mortar, scaffolding and then labor to set it all.
In the Philippines my home country making your house made of wood is a bad idea block have been tested many times of how strong it is like no joke we experience lots of natural disasters everyday and block and concrete took it like a man.
@@HomeLoveConstruction I'd seen bigger and longer bricks. You could buy 'em for about 5 bucks a piece
@@Knightmare919 That's what am sayin' is more reliable then woods. Stones can handle a few whether and fire. Although the house might feel like an oven if it was on fire.
@@Knightmare919 we use cheap cement and blocks here. Thats why it is cheap. Btw im from the same shithole country where you are from too
I just subscribed. I think you have tons of information I need. Quick question, I'm really interested in aircrete. I realize it's not mostly accepted for building in the states yet. But my plan will be 6" CMU exterior with rebar and poured. Wondering if that's enough for load bearing exterior walls. But I will install 2" x 6" interior stud wall on 48" centers and pour my aircrete in these spaces allowing for plumbing and electrical. So end result will be total wall depth 5 5/8" CMU load bearing plus 5 1/2" non load bearing for total 11 1/8". Do you think it will pass code here in Florida? Thanks in advance
It will certainly be enough for insulation. If you’re pouring 6” block solid it should be ok. You’ll need an engineer to OK it to build
Can we get an update for 2022 prices with the dropped lumber prices? I was strongly considered a barndominium, but I’m still on the fence, and would rather just build a large block structure instead for sturdiness and peace of mind if the cost wont be much higher still.
Sure, FYI lumber prices are now flat, not “down” per se.
@@HomeLoveConstruction down from time of filming. 😁
Im seeing a home in Florida in interested in being built with the 1st story as block, the 2nd with wood. Does this make make much sense? Also with things going slow in building phase, how can a dry out be done to make sure wood doesn't rot from mold from rain during building process?
1st story block/2nd story wood is totally typical. Dry out isn’t usually necessary if dry in happens quickly. People underestimate how much the sun in FL dries wood. It gets very dry very fast
What about someplace like Idaho. Would block be a good choice alternative to wood? Looking for heat retention in winder and cooler in summer, house is wood frame but it basically needs to come down at this point.
In Idaho you don’t have as many weather and insect issues so I think it would be totally fine there!
This is gold.
Thank you Andrew!
Only 3/4" of interior insulation on the inside and nothing on the outside? How do you meet the energy requirements?
The drywall, 3/4” insulation and insulation of the block itself is sufficient based on FL building code.
Thanks for watching Woody!
@@HomeLoveConstruction Thank you, It seams like a 2x4 nailer with 1.5" xps between would make it easier to maintain a flat interior wall and come out a little better than code requires. Do you ever consider putting the insulation on the exterior to take advantage of the considerable thermal mass of the CMU? This would also allow you to introduce a rain screen to help keep moisture from entering the building.
Good information; however, writing on the windows was not as effective as perhaps a white board - difficult to see….
Totally agreed.
I have a whiteboard now so that will be better in the future
How about Light Steel Framing and OSB?
Not a huge fan simply because of heat transfer and the possibility of the metal sweating. It can be good if the waterproofing is very good
just found your channel. Tips on finding a contractor? I'm in sarasota so too far from you but I'm looking to get a few things done. Nothing big, but it is a 2 man jobs so I need partners like this. Thank you
Hey there, thank you so much for watching and commenting!
We recommend looking up a contractor who is a member of NARI. That’s the National association of the remodeling industry. It’s a great way to ensure the contractor you’re using is reputable and takes their standards seriously.
I have a question. How do you build a corner window on a concrete block home? I have a house in Costa Rica with two big corner windows. It's just solid glass making up the corner. Also, how do you build corners that are other angles beside a 90°? My home has 45 and 60° angles. I really want to remake this amazing house in Texas. It's got an 18ft ceiling in the dining room, cathedral wood ceiling and little windows high up on the wall that match the roof line. How the hell do they do that. I never saw that in the US.
You do the corners out of cast in place concrete which means they form the concrete up with plywood and rebar then pour it solid.
The angles are just done with angled block at 45 or 60 degree premade angles
You have to apply water to put stucco on the wall it’s better when applying it
💦💦💦
In the UK where we get a LOT of rain....would it be better to use block than wood?
In my opinion yes, absolutely. I would only build with wood in dry, temperate areas or places with light to medium rainfall. Heavy rain areas with a lot of humidity are a nightmare for wood. Block is unaffected. Being on an island I’m not sure what lumber vs block prices look like but in the US we’re about even on block vs wood price
@@HomeLoveConstruction thank you for replying. It will be my first ever build so am nervous about getting it right. We do get a lot of rain and in winter we can get very cold spells. I'm slap bang in the middle of the country so we get a lot of different micro climates also. I'll check the prices again soon for block...as I was also thinking it would last a lot longer than wood.
Try omni block and you don’t need to do any Sheetrock, it has insulation inside
We’ve been looking into it!
Thanks for the recommendation!
Not near the magnitude as building a home room but I am thinking about building a simple shed of 8x10 or 8x12 from 8 in x 8 inx16 from cinder blocks/from Home Depot and a simple slanted type of tin roof to keep the rain off a piece of farm equip. With 8ft high entrance.
Will The Cinder Blocks and some mortar be fine for this application as opposed to using solid concrete blocks?
Thanks
Cinder blocks are what I am referring to.
I will do more videos in the future clarifying. They are hollow block that are mortared together with about 1/4” mortar joints every course and between the block
In the market for a property. I see old wood frame houses priced around just as CBS (Given these houses are old, about 40 years CBS and WF) Would it be a hassle caring for the place X years into the future if it's a wood frame? Anything to look out for? Thanks dude!
I would recommend not purchasing a wood frame home unless it is historic and has incredible history/character. If it has wood cased windows, original hardwood floors and a great substructure, you’re ok. However, a wood frame home on concrete slab is a termite infestation waiting to happen! We have rebuild many of them and it’s just not worth the risk when you can buy a block home and not have any of that risk. Also, insurance doesn’t usually cover termite damage which makes it even more risky
@@HomeLoveConstruction what do you think of mexican homes?
is that hempcrete vs concrete block? and for whole house vs addition?
Not sure what hempcrete is. Fiber Crete is just a type of concrete that has fibers in it for strength.
The same pros/cons apply for new construction vs additions
I live close to Tampa and have been looking into buying a shed to convert to a home. I am finding that's not really possible because they don't meet code for a dwelling. So I have been wondering how prices would compare to building a 16x40 wood framed tiny house or go concrete block, thinking concrete would definitely meet hurricane codes. Just not sure contractors do this type of work. I know a wooden shed of this size costs around 13k, also I know I would need about 1k blocks and a 640 sq ft pad, that comes to about 10k in materials which doesn't sound bad to me, I just have no idea what labor would be on the concrete shell vs wood shell which wouldn't need a pad
I would just buy a house brother man. The payments on the loan would be a lot less than the out of pocket for a project like that doing it from scratch and permitting on it would be very tough
Hi :)
I would like to know which structure is warmer for winter of -20C ?
For that I would recommend 2x6 wood with a spray foam insulation that is 3-4” thick.
That will give a protective barrier to the wood and also give a TON of insulation to the interior. I’d say carry the foam insulation all the way through the roof too.
@@HomeLoveConstruction thank you for a very quick reply 😉
2x6 wood with foam isolation
and also an exterior brick wall
or there is no need of a brick wall ?
I live in St Pete and have a block home built in 1959 that has plaster. Will it also have the 3/4" gap to allow re-wiring ? thanks
Hey David, typically in block homes a require causes a lot of drywall damage. If there is anything in the 3/4” gap that blocks the wire and prevents pulling it you will not be able to get it out or run the new wire in.
You might get lucky and not have the wires stapled to the furring strips. If that’s the case it can work fine.
@@HomeLoveConstruction very helpful thanks !
In Mexico they build everything with block.
True
Still can't get it how much poorer countries are building block and concrete houses and US still has this flimsy wood constructions
It works 🤷🏻♂️
@@HomeLoveConstruction it works until it doesn't. Hurricanes and tornadoes blow away these wooden houses like papers. It baffles me why Americans priortize cheap and poor quality so much. The sad part is it's no longer cheap, but poor quality is still there.
@@nhitc6832because it's much cheaper to rebuild and less dangerous to have a load of bricks falling on you
Thank you for your knowledge. Do you have any friends/business partners in Tallahassee?
Unfortunately we don’t at the moment.
Check the national association of the remodeling industry in your area. Also check out local BNI members. They have a code by which they have to operate their businesses that makes for highly ethical members
With less than 3/4” behind your wall finish where is you electrical going?
It goes in that 3/4” if you check out our Facebook page you can see pictures of additions and remodels that have electrical run on block walls in that space. Plumbing usually goes in wood frame though due to soace
I'm looking for a quote now regarding enclosing a patio in Vero Beach Florida. The wall I want built is roughly 24 wide by about 9 tall. There's a cinder block pillar in the middle, a header to work with and the patio is under the main roof. I want to have an exterior door and a window built into the wall most likely 3x4 in size. The contractor was saying he could do the job cheaper with treated 2x6 lumber than cinder block. So far he has given us a tentative quote of 8400 to do the job. Of course I haven't told him exactly what door or window I want to use so I imagine that would affect the price. First question just based on the info given does 8400 to build a wall with 2x6's, stucco the outside to match the home, and cover all the permits necessary sound like a reasonable price? Secondly would it be cheaper with cinder block in all cases especially my own?
Thank you for asking! The answer to some extent is it depends! If you’re just building 1x wall to enclose a porch and the contractor has laborers who know framing well and can get it done quickly, you are saving money on the labor. I suppose this is the piece I left out of this video. Block masons are becoming less common therefore more expensive and harder to book. Sometimes small jobs make more sense to do out of wood versus block.
In your case it sounds like it. $8600 does sound pretty reasonable if thats the wall and everything that has to go into it. No big sliders obviously as those are $3-6k cost. I hope this helps! It sounds like you’ve got a pretty good candidate to do the project.
@@HomeLoveConstruction When I asked him about why not build a cinder block wall and he did mention that it was really hard to find Masons to do the job and it would be more expensive because laborers were hard to come by.
And fireproof?!
So fireproof
In very wet zones do blocks need to be coated with some type of water resistant element?
YES!
In most areas it is advisable to use what is called a “block filler” also called a “cementitious surface primer” before painting the concrete surface. That fills the porous concrete and allows a full waterproofing to occur after 2 coats of paint at full coverage
Just piss on it and paint
@@myballsitchsomethingfierce6319 but the smell
how do insulate inside these type of walls, when the house is on the land limit and cannot construct on the outside.
With block we use rigid foam board insulation. With wood framed walls we use the fiberglass batt insulation
@@HomeLoveConstruction Thank you, I would like to go Steel Stud, is it a good idea? i dont want to deal with termites -.-
What’s the energy saving (heating/cooling) difference between block and wood framed walls?
Per building code nothing - they both have to be insulated to the same effective R value in Florida. However in wood frame walls you have the option to do spray foam insulation which drastically increases the insulation properties of the wall. With block we use 3/4” furring strips so there’s not enough depth in the wall to accommodate spray foam
Insulation
@@HomeLoveConstruction Ahh thank you for that. I am used to wood frame but never really done any block construction.
@@HomeLoveConstruction what is the actual required r value for exterior walls?
What about Iron and steel?
Usually you don’t build residential out of metal because it costs a lot to transport it and it takes specialty fabricators to handle all the structural connections. In a home the shape requires some custom welding/fabricating. It’s not quite the same as assembling a kit metal building like a garage or shed
skip to 6:49 for the answer
Love it
August 2023. Same answer?
Frame is slightly less expensive now. Block and concrete prices came up a bit
How about a garage built into a hill
I’d do block no question
Wat about new construction homes, doin block walls would still run more than the rising costs of Lumber.? So far I spunt 24k for my Lumber package including labor.. Now the price has gon up more! just want to see if goin block would be cheaper
I would suggest that block and lumber are currently going to be right around the same price. That’s what we’re seeing anyways.
@@HomeLoveConstruction true, one thing I noticed tho, is that if you figure jus the exterior walls only, then it would be cheaper, becuz with block, all you gotta do is paint it, but with osb sheathing, you HAVE to put an exterior finish which can run you between 5-9k depending on the finish, then you still have to paint, lol so those are three more extra cost than block....
I'm here from an alternative building perspective. Could you put cob over a block skeleton for a medieval look?
Yes, con is similar to stucco and would just need to be applied thicker on the corners to give the rounded look of that’s what you’re going for. You can apply almost any finish over block construction
Corn is not a good building material.. It's good for lunch but not construction
@@iLoveBoysandBerries did I just get Butter Roboted?
@@KennyRider137 that is my purpose
@@iLoveBoysandBerries I accept.
The only problem that you have with cement blocks is the low R-value readings. You will never get nearly as giod with blocks vs wood frame. I live in the area where we use mostly blocks, and it sucks. And second problem is the hard labour involved with blocks and overall construction timing, it takes 3 times as much time to finish a house made out of blocks.
Great points! Definitely requires the right insulation and team to do the install so it doesn’t drag on 👍🏼
Besides that, have in mind that the comparison was between a structural wood frame wall and a non-structural block wall. Apples and oranges. The correct comparison would add in the block side at least steel plus concrete, but more correctly steel, concrete, and molds to cast concrete.
@@avilabra That's not accurate, the intention of the video is to compare structural block to wood frame. I didn't get into the filled cells or lintels because that is all a part of the block mason scope so we don't call it out or think of it as a separate item. In the next video I will address this.
@@avilabra Additionally, very few residential projects require cast in place lintels, most are precast and go in just like blocks. Very little labor involved.
Might consider Omniblock. Helps greatly and makes Running cabling easier as well.
Good vid
Thank you!!!
To build a 3 bedroom 2 bathrooms 1900 square feet home you’ll need about 800 blocks and they cost $1.50 per block
Good math
You can get free wood pallets for furring strips in block walls
That’s actually a great idea, thanks!
also block dont burn and is stronger
Correct! Thanks for watching Chris!
I see these commercial building warehouses going up and a crane just sets these big sheets of concrete in place. Why can't they do the same for a house like a 8'X10' slab for walls?
You can do this but the equipment needed to place it is quite expensive. Wherein the block and labor for a typical 2000 sq ft house might be $20k in FL the cost of the equipment and crews to do tilt-walls could be 40k. And that would be a minimum project size because usually they do 500k projects. Those are great for large volume projects but for smaller builds they just aren’t cost effective. Not a bad product, they just don’t usually fit the budget for most people
I was wondering, what do you think about building with ICF? (such as FoxBlocks)
I love the idea, just haven’t seen it gain traction yet
@@HomeLoveConstruction : Here in SE Michigan, ICF construction is becoming more popular. I know a guy who built two houses with FoxBlocks. There are problems in areas with termites if you have an ICF basement and wood structure, because termites may tunnel thru the polystyrene insulation and reach the wood.
Here in Oklahoma none of your “musts” or “nevers” apply. You RARELY see a 2x6 walls and never see 2x8 walls. Very few new houses built from block. And no one uses stucco.
Great! Thanks for watching
Using blocks is very common in Europe, but I'm seeing more and more people opting for wood frame construction. All to do with houses having to be energy neutral as much as possible and being quicker to build (so, lower labour costs). Could build it with prefab concrete slabs too, but that is way more expensive and you need to know exactly where all you wall sockets, wiring etc go as these have to be "cut out" in the factory when pouring the concrete.
Great points, although I don’t see a wood frame being more energy neutral than block. Haven’t done the numbers but seems opposite of what I’d expect
Great video! How about today's cost analysis on form and pour concrete beam vs. timber, glu lam, paralam, etc. Thanks in advance.
Typically form and pour is significantly more because there is a lot more labor involved
And lumber is not crazy expensive right now. Especially the engineered wood. That’s made from scraps anyways
Is this still relevant in 2024?
It hasn’t changed much. The basic process still applies - block has increased slightly but it still makes the most sense to go with block.
Very informative, thank you
Thank you for watching!
How do I talk to you about building a house?
You can go to our website homelove.construction and request a consultation!
I know you explained the layers but I still have a question. Even on a block home you will need to frame it out for the electrical and drywall correct? On a traditional wood home, the electrical is ran along the wood frame and drywall is tasked to it as well. On a brick home you still need to frame it out for the electrical and drywall correct? Or could you fit the electrical in along with the insulation on the "furing strip" things you described? And would you just mount dry wall to those as well?
Brick homes are so much better. The money you will save on your electric bill alone would cover the difference in cost.
The electrical and plumbing is run in the furring strip space, correct! The only exception to this would be a sink drain which may need to go through the bottom of a cabinet or up in a knee wall in a block construction home.
Thanks for watching! Agree, block is wayyyy better!
Look up wall chasers. This is a common way to make space in brick walls for all kinds of ducts; plumbing, electrical...
@@jackoneil4164 never seen that before thanks for sharing.
Most commonly in Texas, All the exterior walls down here are 2x4 😂
Correct, you guys don’t have the termite and water issues we have here in Florida!
@@HomeLoveConstruction we do have have tons of termites here.
I love blocks more than wood!
Us too!