Folks around the world build their homes like this. This is good. The house will last for hundreds of years with very little maintenance. You don’t have to worry about termites and wood rot. It is also hurricane resistant as well as tornado resilient. For earth quakes, I am not too sure, however, if you are not in an earthquake prone area then you are fine. Concrete block homes are also fire proof. The wood will burn , however the concrete will not. Finally insulation. Concrete is a natural insulator. Great Job. Please share the cost per square foot. Much appreciated.
Thanks for this info. I would like to build a house in the woods in the Deep South. Could this house keep snakes out as well. I like the outdoors but I’m afraid of a snake coming into the house.
Fitting strips go on the interior of the block wall, drywall added to that. Standard fare here in the Hurricane capital of the world lol. Tapcons come in handy a lot
@@Archifx do you have a video on furring strips? I’m in St Pete, Florida, and I hate dealing with exterior walls. My new house has an extension and the old exterior wall has furring strips that don’t go all the way down nor fully touch the wall. They’re like floating off the old exterior with tapcons. I have vertical blinds I want to reinstall because the previous owner had them in with loose tapcons. I’m so confused... Random rant. Anyhow, I appreciate the detail explanation, I hope you have a ton more home building videos.
My home was built in 2005 and is masonry. I’m in Florida. I grew up in a cinder block home so I was happy when i found my house. Based on my neighbors who watch the houses being built says this is exactly how they were constructed. The roof is also anchored in. It’s very solid and my neighborhood is extremely quiet because you can’t hear ANYTHING outside of these walls 😂
Beautifully done. I'm really looking forward to the build. You explained a process I know little about. I'm encouraged to tune in for the next stage because I can understand what they are doing and why they are doing it.
I Love this video series that you're making! I'm going to be building a block home in mexico where building regulations/standards are non existent so this is giving me a rough idea of how things should be done and what I need to further educate myself to ensure things are done somewhat correctly
Nice work and everything seems quite good, but when we consider our construction approach, here in Serbia, using concrete blocks, it's important to note that we utilize a robust concrete pillar reinforced with four 12mm steel bars, all interconnected with reinforced concrete beams that also incorporate four 12mm steel bars. Additionally, all these steel bars are securely linked to the foundation's steel bars. On top of these rainforced beams on top of walls, we have solid concrete plate rainforced with 10mm steel bars at every 15cm additionaly with 6-8mm steel net from edge to edge of the each wall. Again everything connected to other steel bars in the pillars and beams.
Any recommendations for cost estimates or tools/calculators to estimate approx. build costs? I'm trying piece together whether it would be more feasible for a small build or just buy a starter and fix up. Thanks for the video, looks great 👍
For exterior load bearing walls going 9 ft up, one-storey house capped with a hip roof, would you use 8 inch width block or 10 inch? 12”? Single wyth or double wyth wall?
You can use solid bottom bond beam on all you headers of the openings. Obviously need to be shored until you pour we usually pour as we go. Also plumber and electrician need to be on site full time to run utilities as we go.
Hey, this was pretty informative. I'm getting ready to build a house, did you hire a contractor, or did you hire all the subs yourself? If so, how much per block did they cost and how (stages) did you pay them. Thanks
I am about to build a block house. I have built concrete skateparks for years. HMU if you do the block, I am going with block. Looks like he hired Concrestadors
Hi. Can you spec a build to have all columns of the cinder blocks rebarred and filled with concrete? Does this even make sense from an strength / indestructibility standpoint? I dont really care if the cost is higher, i am just curious if there is a real benefit to possibly filling all the columns with concrete as opposed to just high load ones.
If the structure is column based and you are using the blocks for just walls, am i correct that there would be no need for tiebeam separately as the superstucture would already have that?
Got a question for you. You obviously know what you're doing. That's beautiful work. Anyways, I want to know if I can replace a standard wood wall with a cinder block wall, and if so, how do I join the two? The new wall would only have two windows in it. No plumbing or electrical. Thanks so much.
1) Are you allowed to take 8" block all the way up for a second floor or is that too tall? 2) Are you allowed to make your own lintels instead of using the cast-crete? 3) Can you fill the concrete block up every 3 levels of block instead of waiting to do it all at the end? How does inspection work if so? Would he come out every 3 layers to make sure you have the rebar in there? I can't see it being a successful pour if it were a two story structure, pouring down 19 feet of concrete block is why I ask (and for DIYers who would find doing it that way easier).
1. Yes if you brace properly 2. Yes but they have to pass inspection. Not cost efficient 3. Yes but call backs on pump trucks is ridiculous expensive. The way to go 2 floors is to do it all at once and brave the blocks with temporary supports. The chords of rebar should be wire tied every xx feet depending on code. It is a better way to build but many many factors come into play as you go like floor joists and attachment methodologies . Working the solid pour on the upper continuous lentil with a pump truck will require a boom as well. Lots of cost. The benefit is questionable compared to a properly built frame wall. The best thing would be a concrete block first wall. Then a 2x8 framed second wall. This way you can get an R21 in the frame wall
Generally speaking there is a limit how high you can pour concrete in one go or it will separate. At least when you have various sizes rocks in the concrete . The rocks will tend to sink down (as I have heard) At least the specialists will inform you on that
Thought this may have some information on how to lay out a block wall but it did not. The quality of the block laying seems somewhat subpar especially the wall around the 5 minute mark. Don't your subs check the blocks for plumb? So, without installing the rusting steel rebar, the wall construction would not withstand a hurricane?
A general rule in construction is "materials plus labor" so what it really means is however much the materials cost, you'll spend at least that much on labor. These guys may charge a high rate but, I must say some areas of the work doesn't look like it was done by actual masons, I bet they had one or 2 masons and a bunch of skilled Laborers.
@mcmaldek probably so. I’m living in the house now for the last year and change. It’s been thru two cat 3ish hurricanes. No issues whatsoever. Strong as an OX
That must be a satisfying and secure feeling with the build. I think some of the blocks look out of line because the shadow it causes in certain sun light conditions. @@Archifx
I find it so strange that this isn't common way of building. Here in Jamaica we would fill every block with cement and a mall(some white rocks) mixture l.
15:30 tells a story of a place of the dreams of a young Latino who dropped out bc he had to work to support the beautiful baby on the way and with his hands and tools and trowels made something out of nothing and continue to build and create ….. this is a story of my life
Because they got these people here well trained to do as I say. Also they tell Americans that you have to have 4 years of experience to make a concrete wall. They really believe it here! This is to ensure you perform a certain way within the system. After being in the military I learned to move out of the city, buy a plot of land. Then build what I want with my family's help. We did it for the others. Amazing how that works and the skills u regain. You can't do it in the cities because of regulations and rules. Out side the city and your golden.
I can't tell you the tears I have right now. Living in the USA where everything is cheap drywall, I am struggling to find skilled people who understand what I mean when I say "build me a concrete block house". I am seriously thinking of hiring people from abroad. Yes, I can do that.
Concrete blocks are likely more cost effective. Also, you can wrap this with continuous exterior insulation (like mineral fiber board or wood fiber board) and get a very similar effect.
lots of wasted mortar due to the way these guys just cut off the mortar that protrudes from the bed joint when the block are laid. Some masons scrape it off with the trowel and put it back on the mortar board. Others will scrape it off and then apply it to the ears of the block just laid, which then becomes the head joint mortar. It all depends on how the masons were trained to work by the crew chief. On the other hand i dont see the need to sponge down the mortar joints as they did. Simply clean them off with the trowel is all thats necessary, other than areas where the joints are finished with striking tools.
this is more expensive than stick built with wood though correct? it's what I keep reading - that they're almost 40% more than a standard stick built house.
It's not more expensive once you get hit by a storm. And when you factor in the resale value. And frankly paying less insurance. And less maintenance... Short term thinking is more expensive long term
Go to any inner city housing zone and look at all the baby boom era wood houses that are literally falling apart. Over half of them. These homes would still be perfectly structurally sound except for maybe the roof if they were build correctly.
It does. It’s poured everywhere you see a vertical rebar. Typically no more than 4’ spans and at the corners of each exterior window and door. And the entire top blocks get filled as a single steel filled lentil
I hate that so many North America homes use wood and drywall. I much prefer concrete, steel, and ring beams, with the rafters of the roof being anchored into the concrete and tied to the structure with hurricane clips.
It’s fine tho. Really. It’s not a piano. It’s a block wall. You clad is. It’s done. If we had triple the budget then sure. You’ll have straighter alignment but quite honestly. Is the difference measure able in any sort of meaningful way?
That’s standard practice here. These have been filled. It’s called core fill. Gets you an R7 out of the blocks. That coupled with FIFOIL brings the wall to an R12
