concrete block construction (Miami: houses, buy, drywall)

[matt357]

If you buy an older home in Miami Say in in the 1950s it is going to made up of a concrete block but it has no insulation I'm wondering how well does it hold the heat? For example in the winter during a cold spell do the houses get pretty cold at night how often does your heat kick on and what temperature do you keep your house in the winter time?

[doggiebus]

As far as I know 1950s homes probably have insulation in the attic, if not you can might be able to add insulation if there is space. As far as I am aware, even concrete homes today don't have insulation in the exterior walls. Someone correct me please if I'm wrong...

We rarely use the heater, maybe 5 days max a year. I wouldn't worry about old concrete homes being cold, they are like the adobe homes out west that keep you warm in the winter yet keep you cool in the summer. If you had said it was a 1950s wood home then I would be worried about being cold...

[straight shooter]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

As far as I am aware, even concrete homes today don't have insulation in the exterior walls. Someone correct me please if I'm wrong...

You are wrong. The building code requires that all exterior walls have insulation.

[doggiebus]

Is it on the outside of the blocks or in the inside of the blocks?

[straight shooter]

It is normally in between the concrete block and the inside drywall. There is a system called I.C.E. block construction, which is not popular in south florida, where the insulation is a foam block and the concrete in poured inside, then the exterior foam is stuccoed over. The I.C.E. Block™ Home Page

[doggiebus]

Interesting, I could see why that wouldn't be popular here.

[straight shooter]

The I.C.E. System is stronger and offers more insulation. The reason that it isn't very popular is that it is more expensive than traditional block construction.

[tallrick]

Insulation was never required until the 70's. Unless someone added it, there will be no attic insulation either. The insulated foam block is garbage because insects and rodents like to burrow in it. My home has foam inside between the block and plaster lath. I did not use drywall because it is garbage. I have no roof insulation other than dirt and plants on top and homemade ceiling tiles inside. My home stays cooler than any wood roofed insulated home ever built.

[matt357]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

As far as I know 1950s homes probably have insulation in the attic, if not you can might be able to add insulation if there is space. As far as I am aware, even concrete homes today don't have insulation in the exterior walls. Someone correct me please if I'm wrong...

We rarely use the heater, maybe 5 days max a year. I wouldn't worry about old concrete homes being cold, they are like the adobe homes out west that keep you warm in the winter yet keep you cool in the summer. If you had said it was a 1950s wood home then I would be worried about being cold...

when it gets cold in the winter what temperature do you keep the heat at and how often does it turn on ?

[doggiebus]

I keep it at 65-68 I think during the winter. I swear we probably used the heater less than five nights last year. We probably had the heater on a few days during the daytime, but not many, as I like the house chilly... I would prefer to put a sweater on or put another down comforter on the bed then turn on the heater. We don't have many cold days to put on the extra layers of clothing or sleep under a thick down comforter like people up north do.

Winter will be your cheapest electric bill usually, unless you like it to 78 in the house at all times.