homes: concrete block versus wood frame? (Sarasota, North Port: inspection, living in, costs)

[Dreamy46]

Originally Posted by mrcoolmrcool28

Just wondering, I don't really know. Up here all basements are poured concrete, no blocks at all, and they can do it in an afternoon with two guys, I would think that would be cheaper than paying unskilled labor all the hours a block home would take?? The guys that pour concrete into forms and add rebar aren't exectly rocket scientists Thanks for the info. Mr.Cold

I'm sure pros and cons can of each type build be pointed out, but I'll tell you one thing I really find to be annoying with poured concrete foundations, and that is when you find a spot on the wall, especially a corner, in which the concrete didn't get mixed property and the spot is nothing but a big ugly hunk of uncrushed gravel instead of smooth concrete.

[mrcoolmrcool28]

Originally Posted by Dreamy46

I'm sure pros and cons can of each type build be pointed out, but I'll tell you one thing I really find to be annoying with poured concrete foundations, and that is when you find a spot on the wall, especially a corner, in which the concrete didn't get mixed property and the spot is nothing but a big ugly hunk of uncrushed gravel instead of smooth concrete.

Ya, that's very true, but you do drywall over it or stucco over it on the outside, so the bare concrete isn't ever the finished product. Mr.Cold

[Dreamy46]

Originally Posted by mrcoolmrcool28

Ya, that's very true, but you do drywall over it or stucco over it on the outside, so the bare concrete isn't ever the finished product. Mr.Cold

It is where I live. The forms make the concrete on walkout basements look like a brick pattern, and they leave it like that. It doesn't get paint or stucco, and when you walk along the wall and see one of those unmixed spots it sticks out like a sore thumb.

[mrcoolmrcool28]

Originally Posted by Dreamy46

It is where I live. The forms make the concrete on walkout basements look like a brick pattern, and they leave it like that. It doesn't get paint or stucco, and when you walk along the wall and see one of those unmixed spots it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Oh I see what you mean. Yes we have that here in Wis. too, but you can stucco over or add pebble board to you concrete, which is what we did, It looks nice.

[tommy-105]

Originally Posted by mrcoolmrcool28

Just wondering, I don't really know. Up here all basements are poured concrete, no blocks at all, and they can do it in an afternoon with two guys, I would think that would be cheaper than paying unskilled labor all the hours a block home would take?? The guys that pour concrete into forms and add rebar aren't exectly rocket scientists Thanks for the info. Mr.Cold

The carpenters who build the forms are the ones with the brains.
I read an article a year or two back about the Mercedes system. It only became cost efficient when there was a shortage of block masons. Here's a link to the article, but you would have to sign up to read it:http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-111801722.html

One of the companies I used to work for built High-rises, might not be rocket science but not too simple either. Floors were prestressed concrete. Walls were block. Walls under load were a stronger block. Concrete was pumped up. Block was hoisted up with a crane, mortar for the block was mixed on the ground and taken up lifts by laborers one wheelbarrow at a time. When the masons were no longer needed they were let go. Next time they needed more masons they started hiring again. Pretty sure most (if not all) of the labors came from temp services.

[mrcoolmrcool28]

I'm sure the OP is only talking about a one story house tho, pretty simple.

[tommy-105]

Originally Posted by mrcoolmrcool28

I'm sure the OP is only talking about a one story house tho, pretty simple.

I'm just saying that block seems to be cheap and quick and that's what it was all about.

[kbuild]

Originally Posted by tommy-105

Kbuild, I've had some experance usuing B&W FLIR guns to detect air infiltration in homes. I've heard of the guns being used to detect insect infestation, but never met someone that does it. Have you had a lot of success with this? Any photos?

Tommy I will post some, they are very interesting...

[Wiggins]

OP here. Yes, I was talking about construction of single family residence (homes), and I suppose this encompasses both 1 and 2 storey homes, but there are so few 2 storey homes around here (Sarasota).

When I lived in other states I viewed block homes as "cheap". They were very rare. But having gone through some new and recently built homes here made from block (or CMU...concrete masonry units, which is the new term and probably indicates some advanced technical changes to those blocks used 50 years ago), I was impressed with the poured concrete beam with reinforcing steel that extends around the top of the exterior walls (part of the hurricane resisting system)....these aren't the old-timey cheap block houses.

[Dreamy46]

Some might find it interesting, but apparently not all block is created equal either. There's cheap block and high grade block:

Concrete masonry unit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia