Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jun 06, 2013 12:32 pm Hi everyone, I am planning to build a new house as owner builder and trying to choose best, easiest and most economical way to construct walls. I am looking at the following options: 1) Hebel blocks 2) Benex blocks 3) concrete hollow blocks 4) standard brick veneer Options 2 and 3 seems most easiest and cheapest one. Just wondering if anybody heard about those benex blocks? I couldn't find much info on Internet in terms of feedback and experience, therefore hoping to find it here. Cons for benex blocks that technically I can lay them myself - due to interlocking design. Therefore it would be handy as could bring cost of construction down, compared with double brick or brick veneer houses. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Re: New home - what materials to use for walls 2Jun 07, 2013 8:13 am It seems to me that most often the real cost of these special blocks is so high that labour savings are negated. Naturally, one should start with an open mind on any product but that has been my experience. cheers Re: New home - what materials to use for walls 3Jun 10, 2013 8:59 pm leighton It seems to me that most often the real cost of these special blocks is so high that labour savings are negated. Naturally, one should start with an open mind on any product but that has been my experience. cheers Well, it is partially true.. Usually such types of material way cheaper in Europe... I don't understand greed of local manufacturers - nobody would buy if costs are high. Nevertheless I have been given a quota for Benex blocks - $66 per m2 this includes a special glue that blocks glued together. They don't use mortar. Therefore it makes them cheaper than hebel blocks and bricks(double brick) may be even brick veneer if you use nice exterior bricks and include cost of timber frame. There is 48 bricks per m2 for single brick and almost 100 for double brick. Although it is slightly more expensive than regular hollow concrete blocks... Regarding labor cost - I think it is not true. Cost of brick laying is over the roof - $1 per brick. that is the most expensive brick laying in the world. In case I would be building 300 square meter house it would take at least 50000 bricks and would require at least $50000 for brick labor only. I don't see how saving are small - they will be huge. Re: New home - what materials to use for walls 4Jul 29, 2013 5:17 pm Benex blocks were on the New inventors some time ago, the original factory closed (i think), ambitious business model. But at $66m2 is a good price. Lock Blocks by baine are mortarless and cheaper still. Boral have a mortarless block but more expensive. I think mortarless block with polystyrene stuck on the outside is the best building method, for temperate climates. I would look at how heavy each block is the heavier the better. Good Luck Pulpo Re: New home - what materials to use for walls 5Jul 30, 2013 10:27 am What R-values for your wall are you trying to achieve ? No point trying to save $5000 on the cost of the walls if you are going to spend more than that in the first ten years for energy because of a poorly rated wall. If you are interested in lay-it-yourself type of wall systems, I have heard good things about Zego. http://www.zego.com.au/owner-builder.html Stewie That's a fantastic result! Happy you got it sorted out. cheers Simeon 6 7525 in the stormwater pit or the drain? Those dont look like theyd fit in the drain. Separately, the pits do get stuff in them during the course of the build. For the most… 1 4878 That sucks! Hope it all works out. Good to move away from steel anyway for all your reasons, but it's also thermally poor. 16 13719 |