connex morterless masonry block concrete wall

piranha · Apr 05, 2008 2:58 pm

I have been looking at concrete walls for my new home and come across the foam form blocks like zego and eco bloc which loo ok as they are quick & easy to lay and you fill them with concrete and end up with a nice solid wall. I also came across the boral connex blocks which are similar except the form blocks are masonry and also filled with concrete so in my mind they seem stronger.

Does anyone have any experience with the cost of these, ease of build and the thermal properties of having such a wall? good thing is i can also use them for the retaining wall in the house (one story front 2 story rear house) and then create a concrete floor between levels which will help with reducing noise.

piranha · Apr 05, 2008 10:09 pm

no-one has any experience with these?

Law18 · Apr 06, 2008 10:28 pm

sorry cant help you, I got nothing. maybe put up some pictures.

to_do_list · Apr 07, 2008 12:59 am

No experience with them but I remember recently there was a house on Grand Designs (ABC1 via UKTV4) which used it....and I thought...how cool that's.....here's the link to the "build"

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/gra ... House.html

And here's the company featured....same theory as Zego I reckon:

http://www.polysteel.co.uk/icf/Grand-De ... ure-86.php

and a photo:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff2/mikeb1968/1-poly-walls_lg.jpg

PhoenixStar · Apr 07, 2008 10:43 am

Piranha, i noticed there was a company displaying similar a product at the Home Show last weekend, it might be what your after?

It's called Insulbrick and is distributed by Danish Constructions in Melb.

http://www.danishconstructions.com.au/insulbrick/default.aspx

Hope that helps?

piranha · Apr 09, 2008 10:48 pm

Thansk for your input,, i rang around there are two other typres the hi stack from hanson & some other form blocks from c& m masonry but they are in vic, seems hanson is the way to go for me rang them up and the guy was pretty helpful. Seems its a relativly new idea but will make one of the strongest homes in the area when its done I am very keen on this, here are some pics

http://www.cmbrick.com.au/pop_pg_morformblock18.htm

http://www.cmbrick.com.au/pop_pg_morformblock7.htm

From there you can select other pics available

to_do_list · Apr 12, 2008 7:31 pm

Went for a bike ride around the local estates today and saw some townhouses being put up using similar techniques to what you describe...thought you might be interested....apologies on the photo quality...taken with a phone.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff2/mikeb1968/Image057.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff2/mikeb1968/Image056.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff2/mikeb1968/Image055.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff2/mikeb1968/Image054.jpg

Paula · Apr 12, 2008 8:58 pm

There are two houses in the estate where my block is, one is now finished, and the other is under construction, using the block (looks like polystyrine) filled with cement.

If you want PM me I will give you the address to go and look.

Interesting stuff, when the first one went up, I researched the product and sounded great.

It started with a Z, cant remember exactly what it was though.

piranha · Apr 17, 2008 12:05 pm

Apolagies for the photo quality?? are you kidding they look great especially for a phone camera. Yeah they look similar to what I want to do obviously they are just using them as a dividing wall between the two townhouses I will use these for the entire perimeter walls of the house.

Boral didnt seem to think they would be suitable for 2 storey house but I dont think the guy knew what he was talking about we ended up contacting hanson they have similar product called hi-stack the bricks cost about $4 each.

I think the stuff you are talking about paula are zego blocks, polystyrene you stack and fill with concrete i originally looked at these but felt masonry blocks would be stronger than polystyrene.

'chelle · Apr 17, 2008 12:28 pm

Hi, I think our designer has suggested using something like this in our house, which will be the opposite to yours - 2 stories at the front and 1 at the back (most of which will below ground level), and we will also be having concrete floor between levels. I'm sure he mentioned something about concrete filled masonry blocks.

Don't know if I will be speaking to him any time soon though, we are meant to visit a builder he is suggesting for us soonish, but not sure when. If I get any info I'll let you know

to_do_list · Apr 17, 2008 12:36 pm

piranha

Boral didnt seem to think they would be suitable for 2 storey house but I dont think the guy knew what he was talking about we ended up contacting hanson they have similar product called hi-stack the bricks cost about $4 each.

These will be two storey townhouses....however the Boral Connex Design guide seems to indicate that you can only go higher than two metres if you prop the walls with a suspended concrete slab.....

http://www.boral.com.au/Brochures/order ... d%20Blocks

I'll keep an eye on the townhouses as I ride past them every weekend....although construction is as slow as a wet week...!

The Dynamic Duo · Apr 17, 2008 7:07 pm

Hello - sorry I'm late to this thread!

We're building using ICF (that's the polystyrene forms you're talking about).

There are 7 suppliers in Australia

Thermacell
Formcraft
Insulbrick
Eco-block
Zego
Polyform
can't remember the 7th....

According to our architect, it is cheaper to build in ICF than in the boral connex blocks. The end result is also far far better insulation for heat and sound.

The biggest challenge you will find with ICF is finding a builder experienced in building with it.

Good luck!

Simon

piranha · Apr 18, 2008 12:07 pm

have you any photos of the build so far Simon? I felt the masonry blocks would be stronger and I have been given the name of someone by Hanson who is familiar with them & does good work.

Have you been quoted the cost to have your icf laid & filled? I am still waiting on a quote from the brickie, Thanks for the list a few I hadnt heard of yet.

I am considering the polystyrene ones again as it is easier to run wiring and piping all you need to do is cut a path through the polystyrene and stick the gyprock straight to it but with the masonry if we have wiring or pipes through the wall we need to create a frame to allow a gap between the wall & plasterboard.

The Dynamic Duo · Apr 18, 2008 12:24 pm

piranha

I am considering the polystyrene ones again as it is easier to run wiring and piping all you need to do is cut a path through the polystyrene and stick the gyprock straight to it but with the masonry if we have wiring or pipes through the wall we need to create a frame to allow a gap between the wall & plasterboard.

Pirahna, where are you? If you are in Melbourne we need to meet up for a beer because I have done so much research on this I should be able to share a lot with you.

There are a lot of tips regarding cutting conduits in the ICF and some things you have to plan for BEFORE the concrete is poured (eg ducted vacuum)

We haven't started the build just yet - the architect has almost finished design and we are just getting initial rough quotes. Aiming for a building permit in May/June and site start as soon as possible after that.

Simon

piranha · Apr 18, 2008 2:04 pm

Unfortunately I'm not in melb I'm in brisbane, I'm spending most of today trying to arrange quotes for everything as it appears getting finance for this project may be our hardest task.

R1 · May 25, 2008 9:25 am

I am new to this coversation. Have you done anyhting yet? We have built our 18m x 6.5m shed with ICF's and have been living in it for 6 years now. just south of Canberra towards the snow. We are just starting to buid the main house. this stuff is really good.

The Dynamic Duo · May 25, 2008 8:49 pm

R1

I am new to this coversation. Have you done anyhting yet? We have built our 18m x 6.5m shed with ICF's and have been living in it for 6 years now. just south of Canberra towards the snow. We are just starting to buid the main house. this stuff is really good.

We're just at documentation stage, so we haven't started building quite yet. Which ICF did you end up using?

Thanks

Simon

R1 · May 25, 2008 10:09 pm

We used the Thermacell blocks originally 6 years ago because there was not a big choice available. Now we are using them because I like the way they perform unlike some others!!!!! They have the engineering that I like. WE left the shed ones unrendered for 3 years and had no water bleed from any rain. Now the main house is to be underground so we want the strength. Their web site is pretty good. The first 4 courses were poured inlate Audust ( -5 deg C) and the next morning the empty forms had 1 inch ( 2.5cm) of ice and the filled blocks were about 15 deg C - NO ICE. We are up at 860meters and it is from 17/18 eg C in winter and 22/24 deg C in summer, inside.

The Dynamic Duo · May 26, 2008 7:05 am

R1

We used the Thermacell blocks originally 6 years ago because there was not a big choice available. Now we are using them because I like the way they perform unlike some others!!!!! They have the engineering that I like.

Sounds fantastic!

When you say "Unlike some others" do you mean Zego? We are currently considering Thermacell, Formcraft and Insulbrick.

Thanks

Simon

R1 · May 27, 2008 8:16 am

Like all buildings, you must look at each individual case so that it works and not suffers from idealism. For us the Thermacell meets all the Construction , strength , and ease of pouring for OUR house. Being underground it has to do a lot more than a standard structure. Like our roof was to be Bondek and 150mm concrete and then Polystyrene block on top (this has to be protected against plant destruction and from termites). But we have decided to go with EZIDEK because the insulation is underneath and we can save over $4000.00 on scafold hire, to do the same if not better job. To Render the outside on the earth covered walls we have a membrane going on because after it is back filled we don't want to have any leaks, because we used a D10H bulldozer to excavate 900 cubic meters of rock (blue) to fit the house into the side of the slope, and there is only 500mm between the rock and walls. Your biggest asset will be to talk and LISTEN to every one and then sit down and evaluate what is relevant to your particular case.AND as it says on the bottom of a good plan "if indoubt ask".