Foam Building Blocks

[rod1949]

To all you eastern stater's. The IFC expanded polystyrene foam building blocks such as Zego, Eco-Block to name a couple, I think there's more.

Have ya or do ya know of any houses/buildings that have been built using these methods. Apart from the insulating qualities do ya know of any good and/or bad issues, experiences, stories etc. Any feedback will be appreciated.

Thanks
Rod

[Eastie]

Seen one of them - it had problems with getting flat walls and a good, even render finish (similar problems to the CMX ones I've seen that haven't been installed properly or experienced problems due to framing issues). Although i wouldn't draw any conclussions from only seeing one, my view is that it's only as good as your renderer, given the frame is straight and square. If you worked with it a a fair bit you'd come to learn any problems. It's one of those things that tend to attract comments like "show me how it goes in ten years time and I might consider it".

[ROB NZ]

Of course it doesn't rain in Australia, as we all know, but it does here.

Polystyrene and some other non-traditional materials have been used here in N.Z. without properly considered design and installed by shonky developers employing unqualified labour. Result, "leaky building syndrome", home and apartment owners with uninhabitable properties, at least one recently reported as fit only for demolition.

Needless to say there have been court cases, especially in Auckland and a special government agency set up to resolve the disputes. (Some of the builders and developers have gone overseas. Guess where?

I am not saying anything about the brands you mention, (I have never heard of them) but only about the generic materials.

There are undoubtedly successful projects.

Take good advice, and get a designer who is experienced with the material.

This website may give you further food for thought:
www.weathertight.org.nz.

[ozwinner]

at least one recently reported as fit only for demolition.

But at least they would be easy to knock over.

Al

[ozwinner]

There are a few units being built out of styreen boxes near where i am working at the moment.

My thoughts on them.

1. Good for burgulars to get into.
2. Easy to set fire too.
3. Good for burgulars to get into.
4. Easy for vermin to eat your house away.
5. Good for burgulars to get into.

Al

[Wood Butcher]

There are a few units being built out of styreen boxes near where i am working at the moment.

My thoughts on them.

1. Good for burgulars to get into.
2. Easy to set fire too.
3. Good for burgulars to get into.
4. Easy for vermin to eat your house away.
5. Good for burgulars to get into.

Al

So I can guess that you don't like them??

[ozwinner]

Im sure all you would have to do, to get into a styreen house is, either kick a hole in the wall, or chuck some form of hydrocarbon onto it and watch it melt.
Even when rendered!!!! Mwahhaaaaaa!!!!!


Al, the demented

[journeyman Mick]

Of course it doesn't rain in Australia, as we all know, but it does here..............

Some parts are rather dry, we do live on the world's driest continent after all. The bit where I live though, although it's not the wettest has an annual rainfall measured in metres and it's not uncommon to have 150mm fall in one shower.

Gumboot Mick

[Gaza]

Can not rember the brand names, but i have foam blocks that are then filled with Concrete (core fill mix), This would be ok for internal load bearing walls ect that can be sheeted in gyproc but would questionable for external walls with out a cladding being put on like "express panel" or blue board.

Today i have seen a town house that this has been used for and one wall is exposed and looks like ****, parts of the foam are breaking away. (will take photo's next time driving past)

Maybe stick to proven methods or build a shed and see how it goes.

[Dan_574]

Ozwinner what a load of rubbish, for one the blocks are filled with concret and are thus impossible to get through, the other type of foam construction goes over a stud wall and they are about 50mm thick and are then rendered. These wouldnt be any easier to get through than say cement sheet weatherboards. Any house would be easy to get into prior to completion.

[rod1949]

Thanks for the feed back. There appears to be a lot of negativity though I dare say through ignorance. So here are some sites to have a look/read of.

http://www.eco-blockaustralia.com.au/builders.html

http://www.zego.com.au/

http://www.modular-home-systems.com/icf-home.html

[ozwinner]

Ozwinner what a load of rubbish, for one the blocks are filled with concret and are thus impossible to get through, the other type of foam construction goes over a stud wall and they are about 50mm thick and are then rendered. These wouldnt be any easier to get through than say cement sheet weatherboards. Any house would be easy to get into prior to completion.

Well time will tell, ( the other type of foam construction goes over a stud wall and they are about 50mm thick and are then rendered) about this type of construction.

Its like the plastic water pipes they are installing in all the houses, I can see the plumbers in years time being very, very busy, replaceing them all with copper.

Al

[BrisBen]

Nex time you get the urge for a certain brand of fried chicken that may or may not have originated in Kentucky, have a look at the external details of the shop - pretty much all of their shops have a basic brick structure with polystyrene over, then rendered

In other words - build a brick box and glue on the fancy bits with liquid nails

I reckon this is about the only real benefit for these types of product