internal timber frame with concrete blocks for external leaf

[scarlet]

hi everyone,
I'm soon to build a house of concrete blocks 200x200x400mm for extrnal wall. I'm thinking of using timber frame and plasterboard for the internal wall. Would anyone know if that could be easily and economically
acheived.
I would love to hear from anyone who knows about this, thnx
scarlet

[Vernonv]

I would have thought that method of construction would be fairly standard and quite economical.

I'm not sure if that answers you question - maybe you can expand on the detail a bit.

[myla]

hello,

there are numerouse considerations to think about here

the concrete blocks may need to be core-filled with rio and a structural engineer would consider all this

electrical cables and plumbing need to be considered

having said that, I think long term this is a smart way to build as you will have a house for a very long time, do good footings

one trade to erect the wall, as opposed to building frames and then laying bricks

if you look at the "money areas" in melbourne ie. caulfield, toorak where houses are kept for many many years these guys build solid construction

double brick or concrete block, slate roofs

sure it costs more today, but that house is there for many generations

thankyou
myla

[Clinton1]

This is a standard building method in areas that require a cyclone rating.

The bottom and top horizontal row of blocks are a 'special' type where they are pre cut 1/2 way down the 'walls' of the block. This allows the 'walls' to be knocked out so that a U channel is made. Reo bar is fixed in this and (usually) in each 3rd cavity in the vertical plane.

The reo bars (in the top and bottom U and the vertical) are all tied to the steel in the foundation slab. After the walls are erected concrete is pumped into the the top/bottom U and each third cavity and you end up with solid concrete columns in your walls. Electrical conduit can be run in the 'unfilled' vertical columns, although it and plumbing is usually run through the slab or wall, and then into the cavity between the blocks and the interier cladding.

The interior cladding is set back (for moisture control) as per standards and is either timber (pine/cypress) framing or galvanised steel channel, then plaster board or other material is used for the interior cladding. Thermal insulation is as per standard framing methods.

Concrete blocks can be used for the interier load bearing walls, however this tends to make future renovations more expensive as they cost more to remove, whereas a steel structure is more adaptable and costs less to remove as needed in the future.

This type of building does not seem very common in Melbourne, so perhaps you will find the builders charge more. They may not be able to find a 'specialised' blocklayer, whereas brickies have their brick laying technique pretty fine tuned.

I know that block houses with a verandah are very cool in the tropics, however I have no idea about the thermal characteristics for Melbourne.