Building with aircrete - v. expensive?

leftieM

We are planning an extension and will use block and render. I read that aircrete has inherent insulating properties lacking in concrete blocks. Also they are light so the building goes up more quickly. However there must be a catch and I suspect it's either performance or cost.
I read about them in the Housebuilders Bible and tonight they were used by the builders on Grand Designs. I've had a look at the prices but, knowing nothing about blocks or building I found it hard to compare like with like. Has anyone out there used them?

tr3mor

Just had a quick look on the build centre website. Seems like aircrete is about 10% more expensive. You'd probably recoup that on labour though.

fatnbald

Are these also know as Thermalite blocks ?

leftieM

10% isn't too bad especially if the building goes up faster and I presume you need less insulation. The people using it on Grand Designs thought it was more environmetally responsible which immediately appealed to me and OH.

tr3mor

leftieM wrote: »

10% isn't too bad especially if the building goes up faster and I presume you need less insulation. The people using it on Grand Designs thought it was more environmetally responsible which immediately appealed to me and OH.

Yeah, and then they put 83 spotlights in one room. :rolleyes:

I'd regard these blocks as extra insulation, not a substitute for other forms. Think of it as the more the better.

You'd be best asking the architect or builder you're planning on using, they'd have more idea about products.

leftieM

tr3mor wrote: »

Yeah, and then they put 83 spotlights in one room. :rolleyes:

I know - their comment on getting a warm feeling when they thought of how environmentally responsible they are was funny considering the carbon footprint their big mo fo of a house was going to make no matter what they did. And they're pilots! They've probably got a tornado a-piece under their fuselage.