Fairfaced blocks ?

recipio

People,
I'm looking for an ultra cheap construction method for a newbuild and wouldn't mind an 'industrial' look. One of the bigger bills in my current house was plastering and I'm wondering if you really save money by using fairfaced blocks internally and just painting them.
Yes, I can live with the look - whoever comes after me can plaster if they like !

cheers.

BryanF

What is your air-tightness strategy? Blocks are normally plastered to help air-tightness. Have you planning already?

High Rouleur

A fair faced block will be more expensive than standard blocks. Also block layers will charge more to lay. You will need to consider lintels etc. In terms of appearance. Also the setting out will be critical as you will need to work to block dimensions (full or half) otherwise joints/returns etc can look a dogs dinner. You will also need to think of interface with the ceiling (shadow gap or plaster in) and door/window frames (shadow gap/mastic/architrave?) skirtings etc. Will the block be painted?

Generally speaking the fair faced block look is expensive to achieve.

recipio

Thanks for that.
I'm just at a early early stage, trying to get general concepts together.I'd like to avoid skirting even architraves if I can get away with it and go for a minimalist look.
Disconcerting to see blocklayers will charge more to use fairfaced blocks - are they charging for the extra hassle ( to them ) of laying them ?

mfceiling

recipio wrote: »

Thanks for that.
I'm just at a early early stage, trying to get general concepts together.I'd like to avoid skirting even architraves if I can get away with it and go for a minimalsist look.
Disconcerting to see blocklayers will charge more to use fairfaced blocks - are they charging for the extra hassle ( to them ) of laying them ?

It's not the "hassle"....it's getting the finish perfect as it will be on constant display. Normally a block layer can throw up the wall and not worry too much about mortar snots, even joints etc as the plaster will hide that...fair faced blocks will have to look good therefore more time will have to be taken on the finish.

recipio

Thanks,
Now that I think about the interface with windows ,door frames etc I can see the fairfaced route might not be all that attractive.
I'll try and see a building where they have been used although its mainly commercial applications ?

mfceiling

recipio wrote: »

Thanks,
Now that I think about the interface with windows ,door frames etc I can see the fairfaced route might not be all that attractive.
I'll try and see a building where they have been used although its mainly commercial applications ?

A lot of school and college buildings are done like this now.