Is it Cheaper to Build House with Concrete Blocks? 

Concrete blocks have achieved pinnacle of popularity as masonry units in recent decades even though they are being used as building material for more than a century. Constructing houses with concrete blocks is rather the latest as conventional brick has been losing its demand. Concrete blocks consist of many unique features which have made them a better choice as masonry units than red bricks or other construction materials like woods, glass, etc. The durability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness of homes made of concrete blocks are unparalleled. The purpose of this article is to highlight the financial benefits of concrete blocks over other forms of conventional masonry units.

Concrete Block Market and Pricing

The market for concrete blocks in our country has been booming over the last few decades and has grabbed a market share worth 2 billion BDT. Since the government has announced plans to ban the use of conventional red bricks by 2025, this industry’s growth has been fueled by multiples. The price range of concrete blocks is one of the many reasons that has attracted such a flourishing customer base. 

In the market, many types of concrete blocks are available, such as hollow blocks, cinder blocks, solid concrete bricks, lightweight blocks, fly ash blocks, paving blocks, etc. All types of concrete blocks can be categorized into two primary types: hollow blocks and solid blocks. The pricing of these concrete blocks not only depends on the consumer demand and quantity of supply but also on some other very important factors. These factors include size and weight, raw material quality, machinery, production procedures, transportation, etc. It is quite conspicuous from the current scenario of the Bangladeshi market that the average prices of concrete blocks are lower than traditional bricks and other construction materials such as wood. A hollow block, which equals almost the size of five red bricks, costs only 33-39 BDT. A solid block costs 12-16 BDT, maintaining the exact shape and size of conventional red brick.

Comparison of Price: Is Concrete Block Cheaper than other Alternatives for Your Home?

The conventional masonry units include red bricks, wood, tin, etc. Among these, red bricks have been the most widely used material in the past. For many legit reasons, concrete blocks have been replacing these materials over the last decades. Among all the great features, the price range of concrete blocks is a key factor for home builders to choose concrete blocks over other materials. 

The current market price of a red brick ranges from 8-10 BDT. Compared to the already mentioned concrete block price, hollow blocks are way cheaper than bricks in a bulk purchase. The price of a solid block is a bit higher than that of red brick, considering the fact that it’s the standard size is similar to red bricks. But the advantages solid blocks offer over red bricks are more than sufficient to convince consumers to choose concrete blocks over bricks. 

Another commonly used construction unit is wood. The current average market price of timber ranges from 500-3000 BDT in the wholesale purchase, depending on the type of wood, whereas concrete blocks cost multiple times less in bulk order. The use of woods as building houses has lost its popularity because of the reduced amount of forests and the high market price. Some other mentionable materials are bamboo, cement, tin, etc. The usage of these materials has declined significantly, and they are rarely seen being used as building units for houses. The average price ranges of these materials are way higher than concrete blocks in wholesale purchases. 

Finally, it is safe enough to say that a concrete block is a cheaper alternative to a masonry unit compared to other materials for building your house. Even though the price is a dominant factor, you should still go for concrete blocks for building your home considering its lots of other advantages such as pest resistance, fireproof nature, compressive strength, earthquake resistance, etc. 

Reasons behind the Economical Upperhand of Concrete Blocks as Building Units 

The cheapest and most reliable choice for building houses is concrete blocks.  The cost-effectiveness of construction with concrete blocks is due to a number of key advantages. The following are those:

1. Shorter construction period

Houses built with concrete blocks take a shorter time to complete than brick or other material-based houses. It is because concrete blocks can easily adhere together with construction glue or mortar and the process is quite rapid. The usual construction with bricks or wood or other materials takes a longer time to build a house because the processes include many key steps like nailing, drying of adhesion material, etc., other than simple steps such as adhering the blocks together.  

2. Low cost of labor

Because building with concrete blocks takes up less time than traditional construction methods, this results in a reduction in the overall cost of labor. The speedy building method will require supervised labor from personnel for a shorter amount of time, which will result in a significant reduction in the overall cost of the project. 

3. Flat demand for skilled personnel

Construction with other materials such as wood, cement, bricks, etc. requires highly skilled and professional personnel to complete the house. Even the simplest mistakes in construction can cause terrible accidents. The work demands intricate effort and a professional touch in every step of construction. On the other hand, the construction of houses with concrete blocks is very easy and requires less intricate effort. The key steps involved in building a house with concrete blocks are super easy and any professional laborer can complete them perfectly. It doesn’t require the same level of highly qualified and competent workers as the other materials. This feature significantly lowers the cost of construction. 

4. Durability and long-lasting capacity 

Houses built with concrete blocks are guaranteed to have extreme durability and long-lasting capability. Its durable nature requires less maintenance cost and is not easily harmed by environmental factors. Other materials, such as wood, bricks, etc. are affected by environmental and other external factors easily and require maintenance within a fixed period of time. This nature of concrete blocks saves loads of money for a house owner. 

5. Energy efficiency

A concrete wall system, along with insulation, creates a tight thermal building envelope, which conserves energy. Concrete-built walls are capable of maintaining an even temperature throughout the home, whereas houses built with bricks cannot. Houses built with concrete blocks even have a 5-9% greater capacity to save energy than wooden houses. As a result, homeowners can save money by constructing their homes out of concrete blocks without incorporating heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems.

6. Low maintenance 

Concrete blocks save the fortunes of homeowners by demanding less servicing of houses every now and then unlike other materials. Concrete blocks are a durable choice for building a house and the degradation of home instruments is a rare occurrence. Wooden houses are subjected to molds in monsoon, and brick-built houses are prone to corrosion of walls in high humidity. Both wooden and brick-built houses as well as bamboo, or other material-built houses are highly prone to pests after a certain period of time, whereas concrete houses deduct these drawbacks very significantly. Therefore, concrete blocks as building units demand low maintenance costs throughout their lifetime. 

7. Less requirement for additional appliances

Concrete-built houses are fire-resistant, pest resistance, and earthquake-resistant. Usually, wooden or brick-built houses need to devise extra mechanisms to withstand these major issues. Unlike other building materials, houses made with concrete blocks do not require additional appliances for resisting these problems. Thus, concrete-built houses save extra costs for the homeowners.

Summary

Concrete block as a masonry unit for building houses is an economical choice compared to other conventional materials such as bricks, wood, etc. The average market price of concrete blocks is many times lower than conventional materials on bulk order, therefore, making it the best choice for house builders. Concrete blocks are cost-effective not only during the construction period but also throughout the lifetime. Concrete blocks built infrastructure requires low cost of labor, lower timeframe, and also low cost of maintenance throughout the lifespan of a house, therefore, making it a cheaper but durable choice for homeowners. 

F.A.Q.

How much do hollow blocks cost for building a house?

Ans. The flat rate of hollow blocks in the market at present ranges from 33-39 BDT per block. Hollow blocks are, therefore, a cheaper option than masonry units to build a house.

How long can a concrete block-built house last?

Ans. Concrete blocks have a great long-lasting capacity and a concrete block-built house can last up to 80 to 100 years or more.

Why are houses constructed with concrete blocks low maintenance? 

Ans. Concrete blocks are durable, pest proof, mold proof, fireproof and have great insulation capacity. So, houses built with concrete blocks require less maintenance because of not easily affected by these and other environmental factors.  

Where can I buy concrete blocks within an affordable price range for my home construction project?

Ans. Mir concrete block supplies the best quality concrete blocks within an affordable price range. They ensure the top-notch quality of their concrete blocks and the best service out there. Connect with them and see the difference! 

Is it safe to choose concrete blocks as building units?

Ans. Without a doubt. Concrete blocks are safer than any other construction materials and more eco-friendly.