Masonry Framed Homes

Add a combination of beauty and strength to any home with concrete masonry framing. Concrete homes have many advantages including increased durability, resistance to allergens, and environmental values. All these advantages combined with the capability of creating wonderful exterior designs make concrete masonry framed homes an excellent choice. A masonry framed home is constructed by using standard CMUs or concrete masonry units known as concrete blocks.

There are many reasons to purchase a masonry framed home. The first reason is the reduced maintenance costs. Masonry framed homes have superior strength as well as durability. Unlike wood, a concrete retaining wall does not provide a feeding ground for termites. Another major advantage of a masonry home is the architectural flexibility and wonderful aesthetics. There are an infinite number of dynamic exterior design options.

Masonry designs are available in many styles including transitional, traditional, modern and ranch. Exterior surfaces are available in a wide variety of texture designs, colors and shapes. The options are as varied as your imagination and creativity. The beauty of stucco is enhanced by a wide variety of textures. A good craftsman can achieve the desired colors and shapes by carefully choosing the size of the aggregate and tools used to apply the actual stucco.

Concrete is an environmentally friendly product making use of naturally produced products and recycled materials. Concrete never excretes VOC into the air like other building materials, permitting for a healthy living environment. Concrete masonry is unaffected by its exterior environments while under construction which can cause wood rot as well as warping in wooden homes. Masonry framed homes are maintenance free with home exteriors that look new for years to come. These kinds of homes also avoid the nail holes breaking through dry wall that often affect wooden homes.

Dry stack concrete block techniques make use of surface bonding cement rather than using mortar for high thermal mass walls. Typical concrete blocks are best for this kind of work. Masonry framed homes are efficient enough over the life of your home with no outside repair and replacement needs. Unlike wood, concrete provides no food source for mold and fungus which cause unhealthy living environments.

By: Willox Perez

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Willox Perez is an architect who has been in the industry for more than 15 yrs. He also works on row house design and concrete paving design. You can find his advice here on CCMA. He is an active participant in the online community, offering advice on green building materials, such as concrete masonry units and brick and mortar.