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Why isnt AAC(Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) used more in construction?

Posted on 11/16/15 at 6:08 am
Posted by Placebeaux
Bobby Fischer Fan Club President
Member since Jun 2008
51852 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 6:08 am
It seems that old "stick" construction should be a thing of the past considering the advantages this stuff has. Really thinking of buildind a house with this stuff. Has anyone on here used AAC?

AAC


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Excellent Acoustic Performance
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Design Versatility & Flexibility
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Posted by djangochained
Gardere
Member since Jul 2013
19054 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 6:09 am to
Cost is higher than framed walls
Posted by Sao
East Texas Piney Woods
Member since Jun 2009
65974 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 6:12 am to

What's the increase in cost PSF
Posted by meeple
Carcassonne
Member since May 2011
9415 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 6:29 am to
Infrastructure. Autoclaves are expensive.
Posted by Supermoto Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2010
9948 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 6:30 am to
quote:

Cost is higher than framed walls

This
Posted by Dick Leverage
In The HizHouse
Member since Nov 2013
9000 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 6:36 am to
Probably has more to do with the ICF forms investment that a concrete place and finish contractor has to make and the uncertainty that it will sell to homeowners and builders.
Posted by JG77056
Vegas baby, Vegas
Member since Sep 2010
12065 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 6:39 am to
Can y'all take this shite to the "things .001% of the population has a clue about" board? This thread might as well be in Chinese.
Posted by zmanthetigerfan
Prairieville, LA
Member since Oct 2015
889 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 6:41 am to
This may be a dumb question but how heavy would this be? Would it work in south LA or would it cause the house to sink slowly?
Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
65916 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 6:42 am to
More expensive and complex to build
No break on Insurance
Average person lives in a particular house < 4 years
Spray foam insulation yields nearly the same R value

Shall I continue?

Posted by Martini
Near Athens
Member since Mar 2005
48861 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 6:42 am to
There is one being built on Old Jefferson Highway between Antioch and Highland.

It is a different skill set, cost more and many people just don't know about it. Marketing. They have to sell the architects and home builders associations.

Also windows and doors are different dimensions which add cost that many people don't see.
Posted by Pectus
Internet
Member since Apr 2010
67302 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 7:01 am to
'spensive
Posted by Chuker
St George, Louisiana
Member since Nov 2015
7544 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 7:12 am to
Lotta people poo-pooing this method but it looks pretty great. Like with any major changes to the construction industry, they take quite a bit of time to adjust.
Posted by 4WHLN
Drinking at the Cottage Inn
Member since Mar 2013
7582 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 7:36 am to
quote:

Has anyone on here used AAC?


We did two houses with this stuff years ago. One was south of Houma and the other was a camp down in the Hackberry area. Cant remember the actual cost per sqft, but it was considerable more to build. Labor alone for electrical and mechanical are considerable more. It does have its benefits (sound, insulation value) but not enough to offset the initial cost of construction.

I remember asking the owners in Houma why they wanted this crap and she said because when it floods, you can simply hose out all the filth, repaint and your good to go.
This post was edited on 11/16/15 at 7:42 am
Posted by retired trucker
midwest
Member since Feb 2015
5093 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 8:22 am to
sounds great for a bunker...
Posted by NYNolaguy1
Member since May 2011
20927 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 8:55 am to
Structurally it is weaker than grout filled CMU or even CIP concrete. Also falls apart when there's water leakage or moisture infiltration. We had a building that was exposed to freeze thaw cycle and the AAC bricks were just really deteriorating from water exposure. Wood does something similar but much less pronounced.
Posted by VetteGuy
Member since Feb 2008
28326 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 9:19 am to
I heard the same thing about steel framing a few years back. Now, you have a bunch of half-assed steel framed house that nobody wants.

Proper traditional build techniques yield a home that is hurricane wind-resistant, relatively inexpensive, and with foam, very energy efficient.

I don't think concrete will catch on, even with it's positives.
Posted by 4WHLN
Drinking at the Cottage Inn
Member since Mar 2013
7582 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 11:40 am to
OP, make sure you verify the slab system you are going to use if you go this route. A conventional slab system may not be sufficient enough.
Posted by AUCE05
Member since Dec 2009
42574 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 12:41 pm to
ACI has put out articles about concrete homes. Very interesting. At the time, they claimed cost to build was comparable to stick frame construction. Google it.
Posted by dewster
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
25395 posts
Posted on 11/16/15 at 1:32 pm to
What are the costs of this relative to CMU walls?
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