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We checked out Rob's CastleBlock while on the Island. We also met with Pete and his wife who showed us around their CastleBlock home, they had only good things to say about Rob and CastleBlock.
Personally, we are not sure what route we will be taking yet and have not fully done a cost analysis of going CastleBlock compared to other building methods, but I would encourage anyone who is planning on building to at least check out CastleBlock to fully understand their options. The resistance of this type of material to termites and rot is pretty significant.
Love to hear other peoples experiances with CastleBlock as well.
Ajit
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Ajit
Stay tuned as we are at the early stages of building our Castleblock home (ProTEC walls and Galvamet roofs). So far we are at the point of having the slabs formed. The plumber is doing his roughins and we are waiting for the electrician to start his. We expect delivery of our Castleblock material in Jan and then the real fun begins.
Look for updates and pic links here and on Hilo-web. See 12/18 Update.
David
Ninole Resident
Edited by - David M on 12/19/2005 03:58:35
Ninole Resident
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I guess PunaWeb's Rob is ahead of the curve..
"Or to be more precise, it is made of Rastra, a composite of recycled polystyrene, cement and concrete that, thanks to the growing attraction of green living, has become one of the hottest building materials in the United States."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/10/realestate/keymagazine/910rastra.html?ex=1158120000&en=77873fc1342b1bf1&ei=5087%0A
Ajit
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I'm confused... I thought Castleblock design was SIP construction. That link in the message above seems to refer to styrofoam forms for concrete.
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When I visited Rob last year, I believe he showed me Rastra as well.
http://www.castleblock.com/rastra.html
Ajit
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Interesting to get attention via the New York Times.
We do sell Rastra which is an insulated concrete form (ICF) product. My own home in Pahoa is made from this. We also sell structural insulated panels (SIP). I started working with Rastra in 1991 - so the statement that it has taken a while to catch on is very clear to me.
Anyone interested can visit our web site at:
http://www.castleblock.com
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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Does one of these contruction methods cost less then the other? Your ICF product vs. your SIP product?
Susan
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Rob,
I plan to build, starting with an ohana, starting this year or early next.
I have a coworker, here in FL, that is currently building with a closed foam block that goes together like legos with plastic hangers for the rebar. After the rebar is placed, the blocks are filled with concrete. It looks like it will ge a good strong house. I believe some of the interior walls are of that construction also.
On the Castleblock, I'm not clear where the reinforcing steel (rebar) goes, if any. Or, is there any poured concrete? What provides the strength normally provided by the steel in the concrete? I see they come in pre-packaged plans. Is there one that is small enough to make the ohana cutoff for HI County at 500 sq. ft. Can I have a custom ohana designed?
I'm interested in both Castleblock and the Rastra. Based on my limited construction knowledge, the Rastra seems like it would be stronger, and more fire resistant. Is that the case? Of the two, which has the higher R value?
Also could you provide a list of reasonable contractors that work with these materials in the Puna area?
S. FL Islander to be
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
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The costs of SIP and ICF are very similar but the paths of construction (labor) are very different. The ICF blocks cost less per square foot but the require cutting, placing, rebar and concrete grout.
The SIP costs more per square foot and are provided as a precut package from the factory and an easier labor path.
The ICF produces the highest level of construction and the SIP is still very good standard of construction. Both have minimal maintenance needs.
Rastra has great fire, hurricane and earthquake abilities. It takes more work to build to an almost military level of durability - but the costs are very affordable depending on who is doing the work.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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Rob,
I was observing the construction of some ICF habitat for humanity home going up in my area and I was bugging the foreman with questions. I forgot the brand but I think it was called GreenBlock(It was white). He was telling me that it was four nch block, meaning that the void for the concrete was four inches. He also stated that the Calif. code called for six inch concrete void. What is the Hi. code? Thge Calif. code also called for more steel that the Fl code. Also, If going with ICF or related technology, what nonwood options are there for interrior framing and walls. Would the SIP be an option for interrior walls in a ICF shell? What is your experience with steel interrior framing in the wetter areas, such as Volcano? What nonwood options are there for trusses?
Thanks for any info
S. FL Islander to be
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
