Understanding Full Benefits
“There’s often a perception that lightweight block is more expensive,” Wolfe says. “It’s true that the materials are more expensive—lightweight aggregate is a premium material. However, the masonry unit itself accounts for only a small portion of the wall’s total cost. Installation is the biggest part of a masonry wall’s cost, and by using lightweight block, masons can place more units in a given period, reducing labor costs and ultimately lowering the overall cost of the wall.”
Built for Strength
Back at the Fort Payne Elementary School project, the CMUs delivered to the jobsite were of high quality, with sharp edges and good texture.
“Even though it’s a very light unit with a high percentage of lightweight aggregate, the advantages from both a design and construction standpoint help offset the material cost increase, resulting in a very economical masonry wall,” Wolfe says.
