Building all-masonry homes: the many benefits combined with an ever-improving economic picture make these types of homes a potentially tremendous untapped market for the contractor - masonry - Brief Article

Masonry Construction, August, 2002 by Ron Holzhauer

The gated community will feature 32 homes on 40 acres. The units will be about 2500 square feet and will be priced in the $300,000 range. Halloran will serve as developer, general contractor, and masonry contractor on the project. "I want to ensure that my strict standards of quality and longevity are rigorously maintained," he stated. "If all goes well with this development, I have tentative plans for another project featuring homes in the upper price ranges."

Masonry homes builders will receive no initial support from realtors, appraisers, or banks. "These people just don't know the industry, and have no experience in dealing with masonry homes, "explained Halloran. "I went around these people for the first home by buying the land and financing the project myself."

The Old Way a New Way

The general population believes that a brick home is a masonry home. Obviously there is a dramatic difference between the two. For example, Halloran's masonry home has 16-inch exterior walls and 6-inch interior walls.

"Masonry construction has been around for hundreds of years in Europe and older American cities and the durability of the method is unquestioned. Once the general population takes a close look at the many benefits associated with the all-masonry home its future should be tremendous," concluded Halloran.

Structural and Architectural Features of Halloran's Masonry Homes

* Exterior walls are 6-inch concrete block with #4 rebar continuous from the footings, through the elevated slab to the top of the walls.

* Foundation footings are 24 inches wide by 24 inches deep; 3000-psi concrete with two #6 rebar run horizontal throughout.

* Exterior walls are filled solid with 3000-psi concrete grout have 1-inch insulation board, are damp proofed, and have a continuous 1-inch air cavity.

* Face brick area is standard F.B.S. clay 3 5/8 inches x 2 1/4 inches x 7 5/8 inches.

* Interior and exterior walls have a 4 hour fire rating.

* Interior finish of exterior walls is a three-coat plaster system with an R-value of 1.74 with a 2-hour fire rating.

* R-value of home is 14.08 with the additional thermal mass of the 13-inch exterior walls. This type of construction will reflect about a $30,000 savings in electrical bills over the life of a 30-year mortgage.

* Safe room (tornado proof) exceeds FEMA and GEMA standards

* Arches are cast-in-place concrete.

* Ornate brickwork featured throughout.

* No termite or pest control problems exist.

* Home will be maintenance free for a minimum of 75 years (excluding painting of windows, doors, etc.) This feature represents a $24,000 savings in the life of a 30-year mortgage.

* Home exceeds all national, state, and local buildings codes.

* Home was built in 7 months by five men, with only the HVAC and carpeting subcontracted out.

* Home weighs 1,109,700 pounds (a similar sized wood frame home weighs about 240 000 pounds).

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"In 1979, after only 3 years in business. I realized that for me to survive and grow I needed help. I looked around for qualified bricklayers and there were none that met my demands. I knew right then that the key to my company's future was finding and training my own men.