The Advantages of Cinder Block Homes

Durability

• Cinder block homes are much more durable than typical brick, clapboard or plastic-shingled and wooden homes. Builders in areas with severe weather conditions, including Florida and Kansas, may use cinder block homes to protect residences from hurricanes and tornadoes. Cinder block holds up better in strong winds. It has also endured the effects from earthquakes and fires. Moreover, residents of cinder block homes do not have the typical problems of termites and warping like their wooden home counterparts.

Lower Insurance

• Most cinder block homeowners enjoy lower insurance premiums. These types of homes are usually assigned a "superior construction" rating by insurance companies, according to the Carolina Concrete Masonry Association. Insurance companies usually take many elements into consideration when insuring property, including replacement costs and structure. Cinder block homes are essentially problem-free when it comes to the typical structural problems of homeowners. For example, cinder blocks are not susceptible to rotting like wooden homes.

Energy Efficient

• All cinder block homes are built to maximize energy efficiency. They can generally withstand the outside elements in the summer and winter. The cinder blocks serve as reservoirs in hot, humid climate, trapping heat from the sun. Air penetration in homes is known to cause up to a 39 percent energy loss, according to experts at Concrete Block Homes. Cinder block homes are air-tight and virtually free of drafts. People can usually enjoy the temperatures they set on the rheostats inside their homes, regardless of the weather.

Considerations

• The versatility of the cinder block is another advantage these homes have over conventional homes. Homeowners do not have to go with the drab gray exteriors. They can paint their homes any color they choose. You may even prefer a stucco design style. And you can also have ranches or two-story homes built with cinder blocks. They have the flexibility of adding high ceilings or lofts to the interior. Columns, landscaping and arches can enhance the aesthetic beauty of the exterior.