I built my concrete house 26 years ago. It has thick sandwich insulated 14 inch outer walls, solid concrete floors, strudded aluminum wood large windows. It is 4700 sq ft 2 car heated garage, 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, finished basement, office and large food storage room. It costs me $500 per year to heat the house. The cost was 25% cheaper than a stick house. We had a 5.6 earthquake this year and we did not bother to get out of bed, It rocks as one piece, nothing broke, just scared neighbors with damaged houses.
@@scottsewell1290 look at your DOT quantity, cost pdf for the current or previous years to get an idea of the cost or call a concrete pour company and ask for an estimate
In Europe they isolate concrete houses with Styrofoam. It can be 10 or 12 cm thick. Also, if you don't want to insulate on the outside, you can apply cement stucco on concrete wall, just to give it a nice finish, and once it dries out , you can paint over the stucco to give it a nice color to the house.
@@dustinabc you can say that for any form of construction but I can assure you that a poorly built concrete house will hold it value more than a poorly built stick framed house.
Your concrete house looks amazing and I can say it is strong and last forever. I would like to have such house. And you right it is hard to find people who can build it
Here in Philippines, many "non-professional" home builders can design a awesome concrete without using any mold. The cost of lumber and concrete has also just a slight difference.
Mate, I have been in Philippines. Yes you are right. Concrete is popular there and workers somehow know how to work with it. Houses look good as well. However, Philippines does not have cold season. Concrete crumbleses after every single winter much faster then in thropics. It is important to follow technology meticulously to avode crushing your concrete walls within several years. It means not every one can build a concrete house which can stand decades in New York, for example. Workers need specific skills as well. An architect must know how to design such houses to make them save and durable. Plus US has a lot of regulations you need to follow. Concrete houses are the science.
@@pavelsameliuk7295 When I was a very young student at that time, we call it as the freeze-thaw process. Which is why it is necessary to use plasticizers in order to DRASTICALLY reduce the amount of water while simultaneously making it very easy to pour and-or place and is self-levelling without the need for concrete vibrators and will fill all the voids between the steel rebars so that the gravel aggregate won't settle down at the bottom for it is necessary to make sure that each piece of gravel is surrounded and bonded by an almost evenly uniform layer of cement-sand mortar between them. I have seen a certain fiber reinforcement product that will simultaneously mix with the cement-sand mixture surrounding the pieces of aggregate gravel and making sure that it can (1) add additional reinforcement and (2) form a simultaneously spacing effect between the pieces of aggregate gravel. That was way back in the early 1980s and it's purpose is to add additional strengthening while creating a spacing effect between each individual pieces of all of the aggregate gravel mix with the cement-sand mixture. It might be a kind of polypropylene fibers or yttria-stabilized zirconia glass fibers (before such concrete admixtures became quite common in the later years of the 1980s and became accepted in the 1990s and up to this year.
brutalism is the equivalent of a car without a finished appearance. Once built, the steel, bricks, and concrete house are almost no maintenance, no fire, no termites, no mold, no roof
@@ketunky3056 1917 Thomas Edison patented concrete homes, it’s not new but I believe will be the standard from 2022 and on. You don’t need an AC or heater with a concrete home temperature is perfect year-round, providing the concrete is the right thickness for whatever environmental zone you’re in. With this super high inflation building materials are too inflated too outdated pseudo science technology and a complete waste of energy sucking everyone’s savings away.
Americans just don’t know how to build with cement. All homes are made of cinder blocks in the Caribbean. Beautiful homes all over Jamaica make beautiful homes out of cinder blocks and no cinder blocks are exposed. So you just have to know how build with them.
Love the video man! Is there anyway you could do a series or possibly another video on the different concrete houses you've built, and the intricacies that came with the process? Either way love the content! Subscribed!
in latin america almost all houses are made out of concrete and some are extremely beautiful if anything i would say the insulation is the problem if it's too cold
I love the fact that he said he never used ICF. Everybody seems to love it but it would drive me nuts having Styrofoam in my way at all the attach points when it comes to the façade coverings and or interior wall coverings. Besides, I don't want any insulation in my house that is not Roxul. Gutted my house in Brooklyn and it's everywhere. You need it your interior walls as well for soundproofing. When the wife gets on a 6 way zoom call with her family ...you will see why.
Great and very informative video! Wish you elaborated a bit more the insulation part. What would be the downsides of insulating on the inside in case you want just bare concrete on the outside? Won’t you have moisture/humidity problems when isolating in the inside, especially in zones where the climate is more harsh than New York?
I’m no professional but I would assume for the moisture/humidity issue problem, it could be solved with your central HVAC system, I could go into more detail but it would take me a bit, and for the downside to insulating the interior, I’d guess the problems with that would be less sq ft since you would have to build a sort of way to keep it in place, like building a wall structurally made of wood and then using sheet rock to cover it up, and the the second downside to insulating the interior would be you would lose the concrete look for the interior, there could be more downsides and solutions to these but that’s all I can think of right now
I live in nyc and plan on buying when the market turns. I like to buy a home to demo then do a big basement plus hopefully a concrete home ideally a multi dwelling for family.
I wonder if you pour concrete with exterior brick molds how that would look. I have seen interior brick molds and even someone painted it to look exactly like traditional red brick. If that can be done on the outside, I think this construction will ramp up to my #1 choice for a future house build.
Would love the security of a concrete house. But when you say increased cost, you didn't give an example. Are we talking twice the cost or ten times the cost?
Actually concrete could end up cheaper than other options due to labor cost (with concrete you just make the frame and then use machine to mix and pour the concrete)...
@@JorgeFontan I'm in Mexico Looking to build a cast n place home Your videos are incredible thank you... I have some questions How does someone have a quick conversation with you?
Thanks that was a good overview.... I was planning a concrete house in Florida .. I love the building you displayed. In this video @ 3:00. Looks cool your a good Architect !
Are you sure the house in the video, is safe when earthquake hits? I was born in a 100% concrete house country, and they are made in a different way. Steel and bricks then concrete, the finished appearance is part of the construction. Why you have to live the concrete exposed? Do you leave the sheetrock exposed? Do you use the steele springs into the base columns?
Insulation in a concrete house is easy. A proper steel, brick and concrete house are hermetic. There is not a part of the structure where the cold winter can get through, rather than the windows and doors. In summer are fresh and in winter are cozy.
For the case that you put insulation inside and exposed concrete outside, based on the code (let's NY code), do you have to put any extra vapor barrier between concrete and insulate/interior. The reason I am asking is that concrete will absorb water and if possibly pass it to the other side, or maybe if there is small crack in it; then mould will grow between concrete and insulation right? Can you do another video and explain that?
The wife and I are going to get a house built in the near future. We have good southern exposure for solar panels and nature light. Is it possible to do a basic rectangle with a flat roof? About 50ft wide by 30ft long by 24ft tall. How thick would the wall have to be to do this, if it is allowed?
Thank you for posting. I'm a Chicago Ironworker close to retirement. I'm planning a concrete house for my retirement in TX. I want concrete and steel for the structural safety, and because the work is what I can do. I may pick your brain for some tips if you don't mind.
Nice summary. While all possibilities of insulation are correct, in reality only outside insulation is used (and ICF forms). Putting insulation inside concrete home is a dreadful idea. I'd consider a typical EPS ICF a bad workaround, though there are some systems using board inside and EPS outside. Putting EPS inside is really silly: You'll use all accumulation properties of the concrete, which are otherwise excellent and you won't be able to hang anything on the wall, without some crazy workarounds.
I am completely new to house stuff so please excuse this question but would a concrete house be a good viable option for the desert? I heard high heat causes concrete to crack but I love brutalist architecture and I would love to one day have a house that is concrete and the only places where land is cheaply available for someone like me is the desert lol. I also had a question about utilizing a concrete building and "berthing" it in land so that it is cooled by the dirt that is put up against it. Is this actually a good idea or nah? I got this idea from earthship type houses built in the desert. I would love to have a passively cooled berthed concrete house with brutalist architecture that also has a great rainwater harvesting system in the design. I will probably never be able to afford something like that but i can dream xD
God bless: repent, trust, and believe in Jesus and be saved. There’s trouble in the World but Jesus has overcome it. Trust in Him and be truly set free. Free from the troubles, pains, and desires of this world. Even those things that you secretly justify even when they’re wrong, you can be set free from. Through God’s Word you will become new, not being bound to your wrong doings. May this message fill your heart, there may still be struggles, but now with God you have help and hope, from God, who knows all things. May God bless you and may you be filled with love.
Hey, thanks for the video, Jorge. I'm DIY designing a concrete home in the Phoenix area and I want to go with embedded insulation (i.e. exposed concrete on both sides). Should I expect to have difficulty finding a contractor who will take this job? It seems less common so just thought I'd ask. Thanks again!
How much more expensive (if it is) is a concrete house that's exposed on the exterior and interior? I just think about all the additional costs like framing the interior, drywall, painting. Same can be said for the exterior, you now need insulation, stucco, siding? Does the concrete truly end up costing more if you already have so many additional costs that need to be added? Just wondering.
The problem with concrete is that it can be compromised because its a continuous solid unit. Look at the quakes in turkey a few years ago or the condo's in FL those concrete structures crumbled. However, traditional masonry buildings made of brick wouldn't have this problem as they move independently from each other
This is such a great and informative video! I'm just wondering, if you have concrete on the outside and the inside, what is the function of the insulation? Also, if you live in a year-round sunny area, and if you install central air conditioning in your concrete house, do you still need the insulation?
If you install air conditioning in any house without insulation you will be operating in a very inefficient manner. Insulation keeps the hot air out. You need insulation and air sealing on any house. without it you will need to run the AC a lot more in order to keep the house cool, this is going to use a lot more energy.
Thank you for the reply and the information! I was under the impression that insulation kept air in, not out. For example, like how a thermos keeps hot air inside.
Yo I worked in a warehouse made of concrete. I’m in California. It was very temperature stable. We didn’t have an insulated roof. It was still 10ish degrees cooler at all times inside. Only when we ran 100+ for a week or more did the floors get warm. Had we had any a/c and an insulated roof it would have been 100% ok. People used to build out of stone for a reason. And sheet rock is just imitation rock. Concrete is the same shit.
Good video. Would like to know approximate cost to build concrete home with insulation inside and poured concrete outside - $/sqft or $/100 sqft or for a typical 3000 sqft single family home in NJ? I think cost is the single most decision making factor. Such homes are required to protect from fire and storms.
Question: when there's concrete as an exterior, what's done to waterproof the exterior walls? Can they just be left raw - untreated - even in rainy areas?
Do you have any resources on using concrete in earthquake zones? We're looking at a predicted magnitude 8, and because a concrete house is going to be there for a while, it's going to be around until that 8 happens again and again.
is the concrete/foam sandwich referring to scip *ie sprayed concrete on both sides of a foam panel? it seems like an old tech that is commonly used elsewhere. is this the expensive option?
Pls consult an Indian civil engineer. Concrete house doesn't have to look so rugged. It can be plastered with cement. Putty can be applied and can be painted.
Am from Saudi Arabia. I have been thinking of building apartments complex made of wood like what you have in United States, because i have lived there for 7 years and I liked it. But now after watching this video and read the comments maybe i will change my mind. All buildings we have in Saudi Arabia are concrete made. But i think it’s hard to make a good looking design with concrete.
Can walls be built thinner if using fiber reinforced poured concrete? Or does code not allow it/take the option into consideration? I was reading famous architect Zaha Hadid was able to construct a building in Miami with thinner walls because the concrete was fiber reinforced.
Love the video! When you say expensive...are we talking 25% or 50% more, on average?...Let's say for exposed concrete outside and insulation inside...ballpark idea. Thanks.
I'm curious about the strength and long term durability of concrete. Can the concrete develop cracks over time? Assuming the crack penetrates the entire wall how would they fix it? Is the concrete pre-stressed or would that have any benefits?
I’m a general foreman and I have been planning on building my future home out of concrete. I worked building water-treatment plants and dams in the past 10 years I have used doka forms every time. I want to be the one to build it. $300,000 is my budget. Which me luck.
@@JorgeFontan Hi Jorge, Can you conduct a video on the following: - How air rights in NYC are calculated, transferred, and sold - The process of tax lot mergers and how it's used by developers to add to the buildable square footage for their developments? Thanks, Christian christian@ancecapital.com
@@christiandicroce7004 I was planning to do a video on air rights so I will try to put that high on the list, but until I get back in the office I will probably not be doing too many videos. So I am not sure how long it will take to get the video out. Also you said Tax lot merger but I am assuming you meant Zoning Lot Mergers.
@@JorgeFontan Yes -- my apologizes Zoning Lot Mergers. Also, can you provide me with your e-mail? I have a question on a property I was hoping you could shed some light on. Appreciate all your help!
I’d be willing to start up building these in Florida… different design concept but concrete and similarities you have. I wouldn’t mind talking some. Let me know if you’re interested.
GFRC = ? I thought it stood for glass fiber reinforced concrete, where special alkali resistant fiber glass is added as the concrete is being mixed. It might be used in some precast blocks, but it's also used in concrete counter tops, precast concrete statues, and other applications. I might be mistaken though.
You are right but the context of this video is building a concrete house. It is often used as blocks or panels for building facades in NYC. When I say blocks I just mean it in a general sense of some form of masonry building component that is precast. I do not mean CMU. Maybe if I had said panel that would be more clear.
Probably a hell of a lot more, Roman concrete uses fairly expensive materials and is not made en mass. It would be exponentially more cost effective and easier to build a house out of modern concrete.
I've seen some videos talking about ICF construction, and they point out that insects such as termites or ants can tunnel through the (exterior) foam to make a path up to the wood. It would most likely remain hidden long enough for serious damage to be done. It might be possible to mitigate this by using a stone or metal cap on top of the ICF section, to at least force the tunnels to come out to the surface and be visible. I imagine this would only be a problem if there's exterior below-grade foam.
Thank you for the video. I love the concrete house. How much should I plan to build a single home with 2 bedrooms. I know it may be vary depends on the design but I like a simple modern style
When talking about cost, and how expensive concrete is compared to other materials, are we factoring in interior finishes? Say you have concrete walls and floors interior... I would think that a concrete finish would certainly outlast any paint job, or any other type of flooring, and so the labour + cost you save with concrete would actually render it a less expensive option long term (even though upfront cost is bigger).
Do you think concrete can work with say newer sustainable tech(i have no idea I'm just putting it out there) like mixing hemp or some other material to decrease costs and offset the environmental impact? Do you think this is the future?
I. Love concrete homes that look. Very minimalist and have a very open architecture inside. Can one be built in Southern California?? I am. Very Interested
Oh yes. Many homes that are concrete. My girlfriend mom owns one. It’s beautiful. 2 story. It’s huge and has. Concrete floors polished like glass. It’s cool. Not even that cold in winter time being barefooted
Thank you for these tips. Really useful. I was wondering if a concrete wall absorbs more sun heat than a brickwall? What if the roof is done in concrete?
The insulation you need will depend on many factors there is no one size fits all. Your geographic location will determine how much you insulation you need.
I'm in Jersey. I'm preparing to build a large rectangular makerspace with L shaped ranch wrapped around. The goal would be steel roofing, and in the makerspace complimentary steel structure to augment a trolley crane for loads in the tens of tons. I'm completely stuck. I know I can use MCU for the interior form as I'm going with metal studs and sheetrock. I'm interested in an exposed exterior, but I'm also looking to pour walls over a foot thick and twenty feet high. I looked into specifications for some form systems. Clearly I'm not building rationally, but it's the asthetic. I'm left to believe that I might require MCU on either side as the form. What's your comfort level with consultations regarding something so extreme? I'd be aiming for 2-3000 square feet in the makerspace. I'm trying to tame my expectations and reduce the build to two million. I'd be performing most of the work until framing and pours exceeds my capacity.
@@mjboyan I'm in process of buying land! I decided on creating my own block system to create larger more aesthetically pleasing block. Wet and dry keys with rebar and grout channels.
I built my concrete house 26 years ago. It has thick sandwich insulated 14 inch outer walls, solid concrete floors, strudded aluminum wood large windows. It is 4700 sq ft 2 car heated garage, 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, finished basement, office and large food storage room. It costs me $500 per year to heat the house. The cost was 25% cheaper than a stick house. We had a 5.6 earthquake this year and we did not bother to get out of bed, It rocks as one piece, nothing broke, just scared neighbors with damaged houses.
where would one go to find out the material cost for concrete, or the type of concretes needed to start budgeting a project like this.
same here.
Have you ever made videos about your house, and the design and building process?
I'd love to hear more about it, and I'm sure many others would too!
@@scottsewell1290 look at your DOT quantity, cost pdf for the current or previous years to get an idea of the cost or call a concrete pour company and ask for an estimate
How much did it cost
In Europe they isolate concrete houses with Styrofoam. It can be 10 or 12 cm thick. Also, if you don't want to insulate on the outside, you can apply cement stucco on concrete wall, just to give it a nice finish, and once it dries out , you can paint over the stucco to give it a nice color to the house.
I love concrete houses because they hold their value
ua-cam.com/video/giemlmbEYPM/v-deo.html
A poorly built and/or maintained concrete house can easily lose value.
@@dustinabc you can say that for any form of construction but I can assure you that a poorly built concrete house will hold it value more than a poorly built stick framed house.
In my country the Philippines we use concrete all the time because of it's quality and strength.
@@Knightmare919 Mexico does the same thing. Best material ever.
My grandparents house in Mexico was built in 1905 and it still looks like it’s holding its shape.
i love the concept. I am planning to build a concrete house.
Your concrete house looks amazing and I can say it is strong and last forever. I would like to have such house. And you right it is hard to find people who can build it
Here in Philippines, many "non-professional" home builders can design a awesome concrete without using any mold. The cost of lumber and concrete has also just a slight difference.
Mate, I have been in Philippines. Yes you are right. Concrete is popular there and workers somehow know how to work with it. Houses look good as well. However, Philippines does not have cold season. Concrete crumbleses after every single winter much faster then in thropics. It is important to follow technology meticulously to avode crushing your concrete walls within several years. It means not every one can build a concrete house which can stand decades in New York, for example. Workers need specific skills as well. An architect must know how to design such houses to make them save and durable. Plus US has a lot of regulations you need to follow. Concrete houses are the science.
@@pavelsameliuk7295 When I was a very young student at that time, we call it as the freeze-thaw process. Which is why it is necessary to use plasticizers in order to DRASTICALLY reduce the amount of water while simultaneously making it very easy to pour and-or place and is self-levelling without the need for concrete vibrators and will fill all the voids between the steel rebars so that the gravel aggregate won't settle down at the bottom for it is necessary to make sure that each piece of gravel is surrounded and bonded by an almost evenly uniform layer of cement-sand mortar between them. I have seen a certain fiber reinforcement product that will simultaneously mix with the cement-sand mixture surrounding the pieces of aggregate gravel and making sure that it can (1) add additional reinforcement and (2) form a simultaneously spacing effect between the pieces of aggregate gravel. That was way back in the early 1980s and it's purpose is to add additional strengthening while creating a spacing effect between each individual pieces of all of the aggregate gravel mix with the cement-sand mixture. It might be a kind of polypropylene fibers or yttria-stabilized zirconia glass fibers (before such concrete admixtures became quite common in the later years of the 1980s and became accepted in the 1990s and up to this year.
brutalism is the equivalent of a car without a finished appearance. Once built, the steel, bricks, and concrete house are almost no maintenance, no fire, no termites, no mold, no roof
What are you going to do when the rebar rusts?
Concrete needs to be maintained constantly. Efflorescence is a struggle and it is normal for water to pass through the walls on the first floor.
@@anythingelseplss entire world makes concrete houses. You are not special but fool.
@@ketunky3056 1917 Thomas Edison patented concrete homes, it’s not new but I believe will be the standard from 2022 and on. You don’t need an AC or heater with a concrete home temperature is perfect year-round, providing the concrete is the right thickness for whatever environmental zone you’re in. With this super high inflation building materials are too inflated too outdated pseudo science technology and a complete waste of energy sucking everyone’s savings away.
@@CEDEFE41 that’s what covers for
Have been trying to figure out a structural solution for a live/work housing project. This was very very helpful. Thanks!
Americans just don’t know how to build with cement. All homes are made of cinder blocks in the Caribbean. Beautiful homes all over Jamaica make beautiful homes out of cinder blocks and no cinder blocks are exposed. So you just have to know how build with them.
I’m soooo glad I found your site! I want a concert home so bad! Gotta watch all your videos.
Your video informs & inspires people all over the world...
Complete concrete pros & cons, all about concrete...
respect from Thailand... 🙏🙏🙏
Love the video man! Is there anyway you could do a series or possibly another video on the different concrete houses you've built, and the intricacies that came with the process? Either way love the content! Subscribed!
You are brilliant. Love this presentation.
Aesthetics? Go to DR and you will see how many luxury designs they build out of concrete. Good video.
Thank You
in latin america almost all houses are made out of concrete and some are extremely beautiful if anything i would say the insulation is the problem if it's too cold
I like Brutalism designs.
I love the fact that he said he never used ICF. Everybody seems to love it but it would drive me nuts having Styrofoam in my way at all the attach points when it comes to the façade coverings and or interior wall coverings.
Besides, I don't want any insulation in my house that is not Roxul. Gutted my house in Brooklyn and it's everywhere. You need it your interior walls as well for soundproofing. When the wife gets on a 6 way zoom call with her family ...you will see why.
Great and very informative video! Wish you elaborated a bit more the insulation part.
What would be the downsides of insulating on the inside in case you want just bare concrete on the outside? Won’t you have moisture/humidity problems when isolating in the inside, especially in zones where the climate is more harsh than New York?
I’m no professional but I would assume for the moisture/humidity issue problem, it could be solved with your central HVAC system, I could go into more detail but it would take me a bit, and for the downside to insulating the interior, I’d guess the problems with that would be less sq ft since you would have to build a sort of way to keep it in place, like building a wall structurally made of wood and then using sheet rock to cover it up, and the the second downside to insulating the interior would be you would lose the concrete look for the interior, there could be more downsides and solutions to these but that’s all I can think of right now
I live in nyc and plan on buying when the market turns. I like to buy a home to demo then do a big basement plus hopefully a concrete home ideally a multi dwelling for family.
Concrete house are the best 💪🏼🗽 🇲🇽
Thank you!
I love love love love brutalism functionality meets unique aesthetic
I wonder if you pour concrete with exterior brick molds how that would look. I have seen interior brick molds and even someone painted it to look exactly like traditional red brick. If that can be done on the outside, I think this construction will ramp up to my #1 choice for a future house build.
Thank you so much for this. Insightful!
Good rundown. I’m a construction worker planning on building my own home out of concrete
Love the concrete look my dream is to build a small concrete house in Puerto rico...Thanks for the info Mr Fontan
Would love the security of a concrete house.
But when you say increased cost, you didn't give an example.
Are we talking twice the cost or ten times the cost?
Not ten times more but more none the less it will depend on many variables especially on the cost of labor in your location.
Actually concrete could end up cheaper than other options due to labor cost (with concrete you just make the frame and then use machine to mix and pour the concrete)...
@@kmanev agreed.
@@JorgeFontan I'm in Mexico
Looking to build a cast n place home
Your videos are incredible thank you...
I have some questions
How does someone have a quick conversation with you?
Is it pretty good against bullets too
Great overview, thank you!!
Thanks that was a good overview....
I was planning a concrete house in Florida .. I love the building you displayed. In this video @ 3:00.
Looks cool your a good Architect !
Oh, welcome back, brutalism! Long time no see.
yup
In any former Soviet country brutalism is abundant. I don't know that it's really trendy though.
Are you sure the house in the video, is safe when earthquake hits? I was born in a 100% concrete house country, and they are made in a different way. Steel and bricks then concrete, the finished appearance is part of the construction. Why you have to live the concrete exposed? Do you leave the sheetrock exposed? Do you use the steele springs into the base columns?
Plus the little windows is just a poor choice. Steel, bricks and concrete house use enormous windows.
Insulation in a concrete house is easy. A proper steel, brick and concrete house are hermetic. There is not a part of the structure where the cold winter can get through, rather than the windows and doors. In summer are fresh and in winter are cozy.
Have you looked at Monolithic Dome construction? Per square foot cost can be about that of triditional construction.
Thanks for this video!!!
I love concrete
Great info. Learned a lot! Thanks!
For the case that you put insulation inside and exposed concrete outside, based on the code (let's NY code), do you have to put any extra vapor barrier between concrete and insulate/interior. The reason I am asking is that concrete will absorb water and if possibly pass it to the other side, or maybe if there is small crack in it; then mould will grow between concrete and insulation right? Can you do another video and explain that?
The wife and I are going to get a house built in the near future. We have good southern exposure for solar panels and nature light. Is it possible to do a basic rectangle with a flat roof? About 50ft wide by 30ft long by 24ft tall. How thick would the wall have to be to do this, if it is allowed?
Thank you for posting. I'm a Chicago Ironworker close to retirement. I'm planning a concrete house for my retirement in TX. I want concrete and steel for the structural safety, and because the work is what I can do. I may pick your brain for some tips if you don't mind.
Fantastic summary. Thanks.
Nice summary. While all possibilities of insulation are correct, in reality only outside insulation is used (and ICF forms). Putting insulation inside concrete home is a dreadful idea. I'd consider a typical EPS ICF a bad workaround, though there are some systems using board inside and EPS outside. Putting EPS inside is really silly: You'll use all accumulation properties of the concrete, which are otherwise excellent and you won't be able to hang anything on the wall, without some crazy workarounds.
I am completely new to house stuff so please excuse this question but would a concrete house be a good viable option for the desert? I heard high heat causes concrete to crack but I love brutalist architecture and I would love to one day have a house that is concrete and the only places where land is cheaply available for someone like me is the desert lol.
I also had a question about utilizing a concrete building and "berthing" it in land so that it is cooled by the dirt that is put up against it. Is this actually a good idea or nah? I got this idea from earthship type houses built in the desert. I would love to have a passively cooled berthed concrete house with brutalist architecture that also has a great rainwater harvesting system in the design. I will probably never be able to afford something like that but i can dream xD
God bless: repent, trust, and believe in Jesus and be saved. There’s trouble in the World but Jesus has overcome it. Trust in Him and be truly set free. Free from the troubles, pains, and desires of this world. Even those things that you secretly justify even when they’re wrong, you can be set free from. Through God’s Word you will become new, not being bound to your wrong doings. May this message fill your heart, there may still be struggles, but now with God you have help and hope, from God, who knows all things. May God bless you and may you be filled with love.
Hey, thanks for the video, Jorge. I'm DIY designing a concrete home in the Phoenix area and I want to go with embedded insulation (i.e. exposed concrete on both sides). Should I expect to have difficulty finding a contractor who will take this job? It seems less common so just thought I'd ask. Thanks again!
Very informative. Thank you.
Thank you for this channel.
How much more expensive (if it is) is a concrete house that's exposed on the exterior and interior? I just think about all the additional costs like framing the interior, drywall, painting. Same can be said for the exterior, you now need insulation, stucco, siding? Does the concrete truly end up costing more if you already have so many additional costs that need to be added? Just wondering.
It’s awesome to know that a fire can’t just take what you’ve worked so hard for
Fantastic video.
The problem with concrete is that it can be compromised because its a continuous solid unit. Look at the quakes in turkey a few years ago or the condo's in FL those concrete structures crumbled. However, traditional masonry buildings made of brick wouldn't have this problem as they move independently from each other
This is such a great and informative video! I'm just wondering, if you have concrete on the outside and the inside, what is the function of the insulation? Also, if you live in a year-round sunny area, and if you install central air conditioning in your concrete house, do you still need the insulation?
If you install air conditioning in any house without insulation you will be operating in a very inefficient manner. Insulation keeps the hot air out. You need insulation and air sealing on any house. without it you will need to run the AC a lot more in order to keep the house cool, this is going to use a lot more energy.
Thank you for the reply and the information! I was under the impression that insulation kept air in, not out. For example, like how a thermos keeps hot air inside.
Yo I worked in a warehouse made of concrete. I’m in California. It was very temperature stable. We didn’t have an insulated roof. It was still 10ish degrees cooler at all times inside. Only when we ran 100+ for a week or more did the floors get warm. Had we had any a/c and an insulated roof it would have been 100% ok. People used to build out of stone for a reason. And sheet rock is just imitation rock. Concrete is the same shit.
Great video, Jorge. I subscribed to your channel because this is great content.
Good video. Would like to know approximate cost to build concrete home with insulation inside and poured concrete outside - $/sqft or $/100 sqft or for a typical 3000 sqft single family home in NJ? I think cost is the single most decision making factor. Such homes are required to protect from fire and storms.
Question: when there's concrete as an exterior, what's done to waterproof the exterior walls? Can they just be left raw - untreated - even in rainy areas?
Do you have any resources on using concrete in earthquake zones? We're looking at a predicted magnitude 8, and because a concrete house is going to be there for a while, it's going to be around until that 8 happens again and again.
Great video 😉
Concrete very beautiful 😍
is the concrete/foam sandwich referring to scip *ie sprayed concrete on both sides of a foam panel? it seems like an old tech that is commonly used elsewhere. is this the expensive option?
We don't have many concrete houses here in England, it's either brick and block or timber framed.
How does drywall attach to concrete?
Pls consult an Indian civil engineer. Concrete house doesn't have to look so rugged. It can be plastered with cement. Putty can be applied and can be painted.
Am from Saudi Arabia. I have been thinking of building apartments complex made of wood like what you have in United States, because i have lived there for 7 years and I liked it. But now after watching this video and read the comments maybe i will change my mind. All buildings we have in Saudi Arabia are concrete made. But i think it’s hard to make a good looking design with concrete.
You can always cover your concrete building with wooden panels. It might be expensive but Saudi Arabia is a rich country.
The best Sirrr..., we wait alwayss👍
Thank you!
Can walls be built thinner if using fiber reinforced poured concrete? Or does code not allow it/take the option into consideration? I was reading famous architect Zaha Hadid was able to construct a building in Miami with thinner walls because the concrete was fiber reinforced.
Love the video! When you say expensive...are we talking 25% or 50% more, on average?...Let's say for exposed concrete outside and insulation inside...ballpark idea. Thanks.
What about insulated concrete? Putting the insulation in the concrete before pouring it?
I'm curious about the strength and long term durability of concrete. Can the concrete develop cracks over time? Assuming the crack penetrates the entire wall how would they fix it? Is the concrete pre-stressed or would that have any benefits?
Really helpful thank you
I’m a general foreman and I have been planning on building my future home out of concrete. I worked building water-treatment plants and dams in the past 10 years I have used doka forms every time. I want to be the one to build it. $300,000 is my budget. Which me luck.
Lol wish me luck 😂
Good LUCK !!!!
@@JorgeFontan Hi Jorge,
Can you conduct a video on the following:
- How air rights in NYC are calculated, transferred, and sold
- The process of tax lot mergers and how it's used by developers to add to the buildable square footage for their developments?
Thanks,
Christian
christian@ancecapital.com
@@christiandicroce7004 I was planning to do a video on air rights so I will try to put that high on the list, but until I get back in the office I will probably not be doing too many videos. So I am not sure how long it will take to get the video out. Also you said Tax lot merger but I am assuming you meant Zoning Lot Mergers.
@@JorgeFontan
Yes -- my apologizes Zoning Lot Mergers. Also, can you provide me with your e-mail? I have a question on a property I was hoping you could shed some light on. Appreciate all your help!
Thank you, very intersting.
Yes thank you!
great video!!
Thank You
I’d be willing to start up building these in Florida… different design concept but concrete and similarities you have. I wouldn’t mind talking some. Let me know if you’re interested.
We are looking to build a precast home in North Carolina. Do you only work in NY
GFRC = ?
I thought it stood for glass fiber reinforced concrete, where special alkali resistant fiber glass is added as the concrete is being mixed.
It might be used in some precast blocks, but it's also used in concrete counter tops, precast concrete statues, and other applications.
I might be mistaken though.
You are right but the context of this video is building a concrete house. It is often used as blocks or panels for building facades in NYC. When I say blocks I just mean it in a general sense of some form of masonry building component that is precast. I do not mean CMU. Maybe if I had said panel that would be more clear.
i would like to build a simple 30 ft concrete round house with a low 10 ft concrete dome. its a dream for now...
How much would it be to do one in roman concrete I wonder
Probably a hell of a lot more, Roman concrete uses fairly expensive materials and is not made en mass. It would be exponentially more cost effective and easier to build a house out of modern concrete.
We use concrete to build our homes in Trinidad and Tobago.
Yup . . . I agree with you.
Pls elaborate How much it more cost than wooden house 🏡😊
It depends there are many factors to take into consideration.
Love it
Brilliant
Aren’t concrete houses immune/resistant to insect invasions? You wouldn’t have to think about termites for example
Yeah from my understanding that's a huge plus
I've seen some videos talking about ICF construction, and they point out that insects such as termites or ants can tunnel through the (exterior) foam to make a path up to the wood. It would most likely remain hidden long enough for serious damage to be done. It might be possible to mitigate this by using a stone or metal cap on top of the ICF section, to at least force the tunnels to come out to the surface and be visible. I imagine this would only be a problem if there's exterior below-grade foam.
Thank you for the video. I love the concrete house. How much should I plan to build a single home with 2 bedrooms. I know it may be vary depends on the design but I like a simple modern style
When talking about cost, and how expensive concrete is compared to other materials, are we factoring in interior finishes? Say you have concrete walls and floors interior... I would think that a concrete finish would certainly outlast any paint job, or any other type of flooring, and so the labour + cost you save with concrete would actually render it a less expensive option long term (even though upfront cost is bigger).
what if you mixed the cement with sand or clay ?
It doesn't really matter if you don't like the concrete. You can just slab some bricks on that bad boi n it blends right in the neighborhood
Or Tiles 😀👍
What about blocks and mortar? Does that not fall under "concrete"?
Should be recommended in tornado prone areas...pretty sure wood frame housing is near obsolete
wood frame housing was designed to be affordable and for no other reason. It was based on cost not quality.
I want to build my Concrete exposed house, e need to now, how to have termic protection, if I put concrete exposed in both sides? Thanks
Do you think concrete can work with say newer sustainable tech(i have no idea I'm just putting it out there) like mixing hemp or some other material to decrease costs and offset the environmental impact? Do you think this is the future?
I want to know this too! Would prefer hemp insulation inside and exposed concrete on either side of that.
@@kiraashley5009 hemp absorbs moisture. Which will cause it to degrade
Okinawans know how to build concrete houses!
When you say cost as cons what do you mean? The cost of material?
What's the method of pouring in insulation between two concrete walls approach?
Any experience with cost saving or not using a tilt up wall system?
How does Tadao Ando get those cool giant blocks?
i love concrete!
Any recent concrete structure projects?
I. Love concrete homes that look. Very minimalist and have a very open architecture inside. Can one be built in Southern California?? I am. Very Interested
Oh yes. Many homes that are concrete. My girlfriend mom owns one. It’s beautiful. 2 story. It’s huge and has. Concrete floors polished like glass. It’s cool. Not even that cold in winter time being barefooted
@@wakeuppeople7327 in California?
Thank you for these tips. Really useful. I was wondering if a concrete wall absorbs more sun heat than a brickwall? What if the roof is done in concrete?
Do you need extra insulation? Will the concrete work by itself for a small shed sized building?
The insulation you need will depend on many factors there is no one size fits all. Your geographic location will determine how much you insulation you need.
I'm in Jersey. I'm preparing to build a large rectangular makerspace with L shaped ranch wrapped around. The goal would be steel roofing, and in the makerspace complimentary steel structure to augment a trolley crane for loads in the tens of tons. I'm completely stuck. I know I can use MCU for the interior form as I'm going with metal studs and sheetrock. I'm interested in an exposed exterior, but I'm also looking to pour walls over a foot thick and twenty feet high. I looked into specifications for some form systems. Clearly I'm not building rationally, but it's the asthetic. I'm left to believe that I might require MCU on either side as the form. What's your comfort level with consultations regarding something so extreme? I'd be aiming for 2-3000 square feet in the makerspace. I'm trying to tame my expectations and reduce the build to two million. I'd be performing most of the work until framing and pours exceeds my capacity.
Thought about this more. Steel structure then pre cast is probably required else I'm dealing with cold joints
@@cyril.engineering Did you ever build this house?
@@mjboyan I'm in process of buying land! I decided on creating my own block system to create larger more aesthetically pleasing block. Wet and dry keys with rebar and grout channels.
It looked like you were going to get into some building science.
Where in easton pa could I find a contractor that will build my cement home
Do concrete houses work on tropical countries like India. We have hot summer.