May 4 2010
H+H is using two detailed cost-comparison exercises to prove that price need never be a barrier to specifying aircrete for house building.
In a recent public sector housing development Wates Living Space wanted to use aircrete, but was concerned expenditure could rise as a result. A detailed cost comparison showed that, contrary to expectations, a £20,000 saving could be made using aircrete with the H+H Rå Build method of construction, compared with an equivalent timber frame approach.
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Wates undertook this comparison having seen results from research carried out by construction and property consultants calfordseaden. This demonstrated that anywhere up to an 8% saving is achievable when using aircrete, compared with comparable designs built with timber frame or SIPS. They calculated the 8% saving by using four different design methods, all with 0.25W/m2K U-values for external walls, on a 20-unit site of three bedroom semi-detached houses.
The 8% saving, equivalent to an extra house on a 20-unit site, is gained by using the H+H Rå Build method of construction with large format aircrete and Thin-Joint mortar. H+H UK managing director Mark Oliver commented, “The savings that can be made using aircrete with our Rå Build method of construction should make this way of house-building attractive to developers. It gives the possibility of shaving the value of an entire house off a scheme’s cost while also offering excellent speed of build, robust structures and green credentials.”