Build Time Reduced by a Third and Insulation Costs Cut Using Celcon Thin Joint System

Using Celcon aircrete blocks with the Thin-Joint System has cut build time by a third and resulted in savings on insulation for a development of seven town houses at Cambridge Street, Castleford.

Celcon aircrete blocks with the H+H Celcon Thin-Joint System have been used for both the inner skin of the external walls and the internal walls of the town houses. Chris Taylor of Stonearch Developments was familiar with the Thin-Joint System having worked in Germany ten years ago, where aircrete with thin-layer mortar is the norm. However this was the first time he had used the Thin-Joint System in the UK. "Celcon aircrete with the Thin-Joint System was ideal for this project. The combination of light weight, ease of handling and quick-setting mortar meant that we could build a storey-height in a day. It cut construction time by about a third and in addition, its superior thermal insulation properties resulted in savings on the cost of insulation materials. I think all builders should use the Thin-Joint System." An additional bonus was that the H+H Celcon factory at Pollington, Yorkshire, is only 15 miles from Castleford, making deliveries to site simple and efficient.

Celcon blocks with the Thin-Joint System achieved a U-value of 0.32 Wm²/K on this project, within the requirements of Part L current at the time.

All seven houses are four-bedroom, with brick-clad exteriors. The upper stories of every other house are rendered. The homes are believed to be the first in Yorkshire to have domestic sprinklers installed.

Phase 2 of the project, comprising 60 flats, will be starting shortly. Stonearch Developments will be using Celcon aircrete with the Thin-Joint System for this phase too.