Durisol Wooden Building Blocks

Durisol are a local company based in Crumlin near Newport and they manufacture wooden form blocks that create solid walls. For more details on how they work and what advantages they bring it is best to visit their website at: www.durisol.net. Details on how to construct using the blocks can be found at their methods section of the website.

The Eco Home Centre and people who have used the blocks think that it is a great way of building, however there are a few issues that need to be borne in mind:

You need to design around the blocks. Needing to cut and shape the blocks can be difficult and time consuming and so you lose all the cost advantages that can be achieved by having the building based on their standard sized blocks.

You do really need to use reed bar, as this will be asked for bby nearly all structural engineers and for the small cost of this is just saves on the hassle in convincing an engineer that you don't.

You will need good access space to get the concrete poured easily and also to get the lime render on.

Using lime render preserves the breathability and also is much less complicated and cheaper than trying to face with brick. The different size of the blocks does not marry up well with having full and half bricks.

Specify low carbon cement if possible. PFA and GGBS mixes can assist here, or you could possibly look at the new Novacem.

Durisol suggest that using chippies rather than brickies is better for site management as the blocks are cut like wood and are not in standard brick measurements.