H+H Celcon Blocks High Strength Grade were chosen for the walls of this self-build family home in Essex.
A contemporary family home is being built with Celcon Blocks in Benfleet. Cavity walls of the first and second floors will be built using H+H aircrete - the inner skins are being constructed with our High Strength Blocks. A dense block is being used for the outer skin and the walls will be finished with render.
With a compressive strength of 7.3N, Celcon Blocks High Strength Grade were an ideal choice for the five-bedroom house’s 3-storey design. As recommended by the structural engineer for the self-build project, the ground and first floors are being built with aircrete blocks and the second floor, timber.
H+H blocks were specified to help make the home thermally efficient after their use was suggested in a SAP report at the property’s design stage. Aircrete has great inherent thermal properties, can achieve excellent airtightness and its use in the building fabric can help reduce heat loss at thermal bridges.
Self-builder Zoë Clark, her partner and their three children embarked on the project to create a much-needed upsizing of their family home, having been living in her parents’ garden annex.
Only seven doors down from her parents, this is the first self-build Zoë has undertaken. She works at her family-run skip hire and waste management business and without a background in construction there was a lot to learn. Doing some of the work themselves to try and keep costs down, Zoë roped in the help of family and friends.
Piling started on site in Summer 2022 and the home is on track to be completed in 2024. Follow along with the build on Zoë’s Instagram at @32thechalet.