Any Advice/experiences Building With Q-con/superblocks?

[Rtwo]

I’m preparing to build a house on a site in Chiangmai town. I’ve decided to follow the current most popular method, i.e. reinforced concrete framework with block infill but want to use Q-con or Superblocks, for the infill, the lintels and both first and second floor, floor slabs. So far I’ve seen few houses in this area that use this type of block for wall, never mind lintels and floors and in those that I have the workmanship was awful. What experiences has anybody had of using aerated concrete in Thailand, did they find it easy to get builders to use them correctly, using thin bed adhesive and cutting the blocks square with a saw or is it as I fear, a bit beyond most of them?

My plan is to use 20mm thick blocks for all exterior walls and 12.5mm for most of the interior.

Any advice gratefully received particularly from those in the area.

[Rimmer]

Workers love them once they find how easy they are to cut, shape and make straight walls. You will love them when you stay in a cool house with low air con bills.

[Beardog]

Not to forget "the straight walls part' & I am sure you will like that part of it also -as straight walls are a rare commodity here in Thailand!

[Naam]

Not to forget "the straight walls part' & I am sure you will like that part of it also -as straight walls are a rare commodity here in Thailand!

if the concrete pillars are not aligned the "straight walls part" does not apply. it happened in my house. difference 8cm over a length of ~26m

to the OP. Superblock et al was discussed only days ago in another thread. please use the search function.

[Rimmer]

Not to forget "the straight walls part' & I am sure you will like that part of it also -as straight walls are a rare commodity here in Thailand!

if the concrete pillars are not aligned the "straight walls part" does not apply. it happened in my house. difference 8cm over a length of ~26m

to the OP. Superblock et al was discussed only days ago in another thread. please use the search function.

The shortest distance between two out of line concrete pillars is still a straight line

Sorry 'bout that Naam I couldn't resist it! I am sure your house is still very nice though

I put a laser on one of my walls when it looked out, over 2 1/2 meters it was 4 " out of line and they could not (or would not) see it until I knocked the blocks down myself and they had to re build it.

[Naam]

The shortest distance between two out of line concrete pillars is still a straight line

Sorry 'bout that Naam I couldn't resist it! I am sure your house is still very nice though

nothing to be sorry Rimmer i have a straight line along 5 or 6 concrete pillars but that line is not parallel to the outside wall on the other side of the house where the tile layers started to lay the marble tiles in a way that really suprised me. explanation: the gaps/grout run from one side to the other side of the house in a continous way (don't know the appropriate english expression for that method). basically it's a huge waste of material but it sure looks <deleted> beautiful however it was the laying of marble tiles which enhanced the mistake of the non-parallel wall. of course -by now- i got used to it and i have stopped beating my wife and kicking the dog

[Beardog]

Isn't Thailand's building standards wonderful! I wonder what the real contractors test is? My contractor didn't even know what a T square was or had a level. A Quai could have laid the tile better. I learned enough about rendering the final concrete to do the work myself. Auto body is pretty similar- Make it eye sweet mix it right & good prep along with good materials. when we do the next 4 rooms I will do the crete work! I got the squares & levels & can shoot a transit all I need is the laser to get the walls exact.

Naam it really had to make you ill, as I know in Germany they are well known for pride & craftsmanship. Hans from Austria taught me my welding skills & when he was done he said I could use 5 more years of practice.

My boss of 4 years was German accent. We got along fine cause a friend taught me if your not proud enough to put your name on your work STAY HOME. It was good advise, mediocre isn't even 2nd best. And when everyone gets laid off I still had a job, Amazing these guys are still getting work(obviously not repeat business from us!)