On Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 8:46:57 AM UTC-7, Terry Coombs wrote:
wrote:
On Tue, 15 Sep 2015 21:24:15 -0500, "Terry Coombs"
wrote:

rbowman wrote:
On 09/15/2015 07:24 PM, Terry Coombs wrote:
Well , as they say , no battle survives contact with the enemy
intact ... I was pricing block vs poured concrete today , with the
mistaken expression that block would be cheaper - what a surprise ,
concrete is half the cost for materials only . Well , actually less
than half . because I'm getting the floor too for just over half .

Are you figuring in the forms? I worked on a volunteer project where
the guy in charge tried to cheap out and build forms out of scrap
laying around the site. He got a floor too when the forms let go. We
weren't prepared to strike it off, so it set up lumpy.

I'm researching using some 7/16 OSB , then reusing it for exterior
sheathing or maybe on the roof . Question there is what to use as a
release agent . Diesel has been suggested but not sure if the odor
will be a problem later . Floor will be poured first as a
monolithic (?) slab with the footings integrated into the slab . I
also plan to use a poly vapor barrier under the slab , thickness is
yet to be decided .

Florida is the land of the monoslab. Be sure to leave the footer part
of the slab free of the visqueen so you can use it as a Ufer electrode
and tie this into the ground electrode system.
If you are using a contractor to pour the walls, they will have the
forms. They usually use a commercial product for the release agent,
designed for the form material they use.

I've done a bit more research , found that the walls will cost about the
same either way . I was thinking of going with 4" walls , found that 6" is
the minimum recommended . That makes the cost so close that it's actually
going to be easier to do the block . Also , doing block means I don't have
to do a marathon mix-n-pour . I'm probably being too anal about controlling
costs , have to keep reminding myself that a dollar spent now will probably
save 3 later .

--
Snag

Block is a very flexible method but remember to add in the time and cost to lay it. I've BTDT and would hire it laid next time. It also is not as "sturdy" as poured. Very easy to pull a wall down once any top weight is removed.

Harry K