Insist on a Concrete Home

The more concrete elements in your home, the more likely you are to have a home which is strong, durable, energy efficient, fire resistant with a high level of soundproofing. Why? - because concrete is inherently durable and fireproof, absorbs sound and concrete built homes can achieve the highest standards of energy efficiency leading to a more comfortable living environment and lower heating bills.

Concrete is present in almost every home in Ireland. It's strength, durability, fire resistance, sound insulation and water resistant qualities make it ideal for foundations, floors, external walls, party walls between houses, internal partitions, roof tiles and more. Building components and materials made with concrete can be environmentally sustainable, made from materials sourced and worked locally - most frequently within 30km of the place of their final use. They are manufactured without environmentally damaging preservatives, and at the end of a long life can be recycled as inert filling material under floor slabs, roads and around underground services.

Poured concrete, precast concrete wall panels, precast concrete floor slabs, concrete blocks and aerated concrete blocks, lintels and sills, concrete roof tiles and fibre-cement slates, concrete paving and cement-based external and internal plasters are the essential components of Ireland's homes today.

Some of the key advantages of concrete homes are as follows:

Concrete's STRENGTH and DURABILITY means that today's houses and apartments can stand for centuries to come, with minimum maintenance.
Concrete's ability to absorb and store heat produces a comfortable environment avoiding unwanted temperature swings. Modern, well insulated concrete homes are highly ENERGY EFFICIENT, making a positive contribution to the challenge of climate change and minimising the effects on the built environment.
Concrete homes are easily ADAPTABLE. The internal layout can be easily changed to accommodate any design.
Concrete is FIRE RESISTANT and NON-COMBUSTIBLE. In the event of fire, concrete built homes retain their structural stability and will be less costly to repair.
Concrete is WATER RESISTANT and will not warp, rust or rot. Concrete homes are less affected by flooding or by leaks from tanks or water pipes.
Concrete has excellent SOUND INSULATION properties. Concrete walls and floors absorb SOUND and VIBRATION.
Concrete walls between adjoining properties offer high levels of SECURITY and peace of mind to property owners.
Concrete is both FUNCTIONAL and AESTHETIC. It can be used to build homes that are functional or grand designs which are complex and elegant.

Discovering too late that you have made the wrong choices with your home is a huge disappointment. So, make sure to ask the builder or selling agent - is this a concrete home?

Benefits of Concrete Homes

Find out more

Fire - Safe Concrete - A Good Home For Your Money (Brochure) Click here
Eliminating Chimneys - Should it come with a government health warning / Concrete Today, May 2007 Click here
High thermal performance with Insulated Concrete Formwork / Concrete Today, August 2006 Click here
Insulated Concrete Formwork - Developments in Portarlington / Concrete Today, May 2005 Click here
Quinn-lite blocks at Hook Head / Concrete Today, Nov 2005 Click here
Insulated Concrete Formwork / Concrete Today, July 2003 Click here
From the editor - Masonry construction / Concrete Today, Jan 2003 Click here
Increased demand for lightweight thermal blocks / Concrete Today, Jan 2003 Click here
Rainman water recycling system wins top award / Concrete Today, May 2005 Click here
ICF Building Concrete Homes - Safe and Sound-Proof Click here

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