Concrete block
walls are strong.
When building a new home, you must choose from a range of different building materials and construction methods. Concrete blocks form a sturdy foundation or a strong retaining wall, but they also work for building the walls of your home. Concrete block home construction has both benefits and disadvantages when combined with other building methods.
Pro: Strength
When compared to a traditional wood frame home, a concrete block house is much stronger, says Palladium Homes, which makes a concrete block house more resistant to damage from high winds from tornadoes, hurricanes and other types of storms. Protection from falling trees or limbs still requires a strong roof, but the concrete walls won't buckle under the weight as easily. Concrete block walls are easily reinforced with steel bars to create an even stronger home.
Pro: Damage Resistance
Termites are insects that eat wood in great quantities and cause serious damage to the structure of a wood frame home. Wooden buildings are also susceptible to fire damage. Concrete blocks can't be eaten by insects and won't burn if a fire occurs inside the home. The interior finishing materials and furniture will still burn, but the fire will be much easier to control and won't destroy the building if a steel beamed roof is used.
Con: Water Leaks
Many concrete block homes use special split-face blocks for a more attractive exterior finish. These blocks have a rough texture caused by cutting the concrete block to expose the interior. However, they require special coatings to remain waterproof according to Mary Ellen Podmolik in her article for the Chicago Tribune titled "Home inspection 101: Check for split-face block construction." If these coatings aren't reapplied every few years, the walls begin to leak and let moisture into the home. When the interior is finished with drywall, this causes hidden mold and rot problems.
Con: Aesthetics
Concrete blocks are square or rectangular. When stacked to create walls for your new home, they look boxy and limit the design choices for the exterior of the home. You can install stucco over the blocks to disguise them, but this material requires regular maintenance. Paint changes the color of the gray blocks but doesn't hide the underlying material. Installing framing to support siding or a facade of bricks raises the cost and building time of the house considerably.
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