The utilitarian concrete block has gained new respect in recent years.
Now called "concrete masonry units" or "CMUs," blocks
are used increasingly as substitutes for conventional wood-framed, above-grade
exterior walls. Concrete masonry construction may cost slightly more, but
builders and homeowners like its durability, strength and heat-retention
qualities. Insulation can be foamed or inserted into the hollow cores or
applied as a rigid board to the surface to increase resistance to heat flow.
Concrete block won't burn, rot or be eaten by termites. And it produces a wall that is secure, sound-deadening and effective at reducing thermal swings.
--Don Vandervort
