Your go-to blogs if you want to learn more about Parasol Properties' way of constructing homes, plus tips and helpful information about Construction!  

Hollow concrete blocks are perhaps the most popular of the precast concrete materials. First invented in the 1890s, they were originally so heavy they had to be lifted into place by a crane. Nowadays, they are a staple in construction, and their weight is no longer a challenge. Originally made by hand, it would take a person approximately an hour to produce 10, compared to the technology we have today, with machines producing up to thousands of blocks per hour. 

So why do Parasol Properties use concrete blocks for walls?

Concrete block is inherently strong and resistant to structural loads, impacts, mechanical damage, abrasion, forced entry, and abuse. Historically, unreinforced concrete block masonry walls have been used to resist wind and weather pressure against exterior walls. Now, with reinforced masonry, using metal rebar to tie everything together, the concrete block walls can safely resist even higher pressures. Blocks provide a rigid, straight, and continuous surface to which any cladding or finish, exterior or interior, is easily attached.

Block masonry offers long-term performance and unparalleled durability without the need for maintenance. It provides superior resistance to nearly all types of deterioration caused by moisture, chemicals, corrosion, ultraviolet radiation, mold, and mildew growth.

Masonry products are the original green products, with concrete block masonry having a carbon footprint 66% smaller than cast-in-place concrete wall systems. At manufacture, environmental impact is minimized because a concrete block is made locally from a virtually inexhaustible supply of abundant raw materials and recycled materials and is typically produced within a few hundred miles from home. During construction, block versatility helps minimize on-site waste and disposal. Once constructed, the masonry lasts for decades without deterioration and the need for maintenance. At the end of its service life, a block can be salvaged and reused or recycled in various forms.

Unlike light-frame construction materials, concrete block offers a high degree of thermal mass — up to twice that of poured concrete — helping to stabilize interior heating and cooling, in turn lowering energy costs and providing a more comfortable indoor living area. Block masonry walls can be easily insulated with various products ranging from rigid boards to loose-fill insulation. Insulation can be placed on the interior or exterior surfaces of the block to provide a continuous plane of thermal resistance without heat loss through thermal bridges. And block’s sound-insulation qualities help keep your home quiet over a wide range of sound frequencies, minimizing intrusive outdoor noise pollution.

It resists fire, termites, and severe weather.

A concrete block is a noncombustible material that neither ignites nor supplies fuel to a fire. Fire studies and laboratory tests show that no building material offers better protection against fire, smoke, and heat. For example, industry-standard fire tests show that wood and gypsum board materials burn or rapidly deteriorate, while block remains intact even after prolonged exposure to intense heat. In fact, because of its proven fire performance, concrete block is used to build firewalls in large wood-frame buildings. Block foundation walls offer these same attributes, protecting against the spread of fire, yielding no smoke or toxic gasses under heat, and ensuring structural integrity both during and after a fire. Protection from termite infestations is another benefit provided by block. Termites feed only on cellulose materials, most notably wood, and cannot feed on concrete blocks. Overall, block masonry provides superior property and personal protection. In addition to withstanding fire and insects, a block is highly resistant to strong winds and impact from wind-borne debris. Its use in basements provides refuge from severe weather such as tornadoes and hurricanes.

Concrete Blocks provide better air quality.

Concrete block walls help maintain healthy, comfortable indoor environments. Unlike many other construction materials, including wood products and gypsum boards, blocks do not provide a food source for toxic mold. Typically, moisture resulting from construction — for example, the thousands of kilograms of water contained in cast-in-place concrete walls — can contribute to mold growth, the decay of moisture-sensitive materials, and odors. Block, however, is pre-cured and pre-dried, meaning faster dry-out to facilitate interior and exterior finishing, less risk of mold growth, less drying shrinkage, and less cracking. Also, block and mortar do not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a byproduct of many other construction products that can pose serious health risks. Moreover, blocks can be used as a wall finish, eliminating the need for paints and other finishes that release VOCs or promote mold growth.

Concrete Blocks are convenient and versatile.

Concrete blocks can be installed as is, with no need to wait for custom form-work and framing or pre-fabricated panels that later can’t readily be modified on-site. And with concrete block, doors, windows, and other openings and penetrations can be easily added, moved, or eliminated during construction. Similarly, when renovating or expanding, a window or door can be cut out of a block wall much more easily and cost-effectively than other wall systems. Unlike other foundation systems, concrete block masonry can be constructed in any shape to easily accommodate non-standard floor plans, lot specifications, and foundation wall heights, as well as stepped footings and foundations and last-minute changes during construction. Even complex foundations that use arcs, tees, and angled corners to construct intersecting walls, bays, bows, and fireplaces can be built efficiently.

Up to twice the thermal value of poured concrete

Reduced risk of shrinkage cracks and honeycombing

Block Walls and Pillars – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

Are you considering concrete blocks as well in your next Tampa, Lutz, Clearwater, or Dunedin project? We hope you do. If you're still wondering, seek guidance from trusted custom home builders/renovators/general contractors. It is always worth it! 

Concrete block is inherently strong and resistant to structural loads, impacts, mechanical damage, abrasion, forced entry, and abuse. 

All the materials we use are carefully chosen to ensure that they contribute effectively to making your home safe, comfortable, and secure--Concrete blocks are one of those. 

What is the importance of poly to your home? Yes, it is! Poly is a way to keep moisture from getting into the concrete and your home. But its benefit is more than just preventing moisture. Here’s why.

A vapor barrier or more commonly known as poly (short for Polyethylene plastic sheet), is a material that prevents moisture from entering your home. It is used in walls and the concrete floor separating the ground. But in this blog, we are going to focus on the latter. That being said, vapor barriers keep your concrete floor dry and then stay dry to avoid flooring problems.

Too much moisture in concrete is a problem because it can cause pH changes that destroy adhesives. Here’s what happens. As moisture makes its way to the surface of a concrete slab, soluble alkalies come along for the ride and raise its surface pH above that of flooring adhesives. The problem is the adhesive between the vinyl floor tiles (for example) and the concrete. Most adhesives today are latex-based and very sensitive to alkaline environments–high pH–like concrete. Sticking stuff that does not breathe to wet concrete or gets wet with a latex-based adhesive does not work. The adhesive “re-emulsifies” (goes back to a soft and sticky state) in the wet alkaline environment. You will end up with an adhesive that doesn’t hold up!

Moist and dark corners in your home are critical to mold growth. Mold exposure can cause several health issues such as; throat irritation, nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, cough, wheezing, and skin irritation in some cases. Mold exposure may also cause heightened sensitivity, depending on the time and nature of exposure.

Also, we already discussed how moisture re-emulsifies the adhesive from the floors. These broken-down adhesives can also impact your home's health with poor indoor air quality and create serious health issues for your family members.

Wooden floors finish in the basement seem to be a good idea. However, ignoring to put a vapor barrier under the slab can damage your wooden floors. If there is too much moisture in the concrete floor, you may end up with flooring failures such as swelling, bulging, or cupping.

One of the critical ways many HVAC systems work is by removing moisture from the air and reducing the relative humidity in your home. By forgoing the installation of a below-slab vapor barrier, you ensure a greater amount of moisture entering the building from underneath your building’s foundation. This can mean more work for your HVAC system. The more your HVAC system is working, the more money you are paying for electricity costs. 

Okay, let’s get technical here. There’s almost always water underneath any home. It may not be near the surface, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. This water can move up through the soil and contact the bottom of a concrete floor via capillary action. A layer of crushed rock that goes between the ground and the concrete floor slab, known as a capillary break, can stop capillary action. A capillary break does a good job of stopping water in its liquid state from reaching a slab. However, they can’t stop water in vapor form from reaching and entering a concrete slab. Therefore, there needs to be something underneath the slab that prevents vapor moisture from entering.

Why Do You Need A Poly Or Vapor Barrier?

So we’ve learned that a capillary break is not enough to stop moisture from entering your home. This is where the importance of a poly or vapor barrier will come into play. 

In addition, you might also need a vapor barrier for liability reasons because most manufacturers of flooring include vapor barriers or retarders in their installation guidelines.

Lastly, the vapor barrier under your slab will also protect you from harmful ground pollutants like Radon gas. Radon (a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless noble gas) can leech from the ground and into your house. According to studies, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and the leading cause among non-smokers. If your family breathes in high Radon levels over long periods of time, this exposure can damage the sensitive cells of our lungs, increasing the risk of lung cancer.

How's the Poly in your Clearwater property? Is it working fine still? Make sure you do! In case, try to contact a trusted custom home builder in your area to help you with it. 

There are many benefits and importance of poly or vapor barriers under the slab. It prevents moisture and toxic gases from entering your home from the ground. Thus, improving your home’s indoor air quality. Moreover, it saves you tons of money from floor repairs and soaring electric bills. Finally, it gives you and your family peace of mind.

What is the importance of poly to your home?... But its benefit is more than just preventing moisture. Here’s why.

There are so many things we life lessons we hope we could've learned earlier. Take out the importance of poly from them. 

So you might wonder why it’s significant to cover freshly poured concrete with plastic? Why can’t we leave it to dry in an open so that it would dry quicker? Maybe you think that the plastic is there to protect the concrete from dust and rain? Lastly, how will it benefit your home after construction?

When Water is mixed into cement to activate the binding agent, it hardens as the concrete mix dries. Freshly poured concrete requires five to seven days to set correctly. In the process, it gradually transforms from a wet, slushy mix to a rock-solid structure. The drying, or “curing,” should be gradual, otherwise cracking may occur.

Now, these two words are used synonymously sometimes. But they are very different from each other. Curing is the process of preventing the loss of moisture from the fresh concrete while maintaining a satisfactory temperature condition. The purpose of minimizing moisture loss is to achieve high hydration (the process of absorbing water) level of the cement in the surface layer of the concrete and thus improve durability and reach maximum strength.

On the other hand, “drying” is when water evaporates through the surface. Water from deep within the concrete that is not combined chemically within the concrete mix is free to evaporate, i.e., dry. If this process takes place too quickly, the concrete might crack, or in this case, your floors might crack!

You probably already know why this step is essential, just knowing the difference between curing and dying. We always cover freshly poured concrete with plastic because it allows gradual drying to provide adequate moisture, temperature, and time to let the concrete achieve the desired properties for its intended use. The process of covering the freshly poured concrete with plastic will prevent cracks. The plastic is placed over the curing concrete to trap the water inside and regulate its temperature, ensuring gradual curing. Plus, it keeps the concrete dust-free!

To summarize, covering the fresh concrete mix ensures achieved proper curing is while keeping it clean. Curing is all about maintaining the appropriate moisture content of the concrete to reach its maximum strength while dying is evaporating the water from the concrete mixture. All this to make sure you have crack-free floors. =)

How's your previous construction experience? Did your general contractor do this as well? Are you planning to build another property in Clearwater? or in Safety Harbor? Ensure that you always build your future properties with a trusted home builder. 

So you might wonder why it’s significant to cover freshly poured concrete with plastic?

Cover the concrete with plastic and you'll see the difference.

Let me explain a little bit of what goes on behind the walls of our new construction projects. Sandwiched between what you see on the face of a wall sits the insulation of the home. Insulation is material designed to prevent heat or sound from being transmitted from one area to another. Insulation can work in several different ways, but it most commonly incorporates materials consisting of millions of tiny air pockets. In our case, we use both fiberglass batts for most walls space and spray foam for the attic and around penetrations.

Open-cell spray foam can be used in an unvented attic to provide the needed thermal resistance and airtightness for a home. The insulation is the typical choice since it is vapor permeable and will allow drying of the exterior sheathing and roof framing. If they happen to get wet, it dries via diffusion into the interior of the building. You’ll be able to spot leaks in the roof if something is wrong. Other benefits include reducing energy costs, increasing a home’s structural integrity, and prolong the life of an air conditioning unit.

We used Certainteed R13 Sustainable Insulation Kraft Faced Batt + Caulk and Seal for our 2×4 walls. This is a fiberglass product that is made from common sand and recycled glass. The mixture is heated to form molten glass, spun into tiny fibers that eventually form a fiberglass blanket, and formed into batts to fit into certain-sized walls. Aside from being from recycled materials, fiberglass is preferred because it is non-combustible and non-absorbent. Thus, fiberglass will not support a flame (although the facing on fiberglass is often combustible), nor will it compress if it gets wet.

We also require our insulator to seal penetrations with foam to provide draft stopping measures. It’s not the same open-celled product mentioned above. Instead, these foams are sprayed from a can and are typically are made from Polyurethane. Spray foam around the windows was done during the wood framing stage when installing the windows and doors.

We require white foam for doors and windows. The white foam forms a long-lasting, weather-tight seal to reduce drafts for greater comfort and lower energy bills. It can adhere to wood, drywall, metal, masonry, glass, and most plastics while having an elasticity that allows movement and shifting within a structure.

For all other penetrations, we have specifics to use orange foam. The orange foam is a fire-resistant foam spray used to seal building floor, wall, or ceiling penetrations. Unlike the flexible white foam, the orange stuff, when cured, is quite hard and dense.

You might look at our penetrations in the above photos and think, “the insulator ran out of the orange stuff; they tried to substitute it with the white stuff.”. Not in this particular case; we had the orange foam sprayed to fire seal the penetrations. Then, we performed a cell fill of the concrete blocks with CMU Foam. What you see is the runoff and escape of the foam before solidifying.

The foamed-in-place insulation system can fill the cells much more efficiently and completely in an unreinforced, single block wall than the alternatives can. Foam insulation can’t settle and won’t run out of a hole is cut in the wall, other than during installation, which happened to us, and it does not interfere with mason productivity.

The great advantage of a foamed-in-place system is that it creates a complete insulating fill of the gaps in a wall, a huge improvement in the thermal and sound performance over a hollow wall, and even a slight advantage over granular insulating fills.

Another advantage claimed by some manufacturers is an improvement in the fire-resistance rating of a foam-filled block wall.

Home Builders – Knowing what you can’t see.

Our duty as the home builder is to know about the entire home, especially the parts that you never see. Even in a single home, you’ll see 3-4 different types of products used for different applications in a house yet are all considered a single aspect – such as insulation. That’s why it’s important to choose your custom home builder/general contractor/renovator wisely.

Do you have problems with your from Tampa, Lutz, Dunedin, and Clearwater? Would you like them to be inspected? We're here to help!  

Sandwiched between what you see on the face of a wall sits the

Wondering what makes homes from Parasol Properties comfortable and long-lasting? 

Spray Foam Batt Insulation CMU Cell Fill – Clearwater

Concrete blocks offer maximum versatility, strength, dryness, energy efficiency, and durability at a minimum cost and the fastest speed. This is why it is our clients’ material of choice for exterior walls. Block walls and pillars are an alternative to concrete walls that may be ready mixed on-site or precast in a factory.

You can see that install blocks on the job site need advanced planning to make sure window and door openings are properly measured and placed. The key has a flat horizontal slab that is entirely level. So that when blocks are placed, they are also level. We use a laser level and chalk line to also ensure the entire block wall segments are straight.

Lintels, or elevated beams, support the wall above the opening or space between two vertical supports and must be self-supporting over time. You can see we use vertical wood beams at the openings until all the mortar is cured and those pieces of lumber can be removed.

Standing block pillars are also carefully measured out and are placed at the end of where the roof trusses are to sit. The height of the pillars needs to match the same height as the walls. Thereafter, they will transfer weight down to the earth. The blocks all share and split the supporting responsibilities of the entire roof structure, including the trusses, sheathing, shingles, insulation, wiring, ducting, and ceiling drywall. Luckily the weight is split among all the blocks. Otherwise, you will see cracks form when an unbalanced system is created.

You can see where the house sits relative to the rest of the lot.

The concrete slab needs to be poured level prior to concrete block wall placement.

The penetrations are for plumbing, gas and electrical connections.

All the openings should be premeasured and accounted for during placement.

Standing pillars that will be supporting the roof also need to be erected with blocks.

Determine the location and placement of the post/pillar. You have to make sure everything lines up with the survey plan. You have everything marked out beforehand and during with a laser and proper measurements.

Install the first course with 4 corner blocks with the long sides facing out. Square up and level the blocks. Use shims if needed to help level the blocks if the existing surface is not level.

Step 3: Continue Building your Post/Pillar

Continue stacking courses, alternating between the patterns shown to offset the seams from the course below until the desired height is achieved. Do not stack the blocks up using only one pattern (seams should not create a straight line the full height of the post/pillar).

Finish the post with post caps if needed. Secure the Post Caps in place with a bead of flexible concrete adhesive along the outside edge of the top course of Corner Blocks, and then set the Post Caps in place. Taller posts/pillars will require added stability.

Do you find these pieces of information helpful in ensuring that your future home, perhaps in Tampa, Lutz, and Clearwater would be ok. If you need help, get it from trusted custom home builders or general contractors from the area. Always the best thing to do! 

Discover our secret in ensuring that the walls of your future home are durable and long-lasting.

building-science Blogs

Concrete Blocks – a quick primer

What Is The Importance Of A Poly?

Covering Concrete Slab with Plastic

Spray Foam Batt Insulation CMU Cell Fill – Clearwater

Block Walls and Pillars – Union Street, Clearwater, FL