I recently spoke with someone who is building a house. He talked about a relatively new material that was like Styrofoam. It is used to build the entire house like a puzzle. Then you pour concrete into them. Does anyone know what I'm talking about, know what it's called or otherwise have any opinions about it?
EPS blocks, they are called (there may be other variants with different names)? Google "eps blocks and houses" and you will find some results to start with.
One advantage is that it's very light, both to carry around and to piece together, "like Lego" you could say. The technique is relatively new in Sweden, so it's important to ensure that those you hire (whether for the entire construction or just the filling with concrete) know how the technique works. Of course, you need to clad the walls with suitable board material so that you can mount pictures/shelves, etc.
The main disadvantage I've heard about the material is that it develops toxic gases if it catches fire. Look into it and how to protect yourself against it (if possible?).
I have no information on U-value, etc., but you should be able to find that by googling/contacting manufacturers (if no one here knows).
One advantage is that it's very light, both to carry around and to piece together, "like Lego" you could say. The technique is relatively new in Sweden, so it's important to ensure that those you hire (whether for the entire construction or just the filling with concrete) know how the technique works. Of course, you need to clad the walls with suitable board material so that you can mount pictures/shelves, etc.
The main disadvantage I've heard about the material is that it develops toxic gases if it catches fire. Look into it and how to protect yourself against it (if possible?).
I have no information on U-value, etc., but you should be able to find that by googling/contacting manufacturers (if no one here knows).
Other disadvantages are that you usually have a thin plaster coating on the outside of the house, which is quite vulnerable compared to a plastered stone wall, and you lose much of the heat storage capacity of a stone house since you have insulation inside the concrete. It would be better to have foam in the middle and concrete on both sides. But then you lose the rational construction method.
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