Hollow Concrete Blocks: Cheap and Durable Construction Alternatives for Kenyans - Kenyans.co.ke

2023-01-09 21:21:37 By : Mr. Yujin Song

Being a homeowner is, undoubtedly, among the top priorities for most Kenyans.  However, with the tough economic times that most Kenyans are currently experiencing, this dream may seem unachievable.

According to many Kenyans, the high cost of construction materials is one of the major barriers to building their dream home. Block Machine

Hollow Concrete Blocks: Cheap and Durable Construction Alternatives for Kenyans - Kenyans.co.ke

However, over the years, Kenyans have embraced alternative means and new construction technologies in a bid to cut on costs of building their dream homes.

The use of hollow blocks, for example, is one of the latest trends that Kenyans have, in the recent past, embraced in the construction industry.

These types of blocks have been touted as cheap and durable.

According to James Mwangi of Kaka James Concrete Enterprises, a hollow block can last for up to 40 years.

The hollow blocks are made from quarry dust that is mixed with sand and cement inside a special mixer before it is fed into the compression machine.

Once in the compression machine, the mixture is then molded into the desired shape and size.

Hollow blocks are used as an alternative to bricks which are comparatively more expensive. 

Additionally, due to their hollowness, these blocks act as thermal insulators and have been credited for being environmentally friendly. No fumes are produced when making them. 

Furthermore, with hollow cement blocks, you can construct thin walls consequently increasing the floor area of the house.   In a 2019 interview, Mwangi, who has been in the construction industry for a long time, noted that a three-bedroom house that went for Ksh3 million at the time could easily be constructed at half that price if one decided to use hollow blocks.

"These blocks are light in weight which is good for storey buildings and, besides that, they are thermal insulators and allow the warm air in the cavities to rise and exit the house," Mwangi stated.

In addition, hollow blocks are adaptable to any weather and are hardly affected by natural disasters. However, they require interior reinforcement for added strength.

One of the disadvantages of these types of blocks is, however, the high risk that comes with hanging huge items on the walls.

Also, the hollowness may increase the chance of water seepage.

In the same spirit of making housing affordable, a researcher from the Meru University of Science and Technology developed a technique of using clay soil to make cement in December 2022.

Hollow Concrete Blocks: Cheap and Durable Construction Alternatives for Kenyans - Kenyans.co.ke

Cement Bricks Machine Price "If we are to actualise affordable housing, we have to significantly lower the cost of cement," researcher Joseph Mwiti noted.