“I knew it was going to save me money,” homeowner Jan Dubuisson said of the concrete construction, “but I didn’t know how much.” What gives the home its strength is Autoclaved Aerated Concrete block. The blocks are made off-site with natural materials such as sand, lime, aluminum powder and water. A chemical reaction occurs when the concrete is mixed and cast, resulting in a product that is one-fifth the weight of standard concrete blocks – light enough to float.

The AAC blocks cut like wood and interior ducts for water lines and electrical are routed into the 8-inch thick walls that have an R-30 insulation value.

Construction superintendent Jonathan Murray of Pearl River, La., said it took a crew of eight three days to build the shell of the house............read more