Yes! We have no aircrete blocks

We've spent the past 3 days trying to source aircrete blocks. First I tried to get Celcon blocks at a good price, then Celcon blocks at any price and finally any type of aircrete block at any price! Shortage isn't the word for it. Bradfords in Dorchester told us they had none and that their next delivery, of a mere 7000 blocks, would be end of June/early July!

Today we finally managed to order 540 Toplite blocks, from B&Q Tradepoint Weymouth, for delivery next Thursday. This will be enough to get us to damp-proof course level. We will need another 400 blocks to complete the plinth walls. Completion of these walls is on our critical path as the cruck frames which hold the straw bales in place sit on them. Further blocks will be required later for the end walls but there is no urgency for these.

As brick layers are also in short supply we are going to be building the block walls ourselves. In preparation we've bought a Belle Mini Mix 150 Cement mixer for mixing the cement for block laying - when we've got some blocks to lay that is. We've just heard that there is also a shortage of concrete. I'd like to think the bringer of bad news was only pulling our leg... but apparently his brother was rationed to 3 bags. Sigh.

#plinthwall #Woodlands #celconblocks #strawbalehouse #aircreteblocks