Aircrete Blocks Cracking up – Unwanted Trouble

Why do aircrete blocks crack up so often? As with so many of these problems, everyone involved is pointing a finger at someone else. Is it the blocks, the brickies, the plasterers or the architect who is to blame?

Aircrete blocks are lightweight and have a very high degree of insulation. When introduced they seemed like the wonder product of the age and to some extent, they do a job that no other materials can do.

I think it’s accurate to say that when they were first developed the intention was to use them on internal skins of cavity walls instead of breeze blocks which are heavier and not such good insulators.

This is still where they are mostly used. There are however a growing number of buildings being built with external skins of Aircrete and there are even buildings being built with solid Aircrete. That is to say no cavity.

The appeal of Aircrete blocks over bricks is speed and cheapness. They are a good product in their way but the builder needs to understand their limitations.