What kind of block wall is this?

[Mr_T25]

In the following image:

1. Is this type of block wall meant to be used as a decorative brick/block facing without the use of render (compared with plane grey blocks)?

2. How expensive are these blocks?

Thanks.

 

[Himaginn]

I would guess they're 'paint-finish blocks' designed to allow painting straight onto the block. I used 'em for my workshop, which I then painted with a masonry paint. They're just a smoother finish.
They are a bit more expensive than normal, but I can't remember the price difference.

 

[Mr_T25]

So this is not meant to be left as a decorative block like that, they are meant to be painted?

 

[^woody^]

They can be left like it, or painted. Whatever the owner wants.

They are the same price as normal dense concrete blocks around here.

 

[stuart45]

They can be used as a face block on Industrial buildings like the one shown, but on houses they would normally be rendered etc.

 

[Mr_T25]

Ok so for a boundary wall between two houses, sounds like it's still going to be as expensive as a rendered wall.

Thx.

 

[Himaginn]

Minus the cost of rendering, if you leave them as is.

 

[Mr_T25]

I cant decide if they look ok or not to leave unrendered.

 

[^woody^]

I cant decide if they look ok or not to leave unrendered.

Perhaps the neighbour might have an opinion.

Traditionally, people tended to provide a nice external face for their neighbours

 

[stuart45]

Have you looked at Split faced blocks?

 

[Mr_T25]

Have you looked at Split faced blocks?

never heard of it before until you mentioned. Interesting idea, but some negative coverage of it here:
http://www.deckerhomeservices.com/Split_faced_block.htm

Woody,
I believe the wall belongs to neighbour but to encourage them to change the whole 40m rotten fence line (we're doing up our whole house and garden), we said we would contribute to the cost, but the £10k overall cost is somewhat limiting, when a fence might be erected for a third of that.