Pros and Cons of Concrete block and Poured Concrete Foundation Walls

By Mark J. Donovan

Pros of Concrete Block Foundation Walls

• Concrete blocks are large and thus construction of foundation walls can occur quicker than one might initially think.
• Homeowners can frequently build their own foundation walls when using concrete blocks.
• Concrete block foundation walls have high insulation factors if filled with concrete, as they should be.

Cons of Concrete Block Foundation Walls

• Concrete block walls can look ugly.
• The outside surface of concrete block foundation walls need to be parged to improve the outside appearance.
• Concrete blocks are heavy, so some muscle is required if planning to construct your own concrete block foundation walls.
• Concrete block walls should be filled with concrete and rebar for structural strength and insulation reasons.

Pros of Poured Concrete Foundation Walls

• Poured foundation walls can be completed quickly, in as little as just a couple of days.
• Labor costs are typically lower than hiring a team of labors to assemble concrete blocks.
• Poured concrete foundations can frequently be stronger than concrete block walls due to the ability to specify the foundation wall thickness.
• Poured foundation walls are typically drier as there are no seams for water to leak through.

Cons of Poured Concrete Foundation Walls

• Poured foundation walls usually can not be performed by a homeowners.

To learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of see: Concrete blocks versus Poured concrete foundation walls.