Some construction professionals have also hesitated at the idea of incorporating ByBlocks into certain projects. As the effects of faulty green construction are often hard to measure, it is less likely that an insurer will take on the corresponding unknown amount of risk,” said Matt Viator, construction attorney and senior Legal Associate at Levelset. “Insurers are unlikely to take on a risk that is hard to quantify. There is also an inherent risk when building with newly developed materials. While marketed as a cost-effective solution to pricey materials, it may be too early to experience the true cost benefits of ByBlocks - and it’s possible they’re still quite expensive. Actual price comparisons are not yet readily available to consumers, which poses questions about the accessibility of ByBlocks to most buyers. Unfortunately, there’s no direct answer to this right now. Will ByBlocks’ benefits outweigh the cost & risk? With many factors pushing construction towards more sustainable methods, ByFusion aims to create solutions that address both waste and price volatility.Ĭonsidering the massive amount of unrecyclable plastic in our environment, ByBlocks could be a plentiful and cost-effective option - but it is not yet clear how viable the ByBlock is as a budget building material. Any product that provides reliably sourced materials for the construction industry is a good thing. Price swings for conventional materials have caused major disruptions and disputes between contractors and suppliers. The average price of a cinder block has soared since January from $1.66/block to $2/block - a 20% increase. In recent months, material costs have experienced increases not seen since the 1970s. This isn’t the only issue with commonly used methods. In fact, up to 30% of unused materials intended for a construction project are eventually thrown away. It is no secret that traditional construction methods generate huge amounts of waste. ByFusion plans to sell both the ByFusion Blocker machines and the ByBlocks themselves. The result is an eye-catching, multi-colored ByBlock. The ByBlock is designed to integrate with traditional building materials such as lumber, cement, and steel to complete a building.īyFusion’s Standard ByBlock (BBK-011) is similar in dimension to a standard concrete masonry unit (CMU) - about 16″ width x 8″ depth x 8″ height - and weighs 22 lbs (although the ByBlock website states the block “can be customized to specific densities”).īyFusion’s recycled building blocks are created using the ByFusion Blocker machine, a system that shreds discarded plastic and compresses it with steam. The ByBlock is a “multi-purpose, reusable” insulating building material roughly the size and shape of a traditional cinderblock made entirely out of non-recyclable plastic waste. Related coverage: 17 Alternatives to Common Building Materials What are ByBlocks? So what sets ByBlock apart - and how viable is it for use on projects in the near future? As traditional material prices continue to rise, more and more builders are looking for alternative materials to complete their projects.īyFusion, a Los Angeles-based startup founded in 2017, has introduced a construction-grade building material called the ByBlock made out of 100% non-recyclable plastics.
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