Gablok is a Belgian company that developed a structure for self-building. This provides you with insulated formwork blocks to build your house with a lot less hustle.
You can build your own house. How cool does this sound?
It resembles the block building game you might have played with in childhood, just in a giant version. These blocks simplify the construction to an extent that it can be done by you.
This was founded in 2019 by Gabriel Lakatos, patented in 2018. It is one unique system. On their website, they have also provided the wanderers with details and pictures of latest projects.
The Gablok insulated wooden blocks are made of OSB wood and ESP insulation.
Gablok Cost Per Square Foot
Before taking up an experiment, everybody wonders about the cost. Although the cost varies as per your choices of design, style, location, material, etc., we can still have an estimate.
As per customer testimonials and the information available on Gablok’s official website, we can figure out the average cost per square foot to be ranging between 100 to 150 dollars. This not only includes the material but also the labour for assembly.
Estimately Gablok construction can go up to 30% less than the regular construction of home.
How to Build a House with Gablok?
Gablok construction kit comes with eight parts and insulated wooden blocks.
- The linking elements: the rafters
- The flooring elements
- The load-bearing and non load-bearing walls
- The beams
- The insulated top rail blocks
- The general insulated blocks
- The insulated bottom rail blocks
- The base and top runner nails
Along with the above, you also get screws and the plan of installation.
Gablok Blocks
Standard Dimensions
Gabloks are available in 3 different lengths: 30 cm, 60 cm and 90 cm. The height and width stays constant at 30 cm.
Durability
The Gablok bricks have proven to be durable but constant tests have been going on in the areas prone to seismic activities.
Holding
The individual blocks fit into each other like Lego bricks and requires no joinery system.
Traditional Construction V/S Gablok Construction
A proper comparison between the traditional method of construction and Gablok construction is necessary to know more about the benefits of Gablok over traditional.
Materials
Traditional construction requires various materials like wood, concrete, bricks, etc. to build up the base of the home, while Gablok construction is built in a way that all is incorporated in one. Gablok is standardised and simplifies the construction method.
Labour
Gablok construction minimises the labour of skilled workers like carpentry, masonry, framer, etc. by supplying ready to assemble blocks that can be done easily. The process is simplified so that the labour cost is reduced to almost null and easy to handle by the homeowners themselves.
Construction Time
Building the frame of the home is a work of several months, endlessly tiring for all. But here comes Gablok in benefit, that it is a child’s play. Your home is ready before time, and lowers the labour cost too with the reduction in time.
Insulated Blocks
One of the most important positive factors of going for Gablok construction is that the blocks have insulation properties, which reduces the need for additional insulation when the home is ready. This way the energy costs are lowered.
Market Trends and Stats
The market of innovating building systems is growing, as more and more people seek affordable and less time consuming methods of constructing houses. This growth might also be driven because it is a sustainable method.
The global modular construction market size is projected to grow from USD 104.1 billion in 2024 to USD 140.8 billion by 2029, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. While it was at USD 82.3 billion in 2020.
The company has been gradually expanding outside Belgium. They are focusing on the timeline of 2025 to 2028 for the US, keeping three years due to the vastness of the country.
Gablok Construction and Environment
Cost saving is the top most benefit of Gablok, but another major benefit of Gablok Construction can be the environmental benefits that come along. How great it is that the founders don’t just think about their benefit or the client’s requirement but also think about the impact on the environment.
The insulated wood blocks are made in Belgium with recyclable materials. The wood used is OSB woods. The insulator is EPS (polystyrene expanse) which is a very good insulator. It is easy to manufacture and 100% recyclable.
The traditional method of construction often produces waste from wood, concrete, bricks, and other stuff which is not the case with Gablok.
Conclusion
Building a house is a major life project for all households. It has made people’s dream of having their own house accessible.
Gablok supports you to be included more than usual in the construction process, giving it your sweat and tears metaphorically.
Gablok is the solution to all current time problems, lowers the cost, reduces construction time, and is eco-friendly.
Inhabit the house of your dream with Gablok.
