Thoughts on Architectural Concrete Blocks for walls

[ToysRUs]

I'm about to build a 20 x 40 garage/shop/myspace next to the house. All detached garages in the neighborhood are brick/stone to match-ish the houses. My contractor and I are talking about colored split face ACMU for 11' walls to match-ish the house with the cores foamed for insulation and the ceiling foamed. I'll have scissor trusses for a 12'+ ceiling for a lift space in the front 2/3 and a mezzanine on the rear 1/3. All utilities will be surface run.
Here in TN I'll have a mini split for ac and heat but mostly to keep things dry.

Keeping in mind this is not the great white north what thought do you all have?

 

[billconner]

I like it. You might consider ground face block. It's that balance between not quite matching the existing stone versus a more distinctly different look with the character of stone. Hard to put in words but about a more honest design. Also makes it in less encumbant to match other details.

But split face is nice. We're you thinking a clear sealer or paint or no finish?

 

[ToysRUs]

Bill,
I'm familiar with the ground face look and really do like it better than split face but the $4 per block price difference when you're setting 1500 pieces is a lot.
As far as sealing it I think we will probably let it ride and see how much moisture or air intrusion we get. Spraying it down with a sealer densifier would not be that expensive anyhow.
This whole direction started because of the silly wood prices....

 

[billconner]

I hadn't priced it so yeah. Details so it's its own thing and not a poor imitation of historic stone. Stack bond? run a soldier course? Maybe do a different color accent course? Just something so almost no one thinks it's an imitation.

My fondness for new urbanism.

 

[kbs2244]

Think about the cost of labor
Masons are more expensive than carpenters
Maybe a split face kneewall and stick built above?

 

[billconner]

Good design choice imho. Just going through all the choices for a 2 car myself. I was able to spend millions of my clients money, encouraging them to spend more than they planned. All different when it comes to a thousand or so for myself. Oh very.