COCHISE OMNI BRICK – PHOENIX

Completed Photo Gallery

This home featured the use and expression of natural building materials; wood, metal, concrete and concrete block. While not everyone will like this natural look, these photos will potentially provide a design or stimulate a idea for your individual home.

Construction Photos

Photos show the construction process towards the final stages.

Photo at left shows Omni Brick exposed in a shower application. The tan sheet is protecting a large mirror within the shower area.

These photos show how easily the interior drywall interfaces with the exposed block. A “J metal” end cap is used to achieve a definite straight line where the drywall ends and the block starts. No caulking is required. It is recommended to recess the drywall interface 3/8″ (or the depth of the mortar joint) so the the end cap-to-block connection does not have any voids.

This is an important finishing detail that can effectively make or break whether or not exposed block meets the critical eye test.

Three strong materials; steel, wood, and block are all exposed in this residential architecture. The wood-to-block transition is very clean and beautiful in both design and use of texture.

The block model above is overlayed onto the building’s AutoCad file to assure accurate placement.

The individual Omni Block models are illustrated at left. The “brick” models are identified and with one click in the program can be accurately counted. The mason can easily see the brick placement locations and that there are no dimensional cuts in the whole building.

Early Construction 

Omni Brick in a natural grey laid 7 courses off the finished floor (exposed slab will be poured later) in a stack bond. The mortar joints are not tooled but rather insert 3/8″ to give the block an edge profile.

Single gang electrical boxes are available at most local big box building supply stores and all electrical supply wholesalers. The interior side boxes (shown above) are 3.5″ deep while the exterior side boxes are 2.5″ deep. The preferred box is “gangable” by unscrewing one side screw and removing the side plate. When done to the other side of another box, the boxes are then attached together to make one double gang box. The same can be done for triple gang requirements.

This a typical Omni Block properly stocked block that is uniformly stacked approximately 2′ from the block wall. Interesting that most all of the mason’s tools are captured in this photo. Between the block stacks there is a mortar board with stand, a hickey bar, a trowel, a cross level and a 4′ level which are all needed to properly lay masonry block.

View the installation of inserts at this link.

Two layers of insulation with 3 layers of mass are shown above. The structural engineer has called for a vertical rebar every 4′ which is where an insert is left out of the wall so those cells can eventually be grouted. All ungrouted cells receive insulation inserts and installed as the video demonstrates.

Shown at left is a plumbing waste vent that is housed within a Omni Block corner unit.

These photos show that the Omni Brick stem (foundation) wall has been installed, all of the underground utilities in place and the pad has been backfilled. In most cases the concrete slab would be poured but the architect / owner / builder desires the concrete to be exposed when completed. Therefore, the safest way to make sure that no subcontractor inadvertently damages the concrete is to hold off in pouring it. The masons can easily work on this surface.

ARCHITECT AND GENERAL CONTRACTOR
IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION
1708 EAST BETHANY ROAD
PHOENIX, AZ 85016
480-948-1030 or jason@identityconstruction.net
CONTACT: JASON SMITH

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
GARY HART ENGINEERING
5851 EAST BECK LANE
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85254
602-819-8588 or gary@garyhartpe.com
CONTACT: GARY HART

MASON
HESER MASONRY
8835 NORTH 6TH STREET
PHOENIX, AZ 85020
602-944-8984 or gordonheser@yahoo.com
CONTACT: CHRISSEY HESER

BLOCK SUPPLIER
CINDRLITE BLOCK
4745 MITCHELL STREET
LAS VEGAS, NV 89081
702-467-7303 or kylan@cinderliteblock.com
CONTACT: KYLAN STOUT