Our Process
Masonry Framing
Bost Custom Homes has been a leader in residential concrete masonry construction since pioneering the technique in the Triangle area in 1999.
Pioneering the Technique
Rex Bost began exploring masonry framed homes after North Carolina suffered widespread damage from Hurricane Fran in 1996. It just made sense to build more structurally sound shells for homes, but the technique was unconventional outside of Florida.
Rex teamed up with the NC Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA) and studied the technique in Florida to adapt an engineering detail for our codes and market. Over the years, Bost has honed and improved a masonry framing technique that has become a hallmark of our craft.
The Process
Masonry framing is a technique of constructing the exterior walls of the home with concrete block (CMUs) or cast concrete walls (CIP). The reinforced concrete walls are much stronger than dimensional lumber and become the load-bearing shell on which the main structure rests.
Interior walls are then framed out of wood or metal studs, including the exterior walls abutting the masonry to allow space for insulation, air sealing, wiring, and plumbing. The interior walls are finished with gypsum and can be finished as desired, like a traditionally framed house.
The exterior of the masonry walls is then ready to receive real stucco, stone veneer, and other cladding applications to achieve the desired architectural style.
Why It's Worth the Investment
As you can imagine, there is additional cost in executing this technique; so what benefits warrant the investment?
Stronger structural integrity
Thermal massing for lower demand on heating and cooling
Sound absorption and a quieter living experience
Tighter air sealing envelope
Thicker exterior walls — by about 10"
Termite resistance
Fire resistance
A Generational Craft
Rex grew up laying brick and block around Western NC with his father, Jack Bost. These generational masonry skills laid the foundation for Rex's first company, an artistic masonry service called Bostone.
From decorative brick and stonework, Rex made the leap into homebuilding in 1986. This history of masonry expertise is what poised Bost Homes to be the leader of masonry framed homes in the Triangle, starting in 1999. Today we continue that legacy of masonry expertise.
