Pentstar's Innovative Masonry Wall System

Pentstar Corporation of Minneapolis, Minnesota has developed a new building system based on their patented Concrete Form Masonry Unit (CFMU). Think of the system as a hybrid of masonry block and cast-in-place concrete construction. Recycled-content plastic webs connect inner and outer finished masonry faces and an inner layer of 2” (50 mm) rigid foam (see diagram). The blocks are set in mortar, as are traditional concrete masonry units, and the 5” (125 mm) grout cavity is filled with concrete. The result is a completed wall system with both exterior and interior finished surfaces.

Inventor and company owner John Spakousky is a veteran masonry contractor growing increasingly concerned with the lack of innovation and performance in masonry construction, particularly in cold climates. “I wanted a block system that was easy to install, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and versatile—so I developed the system myself,” says Spakousky.