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Disadvantages of Breeze Block Kennels
Historically many people have built breeze block kennels as a way of building a kennel structure. Whilst these are strong structures they do suffer with some design issues that kennel owners need to be aware of.
Breeze block is basically aerated concrete formed blocks which can be cemented together to form walls to a building. They have traditionally been viewed as an easy way to build a building but in the kennel arena they do have consequences for the owner.
The fact that these are made from concrete and have air pockets that are part of their structure means that they have a very open surface. This open cell means that germs and bacteria can easily invade the material and have the ideal place to breed.
The only way to overcome this issue is to put a sealant on it first and then use a paint system on top of this to try to seal the surface. This is a time consuming and costly process that only lasts in the short term.
This is a factor that most kennel owners don’t fully appreciate until they have erected a kennel from block. The really bad news is that its an ongoing process and will need treating annually so it is something that you will need to budget for. This cost can run into hundreds of pounds each year and is often overlooked when deciding which way to build the kennels.
Some people try to adhere plastics to the internal surfaces by bonding onto them but this generally is not very successful as these tend to expand and contract at different rates with temperature changes which means they delaminate. Fixing any additional material to block kennels will also have a financial cost too so this needs to be considered and planned for.
Another significant factor of breeze block kennels is their thermal rating. Concrete blocks do not retain heat particularly well and they will need to be insulated in some way. The UK is quite a cold environment with fluctuations that will need affect the kennel so insulation is critical here. Without insulation they will struggle to maintain DEFRA’s temperature guidelines of 10 degrees, the only way around this is to pump in heat which will result in large running costs.
Insulating blockwork kennels can be costly and something else that needs to be factored in when choosing the right system for your new kennel block. The better the insulation you use the lower your running costs will be.
Controlling moisture is important in any kennel. The daily cleaning with water and also from the dogs breath which emit vapour all the time means that your kennel will need to be ventilated in some way. Moisture and water will absorb into permeable surfaces which then can be retained which means the kennel environment will feel damp and unpleasant.
This will affect the kennel environment and is important for the hygiene of the kennel and the health of your dogs.
Conclusion
I have been into many block kennels over the years and the feedback from kennel owners is that they would have considered a different kennel construction now they have experienced the work involved to keep them clean. Many of them said that the ongoing running costs were much higher than they expected and didn’t realise that breeze block kennels were so labour intensive to maintain.
Easy Animal manufacture the leading range of insulated dog kennels. We design, manufacture and install cost effective, long term kennel solutions all over the UK. Call us to discuss your next kennel project on 01785 559555.
