Along with thrift and above average height, my father passed down an aversion for building stuff. I’ve often pondered if my minimalist tendencies are just the offshoot of this aversion–i.e. doing without requires zero carpentry skills. But EverBlock is a building system so simple, even a DDIY (don’t do it yourself) person like me could build stuff like a champ. EverBlock “is a life-sized modular building block that allows you to build nearly anything”–a description that bypasses Lego® brand building blocks, because, well, EverBlock are just really big Lego blocks.
Like Lego, EverBlock are plastic blocks that fit together, though EverBlock blocks are considerably more substantial. Details from their website:
The EverBlock™ System consists of four universal parts–a full sized 12″ block, a 6″ half-sized block, a 3″ one-quarter sized block, and a 12″ finishing cap that all interlock. Connector clips, hanging clips, and reinforcement rods are available for more structurally demanding applications and metal baseplates and feet can be used for additional stability.
This scale allows you to make some practical stuff: furniture, walls, various dividers, etc. Besides their obvious ease of construction, what’s best about them is that you can adjust them to changing spaces and needs. Need to chop your 1000 sq ft friendly sofa in half to fit into your new tiny house? Need to divide a room in your rental apartment without 2×4’s, sheetrock and paint? Need to convert your kid’s bed frame into an adult sized one? EverBlock has you covered for all of this.
You might even be able to make a basic house using the blocks. EverBlock founder Arnon Rosan wrote me saying that the blocks are reinforceable via a channel that runs inside the blocks, accommodating a plastic or wooden dowel or rebar and making them suitable for permanent or semi-permanent structures. There are also plans to make reinforcement pins that slot inside the blocks for much more rigidly. Windows and doors can be framed out similarly to traditional construction and replacement windows can be installed by screwing the window right into the blocks using nailing strips around the perimeter. While he estimates the R-value of the stacked blocks to be around 1.5–about the same as a one inch thick plywood–this figure could be greatly improved with caulking and, of course, insulation. If you have CAD drawings, EverBlock will help you realize your design. Getting a building inspector to sign off on this structure is a conversation for another day.
The blocks come in a few different colors and can be purchased individually and in bulk. An 18 pack of the large blocks runs around $125. Rosan said that a 7.5 ft tall, 400 sq ft structure with an opening for a door and two windows requires about 1,000 blocks, or about $6,500.00 in blocks. Raw materials for a conventional building might still be cheaper, but EverBlock’s ease of use and reusability–for both furniture and construction–might create a compelling alternative for many.
