Block has superior compressive strength,natural insulation,easier to repair and improvements are easier later on Best of all it gives you finished basement walls needing only paint.As with any project,require that the masonry be done with Union Bricklayers to insure the best quality and performance.Also have the contractor pour a suitable particulate insulation into the empty cells in the block and the R-factor will increase dramatically! an option only available to hollow core block.------http://members.techheadnet.com/ctalley/