Choosing blocks for building a house: which is better, price and technical characteristics. What are the best home building blocks to use? Which expanded clay concrete block is better

What is better, aerated concrete or expanded clay block, should be found out even before the foundation of these building materials is laid. Otherwise, after its construction, it will be too late to change the design.

Anyone's choice building material carried out taking into account its weight, density and other characteristics.

Differences in the way materials are produced

To choose the most suitable building material, you must familiarize yourself with all its features in advance. Aerated concrete differs in its properties from expanded clay concrete. These materials are often used to build the walls, bearing and internal partitions of houses.

Expanded clay block is used in construction as a monolithic material. The market offers hollow and solid expanded clay concrete. The use of aerated concrete in monolithic structures is rarely resorted to. The produced gas blocks can be different in size.

The composition and production technology of these materials are very different, but both of them belong to the class of aerated concrete. Aerated concrete is a porous material containing a huge amount of air bubbles. The raw materials used for its production differ from the materials from which expanded clay concrete is made.

Gas blocks are made from the following types of materials:

• sand;
• cement;
• lime;
• aluminum powder.

The process of the appearance of air bubbles associated with gas formation involves the use of aluminum powder. As a result, the building material produced is porous. Aerated concrete, like expanded clay concrete, is produced under a certain brand.

The production of expanded clay concrete is carried out from the following types of materials:

• sand;
• cement;
• expanded clay;
• water.

During the manufacturing process, the entire mixture is mixed, and it is water that is used as a connecting link. Expanded clay can have a different fraction. The technology for the manufacture of expanded clay concrete does not require the use of special equipment. Unlike aerated blocks, expanded clay concrete can be made at home.

Distinctive qualities of gas and expanded clay concrete

The main differences in the properties of aerated concrete and expanded clay concrete are those that are due to the method of their manufacture:

1. The strength of the structures being built. Expanded clay concrete is more durable than aerated block, since it contains a filler in the form of expanded clay. This gives special strength to the structures erected from it. Air bubbles are provided as a filler in aerated concrete, making the structure of the material porous.
2. Carrying out finishing works... Expanded clay concrete is more pleasant for further processing, after the construction of walls from it. Plastering of such structures using a sand-cement mixture is ideal. The smooth structure of aerated concrete can cause problems with plastering such a surface, but due to the exact dimensions of the material, it will be enough to apply a thin layer of putty or plaster.
3. The process of laying blocks. Claydite concrete products should be laid exclusively on a solution of sand and cement, the seam in the masonry should be 10-15 mm. Aerated concrete blocks are laid with aerated concrete glue, and the seam size is 2 mm, which allows you to keep the heat leaving through the cold bridges.

These materials do not actually differ in their water absorption properties, they have excellent water absorption capacity. Aerated concrete has a structure that is capable of water absorption to the greatest extent, therefore additional protection from precipitation is required.

In some cases, people are dismissive of the construction of aerated concrete foundations, trying to save money on this material. They associate such possibilities with the light weight of aerated concrete blocks. At the same time, even more fragile materials can be used to build a solid support.

What building material is more expensive

Due to the complexity of the technology used for the manufacture of blocks from aerated concrete, their cost is higher than that of expanded clay concrete. The dimensions of the gas blocks are larger, which greatly speeds up the laying of walls from it. Construction is simplified due to the smoother geometric shape of the products.

Technological voids of expanded clay concrete blocks impart fragility to this material. It can be destroyed with just a slight blow to the block, but in the process of laying they are quite durable. This ensures their ability to withstand heavy weight loads. Aerated concrete products of higher grades can have similar indicators, which leads to a significant increase in the cost of blocks.

The price set by the manufacturer for aerated concrete is lower than for blocks of expanded clay concrete, but this issue is controversial. If you compare the full cost, then you need to take into account all the additional costs. For this, they are fully analyzed.

For example, the optimal thickness of a bearing wall made of expanded clay concrete can be 20 cm, but for aerated concrete walls this is not always enough. As a result, the cost of the material used may be higher than expanded clay. The increased grade of aerated concrete is more expensive, but it allows you to exclude the shedding of the walls and the appearance of cracks in them. They most often appear on more fragile aerated concrete.

What to consider when choosing a material

Thinking about what to choose: aerated concrete or expanded clay blocks, it should be borne in mind that walls made of the first material will differ in flowability. It is very difficult to fix objects with significant weight on them. Nails are easily driven into them, but they do not hold there. Expanded clay concrete wall does not imply the occurrence of such problems.

In terms of the need for wall insulation, aerated concrete does not have any advantages over expanded clay concrete. Walls made of these materials in any case need insulation. They can be of the same thickness, but aerated concrete will retain heat in the house better. That's what it is distinctive feature, due to which aerated concrete blocks were developed.

In certain cases, expanded clay does not require an armored belt mounted on top of the walls. If the walls are made of aerated concrete, then they must be reinforced without fail. When choosing which is better, an aerated block or expanded clay block, one should not rely only on the thermal insulation qualities of these materials. Although aerated concrete is warmer, its strength is less, and in certain cases it is more expensive.

The use of aerated concrete may imply the occurrence of certain problems associated with wall decoration from this type of material. Let's compare the consumption of aerated concrete in terms of costs for its use with expanded clay blocks. Its high cost is due to the need for reinforcement, masonry of walls, the greatest thickness, arrangement of thermal insulation, the choice of more expensive and high-quality brands.

Pros and cons of aerated concrete

The blocks made of aerated concrete are lightweight and ergonomic. The construction process from this material is greatly simplified due to these characteristics. The weight of a building constructed from such material is small, so additional strengthening of the base of the house is not required.

The process of erecting aerated concrete buildings does not require the involvement of powerful equipment. Loading and unloading or transporting materials is optional. Since during the construction of houses from aerated blocks, special glue for cellular concrete and the environmentally friendly material itself are used, all types of work performed must be clean.

If we compare aerated concrete blocks with brick products, then their weight is 3 times less. When choosing expanded clay blocks or aerated concrete by weight, it should be borne in mind that the former are 1.5 times heavier than the latter. When choosing between these concretes, it must be remembered that aerated concrete has higher thermal insulation characteristics.

Aerated concrete blocks are characterized by simplicity of pre-processing. They can be cut and sanded with ease. This advantage greatly simplifies the installation work. Walls made of aerated concrete do not require additional finishing.

The presented building material is non-toxic. It does not highlight harmful substances capable of damaging human health. However, a significant disadvantage of this type of material is the high degree of fragility. Walls made of this material can crack and shrink over time. To mount heavy objects on such surfaces, use special types fastenings.

Aerated concrete undergoes waterproofing without fail, since it is capable of excessively absorbing moisture. Expanded clay blocks can largely surpass aerated concrete counterparts in strength. The construction of walls from aerated concrete blocks requires special reinforcement with a reinforced concrete belt. If this is not done in advance, then the building is likely to shrink.

Advantages and disadvantages of expanded clay blocks

Choosing which is better, aerated concrete or expanded clay concrete, you should figure out which of the materials is more economical. At high rates frost resistance expanded clay concrete has a minimum price. The blocks have excellent sound insulation. Expanded clay concrete is not capable of cracking and shrinking, therefore it is used for the construction of walls and partitions of houses, including supporting structures.

Karamzit-concrete blocks cannot ignite or pass steam or moisture. Walls made of this material can withstand the heavy weight of the objects that are attached to them well. If you hammer a dowel or a nail into the surface of such walls, then they will hold without any devices.

The disadvantage of expanded clay and aerated concrete blocks is the presence of a certain degree of fragility. Before erecting a warm structure, you will need to lay out thick walls or buy expensive materials for thermal insulation. This will require quite high construction costs.

For walls made of expanded clay concrete, additional finishing is required. If we compare it in this regard with aerated concrete, then it is a more difficult material to process. For cutting expanded clay concrete, it is better to choose a device that has a diamond wheel.

Geo-concrete, in comparison with expanded clay block, is a more vapor-permeable material. The latter material is capable of exerting heavy loads on the foundation of the house. At the same time, transportation, unloading and unloading of expanded clay concrete is expensive.

The construction of a country house from modern heat-efficient ceramic blocks is economically less expensive than from expanded clay concrete blocks.

If you do not limit yourself to comparing the cost of 1m 3 blocks, but consider all the costs, then it becomes clear that when choosing heat-efficient ceramic blocks, the savings will be 250-350 thousand rubles.

At the same time, in all the main characteristics, heat-efficient ceramic blocks are superior to expanded clay concrete blocks:

• strength grade of heat-efficient ceramic blocks - M75, expanded clay concrete blocks - M35-M50;
• thermal resistance outer wall from heat-efficient ceramic blocks - 3.73 m 2 * C / W, thermal resistance of the outer wall made of expanded clay concrete blocks with an included layer of mineral wool thermal insulation 100 mm - 3.48 m 2 * C / W.

Below is the reasoning behind this thesis. No ads - just numbers!

In recent years, the construction of low-rise buildings from expanded clay concrete blocks is rapidly losing popularity.

Main reasons 2.

1. The need to use a layer of insulation in the construction of the outer wall. Otherwise, the constructed housing does not meet the requirements (below is the heat engineering calculation of the structure). Insulation is the weak link in the structure, its service life is 30-35 years, after which expensive facade repairs with replacement of thermal insulation will be required (more on this below).
2. Higher construction costs compared to the main competitors - thermal efficient ceramic blocks and aerated concrete blocks.

Expenses when choosing expanded clay concrete blocks for the construction of a house with an area of ​​140-150 m2 are below by about 100-150 thousand rubles.

And this is really so if we consider conventional large format ceramic blocks with geometry of voids rectangular or diamond-shaped... The technology for the production of ceramic blocks with such a geometry of voids was adopted by German manufacturers of building ceramics in the early 80s. Majority Russian manufacturers ceramic blocks were able to master and are currently implementing this outdated technology.
Heat specifications such blocks allow to provide SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings" when using blocks with a rhomboid geometry of voids with a thickness of 440 mm, and in the case of using blocks with a rectangular geometry of voids with a thickness of 510 mm.

The construction industry does not stand still, 15 years ago German engineers developed a technology for the production of ceramic blocks with a more heat-efficient grid (geometry of voids). In Russia, the Samara Plant of Ceramic Materials was the first to master this technology, and for 10 years it produced blocks of the line. SuperThermo.
In the middle of 2017, the Samara plant removed the line blocks from production SuperThermo since they were replaced by blocks with an even more heat-efficient design - these are the blocks of the line Caiman.

What's the Difference the best block Of Russia from a conventional ceramic block?

4 signs of real warm ceramics.

1. When we choose from which hollow-core slotted ceramic block to build our house, an important parameter is not overall dimension block, and the length of the ceramic tracks. It is along them that the heat flow moves, because the air in closed chambers is an excellent insulator. In a more modern ceramic block Cayman30, the path that the heat flux will have to overcome is longer;

2. Note that the ceramic path on the block Cayman30 has a smaller thickness than that of conventional ceramic blocks, the smaller the thickness of the path, the less heat flux will pass through it per unit of time;

3. Real warm ceramics cannot have a strength grade of M100 or more, because an increase in the brand strength is achieved due to the higher density of the clay, the denser the material, the better it transmits heat. Have Cayman30 compressive strength grade M75, this is due to the fact that heat-efficient ceramic blocks Cayman30 high porosity of the clay itself. Micro air chambers also increase the heat flow path length. At the same time, the strength grade M75 allows using the Cayman30 as a self-supporting unit in buildings up to 5 floors .;

4. And finally, the last patented know how in block design Cayman30, it is a heat-efficient side docking lock for Cayman30 the castle is a long saw-shaped path for the heat out of the house, in the outdated model of ordinary ceramic blocks, the heat in the castle flows out in a straight and thick path.

Here you can see Thermal conductivity test report for ceramic blocks Kerakam Kaiman 30
You can find the value of the thermal conductivity coefficient in operation at the end of the document.

Compare expanded clay concrete blocks with heat-efficient ceramic blocks Cayman30 on the example of a concrete house, with an area of ​​166.6 m2, designed by our design office.

1 200 projects of houses of our development can be viewed on the page House projects included in the House project for free.

• Below is a comparison of the main characteristics of the materials in question, as well as the features of their installation.
• The heat engineering calculation of the external wall structures made of expanded clay concrete blocks and ceramic blocks Cayman30, prepared according to the methodology of SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings".
• And to top it off, a comparative calculation of the costs of building a house was carried out when choosing expanded clay concrete blocks or ceramic blocks Kerakam Cayman30.

Looking ahead, I inform you that the choice in favor of building a house from a ceramic block Kerakam Kaiman 30, by all characteristics superior, will not lead to an increase in costs, but, on the contrary, to a decrease in costs by 252 420 rubles.

You can see the calculation in numbers below, at the end of the article. In the comparative calculation, the price was used expanded clay concrete block Rub 45 / pc, the cost of a heat-efficient ceramic block Cayman30 was taken equal Rub 95 / pc taking into account the delivery to the object.

Let's compare the materials under consideration - expanded clay concrete blocks and ceramic blocks Kerakam Cayman30 by characteristics.

1. Strength.

The strength of wall materials is determined by the ultimate pressure of the distributed load on the test specimen and is characterized by the number of kilograms of forces (kgf) applied to one square centimeter of the material surface.

So ceramic block Kerakam Cayman30 has a strength grade M75, which means that one square centimeter is able to withstand a load of 75 kg.

The value of the strength grade of the expanded clay concrete block is quite low and varies from M35 to M50 for different manufacturers. As a result, according to the instructions of the producers of lightweight aggregate concrete blocks, every third row of masonry should be reinforced; for this, grooves are made in the lightweight aggregate concrete blocks for laying reinforcement.

Ceramic block masonry Kerakam Kaiman 30 reinforced only at the corners of the building, per meter in each direction. For reinforcement, a basalt-plastic mesh is used, laid in the masonry seam. Time-consuming chasing and subsequent covering of the reinforcement in the chase with glue is not required.

When installing ceramic blocks, the masonry mortar is applied only along the horizontal seam of the masonry... The bricklayer applies the mortar immediately to one and a half to two meters of masonry and starts each next block along the groove-ridge. Laying is done very quickly.

When installing lightweight aggregate concrete blocks, the solution must be applied to the side surface of the blocks. Obviously, the speed and laboriousness of masonry with this method of installation will only increase.

Also, for professional bricklayers, it is not difficult to cut ceramic blocks. A reciprocating saw is used for this purpose. In each row of the wall, you only need to file one block.

2. The ability of the structures under consideration to resist heat transfer, i.e. keep the house warm in winter, cool in summer.

To ensure the SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings", a layer of thermal insulation must be included in the structure of the external wall erected from expanded clay concrete blocks. As noted above insulation is the weak link in design, its service life 30-35 years old, after which expensive facade repairs with replacement of thermal insulation will be required. The following can be used as a heat-insulating layer:

• mineral wool insulation,
• expanded polystyrene PSBS M25,
• extruded polystyrene foam.

Extruded polystyrene foam material is quite new, but it is believed that its service life in the structure will exceed 30-35 years, which is the limit for mineral wool and M25 expanded polystyrene foam. The cost of extruded polystyrene foam is higher, but the thermotechnical characteristics of this type of insulation are superior to that of a mineral wool board and expanded polystyrene. As a consequence, using extruded polystyrene foam, the required thermal resistance of the structure can be achieved with a smaller layer thickness, i.e. it will be required less, which partially compensates for the high cost cubic meter extruded polystyrene foam.

It should be understood that polystyrene foam has a very low vapor permeability, which affects the comfort of living in houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks, insulated with expanded polystyrene. Also, you should pay attention to the fact that this type of insulation contains styrene. Styrene is a general toxic poison, it has an irritating, mutagenic and carcinogenic effect, belongs to the second (GN 2.1.6.1338-033) hazard class. For more information on the toxic properties of styrene, see the Wikipedia website.

Mineral wool heaters, in contrast to expanded polystyrene, have good vapor permeability. This improves the indicator of the comfort of living in the house, but imposes requirements on the arrangement of multilayer vapor-permeable structures, in particular, between the surface of the insulation and the masonry of the facing brick, it is necessary to arrange an air gap of 40-50 mm, ensuring free air circulation in it, for this, air vents are arranged in the facing brickwork. Vertical masonry seams are cleared from the mortar, one seam per 3 m 2. The creation of a ventilation gap increases the overall thickness of the outer wall, which will lead to an increase in the thickness of the foundation wall, and this, in turn, will affect the costs of foundation work.
It should also be noted that most mineral wool insulation (yellow-green-brown slabs) contain phenol, which is used to glue stone or glass fibers to give them the shape of a slab. Phenol is a general toxic poison, it also belongs to the highly hazardous substances of the second (GN 2.1.6.1338-033) hazard class. For more information on the toxic properties of phenol, see the Wikipedia website.
Also, it is necessary to understand that during the operation of the house, the phenolic glue will gradually evaporate, as a result, after about 30-35 years, the stone fibers will remain without an adhesive bond with each other, which will lead to the loss of the original shape of the mineral wool slab. Fibers will begin to settle, exposing portions of the outer wall and filling the ventilation gap. Would need overhaul facade, with the dismantling of the facade cladding and the remnants of the insulation.

Thermal characteristics of the Kerakam Kaiman30 ceramic block are such that the inclusion of thermal insulation in the structure is not required. Thermal resistance of an external wall built from blocks Cayman30 and faced with slotted bricks - 3.73 m2 * C / W, which with a margin provides SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings" for residential buildings in the city Novosibirsk.

Below is a heat engineering calculation, an external wall made of expanded clay concrete block, 390mm thick, insulated with a layer of 80mm extruded polystyrene foam, and walls made of a heat-efficient ceramic block Caiman30, made according to the method described in the SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings".

Heat engineering calculation made for the city of Dmitrov, Moscow region.

The ability of a structure to retain heat is determined by such a physical parameter as the thermal resistance of the structure ( R, m 2 * C / W).

Determine the degree-day of the heating period, ° С ∙ day / year, according to the formula (SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings") for the city Dmitrov.

GSOP = (t in - t from) z from,

where,
t v- the design temperature of the internal air of the building, ° С, taken when calculating the enclosing structures of the groups of buildings indicated in table 3 (SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings"): according to pos. 1 - according to the minimum values ​​of the optimal temperature of the corresponding buildings in accordance with GOST 30494 (in the interval 20 - 22 ° C);
t from- the average temperature of the outside air, ° С during the cold period, for g. Dmitrov meaning -3,1 ° C;
z from- the duration, day / year, of the heating period, adopted according to the set of rules for the period with an average daily outside air temperature of no more than 8 ° С, for the city Dmitrov meaning 216 days.

GSOP = (20- (-3.1)) * 216 = 4 989.60 ° С * day.

The value of the required thermal resistance for the external walls of residential buildings is determined by the formula (SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings)

R tr 0 = a * GSOP + b

where,
R tr 0- required thermal resistance;
a and b- the coefficients, the values ​​of which should be taken according to table No. 3 of SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings" for the corresponding groups of buildings, for residential buildings the value a should be taken equal to 0.00035, the value b - 1,4

R tr 0 = 0.00035 * 4 551.0 + 1.4 = 3.1463 m 2 * C / W

The value of the required thermal resistance for the outer walls of residential buildings in a number of Russian cities

The formula for calculating the conditional thermal resistance of the structure under consideration:

R 0 = Σ δ n /λ n + 0,158

Where,
Σ - symbol of summation of layers for multilayer structures;
δ - layer thickness in meters;
λ - coefficient of thermal conductivity of the layer material, subject to operating humidity;
n- layer number (for multilayer structures);
0.158 is a correction factor, which for simplicity can be taken as a constant.

Formula for calculating the reduced thermal resistance.

R r 0 = R 0 x r

Where,
r- coefficient of thermal engineering homogeneity of structures with heterogeneous areas (joints, heat-conducting inclusions, porches, etc.)

According to the standard STO 00044807-001-2006 according to Table No. 8 the value of the coefficient of heat engineering uniformity r for masonry of large-sized hollow porous ceramic stones and gas silicate blocks should be taken equal to 0,98 .

At the same time, I draw your attention to the fact that this coefficient does not take into account the fact that

1. we recommend laying the masonry using a warm masonry mortar (this significantly eliminates the heterogeneity at the joints);
2. as the connections of the bearing wall and the front masonry, we use not metal, but basalt-plastic ties, which conduct heat literally 100 times less than steel ties (this significantly eliminates the inhomogeneities formed due to heat-conducting inclusions);
3. window slopes and doorways, according to our design documentation, they are additionally insulated with extruded polystyrene foam (which levels the heterogeneity in the places of window and door openings, porches).

From which we can conclude that when the instructions of our working documentation are fulfilled, the masonry uniformity coefficient tends to one. But in calculating the reduced thermal resistance R r 0 we will still use the table value 0.98.

R r 0 must be greater than or equal to R 0 required.

We determine the mode of operation of the building in order to understand what is the coefficient of thermal conductivity λ a or λ in take when calculating the conditional thermal resistance.

The method for determining the operating mode is described in detail in SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings" ... Based on the specified normative document, follow the step-by-step instructions. 1st step. We define sonu humidity of the region of development - Dmitrov using Appendix B SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings".

According to the table city Dmitrov is in zone 2 (normal climate). We take the value 2 - normal climate. 2nd step. According to Table No. 1 of SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings" we determine the humidity regime in the room. At the same time, I draw your attention to heating season the air humidity in the room drops to 15-20%. During the heating period, the air humidity must be raised to at least 35-40%. Humidity of 40-50% is considered comfortable for humans. In order to raise the humidity level, it is necessary to ventilate the room, you can use air humidifiers, the installation of an aquarium will help.

According to Table 1, the humidity regime in the room during the heating period at an air temperature of 12 to 24 degrees and a relative humidity of up to 50% - dry. 3rd step. According to Table No. 2 of SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings", we determine the operating conditions. To do this, we find the intersection of the line with the value of the humidity regime in the room, in our case it is dry, with a humidity column for the city Dmitrov, as it was found out earlier, this is the value normal.

Summary. According to the SNiP methodology "Thermal protection of buildings" in the calculation of the conventional thermal resistance ( R 0) the value should be applied under operating conditions A, i.e. it is necessary to use the coefficient of thermal conductivity λ a. Here you can see Thermal conductivity test report for ceramic blocksKerakam Kaiman 30. The value of the coefficient of thermal conductivity λ a You can find it at the end of the document.

Consider the laying of an external wall, using ceramic blocks Kerakam Kaiman 30 and gas silicate blocks D500, faced with ceramic hollow bricks. For the ceramic block use case Kerakam Kaiman 30 total wall thickness excluding the plaster layer 430mm(300mm ceramic block Kerakam Cayman30 + 10mm technological gap filled with cement-perlite mortar + 120mm front masonry). 1 layer 2 layer(item 2) - 300mm wall masonry using a block Kerakam Kaiman 30(coefficient of thermal conductivity of the masonry in the operational state A 0.094 W / m * C). 3 layer(item 4) - 10mm light cement-perlite mixture between the ceramic block masonry Kerakam Kaiman 30 and front masonry (density 200 kg / m3, thermal conductivity at operating humidity less than 0.12 W / m * C). 4 layer Pos. 3 - warm masonry mortar pos. 6 - colored masonry mortar.

Consider the laying of an external wall, using expanded clay concrete blocks, insulated with a layer of extruded polystyrene foam and lined with ceramic hollow bricks. For the option of using a lightweight aggregate concrete block, the total wall thickness excluding the plaster layer 605mm(390mm expanded clay concrete block + 5mm adhesive layer + 80mm extruded polystyrene foam layer + 10mm technological gap + 120mm front masonry). 1 layer(item 1) - 20mm heat-insulating cement-perlite plaster (thermal conductivity coefficient 0.18 W / m * C). 2 layer(item 2) - 390mm wall masonry using expanded clay concrete block (thermal conductivity coefficient of masonry in the operational state is 0.45 W / m * C). 3 layer(pos. 4) - 80mm extruded polystyrene (thermal conductivity coefficient 0.030 W / m * C) 4 layer(item 5) - 120mm wall masonry using slotted facing bricks (thermal conductivity coefficient of the masonry in the operational state is 0.45 W / m * C. * - the masonry layer of facing bricks is not taken into account in the calculation of the thermal resistance of the structure, because free air convection occurs in the technological gap between the extruded polystyrene foam and the facing brick.

We consider the conditional thermal resistance R 0 for the structures under consideration.

Kerakam Kaiman 30

R 0 Cayman30 = 0.020 / 0.18 + 0.300 / 0.094 + 0.01 / 0.12 + 0.12 / 0.45 + 0.158 = 3.8106 m 2 * C / W

R 0 expanded clay concrete = 0.020 / 0.18 + 0.390 / 0.45 + 0.08 / 0.03 + 0.158 = 3.8026 m 2 * C / W

We consider the reduced thermal resistance R r 0 of the structures under consideration.

External wall structure in which the unit is used Kerakam Cayman30

R r 0 Cayman30 =3.8106 m 2 * C / W * 0.98 = 3.7344 m 2 * C / W

The structure of the outer wall in which the expanded clay concrete block is used

R r 0 expanded clay concrete= 3.3179 m 2 * C / W * 0.98 = 3.7266 m 2 * C / W

The reduced thermal resistance of the two considered structures is higher than the required thermal resistance for the city of Dmitrov (3.1463 m 2 * C / W), which means that both structures satisfy the SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings" for the city of Dmitrov.

August 8, 2017

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The growth in the number of developers and the desire to find an economical, strong, durable and warm material for building a home has led to an increase in the popularity of lightweight concrete blocks. Along with aerated concrete blocks and foam blocks, expanded clay concrete blocks, which have excellent thermal insulation qualities, are safe, lightweight and relatively inexpensive, have become widely used. Many private builders call this material one of the better solutions for the construction of a country house or summer cottage. Is it really? Dealing with the question the right choice expanded clay concrete, the pros and cons of the material, its types and manufacturers.

# 1. How expanded clay concrete is made

Expanded clay concrete began to be produced in the middle of the last century, then they safely forgot about it, and today it is experiencing new era popularity. The composition of the material, like any lightweight concrete block, includes cement, water and sand, and used as a filler expanded clay- granules different sizes obtained by firing low-melting clays. Expanded clay granules are light due to the large number of pores inside, but strong, since they have a strong fired shell. For the production of expanded clay concrete, granules of 5-40 mm are used. Blocks can be solid or hollow. Moreover, the expanded clay concrete solution can be used for monolithic construction of the walls of the house.

Great value on performance characteristics block has a ratio of expanded clay and cement. The more expanded clay, the lighter, warmer and more expensive the block will be. The quality of the cement determines the strength grade of the material. Due to the expanded clay filler, the material acquires unique thermal insulation properties, for which modern developers are so fond of it.

Unscrupulous manufacturers add adhesive additives to the mixture to increase the strength of the material, but this has a negative effect on environmental safety. Manufacturing blocks are formed under the influence vibrations, dried in special chambers where warming up takes place with streams of hot air or infrared rays.

From expanded clay concrete today they are building private and country houses, summer cottages, sheds, garages, fences, it is used for monolithic construction of buildings.

# 2. Expanded clay blocks: pros and cons

The composition of expanded clay concrete determines its many positive aspects, which ensure the popularity of the material. Among the main advantages of expanded clay concrete blocks:

Expanded clay blocks also have disadvantages:

No. 3. Types of expanded clay concrete blocks by appointment

Expanded clay concrete blocks, according to the presence or absence of voids, can be divided into two fundamentally different groups:

• full-bodied;
• hollow.

Corpulent blocks Is a structural material with high density and relatively high weight. Bearing and non-bearing walls are erected from it, even multi-storey buildings can be built.

Hollow blocks thanks to the holes inside, they have improved thermal insulation qualities, they are suitable for the construction of partitions and load-bearing walls of one-story buildings.

No. 4. The size of the expanded clay concrete blocks

By size, expanded clay concrete blocks are usually divided into:

• wall;
• partition walls.

It is clear that the former are used for laying exterior walls. They must have certain indicators of strength and density, which will be discussed later. In size, they can be 288 * 138 * 138, 288 * 288 * 138, 290 * 190 * 188, 390 * 190 * 188, 190 * 190 * 188, 90 * 190 * 188 mm. By fullness, they are full-bodied and hollow.

Partition blocks, as the name suggests, are used for masonry internal partitions... They are lighter in weight, thereby reducing the load on the foundation. By size, as a rule, partition blocks are produced 590 * 90 * 188, 390 * 90 * 188, 190 * 90 * 188 mm.

Some enterprises produce blocks that do not correspond to the above dimensions- they are performed not according to GOST, but according to TU, which the manufacturer can determine for himself. As a rule, large-format blocks are produced according to TU.

It should be noted separately facing blocks, which are produced by some enterprises. They have dimensions of 600 * 300 * 400 mm, are produced by adding dyes to the solution and have a relief decorative surface.

No. 5. Strength grade of expanded clay concrete blocks

When choosing expanded clay concrete for the construction of a house, garage, partitions, utility rooms and other buildings, it is necessary to take into account a lot of performance indicators of the material: strength, density, frost resistance and thermal conductivity... They are all interconnected. Let's start with strength.

Durability is the ability of a material to withstand loads and resist destruction. Usually, the strength of expanded clay concrete is denoted by the letter M and the following number. from 25 to 100, which means how many kilograms each cm 2 of the block's surface can withstand. Block M25 can withstand 25 kg / cm 2, and M100 - 100 kg / cm 2. In private construction, as a rule, blocks with a strength higher than M100 are not used: for the construction of walls, blocks M75-M100 are used, for partitions - M35-M50. In industrial and multi-storey construction, blocks of greater strength can be used.

It is worth noting that the M75 block can withstand both 65 kg / cm 2 and 75 or 80 kg / cm 2. Despite the inaccuracies, this way the classification of expanded clay concrete still continues to be used. A much more accurate option is strength classes, which are marked with the letter B. This is strength with guaranteed security. A numerical indicator from 2.5 to 40: the higher it is, the more durable the block will be. M100, for example, corresponds to B7.5.

No. 6. Density of expanded clay concrete

Another important indicator is density. The lower the density, the higher the thermal insulation qualities. On the other hand, the higher the density, the higher the strength and moisture resistance. The density of the blocks is marked with the letter D followed by the coefficient from 350 to 1800... The coefficient is equal to the density, expressed in kg / m 3.

The scope of use of the material depends on the density:

No. 7. Frost resistance and thermal conductivity of expanded clay concrete

Frost resistance refers to the ability of a material to withstand sudden changes in temperature. This indicator is determined by the number of shock freezes and defrosts, marked with the letter F. For expanded clay concrete, this indicator can vary from 25 to 300, but in private construction material is used F15-F100... For the northern regions, it is better to take material with frost resistance F50-F75. Blocks with low frost resistance are suitable only for interior work.

Thermal conductivity material directly depends on the density. For block D1000, it is 0.33-0.41, D1400 - 0.56-0.65, etc. (see table). Depending on which block is chosen for construction and in which region the house will be located, they carry out calculation of the thickness of expanded clay concrete and analyze the need to use insulation:

No. 8. What to look for when choosing?

A visual inspection can tell a lot about the quality of the material. Pay attention, first of all, to the following points:

No. 9. The best producers of expanded clay concrete

There are many factories engaged in the production of such a promising building material today, and there is a great risk of stumbling upon a low-quality product produced in inappropriate conditions. A normal manufacturer is not afraid to show the production process and invite the buyer to the factory, can provide all the necessary quality certificates and test results. Let's dwell on the largest producers of expanded clay concrete blocks:

No. 10. Do-it-yourself expanded clay concrete blocks

Self-production of expanded clay concrete can significantly reduce the cost of building a house. As a rule, small batches of material for the construction of simple small buildings are made with their own hands, otherwise the laboriousness of the work will be simply unjustified.

In addition to the already known ingredients, you will need special equipment, it can be rented. A concrete mixer with a volume of at least 130 liters will be required. You will also need a vibrating machine, it already has molding containers, so you don't have to bother with their production. Otherwise, you will have to make them out of metal or wood.

The process of making expanded clay concrete blocks with your own hands looks like this:

• mixing of components in a concrete mixer. First, 3 parts of sand and 1 part of cement are mixed, then 1-1.2 parts of water are added, and then another 6 parts of expanded clay. Everything is thoroughly mixed, it may be necessary to add a small amount of water if the mixture is too dry. Some people add a little liquid soap for better viscosity;
• mixture in portions put in the mold machine and include vibration, excess solution is removed;
• the plate with the finished block rises, the workpieces are dried for 2 days, then the steel plates are removed;
• without using a machine, the process is somewhat more complicated and longer. It will be necessary to pour the solution into prepared and lubricated molds and tamp thoroughly. It is better to use blocks no earlier than after 28 days.

If you are not confident in your own abilities, then it is better to buy ready-made material with well-known performance characteristics. Subject to the production technology (eminent manufacturers can be trusted) and the masonry technology, a house made of expanded clay concrete will stand for a very long time.

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Construction is challenging technological process, in which everything should be taken into account, from the planning of the future home to interior decoration rooms. It is necessary to draw up an estimate, as well as decide on the materials. After pouring the foundation, there are always walls, and then the question arises, which better blocks for building a house (price, technical indicators and dimensions).

Building walls from blocks

When choosing a material for construction, first of all, they look at the technical characteristics of raw materials, and not at external attractiveness. Monolithic concrete elements are most often used in the construction of durable structures. The types, characteristics of building blocks depend on the auxiliary components added to the solution during manufacture.

There are various blocks for building a house. Which is better, because the price, characteristics and dimensions are different for everyone? To understand this issue, we will consider each species in detail.

At the moment, the following varieties are distinguished:

• expanded clay concrete;
• aerated concrete;
• foam concrete;
• cinder blocks.

The specific gravity of all variants is less than 1800 kg / m³, which is very convenient when erecting walls, and the cost is quite acceptable even for budget buildings.

Expanded clay concrete

These blocks are made by adding foamed and fired clay hollow balls to concrete. They are much lighter than other options, and also have high heat and sound insulation performance. In this case, you can safely drive nails into such a structure without fear of damaging the integrity of the blocks.

The pros and cons of ceramic blocks also require careful study. TO positive sides during the construction of houses include:

Note! Be aware of the material and the place of purchase when using these units. If the creation technology is violated, the density and geometric indicators become unstable.

Stopping the choice on expanded clay concrete structures, take into account the negative aspects of the material:

• a lightweight foundation cannot be used;
• it is necessary to install an outer layer of thermal insulation to avoid the formation of cold bridges;
• if you do not perform external finishing, the service life is reduced to two years;
• cannot be used for foundation;
• large dimensions increase shipping costs.

Various block sizes are available. There are options corresponding to the usual brickwork(a block 50x24.8x23.8 has a mass of 25 kg, and is equal in size to 15 bricks). In widths you can find 23, 24 and 25 cm, and in lengths from 25 to 51, which is very convenient for building walls at home and planning material costs.

Aerated concrete

Almost 85% of the volume aerated concrete block consists of cells, so it is very lightweight. The composition includes quartz sand, cement and lime, and the raw materials are diluted in ordinary water. The dimensions of the bubbles vary from 0.6 to 3 mm, they are evenly distributed.

This material has positive aspects:

• lightness, the standard unit weighs in the region of 30 kg;
• good thermal conductivity due to its structure, it retains heat for a long time in winter and cool in summer;
• fire resistance, such a material is able to resist fire for 3 hours;
• frost resistance (can withstand up to 25 freezing cycles);
• strength (up to 5 floors);
• ease of processing;
• environmental friendliness.

Note! Only a special solution must be used.

To understand what kind of aerated concrete for building a house better fit, take into account the following parameters:

• the density is different (350, 400, 450, 500, 600 and 700) and there is a D marking;
• length 60 or 62.5 cm;
• width from 7.5 to 50 cm;
• 20 or 25 cm high;
• density from 1.0 to 7.5 mPa;
• frost resistance 15 - 50;
• there is a shrinkage of up to 0.5 mm / m.

At the same time, elements with a thickness of 7.5 cm are used for wall insulation, if you need to build a utility room, 2 and 2.5 cm are enough.If you plan to use such material for load-bearing walls, then buy blocks with a thickness of at least 37.5 cm.

Related article:

. In the material, we will consider what aerated concrete is, its scope, advantages and disadvantages, as well as dimensions and average cost.

Foam concrete

Foam concrete blocks, like aerated concrete, belong to the gas silicate group. Foam concrete is divided by strength into 4 groups:

Table 1. Marking of foam concrete

	Name	Density, kg per cubic meter m	Strength	Frost resistant
D150 - 400	Heat insulating	150 to 400	Up to 400 does not vary in strength class	Not
D500 - 900	Structural and thermal insulation	500 to 900	From 13 kg per kW. cm up to 35	Class F (up to 75)
1000 - 1200	Structural	1000 to 1200	From 50 to 90 kg per sq. cm	Class F 15-50
1300 - 1600	Structurally drawn	1300 to 1600	Complies with GOST	Complies with GOST

At the same time, the dimensions of the gas block for building a house are also different depending on the marking. For example, D600 and 8000 have dimensions of 20x30x60 cm, there are D600 models corresponding to 10x30x60. The size is selected based on the purpose of the construction.

Related article:

In the article, we will consider in detail the features of the building material, its advantages, scope, size and average cost.

Cinder blocks

This kind of material appeared a long time ago. Having heavy weight, it is necessary to use a special technique in the process. Standard dimensions 20x20x40 cm

The advantages of this material include:

• density (from 500 to 2000 kg / m³);
• frost resistance (withstand 15 to 35 frost penetration);
• thermal conductivity (from 0.3 to 0.65 W / m * ⁰С).

Such indicators are possessed only by blocks manufactured at the plant that meet all quality standards. Since such a material can be made at home, you can get to completely different characteristics.

By design, they are produced monolithic or with slots through and through. Moreover, laying such elements is much more difficult than bricks, since cinder blocks have irregular shape... And also it makes no sense to cover such material with plaster during finishing.

Thus, answering the question, what are the best blocks for building a house, price and quality - cinder blocks are unlikely to be in the top positions of the ratings.

Blocks for building a house: which is better, price and characteristics

An easy way to compare materials is to draw up a table with technical parameters.

Table 2. Average cost of blocks for building a house

Material	Photo	Strength (kg / cm²)	Density (kg / m³)	Thermal conductivity (W / m * C)	Resistant to frost in cycles	Average cost, rub.
Aerated concrete		20-50	300-900	0,08-0,2	25	3800
Foam concrete		15-50	300-900	0,14-0,29	30	3550
Arbolit		20-50	600-900	0,12-0,25	35	4600
Expanded clay		50-250	500-1800	0,16-0,85	35	3700
Ceramics		35-50	750-800	0,14-0,29	35	4450
Cinder block		35-100	500-1000	0,25-0,50	20	2800

The choice of material will primarily be based on the purpose of use. For example, aerated concrete or foam block is more often used as wall blocks for external walls. To make it easier to understand and choose, watch the video on the topic.