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 house has led to an increase in the popularity of lightweight concrete blocks. Along with the gas block and foam block, expanded clay concrete blocks have become widely used, which have excellent thermal insulation qualities, are safe, light and relatively inexpensive. Many private builders call this material one of best solutions for erection country house or cottages. Is it really? We deal with the question of the correct choice of expanded clay concrete, the pros and cons of the material, its types and manufacturers.
No. 1. How is claydite concrete made
Expanded clay concrete began to be made 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 size, obtained by firing low-melting grades of clay. Expanded clay granules are light due to a large number pores inside, but strong, as they have a strong burnt shell. For the production of expanded clay concrete, granules with a size of 5-40 mm are used. Blocks can be solid or hollow. Moreover, claydite concrete solution can be used for monolithic construction of the walls of the house.
great importance 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 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 negatively affects environmental safety. Blocks in production are formed under the influence vibration, dried in special chambers, where heating is carried out by streams of hot air or infrared rays.
Today, private and country houses, summer cottages, sheds, garages, fences are built from expanded clay concrete; it is used for monolithic construction of buildings.
No. 2. Expanded clay blocks: pros and cons
The composition of expanded clay concrete determines its numerous positive sides, which ensure the popularity of the material. Among the main advantages of expanded clay concrete blocks:
Expanded clay concrete blocks also have disadvantages:
No. 3. Types of expanded clay concrete blocks for their intended purpose
Based on the presence or absence of voids, expanded clay concrete blocks can be divided into two fundamentally different groups:
- corpulent;
- hollow.
solid blocks It is a structural material with high density and relatively high weight. Load-bearing and non-bearing walls are erected from it, even multi-storey buildings can be built.
Hollow Blocks thanks to the holes inside, they are distinguished by improved thermal insulation qualities, suitable for the construction of partitions and load-bearing walls of one-story buildings.
No. 4. The size of 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 further. They can be 288*138*138, 288*288*138, 290*190*188, 390*190*188, 190*190*188, 90*190*188 mm in size. By fullness they are full-bodied and hollow.
Partition blocks, as the name suggests, are used for laying internal partitions. They have less weight, which reduces the load on the foundation. In size, as a rule, partition blocks are produced 590*90*188, 390*90*188, 190*90*188 mm.
Some companies produce blocks that do not match the above dimensions- they are carried out not according to GOST, but according to TU, which the manufacturer himself can determine for himself. As a rule, large-format blocks are produced according to specifications.
It is worth noting separately facing blocks which are produced by some companies. 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. All of them are interconnected. Let's start with strength.
strength called 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 number following it. from 25 to 100, which means how many kilograms each cm 2 of the surface of the block can withstand. The M25 block can withstand 25 kg / cm 2, and the M100 - 100 kg / cm 2. In private construction, as a rule, blocks with a strength higher than M100 are not used: blocks M75-M100 are used for the construction of walls, and M35-M50 for partitions. In industrial and high-rise construction, blocks of greater strength can be used.
It is worth noting that the M75 block can withstand both 65 kg / cm 2, as well as 75 or 80 kg / cm 2. Despite the inaccuracies this method classification of expanded clay concrete still continues to be used. A much more accurate version 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 resistance to moisture. The block density is marked with the letter D followed by a 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 called the ability of a material to withstand sudden changes in temperature. This indicator is determined by the number of shock freezing and thawing, marked with the letter F. For expanded clay concrete, this indicator can vary from 25 to 300, but in private construction, the 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 the D1000 block, 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 a heater:
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 such points:
No. 9. The best manufacturers of expanded clay concrete
Today there are a lot of factories engaged in the production of such a promising building material, and there is a big risk of stumbling upon low-quality goods produced in inappropriate conditions. A normal producer is not afraid to show manufacturing process and invite the buyer to the factory, can provide all the necessary quality certificates and test results. Let us dwell on the largest manufacturers of expanded clay concrete blocks:
No. 10. DIY concrete blocks
Independent production of expanded clay concrete can significantly reduce the cost of building a house. As a rule, small batches of material are made with their own hands for the construction of simple small buildings, otherwise the laboriousness of the work will simply be unjustified.
In addition to the already known ingredients, you will need special equipment, you can rent it. 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 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 add a little liquid soap for better viscosity;
- mixture in portions put into mold machine and include vibration, excess solution is removed;
- the plate with the finished block rises, the blanks 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 pre-prepared and lubricated forms and carefully tamp. It is better to use blocks no earlier than 28 days later.
If there is no self-confidence, then it is better to buy ready-made material with well-known performance qualities. Subject to the production technology (famous manufacturers can be trusted) and the technology of masonry, a house made of expanded clay concrete will stand for a very long time.
Following:
The difference between the blocks must be understood in order to acquire construction material, which is one hundred percent suitable for solving your problems.
Slotted (hollow) or solid blocks?
Solid blocks of expanded clay concrete are characterized by high strength and are ideal for the construction of load-bearing walls. country houses and cottages. They can also be used to fill the frames of monolithic houses. They are quite heavy, in terms of cost - more expensive than slotted (hollow) blocks. Another important feature of such a building material is that any fasteners are securely held in it: dowels, anchors, etc.
Slotted or hollow blocks are cheaper, weigh less, but are inferior in strength to solid blocks. They are used in the construction of country cottages, garages, outbuildings. The shape of the voids is not of fundamental importance.
How to choose strength?
The strength of an expanded clay concrete block is indicated by the letter M followed by a number, usually from 25 to 100. The larger the number, the stronger the material. Blocks with a strength below M 50 are used for the construction of garages, fences, and various outbuildings. To build a residential building, expanded clay concrete with a strength of at least M 50 is required. M 50 blocks are used with a wall thickness of about 40 cm, if the planned wall thickness is 20 cm, it is necessary to take M 75 blocks.
The construction of a country house from modern heat-efficient ceramic blocks is economically less expensive than from expanded clay concrete blocks.
If we do not limit ourselves to comparing the cost of 1 m 3 of blocks, but consider all costs, it becomes clear that when choosing heat-efficient ceramic blocks, the savings will be 250-350 thousand rubles.
At the same time, according to all the main characteristics, heat-efficient ceramic blocks 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 *S/W, thermal resistance of the outer wall of expanded clay concrete blocks with the included layer of mineral wool insulation 100mm - 3.48 m 2 *S/W.
The argument for this thesis is given below. No ads - just numbers!
In recent years, the construction of low-rise buildings from expanded clay concrete blocks
rapidly losing popularity.
Main reasons 2.
- 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 a thermal engineering calculation of the structure). Insulation is the weak link in construction, its service life is 30-35 years, after which an expensive facade repair with replacement of thermal insulation will be required (more on this below).
- Higher construction costs compared to the main competitors - heat-efficient ceramic blocks and aerated concrete blocks.
And this is true if we consider conventional large-format ceramic blocks
with void geometry rectangular or diamond shape. 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.
The thermal characteristics of such blocks make it possible to provide SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings" when using blocks with a diamond-shaped void geometry with a thickness of 440mm, and in the case of using blocks with a rectangular void geometry with a thickness of 510mm.
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 lattice (void geometry). In Russia, this technology was the first to be mastered by the Samara Combine of Ceramic Materials, and for 10 years it has been producing blocks of the line Superthermo.
In the middle of 2017, the Samara plant discontinued the production of blocks of the line Superthermo, because they were replaced by blocks with an even more heat-efficient design - these are the blocks of the line Caiman.
What is the difference between the best bloc in Russia from a conventional ceramic block?
4 signs of real warm ceramics.
1.
When we choose from which multi-hollow slotted ceramic block to build our house, an important parameter is not overall size 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 flow will have to overcome is longer; 2. Please note that the ceramic track at the block Cayman30 has a smaller thickness than conventional ceramic blocks, the smaller the thickness of the path, the less heat flow will pass through it per unit time;
3. Real warm ceramics cannot have a strength grade of M100 or more, because. an increase in brand strength is achieved due to the higher density of clay, the denser the material, the better it transmits heat. At Cayman30 compressive strength grade M75, this is due to the fact that heat-efficient ceramic blocks Cayman30 high porosity of the clay itself. Air microchambers also increase the path length for heat flow. At the same time, the strength grade M75 allows you to use Cayman30 as a self-supporting unit in buildings up to 5 floors.;
4. And finally, the last, patented know-how in block design Cayman30, this is a heat-efficient lock of side docking of blocks, Cayman30 the castle is a long sawtooth path for heat to escape from the house, in an outdated model of ordinary ceramic blocks, the heat in the castle flows along a straight and thick path.
Here you can see Thermal conductivity test report for Kerakam Kaiman 30 ceramic blocks
You can find the value of the thermal conductivity coefficient in the operational state at the end of the document.
Let's compare expanded clay concrete blocks with heat-efficient ceramic blocks Cayman30 on the example of a specific house, with an area of 166.6 m 2, designed by our design office.
1,200 projects of houses of our development can be viewed on the page Projects of houses included in the action Project a house for free.
- Below is a comparison of the main characteristics of the materials under consideration, as well as the features of their installation.
- The thermotechnical calculation of the structures of external walls 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 cost of building a house was made 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, superior in all characteristics, will not lead to an increase in costs, but, on the contrary, to their decrease 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 45 rub/piece, the cost of a heat-efficient ceramic block Cayman30 was taken equal 95 rub/piece including delivery to the object.
Let's compare the considered materials - expanded clay concrete blocks and ceramic blocks Kerakam Cayman30 by characteristics.
1. Strength.
The strength of wall materials is determined by the limiting pressure of the distributed load on the test sample and is characterized by the number of kilograms of force (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 equal to 75 kg.
The value of the strength grade of 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 manufacturers of expanded clay concrete blocks, every third row of masonry should be reinforced; for this, grooves are made in the expanded clay 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, which is laid in the masonry joint. Labor-intensive chasing and subsequent covering of the reinforcement in the strobe with glue is not required.
Masonry mortar during the installation of ceramic blocks is applied only along the horizontal masonry seam. The bricklayer applies the solution immediately to one and a half to two meters of masonry and starts each next block along the groove-ridge. The laying is very fast.
When installing expanded clay concrete blocks, the solution must also be applied to the side surface of the blocks. It is obvious that the speed and laboriousness of masonry with this method of installation will only increase.
Also, for professional masons, sawing ceramic blocks is not a problem. For this purpose, a reciprocating saw is used. In each row of the wall, only one block is required to be cut.
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" in the construction of the outer wall, erected from expanded clay concrete blocks, it is necessary to include a layer of thermal insulation. As noted above insulation is the weak link in design, service life 30-35 years old, after which an expensive repair of the facade with the replacement of thermal insulation will be required. As a heat-insulating layer can be used:
- mineral wool insulation
- expanded polystyrene PSBS M25,
- extruded polystyrene foam.
At the same time, it is necessary to understand that expanded polystyrenes have a very low vapor permeability, which affects the comfort of living in houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks insulated with expanded polystyrenes. Also, you should pay attention to the fact that this type of insulation contains styrene. Styrene is a poison of general toxic action, it has an irritant, 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 Wikipedia.
Mineral wool insulation, unlike expanded polystyrenes, has good vapor permeability. This improves the indicator of living comfort in the house, but imposes requirements for the arrangement of multi-layer vapor-permeable structures, in particular, between the surface of the insulation and the laying of the front brick, it is necessary to arrange an air gap of 40-50 mm, ensuring free air circulation in it, for this, air ducts are arranged in the front masonry. Vertical masonry seams are cleared from the mortar, one seam per 3 m 2. Creating a ventilation gap increases the overall thickness of the outer wall, which will entail an increase in the thickness of the foundation wall, and this, in turn, will affect the cost of foundation work.
It should also be noted that most mineral wool insulation (yellow-green-brown boards) contains phenol, which is used to glue stone or glass fibers to give them the shape of a plate. Phenol is a poison of general toxic action, it also belongs to 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 mineral wool slab of its original shape. The fibers will begin to settle, exposing sections of the outer wall and filling the ventilation gap. Would need overhaul facade, with the dismantling of facade cladding and insulation residues.
The thermal characteristics of the ceramic block Kerakam Caiman30 are such that the inclusion of thermal insulation in the design is not required. Thermal resistance of an external wall built from blocks Cayman30 and lined with slotted brick - 3.73 m2*S/W, which with a margin provides SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings" for residential buildings in the city Novosibirsk.
Below is a thermotechnical calculation of an external wall made of expanded clay concrete block, 390 mm thick, insulated with a layer of extruded polystyrene foam 80 mm, and a wall made of heat-efficient ceramic block Caiman 30, made according to the method described in SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings".
Thermal 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 *S/W).
Let us 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 out)z out,
where,
t in- 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 range 20
- 22 °С);
t from- average outdoor air temperature, °С during the cold period, for the city of Dmitrov meaning -3,1
°C;
z from- duration, days / year, of the heating period, adopted according to the set of rules for the period with an average daily outdoor temperature of not more than 8 ° C, for the city Dmitrov meaning 216 days.
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 \u003d a * GSOP + b
where,
R tr 0- required thermal resistance;
a and b- 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
| The value of the required thermal resistance for the external walls of residential buildings in a number of Russian cities |
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The formula for calculating the conditional thermal resistance of the considered structure:
R0 = 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 under the condition of operational humidity;
n- layer number (for multilayer structures);
0.158 is a correction factor, which can be taken as a constant for simplicity.
Formula for calculating the reduced thermal resistance.
R r 0 \u003d R 0 x r
Where,
r- coefficient of thermal engineering homogeneity of structures with inhomogeneous sections (joints, heat-conducting inclusions, porches, etc.)
according to standard STO 00044807-001-2006 according to Table No. 8, the value of the coefficient of thermal uniformity r for masonry of large-format 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
- we recommend laying with a warm masonry mortar (this significantly eliminates heterogeneity at the joints);
- as connections between the bearing wall and the front masonry, we use not metal, but basalt-plastic connections, which conduct heat literally 100 times less than steel connections (this significantly eliminates the inhomogeneities formed due to heat-conducting inclusions);
- slopes of window and door openings, according to our project documentation, are additionally insulated with extruded polystyrene foam (which levels out heterogeneity in places of window and door openings, porches).
R r 0 must be greater than or equal to R 0 required.
We determine the operating mode of the building in order to understand what thermal conductivity coefficient λ a or λ in taken when calculating the conditional thermal resistance.
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The procedure for determining the operating mode is described in detail in SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings" . Based on the specified normative document Let's follow the step by step instructions. 1st step. Let's define hmoisture content of the building region - Dmitrov using Appendix B of SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings". |
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According to the city table Dmitrov located in zone 2 (normal climate). We accept 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 would like to draw your attention to heating season humidity in the room drops to 15-20%. During the heating season, air humidity must be raised to at least 35-40%. Humidity of 40-50% is considered comfortable for a person. |
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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 humidity column for city Dmitrov, as explained earlier, is the value normal. |
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Summary. Here you can see Thermal Conductivity Test Report for Ceramic BlocksKerakam Kaiman 30. |
Consider the laying of the outer wall, using ceramic blocks Kerakam Kaiman 30 and gas silicate blocks D500, lined with ceramic hollow bricks.  For ceramic block use option Kerakam Kaiman 30 total wall thickness without plaster layer 430mm(300mm Kerakam Caiman 30 ceramic block + 10mm technological gap filled with cement-perlite mortar + 120mm face masonry). 1 layer Pos. 3 - warm masonry mortar |
Consider the masonry of the outer 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 expanded clay concrete block, the total thickness of the wall without taking into account the plaster layer 605mm(390mm expanded clay concrete block+ 5 mm adhesive layer + 80 mm extruded polystyrene foam layer + 10 mm technological gap + 120 mm face masonry). 1 layer(pos.1) - 20mm thermal insulation cement-perlite plaster (thermal conductivity coefficient 0.18 W / m * C). 4 layer(pos.5) - 120mm wall masonry using slotted facing bricks (the thermal conductivity of the masonry in the operational state is 0.45 W / m * C. *
- the layer of facing bricks in the calculation of the thermal resistance of the structure is not taken into account, because in the technological gap between the extruded polystyrene foam and the facing brick, free air convection occurs. |
We consider the conditional thermal resistance R 0 for the structures under consideration.
Kerakam Kaiman 30
R 0 Cayman30 \u003d 0.020 / 0.18 + 0.300 / 0.094 + 0.01 / 0.12 + 0.12 / 0.45 + 0.158 \u003d 3.8106 m 2 *S/W
R 0 expanded clay concrete \u003d 0.020 / 0.18 + 0.390 / 0.45 + 0.08 / 0.03 + 0.158 \u003d 3.8026 m 2
*S/W
We consider the reduced thermal resistance R r 0 of the structures under consideration.
The design of the external wall in which the block is used Kerakam Cayman30
R r 0 Cayman30 =3.8106 m 2 *C/W * 0.98 = 3.7344 m 2
*S/W
The design of the external wall in which the expanded clay concrete block is used
R r 0 expanded clay concrete\u003d 3.3179 m 2 * C / W * 0.98 \u003d 3.7266 m 2
*S/W
The reduced thermal resistance of the two structures under consideration is higher than the required thermal resistance for the city of Dmitrov (3.1463 m 2 * C / W), which means that both structures comply with the SNiP "Thermal Protection of Buildings" for the city of Dmitrov.
From expanded clay describes GOST 6133-99 "Concrete wall stones". It is to this regulatory document that numerous suppliers of popular material refer, but not every one of them can guarantee the absence of flaws in the proposed product. A guide to choosing expanded clay blocks, compiled by a builder with twenty years of experience, will help not to fall for the bait of unscrupulous sellers.
External signs of the quality of expanded clay concrete block
It takes 3 minutes for a specialist to determine the quality of a claydite-concrete block. Signs of non-compliance with GOST are difficult to disguise, because the first thing to do is to carefully examine one, or better several, copies.
Geometry and overall dimensions
High-quality building blocks, as they say, one to one. The height of all copies of the batch is equal - 18.8 cm, the same applies to width and depth. Do not be too lazy to take a tape measure with you and measure the dimensions of the blocks. Differences in numbers will indicate a violation of the production technology, it is possible that the composition does not meet the requirements of GOST, this also sometimes leads to excessive shrinkage or swelling of the building material.
Corners and edges must be precise, even, not crumbling, so that the wall of blocks does not wave and warp.
Color and surface structure
The standard color of the expanded clay concrete block is gray, like asphalt after a summer rain. There is no yellowness on the surface, showing an excess of sand in the original mixture, white and black spots, which is also typical for blocks made of low-quality raw materials.
The block does not have to be smooth like sand-lime brick. The structure is strongly rough, with clearly noticeable inclusions of expanded clay.
Weight and strength
By weight, blocks from one batch must match, only a slight discrepancy is permissible. Moreover, high-quality material will not be unnecessarily heavy, which happens with an excess of sand and cement in the composition.
The strength will be indicated by the presence of chips and crumbling edges. For the construction of durable walls, blocks that crumble before use are not suitable. Even a high-quality finish will not hide the flaws of the frame.
findings
Good expanded clay concrete wall block grey, like wet asphalt, it doesn't crumble, has a rough surface, conforms to dimensional and geometric standards, and sounds right.
It is not difficult to test the sound of the block, just tap on it wrench, what is it in Astrakhan watermelon. The sound from the impact should be sonorous.
If all the tests are passed, then you can safely buy out a batch of expanded clay blocks and start construction, they will not let you down. You can buy expanded clay concrete blocks on our website - you can get detailed information on the procedure for purchasing products and their delivery to the facility from our managers.
About what is better, aerated concrete or expanded clay block, you should find out even before the foundation is laid from these building materials. Otherwise, after its construction, it will be too late to change the design.
The choice of any building material is 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 first familiarize yourself with all its features. Aerated concrete differs in its properties from expanded clay concrete. Walls are often built from these materials, bearing and internal partitions 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. 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 cellular 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 produced building material 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 link. Expanded clay can have a different fraction. The manufacturing technology of expanded clay concrete does not require the use of special equipment. Unlike gas 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:
- The strength of the constructed structures. Expanded clay concrete is more durable than a gas block, since it contains a filler in the form of expanded clay. This gives special strength to the structures built from it. Air bubbles are provided as a filler in aerated concrete, making the structure of the material porous.
- Holding finishing works. Expanded clay concrete is more pleasant during further processing, after the construction of walls from it. Ideal is the plastering of such structures using a sand-cement mixture. 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 putty or plaster in a thin layer.
- Block laying process. Expanded clay products should be laid exclusively on a solution of sand and cement, the seam in the masonry should be 10-15 mm. The laying of aerated concrete blocks is carried out using an adhesive for cellular concrete, and the joint size is 2 mm, which allows you to keep the heat leaving through the cold bridges.
These materials do not actually differ in water absorption property, have excellent water absorption capacity. Aerated concrete has a structure that is capable of absorbing water to the greatest extent, so additional protection from precipitation is required.
In some cases, people neglect the construction of aerated concrete foundations, trying to save on this material. They attribute such opportunities to the light weight of aerated concrete blocks. At the same time, even more fragile materials can be used to build a strong support.
Which building material is more expensive
Due to the complexity of the used technology for manufacturing blocks of aerated concrete, their cost is higher than that of expanded clay concrete. The sizes of gas blocks are larger, which greatly speeds up the laying of walls from it. Construction is simplified due to the more even geometric shape of the products.
Technological voids of expanded clay concrete blocks make this material brittle. You can destroy it with just a slight blow to the block, but in the process of laying they are quite strong. This ensures their ability to withstand heavy weight loads. Aerated concrete products of higher grades may have similar performance, 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 debatable. If you compare the total cost, you must take into account all additional costs. For this, a complete analysis is carried out.
For example, the optimal thickness of a bearing wall made of expanded clay concrete can be 20 cm, and for aerated concrete walls this is not always enough. As a result, the cost of the material used may be higher than expanded clay. An increased brand of aerated concrete is more expensive, but it allows you to eliminate the shedding of 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 what to choose: aerated concrete or expanded clay blocks, it should be noted that the walls 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. The expanded clay concrete wall does not imply the appearance 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 to be insulated. They may have the same thickness, but aerated concrete will retain heat in the house better. That's what it is distinguishing feature, for which they developed aerated concrete blocks.
In certain cases, expanded clay does not require an armored belt mounted over walls. If the walls are made of aerated concrete, then they must be reinforced without fail. Choosing which is better, gas block or expanded clay block, one should not focus only on the thermal insulation qualities of these materials. Although aerated concrete is warmer, its strength is less, and in certain cases it costs more.
The use of aerated concrete may involve 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 walls, the greatest thickness, the arrangement of thermal insulation, the choice of more expensive and high-quality brands.
Pros and cons of aerated concrete
Blocks made of aerated concrete are lightweight and ergonomically shaped. The construction process of this material is greatly simplified due to these characteristics. The weight of a building built 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. It is not necessary to carry out loading and unloading operations or transportation of materials. Since during the construction of houses from gas blocks, a special glue for cellular concrete is used and eco-friendly material, then 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 ease of pre-treatment. They can be easily cut and sanded. This advantage greatly simplifies the installation work. Walls made of aerated concrete do not require additional finishing.
The presented building material is non-toxic. He does not highlight harmful substances capable of harming human health. However, a significant disadvantage of this type of material is a high degree of brittleness. Walls made of this material can crack and shrink over time. For mounting on such surfaces of heavy objects, it is necessary to use special types fasteners.
Aerated concrete is subjected to waterproofing without fail, since it is able to absorb moisture excessively. Expanded clay blocks can largely surpass aerated concrete counterparts in strength. The construction of walls from gas blocks requires special strengthening of their reinforced concrete belt. If this is not done in advance, then the building is likely to shrink.
Advantages and disadvantages of expanded clay blocks
When 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, so it is used for the construction of walls and partitions of houses, including load-bearing structures.
Karamzitobetonny blocks cannot light up or pass steam or moisture. Walls made of this material can withstand the heavy weight of objects that are attached to them well. If a dowel or a nail is hammered into the surface of such walls, then they will hold without any fixtures.
The disadvantage of expanded clay concrete and aerated concrete blocks is the presence of a certain degree of fragility. Before erecting a warm building, you will need to lay out thick walls or buy expensive materials for thermal insulation. This will require relatively 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.
Aerated 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, it is expensive to transport, unload and unload expanded clay concrete.
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