Technology of building a house from foam concrete: calculation of blocks

To build houses, various types of block materials with a cellular structure are used, including foam blocks. With low weight, they are distinguished by increased volume and ensure a long service life of buildings. The construction of a house from foam blocks can be carried out independently without significant financial expenses. The favorable microclimate of a residential building is facilitated by the thermal insulation properties of the building material. Let us dwell in detail on the properties of foam concrete and the specifics of construction.

We plan to use foam block for the house - characteristics of the building material

Foam concrete blocks are produced using a special technology that ensures uniform distribution of air cells in the concrete mass.

The technology involves mixing the following ingredients with water:

blowing agent;
sand;
cement.

The concentration of air inclusions in finished foam concrete blocks exceeds half of their volume.

Foam blocks are great for building a house

Main performance characteristics of foam concrete:

resistance to compressive loads. The strength of the foam block is marked with the capital letter B and a digital index in the range of 0.75–12.5;
density. It varies depending on the level of porosity of the material that determines the purpose of the blocks. Amounts to D 200–D 1200;
integrity during deep freezing. Foam concrete blocks are marked F15–F500 according to frost resistance;
reduced thermal conductivity. The walls of a foam block building reliably retain heat, helping to maintain a comfortable temperature;
ability to pass steam. Thanks to the porous structure of the blocks, a comfortable level of humidity is maintained in the room due to the release of excess moisture.

Cellular building materials, depending on density, are classified into the following types:

products for structural purposes. They have a maximum density of more than 1.2 kg/m³ and are used for loaded structures;
thermal insulation products. It has increased porosity, causing a decrease in density to 0.5 kg/m³, and is used for insulation;
structural and thermal insulation blocks. With a specific gravity of up to 0.9 kg/m³, they optimally combine strength with thermal insulation characteristics.

Construction of a house from foam blocks
The rounded dimensions of foam blocks are:

length – 30–60 cm;
width – 20–30 cm;
height – 10–30 cm.

You can quickly build a house made of foam concrete using products with increased dimensions.

Examples of completed projects

You can build a house from foam blocks with your own hands. The main thing is to build it correctly. Yes, building it yourself can be cheaper. But the important thing is that such responsible work should be done by professionals. This is a “father’s house”, not a technical building. Such a house is built for a long time - for oneself, children and grandchildren. It will please the eye and warm the soul.

We invite you to view images of our completed projects. Think about what kind of house you would choose for yourself if you entrusted this work to the experts of AgropromStroy. Remember that we are always ready to listen to your suggestions and take into account the wishes of all family members, developing a unique project according to your parameters.

- This:

Moderate prices (not low - good things don’t come cheap).
Taking into account the customer’s wishes + recommendations for reducing the cost of the project without compromising appearance and quality.
Great experience.
Carrying out the entire range of work and delivering the facility on a turnkey basis.

Talk to our managers and make sure that we have very interesting offers.

Building a house from foam blocks - advantages and disadvantages

When planning to build a house from foam blocks, carefully study the positive aspects and disadvantages of porous building materials. The main advantages of foam block material:

reduced thermal conductivity. It helps maintain a favorable temperature in the living space and also reduces heating costs;
low weight of products with increased dimensions. This allows you to carry out the work yourself and significantly shorten the construction cycle;
affordable price of products. The use of inexpensive building materials can significantly reduce the overall cost of constructing a building made of foam concrete;
non-flammability. The use of foam concrete blocks that are resistant to open fire increases the fire safety of the building;
long period of operation. The porous material does not crack as a result of freezing and maintains its integrity for a long time;
ease of machining. Foam concrete is flexible, making it easy to make holes and adjust dimensions;

The final design is reliable, durable and durable, and the cost of construction will be quite affordable

harmlessness of the material to health. Foam concrete contains no harmful ingredients;
effective noise absorption. The structure of porous concrete prevents extraneous sounds from penetrating into the room;
sufficient strength for the construction of residential buildings. Strength properties allow the construction of houses up to 9 m high from foam concrete;
increased surface roughness of foam concrete. Decorative plasters and finishing coatings adhere well to porous blocks.

The walls of a foam block building do not place an increased load on the foundation, and during the construction process there is no need to use special lifting equipment.

Despite the advantages of the material, foam block buildings have weaknesses:

require mandatory cladding to protect building materials from moisture absorption;
they need to use special glue for foam block masonry, which is more expensive than the cost of a standard solution;
have an unpresentable appearance, requiring additional decorative finishing of foam concrete.

Disadvantages also include increased tolerances on the size of blocks that require adjustment. Before building a house from foam blocks, study the operating experience of similar buildings, and also analyze the characteristics of the cellular material.

Its ability to retain heat allows the material to be used for the construction of houses in places with unstable climates.

Analysis of building construction time

Let's use the table. Table 1. Time frame for building houses made of foam blocks.

Stage name	Estimated deadlines and comments
Preparation of design and estimate documentation	Much depends on the complexity of the project and the time it takes to coordinate it with the customer. As a rule, the process does not take more than one to two months.
Geodesy, foundation construction	The duration of the work process is purely individual. The time frame can vary from several months to a year. This is primarily due to the fact that some types of foundations and floors require downtime (waiting for the concrete to reach technical maturity).
Masonry work	3-6 weeks should be enough. It is worth considering: the number of storeys of the building, the time required to install the floors, the installation of an armored belt, the implementation of reinforcement during laying, and so on.
Roof installation	Again, it depends on the complexity of the design, the skill of the workers and the square footage. On average it will take about 1-2 months.
Communication wiring	4-12 months
Exterior decoration	2-4 months
Interior decoration	2-4 months and until an indefinite period.

Now, let’s summarize and analyze what the construction period primarily depends on:

It is worth noting the type of foundation and roof;
The size of the house and number of floors also play an important role;
Complexity of both interior and exterior decoration;
The presence of centralized communications will only speed up the process of putting a house into operation;
The efficiency of the developer himself and the speed of delivery of materials, which sometimes have to be made to order. This applies, for example, to floor slabs;

These are not all factors, but they are worth calling the main ones. A small one-story house can be erected in 8-10 months.

And if you want to build a country house in the shortest possible time, we recommend paying attention to frame technology. If desired and available, the construction period can be 3-4 months. At least, according to the advertising posters of contracting companies, this is possible.

The video in this article: “Houses made of foam blocks: construction time” contains a lot of useful information for developers. It concerns the features of individual stages of work and the time of their implementation.

Building a house from foam block - what materials and tools are needed

List of building materials required for construction:

blocks used as the main building material;
special glue sold in crumbly form;
reinforcing bars used in the reinforcement process.

Materials purchased in advance should be protected from moisture.

For construction work you will need various equipment and special tools:

drill with a nozzle for mixing the adhesive mass;
“grinder” for cutting reinforcement and fine-tuning the geometry of block products;
rubberized mallet for compacting foam blocks during laying;
a plane for foam concrete, making it easier to level out uneven surfaces;
a hacksaw necessary for cutting foam concrete;
spatula with teeth for applying the composition;
construction cord, which is a guide when laying foam blocks;
level for quality control of work performed;
plumb line to control deviation from the vertical;
spacious container for preparing the working mixture;
a spatula with a flat working part for grouting.

To independently prepare the foundation solution, you will also need a concrete mixer.

To cut the foam block you do not need to use special tools; you can easily cut the material using a hacksaw

Features of representatives of cellular concrete and their impact on construction time

Foam block is one of the varieties of cellular concrete, which, of course, determines some features of the construction process.

Let's consider point by point what the developer should take into account, and what advantages await him when choosing this material as the main one:

One of the most important features of foam block is its hygroscopicity. It absorbs moisture slightly less than its competitor, the aerated block, but the figure of 10-16% is not so small. Therefore, the product needs to be protected from moisture, including in cases where the unit is to be temporarily stored.

Excess moisture can not only reduce the physical and mechanical properties of products, but also partially destroy the structure of the material. For example, when it crystallizes during frost, irreversible consequences can occur.

Cellular structure of the foam block

It is also worth noting the material’s tendency to shrink. Developers often complain about the appearance of cracks on finished walls. Therefore, you should not start finishing immediately. The products should settle a little.

Shrinkage of the foam block

Note! The appearance of cracks can be caused by other factors, such as: errors in foundation construction, the use of blocks from different manufacturers, and so on. This indicates that precise execution of construction technology is the key to a good result.

Experts recommend starting to decorate the building from the inside.
When transporting and working with blocks, you should be careful due to the fragility of the products. They are easy to process, but also quite easy to split.
When designing a building, pay attention to fastening points in places where it will be necessary to secure heavy objects. This is the weak side of the foam block and, most likely, these nodes will have to be strengthened.
When choosing a material, be sure to keep in mind that it comes in several types. Familiarize yourself with the product classification, which often determines the scope of application. This is especially true for dividing the foam block according to density. Pay attention to the types of products depending on the hardening method and their differences in characteristics.

One of the classifications of foam block

On a note! Avoid cottage industries. Products manufactured using them are not subject to control, and the values of their characteristics may not comply with GOST requirements.

It is worth noting one of the main advantages of the foam block: it has an extremely low thermal conductivity coefficient, which means that you may be able to save on insulation, and, in the future, on heating the finished building.

Thermal conductivity of foam concrete in comparison with other materials

Be prepared for additional costs associated with increasing the level of adhesion of products with finishing materials.

Construction of foam block houses - performing calculations

Before starting construction activities, it is important to correctly perform the calculations:

determine the dimensions and layout of the building;
calculate the need for material.

When determining the size of the house, consider the following points:

land area;
layout option;
total expected costs.

Calculate the need for foam concrete blocks using the following algorithm:

Determine the length of the foam block walls by summing up their dimensions.
Calculate the area of the walls by multiplying the perimeter by the height.
Subtract the area of the openings from the resulting value.
Divide the result by the lateral surface area of the product.

Let's calculate the need for material for a building with dimensions of 6x8 m and a height of 2.8 m, which is planned to be built from blocks 59.8 cm long and 19.8 cm high:

Let's calculate the area of the walls - (6+8+6+8)x2.8=78.4 m2.
Let's determine the area of the door (0.8x2=1.6 m2) and window (1.4x1.6=2.24 m2).
Let's sum up the area of the openings - 1.6 + 2.24 = 3.84 m2.
Let's calculate the net area - 78.4-3.84 = 74.56 m2.
Let's determine the area of the side surface of the blocks - 0.598x0.198= 0.118 m2.
Let's calculate the need for material - 74.56:0.118=631.8.

We will definitely reinforce door and window openings.
Rounding the resulting value to a whole number, we get the need for building materials - 632 blocks.
By comparing the amount of costs for purchasing block material for a house with dimensions of 6x8 m with the amount of brick for the construction of a building with the same dimensions, you can be convinced of the main advantage of the blocks - an affordable price.

Final stage

Once the house is covered, windows and doors are installed and interior plastering begins. It fits perfectly on foam concrete. It is better to use lime plaster as a covering material on the walls, which dries quickly and does not allow the appearance of dampness, and, therefore, the settlement of fungal colonies. Before plastering, it is necessary to complete the internal electrical wiring and create technological channels for utility networks. The object is almost ready.

Construction of houses from foam blocks - selection and construction of the foundation

Various foundations are used for foam block buildings. The choice of the optimal option is determined by the following factors:

depth of location of aquifers;
freezing level;
soil characteristics;
load on the base.

When thinking about how to make a house out of foam concrete, many people prefer a strip foundation. This proven type of foundation is best suited for foam block buildings.

Among the advantages of building a house from foam concrete are the following qualities: environmental safety of the material

Construct the foundation for a foam block structure according to the following algorithm:

Mark the outline of the building on the construction site.
Remove vegetation, remove topsoil and grade the area.
Dig a pit 60–80 cm deep, following the contour of the building.
Fill the base of the trench with a sand-gravel mixture 20 cm thick.
Assemble the formwork from panels or boards and secure the structure.
Seal any gaps through which the solution may leak.
Attach roofing felt to the inside of the formwork for waterproofing.
Cut the rods to make the reinforcing mesh.
Assemble the reinforcement cage and place it inside the formwork.
Prepare concrete grade M400 and higher and pour it into the panel structure.
Compact the concrete with a vibrator to release air bubbles.
Lay polyethylene on the surface to prevent moisture evaporation.
Do not load the concrete mass for four weeks.
Disassemble the formwork after final hardening.
Lay two rows of bricks, providing ventilation holes.
Place steel mesh to reinforce the plinth masonry.
Apply cement mortar in an even layer.
Lay the second two courses of brickwork, check the horizontal position.
Waterproof the base of the house with bitumen mastic or roofing felt.

If necessary, the foundation can be insulated. To do this, attach polystyrene foam to the outside of the base, and fill the pit with crushed stone. If there is an increased concentration of moisture in the soil, it is advisable to lay drainage lines around the perimeter of the foundation.

You can do the work yourself by performing the indicated operations step by step.

Due to the fact that foam concrete is not heavy and bulky, a building can be built much faster than using other building materials

How to make a house from foam concrete - recommendations for building a box

Construct walls made of foam concrete following the sequence of operations:

Place foam blocks in the corner areas of the base, stretch a cord between them.
Lay the base row on the glue, checking the horizontal position.
Cut a groove in the upper plane of the bottom row.
Clean it from dust and debris, lay a reinforcing bar with a diameter of 10 mm.
Apply adhesive to the surface, ensuring that the groove is completely filled.
Lay 4 levels of foam concrete masonry, following the technology for installing the blocks.
Reinforce the foam block masonry at the next level.
Continue installing the foam blocks, reinforcing them at intervals of 4-5 rows.
Create openings for doors and windows and reinforce them with steel lintels.
Assemble the formwork for pouring the armored belt on the last tier of masonry.
Tie the reinforcement frame with knitting wire and place it in the formwork.
Concrete the reinforced belt for the ceiling, plan the upper plane.

Now that the foam concrete walls have been erected, all that remains is to build the roof. Foam block house - building a roof

To build the roof of a house, the following work must be done:

Install rafter beams.
Perform the sheathing.
Lay insulating material.
Install the roof.

The ceiling can be made from various building materials, depending on the project and financial capabilities. The complex of measures for the construction of a foam block house is completed by the installation of windows and doors, facade finishing, as well as interior work.

Stages of construction of one-story houses.

The construction of buildings made of foam blocks consists of the following stages:

A monolithic or strip foundation is most often used as a foundation for such buildings. It is also built from reinforced concrete blocks. It is necessary to accurately calculate the depth of the foundation and monitor its waterproofing. The depth of the foundation is determined based on the characteristics of the soil and the approximate load of the planned structure.
Laying foam blocks with your own hands is carried out on a foundation surface leveled with cement-sand mortar and covered with roofing felt for waterproofing. How to lay foam blocks correctly? Their installation begins from the corners. First of all, find the highest corner of the foundation on which the first block is laid. A level is set on it and the remaining corner blocks are laid. Then a cord is pulled between them and along it and the initial row is laid. It is necessary to constantly monitor the horizontal level with a building level. You can saw off the excess part of the block with a hand hacksaw. The cement-sand mixture should be applied to the foundation and to the block itself, which is laid in place and trimmed with a mallet. Irregularities are removed with sanding paper. The dust remaining after processing the block is carefully swept away.
The type of masonry and seams is chosen as desired. Load-bearing walls and partitions should be made 3 cm lower than the ceilings, which allows you to relieve significant stress on them. The cracks in the foam block walls are sealed with plaster mortar.
A cottage or garden house made of foam blocks has strong enough walls that can withstand the weight of roofing rafters made of any materials. Roofs on such buildings must be well insulated and waterproofed. Interfloor ceilings are made of wooden beams onto which boards are attached. You can also use special sheet materials. In buildings made of foam blocks, concrete slabs cannot be used for floors, since their weight can destroy the walls.
The foundation for the floor consists of columns made of brick, since foam blocks are unsuitable for this purpose. You need to lay logs on them, and then lay the subfloor.
The construction of a private house made of foam blocks is completed with exterior finishing. There are several finishing methods: • covering the facade with plaster with special admixtures for foam blocks or “Bark Beetle” plaster; • finishing with siding while simultaneously insulating the walls with mineral wool; • finishing with facing bricks; • finishing with artificial, natural stone; • covering facades with special high-strength composite panels.
For interior decoration use: • plaster; • wooden lining; • drywall.

Any finishing materials can be attached to a foam block wall, since these blocks are easy to drill. To prepare holes for switches or sockets, use an electric drill with a special attachment.

You will be interested in this article - Pros and cons of aerated concrete blocks.

Step-by-step technology for building houses from foam blocks - from foundation to insulation