Wall blocks are used to build residential and industrial buildings. Compared to conventional brick walls, they have good thermal insulation, save time during installation and are much cheaper.
The construction market has a considerable number of types of wall blocks. To avoid difficulties with choice, you should consider the most popular options separately.
Building blocks - what are they?
Modern blocks for construction are made in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The dimensions of the elements are much larger than standard bricks.
Types of blocks for construction differ in a number of parameters:
- dimensions;
- designs;
- the type of filler used;
- purpose;
- manufacturing technologies;
- masonry features;
- technical parameters.
When choosing blocks, you should focus on the specific purpose of the building or structure being constructed.
Advantages of most types of blocks for construction compared to bricks:
- minimum construction period;
- reduction in labor requirements;
- reduced loads on the base;
- improved thermal insulation properties;
- no need for finishing coating.
Is it worth buying a cinder block?
From the name it is clear that the backfill of slag concrete is slag. As a rule, we are talking about blast furnace slag formed during the smelting of ore. Slag has a porous structure and does not conduct heat well enough.
Cinder blocks were widely used in Soviet times. It was a cheap material for creating various residential buildings. In those years there were practically no fakes, and the material was of good quality. Nowadays, it is important to carefully monitor what you buy. Cinder block production is quite expensive and there are a lot of fakes.
Today there is no slag in cinder blocks. It is replaced by broken glass, crushed stone, expanded clay, broken brick, etc. This is the same waste as slag. But all of the above is not blast furnace slag in the classical sense. The result is a material with unpredictable properties, low thermal conductivity and no guarantee of durability.
If you compare the characteristics of cinder blocks with other modern blocks, they will not impress anyone. Moreover, cinder block has high moisture absorption, 2 times more than foam block and gas block. It becomes extremely clear that cinder block under no circumstances can be called the best option for residential construction. Real blast furnace slag is expensive and difficult to find.
Building blocks: types and characteristics
Considering what types of blocks there are for construction, the first criterion for dividing into groups is the nature of the origin of the material:
- artificial. Production is carried out by mixing mixtures. They are convenient due to the possibility of obtaining different sizes, the mixture is poured into the desired shapes, after hardening the blocks are ready for use;
- natural. For production, technologies of polishing natural materials are used, usually based on various types of stone. They are intended for finishing work.
The cheapest type of blocks for construction is artificial, which includes:
- concrete;
- a mixture of expanded clay and concrete;
- blocks with polystyrene and concrete;
- gas silicate;
- foam concrete.
The correct choice of building materials for thermal insulation properties will avoid additional costs for insulation.
Building blocks differ in purpose and are used for:
- laying the foundation;
- erection of walls;
- thermal insulation of the room.
Based on their design, the following types of blocks are distinguished:
- full-bodied. They are integral and do not have voids, which is why they have greater weight and increased strength. They are used to build walls and form foundations. Dimensions of such blocks: width - 30-60 cm, length - 88, 118, 238 cm and height - 28, 58 cm;
- hollow. They are distinguished by the presence of several air pockets; they are less durable, but lightweight and have increased thermal parameters. Dimensions: width – 40-60 cm, length – 238 cm, height – 58 cm;
- smooth. They are used for decorative coatings, as they have a perfectly smooth surface and do not require finishing work;
- corrugated. Manufactured with one or more rough surfaces. They are always used for the construction of load-bearing structures and further processing. The main advantage is better adhesion to plaster.
Modern blocks for construction include various fillers.
Almost all include a certain amount of Portland cement and sand, and additionally add:
Building blocks are a good alternative to other materials for constructing buildings
- clay;
- slaked lime;
- expanded clay granules;
- slags of various origins;
- wood shavings or sawdust;
- inclusions of granite;
- polystyrene crumbs.
When considering what types of blocks there are for building walls, you can get confused if you don’t know the basic selection parameters.
When planning construction, blocks for construction with the following characteristics are selected:
- strength. Indicates the resistance of the material to compressive loads without damage;
- level of thermal conductivity. As the indicator decreases, the amount of heat retained indoors increases;
- frost resistance. The indicator is a reflection of the number of freezing and thawing cycles while maintaining the original structure of the material;
- density. Strength changes depending on the level of density. Denser varieties are highly durable and are used for the construction of walls in highly loaded buildings, but lead to an increase in thermal conductivity;
- water absorption coefficient. Reflects the ability to absorb moisture. Species with a high coefficient require additional cladding.
Building blocks come in different types
Lightweight concrete blocks for external and internal walls
Lightweight concrete comes in two types. One uses low weight aggregate, which reduces the weight of the building stone or block. In the second, the weight is reduced due to porosity - the cement foams and hardens in this state. In both cases, the weight of the building material becomes significantly lower, and the thermal and sound insulation characteristics are higher.
The characteristics will show which blocks are better for building a house
Aerated concrete blocks
Aerated concrete is a cement-sand mixture to which dry reagents are added to form foam. When water is added, the reagents react with cement laitance and active foaming begins. After increasing the volume, the solution is laid out in molds and allowed to mature. As a result, aerated concrete consists of thin concrete shells that contain air. That is, the block turns out to be light and warm, vapor permeable. He is not afraid of water, but he “pulls” it solidly. So you need good waterproofing of the foundation and you shouldn’t delay the finishing.
Which blocks are best for building a house? Consider the foam block
Advantages and disadvantages
With fairly large dimensions (length 600 mm, height 200 mm, width - from 150 mm to 400 mm), the standard block weighs little. The exact weight varies by brand, but medium density can be worked with alone. For example, let’s say that the weight of an M400 wall block with a thickness of 200 mm is about 13 kg, and a wall block with a thickness of 250 mm is about 17 kg.
Which gas block is best for building a house? Autoclaved aerated concrete
There are two technologies for the production of aerated concrete blocks. One by one, the solution is laid out into molds of a given size and then used. The second method is to make large blocks, and then cut them into smaller ones. The peculiarity of the second technology is that it allows you to maintain dimensions with high accuracy. This makes it possible to use not a masonry mortar made of cement and sand, but a special glue. It can be laid in a very thin layer - literally a couple of millimeters. For what? Yes, because the solution and the same glue have thermal insulation characteristics much worse than those of aerated concrete. And thin seams reduce heat loss. But glue is expensive, so this increases the cost of construction. But you can save on insulation.
| Advantages of aerated concrete | Disadvantages of aerated concrete blocks |
| Precise geometry, which speeds up laying and allows the use of special glue in a very thin layer to improve the thermal properties of the wall. | Glue is expensive, this increases the cost of construction |
| Easy to process. Can be cut with a hacksaw | Reinforcement is required to increase the strength of walls |
| Vapor conductive material | Exterior finishing should also be vapor permeable |
| Absorbs moisture, reacts poorly to freezing/defrosting (few cycles) | Requires good foundation waterproofing and exterior finishing |
| Large block | Does not tolerate bending loads, requires a stable, reliable foundation, not suitable for areas with seismic activity |
| Does not burn, does not support combustion | There may be problems hanging heavy objects on walls |
| Made from environmentally friendly substances |
Aerated concrete is easy to process; it can even be sawed with a hand saw or grooves can be made with a metal strip. On the other hand, it is not so dense that you can hang heavy things on the walls without special fasteners.
Of course, it was not without its drawbacks. The blocks are fragile and do not withstand bending loads. That is, it is better not to build a house from aerated concrete blocks on a pile or columnar foundation. Only a deep slab or tape. The second point: in order to make the walls stronger, steel reinforcement is laid in every third or fourth row. Door and window openings are also reinforced, and an armored belt is made for installing the roof structure. This significantly affects the cost of construction, and the cost of fittings must also be included in the estimate.
Types and varieties of gas blocks
Aerated concrete blocks can be autoclaved or conventionally cured. For the construction of external walls, it is better to use an autoclave, as it has more stable characteristics. Such blocks are more expensive and they are better.
Aerated concrete can be made not only from cement and sand. Part of the cement is replaced with another binder. As a result, we get blocks made of another lightweight cellular concrete:
- lime + cement - silicate concrete;
- ground blast furnace slag + cement - slag-gas concrete;
- ash + cement + lime = ash concrete.
Types of building blocks: aerated blocks allow you to quickly build a warm house
Of all the listed blocks, silicate concrete blocks are used for the construction of permanent residences. They differ from ordinary aerated concrete in color. Aerated concrete is gray, silicate concrete is white. What does adding lime do? Reduced price with a slight reduction in characteristics. But there is one rather significant disadvantage: lime corrodes steel. To ensure that the reinforced belts remain intact, they are laid in a layer of fiberglass or polymer reinforcement is used.
Foam blocks for house construction
At first glance, foam blocks are very similar to aerated concrete. The difference is that ready-made foam is added to the mixture of concrete and sand, rather than a dry reagent. The mixture is kneaded, placed in molds and left to dry. Actually, that's all. Very simple. This is the drawback. You can make foam concrete in the garage. But we cannot talk about any stability of parameters. And the material itself is not bad.
Foam concrete blocks are a good material for building a house. But only the quality is hard to track
Advantages and disadvantages of foam concrete blocks
The thermal characteristics of foam concrete are among the best. Slightly worse than aerated concrete. Which means that foam concrete walls should be thicker. Is it good or bad? More wall thickness, more weight, more load on the foundation. This means an increase in the size of the foundation and the cost of it, although the material for the walls itself is cheaper. But there is no definite answer that it will be cheaper. We have to count.
Foam concrete blocks for building a house are a good choice. Provided that they are made strictly according to technology
The poorer thermal conductivity of aerated concrete is due to the fact that the walls of air bubbles are thicker. That is, there is less air in the same volume. This has two more “consequences” - higher material strength and greater weight. Higher strength is good. You can already screw self-tapping screws into walls made of foam blocks, and special fasteners generally hold up with a bang.
| Advantages of foam blocks for building a house | Disadvantages of foam concrete blocks |
| Low density combined with high strength | Due to the simplicity of production, you can run into handicraft material of low quality |
| Has good thermal insulation properties | Cannot withstand bending loads, requires a stable foundation |
| Light weight, which means not too expensive foundation | Different pore sizes give heterogeneous characteristics |
| The surface of the block is rough, which improves adhesion to plaster compositions | Wider seam between blocks (up to 20 mm), which increases heat loss |
| Vapor permeable wall | Requires a special approach to the choice of finishes |
| Large block sizes speed up construction | |
| Does not burn and does not support combustion | |
| Environmentally friendly |
More weight is not so good. This again means an increase in the size of the foundation and the need to have a helper for independent construction. Although if you compare it with the thickness of a brick wall, it is half as much. So the material is economical.
There is another consequence of thicker cement walls - it is more difficult to process. It can’t be compared with brick, of course, but it’s not too easy either.
The advantages of the material include its good soundproofing characteristics, non-flammability, and environmental safety. The material conducts steam, but not to the same extent as aerated concrete. But its frost resistance is higher. It absorbs moisture even better, so it also needs finishing.
Standard sized blocks cost relatively little. This is the cheapest of block materials
In addition, foam concrete does not have such an ideal geometry. The difference in size can be significant. This means that the masonry is laid only with mortar and the seam is made thick enough to compensate for the difference in the size of the blocks. Thick seams reduce the thermal resistance of the wall as a whole.
If we generalize, this is the picture we get. Inexpensive material, but you need to be sure of the quality. The walls are erected quickly, the house turns out to be “quiet” and warm, the screws hold the walls in place. It is not advisable to leave it without a roof for the winter. Finishing is needed, but not immediately after construction.
Polystyrene concrete blocks
Polystyrene concrete is cement to which polystyrene granules have been added, additives to improve workability. The mixture is mixed, water is added, and poured into molds until it hardens. With this technology, you cannot expect ideal geometry, but the material is easy to process. You can cut with a hand saw. And this despite the fact that the strength and stability of shape are high, the amount of shrinkage is minimal, and the weight is small (even less than that of aerated concrete of the same strength).
What types of blocks are there for building a house on a budget? Polystyrene concrete - warm and inexpensive
Polystyrene concrete blocks are quite large (15-30 per cubic meter), so construction goes quickly. Place it on a regular solution, you can use glue. It comes in a thinner layer, although it costs more. The disadvantage is typical for all blocks made of lightweight concrete - reinforcement is required to increase strength. Some manufacturers may place reinforcement in the blocks themselves. These are used for laying load-bearing walls. Jumpers are produced separately for installation over window and door openings. They definitely contain reinforcement inside. Due to its solidity, such a jumper works no worse than the corners that are used as an alternative.
| Advantages of polystyrene concrete blocks | Cons of polystyrene concrete building blocks |
| Lightweight, durable, dense | The technology is not ideal, the properties depend on compliance with the proportions and technology |
| Easy to process, large blocks, laying goes quickly | Reinforcement is required, which requires time and money |
| Does not burn, does not support combustion | In the affected area it crumbles |
| Very good thermal conductivity and sound insulation characteristics | Special fasteners are required to secure something in the walls. |
| Good frost resistance | Contains artificial ingredients |
| Vapor permeability on par with wood | Requires exterior finishing |
| Low moisture absorption | |
| Good sound insulation characteristics |
The vapor permeability of polystyrene concrete blocks is average. Level with wood. Thermal conductivity is quite decent. For structural blocks with strength D400 - 0.15 -0.20 W/m°C. We are pleased with the good frost resistance indicators of about 50-70 cycles for a material of the same strength grade. Compared to 20-25 foam concrete, this is already quite good.
To decide which blocks are best for building a house, we study the characteristics and properties
Disadvantages and features
The downside is that a house made of polystyrene concrete block requires cladding. Not for technical reasons, but for aesthetic reasons due to its unattractive appearance. What’s good is that it will easily survive a couple of winters without cladding, as it has good frost resistance. What type of cladding? The best solution is a ventilated facade, but plaster is also possible. But the usual one doesn’t stick well to cement. It is required with special polymer additives, and they are expensive. The good news is that the consumption will be small - the wall will turn out quite smooth. In addition, you can do without rough plaster. Fill the mesh and decorative plaster over it. But it is difficult to say how reliable this type of finishing will be. They do this, but there are no reviews.
The size of a polystyrene concrete building block is length from 60 cm, width from 20 cm, height from 20 cm. They can be twice as thick/higher
As a summary. If you want to quickly and inexpensively build a warm house, then polystyrene blocks can be considered the best for building such a house. With one remark - you have nothing against the use of polystyrene, and the need to think about fastening to the walls does not bother you too much. After all, you will have to install windows and doors somehow.
Expanded clay concrete blocks
Expanded clay concrete blocks have been known for a long time. Expanded clay is added to the mixture of sand and cement, the whole thing is mixed, then water is added. The technology for concrete is standard, but with its own characteristics. Expanded clay is baked clay and this type of material is hygroscopic. Therefore, more water is required to mix the solution.
In the last century, block construction of houses was carried out mainly from expanded clay concrete blocks
In addition, expanded clay does not coat the solution very well, so longer kneading is required. In production conditions, the problem of the required level of strength is solved in two ways: processing in an autoclave or vibrocompression. Without such processing, the material is obtained with lower strength characteristics. And since the technology is simple, often “production” is opened in the garage, and the blocks are simply knocked out of the molds and dried. Moreover, like standard concrete, expanded clay concrete gains strength in 28 days. But it requires space to store it, so it may be sold earlier. If you know about this, you can put it to “ripening” at home. If you don’t know and put it in the masonry right away, it may fall apart. How to distinguish? Yes for the price. Factory ones are more expensive. But if you need blocks to build a house, then buying handmade ones is dangerous.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of expanded clay concrete blocks are similar to those listed above: light weight, large size, good thermal insulation characteristics compared to brick. But solid expanded clay concrete has lower thermal conductivity than all the materials described above. But it is much stronger. This allows you to make slotted blocks, and they are used for laying external walls. In this form, we obtain thermal insulation at approximately the same level. In addition, the voids reduce weight, which is good.
Expanded clay concrete construction blocks have average thermal efficiency characteristics
Among other advantages. Expanded clay concrete walls do not require additional reinforcement, which allows masonry to be done faster. Blocks can withstand bending loads better, so the requirements for foundations are not so stringent. Buildings made of expanded clay blocks can also be built on a pile or columnar foundation.
The disadvantages of expanded clay concrete blocks are quite serious. The first and main thing is that water absorption is high (at the same level as aerated concrete), so exterior finishing is desirable immediately. You should not leave it over the winter without a roof, as it will accumulate moisture significantly and shorten its service life. There is no ideal geometry, but cement-based plasters apply very well and hold securely.
| Advantages of expanded clay concrete blocks for building a house | Disadvantages of expanded clay concrete blocks |
| Simple technology, natural materials | There is a high chance of getting low-quality products |
| High strength with low weight | Insufficient thermal insulation for the use of solid blocks |
| Good thermal characteristics | Strongly absorbs moisture, needs exterior finishing and protection of interior walls from steam |
| Average frost resistance for vibration-pressed ones (about 35 cycles) and high for autoclaved ones (up to 80 or 100 cycles) | Deviations in sizes |
| Good adhesion to cement-based plaster | |
| Does not burn and does not support combustion |
And yet, even if slotted expanded clay concrete blocks are used, most of the territory requires additional external insulation. Due to its hygroscopicity, this material is not recommended for the construction of partitions in rooms with high humidity. That is, for the construction of a bathhouse or partitions in a bathroom, it is better to look for another material. And in a private house, in order to avoid eternal dampness, a vapor barrier is laid from the inside. And to regulate the humidity in the room, you need good ventilation.
Even if slotted blocks are used, the wall must be thick
What conclusions can be drawn? Previously, before the advent of cellular concrete, expanded clay concrete was considered the lightest and warmest material for building a house. Today it is clearly inferior in these indicators to foam-gas-polystyrene-concrete blocks and has significant disadvantages. Therefore, it is gradually being forced out of the market.
Cinder blocks
As the name implies, the backfill in slag concrete is slag. In theory, blast furnace slag is used, which is formed during the smelting of ore and covers the metal. It has a porous structure and does not conduct heat well. That is why it was used to produce cheap blocks for housing construction. But in the days of the USSR, when materials were driven throughout the vastness, one could hope that in regions where there were no steelmaking plants, you would actually get a cinder block. Today there is little hope for this - delivery is expensive, which makes the production of such material unprofitable.
Comparison of lightweight concrete blocks using different technologies and with different aggregates
So what do we have? No slag in the cinder block. It is replaced with crushed stone, expanded clay, broken glass, and broken bricks. That is, they also use “slag”, in the sense of waste, but not blast furnace. As a result, the characteristics are unpredictable, thermal conductivity is low, and durability depends on your luck.
Even if you compare the characteristics of slag concrete blocks with blast furnace slag aggregate, they are not impressive. It should also be added that its moisture absorption is very high - more than twice as high as that of foam and aerated concrete. And this is with lower thermal conductivity in the dry state. So it becomes clear that this unit cannot be called the best, and it is far from the cheapest. Blast furnace slag costs a lot. This material is now clearly inferior in many respects. For the last twenty years people have been remembering him “out of old memory.”
Expanded clay concrete blocks
The technical standard for the production of expanded clay concrete type building blocks is GOST 6133-99. The standard stipulates that the group includes heavy, light and fine-grained concrete, which is always made hollow. The thickness of the walls on the outside is not less than 2 cm, and the weight is not more than 31 kg.
Expanded clay concrete elements are used for the following construction purposes:
- creating partitions;
- masonry walls in low-rise buildings;
- construction of soundproof partitions;
- organization of natural ventilation;
- formation of foundations of wooden log houses.
For construction, 2 types of blocks are used:
- facial It has one (side) or two (side and end) facial planes;
- private There are no decorative surfaces.
According to the place of masonry, the elements are divided into corner, ligament and row. The assortment includes blocks with sizes:
- width: 7-49.5 cm;
- length: 12-45 cm;
- height: 19 and 24 cm.
The material has a strength of 400-1800 kg/m3.
Expanded clay concrete is a block made by vibrocompression, which contains: cement, sand, expanded clay, water
Positive and negative properties of polystyrene concrete blocks
Let us note the undeniable advantages of this type of material:
- Density, lightness, strength,
- No labor-intensive processing required
- High construction speed,
- Block size,
- Does not support combustion
- Low level of moisture absorption,
- Good sound insulation and thermal conductivity,
- Vapor permeability similar to wood,
- Frost resistance.
Let's note some disadvantages:
- Blocks need to be reinforced, which makes production more expensive and longer,
- Exterior finishing required
- The technology has disadvantages, the characteristics depend on compliance with a number of rules,
- Fasteners are needed if you need to fix objects on the walls,
- There is an artificial component.
Polystyrene concrete has an average level of vapor permeability. The characteristics are similar to those of wood. There is good thermal conductivity.
It is important to note that a structure made from blocks of this type requires cladding. There are not technical, but aesthetic reasons for this. But you can survive several winters without cladding, since frost resistance is at a good level.
When choosing a cladding, you can choose the popular option – the ventilated façade. If you don’t want to use a ventilated façade, you can use plaster, but the usual mixture will not adhere well to cement. The plaster must have polymer additives in its composition. Its consumption is very small, and the walls turn out beautiful and smooth. You don't have to use rough plaster. First, the mesh is stuffed, and then decorative plaster is applied. It is difficult to say how reliable this plaster is, but, nevertheless, it is quite in demand.
Polystyrene blocks are the best choice if you want to build a house at an affordable price and in a short time. However, there is one “but” - you should not have a negative attitude towards polystyrene and you should not be afraid of the need to think about fixing to the walls. It is better to consult with a specialist on how to install doors and windows with polystyrene blocks.
Polystyrene concrete blocks
The production of polystyrene concrete is standardized in GOST 51263-99. According to the standard, polystyrene concrete building elements made from sand, cement and water always include polystyrene foam granules.
The main areas of application of expanded polystyrene:
- installation of load-bearing walls;
- creation of enclosing, frame buildings;
- insulation of the house.
Polystyrene concrete is used to form the foundation, facade, roof and insulation of the house; the blocks are characterized by good heat transfer and ease of installation. In terms of thermal conductivity, the foam block is similar to polystyrene concrete elements, but is significantly inferior to them in strength. The density of the material ranges from 150-600 kg/m3.
Most often used for the construction of buildings of any size that require thermal insulation.
Sold as:
- slabs: 60x30x9-20 cm;
- wall blocks: 60x30x20-25 cm;
- elements for partitions: 60x30x8-12 cm.
Building blocks made of polystyrene concrete are lightweight concrete using cement binder and foamed polystyrene as filler.
Pressed cement blocks from sand concrete (besser blocks)
Another type of hollow building blocks is made from sand concrete. Solid ones are also made using the same technology, but they have low thermal efficiency. But the wall is practically a monolith, it is difficult to break through it, and its load-bearing capacity is high. But in order for such a house to be warm, it will have very thick walls, which will increase the cost of the foundation.
Therefore, a combined construction is considered the best option. In the sense that the wall is laid from a solid and hollow vibro-pressed block. The outer layer is solid, the inner layer has voids. Thus, the strength of the wall and its load-bearing capacity are high, and the thermal characteristics are excellent. It is also worth saying that the technology allows one of the sides of the block to be made “front”, with a smooth surface or a “ragged stone” look. Sand-cement vibrating blocks are good because you can add dye to them. Everything looks quite decent, and in terms of price, such stones with a “front” side cost only a little more. You just need special forms, but the technology doesn’t change.
Which blocks are best for building a house? If strong walls are a priority, then vibropressed ones are beyond competition
The process of forming vibrocompressed blocks is as follows: a mixture of cement and sand is diluted with water. The solution is poured into molds, which are then processed on a vibrocompression table. That is, the solution is simultaneously subjected to vibration and pressure. This gives it increased strength and allows you to make the walls thin and the voids large. All this makes it possible to reduce weight and also improve thermal performance. This technology has been used in America for a long time. Budget houses are built from such a building block. It's called a Besser block.
Advantages and disadvantages of vibrocompressed blocks
The main advantage of this technology is vibration processing with simultaneous pressure. The concrete stone is very durable and homogeneous. There are no voids, inhomogeneities, the characteristics and properties are stable, the walls are even and smooth. This processing also makes it possible to control the dimensions. Of all the blocks that are poured into molds, this one has the best geometry.
Sand concrete blocks: main characteristics of solid ones
Further on the properties: high frost resistance - from 50 cycles (up to 300), strength - M100 or higher. The thermal conductivity of hollow blocks is 0.9 W/m²C, which is significantly lower than required, so either the wall must be thick or it needs to be insulated. It absorbs moisture, but in small quantities, and is not afraid of getting wet. There is no data on the thermal conductivity of a solid block. You have to understand that they are extremely disappointing.
When constructing walls from hollow vibroblocks, reinforcement is recommended. Moreover, they do both vertical and horizontal. For the vertical, rods are used, which would be good to connect with outlets from the foundation. And the horizontal reinforcement is metal mesh. This is not a requirement, but it does make for stronger walls.
Which blocks are best for building a house? In beauty - these
Among the “pure” disadvantages are the rather large weight and small size of the stone. This is when compared with blocks made of lightweight concrete. Accordingly, a foundation for a large weight requires a more powerful one, which leads to an increase in its costs.
The price is quite reasonable, since the components are affordable, and the vibrating table is not such an expensive piece of equipment that it would raise the cost significantly. In general, it’s quite a decent option. But no matter how you describe the advantages, cement remains cement. And houses are rarely built from this material. But they often build fences or use them as facing stones. By the way, it is often called a “fence” block or Besser.
Gas silicate building blocks: types and properties
When choosing aerated concrete and gas silicate elements, they prefer blocks for small objects and walls or slabs for floors. At the legislative level it is standardized by GOST 31360-2007. Gas silicate elements are made from unreinforced cellular concrete. Designed for the construction of partitions and walls.
Manufacturing technology implies the possibility of producing blocks with blind and through holes, and grip pockets. Manufacturers produce U-shapes in limited editions.
Manufacturing is carried out using two methods:
- autoclave method. To dry the material, the influence of steam is used; it is supplied under high pressure. The result is high strength characteristics and resistance to shrinkage during the drying process;
- non-autoclave method. Hardening is carried out under natural conditions. Characterized by significant shrinkage during the solidification process. It is used less often in buildings due to reduced strength, but is cheaper.
You can find out which gas silicate block is by the batch marking. During the masonry process, installation of a vapor barrier film is not required if the air humidity does not exceed 75%. The blocks have standard dimensions: 62.5x50x50 cm. The slabs are made in dimensions: 150x100x60 cm.
Aerated concrete blocks are connected using a special glue, this is facilitated by their ideal geometric shape with an error tolerance of no more than 2 mm
The material is valued due to its technical characteristics:
- arithmetic mean density – up to D700;
- compression force to deformation – from B1.5;
- thermal conductivity level: 0.08-0.1 W/m;
- shrinkage during the hardening process and vapor permeability - corresponds to GOST 31359;
- frost resistance: for external walls F25, for other tasks F15.
The weight of one block starts from 17 kg and reaches 40 kg.
Production of foam concrete and aerated concrete blocks
In composition, these two materials differ little from each other, but in the production method they differ significantly. If a foaming agent is used to form cellular pores with a closed structure for foam concrete, then aerated concrete blocks are obtained as a result of a chemical reaction, thanks to aluminum paste (or powder). As a result of the reaction occurring between the catalyst and lime, a porous structure of the product is formed, which has an open shape.
The production of aerated concrete is carried out in two ways: autoclave and non-autoclave, with a natural process of drying the products.
Foam concrete is of non-autoclave origin. Externally, one material can be distinguished from another by color; foam concrete blocks have a grayish tint, and aerated concrete is bright snow-white.
Blocks can be made in two ways:
- pouring the prepared solution into molds of the appropriate size;
- manufacturing a monolith with subsequent cutting of blocks.
Foam concrete, after entering the aerated concrete market, began to lose its position to the latter. One of the main problems of foam concrete products can be considered quite noticeable shrinkage of the material, especially those that have passed through the drying chamber, and high hygroscopicity. In addition, foam concrete is noticeably inferior in terms of thermal insulation characteristics.
About foam concrete blocks, video:
Main characteristics of aerated concrete
The method of manufacturing aerated concrete blocks affects its properties, so the material made by the autoclave method has greater strength, and therefore load-bearing capacity, and products produced by the conventional method have a lower thermal conductivity coefficient.
When choosing aerated concrete blocks, you should definitely pay attention to such a parameter as density, which can be obtained from special alphanumeric markings, for example, D400, D500 or D700 indicates the weight of 1 m3 of the product, but not only, since this indicator is more informative and indicates the scope of use: for load-bearing walls or partitions.
That is, the higher the density, the higher the strength, but also the higher the thermal conductivity coefficient. Aerated blocks with density indicators from D400 to D700 have the optimal combination of all indicators.
Sometimes, especially when building houses for year-round use in a climate zone with harsh winters, the box is built from two layers of material, one of them with a lower density but higher thermal insulation qualities.
If you pay attention to reviews from home owners , you will notice that an attractive point is the possibility of using not only traditional products with standard dimensions, for example, 625x300x250 mm (although blocks with other parameters are available on the market), but also the use of special blocks for lintels, as well as for the installation of floors.
In addition, for partitions it is recommended to use products with a smaller width, which can significantly save usable space.
Features of the construction of houses made of aerated concrete and foam concrete blocks
You can build a house from these materials in the shortest possible time, including with your own hands. This is facilitated by the rather large size of the products and the accuracy of their linear dimensions. You can lay foam blocks and aerated concrete either using regular mortar or using special adhesive compositions.
Until now, therefore, even experts are arguing, citing as arguments, first of all, the cost of one and the second type.
But one thing is obvious: the use of an adhesive composition is more justified, since with this option the thickness of the seams has minimal values, which means that heat loss will also be minimized. And besides this, when building a house from blocks using adhesive mortar, it is easier to adjust the construction at the horizontal and vertical levels, especially considering their almost ideal linear shapes.
Despite the fact that foam concrete and aerated concrete are two different materials, they have common pros and cons , of which you should pay attention to the following:
- sufficiently high vapor permeability of the walls, ensuring the creation of a microclimate in the room favorable for humans;
- satisfactory indicators of thermal conductivity and heat capacity;
- sufficient load-bearing capacity allowing the construction of buildings up to 12-15 m in height;
- fire resistance;
- environmental safety, as they are made from natural raw materials;
- durability, on average the service life of a house made of foam concrete is 40-50 years, and buildings made of aerated concrete – up to 80 years;
- frost resistance is 25-50 cycles, while autoclaved aerated concrete exceeds this period and has indicators equal to 50-100 cycles.
If we consider the “cons”, then, first of all, you should pay attention to:
- the hygroscopicity of these materials, while for aerated concrete the ability to absorb moisture depends on the density: the higher this indicator, the higher the moisture resistance. In order to eliminate this drawback, it is necessary to complete the facade finishing as soon as possible, and it is absolutely undesirable to leave the house “without clothes” for the winter;
- the presence of cold bridges, which significantly reduce the thermal insulation qualities. And if the use of an adhesive composition instead of a traditional solution can eliminate this disadvantage, then the presence of reinforcing belts requires a radical solution, first of all, the installation of an additional heat-insulating layer.
Read more about building a house from aerated concrete here.
Foam concrete blocks
Manufacturers are guided by GOST 21520-89. The material is divided by density, there are 3 main types:
- structural. They are used for the construction of structures with high load-bearing capacity (foundation, load-bearing walls, plinth). The group includes grades D1000-D1200 with a density of 1-1.2 t/m3;
- thermal insulation. Used in the process of creating an insulation layer. The category includes: D300-D500 with a density of 150-400 kg/m3;
- structural and thermal insulation. They combine the qualities of the previous groups and are used during the construction of load-bearing walls of low buildings and partitions. This type includes materials marked: D500-D900 and a density of 500-900 kg/m3.
The difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete is that the former hardens in natural atmospheric conditions, otherwise the characteristics of building materials are similar.
Foam concrete blocks have a high level of frost resistance and optimal strength. Thermal insulation characteristics are due to the porosity of the material, sometimes savings on heating payments reach 50-70%. Foam concrete allows you to create a high-quality, warm and reliable building capable of serving for 100 years or more.
Foam blocks for the construction of residential buildings
Foam blocks only at first glance resemble aerated concrete. The difference is that ready-made foam is added to the mixture of sand and concrete, rather than a dry type reagent. The mixture is kneaded, placed in molds and left to dry. Foam concrete can be made in almost any conditions. But nothing can be said about the stability of the characteristics. However, the material itself is quite good.
Foam concrete has some of the best thermal characteristics. They are only slightly inferior to aerated concrete. Foam concrete walls are usually thicker. But at the same time the load on the foundation is greater. This means that the dimensions of the foundation and the costs for it increase. There is no definite answer which will be cheaper: using gas blocks or foam blocks.
Aerated concrete has lower thermal conductivity, this is explained by the fact that the walls of the air bubbles are thicker. Aerated concrete is more durable and practical. It should be noted that foam block walls allow screws to be screwed in. Special fasteners hold just perfectly.
Types of reinforced concrete wall blocks
The most common concrete products are reinforced concrete. When considering what types of building blocks for walls there are, one cannot miss the most famous construction option. Reinforced concrete, like other types of wall blocks, has advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include high strength and durability, while the disadvantages are low thermal insulation ability and high weight.
The following are made from reinforced concrete:
- elements for forming the foundation;
- blocks with technological holes for laying communications;
- hollow elements.
The material is produced in a wide range of sizes:
- length: from 880 to 2380 mm;
- width: from 300 to 600 mm;
- height: from 280 to 580 mm.
When using them, better performance is possible in comparison with traditional blocks.
Characteristics of reinforced concrete panels:
- high strength;
- minimum amount of mortar for masonry;
- effective noise absorption;
- moisture resistance;
- immunity to temperature changes.
The disadvantages include:
- low thermal insulation ability;
- large weight and dimensions, which makes transportation and installation difficult;
- high cost of construction.
Technical characteristics of wall blocks, common to all blocks (and the most important)
Strength. The ultimate compressive strength, measured in kgf/cm2, we see in the grade of wall materials, for example, M100 means that the ultimate compressive strength at which the properties of a given stone do not lose its properties is 100 kgf/cm2. Blocks with wood fillers - wood concrete and sawdust concrete - have additionally good bending and tensile strength characteristics due to the durable elastic filler of sawdust and wood chips. Density is measured in kg/m3.
The main properties of blocks are directly dependent on density - strength and thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity characterizes the ability of a material to retain heat in a house and not allow it to pass through the walls. One of the assessment methods is by the thermal conductivity coefficient, which is measured in W/m*degree K. The higher the value of the thermal conductivity coefficient, the lower the heat-protective ability of the material. Frost resistance - characterizes the behavior of the material in difficult climatic conditions, under the influence of low temperatures and constant humidity.
Frost resistance is designated F and is measured in cycles of alternating freezing and thawing. For example, F50 means that the manufacturer of this material guarantees its operation without loss of properties for up to 50 freezing and thawing cycles in a water-saturated state. This figure does not mean the number of winters in cold areas, because there are both frosts and thaws throughout the year.
The number of cycles shows exactly the number of freezing-thawing cycles, which can occur from one to twenty or more in one year. In order for a material that does not have high frost resistance to work for a long time and maintain strength and thermal efficiency, it is necessary to protect it from the environment - rain, snow and high humidity, and cover it with finishing or cladding. Cost - the economic factor has been and will always be one of the main ones when choosing building materials, which is quite justified.
The price of wall blocks varies significantly. Cinder block products have always had a lower cost, thanks to simple technology and the cheapness of the filler - slag. Aerated concrete, especially its geometrically ideal twin-block representative, is 25-30% more expensive.
Wood concrete, which has unique properties, is environmentally friendly, warm and comfortable, but not resistant to precipitation - is 10-15% more expensive than aerated concrete blocks. Porous ceramic blocks, or warm ceramics, have an even greater increase in price - by about 5-10%. Market prices are not highly stable, and there may be variations.
The only thing is that you should not take cheap blocks from an unverified manufacturer. The production of foam blocks, non-autoclaved gas blocks and wood concrete can also be carried out in the garage, using “simplified” technology. Simplification in this case does not give anything good, and the plus of the ease of these technologies often turns into a big minus for the buyer of such blocks.
Porous ceramic blocks and gas silicate can only be produced using special equipment, expensive and complex, which gives the buyer a certain amount of insurance against “counterfeits.” But in the case of the production of wood concrete and foam concrete, as well as blocks of expanded clay concrete and slag concrete, as already mentioned, a primitive concrete mixer technology is possible - molding in a garage. At the same time, you can follow the technology and recipe and produce high-quality blocks for sale at a lower cost.
In this case, a laboratory press will confirm the strength of the blocks, and this is perhaps the only way to verify the quality of a product purchased from an unofficial supplier - to selectively take three or four blocks from a batch and order research in a construction laboratory. The strength of the block indirectly but significantly affects all its properties - frost resistance, heat protection, and durability. When purchasing, you need to pay attention not only to quality documents, but also to the geometry of the blocks, and to the production, warehouse and distribution of goods. It is impossible to determine the strength of the blocks visually, so it is better to buy from official manufacturers.
What types of tongue-and-groove blocks are there?
The growing demand for tongue-and-groove blocks is due to the low weight of the elements. Gypsum is added to the composition, which does not affect the operational and technical parameters.
Main characteristics:
- low weight;
- high-quality sound insulation;
- low thermal conductivity;
- corrosion resistance;
- correct shape and size;
- ease of installation.
Modern gypsum tongue-and-groove slabs, depending on the degree of moisture absorption, are divided into ordinary and moisture-resistant.
Due to the clean, smooth surface and ideal appearance, finishing of tongue-and-groove elements is not required.
Intended for interior work, usually produced using 2 methods:
- standard. It has a pure, white color;
- moisture resistant. Made with green color.
The dimensions of the blocks are fixed: 66.7x50x8 cm. A standard pallet can accommodate 30 elements at a time, each weighing up to 29 kg. The volume of the pallet with blocks is 0.8 m3. From one pallet it is possible to build a partition with an area of 10 m2.
What influences construction?
Materials for building a house must be selected in advance and very carefully. There are no perfect building blocks. All of them have both advantages and relative disadvantages. The choice should be made so that the “cons” are compensated.
Construction is directly affected by external conditions. Houses are built in different climatic conditions and soil characteristics.
Houses made from building blocks are built faster than conventional ones. Quality may vary depending on several factors:
- The course of groundwater,
- Type of foundation and its stability,
- Required construction speed,
- Complexity of exterior decoration, etc.
First of all, you need to decide whether the house will have a basement or a basement. If groundwater is too close, expensive foundation waterproofing and drainage may be required.
Before construction begins, the type of foundation is determined. Some types of blocks do not tolerate movement. This affects the stability of the foundation. The cost will increase if the walls need to be erected in an extremely short time.
Please note that not all building blocks can withstand getting wet. They must be protected from precipitation during the construction process. Walls can be vapor-tight. You can make thermal insulation, which will reduce heating costs.
Without the listed nuances, it is impossible to begin full-fledged construction. All these points need to be discussed in advance.
Building blocks – which ones are better?
It is impossible to definitively answer which building blocks are better, because the choice is influenced by many factors:
- region of residence;
- specifics of use;
- technical properties of the material;
- required strength;
- construction budget.
Based on specific goals, comparison of materials and estimated cost, the choice of the preferred material for construction can be made.
It is impossible to say definitively which type of blocks is better; justification and specific requirements for the planned construction are necessary.
What types of gas blocks are there?
Blocks of this type can be conventional or autoclave cured. To build external walls, it is optimal to choose autoclave blocks, since their characteristics are more stable. Their cost is more expensive than usual.
Often, a certain amount of cement in aerated concrete is replaced with another material, for example, silicate concrete is made from lime and cement, and slag-gas concrete is made from ground blast furnace slag and cement. Cement with lime and ash creates a material such as ash concrete.
If we talk about the construction of houses with permanent residence, then it is best to use silicate concrete blocks. The material differs from standard aerated concrete in its color. Aerated concrete is gray in color, while silicate concrete is white. The addition of lime reduces the cost with a slight deterioration in properties. But it is worth remembering that lime will corrode steel over time.
Recommendations
Experts advise:
- correctly calculate the amount of material to reduce the cost of constructing a structure. A smaller quantity will lead to the need for re-purchase, and a larger quantity will result in useless ballast. It is important to take into account all the parameters of the formula, since the blocks for the wall should be calculated taking into account the stock, destruction, defects, size of seams, etc.;
- When choosing aerated concrete and foam blocks, it is important to lay it correctly, since reinforcing aerated concrete blocks is a mandatory measure to increase the strength of the structure. The difference between a foam block and a gas block is hardly noticeable to an amateur, but before determining a specific type, it is worth finding out about the differences;
- at home you can prepare blocks from sawdust; they are almost as good as industrial materials and are suitable for building residential premises;
- To retain heat in a room, it is better to choose cellular blocks. Warm blocks for building a house will help you save on additional insulation and payments for energy resources;
- The choice of material is influenced by the area of use: load-bearing structure or partition. Blocks for partitions must provide sound insulation, but are not designed to withstand heavy loads; hollow options are suitable. Load-bearing walls are made exclusively from solid elements.
Clear prioritization and understanding of the differences between materials will help you make the right, solid choice. The priority should be in terms of economy, thermal insulation or strength. Each material is good, but in its own way.
Block cost comparison
Oddly enough, the issue of cost is one of the main ones when choosing a particular material. Prices for block walls can vary even regardless of their quality. For example, although Balaev’s blocks are considered the most expensive, they may be inferior in quality to other types.
The “golden mean” in the block cost chart is occupied by aerated concrete and foam concrete, which justifies their quality. They are relatively low in cost and have a number of advantages, thanks to which they are a favorite material for the construction of buildings.
The most economical option is a cinder block, because it depends on weather conditions, has low thermal insulation, and also lacks environmental safety.
Aerated concrete material for the construction of walls
As in the previous case, gas silicate blocks have a porous structure. For production, a silicate base is used with the addition of binders and foaming additives.
The exact geometry of each block, which simplifies the process of erecting wall structures and allows you to accurately calculate glue consumption.
Presentable appearance.
Ease of processing: you can cut aerated concrete with a regular hacksaw.
High level of fire safety.
Environmental safety: no chemically active or toxic substances are used in production.
Large block size - allows you to reduce the time for building walls.
Low strength - aerated block is not used in multi-story construction.
After completion of the work, shrinkage of up to 1.5 mm per meter of height is observed. According to this indicator, gas silicate blocks are considered the worst among lightweight concrete.
Low frost resistance - only 10 freeze/thaw cycles. Therefore, walls made of this material necessarily require additional insulation.
We advise you to study - How to install a shower cabin in a private house
Dependence on humid environment. Aerated concrete absorbs water well, which leads to destruction of the structure of the block.
In terms of thermal insulation, aerated concrete blocks are close to solid brick, so additional insulation is a prerequisite. However, the blocks have minimal weight, which significantly reduces the load on the foundation.
Gas silicate blocks
Safe building materials from an environmental point of view and lightweight. Suitable for low-rise construction, installation of main walls and internal partitions.
Gas silicate block
The blocks are produced by heat treatment and pressing a mass of quartz sand, cement, lime and aluminum chips. This mixture is also called artificial stone. The composition has increased fire resistance and good sound insulation. A house made from such blocks is warm, and the walls “breathe” due to vapor permeability.
Thanks to its convenient dense structure, gas silicate is easy to install. Clear block edges speed up construction time and level out the structure.
The advantages of gas silicate blocks include such a characteristic as low weight. The finished block has a cellular structure, which makes it lighter. The building frame does not exert strong pressure on the foundation, which allows saving on additional reinforcements.
An important advantage is the wide range of sizes and shapes. Manufacturers regularly improve the masonry base to facilitate installation, creating thoughtful designs with recesses and groove connections convenient for installation. Despite these advantages of gas silicate products, their scope of application has been reduced. The cellular structure reduces compressibility and density. To avoid cracks and shrinkage of the lower part of the building, it is recommended to use blocks for buildings up to two floors high. When constructing taller buildings, to increase the strength of the structure, it is necessary to seal it with steel reinforcement. However, there will still be a risk of destruction of the lower floors under the weight of the upper ones.
Construction of a load-bearing wall from gas silicate blocks
Aerated concrete does not burn, but at high temperatures it begins to collapse, so after a fire the house may become uninhabitable. Also, the disadvantages of gas silicate blocks include an increased level of water absorption and rather low heat resistance. They absorb moisture, which can tear the blocks during severe frosts.
Aerated concrete materials 60x25x40/mm are offered for 30-206 rubles/piece. Products 60x30x10/20/25 mm cost about 30-75 rubles/piece. The largest blocks 60x37.5/40x25 mm can be purchased at a cost of 210-240 rubles/piece.
Arbolite blocks
Wood concrete blocks are considered an environmentally friendly material. They consist of 80% wood chips and other organic components (crushed stems, sunflower seed waste, etc.). The important ingredients are cement and various mineral additives. The resulting mixture is also called wood concrete.
This is what wood concrete blocks look like
Arbolite is used for private low-rise construction of buildings whose load-bearing walls are not subject to high compressive loads. This type of block is very popular in Holland. In Russia it has not yet acquired such recognition, but domestic production has already been launched.
Advantages of arbolite blocks
For small buildings they can be used without reinforcement.
One of the negative qualities of wood concrete blocks is the mandatory cladding to hide the unsightly appearance of the blocks.
Wood concrete house
Due to their environmental composition, wood concrete blocks are among the most expensive. A block of 150x200x500 mm costs about 60 rubles/piece, and 300x200x500 mm – 120 rubles/piece.
INTERESTING
A separate type of environmentally friendly blocks are straw concrete blocks. This type of product refers to natural and pure materials. They can only be used to build a frame, because straw is considered a soft building material. The production of straw blocks has not yet become widespread in the construction market due to the skeptical attitude of consumers.
Making blocks from straw and concrete
Ceramic blocks according to GOST
Modern ceramic blocks have changed greatly compared to the Australian invention: they contain up to 72% air, and the dimensions of standard bricks are 2.1 - 14.9 times larger. Depending on the size, both load-bearing walls and partitions are made from them.
The more porous additives there are in the clay, the higher the thermal characteristics of the blocks, but the lower the strength. Light and at the same time durable blocks can only be made with very good and sophisticated equipment, so you need to take the choice of manufacturer seriously. The interstitial walls of the blocks must be super-thin, and this can only be achieved by crushing additives and rocky inclusions in the clay into fibers. At the first stage, clay with additives sequentially passes through several roller crushers; in each subsequent one, the gaps between the rollers are reduced until they reach 0.7 mm. Then, after a series of manipulations, blocks with voids inside are formed from the mixture, pressed, dried for a long time at a temperature that gradually increases from 30 degrees to 110 degrees and fired in an oven.
The production of ceramic blocks is regulated by GOST 530-2012 “Ceramic brick and stone”. The document describes different standard sizes of ceramic blocks, from which walls with a thickness of 250 to 510 mm can be laid. The dimensions of the blocks are indicated relative to ordinary building bricks: NF is a normal format, 250x120x65 mm. A block equal in size to 2.1 bricks is called 2.1 NF.
Here are the most popular sizes on the market:
- 10.7 NF (38th), 380x250x219 mm.
- 12.4 NF (44th), 440x250x219 mm.
- 14.3 NF (51st), 510x250x219 mm.
The sizes of blocks from different manufacturers may differ by a couple of millimeters. There are also additional blocks for corners and openings. It is preferable to use them rather than sawing large ones.
GOST does not allow product deviations from the nominal dimensions in length by 10 mm, width by 5 mm, and thickness by 4 mm.
The thickness of the outer walls according to GOST should always be 8 mm or more. The strength of the block should be M25-M175, but there are products with strength from M200. GOST does not regulate the water absorption of ceramic blocks, but on average it is 10-15%.
Buildings made from such blocks fully comply with SNIP adopted in Russia.
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You can build load-bearing walls of 3 floors, if necessary. The strength of masonry made from such blocks on M100 mortar is about 1.2 MPa (12 kg/cm2 or 120 tons/m2). For comparison, the strength of masonry made from ordinary M100 bricks on M100 mortar is 1.8 MPa (18 kg/cm2).
