How to choose expanded clay concrete block for construction. Choosing blocks for building a house: which ones are better, price and technical characteristics

07.03.2017

Expanded clay concrete blocks should be selected according to their characteristics. What to pay attention to: strength, hollowness, frost resistance, thermal conductivity.

Expanded clay concrete or sand cement blocks

Before choosing expanded clay concrete blocks based on their characteristics, many people think which is better: sand cement or expanded clay concrete. The advantages of the second material when constructing walls are that it has better thermal insulation characteristics and lighter weight. The option with blocks mainly from cement and sand is more durable, suitable for structures under constant significant pressure: foundation, load-bearing supports, plinth. At the same time, sand-cement blocks have more weight and have worse thermal conductivity.

How many slots should there be in the block?

Based on what kind of structure is being erected and for what purposes, expanded clay concrete is chosen. Builders advise:

• The double-slit option is used for light and low one-story structures: garage, barn. The building should not have concrete floors.
• The three-slit block is a dense option with average thermal conductivity.
• Four-slit - the most common, durable, suitable for the construction of low houses - two floors, retains heat well. The last property did this type most popular. There is no need to insulate walls with a four-slit block. But builders advise not to neglect additional thermal insulation.

The form has no voids special significance, you need to pay attention to their volume, which affects the strength and thermal conductivity of the block.

Strength grade

The choice of brand also depends on the type of structure. M25, 35 - options for non-residential, unloaded outbuildings on one floor - barn, garage, summer cuisine. M50, 75 are suitable for private houses and dachas. These brands will withstand heavy concrete floors and a significant number of storeys - up to 10. If the thickness of the walls is 20 cm in a private house with several floors, it is better to use M75, with a thickness of 40 cm - M50.

What is the optimal weight

A cubic meter weighing 900 kg of expanded clay concrete blocks is considered a lightweight option. This expanded clay concrete is distinguished by its low weight, reducing loads on the foundation, and good thermal conductivity (virtually no heat is allowed to pass through). The surface of such blocks, as a rule, is rough, and therefore requires fairly good processing, which means significant finishing costs. If it is expected external insulation walls, then the difference in thermal conductivity is approximately 1%, compared with blocks with a density of 1000 kg per m 3.

• have smooth surface- lower costs for finishing with plaster are needed;
• greater weight - the thermal inertia of the house increases, as a result - temperature changes inside the building are smoothed out, with sudden temperature changes outside.

Selection of partition blocks

Their size is 39x9x18.8 cm. They are used for the construction of all partitions in any building for any purpose. They are also divided into solid and hollow. If sand-cement blocks are suitable for cellars, basements, inspection pits - rooms with high humidity, then for residential premises best option- partitions made of expanded clay concrete. They have less weight and provide better sound insulation.

Solid ones should be used in places where increased strength is needed: during installation doorways, for walls where it is expected to hang a dimensional in-house equipment etc. Hollow expanded clay concrete can be used to erect partitions in all other parts of the house without significant loads.

You rarely see a house made of expanded clay blocks these days, although this one construction material quite cheap and practical. Expanded clay blocks are more often used when dacha construction, construction of garages, utility rooms. It is worth noting that a house made of expanded clay blocks will be quite warm and durable, this is facilitated by good characteristics of this building material. Making expanded clay blocks is possible at home, but it is better to purchase the material from a manufacturer who uses specialized equipment, allowing to achieve better strength indicators and geometry accuracy.

In this article we will describe in general terms how to build a house from expanded clay blocks, consider the manufacturing technology of expanded clay blocks, and the features of storing and transporting this building material.

Based on the name, it is clear that expanded clay block is a building material made from expanded clay-cement mixture. Expanded clay is a lightweight, porous material obtained by firing a certain type of clay. Expanded clay is produced either in oval or round granules, or in the form of expanded clay sand.

Expanded clay was chosen as a filler in the production of expanded clay blocks due to its following qualities:

• High strength
• Good sound and heat insulation
• Frost resistance and fire resistance
• Naturalness of the product

It is the use of expanded clay as a filler that gives the block high specifications for use in the construction industry.

The production of expanded clay blocks consists of several stages:

• Preparation of expanded clay-cement mixture. Cement + p.g.s. is loaded into a concrete mixer. + expanded clay (in most cases these are granules) + water until a semi-dry mass is obtained.
• The mass is unloaded into molds and pressed. Pressing - important point, since it affects the final quality of the product.
• Freshly made blocks are sent for drying until final hardening. Drying can occur in two ways: naturally (when the blocks are laid out on the site), or by steaming (sent to a special chamber where they are treated with steam under pressure).
• Storing blocks until they reach full strength.

Expanded clay blocks are used for masonry load-bearing elements structures and for partitions. This building material is used in combination with other types of blocks (for example, cinder block), and as a base material.

The main types of expanded clay blocks are:

• Solid block (whole) - without voids
• A block with voids (usually three or more). Differs from a solid block in weight and thermal conductivity (due to air in the niches)

Advantages and disadvantages of expanded clay block

The advantages of expanded clay block are obvious. These include:

• Easy and quick laying of large-volume expanded clay blocks (due to their size)
• Adequate price (price/quality ratio)
• Excellent physical properties

The disadvantages, perhaps, include the weight - sometimes it is difficult to lift the blocks up for masonry. Another disadvantage is the non-ideal geometry of the blocks - the difference in size can reach up to 1-2 cm (depending on the manufacturer).

On this moment There are quite a few manufacturers on the market (in any region), but not all of them follow the technology conscientiously. Therefore, if you are not a specialist and buy a unit yourself, you should consider the following points when purchasing:

• Please note the manufacturer. The technology for producing expanded clay blocks between large and small manufacturers can vary greatly. If a large company uses machines for production, then in a small company all operations can be done manually, which is not always good. For example, pressing cannot be done by hand the way it is pressed on a machine. The same can be said about steaming blocks.
• Product documents (you can ask the seller for a certificate of conformity).
• You should pay attention to appearance blocks, there should be no “sinks” on the surface of the block.
• Take the block in your hands. When a material is fragile, you can immediately feel it. Strength can be tested by lifting the block and dropping it onto a flat surface with sufficient force. Wherein good block must remain absolutely intact, without cracks or large chips. In this way, you can determine that the block has gained strength (this is especially important if floor slabs will subsequently be laid on the blocks).
• An important point is also the geometry of the blocks (the error of the faces and surfaces). The geometry is checked by measuring all sides of the block. Minor error is allowed.

Storage and transportation

There are no special requirements for the storage and transportation of expanded clay blocks. It can be transported on pallets or in bulk. For storage important points are the absence of influence of moisture. Expanded clay blocks can be stored on pallets under a canopy, covered with film or tarpaulin.

Laying expanded clay blocks

The basic rules for laying expanded clay blocks are the same as for any building blocks. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• We prepare the surface, remove all excess from the foundation. If the foundation is not brought to zero, we display
• We install waterproofing.
• We draw the corners of the structure 2-3 blocks high. They also serve as beacons for us for masonry, that’s why it’s special. You need to carefully consider the horizontal and vertical, as well as the equality of the angles in height. Levels (hydraulic level, laser level) will help us with this.
• When all the corners are aligned with each other and stand level, stretch the cord from corner to corner. The cord will serve as a level for us to lay the walls.

From expanded clay describes GOST 6133-99 “Concrete wall stones”. Exactly for this normative document Numerous suppliers of popular material refer, but not every one of them can guarantee the absence of defects in the product offered. Don't fall for the bait unscrupulous sellers A guide to choosing expanded clay blocks, compiled by a builder with twenty years of experience, will help.

External signs of the quality of expanded clay concrete block

It only takes 3 minutes for a specialist to determine the quality of an expanded clay concrete block. Signs of non-compliance with GOST are difficult to disguise, so the first thing to do is to carefully study one, or better yet several, copies.

Geometry and overall dimensions

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. Don’t be too lazy to take a tape measure with you and measure the dimensions of the blocks. Differences in the 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.

The corners and edges must be precise, even, and not crumbling, so that the wall of blocks does not wave or warp.

Color and surface structure

The standard color of expanded clay concrete block is gray, like asphalt after summer rain. There is no yellowness on the surface, indicating an excess of sand in the original mixture, or white and black spots, which is also characteristic of blocks made from low-quality raw materials.

The block should not be as smooth as sand-lime brick. The structure is very rough, with clearly noticeable inclusions of expanded clay.

Weight and strength

The weight of blocks from the same batch must be the same; only a slight discrepancy is acceptable. Moreover, high-quality material will not be too heavy, which happens when there is an excess of sand and cement.

The strength will be indicated by the presence of chips and crumbling edges. Blocks that crumble before use are not suitable for constructing durable walls. Even high-quality finishing will not hide the flaws of the frame.

conclusions

Good expanded clay concrete wall block gray, like wet asphalt, it does not crumble, has a rough surface, meets dimensional and geometric standards and sounds correct.

It’s easy to test the sound of a block, just tap on it wrench, what is it in Astrakhan watermelon. The sound of the impact should be loud.

If all the tests are passed, then you can safely buy 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 - detailed information You can obtain information about the procedure for purchasing products and their delivery to the site from our managers.

We will send the material to you by e-mail

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

Construction of walls from blocks

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

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

At the moment, the following varieties are distinguished:

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

The specific weight of all options is less than 1800 kg/m³, which is very convenient when building walls, and the cost is quite reasonable even for budget buildings.

Expanded clay concrete

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

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

Note! When using such blocks, pay attention to the material itself and where it was purchased. If the creation technology is violated, the density and geometric parameters become unstable.

When choosing expanded clay concrete structures, take into account the negative aspects of the material:

• a lightweight foundation cannot be used;
• installation of an external layer of thermal insulation is necessary to avoid the formation of cold bridges;
• if external finishing is not done, the service life is reduced to two years;
• cannot be used for foundations;
• Large dimensions increase delivery costs.

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

Aerated concrete

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

This material has positive aspects:

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

Note! It is necessary to use only a special solution.

To understand what aerated concrete is for building a house would be better suited, take into account the following parameters:

• density varies (350, 400, 450, 500, 600 and 700) and is marked D;
• length 60 or 62.5 cm;
• width from 7.5 to 50 cm;
• 20 or 25 cm in height;
• density from 1.0 to 7.5 mPa;
• frost resistance 15 – 50;
• there is shrinkage up to 0.5 mm/m.

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

Related article:

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

Foam concrete

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

Table 1. Marking of foam concrete

	Name	Density, kg per cubic meter. m	Strength	Frost resistance
D150 - 400	Thermal insulation	From 150 to 400	Up to 400 does not vary in strength class	No
D500 – 900	Structural and thermal insulation	From 500 to 900	From 13 kg per kV. cm up to 35	Class F (up to 75)
1000 - 1200	Structural	From 1000 to 1200	From 50 to 90 kg per sq. cm	Class F 15-50
1300 - 1600	Construction-drawn	From 1300 to 1600	Complies with GOST	Complies with GOST

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

Related article:

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

Cinder blocks

This type of material appeared a very long time ago. Having a lot of weight, it is necessary to use special equipment during the work. The dimensions are standard 20x20x40 cm. The composition contains perlite, expanded clay, processed sawdust, gravel, crushed stone and other components, and it is not necessary to contain slag.

The advantages of this material include:

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

Only blocks manufactured at the factory that meet all quality standards have such indicators. Since such material can be made at home, you can get completely different characteristics.

According to the design, they are produced monolithic or with slots all the way through. Moreover, laying such elements is much more difficult than brick, since cinder blocks have irregular shape. There is also no point in covering such material with plaster during finishing.

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

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

A simple way to compare materials is to compile a table with technical parameters.

Table 2. average cost blocks for building a house

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

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

Recently, the construction of walls of a private residential building from lightweight concrete has been gaining popularity. Such materials reduce the load on the foundation compared to conventional concrete or brick and have fairly good thermal insulation characteristics. To understand which blocks are best for building a house, you need to study their types and consider the features of each.

Types of products

Lightweight concretes differ depending on the materials used for their production and manufacturing technology. There are the following types material:

• foam concrete;
• aerated concrete;
• expanded clay concrete;
• expanded polystyrene concrete;
• wood concrete;
• sawdust concrete;
• cinder concrete.

To choose which types artificial stones are most preferable for the construction of walls, it is better to consider them separately. Not all options have become widespread. If we talk about what lightweight concrete is used most widely, the following types can be named: foam concrete, aerated concrete, wood concrete. The next most popular material is expanded clay concrete.

Products that can be used for construction are mainly made from Portland cement (gypsum binders). Sand is used as a filler. Reducing mass and increasing thermal conductivity is achieved by forming voids in the concrete body.

Aerated concrete

Gas silicate blocks for building a house are made on the basis of silicate binder and foaming agent, which makes it possible to obtain a porous structure. If you use materials from this group, you should remember several disadvantages:

• low strength of the walls for the construction of which they are used gas silicate blocks, does not allow the construction of high-rise buildings; these types are used as load-bearing structures are used only for low-rise buildings;
• products are characterized by strong shrinkage, the value of which can reach 1.5 mm per meter of height (gas silicate blocks are characterized by the highest rate among lightweight concrete);
• the moisture resistance of the material is low (it is able to absorb water) therefore it requires high-quality finishing using waterproofing materials, which can increase the final cost of the work;
• as cladding, it is better to use products with frost resistance of at least 30-50 cycles (according to standards, it is allowed to use from 30), but gas silicate blocks can withstand only 10 cycles of alternating defrosting and thawing, so they need additional insulation for protection against destruction;
• the thermal conductivity coefficient decreases with increasing density and strength, products that can be used for the construction load-bearing walls, By thermal insulation characteristics close to brick; and require an additional layer of insulation.

The advantages of gas silicate blocks include:

• exact dimensions of products, which allow reducing the consumption of solution or special glue;
• attractive appearance of wall masonry;
• ease of machining;
• fire resistance;
• safety and environmental friendliness;
• increasing speed and reducing labor intensity due to larger product sizes.

Further types of lightweight concrete are represented by such material as foam concrete. The main component is gypsum binders. To understand which blocks are best to choose, it is worth considering the advantages of this group:

The main component of foam concrete is gypsum binders

• ease of processing and installation;
• reduced solution consumption compared to small-format materials;
• reduction of construction costs due to the thickness of walls, insulation and less massive foundations;
• good sound insulation;
• fire resistance;
• environmental friendliness and safety (the composition includes such components as sand, cement and water);
• greater moisture resistance than aerated concrete, which increases the durability and frost resistance of the walls.

In general, we can say that the use of foam concrete allows the construction of structures that better resist adverse influences. But the material has disadvantages:

1. Fragility and low load-bearing capacity. You should not choose a material that has a low density for load-bearing walls; this can lead to cracks and destruction of the walls.
2. The simplicity of manufacturing technology has led to the fact that many small enterprises produce blocks. When choosing, it is important to pay attention to which manufacturer made the products. To choose warm and quality materials walls, it is better to give preference to large companies and carefully check the geometry when purchasing.

In terms of thermal insulation efficiency, this material is inferior to the previous ones. Expanded clay concrete includes particles of baked clay and gypsum binders, which acts as a heat insulator. The advantages compared to the previously discussed types include:

Expanded clay concrete consists of baked clay and gypsum binders, which act as a heat insulator

• more reliable fixation of fasteners, products do not fall off or crumble;
• increased moisture resistance;
• low cost and the possibility of self-production;
• resistance to chemical influences.

In comparison with foam concrete and aerated concrete, there are the following disadvantages:

• higher density and mass;
• reduced thermal insulation characteristics;
• unevenness of the edges, which increases the consumption of masonry mortar.

It is important to know that expanded clay is even less warm than brick, and is approximately the same in weight. You won’t be able to save on foundations when using it.

Arbolit

Such blocks for making walls Lately are gaining more and more popularity. Main components:

• cement (gypsum binders);
• sand;
• water;
• sawdust.

U of this material There are the following advantages compared to those indicated earlier:

1. High thermal insulation efficiency. If this factor is decisive, then you cannot find better wood concrete among lightweight concrete. Due to the inclusion of wood in large quantities the material acquires the same properties as highly effective warm plaster.
2. Ease of laying. But here it is important to remember that there are irregularities on the surface of the blocks, therefore more thick layer masonry mortar.
3. Light weight, thanks to which less massive supporting structures can be used.
4. Low cost and the possibility of self-production.

When deciding which units are suitable for your home, it is important to know the features and disadvantages. Arbolit has them in quite large quantities. Gypsum products are characterized by the following qualities:

• destruction of sawdust during high humidity, reduced service life and strength (requires plastering for protection);
• instability to fire due to wood inclusions;
• susceptibility to damage by rodents;
• low strength, the value is comparable to foam concrete and aerated concrete, the material is suitable only for low-rise construction.

In general, we can say that wood concrete will be the most effective in waterproofing.

Increased resistance to negative impacts expanded clay concrete exhibits external properties, but its thermal insulation efficiency leaves much to be desired.