Rating of manufacturers of expanded clay concrete blocks. What is better: expanded clay concrete blocks or gas silicate blocks?
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) and therefore 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 masonry walls;
- 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:
- 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.
- 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 high-quality wall materials, 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Light weight, thanks to which less massive supporting structures can be used.
- 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.
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 quality material It 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 finish will not hide the shortcomings 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.
When choosing blocks for construction, it is necessary to take into account such parameters as strength, thermal conductivity, frost resistance, hollowness and density.
Expanded clay concrete blocks or sand cement blocks?
For the construction of external walls of houses, they are usually used expanded clay concrete blocks, as they have better thermal conductivity and lighter weight. Sand-cement blocks are used for heavily loaded structures, such as foundations, plinths, load-bearing supports, since these blocks have greater strength, and thermal conductivity and weight do not matter in such buildings.
Solid expanded clay concrete blocks (with a similar concrete density) have greater strength (up to M100) compared to slotted ones. Solid blocks are perfect for reliable installation of all types of fasteners (various dowels, anchor bolts and etc). Solid blocks are used to construct load-bearing walls of houses, including high-rise ones, and to fill caracas monolithic houses, load-bearing walls with subsequent installation curtain facades. Slotted expanded clay concrete blocks (with a similar concrete density) have lower strength, less weight than solid ones, but also lower cost. Hollow expanded clay concrete blocks have optimal parameters for the construction of country cottages, garages, |
What brand of expanded clay concrete blocks should I use?
Strength grades of expanded clay concrete blocks currently produced in factories: M25, M35, M50, M75, M100. Strengths below M50 are used for unloaded low-rise buildings, such as garages, fences and outbuildings. the buildings. Strengths M50, M75 are used for the construction of load-bearing walls country houses, including with severe concrete floors, up to 10 floors. For low-rise cottages with a wall thickness of 20cm, it is advisable to use M75 blocks, and for a wall thickness of 40cm - M50.
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Expanded clay concrete blocks with a volumetric weight of up to 900 kg/cub.m. (lightweight) have better thermal conductivity and lighter weight, which reduces the load on the foundation and slightly improves thermal insulation. Such expanded clay concrete blocks have a rough surface, which increases the cost of subsequent wall processing. The cost of lightweight blocks is higher due to the high cost of expanded clay gravel. If there is external wall insulation (according to modern standards, it is mandatory for houses year-round residence) the difference in the final thermal conductivity of the wall is less than 1% (compared to a wall made of a block with a density of more than 1000 kg/cub.m). |
Thus, the thermal conductivity of the load-bearing wall blocks of year-round houses fades into the background. Expanded clay concrete blocks with a density of 1000 kg/cub.m. have greater weight compared to lightweight ones and a smooth surface, which reduces the cost of plastering. More weight increases the thermal inertia of the house, which smoothes out temperature changes in the house when the outside air temperature changes. The lower cost makes such expanded clay concrete blocks more preferable for construction.
Which void geometry is more preferable?
Which partition blocks choose?
Blocks measuring 390x90x188mm are used for partitions for various purposes. Sand-cement (including solid) partition blocks are used in damp rooms: cellars, basements, foundations, inspection pits. Expanded clay concrete blocks are used for residential premises, as they are lighter and better soundproof the premises. Solid partition expanded clay concrete blocks are used in critical places during installation door frames, heavy weight in-house equipment, equipment, furniture, etc. Lightweight hollow partition blocks better soundproof rooms, but are more difficult to process. Expanded clay concrete blocks weighing more than 1000 kg/cub.m. They have smooth walls and require less processing, and they are also cheaper.
What blocks to use for finishing the facade with porcelain stoneware?
If you have any questions, you can ask them by email info@site. You can also view the answers to the most popular questions in the "" section.
The difference between the blocks must be understood in order to purchase construction material, which is one hundred percent suitable for solving the problems you face.
Slotted (hollow) or solid blocks?
Solid blocks of expanded clay concrete are characterized by high strength and are ideal for the construction of load-bearing walls of country houses and cottages. They can also be used to fill the frames of monolithic houses. They are quite heavy, and in terms of cost - more expensive than slotted (hollow) blocks. Another one important feature such a building material - any fasteners are securely held in it: dowels, anchors, etc.
Slotted or hollow blocks are cheaper, weigh less, but are inferior in strength to solid blocks. They are used in the construction of country cottages, garages, and outbuildings. The shape of the voids is not of fundamental importance.
How to choose strength?
The strength of an expanded clay concrete block is indicated by the letter M, followed by a number, usually from 25 to 100. larger number, the stronger the material. Blocks with a strength below M 50 are used for the construction of garages, fences, and various outbuildings. To erect a residential building, expanded clay concrete with a strength of at least M 50 is required. M 50 blocks are used for wall thicknesses of about 40 cm; if the planned wall thickness is 20 cm, it is necessary to take M 75 blocks.
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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, which blocks are better for building a house (price, technical indicators and dimensions).
Construction of walls from blocks
When choosing material for construction, first of all they look at specifications raw materials, and not on 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.
On this 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.