Almost every resident of a metropolis dreams of building a beautiful country house or a cozy summer house. But, before bringing his ideas to life, a zealous owner thinks about what material to build a house from. Of course, traditional brick or wood is the ideal and proven option for building walls. But for many people, such construction is out of reach due to its high cost.
In such cases, it is worth considering the block construction of a house, which greatly speeds up the construction of walls and reduces the total cost of the object. What is better - foam block or cinder block for building a house, what are the main characteristics of these materials, we will try to figure it out in this article.
A bit of history
Cinder block or foam block is quite successfully used in the construction of buildings for various purposes. And if the foam block (foam concrete) has become popular in construction quite recently, then the cinder block began to be actively used even during industrialization.
Massively used cinder blocks for the construction of houses began in 1927. At thatFor a long time, steel and iron were smelted in large quantities at metallurgical plants, and the resulting waste (slag) was considered waste material. Therefore, a technology was developed to obtain a valuable and cheap building material - cinder block.
It was the cinder block or foam block for the house that became the most popular and affordable material in the construction of housing and household premises.
Features of block construction
Before you figure out what is better for a house - a cinder block or a foam block, you need to understand the features of block walling.
The main advantages of this construction principle are:
- The use of block material requires mandatory cladding, so laying the walls of a building is easy to do with your own hands. And this significantly reduces construction costs.
- Block sizes are much larger than bricks, so building a house is faster.
- The good thermal insulation properties of block materials also favorably distinguish their use compared to brick.
Therefore, in order to understand the difference between a foam block and a cinder block during the construction of a particular object, you need to know the main indicators and characteristics of these materials.
Cinder blocks manufacturing technology
To understand the difference between a cinder block and a foam block, you can only understand the manufacturing technology of these materials. The lack of state standardization for the manufacture of these products leads to the fact that the dimensions and weight of block materials candiffer significantly from each other.
The following components are used to make cinder blocks:
- certain brand of cement used as a binder;
- coal slag is the main material filler;
- ash, sand, gravel serve as additional components;
- lime improves the basic performance properties of the material;
- sawdust and some types of waste are added to increase the volume of material;
- water.
Various components added as mixture fillers have a certain effect on the thermal conductivity of cinder blocks. The prepared mixture is poured into a special mold, pressed and dried.
You can decide what is better - a cinder block or a foam block, by familiarizing yourself with the main positive and negative qualities of materials.
Dignity of cinder block
The use of industrial waste as a filler can significantly reduce the cost of the finished material. It is this property that is the main advantage of cinder blocks.
But not only the cheapness of the material determines its widespread use. The following characteristics can be confidently attributed to positive qualities:
- good strength and durability confirmed by many laboratory tests;
- the absence of flammable components in the composition of the cinder block causes itfire safety;
- resistance to the harmful effects of mold and various fungal formations;
- ability to produce material at home;
- light weight of the block allows construction without the use of lifting equipment;
- large sizes help to increase the speed of building construction.
It is difficult to say which is better - cinder block or foam block, since the versatility of block materials allows you to build both residential buildings and outbuildings.
Disadvantages of cinder block
Along with the advantages of cinder block, there are some negative aspects of using this material. Among the main disadvantages can be noted:
- reduced sound insulation, so you will have to think about an additional device for a special layer to suppress noise;
- it is also necessary to carry out work on waterproofing the material, since cinder blocks easily absorb moisture, which leads to its destruction;
- unattractive appearance of the material requires the exterior of the building;
- individual blocks are highly brittle, although this figure is significantly reduced as part of the finished wall;
- material has low environmental properties, as it is made from waste.
It is the presence of these negative characteristics that makes the use of cinder block for housing construction very ambiguous.
Processproduction of foam blocks
The production process of foam concrete is not very different from the production of cinder block.
For this work you will need:
- cement;
- river sand;
- water;
- foamer;
- hardener.
First, the sand-cement composition is prepared in accordance with the required strength of the product. Then a ready-made concentrated foaming agent is added to this mixture. Next, the solution is poured into pre-lubricated molds. After complete drying, the foam block is considered ready for use.
It is the addition of a foaming agent to the composition of the block that creates a porous structure that gives lightness to the material. You can understand what is better - a foam block or a cinder block, only by understanding the main advantages of the material.
Advantages of foam block
If we compare the foam block with a brick, then its main advantage is low cost. This is what makes it widely used.
But there are other positive qualities of the foam block:
- the porous structure of the material contributes to increased thermal conductivity, which reduces the cost of insulating the object;
- Waterproofing of the material is not required as it has low absorbency;
- light weight of the product and large dimensions allow you to quickly lay the foam block without the use of lifting devices;
- material hashigh environmental properties, close to natural wood;
- easy to process blocks attracts many masons;
- good sound insulation properties.
I would like to emphasize that the light weight of the material does not require the construction of a reinforced foundation, this is also an advantage of the foam block construction process.
Cons of using foam block
Of course, it is difficult to call a foam block an ideal building material. Along with many advantages, there are some disadvantages of using this unique material.
The main disadvantages of the foam block are the following properties:
- high hygroscopicity limits the use of foam blocks for the construction of buildings in an area with sudden temperature changes;
- strength of the material is insufficient when hanging heavy household appliances;
- the possibility of the formation of chips of individual blocks requires accuracy when laying;
- since the material has been used to build houses quite recently, it is difficult to determine the service life.
Before deciding which is stronger - a foam block or a cinder block, it is necessary to consider their comparative characteristics.
Comparative characteristics of materials
After studying all the main advantages and disadvantages of the foam block and cinder block, the difference in the properties of these materials becomes obvious.
Key comparisons are as follows:
- the moisture resistance of the foam block is muchhigher, since the cinder block is destroyed by water;
- both materials have a fairly high resistance to elevated temperatures, but the foam block is more reliable in the winter season;
- cinder block is cheaper than foam block;
- working with the foam block is much easier, as it has less weight;
- in terms of environmental performance, the cinder block is inferior to foam concrete, as it is made from waste.
The foam block is a more modern material, therefore it has better characteristics, but its price is also high. Of course, when choosing a material for construction, it is necessary to focus not only on personal wishes, but also on the specific operating conditions of the facility.
