Concrete block is new to the building materials market, and most people treat it with a fair amount of caution. However, the experience of recent years confirms their reliability, efficiency, and their low price and ease of processing increase their popularity. They can be used in the construction of load-bearing and non-bearing walls, in the construction of foundations, fences, etc.
The concrete block may have different:
- size and shape (smooth or grooved);
- filling (heavy concrete, light and cellular).
Blocks of heavy concrete are usually used for foundations and plinths. They are dense and durable, withstand heavy loads, are not afraid of temperature extremes and high humidity. In addition, they have strict requirements for dimensional accuracy: the allowable variation does not exceed 2 mm. Heavy concrete blocks can be reinforced concrete and sand concrete (they are often used for the construction of private houses). Reinforced concrete are distinguished by the presence of a frame made of steel reinforcement or wire, which gives them increased resistance to compression and expansion.
Concretea block of lightweight concrete is more often used in the construction of walls (it is also used as a heater). To reduce weight, porous materials are added: slag, expanded clay, pumice, etc. The larger the slag fraction, the lighter the concrete block. Depending on the weight, the area of \u200b\u200buse of the material also changes: large-fraction (light) are used more often as a heater, fine-fraction - for building walls.
Expanded clay as an aggregate for concrete is an ideal option in terms of price / quality ratio. Blocks made of expanded clay concrete have a sufficiently high strength, good sound insulation, low thermal conductivity, and minimal hygroscopicity. But the walls of this material necessarily require additional insulation. The disadvantages of this building material also include fragility, inaccuracy in the size of the blocks and the complexity of processing.
Aerated concrete is the most popular type of material for private housing construction. The most common are gas silicate and foam concrete blocks. The price of this type of material is quite moderate, which, combined with high performance characteristics, has led to its popularity. The weight of each element is reduced by foaming the binder. Products made of cellular concrete have high sound and heat insulation properties, do not burn and have low vapor permeability. The aerated concrete block is easy to process: it is easy to saw, cut and drill.
In addition, all "bricks" have the exact dimensions. If you bought concrete blocks20x20x40, then the deviations in size will not exceed 1-2 mm, which makes it possible to fasten them not with a cement mortar, but with a special adhesive. The result is an almost homogeneous wall, which avoids the appearance of cold bridges.
Aerated concrete blocks are not so uniform in size. Permissible deviation - 5 mm. Therefore, they are laid only on the solution. The advantage of this kind of building materials is lower water absorption. But in terms of heat and sound insulation, as well as ease of processing, foam concrete loses to aerated concrete.
