Hollow blocks are actively used in the construction of low-rise buildings today. They are an excellent alternative to heavy, full-bodied products and are ideal for private use. There are several varieties of hollow stones on the markets. We will talk about the properties and differences of each of them in our article.
Main differences and types of hollow products
Blocks with a honeycomb structure are attractive because they are lightweight. It is easy for private craftsmen to work with them, since the construction of buildings does not require the presence of special equipment.
The second advantage of hollow blocks is low thermal conductivity. Air pockets inside the stone do not allow the product to pass heat and extraneous sounds through it.
Physico-mechanical parameters of materials depend on their variety and raw materials from which they are made. Today we will look at 4 main types:
- concrete products;
- expanded concreteproducts;
- ceramic blocks;
- glass options.
All of them have a number of special advantages, but they are not without a drawback - fragility. Hollow products require careful handling during masonry and cannot be used for buildings higher than 2 floors.
Features of concrete blocks
Hollow concrete blocks are made from cement, sand, water and gravel. A mixture of the main components is poured into special molds and sent to a vibropress, where the hardening process takes place.
At the output, the manufacturer receives an even light gray product with even walls and a uniform structure. The material has high strength and low weight: from 14 to 17 kg.
Hollow concrete products are divided into 2 groups:
- wall;
- partition.
For the construction of load-bearing walls for various purposes, products of the first group are used. They are characterized by dimensions of 190x190x390 mm. Internal partitions are constructed from partition varieties with parameters 90 x 190 x 390.
The hollow structure of the stones makes it easy to reinforce the walls and, if necessary, strengthen them with concrete mortar. The walls of such blocks are quite even, which greatly facilitates their further finishing.
Airdite-concrete blocks
Building stones made of expanded clay concrete combine the positive qualities of red brick and cellular concrete products. They are made from cement, sand, water andexpanded clay. The last component gives the material lightness and high thermal insulation abilities. At the same time, the strength characteristics of the product do not deteriorate at all.
Expanded concrete hollow blocks are of two types:
- wall;
- partition.
The length of products of the first variety varies from 90 to 390 mm. The width of one block starts from 138 mm and reaches 288 mm. The height of the wall stone is 138 mm (there are options with an indicator of 188 mm). The weight of one block is 12 kg.
Dimensions of partitioning varieties - 390 x 90 x 188 mm. The weight of such products is 6.5 kg. The cost of a standard block is about 40 rubles, while partition products have a price tag of 20 rubles apiece.
Characteristics of ceramic blocks
For the manufacture of ceramic blocks, red clay is used, which is the main raw material for masonry bricks. However, block-type products are characterized by increased parameters, which makes it possible to reduce the time for erecting walls.
During the production of hollow ceramic blocks, sawdust is added to the clay mixture. The manufacturer shapes the stones in certain sizes and fires them.
As a result of heat treatment, sawdust burns out, forming voids in the stone. The cellular structure obtained in this way contributes to excellent heat retention inside the erected premises, and the usenatural raw materials allow us to talk about the absolute environmental friendliness of products.
Like the previous options, ceramic bricks can be wall and partition. Products of the first type have dimensions of 250 x 380 x 219, 380 x 250 x 219, 440 x 250 x 219 and 510 x 250 x 219 mm. Partition products are characterized by a length of 120 and 180 mm, while the width and height parameters remain the same.
The cost of wall blocks starts from 90 rubles apiece, and partition products have a price tag of 45 to 100 rubles. Block weight - from 8 to 30 kg.
Glassware
Glass hollow blocks are designed for the construction of self-supporting internal and external walls. Their main difference is the light transmittance. It is advisable to use such products in cases where it is necessary to ensure the flow of daylight into the room, while the transparency of the walls should be minimal.
Transparent blocks are made from two glass square boxes by soldering. There is absolute emptiness inside such a brick, and the outer walls have various reliefs.
Similar materials are used in wall decoration. To do this, manufacturers produce products in yellow, green, bluish and red.
Standard wall hollow block can have the following parameters - 244 X 244 X 98, 194 X 194 X 98, 234 X 234 X 98 and 184 X 184 X 98 mm. Weight of one product - from2.5 to 4.3 kg. The price tag of a block starts from 110 rubles apiece.
Comparison of specifications of all kinds
To determine which of the listed options is most suitable for the upcoming work, you should study the technical characteristics of each of them.
Glass products have a density of 800 kg/m3, while their compressive strength is 4-5 MPa. According to other criteria, it makes no sense to compare them, since to a greater extent they serve as a decorative decoration.
For expanded clay concrete products, the main indicators are as follows:
- thermal conductivity level - 0.35 W/m;
- sound absorption - from 41 to 62 dB;
- frost resistance - F 50;
- compressive strength - medium;
- water absorption - approximately 50%;
- block strength - M 50.
Hollow blocks do not shrink at all, which allows finishing immediately after construction. The material is highly resistant to fire, withstanding temperatures of 1000 degrees (for 10 minutes).
Concrete stones have the following characteristics:
- thermal conductivity - from 0.15 to 0.35 W/m;
- sound absorption - from 50 to 58 dB;
- frost resistance - from F 15 to F 35;
- compressive strength - low;
- water absorption - 34%;
- block strength - M 150.
It is very difficult to crush and break a concrete block with your own hands, which greatly simplifies the process of building walls and partitions.
Ceramic products are characterized by the following properties:
- thermal conductivity coefficient - from 0.15 to 0.25 W/m;
- sound absorption - 53.5 dB;
- frost resistance - from F 35 to F 50;
- compressive strength - medium;
- water absorption - 21%;
- block strength - from M 75 to M 150.
Clay blocks are one of the warmest materials. Such walls retain heat for a long time, allowing you to reduce heating costs. However, they are quite fragile, which makes it difficult to install heavy hanging furniture and lay electrical wires.
Summing up
The choice of hollow blocks should be made based on the needs of the owner. If energy saving is a priority, give preference to ceramics. For those who primarily appreciate the strength of the building material, concrete and expanded clay concrete products are better suited. In any case, you will get a product with excellent value for money.
