In private and urban construction, a new material is gaining popularity - aerated concrete. Blocks made from it consistently top the sales lists of speci alty hardware stores.
This is primarily due to the fact that many Russians are trying to acquire country houses and cottages. The need for aerated concrete blocks proves the increase in the volume of such construction. Sometimes demand exceeds supply.
The article will consider aerated concrete blocks, technical characteristics, disadvantages and advantages of the material. After studying it, you will find out why suburban developers are so fond of aerated concrete blocks, what you need to know when purchasing this popular building material.
Aerated concrete blocks: what is it
Aerated concrete is one of the varieties of lightweight cellular concrete. It is obtained by mixing aggregates (quartz sand and lime) and various additives with water and a binder (cement). If you do not take into account the composition of additives, then this is a recipeproduction of classic concrete. Aluminum powder is used as them in aerated concrete.
It is she who plays the role of a blowing agent when mixing the entire mass. A huge number of bubbles resulting from the preparation of the solution, when it hardens, forms a specific porous structure, which is a hallmark of aerated concrete.
Pluses of aerated concrete blocks
The light weight of aerated concrete blocks and good strength noticeably distinguish them from the background of materials intended for the construction of walls. Developers are attracted to them by their good thermal insulation, sound insulation and fire resistance characteristics.
Aerated concrete blocks are produced in a huge range, which allows builders to choose blocks of the desired size, shape and build walls of any architectural configuration. Not the last argument in favor of choosing blocks of aerated concrete is the timing of the construction of houses from this material. They are much less than the time spent building a brick house.
Aerated concrete is an environmentally friendly material and has no effect on people's he alth. This is due to the fact that natural ingredients are used for its production.
With all its many advantages, aerated concrete blocks have a low price that is affordable for many Russians. This undoubtedly affects the popularity of the material.
Cons of aerated concrete blocks
Aerated concrete blocks have certain disadvantages. Specifications indicate that the materialis breathable. This is due to its structure. During operation, moisture can accumulate in numerous pores, and this leads to local destruction of its integrity.
Buildings made of aerated concrete blocks require mandatory internal and external finishing with good waterproofing, which prevents moisture from entering the material. This will greatly extend the life of the house.
Aerated concrete blocks do not have high prismatic strength like brick or wood, so they are prone to cracking, to avoid this, there are rules and recommendations that must be followed when building a house.
Material Values
Aerated concrete blocks, the price of which suits many Russians, are becoming one of the most popular materials used in suburban construction. The cost of a cubic meter of material varies from 3250 to 4350 rubles. It all depends on the region where the aerated concrete blocks are purchased.
If we compare the cost of brick walls, it is 30% higher than that of aerated concrete. The material has a low weight, so the construction of aerated concrete blocks allows you to save significant money, starting with the construction of the foundation of the house. Aerated concrete structures do not require a strong foundation.
Due to its cellular structure, the material breathes and has excellent heat-saving properties. This can explain the comfortable environment in houses built fromaerated concrete blocks, significant savings on fuel costs.
The laying of aerated concrete blocks is facilitated by the ease of their processing. The material can be drilled, sawn, pricked. This work is done with simple tools that every home master has. It is these qualities that allow builders to realize the most fantastic ideas of architects, laying engineering communications does not cause much difficulty.
What you need to know about aerated concrete
Having a lot of advantages, aerated concrete blocks have some disadvantages. Hygroscopicity is the main one. If you neglect the waterproofing of the walls of the blocks, they quickly gain moisture, which leads to their destruction.
It is especially necessary to ensure that the wall of aerated concrete blocks is not subjected to freezing. Therefore, when building a house from blocks, you need to take this into account. The best way out of this situation is to permanently live in such a building or maintain a constant temperature there, at which freezing of the house is impossible.
Aerated concrete walls are protected from moisture by covering them with a special mortar, cladding with wood, plaster and other suitable materials. Performing finishing work, we must remember that the presence of ventilation between the wall and the finish is mandatory. Otherwise, all the work will be done in vain and will only do harm.
Masonry of aerated concrete blocks has insufficient bending strength. Unlike wood, which easily tolerates significant foundation movements, an aerated concrete wall does not have this ability. Limit herdeformation 0.5-2 mm/m. Exceeding these dimensions leads to cracking of the masonry, and in the worst case, to destruction.
How to avoid cracking
When building a house from aerated concrete blocks, there are a number of measures that prevent the formation of cracks on the walls:
- The device of a slab or strip base at home.
- Masonry with reinforcement.
- Creating roundabouts.
Advantage of aerated concrete houses
Aerated concrete blocks are very popular in construction. Specifications show that houses made of this material do not need a capital, weighted foundation.
Aerated concrete houses are suitable for seasonal and permanent residence. In winter, it will take only 3-4 hours to fully warm up the house, this is due to the fact that aerated concrete walls have less thermal inertia than buildings made of other materials. Aerated concrete blocks are much warmer to the touch than traditional bricks.
The blocks are large and have an exact geometric shape, thanks to which houses from such material are built quickly. The connection of blocks with glue guarantees high quality and speed of masonry. In the ratio "aerated concrete blocks: price and quality", the latter prevails.
If we compare the cost of building a brick house and a gas-block building, the latter is much cheaper. Savings are achieved due to the lower cost of building a foundation, walls, paymentbuilders. When working with aerated concrete blocks, simpler tools are required.
One of the main advantages of building from aerated concrete blocks, compared to wooden houses, is fire resistance.
Conclusion
Aerated concrete blocks (technical specifications show this) - a material that has many advantages, but, as always, is not without a fly in the ointment. The building and the blocks themselves have some disadvantages. To reduce or get rid of them, there are special methods by which you can minimize the imperfections of the material. As a result, at the end of construction there will be a solid house with a long service life.
