As you know, advertising is the engine of trade. But it is more and more difficult to attract a modern buyer only with bright packaging and beautiful words. More and more people, wanting to get information about a product or service, independently search for it on the Internet. Having talked on a specialized forum and having studied the comments, it is easier to make your choice. In this article we will talk about such material used in low-rise construction as foam concrete blocks. Reviews of the masters, a description of the production and features of the application are also given.
Aerated concrete blocks. Features
Gas silicate (or, as it is also called, aerated concrete) is a type of foamed concrete. It is a known fact that air is the best heat insulator. In terms of thermal conductivity, the most efficient materials are those that have a large number of pores.and, accordingly, the air inside. For example, polystyrene foam (polystyrene foam), foam rubber (aka polyurethane foam), fiberglass or bas alt slabs. Hollow brick has similar properties. And the more voids in it, the higher the heat saving. At present, this issue has become very relevant. Since the cost of energy is increasing every day. However, foam concrete blocks (reviews from engineers confirm this) also have the other side of the coin - bearing capacity. In other words, such material is not suitable for the construction of high-rise buildings. We will talk about this aspect in more detail.
Production of foam concrete blocks
In terms of technical specifications, the raw material has a very high bearing capacity. Therefore, concrete is widely used in the construction of multi-storey buildings. But the walls of this material are cold. This problem was solved by additional insulation from the outside. With the development of technologies for the production of building materials, engineers came to the conclusion that if you find a way to drive air into concrete, you will be able to increase thermal performance. Currently, there are several ways to foam concrete. For example, chemical. A blowing agent is added to the concrete mass (in this case, this is done using aluminum powder). Then the resulting solution is placed in special molds and left to solidify in a natural way. To speed up the process, the blocks are placed in autoclave ovens.
Types of foam concrete blocks
Bdepending on the use of furnaces and the method of foaming, this type of building material is divided into:
1) foam concrete blocks (reviews from technologists note that the natural drying process still affects quality);
2) aerated concrete blocks. Sometimes they are called autoclaved gas silicate.
The latter are produced industrially in large factories. Foam concrete blocks (reviews of private construction companies confirm this) can be made at small enterprises or directly at the construction site. However, it should be borne in mind that in industrial production, products are of better quality, since the degree of compliance with technical conditions is much higher.
Application of foam concrete blocks
Also, foam concrete blocks (the price per piece may vary significantly depending on the manufacturer) are divided into brands. For example, for the construction of a supporting structure, grade 600 is used. The lower the numerical index, the higher the thermal insulation properties (but such a material is more fragile). How to use foam concrete blocks for multi-storey construction? Reviews and comments of engineers in this case can be reduced to one thing - only as a heat insulator. Bearing structures are made on beams of metal or reinforced concrete, and grade 200 blocks are used as filler.
Laying foam concrete blocks
How the base (the first row) is made largely determines what the whole wall will be like. The main requirement is the observance of horizontality. This will be pretty easy to achieve.if using a leveling mortar layer.
To begin with, using a level or level, we install beacons in increments of about 50-80 centimeters. On them we will lay out and align the solution, starting from the corners. After the base dries and becomes hard, you can start laying foam concrete (again, from the corners, and making a bundle three rows high). Similarly, a bundle is made in the place where the external and internal walls are joined. Then we proceed to laying the blocks of the first row. If necessary, we make trimming in place. This is easy to do with a miter or cutting power saw using stone discs. Next is the main masonry. For the device of door or window openings, the row is interrupted to the desired length, and a U-shaped block is placed on top of the opening. To give strength, every three to four rows, the masonry is reinforced with a welded mesh. Seams must be additionally insulated to minimize heat transfer. As mentioned above, foam concrete blocks are not strong enough. Therefore, for laying floor slabs, an armored belt is made, which is cast from monolithic reinforced concrete. At the same time, its width should match the width of the wall. The height is determined from the calculation of the loads. Usually it is from ten to twenty centimeters.
How to connect foam concrete blocks?
For laying foam concrete blocks, it is recommended to use masonry adhesive or mortar. The latter will cost much less, but it has its drawbacks, the elimination of whichwill cost much more later. Let's explain why. The masonry mortar has low thermal conductivity. This means additional insulation is needed. Compared to masonry adhesive, the required volume of mortar is much larger. Consequently, the complexity of the preparatory work increases. In addition, it is worth noting that the seams obtained when laying with mortar look less accurate. This entails additional costs during the finishing work. As you can see, the use of masonry adhesive in the end turns out to be more profitable and effective. The use of a solution is justified only in the case when the quality of the foam concrete blocks is not good enough. For example, if the blocks have a discrepancy in dimensions of more than seven to nine millimeters, then it is recommended to use a solution.
In the process of work, the glue or solution is laid out along the length of two or three blocks. This is done so that a film does not form on the surface, which reduces adhesion. This should be especially taken into account in hot weather.
Foam concrete blocks: sizes
The dimensions of this building material are tied to standard ceramic bricks. For example, in one foam block measuring 200x300x600 mm (the most common), 13 silicate or 15 ordinary bricks “fit”. Foam concrete blocks are made for wall (200x300x600 mm) and partition walls (100x300x600 mm).
Conclusion
Building houses from foam concrete blocks is much cheaper, besides, they are more environmentally friendly. It is also worth noting a significant advantage in construction time, compared to using conventional bricks. And, of course, you should remember to follow the technology of building construction and take into account all technical indicators.
