Today, near private houses, you can increasingly see extensions from foam blocks. However, this design has its own characteristics. How to attach an extension to a foam block house? What technological subtleties should be paid attention to? These questions will be answered in the article.
Features
Why might it be necessary to build an extension to the house from foam blocks? The main goal is usually to increase the usable area. In some cases, this design is needed in order to improve the performance of the building.
Many builders prefer to use foam blocks because of their excellent performance. This material has a large number of voids. The more of them, the better it retains heat. The pores in the foam block are evenly distributed throughout the product. It should be noted that, unlike standard aerated concrete, the material under discussion is better suited for the construction of extensions. As a rule, they are built with their own hands. howto attach an extension to the house from the foam block? Let's figure it out.
Advantages of foam blocks
So what are they? The foam block is highly durable. Working with this material is quite simple. You can build an extension to the house from foam blocks even without experience. In addition, this building material is quite environmentally friendly. Dampness and mold rarely form on foam blocks. The main thing is that the laying of this building material does not require a significant investment of time. Moreover, foam blocks meet all fire safety requirements. The porous structure of the material prevents shrinkage. You can work with the foam block on any soil, it is lightweight and easy to fit. This is especially important in design and construction. Under all conditions, the service life of this material exceeds 50 years.
Disadvantages of foam blocks
Despite such a number of positive characteristics, foam blocks also have their negative sides. Here are the most significant ones:
- Increased gyroscopicity. The construction of foam blocks must be provided with special protection. Otherwise, it will quickly lose its thermal insulation properties.
- Appearance. The construction of foam blocks will have to be sheathed with finishing materials.
Which houses can be constructed?
Today, many are interested in an extension to the house of foam blocks with their own hands. However, not everyone knows that not every building can be made a design. If the age of the building is more than 15 years, then work should be carried outonly after determining the strength of the room. In addition, since the extension refers to redevelopment, it is necessary to make an individual project and coordinate all changes with local authorities.
Construction stages
The process of building a building is somewhat specific. It requires exact observance of the order of all stages.
Let's take a closer look at them.
- Preparatory stage. Before starting construction, it is necessary to obtain official permission to carry out work in the relevant authorities. To choose the type of construction, it is recommended to view typical projects of extensions to the house from foam blocks. Photos of ready-made solutions will also help you decide. It is better to entrust the drafting of the project to professionals. This will help avoid major mistakes.
- Establishing the foundation. The strength and durability of the building primarily depend on the quality of the foundation on which it stands. Building a foundation for an extension has its own characteristics. Some difficulties may be caused by the fact that the work is not being done from scratch. Pairing the foundation of a building with the foundation of the entire building is not always easy. Rigid fixation with reinforcement is carried out only when the foundation has already settled and settlement has occurred. In this case, the new foundation will not cause critical settlement of the entire building. In conditions of heaving soil, it is generally not recommended to make a rigid docking of foundations. A more economical connection method is considered to be an expansion joint. An insulating material or roofing felt must be applied to the top layer. It is recommended to pour the foundation of the extension separately from the main building due to differences in load.
Building walls. At the next stage, the direct laying of foam blocks is carried out. You should start from the corners of the extension. For better adhesion to the mortar, it is recommended to pre-moisten the bottom side of the block. A thick layer of waterproofing must be applied to the first layer of blocks. This material will help protect the building from excessive moisture. The first row should be erected, strictly observing the horizontal and vertical position of the blocks. The quality of the entire building as a whole will depend on this. All horizontal defects are leveled with mortar. The size of the seams should not exceed 1 mm. To fix the foam blocks, a special glue is used. The requirement to minimize seams is associated with the need to reduce the number of cold bridges. Glue for blocks should be prepared in strict accordance with the instructions. Apply it first to the horizontal part, and then to the vertical. Each block must be aligned on both planes. You can also take a special grinding grater to align the rows. The resulting dust is swept to the floor. Reinforcement is placed in the corners of the extension every five rows. This reduces the likelihood of cracks and also contributes to better bonding of the structure
Insulation
So what do you need to know about this? Should the foam block extension to the brick house be insulated? And what materials are used for this purpose? Finishing in thiscase will apply the same as in the construction of the main house. The materials must comply with the installation conditions and technical characteristics of the house.
Mineral wool is best for insulation. This material has a high thermal conductivity and is excellent for outdoor insulation. However, when using mineral wool, care must be taken to install an additional waterproofing layer.
A budgetary and affordable option is polystyrene foam insulation. This material is characterized by high thermal conductivity and excellent sealing properties. However, it should be borne in mind that it is combustible and requires additional processing with refractory compounds.
Interior decoration
How to do it right? There are no special requirements for the interior decoration of the extension. Its decorative characteristics are not affected by wind, sun, precipitation. The main thing is to prepare the surface well. To begin with, the wall to be plastered must be properly primed. This will improve the adhesion of the finish to a flat surface. Since it is not always possible to qualitatively level a wall of foam blocks with ordinary putty, it is recommended to use lighthouse gypsum plaster.
Installation of windows and doors
If the door lintels are installed incorrectly, the load on them may not be correct. In this case, it is recommended to make an additional brick lining that reinforces the main structure.
Arrangement of window structures and door lintels can be done in two ways: using removable or fixed formwork.
Overlap
How to make it right? Installation of floors is considered the final stage of construction work. It is started only when the foundation of the building is completely ready, the structures of the erected walls do not cause claims, and the window and door openings are installed. Aerated concrete slabs or wood are usually used as the floor material. When installing wooden elements, be sure to treat them with flame retardants.
Pro Tips
How to make an extension to the house from foam blocks? We have already described the general principle of the construction of this structure. However, a quality extension will only work if you follow the recommendations.
Here are some of them:
- At the construction stage, be sure to tie the new foundation to the old one. For connection, you can use the welding method. Only after that they start pouring the base.
- To prevent shrinkage of the walls, you should let the new foundation stand. This process usually takes about two weeks. The finished foundation should be covered with bitumen mastic and covered with roofing material. This will provide additional waterproofing.
- The extension will be much more reliable and warmer if you stick fiberglass on the walls before applying plaster and putty. Wall facades after the final layer of plaster can be painted or subjected to a different design.
- From communication(electrical wiring and pipelines) in the first year after the walls are erected, it is recommended to refuse. This is due to the fact that the material can move. It is better to foresee the possibility of displacement and lay the electrical wires in special corrugated pipes.
- The quality of the entire structure depends on the correct determination of the height and dimensions of the future building. The roof should not reach the level of the roof of the house.
- At the design stage, you should outline the place for laying future communications. Also consider where the doors and windows will be located. A new opening is cut only taking into account the strength of the bearing walls.
Creating an extension for a wooden house
What do you need to know about this? Many mistakenly believe that only a building made of the same material can be attached to a wooden house. However, this is absolutely not the case. An extension to a wooden house made of foam blocks today is a fairly common option. In this way, you can build and attach a beautiful veranda to the house. Such a solution will look especially harmonious if the lining is done with siding.
In order for an extension to a wooden house made of foam blocks to be of high quality, you need to consider a few simple rules, namely:
- Before building a structure, be sure to check the condition of the house, inspect all the walls. This is done in order to avoid uneven shrinkage and possible deformation of the building.in the future.
- Find out the features of the foundation of the building: the size and depth of the bookmark. So that there are no gaps between the base of the house and the created building, it is necessary to grow them together. To do this, a small ditch is dug under the dwelling, and strong steel reinforcement is hammered into the old foundation. Its continuation should be built into the base of the future extension.
Conclusion
Now you know how to attach an extension to a foam block house. If you follow the technology, you can achieve very good results. The initial stage of construction is the most important. The strength of the entire future building depends on how correctly the project is chosen.
To determine the type of structure, you can study the photo of extensions to the house from foam blocks. However, the choice of a suitable option will be determined by such factors as the dimensions of the estate and the material from which the living space is made.
