Aerated concrete blocks: technical characteristics, disadvantages, advantages

In private and urban construction, a new material is gaining popularity - aerated concrete. Blocks made from it, constantly occupy a leading position in the list of sales of specialized building stores.

This is primarily due to the fact that many Russians are trying to acquire country houses and cottages. The demand for aerated concrete blocks proves an increase in the volume of such construction. Sometimes demand exceeds supply.

The article will consider gas-concrete blocks, technical characteristics, shortcomings and advantages of the material. Having studied it, you will learn why blocks of aerated concrete are so fond of suburban developers that 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 an astringent substance (cement). If you do not take into account the composition of additives, it is a recipe for the manufacture of classical concrete. As their aerated concrete used aluminum powder.

It plays the role of a gassing agent with the mixing of the whole mass. The huge number of bubbles produced during the preparation of the solution, when it solidifies, forms a specific porous structure, which is a distinctive feature of aerated concrete.

Advantages of aerated concrete blocks

A small weight of aerated concrete blocks and good strength noticeably distinguish them against the background of materials intended for the erection of walls. Involve developers in them are good characteristics for thermal insulation, noise insulation and fire resistance.

Aerated concrete blocks are produced in a huge assortment, which allows builders to choose blocks of the right sizes, shapes and to build walls of any architectural configuration. Not the last argument in favor of the choice of blocks of aerated concrete are the timing of construction of houses from this material. They are much smaller than the time spent for building a brick house.

Aerated concrete is an environmentally friendly material and has no effect on human health. This is explained by the fact that natural components are used for its production.

With all its numerous pluses, aerated concrete blocks have a low price, affordable for many Russians. This, of course, affects the popularity of the material.

Cons of blocks of aerated concrete

Certain disadvantages are aerocrete blocks. Technical specifications indicate that the material is breathable. This is due to its structure. During the operation in numerous pores, moisture can accumulate, 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 operational life of the house.

Aerated concrete blocks do not have high prismatic strength like a brick or a tree, so they are prone to cracking to avoid this, there are rules and recommendations that must be adhered to when building a house.

Advantages of the material

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. Everything depends on the region where the aerated concrete blocks are purchased.

If we compare the cost of brick walls, then it is 30% higher than that of aerated concrete. The material has a small weight, so the construction of aerated concrete blocks allows you to save considerable money, starting with the construction of the base of the house. For the construction of aerated concrete does not require a powerful base.

Due to its honeycomb structure, the material breathes, has excellent heat-saving properties. This can explain the comfortable environment in homes built from aerated concrete blocks, significant savings in fuel costs.

The laying of aerated concrete blocks is facilitated by the simplicity of their processing. The material can be drilled, sawed, stabbed. This work is carried out by simple tools available to every home master. It is these qualities that allow builders to realize the most fantastic plans of architects, the laying of utilities is not very difficult.

What you need to know about aerated concrete

Possessing a mass of advantages, aerated concrete blocks have some disadvantages. Hygroscopicity is the main of them. If we neglect the waterproofing of the walls from the blocks, they quickly gain moisture, which leads to their destruction.

Especially it is necessary to watch, that the wall from aerocrete blocks is not exposed to freezing. Therefore, building a house of blocks, you need to take this into account. The best way out of this situation is to permanently reside in such a structure or maintain a constant temperature at which the freezing of the house is impossible.

Aerated concrete walls protect from moisture, covering them with a special solution, lining with wood, plaster and other suitable materials for this. When carrying out finishing work, it must be remembered that the presence of ventilation between the wall and the finish is mandatory. Otherwise, all work will be done in vain and only harm.

Masonry of aerated concrete blocks has insufficient strength for bending. Unlike wood, which easily tolerates significant movements of the basement, the aerocrete wall does not possess this ability. The limit of its deformation is 0.5-2 mm / m. Excess of these sizes leads to cracking of the masonry, and in the worst case - to destruction.

How to avoid the formation of cracks

When building a house from aerocrete blocks, there are a number of measures that prevent the formation of cracks on the walls:

1. The device of the plate or tape base of the house.

2. Masonry with reinforcement.

3. Creating ring straps.

Advantage of houses made of aerated concrete

Very popular in the construction of aerated concrete blocks. Technical characteristics show that houses made of this material do not need a capital, weighted foundation.

Houses made of aerated concrete are suitable for seasonal and permanent living. In winter, it takes only 3-4 hours to completely warm up the house, this is because the walls of aerated concrete have a lower thermal inertia than buildings made of other materials. To the touch, aerated concrete blocks are much warmer than traditional bricks.

Blocks are large in size and precise geometric shape, due to this, houses of such material are built quickly. Connecting blocks with glue guarantees high quality and speed of laying. In the ratio "aerated concrete blocks: price and quality" the latter prevails.

If we compare the cost of building a brick house and a building from gas blocks, then the latter is much cheaper. Savings are achieved due to the lower cost of erecting a foundation, walls, payment for builders. When working with aerated concrete blocks, simpler tools are required.

One of the main advantages of a building made of aerated concrete blocks, in comparison with wooden houses, is fire resistance.

Conclusion

Aerated concrete blocks (technical characteristics of this show) - a material that has many advantages, but, as always, it does not do 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 ways, by performing which you can minimize the imperfections of the material. As a result, at the end of the construction there will be a solid house with a long operational life.