This issue is very relevant if the construction of a country house is supposed. This is due to the presence of a large number of various materials that differ from each other with their properties, the scope of application, as well as the installation.
Below, the presented material will help to quickly understand all this diversity not only to professionals, but also to people without special education.
What wall blocks are now used in construction?
Gas -wire blocks;
Ceramic brick;
Expanded clay concrete blocks;
Foam concrete blocks;
Opilic concrete or heat concrete blocks.
This list did not include a composite type, that is, consisting of several different components, since we will consider only the most basic.
What do the indicators mean
Strength — characterizes blocks in relation to the load on compression. For example, if the strength parameter is 50 kg/kV. cm., That block, the size of which is 390x190x188, can withstand a mass of 37050 kg.
Thermal conductivity — characterizes the amount of heat passing through a wall of 1 m 2 when the surrounding temperature changes by 1 0 s.
Volumetric weight — characterizes the weight of 1 m 3 of building blocks of a particular type.
Frost resistance — a characteristic showing how many freezing/freezing cycles are necessary for the material to lose 10% of its strength. On average, in Russia, one such cycle is equated to 1 year.
In addition — this is the ability to absorb a certain percentage of moisture in relation to your weight.
Shriving characterizes the value of a reduction in the size of the block, which occurs after the completion of the construction.
Cooling time of the wall — characterizes heat reserves in the building material and the time during which this heat is given to the environment. Higher indicators of this parameter indicate low temperature fluctuations in the rooms. Respectively and accommodation will be more comfortable in such houses.
What are wall blocks
Heat concrete blocks are material for walls, which includes cement, sand, sawing coniferous trees, as well as modifiers of organic origin. It is this composition that allows you to create a void (pores) inside the blocks that ensure its «breathing». At the same time, such material is characterized by improved thermal insulation properties, which are also supplemented by the strength characteristics.
Distinguish 2 types of blocks: hollow and full -bodied ones, which are produced by vibration prevention.
For the installation of such material, a regular sand -cement mortar is used. At the same time, if hollow blocks are used, it is very important that there are no through holes in them.
As a rule, thermal concrete blocks are used to create load -bearing structures, manufacture partitions, eliminate openings in houses, etc. D.
Clay -concrete blocks — according to their manufacturing method, are identical to heat concrete concrete. Only they use expanded clay.
Pentate blocks consist of sand, cement and special substances of the foam type. They are performed by poring the solution, or mineralization of foam. As an mounting solution for such blocks, both a classic cement solution and special adhesives can be used. Blocks are used in the construction of houses in the construction of all kinds of partitions, as well as for laying openings (especially in monolithic construction).
Brick — classic building material, the composition of which is represented by sand and clay in certain ratios. Production method — molding and firing. For the installation of such material, a solution of sand and cement is used. Brick is used in various fields of construction as a universal wall material.
Gas silicate blocks have sand, silicate astringent and foaming mass in their composition. Production technology is identical as that of foam concrete. Installation method — on the adhesive composition. Used to create structures of non -carrying type.
Slag blocks — material for the manufacture of walls, which is produced by vibration prevention. It contains a domain slag. During the construction of residential buildings, it is not used, as it has poor environmental qualities.
What can be said about the advantages and disadvantages of building blocks
Each material used for the construction of walls has both some advantages over others and its own disadvantages that affect the field of application.
If we talk about heat concrete blocks, then their main advantage is a small weight in conjunction with ideal geometry. Both of these properties contribute to significant relief and radical acceleration of the construction of the walls of buildings and save a solution during laying. The perfectly flat surface of heat concrete blocks continues to lead to significant savings at the stage of finishes. The need for plastering completely disappears. Blocks have a fairly large safety margin. It is convenient to install any fasteners on them. Their cost is low. High reliability of structures built from blocks and their long service life are provided by a high frost resistance indicator. This material “breathes” well, which, along with a long cooling time, creates comfortable conditions in the room. Thermal concrete blocks have a rather low water absorption, which determines their resistance to adverse weather phenomena. Blocks are not subject to shrinkage, and, therefore, there are no cracks on them.
The only disadvantage compared to gas silicate blocks is only their value.
Keramzit concrete blocks have great strength. With a highly frost resistance characteristic of them, this ensures the high reliability of the structures built from them and their long service life. Low water absorption provides resistance to adverse weather conditions. Ceramzit concrete blocks are also absolutely not characteristic of shrinkage, which allows when masonry to avoid changes in their geometry even in the distant future, as well as cracks on the walls. Due to a lot of cooling time, comfort inside the buildings increases, as temperature drops are reduced.
The disadvantage, in comparison with foam concrete blocks, can be considered not a very perfect geometry of their surfaces.
Foam blocks (blocks from foam concrete) are characterized by even less weight and absolutely perfect geometry. This greatly facilitates their masonry. The buildings from foam concrete have a sufficient margin of safety margin, especially if you competently warm and isolate the walls. After all, the frost resistance of these blocks is quite low, but the water absorption approaches 100%. Therefore, the long service life is provided only by competent isolation.
The disadvantages include the inconvenience of fasteners, which is due to the porous structure of blocks that does not allow them to fix the dowel with sufficient reliability. Due to this structure of blocks, various fungal formations also often develop on them. Foam blocks have a shrinkage, so cracks can form on the walls. In addition, foam blocks are quite high.
Brick has a great margin of safety and quite high frost resistance. The walls erected from bricks are very durable and racks to the effects of the atmosphere. Brick has a very low water absorption, which opens up the possibility of using it as facing material.
However, there are also disadvantages: the high cost of the material and the payment of masonry performing masonry, a high consumption of the construction solution and generally a high complexity of installation. The low thermal insulation properties of bricks should also be taken into account, and, consequently, the need to build thicker walls.
Gas -sushes blocks have a small weight, which is positively reflected in their installation. Explicit advantages also include the possibility of using special glue for the installation of special, which makes them possible in residential premises. Of the minuses, low strength, water absorption and frost resistance can be noted. This is precisely what their predominant use in warm and dry rooms is explained. Also, such blocks have a shrinkage causing cracks.
Slag blocks — old -type material, which is of low environmental friendliness (it uses a domain slag). It is not distinguished by high indicators of watering and frost resistance, so the designs are not durable from it. Of the pluses — low cost and small weight. Now the replacement of this material is expanded clay concrete or heat concrete materials.
What blocks to give preference?
Naturally, the issue of choice completely depends on a particular person and the tasks that he wants to solve with a certain type of block. But, you need to understand that today the optimal choice in price/operational characteristics is expanded clay concrete or heat concrete blocks. It is from them that in Europe, half of the buildings are being built.
What about bricks, then it can be used as facing material. Possessing a presentable look, the brick, however, refers to expensive materials, so the construction of it is not economically advisable.