Characteristics and dimensions of foam blocks

Nowadays, not only wood and brick can be used to build houses, but also more modern and affordable materials. These include foam blocks. They are very popular, and there are dwellings built from them on almost every street. Today we will take a closer look at the characteristics of this building material.

Block houses are not uncommon today. Such buildings are distinguished by a rustic appearance, but they can be finished with high quality, giving a more aesthetic appearance. As for the durability and strength of such buildings, there can be no doubts - if the house was built according to all the rules, and suitable materials were chosen for decoration, then it will stand for many years and will not cause any trouble.

First, you should dwell on the advantages of foam blocks.

Consider a large list of them:

• the main positive characteristic that distinguishes foam blocks from other building materials is low thermal conductivity, due to which block houses are warm and cozy as a result;
• the foam block is a lightweight material, so it is very easy and simple to work with it (moreover, many work can be done alone, without asking outside help);
• since the foam block is a light material, buildings made of it do not create significant loads on the foundation foundations;
• this popular material has good sound insulation qualities;
• the foam block is very voluminous, therefore, houses and outbuildings from it are erected in the shortest possible time;

• another significant advantage of foam blocks is that they are inexpensive, which cannot but please many consumers;
• foam block is a durable material;
• it is also important to mention that such products are not afraid of fire - foam blocks are non-flammable and do not support combustion themselves;
• foam blocks are also good because even after many years they do not lose their original positive qualities;
• when building houses or outbuildings made of foam concrete, a small amount of a special adhesive is spent;
• a foam block is a pliable material that, if necessary, can be cut with a regular hacksaw;
• it is possible to build a house or an outbuilding of absolutely any modification from such material - the structure can be either simple and standard, or very original and unusual;
• buildings made of foam blocks do not need mandatory decorative finishing, as a rule, they are painted or plastered solely in order to give a more aesthetic appearance, but there is no particular need for this.

Thanks to all the advantages listed above, foam blocks have gained popularity among consumers. That is why today foam block dwellings are a frequent occurrence. However, not everything is so smooth - these popular materials also have a number of negative characteristics, which must be warned about every person who is going to purchase them for construction work.

Houses built of foam concrete shrink by 2-3 mm per 1 running meter, so you can proceed to their interior decoration only after a certain time (at least 6 months).

Despite the fact that finishing foam blocks is an optional procedure, if you do decide to do it, you will have to stock up on special materials. Ordinary paint and plaster for such bases simply will not work - you only need to buy special compounds. Foam blocks require reinforcement.

There are too many low-quality counterfeit foam blocks in modern retail outlets. Since inexpensive raw materials are used for their manufacture, such building materials are produced in large quantities clandestinely. Using such foam blocks for construction is a big risk, since they are not reliable. Foam blocks cannot boast of sufficient bearing capacity. Another disadvantage of such materials is that houses from them cannot be built on all types of foundations.

In most cases, foam blocks do not have an ideal geometric shape, which distinguishes them from more high-tech aerated blocks. That is why they often have to be filed and sanded to get smooth and neat walls / masonry.

Foam blocks are made very simply. The process of their production is so accessible that you can do this even in a garage. You just need to stock up on a foaming agent. All other components are the same available. A mixture of water, sand and cement must be kneaded in a clean container with the addition of a foaming ingredient. After that, the resulting composition is poured into molds. Foam blocks "reach" in natural conditions - they are left in the fresh air.

This process indicates that it is possible to produce such building materials without resorting to special equipment and tools. Quality control in this case will be only conditional - it is important to adhere to the required proportions and technological processes. However, many manufacturers still strive to save money, therefore there are a lot of foam blocks on the market, the quality of which does not meet GOST.

By the method of production, the following types of these materials for construction are distinguished:

• Cassette. In their manufacture, foam concrete is poured into shapes that resemble cells. It is in them that further hardening of the material occurs. This usually takes about 10 hours.
• Underwent automatic stripping. A similar cassette version of foam blocks is modernized. The molds for these materials are in a special machine. After pouring a solution into them, hardening occurs after 14 hours. After that, the finished products are transferred to pallets.
• Sliced ​​from the array. With this method of production, a mixture of all the necessary ingredients is poured into a special large mold. Its volume can be up to 3 cubic meters. m. In this form, the material hardens within 15 hours. After that, the resulting foam concrete slab is cut into separate blocks of the required size.

Foam concrete can have different densities. It is usually denoted by the Latin letter D. After it, digital marks are set from 300 to 1200 in increments of 100 units.The higher the density of a given building material, the greater its weight and strength properties will be. However, this will reduce the thermal insulation properties of the block.

Today, foam blocks of different weights and densities are divided into several categories. Let's get acquainted with them:

• D300-D500. These designations refer to thermal insulation foam blocks. Usually they are used as insulation (for example, when decorating balconies or loggias). When working with such materials, it is important to take into account that they are not designed for serious loads.

• D 600 -D900. These are structural and thermal insulation foam blocks. Otherwise, they are also called construction. Such materials are capable of withstanding a certain load. In addition, they have good thermal insulation qualities. It is recommended to refer to these materials when building one- and two-story residential buildings. Blocks D600 and D700 are considered suitable. If they are used, then the thickness of the walls will be about 35-45 cm. The resulting floors will not need mandatory insulation.
• D1000-D1200. These are building blocks. They can easily withstand impressive loads. However, it should be borne in mind that they have low thermal conductivity, so they need high-quality insulation. In private construction, such blocks are rarely used.

The density level of foam concrete blocks affects their mass. So, the brand displays the mass of one cubic meter of building material. For example, a cubic meter of foam concrete blocks marked D400 will weigh about 400 kg, and a cube of materials with a density D700 will weigh 700 kg. These values ​​are approximate, so a small margin of error should be allowed. The optimal weight is slightly more by 10-15%. However, you need to make sure that there are no unnecessary inclusions. So, some manufacturers, reducing the cost of the manufactured goods, mix components such as broken brick or crushed stone into it.

Due to such additions, the mass of the blocks increases, which is almost uncritical. However, due to the addition of these inclusions, the thermal conductivity of foam concrete blocks can significantly decrease. As a result, it turns out that you are not purchasing high-quality foam blocks, but incomprehensible building materials from incomprehensible raw materials, which can manifest themselves during operation completely unexpectedly.

The production of foam concrete blocks is regulated by GOST 215 20-89. This document defines the properties, standard dimensions of these building materials. But do not think that foam blocks are produced only with standard dimensional parameters. These materials may have other dimensions, depending on the requirements of the buyers.

Wall varieties of foam blocks are used in the manufacture of load-bearing walls. As a rule, they are produced with dimensions of 600x300x200 mm. Some manufacturers offer a choice of buyers with blocks, the length of which is 625 mm (other parameters remain standard). So, the dimensions of the most popular blocks are 625x300x200 mm.

One way or another, walls with a thickness of 30 cm can be easily laid out in one foam block. Moreover, if you turn to materials labeled D600 or D700, then you can work alone without resorting to outside help. One such block will weigh very little - only 21-26 kg. Materials weighing 21 kg will be less dense, and 26 kg more dense.

Most consumers today use denser blocks in construction for the construction of walls 30-40 cm thick.With such constructions, the house turns out to be warmer. Choosing dense blocks for load-bearing walls, the masonry turns out to be the same as brick in terms of heat resistance. In such a house, it will be possible to maintain the optimal temperature regime without significant expenses.

As for the partitions, these structures do not face serious loads. They should not be particularly heat-resistant, therefore, the dimensions of foam concrete blocks for them can be reduced to 10x30x60 cm.Materials of more modest dimensions cannot be used, since this can seriously affect the reliability and strength of the partitions, as well as the useful area of ​​the residential building. You should also not reduce the width, since it will be very problematic to lay out an even and neat wall from blocks of 5 or 7 cm. In addition, it will not be possible to hang various interior decor on such bases. It will be scary even to lean on such a partition.

An internal wall with a depth of less than 10 cm, on which no special loads are created, will be disadvantageous in economic terms. The 10-centimeter structures have a good strength margin in order to easily withstand the weight of the interior decorations. In addition, such partitions can boast of good soundproofing qualities and a sufficient level of rigidity. It is not worth adding depth in this case - this will lead to a decrease in the usable area of ​​the dwelling.

A 10 cm partition wall block is usually made from raw materials marked D400 or D500. Their weight is 10-20 kg. The given mass can easily withstand any overlap of the basement or base between floors. If you use dimensional elements, then you will need to install the strongest beams under them.

The size of the foam concrete block that meets the standard provides buyers and repairmen with another significant plus - given the exact indicators of the length, width and height of the building material, you can easily calculate the required number of blocks that will be needed to build a house.

To make all the calculations correctly, you need to carry out the following operations:

• First, you need to correctly calculate the perimeter of the dwelling. To do this, fold the sides. Write down the resulting number in centimeters.
• Now you need to decide on the parameter for the height of the walls. We also fix the resulting value in centimeters.

• Divide the perimeter of the house by the length of a standard foam block, which is 60 cm. As a result, you will get the number of parts in one row of block masonry.
• Now divide the height of the walls into the readings of the height and width of the block (in this case, everything depends on the orientation of the building materials in the masonry), which can be from 20 to 40 cm.As a result, you will get the number of block masonry next to it.
• Now you need to multiply the number of rows by the number of foam blocks in the first laid row - this way you will get the desired result.

For partitions, it is recommended to use foam blocks with dimensions of 10x30x60 cm. For this reason, the number of individual elements in the masonry must be determined by dividing the length of the inner wall by 60 cm, and the height by 30 cm. The resulting value must be multiplied and increased by 5-10%.

If you decide to start building a house using popular foam concrete blocks, then you need to take into account not only their dimensional parameters and weight, but also some helpful advice from experts:

• It is only necessary to transport foam concrete blocks in a truck. It is not recommended to turn to self-pickup using a trailer, because this way you can spend a decent amount of money on gasoline - you simply cannot take away many foam blocks in one "flight".
• A rifled foam block is recommended for purchase, which is a separate cut elements from aerated concrete mass. The mold blocks do not have the same exact and correct dimensions, and their edges are usually very fragile.
• If you pay due attention to the heat resistance of the walls, then you should purchase foam concrete with the D600 marking. High-strength materials D1100 are bought less often - they are more durable, but less heat-resistant.

• When purchasing foam block materials, it is recommended to stock up on reinforcing tabs.
• Always pay attention to the color of the building material. The foam block should be painted light gray. Never buy a white or yellowish block.
• It is not recommended to purchase foam concrete blocks in the spring. They are often cheaper during this time period. However, it is possible that you will be provided with last year's materials, which all this time lay under a layer of dust in a warehouse or even in the open air. Such blocks are less sturdy and reliable.

• Despite the fact that the foam block is a material that does not require additional finishing, it is still recommended to cover it with a special plaster from the inside or a cement-sand mixture for external surfaces. The strength characteristics of unfinished blocks can be reduced after several autumn / spring months.
• Before buying foam concrete blocks, you should check their geometry. To do this, you need to put two foam blocks on top of each other and consider whether they match. Then these elements must be turned over and the location of the remaining surfaces must be compared.

• Unload aerated concrete blocks as carefully and carefully as possible. Otherwise, you risk seriously damaging them in the places where the edges pass (these areas are especially vulnerable).
• When choosing a foam block for construction work, you need to pay special attention to its cells. Remember - they must be isolated (must not be connected to each other). Otherwise, such building materials will actively absorb dampness and moisture, which will negatively affect their performance.
• Check the foam block for strength. To do this, it is enough to try to break off a piece from the edge with your hands. If you succeed in doing this, then this means that the material is of low quality and is not worth buying.
• It is recommended to build houses or outbuildings from foam blocks at temperatures from 5 to 25 degrees. If the construction still takes place at minus values, then it is recommended to use special antifreeze additives.

• Many homeowners are wondering what materials can be used for facing a foam block, in addition to the usual plaster or decorative facade mixtures. To do this, it is permissible to use a special tile or stone (both natural and artificial).
• If you have not yet completed all the construction work, then you should not leave the foam blocks in the open air on the street. It is advisable to cover them with plastic wrap to protect them from negative external factors.
• When laying interior partitions or load-bearing walls, it is very important to ensure that no voids remain between the individual foam blocks. All remaining seams must be sealed with special glue. Thus, you can avoid the problem of heat loss in the home.
• Do not skimp on buying foam blocks.These materials are already cheap, and in the pursuit of unnecessary savings, you risk buying unreliable and too fragile materials.

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