Comparison of materials for house walls. What materials are best for building a house. Single-layer walls of a private house

Analytical material on what to build the walls of a house from. Review of popular materials and with brief description each of them.

Walls are the most important structural element of any house or cottage. In the final cost of construction, the cost of erecting walls reaches 30%. Depending on a number of climatic and other conditions, the choice of material, design and wall thickness is made. These parameters are determined by the design solution, which in mandatory precedes the start of construction of any house.

The materials used for the construction of house walls are divided into three groups:

• Wooden.
• Stone.
• Heterogeneous.

How to choose the right material for building the walls of a residential building?

This article will help you find the right answer to this difficult question. Let's assume that we are faced with the task of choosing materials for building walls:

• two-story residential building
• with a total area of ​​150-200m2.
• in the conditions of a temperate climate zone, characteristic of most of the territory of the Russian Federation.

Essential characteristics of any wall materials

Before we begin to consider the characteristics and features of the use of the most popular materials belonging to the groups presented above, it is worth noting that for any wall of the house, regardless of the materials used and design features, there are a number of mandatory functions and requirements:

• Structural strength. This criterion is one of the most important, since for several decades the walls must bear the load not only of their own weight, but also the weight of the roof and ceilings, communications and engineering units, interior decoration premises. That is why all erected walls must have a certain margin of safety. To build the walls of the house we are considering, you need to focus on the strength of the material, which does not exceed 150kg/cm 2.
• Minimizing foundation loads. This parameter is no less important than the previous one, since neglecting this factor can lead to the destruction of the entire building or to a significant increase in the cost of the zero cycle.
• Thermal resistance. This factor characterizes the thermal comfort indicator indoors. It directly depends on the thermal conductivity of the wall material and their thickness. For the material of the walls of our house, we can focus on the value 2.5m 2 K/W.
• Water absorption. The characteristics of a particular material to absorb and retain moisture are determined precisely by this criterion, which characterizes percentage the mass of water absorbed by the wall to the mass of dry matter of this wall. The water absorption of wall materials used for the construction of the house we are considering should be in the range from 6% to 15% .
• Fire resistance. This criterion characterizes the ability of walls to limit the spread of flame.
• Frost resistance. This parameter characterizes the ability of wall materials and various structural elements to withstand alternate freezing and thawing. Most modern building materials have a frost resistance coefficient equal to 25-35 cycles. This value fully satisfies the requirements for the construction of the walls of our house. Experts do not recommend using materials with a frost resistance coefficient of less than 15 cycles, since in this case it is necessary to carry out additional processing that will prevent the penetration of moisture from the facade.

Option No. 1: wooden walls

The most widely used materials belonging to this group are the following:

• Beam (simple and profiled).

The construction market does not stand still. New building materials appear with enviable frequency. However, despite all the newfangled trends, houses made of logs and beams not only have not lost their popularity, but are also becoming increasingly relevant. Wood used to build walls has a number of advantages. Durability, strength, light weight, ease of processing - far from full list advantages of this building material.

The technology of construction of modern wooden houses is greatly influenced by the emergence of the latest technologies and equipment. Solid wood is practically no longer used. It was replaced by a wooden beam, which is a log hewn from all sides. It is the preliminary processing of the logs that ensures their almost perfect fit to each other. This technology helps improve the quality of housing and reduce construction costs.

However, construction logs used to build walls have their own advantages:

• Strength.
• Ease of construction.
• Natural beauty.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Ease of machining.

The ability to ignite quickly, the need for additional processing to prevent rotting and uneven drying are the main disadvantages that characterize the use of construction logs.

Houses built from wooden beams ( plain, profiled or glued), have a number of common advantages:

• Reduced costs (compared to the use of other building materials).
• Fast home assembly. Described at the beginning of the article two-story house(150-200m2) is quite possible to assemble in two to three months.
• Creation and preservation of a special indoor microclimate.
• Multiple design options.
• Ecological cleanliness.
• Low thermal conductivity. An unheated house warms up completely in just a couple of hours and retains 6 times more heat than a brick house, and about 1.5-2 times than a foam concrete house.
• Resistance to deformation.
• Ability to remove excess moisture.
• Excellent frost resistance. Houses can last more than a hundred years.
• High strength and elasticity.
• Virtually no interior or exterior finishing is required (especially for houses made of profiled and laminated timber).
• Aesthetic appearance.

In addition, houses built from simple, profiled or laminated timber have a number of individual features and advantages. So, to build walls from simple wooden beams you can use columnar foundation or "floating columns".

Profiled timber provides increased durability of the building, high solidity, excellent vapor and air permeability, simplicity and speed of assembly of the house, maximum environmental friendliness. The low weight of the timber can significantly reduce the load on the foundation, and the low cost of the material (about 2-3 times cheaper than laminated veneer lumber) and the aesthetics of the building sometimes tip the scales in favor of profiled timber.

Houses built from laminated veneer lumber, are characterized by high strength, improved thermal insulation and higher (compared to natural wood) fire resistance. The advantages of laminated veneer lumber include a fairly short construction period and, of course, the natural beauty of the wood and its texture.

Walls made of wooden beams, like those made of other materials, also have their disadvantages:

• Anisotropy of wood. This indicator characterizes the heterogeneity of strength, vapor conductivity, thermal conductivity and other properties depending on the direction of the wood fibers.
• Limitation of use depending on ambient temperature. Thus, houses made of laminated veneer lumber are not recommended to be used in conditions of prolonged heating above 35°C, all others - above 50°C. The temperature of 35°C is not typical for the temperate climate zone (which is where our house is conventionally located), but in recent years is not such a rare occurrence. This fact makes us think once again about the use of laminated veneer lumber.
• Possibility of cracks (except for laminated timber). To be fair, it is worth noting that this drawback is quite easily eliminated by rubbing with special mastics.
• The need to use additional finishing materials when using simple timber. This will prevent moisture from getting into the space between the beams.

Thus, houses and walls made of wood quite successfully combine excellent consumer qualities and a relatively low price, and the environmental friendliness and beauty of this material cannot be overestimated. That is why wooden buildings continue to be erected for many centuries, despite the advent of modern building and finishing materials.

Option No. 2: walls made of blocks

The most popular and widespread are the following building materials belonging to this group:

Wall masonry made from a wide variety of blocks has become widely used and very popular. Walls built from one type of block or another have different physical properties and features inherent in the block filler material.

However, most buildings built from block building materials are characterized by excellent heat and sound insulation properties, increased fire and frost resistance, environmental friendliness, lightness, strength, durability, resistance to mold and mildew, and ease of processing. In this section we will dwell in detail on the advantages and disadvantages of various types of this building material.

Cinder blocks

Slag, which is the flux-containing components of waste rock, is the main filler of cinder blocks. A wide variety of building stone fillers can be used. different materials: cement, expanded clay, broken glass, broken brick and concrete, gravel, sand, granite screenings, crushed stone. Cement is the main binder of cinder blocks.

The main advantages of cinder blocks include the following:

• Low cost due to the low cost of the components used. As a result, the cost of masonry and construction of the entire house is significantly reduced.
• Easy to use. No special skills are required to build cinder block walls.
• Strength and durability.
• Fire resistance and frost resistance.
• Possibility of self-production.
• Low consumption of binder solution.

However, cinder blocks also have some disadvantages, among which are the following: poor sound insulation properties, high thermal conductivity, the need for double-sided plastering of walls and the difficulty of laying various communications.

Foam blocks

This type of building material is made from foam concrete, which is a type of cellular concrete. Cement mortar, sand, water and a foaming agent are used to make foam blocks. Foam block is an artificial porous stone that can float in water. A wall made from this material is able to “breathe”, creating an ideal indoor microclimate. Approximately the same microclimate is created in houses built from wood. However, foam blocks, unlike wood, do not rot or burn.

Advantages of foam blocks:

• Low specific gravity.
• Low hygroscopicity.
• Ease of processing.
• High durability.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Cheapness. Foam block is one of the cheapest materials.
• Good sound insulation.
• Cost-effective due to low weight. Thanks to this, you can significantly save on the construction of the foundation and the thickness of the plaster layer. Foam blocks can even be laid with glue.
• High fire resistance.
• Low shrinkage rate.
• High thermal insulation properties.

The only disadvantage of foam blocks is that the construction of walls is only possible using a frame method, and a synthetic foaming agent can enhance the hygroscopicity of concrete.

Gas blocks

This building material has unique characteristics and is becoming increasingly popular. It is aerated blocks that provide real competition to classic brick due to their natural origin and excellent performance qualities. Sand, lime, cement, water and aluminum powder are used to produce aerated blocks. Depending on the binder component used (lime or cement), a gas silicate or aerated concrete block can be obtained. Both types of gas blocks, due to their high porosity (up to 85%), have excellent operational properties, inherent in both wood and stone:

• High strength.
• Ease of processing.
• Low thermal conductivity.
• High fire resistance and frost resistance.
• Excellent sound insulation properties.
• Excellent vapor permeability.
• Durability.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Ease.
• Resistance to fungi, bacteria and mold.
• Moisture resistance.
• Quick installation.

However, gas blocks also have a number of negative properties. In particular, additional cladding of external walls or protective plastering may be required; sound and heat insulation properties decrease with increasing density and strength. It is impossible to build high-rise buildings (more than 3 floors) from aerated concrete blocks. However, in our case (construction of a two-story house), this factor has absolutely no influence on the choice of material.

Sand-lime brick

This building material is made from sand, lime and some additives. Sand-lime brick used for the construction of external and interior walls and for cladding. It is not recommended to use sand-lime brick in areas with high humidity and for masonry that may be exposed to elevated temperatures. These features of the use of sand-lime brick are due to its ability to absorb moisture well and decompose hydrate components with a significant increase in temperature.

The main advantages of sand-lime brick include the following:

• Reliability and durability.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Resistance to the influence of aggressive factors.
• High fire resistance.
• Possibility of use for a wide variety of architectural solutions.
• High noise absorption coefficient.

However, sand-lime brick also has a number of negative properties that limit its use:

• Increased construction time and high labor intensity of work. This state of affairs is possible due to small sizes sand-lime brick.
• High ability to absorb moisture.
• Heavy weight. Sand-lime brick is one of the heaviest building materials.
• Low adhesion with cement mortar.
• Limited application (temperature and humidity).

Ceramic blocks

Ceramic blocks or "warm" ceramics are an environmentally friendly building material made from high-quality clay with the use of certain additives. Many builders use the expression “warm block” in their everyday life, which indicates one of the main characteristics of this material - ceramic blocks are distinguished by excellent thermal insulation qualities. In addition, these blocks have almost all the positive properties of ceramic bricks:

• Resistance to aggressive factors.
• High strength.
• Light weight.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Ease of processing.
• High adhesion achieved due to the corrugated surface of the blocks.
• Durability.
• Frost resistance.
• Excellent heat and sound insulation properties.
• Optimal indoor microclimate.
• Reduced lead times (compared to brickwork) construction.
• Saving mortar when laying.

Ceramic blocks have few disadvantages, but they do exist: high price, the need to plaster the walls to protect them from moisture, and fragility during transportation.

Arbolit

This building material is a type of lightweight concrete. To make it, a mixture of organic fillers (woodworking waste, fires, reeds, etc.), a binder and water is used. The mixture also contains some additives. For example, to accelerate the hardening of cement and mineralization of the aggregate, calcium chloride and alumina sulfate are added.

Arbolite very successfully combines best qualities stone and wood. This unique building material is characterized by excellent heat capacity (the thermal conductivity of wood concrete is 4-5 times lower than brick), high strength, and resistance to rotting. It is environmentally friendly and fireproof. Negative quality Arbolite can be called high water absorption, which can be successfully overcome by creating a reliable protective coating.

The positive qualities of this unique material more than compensate for this disadvantage:

• Low thermal conductivity, which allows you to significantly save on heating your home during the heating season.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Plastic.
• Ease of processing.
• High strength.
• Low specific gravity.
• Fire safety.

In addition to the block building materials discussed above, you can use ceramic bricks, expanded clay blocks, twin blocks, gas silicate blocks, sand concrete blocks, polystyrene concrete and sawdust concrete blocks. These building materials have almost the same performance qualities characteristic of all block building materials.

Option No. 3: heterogeneous (multilayer) walls

Among the building materials belonging to this group, the following are most widespread:

The materials listed above have a number of undeniable advantages, among which we can highlight such as a significant reduction in construction time, light weight, cost savings, excellent combination with other building materials, and long service life. Below are the main performance each material separately.

SIP panel

A SIP panel is a structure that consists of two oriented strand boards or OSB, between which there is a layer of insulation glued under pressure - solid polystyrene foam. Expanded polystyrene has a number of excellent physical and performance properties.

It is resistant to aggressive environments, environmentally friendly, durable, and easy to use. This material is characterized by a low degree of thermal conductivity and vapor permeability.

Houses built from SIP panels have the following qualities:

• Strength.
• Durability.
• Energy efficiency.
• Relatively cheap.
• Beauty.
• Fire resistance.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Practicality.

In addition, houses made from this material are very quickly assembled. Thus, the two-story house with an area of ​​150-200 m2 discussed in this article can be assembled in 12-15 days on a prepared foundation, and the full construction cycle, including interior decoration, will take no more than three months.

The relative cheapness of constructing buildings from SIP panels is achieved due to the following factors:

• Inexpensive foundation.
• Short construction period.
• Simplicity of finishing work.
• No additional insulation is required.
• Significant savings on heating and home maintenance.

However, ideal building materials that have absolutely no disadvantages do not exist. SIP panels are no exception, the main disadvantages of which include the following: fire hazard, the need to use a ventilation system, and the possibility of rodents entering.

Permanent formwork

Permanent formwork consists of panels or blocks made of various materials, which are mounted in the formwork structure. Application permanent formwork allows you to significantly speed up and simplify the construction process by combining several operations into one technological cycle.

The main advantages of using permanent formwork include:

• High speed of construction. For example, the box of the house discussed in this article can be erected in just a week.
• Light weight of blocks.
• Variation of architectural solutions.
• Low cost of material.
• High fire safety.
• Environmental friendliness.
• High strength.
• Excellent heat and sound insulation.
• Can be used in any climatic conditions and on any soil.

This material also has its drawbacks. The use of permanent formwork is characterized by the difficulty of compacting the concrete mixture and installing door and window openings, the need to use protective finishing materials and install a grounded loop that protects the building from lightning.

Multilayer heat blocks

Multilayer heat blocks are made using the injection method from expanded clay concrete and contain a thermal insulation liner made of expanded polystyrene. The decorative front surface, made of expanded clay concrete painted with iron oxide pigment, represents the third layer of this building material.

Multilayer heat blocks are practically free of disadvantages, but they have many advantages:

• High speed of construction.
• Significant cost savings.
• No additional heat and sound insulation is required.
• Excellent thermal efficiency.
• Durability.
• Aesthetic appearance.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Fire safety.
• Possibility to increase living space.
• Light weight.

Brisolite and insulated laminated veneer lumber, like the heterogeneous (multilayer) building materials discussed above, have found wide application in the construction of houses and have many similar physical and operational properties.

Resume

Thus, this article outlines comparative characteristics basic building materials used for the construction of walls and houses. As you can see, all presented materials have their pros and cons.

From what building material (group of materials) is it better to build the house discussed in this article? I am sure that each reader found the answer to this question on his own, having analyzed the physical, operational, aesthetic and economic features of each building material.

Questions and answers on the topic

No questions have been asked about the material yet, you have the opportunity to be the first to do so

It is believed that the stone is best material for the construction of a country house. Due to its durability, strength and adaptability to almost any geographical area, stone is very popular in the construction industry. However, is stone really the best material?

Despite the fact that everything seems to be in order with oil and gas production in Russia, the price of energy resources in our country is steadily growing. And so, following the countries of Europe, the Russian Federation adopted in 2003 new standards for thermal resistance of enclosing and load-bearing structures (SNiP 23-02-2003 “Thermal protection of buildings”).

But even before the adoption of new SNiPs, new effective building materials and technologies came to us (and continue to come).

What should the walls (enclosing structures) of a house be like in order to comply with building heating standards? The answer to this question is not entirely clear.

If you carry out calculations, it turns out that, for example, a brick wall should be 2.3 m thick, and a concrete wall – 6 m. Therefore, the wall structure should be combined, that is, multi-layered. Moreover, one “layer” in this case will perform a load-bearing function, and the other will provide heat conservation.

A certain difficulty lies in the fact that the parts of this “layer cake” are too different in their physical and chemical properties. Therefore, in order to combine them, we have to come up with ingenious construction technologies.

A little physics

What parameters seem to be the most important when choosing a material for building an energy-efficient warm house? This is, first of all, the load-bearing capacity of the material, as well as its heat capacity and thermal conductivity. Let's focus on the latter.

The unit of measurement for heat capacity - kJ/(kg °C) - indicates how much thermal energy is contained in 1 kg of material with a temperature of 1 degree Celsius. For example, consider two building materials known to everyone - wood and concrete. The heat capacity of the first is 2.3, and of the second – 0.84 kJ/(kg °C) (according to SNiP II-3-79).

It turns out that wood is a much more heat-intensive material, and heating it will require more thermal energy, and when it cools, it will release environment more joules. The concrete will heat up faster and cool down faster. However, these figures can only be obtained in theory if you compare 1 kg of absolutely dry wood and 1 kg of concrete.

For construction practice, these conditional values ​​are practically useless, because if you recalculate per square meter of a real wooden or concrete wall, for example, 20 cm, the picture changes. Here is a small table in which, for comparison, we take 1 m² of a 20 cm thick wall made of different materials (at a temperature of 20 ° C).

From the given figures it is clear that for heating 1 m² concrete wall by 1 degree you will have to generate almost 20 times more thermal energy than heating wood. That is, a wooden or frame house can be heated to the required temperature much faster than a concrete or brick one, because the weight (mass) of brick and concrete is greater.

Let us also remember that in addition to specific heat capacity, there is also thermal conductivity of building materials. This is a property that characterizes the intensity of heat transfer in a material. With increasing temperature, humidity and density of a substance, the thermal conductivity coefficient increases.

The thermal resistance of a homogeneous enclosing structure, defined as the ratio of the thermal conductivity coefficient of the wall material to the wall thickness in meters, must be no less than the required heat transfer resistance (depending on the temperature of the coldest five-day period in the region and other climatic parameters).

For the Moscow region, heat transfer resistance is in the range of 3.1–3.2 m °C/W. And in Novosibirsk, where frosts in winter reach an average of 42 °C, this figure is much higher. It should also be taken into account that not only walls take part in the heating processes, but also everything that is inside the house - ceiling structures, floors, windows, furniture, as well as air. Architectural features of enclosing structures and the presence of “cold bridges” play a significant role.

Wood as a building material

For comfort in the house, a combination of sufficient heat capacity and low thermal conductivity of the wall material is important. In this regard, wood has no equal. This is also a good material for seasonal homes, where the owners come only occasionally in winter.

A wooden house that is not heated for a long time is better able to withstand sudden changes in temperature.

The condensation that forms when the heating is turned on is partially absorbed by the wood. Then the walls gradually release the accumulated moisture to the heated air, thereby helping to maintain a favorable microclimate in the living quarters.

Used in construction conifers: spruce, pine, larch, fir, and cedar. In terms of price/quality ratio, pine is the most in demand. Its heat capacity is 2.3–2.7 kJ/(kg K). Along with the ancient technology of manual felling, houses built from rounded logs, profiled and ordinary timber, gun carriages, and laminated veneer lumber have also gained popularity.

Whatever you choose, consider the common features wooden walls The rule is the thicker the better. And here you will have to proceed from the capabilities of your wallet, since as the thickness of the log increases, the cost of the material and the price of work increase.

In order to meet the required heat-technical standards, the log (rounded or hand-cut) must have a diameter of at least 28 cm, and the profiled beam must have a thickness of at least 24 cm. Then the house does not need to be insulated from the outside.

Meanwhile, the most common size of profiled timber is 20×20 cm, length up to 6 m. So the developer will have to immediately calculate and decide what thickness of walls to build: 20×20 cm, followed by insulation with mineral wool and cladding (siding, clapboard, facade panels) or thicker ones without insulation and sheathing.

Separately, let's say about ordinary (not profiled) timber measuring 15x15 cm. It is very popular in country house construction, but nevertheless, it is better not to build a house for year-round use from such material. It is only suitable for a small summer garden house. However, the appearance of such a house is unlikely to please you.

No matter how hard you try to caulk the gaps between the crowns, they still appear due to warping and uneven shrinkage of the wood. Birds take away caulk to make nests. Under slanting summer rain, the wall gets wet through and through, and there is no need to talk about freezing in winter.

If you still choose this type of construction, then first wait for the new log structure to settle (six months or a year) and begin its external insulation and cladding. A suspended insulation system (ventilated façade) would be optimal. Let us note that it is undesirable and even harmful to insulate wooden walls from the inside.

Glued laminated timber...

It is somewhat superior to massive timber and rounded logs in strength and hardness. Due to its layered structure, the product is not subject to cracking and warping, and is resistant to rotting. Still warm technical specifications laminated veneer lumber is only slightly better than regular pine logs.

You can live in a house made of timber, where the walls are 20 cm thick, even in winter. However, heating will require high costs. Such housing also does not meet the requirements of SNiP 23.02–2003 “Thermal protection of buildings” (for the middle zone Ro = 3.49 m²·°C/W).

Meanwhile, the cost of houses made of laminated veneer lumber varies between 40-80 thousand rubles. per m². The question arises: is it worth spending money on 20 cm thick walls first, and then on insulation and cladding?

And it’s a shame to close it decorative surface laminated veneer lumber with a curtain wall façade. So you need to think hard here. For comparison, a house made of hand-cut logs will cost 40–70 thousand rubles. per m², the average cost of a house made of rounded logs and profiled timber will be about 20–25 thousand rubles. for 1 m².

Proper insulation of wooden walls

Using special dowels, they are attached to the walls. thermal insulation boards from basalt wool. To prevent atmospheric moisture from penetrating into the insulation, the slabs are covered with a superdiffusion hydro-windproof membrane (film).

Such membranes protect the facade from rain, snow, condensation and wind. At the same time, they allow steam coming from inside the house to pass through well. Next, guide rails are nailed to the walls at a certain pitch for attaching the finishing material.

The finishing can be vinyl siding, wooden lining different widths and thickness, block house (planed board made in the form of a segment of rounded logs) and other materials. It is important to leave vents at the top and bottom to ensure air circulation in the ventilation ducts formed by the wooden guide rails.

Frame construction technologies

Perhaps not everyone knows, but the frame structure is one of the oldest. An example of this is half-timbered houses with a hard load-bearing frame from racks, beams and braces. Our ancestors filled the space between the frame elements with a kind of insulation - reeds or straw mixed with clay, or a more reliable material - raw brick.

The frame was covered with tar to prevent it from rotting, and the clay filling was plastered and whitewashed. Part of the frame was usually left visible, which is why half-timbered houses have a characteristic black and white appearance. The thermal characteristics of such a house are excellent; they are cool in summer and warm in winter. Today there are many options for frame technology.

Many countries, primarily the northern ones, contributed to their creation and development: Canada, the USA, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries. However, the principle is the same: wooden or metal racks, united by horizontal strapping, are sheathed on the outside with sheet materials (oriented strand boards, cement-bonded particle boards, waterproof plywood, etc.). The internal space is filled with effective insulation - mineral basalt wool.

Mounted on the inside vapor barrier film, a hydro-windproof membrane is pulled on the outside. Next comes the decorative decoration of the walls.

A frame or frame-panel house built according to all the rules will serve you faithfully for decades. Frame and frame-panel houses can be partially or completely made from factory-produced elements, brought to the construction site and quickly assembled on site. They do not require powerful foundations; pile and bored structures are suitable.

A frame house can take on any form and look like wood, brick, stone, or plastered. The same can be said about the interior decoration. The choice is huge: fiberboard, plaster, drywall, wallpaper, painting, wooden lining, panels and other materials. In the depths frame walls It is convenient to place communications, electrical wires, heating pipes, which has a positive effect on the interior design.

After installing the equipment and completing the finishing, the frame house is completely ready for living. If you visit your country house on short visits, on weekends and holidays, there is practically no alternative to a frame structure. It can be warmed up quickly, literally overnight.

But if you turn off the heating, " ice age"will come just as quickly. This happens because, unlike concrete and brick, a frame wall has practically no place to retain heat. Even wood paneling will not cope with this function due to its low mass.

But mineral wool has a different vocation: it plays the role of a reliable boundary between two temperature environments - cold external and warm internal. So it won’t be possible to heat a frame house for future use. As for the price, then general rule“Cheap is never good” applies here too.

Excessive savings on construction are inappropriate. Price square meter strongly depends on the manufacturer of building elements, on the distance to the construction site, and the wages of workers. On average, a turnkey house will cost approximately 19–24 thousand rubles. for 1 m² of total area.

Brick

Clay brick has always been a symbol of something stable and indestructible. Indeed, brick is durable, frost-resistant, and immune to atmospheric influences. But the thermal performance of the material leaves much to be desired.

Brick products can be divided into three groups:

1. Solid products:

• ordinary brick (density 1700–1800 kg/m³, thermal conductivity coefficient 0.6–0.7 W/m°C);
• conditionally efficient brick (density 1400–1600 kg/m³, thermal conductivity coefficient 0.35–0.5 W/m°C);
• efficient brick (density less than 1100 kg/m³, thermal conductivity coefficient 0.18–0.25 W/m°C).

2. Hollow bricks with a percentage of voids from 5 to 40%. This also includes facing products.

3. Porous bricks, including large-format stone bricks. The low thermal conductivity coefficient of the latter is achieved due to closed air pores, as well as the special structure of the material with honeycomb-shaped voids.

If we take into account walls with a thickness of 510 mm or 640 mm, covered with the necessary layer of “warm” plaster, then only effective ceramic products reach the standard. Walls made of solid and conditionally efficient bricks require additional insulation.

To solve this problem, three options are proposed: installing a plaster heat-insulating system, installing a suspended facade insulation system (ventilated façade) and constructing three-layer walls with a heat-insulating layer. A brick house is good for permanent residence. Brick structures “breathe”, that is, they are able to provide air exchange in the thickness of the walls, and have solid thermal inertia.

Once heated, such a wall retains heat for a long time even with minimal heating, gradually releasing it into the surrounding space. That is, if the heating unit suddenly breaks down, it will be possible to hold out for a long time until the repair specialists arrive in a more or less comfortable atmosphere.

Cellular concrete

Cellular concrete is a collective term that combines finely porous building materials based on a mineral binder (lime, cement). This includes large-format blocks made of aerated concrete, gas silicate, foam concrete and foam silicate. Expanded polystyrene concrete is classified as a separate category.

The structure of the listed materials is formed by small air pores (cells). They give products made from cellular concrete a high thermal insulation ability and a relatively small volumetric mass.

Walls built using single-row block masonry technology do not require additional insulation. They also do not need a powerful foundation. In terms of its environmental and other characteristics, this material is close to wood, but differs favorably from it in that it does not burn or deform when humidity changes. At the same time, in terms of its thermal performance, a wall made of cellular concrete is superior to a brick one.

Cellular concrete is divided into thermal insulation (density up to 400 kg/m³, porosity 92%), structural and thermal insulation (density 400–800 kg/m³, porosity 82%) and structural (density 800–1400 kg/m³, porosity up to 66%) .

That is, the higher the density of the material, the lower its thermal insulation ability. It is the finely porous structure that provides the material with a relatively low weight good warmth and soundproofing ability, as well as vapor permeability (which is generally not typical for monolithic concrete structures).

If we talk about high-quality aerated concrete products, then for the construction of a country house you should use blocks with a density of at least 500 kg/m³. Such aerated concrete is produced in large high-tech industries. The blocks are distinguished by geometric accuracy and compliance of the actual characteristics of the material with the indicators declared by the manufacturer.

To ensure that aerated concrete walls are of the required quality, the masonry is laid using a special mineral glue. This ensures a joint thickness of only 1–3 mm (for comparison, masonry with cement-sand mortar produces joints of 12–15 mm).

At the same time, heat loss is significantly reduced, because thick seams are real “cold bridges” through which heat leaves the house. Foam concrete is more affordable than aerated concrete (for comparison, the first will cost 1,300 rubles/m³, and the second – 2,800 rubles/m³), so many developers are turning their attention to it.

But the point is that foam concrete blocks can be produced on special mobile installations in a rather artisanal way. Therefore, small businesses are often involved in their production. To obtain a finely porous structure, special substances are used - foaming agents.

These are mainly tanning extracts from the leather industry, various lyes, etc., that is, organic compounds that have a limited shelf life and different foaming abilities.

To reduce production costs, instead of quartz sand, manufacturers use substitutes in the form of industrial waste: fly ash, slag, etc. Hardening of the blocks occurs under natural conditions. The process proceeds unevenly, causing shrinkage deformations.

All this leads to, to put it mildly, vague technical characteristics of the final product. The material has sufficient strength and retains heat well, but only if it is manufactured according to all the rules.

Expanded polystyrene concrete (from RUB 3,500/m³) has a cellular structure, which is formed by specially treated polystyrene granules. Polymer “grains”, consisting of 90% air, provide expanded polystyrene concrete with the highest heat saving indicators among cellular concrete.

Its thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.055–0.175 W/m² °C. In addition, this filling is water-repellent, which increases the water resistance of the material as a whole. In this review, we looked at the main, most common building materials and technologies.

In our country, in recent decades, it has been actively developing individual construction. In addition to the construction of warm and durable houses from classic wood and brick, new materials and technologies are increasingly being used, primarily borrowed from abroad.

New materials for house construction are being developed in order to simplify and speed up installation, and increase the heat-saving characteristics of external walls. But the low cost of the material for constructing the building frame and its good technical characteristics alone do not guarantee that the final costs will be small and the house will turn out warm and cozy.

To choose cheap materials for construction, the following factors are taken into account:

• Climate and location of the building site. This factor influences the choice of wall thickness and the need for additional insulation.
• Soil type. Affects the choice of foundation and the technology of waterproofing the underground part.

Thus, it is important not only to compare the cost of materials for building structures, but also to determine which one is the most cheap option suitable for specific operating conditions.

Final cost of work

It is the final cost of the work that should be taken into account when assessing the characteristics and cost of materials for building the walls of a house and looking for the most budget option.

The final construction costs are made up of a number of components:

• Architecture – the simpler, the cheaper.
• Engineering solutions – selection of the optimal design option for each design.
• Internal layout is a rational approach to using space to get the maximum usable area.
• Insulation - the need and costs depend on the thermal conductivity of the walls.
• External and internal finishing - the need depends on the characteristics of the wall material; you can save money when choosing finishing materials.
• Building materials – it is on their choice that developers try to save as much as possible.
• Foundation - costs account for up to 40% of the total investment in construction; the parameters of the foundation depend on the choice of materials for installing the building frame and roofing system.

If you want to reduce construction costs, keep in mind that choosing a cheap material for building walls may result in the need to spend extra money and time on their insulation and finishing. When building a house higher than one floor, the strength characteristics also require special attention.

The cheapest materials for construction

Building a classic brick house will not be cheap - the piece material for laying the walls itself is expensive, and a solid foundation is required. Plus, the installation itself will take a lot of time and will require the involvement of professional masons if you want the house to be durable, warm and last for at least 100 years.

Today, new materials and technologies are being used, thanks to which the construction of a private house will require a minimum of time. These include the construction of walls from monolithic concrete using permanent formwork made of foamed polystyrene. Steel reinforcement is installed inside the polystyrene foam blocks with a tongue-and-groove connection.

The foam material acts as insulation; the cavity between the walls is filled with concrete, thereby forming a monolithic frame of the building. The materials themselves that are used for construction (concrete, polystyrene foam, reinforcement) are affordable, but the increase in price occurs due to:

• quite high cost of finished blocks with installed fittings;
• need to hire a concrete truck.

In addition, such a house requires external and internal finishing, as well as installation of high-quality ventilation system, since walls with a double layer of polystyrene foam do not breathe. This is an example of how cheap materials do not guarantee savings during construction and comfort in the home.

Expecting to find the most cheap material to build a house, you should pay attention to structures made:

• from foam blocks;
• from expanded clay concrete;
• from gas silicate blocks;
• using frame technology;
• from timber;
• from rounded logs.

To evaluate which material is better, you should compare the pros and cons of each option.

Foam block

The popularity of foam concrete is explained by its affordable price and simple installation - no special tools or lifting equipment are required to build a house, since the weight of the block does not exceed 25 kilograms, and it can be cut with a regular hacksaw.

The list of advantages of foam blocks also includes:

• savings on the foundation - wall structures weigh relatively little, which makes it possible to equip a lightweight underground foundation;
• high installation speed;
• strict geometry of the blocks (if the material is of high quality) - due to this, the thickness of the seams is minimal, which reduces the consumption of adhesive, increases the strength of the masonry and reduces the thermal conductivity of the walls;
• high thermal insulation parameters - the porous structure prevents heat loss through the walls;
• vapor permeability – the material “breathes”, resulting in a comfortable microclimate in the room;
• environmental friendliness and fire safety - the material does not burn and does not emit harmful substances.

Disadvantages include:

• the need for external cladding - the building needs external finishing, because porous material picks up moisture and the freezing and thawing cycles do not benefit it;
• in cold climates, the walls of the house need to be additionally thermally insulated, while insulated ventilated facades increase the cost of construction, pasting with polystyrene foam boards will be inexpensive, but the walls will become vapor-tight and a supply ventilation system will be required;
• the risk of blocks cracking during shrinkage of the house if insufficient quality material is used.

Manufacturers claim that the service life of foam block buildings reaches 80 years. But the material appeared relatively recently, so there is no information about its actual durability.

Expanded clay concrete

Hollow blocks of expanded clay concrete are used for external walls and partitions of a private house. If we compare expanded clay concrete with foam concrete, then expanded clay concrete is more difficult to process and is heavier, which should be taken into account when calculating the foundation. The size of the expanded clay concrete block is larger, which speeds up installation.

Expanded clay concrete is characterized by:

• environmental friendliness and health safety;
• resistance to combustion, biological damage;
• good noise insulation and heat insulation properties;
• breathability.

Walls made of this material require external cladding. Finishing allows you to make the facade aesthetically attractive and protect the porous material from damage when wet and subsequent freezing. Interior finishing is also required, but it should be taken into account that fasteners do not hold well in expanded clay concrete.

If the masonry is not done well enough, or the material has cracked as a result of shrinkage, cold bridges arise and the walls of the house need additional thermal insulation.

Aerated concrete

Trying to find the cheapest building material, developers buy aerated concrete - lightweight blocks that are easy to install. It is important to use autoclaved aerated concrete from a trusted manufacturer - materials made by drying in a hydration chamber have 3 times lower strength and can only be used as insulation.

The blocks must be even, since the seams are cold bridges. But even if the masonry is done with minimum thickness seams, the house needs to be insulated if there is a desire to reduce heating costs. External and internal decoration of walls made of porous aerated concrete is required.

The advantages include the ease of processing blocks. At the same time, during transportation of material and construction work, care should be taken - the blocks are not resistant to mechanical damage.

Frame house

To build a house using frame technology requires the use of a whole set of building materials, usually these are:

• lumber for mounting the supporting frame;
• heat insulator, which is laid inside the walls;
• sheet material for external and internal cladding (OSB boards, etc.).

Frame house construction has a number of advantages. During construction, there is no need to use equipment or specialized tools; the work is completed in a short time. The load on the base is small, so a lightweight foundation is used. IN frame house It is convenient to install communications - they are hidden inside the wall. A structure erected using this technology does not require time to shrink.

This construction option is not without its drawbacks. If foamed polymer insulation is installed in the walls, the house does not “breathe,” which affects the microclimate. Mineral wool is vapor permeable, but it absorbs moisture and, as a result, its thermal insulation properties are reduced.

To protect the insulation from getting wet, it is necessary to install a vapor barrier on the side of the room. It is better to use a special membrane that allows air to pass through but retains moisture. This is noticeably more expensive than using polyethylene, but contributes to a good microclimate in the house.

Having saved on the construction of walls, you will have to spend a lot of money on external finishing, since the sheathing of the frame should be reliably protected from atmospheric influences. The service life of such a house depends on how well the wooden frame elements are treated against biological damage, on the choice of external finishing, and on the quality of construction work.

timber

A wooden house is warm and home comfort, a unique microclimate due to the use of natural wood for construction.

For the construction of a log house, the following types of timber are used: simple (natural moisture or dry) or glued, consisting of several lamellas. Today in house construction it is customary to use profiled timber, which allows you to connect crowns without ventilated cracks.

When choosing timber, you should consider that:

• a house made of wood with natural moisture shrinks greatly, including deformation of the crowns, with the formation of cracks in the frame, the timber cracks;
• dry material is resistant to cracking and deformation;
• a structure made of laminated veneer lumber practically does not shrink or deform; finishing can begin immediately after roofing work is completed.

You can build houses from profiled timber yourself; the material is easy to process. But the thickness of the walls is usually not enough to allow the house to be used all year round in cold climates without additional insulation - otherwise you will have to spend more money on heating.

Rounded log

When trying to find the best material for building a house, you should pay attention to rounded logs. Application of this material makes it possible to significantly reduce final construction costs because:

• the weight of the structures is not the greatest, so a reinforced foundation is not required;
• logs are used to build a log house large diameter, the thermal conductivity of which makes it possible to do without additional insulation of the walls;
• even, smooth logs look attractive, the house looks great without any external or internal decoration.

Rounded log – good option for construction, if you order the production of a log house kit. In this case, a numbered “constructor set” is delivered to the construction site, where all the elements are manufactured modern equipment, that is, all connections are made with high precision. The material used is treated with special agents that protect the wood from biological destruction and increase fire resistance.

If you want to live in a house where an optimal microclimate is always maintained (cool in summer, warm in winter, the air does not dry out or become waterlogged), it is recommended to choose.

Conclusion

The choice of material for building a house affects the speed and cost of building the box, the quality of life in the house, and the durability of the building. The desire to save on material for wall structures can result in increased costs for insulation and finishing. If a house is being built on our own, ease of installation and the need to use specialized tools are assessed.

Hello! Tell me, what material is best to build a country house from now? I want to build myself a small house on my summer cottage.

- Sergey, Moscow.

Hello! The choice of material for building a house is a key issue. This will determine the duration of the work, the cost and durability of the building. It is impossible to give a definite answer; a lot depends on climatic conditions and on financial capabilities. To help you with your choice, we will compare the characteristics of houses made of brick, foam blocks, wood, and SIP panels and determine the advantages and disadvantages of each building material.

Brick as a building material has great architectural potential. A brick house can be of any shape, from a simple rectangular structure to a complex Gothic structure. Therefore, if you want to bring to life the most daring design projects, then brick will fit perfectly.

Brick house

Like any other building material, brick has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Pros of a brick house

• Prestige - a house made of good brick is still considered an indicator of the financial security of the owners.
• Thermal insulation - brick houses perfectly retain heat in harsh climatic zones.
• Service life - if the construction technology is followed correctly, a brick house can stand for a long time without major repairs.
• Fire safety - brick is not a flammable material, so the risk of a serious fire in the house is reduced.

Brick house American style

Cons of a brick house

• The weight of the material - brick is a fairly heavy building material, so for the construction of walls it is necessary to make a very strong foundation, which in turn requires significant financial expenses.
• Hygroscopicity - brick walls are very prone to absorbing moisture. Therefore, when building a brick house, a significant part of the money and time is spent on waterproofing.
• The need to finish the walls - when using inexpensive bricks (or when laying them incorrectly), there is a need for internal and external decoration of the walls.
• Brick price - depending on the type and quality, the cost of this building material can be very high.

Brick house in english style

The table provides information for buildings made of brick and foam concrete blocks.

A brick house is a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing structure, which is achieved with a competent approach to construction. High technical characteristics make it possible to live in such a house at any time of the year and under different climatic conditions.

Wooden houses

Wealthy owners often choose wooden beams or logs. This is explained by the fact that such houses have a beautiful appearance and have operational advantages compared to other types of buildings. To find out the specifications wooden house, let's look at its advantages and disadvantages.

Wooden house

Advantages of a wooden house

• Cost of construction - if you calculate the total cost of wooden and brick houses, then building a wooden one will cost less. This is due to the lack of need for external and internal finishing. Also, walls made of timber or logs are lighter than brick, so there is no need for a reinforced foundation.
• Mobility - the walls of a wooden house can be disassembled and, if necessary, reassembled in a new place. Speed ​​of construction - building a wooden house is almost twice as fast as a brick one.
• Appearance - of course, everyone has their own preferences, but for most people, wooden houses look more beautiful than others.
• Thermal insulation - depending on the thickness of the walls, wooden houses are sometimes superior to brick and frame houses in thermal insulation properties.
• Environmental safety - the walls in a wooden house do not emit harmful substances hazardous to human health.

Log house

Disadvantages of a wooden house

• Wall shrinkage - the final shrinkage of a wooden house structure occurs only after three years.
• Fire safety - although now there are many fire-resistant liquids that are used to treat the wooden parts of the house, a wooden house is still inferior to a brick or stone one in terms of fire safety.
• Treatment against pests and rot - wooden houses require regular treatment against insects and fungi living on the tree.

House made of timber

* Finishing houses from logs can only be made 2-3 years after construction.
As you can see, wood has its pros and cons, which should be taken into account when choosing building materials for a country house.

Houses made from SIP panels

SIP panels are a high-quality and convenient building material for a country house, allowing you to erect large structures in a short time.

The technology of construction using sandwich panels came to Russia from North America, where it is extremely popular.
A SIP panel is a slab made of two sheets of rigid material (fibreboard, OSB, PVC) and a layer of insulation, which is located between them. The panels are attached to a wooden or metal frame, and the result is a solid structure of the house.
The construction of houses from SIP panels has its fans and opponents. To determine which category you place yourself in, check out the advantages and disadvantages of sandwich panels.

House made of SIP panels

Pros of SIP panels

• Excellent heat and sound insulation - thanks to their design, sandwich panels perfectly retain heat and insulate noise.
• Light weight - being lighter in weight compared to brick, concrete and even wood, walls made of SIP panels do not require the construction of a powerful foundation.
• Short construction period - thanks to frame technology, a house made of sandwich panels can be built very quickly.
• Low construction cost - SIP panels have an affordable price and, in combination with quick installation, building a house as a whole will not cost much.

Scheme of a house made of sandwich panels

Disadvantages of SIP panels

• Short service life - compared to other building materials, sandwich panels have a relatively short term service life of 30-50 years.
• Environmental safety - for the manufacture of SIP panels, materials that can emit harmful substances are used. This factor is especially important if you plan to live in the house permanently.
• Low fire safety- sandwich panels burn well and, when burned, emit a lot of harmful substances, so houses built from this building material require additional measures to ensure fire safety.
• Rodents - representatives of the rodent family love to make homes for themselves in the space where the insulation is located. So be sure to regularly check and treat your home for mice, rats and other pests.
• Not prestigious real estate - houses made from SIP panels are not considered prestigious and durable housing, for this reason you can sell your property only at a price lower than the cost of construction.

Construction of a house from sandwich panels

Despite all the shortcomings, availability, speed of building a house and its high thermal insulation properties make sandwich panels very popular today.

Monolithic concrete houses

A concrete house is monolithic design, creating the shape of the house and bearing all the loads. Monolithic houses are popular due to their strength and durability. Also, the pouring technology allows you to give your home the most daring and unique design. A house made of reinforced concrete is especially recommended for construction in seismically active zones, as it can withstand a serious earthquake.
According to construction technology monolithic house, liquid concrete is poured into the formwork, which contains a frame made of reinforcement. After the solution has dried, the formwork is removed and placed on the next pouring area.
Monolithic houses are very popular in multi-story construction, but in addition to large buildings, reinforced concrete houses can be found in suburban areas. If you want to use concrete pouring technology to build your own home, then first familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of this building material.

Monolithic private house

Advantages of a monolithic house

• Structural integrity - a monolithic house does not require adjustment of house elements to each other, as in conventional construction.
• Long-term operation - if high-quality concrete is used when pouring, then a monolithic house can last longer than similar houses made of brick or stone.
• Fire safety - houses made of reinforced concrete are not subject to destruction during a fire.
• Many shapes - a monolithic house can be given any look, depending on your imagination.
• Seismic safety - a properly built house made of reinforced concrete can withstand an earthquake of up to 8-10 points without damaging the structure.

The process of building a monolithic house

Disadvantages of a monolithic house

• Construction cost - building a monolithic house is the most expensive option. Significant financial costs will be required for high-quality formwork, reinforced foundations, reinforcement and delivery or production of concrete.
• The need to decorate the walls - if you don’t want to have a gloomy bunker instead of a house, then you will have to make efforts to decorate the external and internal walls.
• Heating - concrete is concrete, and to maintain comfortable temperature In winter, powerful heating systems will be required.

Unusual design of a monolithic house

If there are opportunities to build a monolithic house, then this option preferable, especially in areas of increased seismic activity.

Alternative building materials for the home

In addition to the popular construction options listed above, there are less well-known materials that are also used for the construction of walls; let’s look at some of them.

House made of adobe

• • Adobe - adobe houses are popular in the southern regions of Russia and Central Asia. A house made of adobe keeps you cool in the summer and keeps you warm in the winter. Walls made of adobe are not very strong and are very susceptible to water, because adobe is made from a mixture of clay and straw. Therefore, this building material cannot be used in harsh climatic zones. But for dry climates with little rain, adobe is quite suitable for building a simple dwelling.

Wood concrete house

• • A mixture of sawdust, shavings, chemical additives and cement - such blocks are called wood concrete. This material is ideal for the construction of walls with low load; it is used for the construction of the top floors of buildings, one-story houses and outbuildings. Wood concrete is an inexpensive building material; it is produced in the form of blocks. In some cases, wood concrete, like concrete, is poured directly into the formwork. The main disadvantage of wood concrete is that it has weak strength and cannot be used in the manufacture of foundations and load-bearing walls.

House made of natural stone

• • Natural stone is a building material for those who love old traditions and have the finances to implement them. Building a house from natural stone will be very expensive, but the house will probably go to your great-great-grandchildren. Natural stone used for construction can be in either a natural form or in the form of processed blocks.

Cinder block house

• Cinder block - as the name suggests, it is a block pressed from waste slag and cement. Not a very safe material from an environmental point of view, since you do not know the origin of the slag. Cinder block is a cheap alternative to brick and is used to build houses and outbuildings. The strength of a cinder block largely depends on the conscience of the manufacturer; there are cases when blocks fall apart right during laying.

We hope that our article helped you decide on the choice of building materials for building a house!

Read the article to the end and you will find out: what materials are best used today for building the walls of a house, what are their advantages and disadvantages. And also: at the end of the article - interesting reader survey regarding this issue.

Let's figure out what houses are built from nowadays. Or more precisely, what materials are used to build walls. We will present the information “without water” and in a structured manner. First, we will consider the most popular building materials, and then those that are used less frequently.

Of course, each material has its pros and cons. Therefore, we will also talk about this. So…

Popular materials for building walls of a house

There are a lot of them. Let's start with the most proven and reliable option.

Ceramic brick (red)

Made from clay - an environmentally friendly material. Firing gives it a red color and improves its strength properties.

Previously, houses were built mainly from brick. And they performed well. We can say briefly about this material: it is a classic... Time-tested.

Pros of red brick:

• high strength;
• reliability;
• ability to withstand heavy loads for a long time.

Disadvantages of brick:

• high cost of material;
• complex and expensive masonry (requires highly qualified workers);
• relatively large time costs for construction.

Red brick houses are always in price. They are reliable, durable, and warm enough (for wall thicknesses of 60 cm or more). Such a house, after construction, can be sold at a good price after 25 years. Because brick houses last for 100 years.

Ceramic blocks (porous ceramics)

Modern material for the walls of the house. Essentially the same red brick, only with numerous voids. It is made by firing the same clay. However, this creates voids in the material, which significantly improve its thermal insulation properties. In addition, during production in source material add sawdust. When fired, they burn out, resulting in the formation of microscopic pores.

Advantages of porous ceramics:

• excellent thermal insulation properties;
• ecological cleanliness;
• large-format blocks (laying is done quite quickly);
• less weight (and therefore less load on the foundation).

Flaws:

• high price;
• reduced load-bearing capacity and strength (compared to solid ceramic bricks);
• increased fragility (especially noticeable during transportation, loading/unloading);
• easily absorbs moisture.

By the way, one point should be noted regarding the strength characteristics... Manufacturers often claim that porous ceramic blocks (used for the construction of load-bearing walls) correspond in strength to M100 concrete. For example, you can often hear that “the strength is the same as that of ordinary solid red brick.” However... in practice this does not always work out. U different manufacturers The strength of porous ceramics may vary. Therefore, you need to be vigilant when purchasing.

Despite its shortcomings, this material is now very popular. Used for the construction of luxury houses.

Aerated concrete

The material is a type of cellular concrete. It is made from quartz sand, cement, and special gas generators. In addition, lime, gypsum, as well as slag and other industrial waste are used. The output is a material with an open porous structure (pore diameter is approximately 1...3 mm).

Advantages of aerated concrete:

• small weight;
• low thermal conductivity;
• ease of machining;
• good strength;
• relatively low price.

Disadvantages of aerated concrete:

• strongly absorbs moisture (due to the open porous structure);
• increased fragility (a reliable foundation is required to prevent even small subsidence).

Now the popularity of aerated concrete is at its height. After all, for a relatively low price you can get a warm and quite durable house. Due to the low thermal conductivity, it is possible to build walls that are much thinner than, for example, in the case of red brick. This further reduces the cost of masonry materials. In addition, the cost of labor for workers is noticeably lower. Houses made of aerated concrete are built relatively easily and quickly.

Foam concrete

Also a type of cellular concrete. Unlike aerated concrete, this material has a closed porous structure. It is made from sand, cement, foaming agent and water.

The technology for making foam concrete is quite simple. Production does not require expensive equipment. And it must be said that this fact is not only a plus, but also adds an important minus: there is a lot of foam concrete on the market made by dubious private companies (handicraft production). Accordingly, the quality of such material cannot be high.

Advantages of foam concrete:

• light weight;
• good thermal insulation properties;
• ease of processing (easy to drill, saw);
• Due to its closed porous structure (the pores are closed), foam concrete does not absorb moisture as much as aerated concrete.

Disadvantages of foam concrete:

• poor vapor permeability (walls “do not breathe”; a good ventilation system is required);
• almost no bending;
• Over time, it shrinks significantly (which means cracks may form).

Despite significant disadvantages, foam concrete is used for the construction of residential buildings. This material is also used for sound and heat insulation - walls, roofs, floors, etc.

Wood

Natural material, time-tested. Houses have been built from wood since ancient times. This material has not lost its popularity even today.

Moreover, there are different technologies for constructing wooden houses. So, they can be built from logs ( old method) - when the trunks are cut to the required length, locks and grooves are made in them, and then laid to create walls.

There is also a method of construction from rounded beams. In this case, the logs are processed in production to a smooth surface and marked. In this case, the beams can be planed, sawn, or glued.

Advantages of wood:

• relatively affordable price (compared to other expensive materials);
• environmental cleanliness;
• excellent thermal insulation characteristics;
• aesthetic and attractive appearance;
• no need to build a strong foundation;
• quite long service life (with proper construction and care) - naturally, different breeds wood wear resistance varies;
• ease of machining.

Disadvantages of wood:

Despite the shortcomings, houses built from wood have been and will always be in value. It’s nice to be in a wooden house, you can breathe easily. It is cozy and comfortable. In a word - tree.

Shell rock

This is an absolutely environmentally friendly material of completely natural origin. The rock of this stone is porous, carbonate. It consists of pressed shells. Hence the name - “shell rock” (also called “shell rock”, “limestone”).

Stone can vary in density, shape, type and number of shells that form its base. Accordingly, the strength, aesthetic and other characteristics of different shell rocks can vary greatly.

However, in general, the following can be said about the pros and cons of this stone.

Benefits of shell rock:

• complete environmental friendliness (exceeds even wood, since it requires impregnation with special protective substances);
• does not accumulate radiation (usually it is below the sensitivity level of measuring instruments);
• relatively low price(excluding delivery);
• high speed of construction (for example, it can be cut into blocks measuring 490x240x188 mm);
• dense stone has quite high strength (suitable for constructing load-bearing walls).

Disadvantages of shell rock:

• increased ability to absorb moisture (especially in porous and low-strength stone) - higher than that of ceramic bricks;
• the dimensions of the blocks are inaccurate, significant deviations are often observed (due to the fact that the blocks are not stamped, but cut out);
• the thermal conductivity is inferior to brick, aerated concrete, wood and some other materials;
• heterogeneity in density and strength is often observed (the material is completely of natural origin).

People's attitude towards this stone is ambiguous. In some regions, most houses are built from this stone. In others, they practically do not build due to existing significant shortcomings and give preference to other building materials for the construction of walls. Of course, this is also due to the fact that delivering stone to some regions can be expensive and unprofitable.

Other building materials for wall construction

Now let's list what is used less often. Moreover, there are also advantages here.

Expanded clay concrete

It is made by pressing from a mixture of water, sand, cement and expanded clay (which is made from clay). Additionally, the blocks can have voids of different volumes and shapes (for example, rectangular, cylindrical).

Masonry is usually done using reinforcing mesh (every 3-4 rows).

Advantages of expanded clay concrete:

• low thermal conductivity;
• good strength (higher than, for example, aerated concrete);
• relatively low price;
• environmentally friendly (in fact, the basis is clay);
• small weight (due to the presence of porous and light material - expanded clay);
• The manufacturing technology is quite simple (you can make it yourself);
• durability (time-tested);
• good vapor permeability (walls “breathe”).

Disadvantages of expanded clay concrete:

• Increased water absorption (needs waterproofing, protection from external atmospheric influences);
• A solid foundation is required;
• The presence of cold bridges (thin seams are problematic to make due to significant deviations in the size of the blocks);
• There is “handicraft” material of low quality (due to the simplicity of the manufacturing technology).

It should also be noted that expanded clay concrete is quite versatile. Suitable for the construction of load-bearing walls in low-rise construction, as well as for the construction of partitions, floors, and ceilings. This material is often used simply as insulation.

Arbolit

Refers to lightweight concrete. Another name is also used - arbolite blocks. Cement, water, organic fillers, and chemical additives are used for production. Moreover, various materials can be used as fillers (80-90% of the total volume) - wood chips (often), flax or hemp seeds, cotton stalks, etc.

Chemical additives are used to eliminate negative influence organics on the cement hardening process. These could be: liquid glass, calcium chloride, aluminum sulfate, etc.

Advantages of wood concrete:

• environmental friendliness;
• low thermal conductivity (you can do without insulation);
• good fire resistance (does not support combustion, and when exposed to fire it only chars);
• speed of construction of walls (blocks of sufficiently large sizes);
• high bending strength (has the ability to restore shape after exposure to loads - due to the presence of wood particles);
• a strong foundation is not required (as, for example, for aerated concrete);
• You can easily screw screws into walls and hammer nails (they hold securely).

Disadvantages of wood concrete:

• protection from moisture is required (due to the presence of organic substances in the composition);
• in some regions the material is difficult to find;
• the price may be clearly inflated by the manufacturer (this is why making wood concrete with your own hands is popular).

In general, we can say that this is a pretty good building material for building walls. Moreover, if desired, you can make it yourself.

Used for low-rise buildings (usually up to 3 floors). It could be like residential buildings, and buildings for utility purposes.

cinder block

This stone is produced by vibration pressing or natural shrinkage of slag concrete mortar is used. The binder is cement, the filler is metallurgical slag.

However, it must immediately be emphasized that currently all stones that are made by vibration pressing from concrete mortar are considered to be cinder blocks. In addition to slag, the following can also be used as filler: granite screenings, broken bricks, hardened cement, broken glass, etc.

In this case, the resulting blocks can be either solid or with voids (which in turn can be of different shapes and sizes).

Pros of cinder block:

• does not burn;
• not afraid of temperature changes;
• long service life (about 100 years);
• affordable price;
• good sound insulation;
• retains heat well (due to the porous structure), although in this regard it is inferior to some other materials (for example, aerated concrete);
• high strength;
• building walls is simpler than, for example, laying bricks (the size of the blocks is much larger).

Disadvantages of cinder block:

• Hygroscopic (capable of absorbing moisture by 75%) - waterproofing is needed;
• The walls still need insulation;
• The composition may contain substances of dubious origin that can have a toxic effect on the human body (production waste makes itself felt);
• the environmental friendliness of the blocks depends on the integrity of the manufacturer;
• the high strength of the material makes it difficult to lay cables and pipes in it;
• the walls have an unpresentable appearance (therefore finishing is required).

In general, we can say that cinder block is a good material for building walls. It is also used for laying foundations and constructing partitions.

However, many are stopped by the question of harmfulness. Therefore, for residential buildings they often prefer to use other options - brick, aerated concrete, etc. A cinder block is for outbuildings, garages, fences.

Building materials for house walls: draw conclusions

As you can see, today the market offers many options to solve this issue. The house can be built the way you want - not only in appearance, but also in thermal insulation, strength and other characteristics.

So choose optimal material for building the walls of the house and... for work.

And now, as promised, a survey among our readers.

Survey

What is the best material to build the walls of a house from? What do you think?