Expanded clay blocks for load-bearing walls. The best wall thickness is made of expanded clay concrete blocks. The thickness of the outer walls without insulation

Expanded clay concrete is one of the types of concrete. It has recently become quite often used in construction work: the construction of cottages, outbuildings, garages. It is also used to fill the frame for multi-storey buildings that are built of reinforced concrete. This material has become so popular that it is already difficult to imagine a country in which it would not be used by builders. More precisely, prefabricated expanded clay concrete wall blocks are used.

Many who have not yet had time to appreciate the advantages of this material are beginning to notice them. Those who decide to use it for their construction should carefully approach such a characteristic as the thickness of the wall of expanded clay concrete blocks. This is all for a reason, because having studied all the nuances, you will be able to get the most out of this insulation.

The dependence of the thickness on the type of masonry

The thickness of the surface finished with expanded clay concrete block mainly depends on which masonry option you choose. Each option, in turn, depends on weather and climatic conditions. It also takes into account how heavily the building is exploited. When the construction is capital, then not only one block of expanded clay concrete can often be used. In addition, bricks, foam and cinder blocks are used. The thickness of the future masonry will depend on what kind of thermal insulation is required for a particular building. Various heat-conducting and moisture-repellent characteristics of the insulation will also be taken into account.

Depending on the choice of masonry, you will calculate the thickness of the walls, which is made with ceramic blocks. Moreover, the outer and inner layer of finishing plaster applied to the wall will be taken into account:

1. The first option: if the supporting wall is laid out in blocks of 390:190:200 millimeters, then the masonry must be laid with a thickness of 400 millimeters, not counting the layers of internal plaster and insulation that is outside.
2. The second option: if the design of the load-bearing wall consists of blocks measuring 590:290:200 millimeters, then the wall should be exactly 600 millimeters. Insulation in this case is to fill special voids in the blocks between the walls.
3. The third option: if you decide to use a claydite concrete block with a size of 235:500:200 millimeters, then the wall thickness will be 500 millimeters. Plus, add layers of plaster to the calculations on both sides of the wall.

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Influence of thermal conductivity

In construction work, it is important to calculate the coefficient of thermal conductivity, as it has an impact on the durability of the entire structure. The coefficient is important when calculating the thickness of walls, which consist of expanded clay concrete blocks. Thermal conductivity is a material property that characterizes the process of transferring heat from warm objects to cool ones. Everyone knows this from physics lessons.

Thermal conductivity in the calculations is expressed through a special coefficient. It takes into account the parameters of the bodies between which heat is transferred, the amount of heat, and time. This coefficient shows how much heat can be transferred during one hour from one body to another, which have dimensions of one meter of thickness and one square meter of area.

Different characteristics have their own influence on the thermal conductivity of each material. These include the size, type, presence of voids of the material or substance, its chemical composition. Humidity and air temperature also affect this process. For example, low thermal conductivity is observed in porous materials and substances.

For each specific building, its own wall thickness is measured. It varies depending on the purpose of the building. For a residential building, the norm of thickness will be exactly 64 centimeters. This is all spelled out in special building codes and regulations. True, some people think differently: that the load-bearing wall of a residential building can be 39 centimeters thick. In fact, such calculations are more suitable for a summer house, country cottage, garage, buildings for household purposes. You can build interior finishes with a wall of this thickness.

Calculation example

It is very important to make an accurate calculation. It is necessary to take into account the optimal thickness of the walls, which are made of expanded clay concrete blocks. To achieve the result, use a very simple formula consisting of one action.

Builders, in order to solve this formula, must know two quantities. The first thing you need to know is the coefficient of thermal conductivity, which was mentioned earlier. In the formula, it is written through the sign "λ". The second value to be taken into account is the coefficient of resistance to heat transfer. This value depends on many factors, for example, on the weather conditions of the area where the building is located. The area in which the building will then be used is also an important factor. This value in the formula will look like "Rreg". It can be determined by the norms and rules of construction.

The value in the formula that we need to find, namely the thickness of the wall under construction, we denote by the icon "δ". As a result, the formula will look like this:

To give an example, you can calculate the thickness of a wall under construction in the city of Moscow and its region. The Rreg value for this region of the country has already been calculated and officially established in special rules and construction standards. Thus, it is 3-3.1. And you can take any size of the walls as an example, since you will already calculate your own on the spot. The thickness of the block can be completely different. For example, it will be possible to take 0.19 W / (m * ⁰С).

As a result, after solving this formula:

δ \u003d 3 x 0.19 \u003d 0.57 m.

we understand that the thickness of the walls should be 57 centimeters.

One of the most popular building materials is expanded clay concrete. Sex screeds are made from it, walls and partitions are poured with its use.

Most often, blocks are made from this material - individual elements created for the construction of structures.

The thickness of the wall of expanded clay concrete blocks can be different. This parameter depends on the size of the product itself, for what purposes the block is used and on the area in which you use it.

Features of expanded clay concrete blocks and material properties

Expanded clay blocks have good thermal conductivity

Expanded clay is a natural material that is made from carbon clay by firing at high temperatures, resulting in the formation of separate fractions. The smaller the fraction, the higher the value of the material.

The product itself has good thermal conductivity, it is often used to insulate the floors of buildings and frame partitions of walls with it. But most often, with the addition of expanded clay and concrete, blocks are produced that are very popular with both professional builders and ordinary people planning to build their own home.

Expanded clay blocks are denser than concrete structures

They can be created both at specialized enterprises and independently, the main thing is to have the appropriate molds for pouring the product and know the proportions and production technologies. This material has certain characteristics, which can be found in detail in the table below.

The construction of partitions and walls from expanded clay concrete blocks is popularized every day. In addition to the fact that the blocks have good thermal conductivity, they are quite easy to install and have excellent performance properties.

Block structures of a bearing wall and various partitions are mounted much faster than brick ones and have a lower cost (in terms of material consumption). Despite the fact that visually, the brick seems to be a more integral product, the density of expanded clay concrete blocks is much higher.

The product in question is most often produced in two types:

• partition block;
• wall.

The claydite concrete block intended for external and load-bearing walls is created with a size of 390 x 190 x 188 mm, and the product intended for creating partitions between rooms in the premises is 390 x 190 x 90 mm. When purchasing claydite-concrete blocks as a material for the construction of the outer walls of houses and various buildings, one should take into account the fact that it includes all environmentally friendly materials that do not emit harmful impurities.

The choice of masonry for the outer wall of the house

In colder areas, use thicker blocks

Almost every owner, when building his house, is faced with the question: “How thick should I make the outer wall?”, It is not always easy to get an unambiguous answer to it. Since its thickness depends on the masonry that is used in the construction of the structure. Masonry, in turn, is different in different regions of the country, depending on climatic conditions.

In addition, the outer wall is not always created only from expanded clay blocks. In cold regions of the country, in order to have a minimum wall thickness, combined masonry is used. In addition to blocks, various ones (stone wool, polystyrene foam) and bricks participate in them.

Only after the final choice of the masonry option is it worth starting to calculate the thickness of the expanded clay concrete wall.

The outer masonry should be 40 cm thick

There are certain postulates and rules that should always be taken into account and observed when organizing walls from expanded clay blocks. These include:

• when laying out the supporting wall with ordinary ones, the outer masonry must be at least 40 cm thick;
• if the premises are lined with large blocks of expanded clay concrete measuring 590 x 290 x 200 mm, then the outer wall is erected 60 cm thick, and the insulation is placed in special gaps.

When choosing and shaping a wall cake, each owner should take into account such a parameter as the coefficient of thermal conductivity. It is present in every building material used for the construction of walls.

How to calculate wall thickness?

The calculation of the base thickness depends on the thermal conductivity coefficient

For self-construction of a structure, little is known , how the outer wall will be built, and from what materials it will be made, each owner should learn how to calculate the thickness of the structure. They can vary significantly depending on the construction site and the parameters of the materials used.

The main parameters for calculating the thickness of the outer walls are the coefficient of thermal conductivity and the coefficient of resistance to heat transfer.

The coefficient of thermal conductivity λ has each material depending on the thickness of the product used. The heat transfer resistance coefficient is denoted as Rreg, and directly depends on the area where the structure will be erected. Each region has its own coefficient, it can be found in various construction documents (SNiPs and GOSTs).

The wall thickness is denoted as δ and equals:

δ= λ * Rreg. For more information on how to lay block walls, see this video:

In our country, there are certain established procedures that are followed by many builders who build houses from expanded clay concrete blocks. They believe that the walls of this material in the northern regions should be at least 60 cm, in the central - 40-60 cm, and in the southern 20 - 40 cm.

Summing up the written material, it should be said that in order to build a structure, it is necessary to qualitatively calculate all the parameters, including the thickness of the walls of expanded clay concrete.

This material is now used in construction more often than many others, so it is worth "digging" in the literature and finding the required values ​​\u200b\u200bif the goal is to create a reliable and warm home.

The required thickness of the walls of expanded clay concrete blocks is selected depending on certain factors. The functional purposes of the building, climatic conditions, type of masonry are taken into account. It should also be borne in mind that the thickness of a wall made of expanded clay concrete blocks with no insulation will differ from the dimensions of walls sheathed with insulating building materials.

Expanded clay blocks with a fairly light specific gravity, have good strength characteristics, which makes it possible to build a building on a light type of foundation. Such walls have good sound and heat insulation. The thickness of walls erected from expanded clay concrete elements will depend on such factors:

• Under what conditions will the building be used, for example, it will be a residential building or an industrial enterprise.
• Climate conditions in the region where the house will be built.
• Another important point is the choice of masonry.
• The thickness will also determine the properties of moisture resistance and thermal conductivity of insulation materials.
• It will be equally important to take into account the layer of finishing materials.

What are the average thicknesses of walls being built in the central regions of the country? For such an area, it will be enough to build walls of expanded clay concrete blocks with a thickness of 40-60 centimeters. If the construction will take place in regions with colder climatic conditions, the walls of expanded clay concrete blocks must be insulated with special building materials. The result should be a wall pie made of expanded clay concrete blocks, insulation and cladding.

Expanded clay walls are of two types - load-bearing, and partitions that do not have a bearing load. Vertical load-bearing structures are under heavy load and serve as a support for the floor and roof. Non-load-bearing partitions help to divide the interior space into rooms. The choice of type of construction depends on the purpose of the walls. External structures are load-bearing, as well as internal walls are load-bearing, the only difference is that they do not need to be insulated.

The thickness of the outer walls without insulation

The thickness of the walls will be determined from the dimensions of the expanded clay concrete panels and the masonry options.

1. Panels with parameters of 59x29x20 cm are used to build a wall of 60 cm. In this option, you only need to insulate the voids in the panels.
2. Blocks with dimensions of 39x19x20 cm, the width without insulation will be 40 cm.
3. Products are 23.5x50x20 cm, then the masonry will have a thickness of 50 cm plus internal and external plaster.

Expanded clay products are corpulent and hollow. The dense type of block has great strength and is suitable for creating a supporting structure.

The thickness of the outer walls with insulation

The width of the wall will depend on the purpose of the building:

1. During the construction of a warehouse, utility room. Laying is carried out in one layer with a product width of 20 cm. The inner surface layer should be plastered, and the outside surface should be insulated with a ten cm layer of mineral wool, polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene.
2. In the case when such a small building as a bath is being built, the laying will be similar to the type of laying of the utility room, the only difference will be that the heat-insulating layer will be 5 cm.
3. Laying in three layers is carried out directly during the construction of a residential building. In the process of work, a small distance is left between the blocks. The total thickness will be 60 cm, the inside of the surface is covered with plaster, insulation material is laid in the gaps between the panels.

Consider the device of a three-layer masonry with insulating material and a lining of silicate bricks:

• A wall is being erected from hollow structural and insulating expanded clay with a width of 19-39 cm;
• Produce plastering of the surface inside the room;
• A slab of mineral wool or expanded polystyrene is installed, the recommended density is not less than 25. The thickness of the building material will be 4-5 cm;
• Fasteners are best used from polymer or metal;
• Mandatory construction of a ventilation gap;
• Facing brick 1.2 cm.

It is strongly not recommended to build multilayer structures without arranging ventilation gaps. The outer part of the surface serves as a vapor barrier. Condensation forms on the outer surface of the thermal insulation. To avoid the formation of dampness between building materials, and to remove the formation of vapors from the structure, it is necessary to make ventilation gaps.

Partition wall thickness

What thickness should be the walls of expanded clay blocks? Interior panels designed for partitions are produced in the size of 39x19x9 cm.

For example, if a bulkhead expanded clay concrete block is used, the density of which is 600 kg / m3, then the optimal thickness will be 18 cm. When using products with a density of 900 kg / m3, it is recommended to use a partition thickness of at least 38 cm, additional finishing is not will be needed.

External walls that carry the load are built from wall panels. Structural blocks are used for the construction of any type of ceiling, there are no restrictions on operational properties. If structural and heat-insulating products are used, in individual cases, installation of an armored belt is provided in the place of the upper rows of masonry and overlap. This technique will allow you to evenly distribute the load.

The thickness of the walls for baths and garages allows the construction of reinforced concrete floor slabs. For such work, special construction equipment is needed.

The thickness of the masonry bearing walls made of expanded clay concrete for 2, 3-storey buildings should be at least 40 centimeters. These are the most suitable dimensions for the construction of external walls, where reinforced concrete floors will be built.

Wall thickness for different regions

The laying of expanded clay blocks for areas where cold climatic conditions occur is carried out in this way:

1. Build two walls, parallel to each other.
2. The structure must be connected with reinforcement.
3. Produce insulation installation.
4. The outer and inner side of the wall is plastered.

When building a house, builders use general rules and regulations, which indicate:

• in the northern part of the country should be at least 60 cm;
• in the central zone from 40 to 60 centimeters;
• in the southern regions from 20 to 40 cm.

Calculation example

To calculate the optimal thickness of expanded clay concrete walls, you need to know the functional purpose of the building. If we take into account the regulations of building codes and regulations, it turns out that the width must be taken into account with the insulation material and be at least 64 centimeters.

Walls with this thickness are suitable for residential premises. For the correct calculation of the consumption of the required building materials, it is necessary to take into account the total indicators of all the walls that will be built in the building with all the partitions and the height of the floor.

All indicators must be multiplied. They also take into account approximate indicators of the thickness of the cement mortar for screeds and seams, approximately 15 cm. The number that you need to get is multiplied by the thickness of the wall, and then divided by the volume of expanded clay concrete panels.

As a result, you get the right number of products necessary for the construction of walls. The approximate cost is calculated as follows: the number of blocks is multiplied by the price of 1 product, after which you need to add the cost of purchasing heat-insulating building materials.

Calculation of wall thickness with insulation

Such calculations will differ from the classical formula. Because it is necessary to take into account the resistance to heat transfer of each of the materials separately, then they are added up and compared with standard numbers. For example, the city of Yekaterinburg is taken. The thickness of the walls in the Ural region will be much larger. The calculation of the normalized heat transfer resistance Dd is 6000, to maintain the temperature inside the house equal to 20 degrees C. Calculation formula:

Reg = a? Dd + b = 0.00035 ? 6000 + 1.4 = 3.5

If the thickness of expanded clay concrete walls is 60 cm, with 10 cm of insulating building material added, they will meet the general requirements. By the same principle, various combinations of building elements are calculated.

If you wish, you can save on expanded clay concrete, for this it is recommended to take 40 cm blocks and 1.2 cm insulation for laying.

The construction of walls from blocks based on expanded clay concrete is characterized by a number of advantages, among which are:

• high strength indicators;
• powerful thermal insulation properties;
• simplicity and perfect quality of finishing, etc.

Laying technology using jute tape, which is placed in the space between the inner and outer strip of mortar, guarantees the prevention of the appearance of "cold bridges". Popular material is used in almost all countries, no matter what climate zone they are in.

Blocks of the Aleksinsky plant for walls with a thickness of 0.4 and 0.6 m

It is possible to squeeze out the maximum of advantages from the use of expanded clay concrete blocks with the correct determination of the thickness of the walls. Sometimes construction features require the use of supporting walls in masonry, in addition to blocks based on expanded clay concrete, bricks and other types of blocks. You need to know exactly what the thermal insulation characteristics of the walls of the object should be.

The most common are two solutions: supporting walls from blocks based on expanded clay concrete are built with a thickness of 0.4 or 0.6 m (without internal plaster and external finishing).

A thickness of 0.4 meters can be achieved using expanded clay concrete blocks measuring 390:190:188 mm solid (M75 F50 D1300) and hollow 2 (M25 F35 D800), 4 (M35 F35 D900) and 8-slot (M35 F35 D900) type.

When creating walls with a thickness of 0.6 meters, 6-slot hollow claydite-concrete blocks of the format 300x390x188 or 600x390x188 mm should be used. When constructing partitions, blocks of the M75 D1300 brand of 120x390x188 format or hollow PCC 80 and 90 mm thick - 390x90 (80) x188 can be used.

Everything that is required to solve construction problems is present in the assortment of expanded clay concrete blocks of the Aleksinsky plant.

About the nuances of choosing a thickness

The relevant standards indicate the thickness of the walls to be followed in a particular region of the country. In the Central District of the Russian Federation, for the walls of residential buildings, it is recommended with a certain margin of thickness of 64 cm, for other buildings - 0.4 m. A parameter above 0.6 m is somewhat overestimated against the calculated data. A simple formula takes into account the values ​​of 2 coefficients:

• thermal conductivity "λ";
• heat transfer resistance "Rreg".

The thickness of the supporting walls δ = Rreg (3.0-3.1 in the Central District of the Russian Federation) x λ (0.19) = 0.57 m. By adhering to this standard in the capital and nearby regions, you can build a guaranteed reliable, safe building with a long service life .

The growth in the number of developers and the desire to find an economical, strong, durable and warm material for building a house has led to an increase in the popularity of lightweight concrete blocks. Along with and widely used steel expanded clay concrete blocks, which have excellent thermal insulation qualities, are safe, light and relatively inexpensive. Many private builders call this material one of the best solutions for or giving. Is it really? We deal with the question of the correct choice of expanded clay concrete, the pros and cons of the material, its types and manufacturers.

No. 1. How is claydite concrete made

Expanded clay concrete began to be made in the middle of the last century, then it was safely forgotten, and today it is experiencing a new era of popularity. The composition of the material, like any lightweight concrete block, includes cement, water and sand, and used as a filler expanded clay- granules of different sizes, obtained by firing low-melting grades of clay. The granules are light due to the large number of pores inside, but strong, as they have a strong burnt shell. For the production of expanded clay concrete, granules with a size of 5-40 mm are used. Blocks can be solid or hollow. Moreover, claydite concrete solution can be used for monolithic construction of the walls of the house.

Of great importance for the performance of the block is the ratio of expanded clay and cement. The more expanded clay, the lighter, warmer and more expensive the block will be. The quality of cement determines the strength grade of the material. Due to the expanded clay filler, the material acquires unique thermal insulation properties, for which modern developers are so fond of it.

Unscrupulous manufacturers add adhesive additives to the mixture to increase the strength of the material, but this negatively affects environmental safety. Blocks in production are formed under the influence vibration, dried in special chambers, where heating is carried out by streams of hot air or infrared rays.

Today, private and country houses, summer cottages are built from expanded clay concrete, it is used for monolithic construction of buildings.

No. 2. Expanded clay blocks: pros and cons

The composition of expanded clay concrete determines its numerous positive aspects, which ensure the popularity of the material. Among the main advantages of expanded clay concrete blocks:

• excellent thermal insulation qualities, so the material was chosen by the inhabitants of the Scandinavian countries. For the harsh climatic conditions of our country, such blocks are indispensable. The coefficient of thermal conductivity of expanded clay concrete grade D500 is 0.17-0.23 W / m * K, grade D1000 - 0.33-0.41 W / m * K;
• not bad soundproofing;
  
• low construction cost. The price of expanded clay concrete is comparable to the cost of other lightweight concrete blocks, but significantly lower than the price of. If we take into account the reduction in the cost of arranging the foundation, fewer seams, then we can say that a house made of expanded clay concrete will cost about a third cheaper than a brick house;
• fast construction time, which is associated with the large size of the blocks and their relatively low weight;
• sufficient strength;
• vapor permeability allows the walls of the house to breathe and removes excess moisture;
• moisture resistance and frost resistance, resistance to fire (blocks do not melt or burn), and;
• durability, which is achieved due to moisture and frost resistance and is at least 75-100 years;
• environmental friendliness, because the composition includes only natural materials;
• no shrinkage;
• the ability to use both traditional mortar and glue for masonry.

Expanded clay concrete blocks also have disadvantages:

• difficulties at work with material. If many blocks (for example,) can be cut with a hacksaw and easily give them the necessary shape, then expanded clay concrete will have to be cut with a saw with teeth from Pobedit - the reverse side of strength;
• mounting complexity cannot be denied, but this problem should not be overestimated either. For example, anchor bolts and dowels normally stay in walls made of expanded clay concrete;
• although the material has vapor permeability, it is less pronounced than that of a brick, so it is better to provide high-quality in the house;
• another drawback is often called - the formation of cold bridges, but it is rather far-fetched, since it absolutely always takes place when the walls are built from individual elements. It is possible to get rid of cold bridges if walls are erected from expanded clay concrete using monolithic technology;
• if it is planned to build a multi-storey massive building from expanded clay concrete, then one cannot do without careful professional calculations;
• another dubious drawback is the need for facing blocks of expanded clay concrete, as they do not look very aesthetically pleasing. Yes, there is little beauty in them, but today almost all houses are finished, with the only exception being wooden ones. But you can use anything:, plaster with, decorative brick.
  

Number 3. Types of expanded clay concrete blocks for their intended purpose

Based on the presence or absence of voids, expanded clay concrete blocks can be divided into two fundamentally different groups:

• corpulent;
• hollow.

solid blocks It is a structural material with high density and relatively high weight. Load-bearing and non-bearing walls are erected from it, even multi-storey buildings can be built.

Hollow Blocks thanks to the holes inside, they are distinguished by improved thermal insulation qualities, suitable for the construction of partitions and load-bearing walls of one-story buildings.

No. 4. The size of expanded clay concrete blocks

By size, expanded clay concrete blocks are usually divided into:

• wall;
• partition walls.

It is clear that the former are used for laying exterior walls. They must have certain indicators of strength and density, which will be discussed further. They can be 288*138*138, 288*288*138, 290*190*188, 390*190*188, 190*190*188, 90*190*188 mm in size. By fullness they are full-bodied and hollow.

Partition blocks, as the name suggests, are used for laying internal partitions. They have less weight, which reduces the load on the foundation. In size, as a rule, partition blocks are produced 590*90*188, 390*90*188, 190*90*188 mm.

Some companies produce blocks that do not match the above dimensions- they are carried out not according to GOST, but according to TU, which the manufacturer himself can determine for himself. As a rule, large-format blocks are produced according to specifications.

It is worth noting separately facing blocks which are produced by some companies. They have dimensions of 600 * 300 * 400 mm, are produced by adding dyes to the solution and have a relief decorative surface.

No. 5. Strength grade of expanded clay concrete blocks

When choosing expanded clay concrete for the construction of a house, garage, partitions, utility rooms and other buildings, it is necessary to take into account a lot of performance indicators of the material: strength, density, frost resistance and thermal conductivity. All of them are interconnected. Let's start with strength.

strength called the ability of a material to withstand loads and resist destruction. Usually, the strength of expanded clay concrete is denoted by the letter M and the number following it. from 25 to 100, which means how many kilograms each cm 2 of the surface of the block can withstand. The M25 block can withstand 25 kg / cm 2, and the M100 - 100 kg / cm 2. In private construction, as a rule, blocks with a strength higher than M100 are not used: blocks M75-M100 are used for the construction of walls, and M35-M50 for partitions. In industrial and high-rise construction, blocks of greater strength can be used.

It is worth noting that the M75 block can withstand both 65 kg / cm 2, as well as 75 or 80 kg / cm 2. Despite the inaccuracies, this method of classifying expanded clay concrete still continues to be used. A much more accurate version is strength classes, which are marked with the letter B. This is strength with guaranteed security. A numerical indicator from 2.5 to 40: the higher it is, the more durable the block will be. M100, for example, corresponds to B7.5.

No. 6. Density of expanded clay concrete

Another important indicator is density. The lower the density, the higher the thermal insulation qualities. On the other hand, the higher the density, the higher the strength and resistance to moisture. The block density is marked with the letter D followed by a coefficient from 350 to 1800. The coefficient is equal to the density, expressed in kg / m 3.

The scope of use of the material depends on the density:

No. 7. Frost resistance and thermal conductivity of expanded clay concrete

Frost resistance called the ability of a material to withstand sudden changes in temperature. This indicator is determined by the number of shock freezing and thawing, marked with the letter F. For expanded clay concrete, this indicator can vary from 25 to 300, but in private construction they use the material F15-F100. For the northern regions, it is better to take material with frost resistance F50-F75. Blocks with low frost resistance are suitable only for interior work.

Thermal conductivity material directly depends on the density. For the D1000 block, it is 0.33-0.41, D1400 - 0.56-0.65, etc. (see table). Depending on which block is chosen for construction and in which region the house will be located, they carry out calculation of the thickness of expanded clay concrete and analyze the need to use a heater:No. 9. The best manufacturers of expanded clay concrete

Today there are a lot of factories engaged in the production of such a promising building material, and there is a big risk of stumbling upon low-quality goods produced in inappropriate conditions. A normal manufacturer is not afraid to show the production process and invite the buyer to the factory, can provide all the necessary quality certificates and test results. Let us dwell on the largest manufacturers of expanded clay concrete blocks:

No. 10. DIY concrete blocks

Independent production of expanded clay concrete can significantly reduce the cost of building a house. As a rule, small batches of material are made with their own hands for the construction of simple small buildings, otherwise the laboriousness of the work will simply be unjustified.

In addition to the already known ingredients, you will need special equipment, you can rent it. It will be necessary with a volume of at least 130 liters. You will also need a vibrating machine, it already has molding containers, so you don’t have to bother with their production. Otherwise, you will have to make them out of metal or wood.

The process of making expanded clay concrete blocks with your own hands looks like this:

• mixing components in a concrete mixer. First, 3 parts of sand and 1 part are mixed, then 1-1.2 parts of water are added, and then another 6 parts of expanded clay. Everything is thoroughly mixed, it may be necessary to add a small amount of water if the mixture is too dry. Some add a little liquid soap for better viscosity;
• mixture in portions put into mold machine and include vibration, excess solution is removed;
• the plate with the finished block rises, the blanks are dried for 2 days, then the steel plates are removed;
• without using a machine, the process is somewhat more complicated and longer. It will be necessary to pour the solution into pre-prepared and lubricated forms and carefully tamp. It is better to use blocks no earlier than 28 days later.

If there is no self-confidence, then it is better to buy ready-made material with well-known performance qualities. Subject to the production technology (famous manufacturers can be trusted) and the technology of masonry, a house made of expanded clay concrete will stand for a very long time.