Expanded clay concrete blocks: characteristics and varieties. Expanded clay concrete blocks: technical characteristics Expanded clay concrete from france 0 5 properties

Expanded clay blocks are a common building material that is made in accordance with GOST 6133–99 from sand, cement and expanded clay (in a ratio of 2/1/3) and is actively used in the construction of low-rise buildings.

High performance and technical characteristics in combination with an affordable price make expanded clay concrete one of the most demanded materials on the construction market.

The use of expanded clay concrete blocks instead of bricks can reduce:

the load of the walls on the foundation is 2 times;
heating costs of the house by 3 times;
labor costs 4 times (due to low weight, large format - one standard block is equal to 6 bricks);
significantly speed up the construction time.

Specifications

The standard overall dimensions of expanded clay concrete blocks are 190/390/90 mm and 190/390/188 mm. Manufacturers have the right to change these parameters in the direction of increase or decrease, but not more than the permissible deviations specified in the tables of technical regulations:

length: +/- 44 mm .;
width: +/- 3 mm .;
height: +/- 4 mm .;
the maximum deviation of the straightness of the ribs is 6 mm.

The weight of expanded clay concrete blocks depends on the type, dimensions and voidness, and can vary within the range of 5 - 26 kg. A list of the most common types of blocks, indicating the weight, brand, dimensions and the presence of voids:

Solid block (390/190/188 mm.)

SKTs-1PRP 01 / 01S - 16.9 kg.;
SKTs-1PRP - 26 kg.;

Solid block (250/188/120 mm)

SKTs-25R - 9.9 kg.;
SKTs-25L - 12.8 kg.

2 hollow block (390/190/188 mm)

SKTs-1R - 14.7 kg.;
SKTs-1L - 17.5 kg.

Ordinary smooth block (390x188 mm / 196x140 mm):

SKTs-14R 01/01 - 7 kg.;
SKTs-14R - 10.9 kg.

Seven slotted block (390/190/188 mm.)

SKTs-1RG 01/01 - 12.2 kg.
SKTs-1RG - 16.8 kg.

Partition block (390/90/188 mm.)

SKTs-3R 01 / 01S - 5.1 kg.;
SKTs-3R - 9.7 kg.;

Volume weight of expanded clay concrete blocks, depending on the type

constructive - volumetric weight up to 1700 kg / m3;
structural and thermal insulation - volumetric weight 700–1400 kg / m3;
thermal insulation - volumetric weight -150-200 kg / m3.

Strength of expanded clay concrete

According to the tables of GOST 6133–99, depending on the brand, it can vary in the range of 25 - 150 kg / cm². This indicator is marked with the letter M and a digital index, which indicates the maximum allowable pressure on the material in kg / cm². For example: M50. The number 50 means that each cm² of the block is able to withstand a load of 50 kg without breaking.

The thermal conductivity coefficient depends on the type of blocks

structural expanded clay concrete - 0.55 W / (m * K);
structural and heat-insulating expanded clay concrete - 0.22 - 0.45 W / (m * K);
heat-insulating expanded clay concrete - 0.10 - 0.17 W / (m * K).

Frost resistance

constructive - 100 - 400 Mr3;
structural and thermal insulation - 20 - 100 Mr3;
heat-insulating - 15 - 50 Mr3.

Compressive strength

structural and thermal insulation - 35 - 100 kg / cm2;
constructive - 100 - 500 kg / cm2;
thermal insulation - 5 - 25 kg / cm2.

Other specifications

density: from 400 to 1800 kg / m3;
water absorption - 50%;
vapor permeability - 0.30 - 0.090 mg / m / h / Pa (under normal conditions);
shrinkage - 0%;
fire safety class A1. Expanded clay concrete can withstand exposure to open flame at 1000ºC up to 10 hours without destruction;
sound insulation indicators comply with SNiP 23-03-2003. Wall blocks provide noise protection from 50 to 62 Db, partition blocks - from 41 to 50 D;
durability - 50 - 75 years;
high environmental friendliness. The content of radionuclides is essentially established standards.

Conclusion: Analyzing the above data, it can be noted that the technical characteristics of expanded clay are very worthy. In terms of its physical and mechanical properties, the material is in no way inferior to brick, but it costs significantly less.

Without exaggeration, artificial stone is the most common building material. Without it, not a single building is erected, be it a residential building, a barn or a bathhouse. One of its varieties - expanded clay block - is something in between traditional brick and cellular concrete. This product belongs to the category "wall". The reader will learn about the features of its application, characteristics, pros and cons, as well as the estimated price of samples from this material.

By structure

Solid blocks. They are characterized by greater strength. They are mainly used where an increased load is expected - when erecting external walls, in some cases - a foundation for small buildings. For example, a private house with 1 - 2 floors, a bathhouse, a garage.
Hollow. They are less durable, but surpass full-bodied counterparts in such parameters as sound insulation, thermal conductivity (the latter is significantly reduced). Accordingly, the weight of such expanded clay concrete blocks is less. The shape and number of voids in stones can be different - slots or holes (blind), from 4 to 7 - 8 pieces.

By appointment

Wall blocks. The specificity of the application is clear from the name. The standard dimensions of such expanded clay concrete stones are: length - from 90 to 390, width - from 138 to 288, height - 138 or 188.
Partitional. Their main difference is in density (hence strength), weight and linear parameters. Expanded clay slabs and blocks of this type according to GOST must correspond to the sizes: 190 - 590, 90 and 188.
Ventilation. A separate type of expanded clay concrete stones that have a specific purpose. In such blocks, there are already prepared technological grooves (cavities, holes), which facilitates the laying of various engineering communications in the process of building a house. Their weight, as a rule, is 11 kg, and their dimensions are 390x190x188.

The reader who wants to understand in more detail the entire size range of wall (expanded clay) artificial stones, inaccuracies and other nuances, can be recommended to familiarize themselves with GOST No. 6133 of 1999, since a banal rewriting of this document does not make sense. Firstly, you can't say more precisely. Secondly, there are expanded clay blocks of other sizes on the market. Before planning a purchase, you should familiarize yourself with the assortment of stones in all retail outlets of the city and choose the best option in accordance with the project of the house in order to minimize the work of cutting them.

Technical characteristics of expanded clay blocks

Stone strength (kg / cm 2). It depends on the form in which the filler was used. If it was introduced into the expanded clay concrete mixture in the form of crushed clinker, and not granules, then the density (hence the strength of the block) will be higher. The numerical expression of this characteristic is from 35 to 250.
Density (kg / m 3) - within 500 - 1800.
Frost resistance (cycles). According to this parameter, expanded clay blocks are superior to cellular concrete and some types of bricks (up to 50).
Thermal conductivity (W / (m * C). This characteristic is "tied" to the structure of the block and its density (from 0.18 to 0.9).
Ecological "cleanliness". In the production of expanded clay blocks no "chemistry" in the form of various additives is used. This is one of the essential advantages of the material.
Water vapor permeability. Expanded clay concrete masonry blocks in this parameter are almost identical to gypsum board and wood, and brick is twice as big. According to home owners, the microclimate in the home is automatically maintained at a constant level.
Fire resistance. Fire / safety class - the highest (A1).

Reviews of expanded clay blocks

“First of all, I would like to note the low cost of construction and the convenience of working with expanded clay concrete. He built everything himself - both the house and the bathhouse. No hired foremen or professional assistants. The "cube" of expanded clay blocks masonry cost me about 2,300 rubles. The sound insulation is excellent and the heat savings are very good. If you carefully read the nuances of choosing a stone and buy what suits you, then there will be no problems. I believe that all the reviews we meet about the pros and cons of the blocks are somewhat subjective, and the latter are caused by non-observance of technology and lack of experience with them. "

Vladimir Gorshkov, Moscow.

“My review of expanded clay concrete is the best. The low thermal conductivity of the material and high-quality sound insulation of the house are attractive for an individual developer. And given the fact that the dimensions of the expanded clay concrete blocks are identical (if this is not a "samopal"), then there is no need to hire specialists. It was built myself, I know what I'm talking about. The main thing is to buy a stone with the required characteristics, then there will be no problems. "

Andrey, Omsk.

“Before building a bathhouse on the site, I spent a lot of time to clarify what the claydite-concrete stones are characterized by. After all, its operation is associated with a number of features - temperature drops, dampness. Plus to this - the need for more reliable insulation. I asked the opinion of knowledgeable people, read reviews on thematic forums. Surprisingly, no one noted the disadvantages of a bath from expanded clay blocks. And now, 2 years after the completion of the construction, I can say unequivocally - I join everything that I heard earlier. I did the right thing by choosing this particular product. "

Marat Rudenko, Ufa.

“There are no perfect materials. When buying expanded clay blocks, you should decide what characteristics should be in priority. This approach will eliminate the need to assess the fairness of judgments about the pros and cons of the material. It is clear that each of us has our own criteria. In general, expanded clay concrete is an excellent stone. It's just that we are not yet used to building from it, and therefore many questions arise. "

Oleg, Rostov.

Pros and cons of expanded clay concrete blocks

Advantages:

1. Easy to transport and stack. This is primarily due to its low weight and significant size. Consequently, the cost of building a house is reduced, and not least because of the savings on the foundation.

2. Convenience of finishing. Expanded clay base goes well with almost all types of finishing (facing) materials.

3. Low thermal conductivity. One of the significant advantages of expanded clay concrete blocks, allowing you to save on building insulation. That is why it is good to build residential houses, baths from them, for which the ability of the material to retain heat is an important factor.

4. Density, sufficient so as not to face the problems of fixing anything attached, as in the arrangement of structures made of foam concrete.

5. Good sound insulation. According to the owners, it can be further improved if you buy an expanded clay concrete hollow block.

6. Strict sample sizes. This facilitates further finishing of surfaces from expanded clay blocks.

Disadvantages:

If we evaluate expanded clay blocks from the point of view of cons, then sometimes there are diametrically opposite opinions about this artificial stone. But if you analyze all of them, then there are only two main drawbacks, judging by the reviews of those who built independently.

Fragility of blocks. This somewhat complicates the process of cutting them. The edges are uneven, which makes it difficult to fit products in place. How significant this minus is is still a question, since it is not known what tool was used when cutting expanded clay blocks and the skill level of the master.
Instability against shock loads. And on this point, it is desirable to clarify what kind of expanded clay concrete sample we are talking about. Whether it is hollow or full-bodied, the block density declared by the manufacturer.

Output

If we summarize all the reviews about the products, it turns out that taking into account the characteristics of expanded clay blocks and their prices, such construction for the private sector is one of the most attractive options. Moreover, there are still much more pluses than minuses, and they are much more significant.
All of the above is only true when it comes to certified products. In the numerous reviews of experts about expanded clay blocks, the emphasis is on this. Before buying, you should look at the documentation. In addition, the underestimated cost of expanded clay blocks is a reason to doubt the advisability of purchasing. It is unlikely that their characteristics will correspond to those stated.

Sizes of expanded clay blocks and their cost

Manufacturers are guided by the release of products of those dimensions that are better implemented - this is an axiom. Therefore, below are data on blocks made of expanded clay concrete, most often commercially available.

Dimensions	Density	Retail price, rub / pc
Dimensions	Density	Corpulent	Hollow
390x140x188	750		50,6
	820		54,5
	1 000		41,8
	1 150		43,6
	1 300	64,1
	1 650	52
390x90x188	750		31
	1 000		22,5
	1 650	26
250x120x188	1 750	30,1

Expanded clay concrete blocks occupy an intermediate place between brick and porous blocks of foam and aerated concrete.

They inherited strength and frost resistance from bricks. They can be compared with lightweight concrete due to their large dimensions, low thermal conductivity and low weight.

Production of blocks from expanded clay concrete consists in adding expanded clay gravel with a fraction of 5–10 mm and coarse expanded clay sand to the cement mortar. The energy-saving characteristics of the block and its strength directly depend on the size of the filler. The coarser gravel is added to the molding mass, the warmer, but less durable expanded clay blocks are.

Let us consider in more detail the technical characteristics of this material in order to have a good idea of \u200b\u200bits capabilities, advantages and disadvantages.

Specifications

The building standard provides for the following sizes of expanded clay concrete blocks: 188x190x390 mm and 188x90x390 mm with a maximum permissible deviation from the specified dimensions by 10-20 mm. The first standard size is wall blocks, the second is partition walls.

Depending on the quality of the surface of the side faces, expanded clay blocks are divided into ordinary and front ones. Privates are intended for laying walls, additionally protected by external finishing. Front blocks allow you to erect a building without further processing of the facade with finishing compounds or tile materials.

Partition block made of expanded clay concrete

Another important detail related to the characteristics of this material is the presence of voids. A hollow block has through or non-through vertical voids. They reduce the weight of the material and increase its energy saving properties. On the other hand, solid blocks are heavier and more durable. They are used for masonry of solid walls that carry high loads.

Density and strength

These are the most important technical characteristics of lightweight aggregate concrete blocks, since energy-saving and acoustic properties depend on the density, and the reliability of the bearing walls of the building depends on the strength.

The density of this wall material depends on the filler fraction and varies in a wide range (from 500 to 1800 kg / m3).

Strength of expanded clay blocks ranges from B3.5-B20, which in terms of static load is 35 to 250 kg / cm2. The weight of the blocks ranges from 10 to 23 kg. The durability of this material reaches 60 years.

The optimal ratio of thermal conductivity and block strength is achieved by using suitable clay for the production of expanded clay of the required density and fresh high-quality cement of the M500 brand. Here is an example of a qualitative proportion of expanded clay concrete blocks produced by Cheboksary Stroykombinat.

Standard, thickened and solid block

Energy saving

A very important parameter for any masonry material is thermal conductivity. In expanded clay blocks, it rigidly depends on the density.

Density, kg / m3	Thermal conductivity coefficient, W / (mC)
1800	0,81–0,90
1600	0,66–0,78
1400	0,57–0,64
1200	0,45–0,53
1000	0,32–0,42
800	0,25–0,32
600	0,21–0,27
500	0,18–0,24

For a simpler orientation in the purpose of the blocks, builders use the concept of structural, heat-insulating and structural material. Expanded clay blocks with a volumetric weight of 600 to 1100 kg / m3 are referred to the first type, and with a material density of 1200 to 1800 kg / m3 - to the second.

Frost resistance and fire resistance

The durability and bearing capacity of the walls depends on the frost resistance of expanded clay concrete. For expanded clay blocks, GOST has established several grades of frost resistance: F25, F35, F50 and F75. The numbers here indicate the number of freeze and thaw cycles that a block completely saturated with water can withstand without loss of strength.

Expanded clay blocks have the highest fire safety class - A1. This means that the action of an open flame does not destroy the brickwork for 7-10 hours.

Vapor permeability

An important ecological parameter, which today is carefully studied not only by professional builders, but also by ordinary developers. Expanded clay concrete is a breathable material, which is confirmed by the table below.

To an inexperienced person, these numbers will tell little. The builder will see in them that expanded clay concrete "breathes" 2 times better than brick and is almost as good as wood and drywall in terms of vapor permeability.

In addition, the expanded clay block has the ability to absorb excess moisture from the air and give it away at low humidity in the room. Therefore, a comfortable microclimate is established in a house built of this material, even without the use of forced ventilation.

Marking

All the most important technical parameters of expanded clay blocks can be found from the abbreviation with which the manufacturer labels its products.

The first letter K indicates that this material belongs to the category of artificial stone.

The second and third carry information about the scope and purpose:

C - wall;
P - partition;
L - front;
R - private (for decoration).

The fourth and fifth letters specify the purpose of the block in the masonry: UG - angular, PR - ordinal, PZ - for bandaging seams. The hollow block is marked with the letters PS. Further, the marking indicates the length of the block (39 cm).

Then there are grades of strength, frost resistance and density. Knowing this simple algorithm, you can easily read the most important information about the material. For example, we will decipher the marking of the KSL-PR-PS-39-75-F20-1200 block as follows: wall stone, front stone, ordinal, hollow. Its length is 39 cm, compressive strength 75 kg / cm2, frost resistance 20 cycles and density 1200 kg / m3.

Advantages and disadvantages

As we have already said, according to GOST, expanded clay blocks are manufactured without the use of toxic synthetic resins and other additives harmful to health.

In addition to good vapor permeability, their advantages include:

Durability.
Strength.
Light weight and low labor costs for laying (large block format).
Low thermal conductivity.
Possibility to use the main load-bearing material of walls (concrete, silicate brick) as additional thermal insulation.
Fire resistance and absence of toxic combustion products during thermal decomposition.
Good compatibility of masonry with different types of facing materials (tiles, ordinary and decorative plaster, wood).
Smooth surface allows to reduce the consumption of finishing solution.
Affordable price.

Minuses:

Poorly tolerate dynamic and shock loads.
Due to its high abrasive qualities, it is difficult to saw and cut, forming uneven edges with cracks.

Comparing the pros and cons of expanded clay concrete blocks, it is easy to see that they have more positive qualities than negative ones. Therefore, reviews about this material are mostly positive.

When buying such blocks, you should pay attention to this point: some manufacturers, trying to save on cement, add organic and synthetic adhesive additives to the initial solution. They degrade the environmental performance of the material. Therefore, before you buy expanded clay blocks, you should check whether the seller has a GOST certificate of conformity.

Estimated prices

When planning the construction of a house from expanded clay concrete blocks, one should clearly orientate oneself in the prices for this material. Manufacturers indicate its cost not only in rubles per 1 m3, but also per 1 piece.

It is not difficult to understand the different prices if you use a simple translation algorithm: 1 m3 contains 72 blocks of standard size (188x190x390 mm).

The average cost of one hollow wall block made of expanded clay concrete is from 40 to 54 rubles (1 m3 - 2900-3800 rubles).

They offer to buy a full-bodied full-length block at a price of 52 to 65 rubles (price per cube 3700 - 4600 rubles)

The price of a hollow partition block ranges from 32 to 34 rubles apiece. Unlike full-size blocks, when sold, these blocks are not measured in cubic meters, but in "squares". The cost of 1 m2 (13 blocks) ranges from 416 to 450 rubles.

Comparison with foam and gas silicate blocks

Comparing expanded clay blocks, foam blocks and aerated concrete blocks, it should be noted that these materials are quite similar in a number of properties. They have comparable frost resistance and thermal conductivity.

Expanded clay concrete of structural grades surpasses its competitors in strength. It absorbs less moisture than foam and aerated concrete, which is also an advantage.

For clarity, we have presented the comparative characteristics of these materials in tabular form.

Improvement of technological processes, with the help of which concrete solution is produced, made it possible to start manufacturing a new material. This is expanded clay concrete, which differs from the usual materials in its composition. Expanded clay concrete is considered lightweight, while maintaining the quality indicators of concrete products. A low thermal conductivity makes it possible to use the composition for decorating walls. For the production of expanded clay concrete of different densities, it is necessary to know the proportions of plasticizers, with the help of which elasticity is created, and other ingredients that affect the main indicators.

Expanded clay concrete - what is it

The material is a composite with a porous structure used in construction. When compared with other materials, the composition of expanded clay concrete is different.

Composition

Every specialist knows that for the preparation of expanded clay concrete the following components are required:

cement mass;
washed sand;
fine-dispersion expanded clay, for the production of which natural raw materials were used;
pure water that does not contain technical impurities.

Waste water, the pH of which is less than 4, is not suitable for a recipe for the production of expanded clay concrete. The same applies to seawater, when a white bloom forms on the surface.

In addition to these components, for the preparation of dry expanded clay concrete mixture, it is allowed to use sawdust of wood material, ash, plasticizers.

The exact selection of expanded clay concrete composition is carried out directly at the construction site. There are certain recommendations here, with the help of which an effective porous expanded clay concrete is obtained:

elasticity is increased through the use of quartz sand;
in order for the structure to perfectly resist the effects of moisture, expanded clay gravel must be added to the mortar mass;
cement grade M400 is a good binder that does not contain plasticizers;
cement improves the characteristics of the block material, but here it is necessary to take into account that the bulk density of the mixture may increase;
in case heat treatment of blocks is planned, it is necessary to use alite cement composition.

Speaking about the size of expanded clay concrete:

it is recommended to add coarse expanded clay to a composition with a moderate density index. This type of concrete with expanded clay perfectly retains heat;
during the construction of the supporting structure, small-fraction expanded clay is used.

Small granules of expanded clay will give the material more weight. To get the "golden mean", it is recommended to use a mixture of large and small stones.

Characteristics of expanded clay concrete and its brands

The main characteristics are the grade and density of the material. The indicators are complex, depending on the composition of expanded clay concrete and fractions of the feedstock. Each brand is used for its intended purpose:

M50 - used when filling partitions in a house or arranging a load-bearing wall;
М75 - structures of a load-bearing character are manufactured in residential and industrial premises. In this case, monolithic technology is used;
M100 - the properties are such that the screeds are perfectly filled with the material;
М150 - used in the manufacture of blocks;
M200 (b15) - block material and lightweight floor options are prepared from this composition;
M300 - used in the construction of bridges and roads.

In terms of density, the material is divided into three groups:

1. Sandless - gravel, water and cement composition are used for production, no sand is added. The main advantage is the acceptable cost. Application in construction - used in the construction of walls, floors and ceilings in low-rise buildings.

2. Porous - blocks are made from M20 solution. In terms of strength, there are three subspecies of expanded clay concrete:

thermal insulation - d400 - d700 - used as an additional insulation for walls;
body-insulating-structural - from d800 to d1 400, used for insulation or when laying partitions;
wall - d1 400 - d2 000, from which various engineering structures are made.

3. Dense - contains an increased amount of cement composition, combining the characteristics of sandless and porous compositions. The price of the material is high, it is rarely used in the construction industry.

There is another variant of the classification of the composite composition - by volumetric mass. According to this criterion, expanded clay concrete is divided into three groups:

heavy - strength index is 25 MPa, volumetric weight is 1200 - 1400 kg per cubic meter;
light - weight is 800 - 1000 kg, the composition contains light expanded clay material with a small specific gravity;
especially light - the weight of one cube is from 600 to 1800 kg, the strength is 7.5 - 40 MPa. In the form of a filler, instead of crushed stone, expanded clay, ash gravel, and slag pumice can be added to concrete.

Production technology

How to make expanded clay concrete with your own hands? To do this, you should follow certain tips:

the preparation of expanded clay concrete is carried out in a concrete mixer;
when mixing, all components are fed in a strict sequence - water, cement composition, sand and only after that - expanded clay;

to increase the index of compressive strength of expanded clay concrete, it is recommended to use reinforcement;
the mixture is considered to be of high quality, where the cement mass completely covers each granule of the filler;
the time of one batch is no more than seven minutes. If this condition is not observed, the characteristics of expanded clay concrete will not meet the requirements of the certificate of conformity. It is recommended to stop the concrete mixer at the moment when the consistency of the composition resembles sour cream, without containing lumps.

To check the readiness, the mixture is scooped up with a shovel. A quickly spreading slide indicates the low quality of the material.

Application area

As follows from the reviews, expanded clay concrete is a versatile material with a fairly wide scope of use. Its main feature is the ability to regulate the mixture, taking into account the desired density of finished products:

construction of walls for low-rise buildings. Expanded clay concrete is lightweight concrete, from which panels, blocks, etc. are formed;

filling the screed. Many people ask the question - what is expanded clay on the floor for? But it is considered a good insulation material. It is enough to take two parts of a stone, add three - sand, one each - water and cement composition. This ratio will provide good floor strength and quick curing of the concrete material.
production of floor slabs. The injection molding method makes it possible to obtain products with low weight, excellent resistance to moisture, having a long operating period, capable of storing thermal energy. One drawback of the material is the high level of fragility.

Advantages and disadvantages

First, let's figure out the positive aspects of the material:

the ratio of thermal conductivity and strength index is the main advantage of the material. As follows from the passport for expanded clay concrete, in terms of heat preservation, it is practically not inferior to light aerated concrete, but its strength is much higher;
there is a possibility of self-production of the material. Expanded clay concrete is a composition that does not require large financial costs at the preparation stage. Can expanded clay be used instead of crushed stone in concrete? In certain situations, yes;
price is another important advantage, comments to which are not required, since it is very acceptable;
thermal conductivity of floors - this material has almost no equal in this matter;
long operational period;
environmental safety of the material;
light weight.

There are still quite a few advantages in expanded clay concrete, but there is a need to remind about its disadvantages. Builders note the following disadvantages:

water permeability. The airiness of expanded clay concrete contributes to the active absorption of moisture, which has a destructive effect. This feature limits the use of expanded clay concrete. Simply put, external walls made of expanded clay concrete will lose all their advantages, and there will be solid disadvantages. A prerequisite must be observed here - the exclusion of water from entering the surface of expanded clay concrete.
the need for additional insulation. Although the material has a good indicator of thermal conductivity, in most regions it is not used as an independent insulation. As a rule, load-bearing walls outside require an additional insulation layer;
disadvantages of products from expanded clay concrete. They do not have ideal geometric parameters, which makes it impossible to make seams when laying tonic, thereby increasing the likelihood of "cold bridges". But the minus is corrected if the walls are additionally insulated;
unfair attitude of manufacturers. It has already been noted that the production of expanded clay concrete does not require large financial costs. This is often used by artisanal manufacturers without caring about the final quality of the product.

Conclusion

Experienced experts assure that it is allowed to add expanded clay to concrete instead of crushed stone. This reduces the strength of the product, but increases its ability to retain heat. The method of selecting expanded clay concrete in this case has its own peculiarities.

The choice of building material is carried out at the initial stage of building design and is one of its most important tasks. Having made this choice correctly, you can ensure not only a warm, comfortable and reliable home, but also significantly save both the time required to achieve the final result and the amount of financial investment.

It should be borne in mind that the correct choice of material for construction depends on many factors, ranging from the type of soil on which the structure will be erected and ending with the required temperature inside. One of the universal types of building materials for the construction of walls of low-rise buildings are expanded clay concrete blocks. We will consider the pros and cons of this particular building material today.

Expanded clay concrete blocks

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of expanded clay concrete blocks is the absence of chemically harmful substances and compounds in their composition. The building material is made only from environmentally friendly components, which explains their safety in the construction of residential and public buildings. In addition, the advantages of expanded clay concrete blocks can be called:

light weight;

increased bending and crumbling strength;

high vapor barrier properties;

low thermal conductivity;

resistance to microorganisms, mold and mildew;

resistance to temperature extremes;

incombustibility.

The use of lightweight aggregate wall blocks makes it possible to erect buildings in a short period of time, since the technology for working with this material is quite simple and professionals will cope with it many times faster than, for example, when using bricks. The size of the expanded clay concrete block also affects the speed of building a house. And using together other types of building and finishing materials, you can give the appearance of the building individuality and originality, without spending a lot of finance.

Building a house from expanded clay concrete blocks and bricks

Expanded clay concrete blocks do not tolerate even particularly large values \u200b\u200bof shock and dynamic loads - this is the most significant drawback of building material. Another disadvantage is that expanded clay concrete blocks are difficult to cut perfectly evenly.

Cutting process of expanded clay concrete block

In the process of sawing or cutting, chips and cracks easily form on the edges of the block, which can ultimately affect the appearance of the structure. In particular, this must be taken into account when working with front elements that will not be additionally veneered. This is a significant argument so that when building a house from expanded clay concrete blocks, contact only those specialists who have sufficient experience in this type of work.

Construction of a house from expanded clay concrete blocks

Main characteristics

The main components of expanded clay concrete blocks are cement, crushed expanded clay and sand. Depending on what fraction of expanded clay in the composition, that is, on its size, the strength characteristics of the blocks change. The larger the fraction of expanded clay, the less the strength of the block and its thermal conductivity.

Four different fractions of expanded clay

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer the service of building houses from expanded clay concrete blocks. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the exhibition of houses "Low-rise Country".

The existing sizes of lightweight aggregate concrete blocks are provided for by the standards GOST 613399, in which they are divided into two main groups, namely:

188х190х390 mm - elements intended for the construction of load-bearing structures of walls;

188х90х390 mm - elements intended for the construction of partitions.

Expanded clay concrete block SB - 12 (188х90х390)

Considering expanded clay concrete blocks as a building material for partitions or load-bearing walls of a house, the dimensions must be chosen appropriate for the purpose.

Expanded clay concrete blocks are divided into front and ordinary, full-bodied and with the presence of voids. The front ones are designed to create structures that do not need additional finishing, while the privates are additionally revetted with finishing material.

The division of expanded clay concrete blocks into hollow and solid ones is carried out according to the presence of cavities in their structure, the purpose of which is to reduce the weight of individual elements. In addition, the holes in the hollow blocks increase its thermal insulation properties, but reduce the strength and reliability when exposed to loads. The solid block has no holes.

Solid expanded clay concrete blocks

Hollow expanded clay concrete blocks (3 hollow)

8 hollow expanded clay concrete block

It should be borne in mind that the dimensions of the expanded clay block may not be accurate. The permissible deviation in width, height and length is a value equal to 10 to 20 mm.

Density and strength

When choosing a building material for the construction of load-bearing walls, it is necessary to pay attention to characteristics such as density and strength. The reliability of the finished structure depends on the latter, and its heat-saving and acoustic properties depend on the density. The density of the blocks is in the range from 500 to 1800 kg / m³, while the weight of the expanded clay concrete blocks correspondingly changes from 10 to 23 kg.

In turn, the strength varies from 3.5 to 20, which corresponds to the values \u200b\u200bof static load, which are in the range from 35 to 250 kg / cm². These parameters provide an operating period of at least 60 years.

Watch the video for a simple test of the strength of expanded clay concrete blocks:

Frost resistance and fire resistance

The frost resistance of the building material plays an important role in the durability of the structure. It is determined empirically, in the course of freezing and thawing, an expanded clay concrete block completely saturated with water. At present, GOST establishes 4 main brands that differ in frost resistance, namely: F25, F35, F50 and F75.

The larger the number after the letter designation, the greater the number of freezing and thawing cycles the expanded clay concrete block can withstand.

Fire resistance of blocks made of expanded clay concrete has the highest class. If the effect of open fire on the expanded clay concrete block does not exceed 7-10 hours, then nothing will happen to it.

For more information about lightweight aggregate blocks, see the video:

Pros and cons of houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks

Houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks have their own advantages and disadvantages. The main positive aspects of construction and finished structures include:

Financial benefit. Costs are significantly reduced due to the low cost of the material and work with it, and since the structure of expanded clay concrete is not heavy, then a reinforced foundation is not required, this also saves money.

The process of laying expanded clay concrete blocks

Warm house. Thanks to the porous filler of the blocks - expanded clay, their structures keep heat well.

The walls of a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks are durable, they can freely withstand the loads of floor slabs.

Houses made of high-quality expanded clay blocks are practically not subject to shrinkage, which prevents the formation of microcracks in the walls.

The building material is environmentally friendly, which means that the walls of the scrap do not emit any harmful substances.

Good sound insulation in the house.

Plaster adheres well to walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks.

It should be noted that the porosity of expanded clay blocks is both a plus and a minus. The building material absorbs water well, and when frost sets in, moisture crystallizes and begins to destroy the structure of the block. Therefore, houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks should be protected from moisture by facing materials.

The disadvantages can also be called the occurrence of cold bridges, which can be reduced only by thermal insulation. Cold bridges occur at the seams between the individual elements.

Also, the disadvantages include the dimensions of the expanded clay concrete block, or rather their limited choice - there are only two of them and they differ only in width - there is no way to choose the thickness of the walls of the house.

Wall made of expanded clay concrete blocks, insulated with foam plastic and lined with brick

It is also worth noting that due to the fragility of the blocks, they are an unstable basis for fixing dowels and other types of fasteners. Therefore, the choice of materials for interior and exterior finishing works should be guided by this condition.

House of expanded clay concrete: a new trend in modern construction

Low-rise buildings made using blocks of expanded clay concrete can be confidently called a new trend in modern construction. Using this material as the main one in the construction of external walls and internal partitions, the time of work execution, their cost is significantly reduced, as well as the heat supply of an already finished structure is simplified.

House: the first floor of the front from expanded clay concrete blocks and the attic from a bar

Thanks to all the advantages, turnkey construction from expanded clay concrete blocks is much more acceptable, which means that more families will be able to afford their own private house.

Thus, choosing expanded clay concrete blocks as the main material for the construction of your house, you can count not only on the operational timing of the work, but also on their fairly acceptable cost. And this can be called one of the most powerful arguments for those who decided to move from the bustle of a noisy city closer to nature.

Large house with an attic and a garage made of expanded clay concrete blocks

Conclusion

Expanded clay concrete blocks as a building material are becoming more and more popular every year. If you want to save a little, contact the construction company, where they will offer you ready-made house designs from expanded clay concrete blocks or draw up a unique project based on your wishes.