From which block is it better to build a bath. Which is better, cheaper and stronger - foam concrete or cinder concrete? What is the difference between a cinder block and a foam block

When building a bath, it is customary to use wood as the main building material. However, recently, the use of different types blocks that have advantages over the classic construction method.

Earlier, we have already considered what is better to build a bath from, in this case we will dwell on the choice of a specific type of blocks. In order to answer the question of which block it is better to build a bath from, it is necessary to consider all possible options used block materials.

Advantages of using blocks in construction

• Simplicity of technology. It is much easier to build walls from blocks than from any other material. It is quite possible to carry out these works independently, without attracting highly qualified, therefore, expensive workers.
• Cheapness of material and construction technology. Making blocks using modern technologies allows you to achieve their high quality at a relatively low cost. In addition, their characteristics, mainly light weight, allow you to save energy and money on the foundation, making it lightweight.

Aerated concrete blocks

The material is a kind of aerated concrete. It is made from cement and quartz sand with the addition of special foaming agents. Blocks with the required increased strength are additionally processed in autoclaves. Therefore, there are two types of aerated concrete:

• volumetric weight 0.3-0.5 t / cu. m. - can be used for thermal insulation;
• volumetric weight 0.5-1.2 t / cu. m. (autoclaved) - used for masonry walls.

For the walls of a one-story bath, aerated concrete of the D500 brand (0.5 tons / cubic meter) is quite enough, and the blocks can be installed on the edge, then the wall thickness is about 20 cm.Since the blocks are usually insulated and finished outside, the resulting structure will be excellent keep warm and have the required load-bearing capacity.

Advantages of aerated concrete

• relatively low weight;
• ease of processing (drilled with an ordinary drill, cut with a hacksaw);
• incombustibility;
• becomes even more durable over time.

disadvantages

• rather high price (compared to other blocks);
• requirements for the quality of the material (the need for strict adherence to the manufacturing technology);
• hygroscopicity (reduced by the use of special additives), which leads to the fact that special glue is required for stacking blocks. Laying on mortar will lead to the absorption of moisture by the blocks and a decrease in the thermal insulation properties of the material.

Price for 1 cubic meter m. of autoclaved aerated concrete - from 3200 rubles.

Gas silicate blocks

According to the manufacturing technology, it resembles aerated concrete, but differs from it in the composition of the binder: lime (62% quartz sand and 24% lime) is used to obtain gas silicate blocks, and cement (up to 60%) for aerated concrete. Gas silicate is always white and is even more hygroscopic. Moreover, when saturated with moisture, it loses its strength characteristics, which can lead to the destruction of the material. Therefore, its use for the construction of a bath without additional processing or isolation is irrational. Price - from 3000 rubles / cubic meter.

Foam concrete blocks

Another material related to aerated concrete. It is made from cement, sand and water with the addition of foam created in the foam generator. The manufacturing technology is simple, which allows the production of blocks in private conditions. This leads to the fact that the quality of the purchased material must be carefully checked. Otherwise, the block structure can quickly become unusable.

Advantages of foam concrete

• the lowest cost in comparison with other blocks (except cinder blocks) and, moreover, wood or brick. Price - from 2800 rubles / cubic meter.

Traditionally, a bathhouse is built of wood, but today it is very difficult and very expensive to find a good master carpenter who can competently erect walls. Therefore, more and more often they use building blocks... There are many types of them today, they have advantages and disadvantages, but their main plus is that having at least some experience in construction or friends-builders, you can independently fold both walls and piers. And since most of the blocks are lightweight, it means that the foundation can be made lightweight, which saves time, effort and money.

Aerated concrete - refers to aerated concrete. It is made from cement, special foaming agents and quartz sand. This composition is poured into molds, water is added. As a result of the reaction, foaming occurs and the mass fills the mold. To give the material greater strength, the resulting blocks are treated with steam in special autoclaves. When high pressure quartz sand forms new strong bonds under the influence of steam. It is essentially synthesized fake diamond high strength.

Aerated concrete block. The color of the block is closer to gray, as the main filler is cement

For the construction load-bearing walls and it is advisable to choose partitions autoclaved aerated concrete, and for insulation you can use non-autoclave - it is cheaper, but its strength is lower. Aerated concrete blocks come in different densities:

• from 0.3 to 0.5 t / m 3 is used for thermal insulation;
• from 0.5 t / m 3 and above (up to 1.2 t / m 3) can be used for the construction of walls.

For the construction of small buildings, you can use aerated concrete of the D500 brand (with a density of 0.5 t / m 3) - it may well serve for the construction of a box and for the construction of partitions, but it costs much lower than grades with a higher density. When erecting the walls of the bath, for a lower consumption of blocks, they are placed on the edge, thus the wall thickness is about 200 mm. This is quite enough, since the block keeps heat well, especially since the walls will be insulated.

The advantages of aerated concrete are relatively low weight, ease of processing (it can be cut with a hacksaw or drilled with an ordinary drill), does not burn and becomes more durable over time. Disadvantages - relatively high hygroscopicity when using low-quality material and a rather high price. In order to reduce the amount of absorbed moisture, special additives are introduced into the composition of aerated concrete. It is recommended to lay blocks of aerated concrete on special glue. When using cement, they absorb moisture from the solution, which significantly deteriorates thermal insulation.

Gas silicate differs from aerated concrete of the main binder: for gas silicate it is lime (62% of quartz sand and 24% of lime), for aerated concrete it is cement (up to 60%). Moreover, gas silicate is produced exclusively in autoclaves. These materials differ in color and hygroscopicity: gas silicate is always white and actively absorbs moisture, as a result of which it can collapse, while aerated concrete simply lets moisture through, maintaining comfortable humidity in the room, and if you choose from these two materials, then it is better to use goose-concrete.

The gas silicate block has white color, so the main material is lime

Details of construction from gas silicate blocks you can find in the video.

Foam concrete - one of the varieties of aerated concrete. It is made from a mixture of sand, cement and water, into which foam is mixed from a special foam generator. The manufacturing process is simple, allowing it to be produced privately. This is where the danger lies: there is a high probability of acquiring not quality material that will quickly begin to collapse.

The advantages of foam concrete include its lower cost (compared to aerated concrete) and better water resistance. Comparison of gas silicate and foam concrete blocks, see the video.

Cinder blocks made of cast concrete mortar slag - waste obtained after the combustion of coal or other materials. This type of material is the cheapest, but there is one peculiarity: the slag must be aged for at least a year, otherwise it releases harmful substances.

Cinder blocks are the cheapest type of building material

Sawdust can be used as a filler in the manufacture of building blocks. In this case, the material is called "sawdust concrete". This material is easily cut and drilled, and is 2 times higher than brick in terms of thermal conductivity. In addition, it is environmentally friendly and non-flammable (sawdust is insulated with a layer of concrete), and is lightweight. The disadvantages can be attributed to a rather high absorbency, but it can be reduced by almost half by pretreating sawdust with water-repellent solutions or by waterproofing the walls.

Expanded clay concrete - the material that in most cases replaced the cinder block. In this case, expanded clay serves as a filler - foamed and burnt clay. This material is absolutely non-toxic, almost does not absorb moisture, and has excellent heat-insulating properties. Claydite concrete blocks are relatively lightweight, which makes it easier construction works... , more practical than from foam blocks or aerated concrete: less thermal insulation materials are required and it is easier to install fasteners.

The thermal insulation properties of expanded clay concrete depend on the filler fraction - the larger the fraction, the better thermal insulationbut less density. When building a bath from expanded clay concrete, it is better to carry out insulation from the inside of the room (a layer of basalt wool is recommended, on top of which foil paper is laid with an air gap of 2.5 cm to finishing materials). The table lists some of the block parameters to help you decide which one is preferable for you.

	Aerated concrete	Sawdust concrete	Foam concrete	Expanded clay concrete	Cinder block
Strength kg / cm2
Thermal conductivity
Volume weight kg / m3
Frost resistance (number of cycles)
Wall cooling time
Shrinkage (mm / m)
Water absorption

Ceramic blocks

I would like to say a few words about the possibility of using ceramic blocks for the construction of a bath. Recently, you can see an advertisement for this building material, which claims that a ceramic block is much stronger and warmer than ordinary brick. As shown by laboratory tests and inspection of objects erected from ceramic blocks, everything is not as good as the manufacturers are trying to present.

From what was seen above, we can conclude that you should not use ceramic blocks in the construction of a bath.

Features of building a bath from blocks

Any construction begins with the choice of the type of foundation. If you decide to build a bath from blocks, you should stop at or - most of the blocks are lightweight, and baths are usually a one-story structure and there is no need to spend extra time, money and effort on making a more complex base.

Blocks are laid by analogy with brickwork, with the only difference that every 2-3 rows it is advisable to lay metal mesh... It will give additional rigidity to the strength of the entire structure. To make the work easier, it is very important to lay out the first row of blocks evenly. They need to align and compensate for all existing unevenness in the foundation. At the very top, you can strengthen a crown made of timber, to which it will be convenient to attach rafter system and the base of the roof.

For insulation, it is desirable to use a layer of basalt wool, on top of which a foil film or vapor barrier membrane is laid. It is advisable to provide a gap between the foil (membrane) and the lining materials by stuffing the strips with a thickness of 2.5 cm and fix the lining to them.

Most of the blocks require exterior wall finishing. Here everyone chooses to their taste: you can plaster and paint, overlay with finishing stone or brick, etc. You can trim the walls with siding, but for better ventilation there should be a distance from the wall to the siding (for foam concrete at least 5 cm). The roof for a bathhouse made of blocks can be any - to your taste without any special restrictions.

There is an abundance of wall materials in the construction market: expanded clay concrete, foam, gas and slag blocks. This review will consider the features of commonly found foam and slag concrete. This will help the future homeowner, when building a dwelling, to decide what is best to choose for, a house or a garage.

A quick overview of the main characteristics of materials, pros and cons

Identical forms, as well as some common properties, create a deceptive impression of identity.

The general attractive indicators include only a small list:

• good geometric shapes that facilitate and reduce the cost of transportation;
• simplicity in work, which does not require professional skills when laying;
• good fire resistance;
• minimum construction period;
• the same frost resistance F15 – F50;
• budgetary cost compared to other masonry (but the difference in price of the blocks themselves is significant).

In fact, foam and cinder blocks have significant and serious differences.

Specifications	Cinder blocks	Foam blocks
Composition and production technology	Artificial building material is made both industrially and at home. In addition to the main concrete components, these blocks can include ingredients such as: blast furnace slag; expanded clay chips; screening of rocks; gravel; crushed stone; cullet; the fight of hardened cement or brick. They are not subject to standardization in terms of weight, dimensions and properties. In their composition, they can have a variety of components, be manufactured on installations that differ in the device and technology of work	During manufacture, a foaming agent is added to the concrete mixture, which creates porosity. The process is carried out in stationary industrial plants, where the components are strictly dosed. This explains the observance of dimensions and technical parameters, depending on the brand of foam concrete
Weight 1 m3 in kg	from 1500	from 580 to 630
The cost of one block in rubles	17 – 48	47 – 110
Thermal conductivity coefficient, W / m ° С	0,5 – 0,8	0,1 – 0,38
Density, kg / m³	750 – 1450	100 – 900
Compressive strength, kg / cm²	25 – 75	10 – 50
Percentage of water absorption	Up to 75	14

Physicochemical characteristics are confirmed by the advantages and disadvantages of slag and foam blocks.

Using foam concrete for the construction of a house, you can significantly save on energy savings, since this material practically does not allow heat to pass through and in this matter it is 3-4 times better than cinder concrete. It also has the following positive properties:

• does not require additional water protection;
• perfectly protects against noise;
• vapor permeable and poorly absorbing water;
• communications are laid without problems through the foam concrete walls;
• well mechanically processed, allowing you to create any geometric shape;
• light weight and low load on the base allow not to erect an expensive foundation and involve special equipment;
• environmentally friendly and safe for humans.

Foam blocks also have their disadvantages:

• Not strong enough to hang heavy objects on the walls of the house.
• Application in the masonry process of specialized glue as a binding material. The use of a cement-sand mortar leads to a decrease in the thermal insulation of foam concrete.

Choosing foam or slag concrete for individual construction, the future owner of the house needs to know that the latter, which attracts with its budgetary cost, has more disadvantages than advantages.

To the positive parameters common with foam concrete, it is necessary to add the special advantages of cinder blocks:

• fast drying of the folded finished wall;
• the possibility of creating in not industrial conditions bricks of the required dimensions and properties;
• the blocks are not exposed to fungi or mold, they are free of bacteria, pests and insects;
• low specific weight.

TO negative properties cinder blocks include:

• the ability to quickly heat up and lose heat;
• the impossibility, unlike foam concrete, to mechanically process the elements, which interferes with the wiring of internal communications;
• heavy weight, which makes masonry work difficult and requires a solid foundation;
• instability to moisture, so you need steam and waterproofing from all sides;
• tendency to absorb radioactivity;
• non-environmental friendliness, which depends on fillers;
• poor sound insulation;
• fragility of blocks, which are very easy to damage individually (not in a finished building) by mechanical impact.

A careful analysis of the information provided will allow the future homeowner to choose a foam or cinder block as a masonry for the construction of a building, depending on its purpose.

What is preferable to build from what?

The above overview of the pros and cons of common building materials specifically suggests their areas of application. Cinder block is not the worst option for masonry, and in some respects (for example, price) it is even better than foam concrete. But the latter attracts with low thermal conductivity and energy savings, so it is definitely better to build residential buildings from foam blocks.

But it is better to choose cinder blocks for such master buildings as a garage or a bathhouse, which do not require good sound insulation or a low coefficient of thermal conductivity. And during the period of operation, there will be no problems with them if you perform high-quality heat and waterproofing. These small buildings, a garage and a bathhouse, are being built in just a few days at scanty labor and material costs. But the choice of technology, depending on the purpose of the structure, is determined by the financial ability of a potential homeowner engaged in the construction of his own estate.

At the present time, the variety of building materials is very great, so it will not be difficult to build a fence, house or garage. With such building materials it is easy to work for both a professional builder and an ordinary person. Now on the market, foam concrete or aerated concrete is quite often offered for the construction of houses. They practically do not differ from standard materials that have already become traditional for us: wood, cinder block and brick, but for some unknown reason, many builders are afraid to work with such materials. But after all, before starting construction, you need to select a good and high-quality material, therefore it is much wiser to first learn everything about everything, and then make the only right choice for yourself. Moreover, progress does not stand still and being afraid of the new is definitely not the right choice.

Unknowing people, having seen a foam block and a cinder block, can say that they are very similar and hardly differ from each other. But don't jump to conclusions. Outwardly, they are really similar, but a number of distinctive qualities make these two building materials completely different both during the construction process and during the operation of the finished home. Let's take a closer look at all the advantages and disadvantages of foam concrete and cinder block and find out how they differ and which one will be better.

Cinder block

Cinder block is not new material in the construction field. It has been tested for decades, and that is why they are not afraid to buy and build houses from it. In any more or less large settlement, you can find a cinder block manufacturer, with the production technology everything is clear and understandable for a long time - a lot of experiments were carried out, which were tested in practice and gave certain results that allow drawing conclusions.

The first thing that catches your eye is the rather low price of the material, it is directly dependent on what is used in the production of blocks recycled material - slag. Also, the block is made from a concrete mixture and various fillers, so it will be somewhat lighter than a brick. The weight and size of each block may not coincide, since the cinder block does not have GOST standards. Such material can be produced not only in factories, but also in private firms, which again does not make it possible to unequivocally judge the quality of the material.

Another of distinctive features cinder block is a low thermal conductivity when compared with a brick or foam block. But here, too, the developers found a way out. they have improved with different fillers. Therefore, if you need more heat-conducting materials, pay attention to the composition of the cinder block.

Many experts who have worked with such blocks recommend cinder blocks with lime impurities, since they are more durable. And few people know that cinder blocks can be used not only for the construction of walls, but also for laying a solid foundation.

Pros of cinder block

One of the most important advantages is its speed and ease of use. The cinder block in its size replaces about 7 bricks, so it takes only a couple of hours to lay out the wall.

Due to its low thermal conductivity, the cinder block is a good thermal insulation material.

A wall built with a cinder block dries much faster than any other material.

The cinder block is not dangerous for human health, as it is completely non-toxic, does not contain radioactive substances, and is fire resistant.

Although, of course, it will not be superfluous to check the documents with a sanitary and hygienic conclusion for the purchased batch of material. Radiation is a relative indicator.

Cons of cinder block

Has a very low level of sound insulation. Therefore, it is still better to use a cinder block for walls inside a residential building. If you live near a busy road or are building apartment house for several tenants, after a short period of time you, with a high degree of probability, will want to make noise insulation of the walls, and this is a troublesome and costly pleasure.

After the construction of the walls is completed, it will be necessary to make internal and external decoration, since externally the cinder block does not differ in elegance and attractiveness.

Cinder blocks are very afraid of water and moisture, so walls can collapse relatively quickly in our climatic conditions... This can only be avoided by significantly working out the elements of the hydro and vapor barrier of the walls both from the outside and from the inside of the building.

The large weight of the cinder block wall requires a reliable foundation. For multi-storey construction, such material is not recommended, since there is a high risk of cracking the walls and foundations.

The cinder block makes it difficult to install the wiring of internal communications. It is not very easy to work with it, it requires considerable physical strength both for transportation and for laying the walls. To work independently with a cinder block, if possible, is definitely problematic.

If, nevertheless, you settled on cinder block material, do not forget that after using it, you will need to cover the outside of the house with brick or, for example, siding. And this will lead to some waste.

Foam blocks

Foam blocks are made by foaming concrete with special installations. The quality of the foam block is almost as good as brick. And the biggest plus is the cost of the blocks. It is much shorter than a brick. But, despite the fact that foam concrete is very similar to brick, it also has its positive and negative sides.

Advantages of the foam block

The foam block is an environmentally friendly product that does not harm people. It is made almost entirely of natural materials: sand, cement and foaming agent.

Fire resistant and reacts well to possible temperature changes.

Walls made of foam block do not need additional insulation.

The small weight of the foam block will allow you to install the foundation and drive out the walls on not very stable ground. It is easier to work with it, which means that the time spent on construction is reduced.

In comparison with a cinder block, communication in a foam block is quite easy to carry out.

It has a very high level of sound insulation, so it can be used not only for interior walls.

Cons of the foam block

Disrupted technology in the manufacture of a foam block can affect the quality of the product itself. Blocks will break and crumble a lot.

Just like the gas block, it does not like moisture, the lack of ventilation, as a result, can collapse.

All the disadvantages of the foam block can be easily and simply eliminated. And in order to protect yourself from a low-quality product, you need to buy blocks from trusted manufacturers. Also, the facade wall can be protected from moisture if the facade is finished with heat-insulating material.

Which material is better - cinder block or foam block

After all the positive and negative aspects of these materials have been listed, a conclusion can be drawn. Cinder block will not be the worst material for construction, and its low price, compared to brick, cannot but rejoice.

But still the most suitable material for the construction of houses there will be a foam block. It is not inferior in quality to either brick or cinder block. And also all the shortcomings of the foam block can be easily corrected and the price will be much less than a brick, but more cinder block. Also, the long service life of this material will not leave anyone indifferent. Considering modern trend to save energy, the high heat-preserving indicator of the foam block will more than pay off its cost in just a few years.

Foam blocks due to their low weight, low price and good technical parameters loved by developers. And what will be the results if we compare foam concrete with other building materials suitable for the same purposes?

Let's find out, and first compare, gas silicate (), and answer: what is better, what is the difference and similarity of materials?

So, what is the difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete, or are there no differences? Both of these materials belong to representatives and basically contain. However, they differ somewhat in composition and.

• Aerated concrete blocks become porous due to the introduction of aluminum paste with lime; during production, the mass is usually heated in an autoclave.
• Foam blocks contain a special foam concentrate that forms pores, and they are often dried naturally - in the air.

What is the difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete, what are their pros and cons, we will tell further.

The following video will tell you which is better, foam concrete or aerated concrete:

How to distinguish from each other?

How to distinguish aerated concrete from aerated concrete?

• Snow-white aerated concrete and gray (cement-concrete color) foam concrete are easy to visually distinguish from each other.
• The latter is cheaper - about one-fifth.
• However, if you calculate the construction costs, it turns out that you need to take more foam blocks than gas blocks.
• And it is more expensive to lay them, since for this you have to do cement mortar... And for aerated concrete you need a special glue, which is consumed much less, and the installation itself is faster.
• Due to thin seams, aerated concrete walls will be warmer.

Foam concrete and aerated concrete blocks

Technical specifications

Now let's compare the main technical parameters:

• The dimensions are more stable for aerated concrete (factory conditions allow this to be achieved).
• The absorption of moisture in foam concrete is much lower (untreated, like sponges, absorb water, but do not collapse at the same time). Accordingly, foam blocks are more.
• In terms of density (determining strength), both materials have floating rates: from 300 to 1.2 thousand kilograms per cubic meter. In foam concrete, the strength depends very much on the quality of the foam concentrate. Gas blocks have the same strength throughout the volume, foam blocks do not. At the same density, aerated concrete is stronger.
• The shrinkage at the wall of foam blocks is greater - 1-3 millimeters per meter. Therefore, cracks sometimes appear in it. Aerated concrete walls with a shrinkage of no more than 0.5 millimeter per meter usually do not crack.
• Thermal insulation (which has a low density) is better. After all, it is more "bubbly" in structure.

As for safety in terms of ecology, lightness, fire resistance and durability, both materials are quite on the level.

Having made conclusions, it can be noted that it is better to build load-bearing walls from gas blocks, and to carry out thermal insulation from foam blocks.

Now that we have made a comparison of the characteristics of foam concrete and aerated concrete, have identified their advantages and disadvantages, we will also consider gas silicate in this regard.

Foam concrete and gas silicate

• Gas silicate blocks are made using a slightly more complex technology than aerated concrete ones. An autoclave is a must for them. The main components are water, etc. For the appearance of pores, aluminum is added in the form of powder.
• The material turns out to be strong, retains heat well, it does not crack. White colour.
• The price of gas silicate blocks is about a quarter higher than that of foam concrete. But, as already described above in the example with aerated concrete, it is cheaper and faster to build from them. The shrinkage of the wall will be no more than 0.3 millimeters per meter. The rest of the parameters are similar to aerated concrete. Including high water absorption, which requires a high-quality finish.

The conclusions are the same as in the previous case: for the construction of load-bearing type walls and various structures, it is better to take gas silicate, to preserve heat - foam concrete. Also, the latter will be good for small street buildings that are not supposed to be finished. The material is well resistant to moisture and frost.

What to choose, foam concrete or gas silicate - the following video is devoted to this issue:

In polystyrene concrete, as the name implies, the lightest expanded polystyrene is used as a filler. Depending on the composition, the density (respectively, and the thermal insulation capacity) of the material may vary. Outwardly, it has a grayish color. It is easy to distinguish it from foam concrete by taking the block in hand.

Let's compare the characteristics:

• By weight: foam concrete is heavier (more than twice). Square meter the wall made of it weighs 302.5 kilograms. Polystyrene concrete has 135 kilograms.
• In terms of heat conservation, polystyrene concrete blocks are also in the lead: they have a thermal conductivity of 0.075 W / mK, and for foam concrete - 0.14 W / mK.
• And in terms of frost resistance: foam concrete can be frozen up to thirty-five times, polystyrene concrete - up to a hundred times.
• Foam concrete blocks are one and a half times weaker able to withstand compressive loads.
• The situation is different with respect to fire resistance. If the foam concrete does not burn at all, then its competitor belongs to the slow-burning materials. Polystyrene balls melt when heated, releasing harmful substances. Therefore, for safety, polystyrene concrete requires a plaster coating of three centimeters or more.
• Water absorption of foam concrete is higher - 14 percent. Its lighter competitor has only 4 percent.
• Styrene granules are not always evenly distributed, which is why the structure of expanded polystyrene is less homogeneous than that of foam concrete. Because of this, it is fragile.

In principle, both materials are suitable for the construction of low-rise buildings and thermal insulation.

But, unlike foam concrete, polystyrene concrete (which costs a little more) requires mandatory plastering. But due to the low thermal conductivity, the total cost of polystyrene concrete structures is 1.4 times lower.

Foam concrete and expanded clay concrete

To improve the heat-shielding properties, in cement mix add smooth round blocks of expanded clay. This is how the expanded clay concrete with a grayish conspicuous textured surface is obtained, which is as easy to manufacture as foam concrete. They are also similar in characteristics.

Here's a comparison:

• Thermal conductivity of expanded clay concrete blocks - from 0.12 to 0.55 W / m · K. Foam concrete has an average of 0.14 W / mK.
• The compressive strength of expanded clay concrete is from 3.5 to 7.5 MPa. For foam concrete - from 2 to 7.5 MPa.
• In terms of frost resistance, foam concrete is better: it withstands thirty-five defrosts, and expanded clay concrete - twenty-five.
• The water absorption is slightly lower for foam concrete (14 percent). His competitor has 18 percent.

Thus, for the construction of inexpensive buildings up to two floors, both materials are quite suitable (for the price they are almost the same, but expanded clay concrete is still cheaper).

Foam concrete and cinder block

For (otherwise, wall bricks) all kinds of industrial waste are used, introduced into the cement mixture. For example, coal screening, brick fragments, building materials battle. This explains its low cost (lower than that of foam concrete). Outwardly, the material is not too presentable, it resembles a pumice of a dirty color.

Let's compare both materials:

• Foam concrete is more environmentally friendly, as cinder blocks are made from waste, which is not always environmentally friendly.
• Foam concrete absorbs water less. Slag blocks are not used without plastering and waterproofing.
• Foam concrete is less fragile.
• Cinder blocks have low thermal insulation, as well as noise protection. Foam concrete wins in these parameters.
• But cinder block structures, as a rule, are stronger than foam block structures. They are comparable to bricks.

Let's draw conclusions: foam concrete is useful if you need to inexpensively build a small cottage or country house... But it is better to build something out of cinder concrete: sheds, toilets, utility rooms.

Foam concrete and brick

It is easy to distinguish them from each other: a brick (it costs much more) is twenty times less and looks more decorative, having a white or red tint and a smooth surface. However, building from bricks is much longer and harder - this requires skill, experience and a lot of tools. You can build a wall from a foam block very quickly, without using unnecessary efforts.

As for the characteristics:

• Brickwork is stronger (from 50 to 300 kg / cm 2) than foam concrete (from 9 to 90 kg / cm 2).
• But in terms of sound insulation and heat saving, foam blocks win. For a brick, these indicators are much worse. Thermal conductivity, for example, 0.8 W / m K (foam concrete - 0.14 W / m K).
• The moisture absorption of both materials is approximately the same, but the frost resistance of the brick is better (75 cycles versus 35 for foam concrete).
• Environmental friendliness and resistance to fire for both materials - a "solid five". As well as vapor permeability, allowing the walls of the house to breathe.

We draw conclusions. More expensive brick is appropriate for the construction of strong foundations and load-bearing walls. And cheap foam blocks - for partitions, thermal insulation.

So you can combine materials, harmoniously combining them and making the construction quite budgetary. If we talk about a completely brick house, then it will cost more than a foam concrete one, while not so well protecting from noise and storing heat.

Even more data on the comparison of foam concrete with aerated concrete, cinder blocks, polystyrene concrete contains the video below: