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

When building a bath, it is traditionally customary to use wood as the main building material. However, in recent years, the use of various kinds blocks that have advantages over the classical construction method.

Earlier we already considered what is better to build a bath from, in this case we will dwell in detail 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 applied block materials.

Advantages of using blocks in construction

• The simplicity of technology. It is much easier to build walls from blocks than from any other material. These works are quite capable of being carried out independently, without the involvement of highly qualified and, therefore, expensive workers.
• Cheap material and construction technology. Making blocks with modern technologies allows you to achieve their high quality at a relatively low cost. In addition, their characteristics, mainly light weight, save effort and money on the foundation, making it lightweight.

Aerated concrete blocks

The material is a kind of cellular 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:

• bulk weight 0.3-0.5 t/cu. m. - can be used for thermal insulation;
• bulk weight 0.5-1.2 tons / cu. m. (autoclaved) - used for laying 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 approximately 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 a conventional drill, cut with a hacksaw);
• incombustibility;
• becomes even stronger over time.

Flaws

• rather high price (compared to other blocks);
• requirements for the quality of the material (the need for strict adherence to manufacturing technology);
• hygroscopicity (reduced by the use of special additives), leading to the fact that the laying of blocks requires the use of special glue. Laying on the mortar will lead to the absorption of moisture blocks and reduce the thermal insulation properties of the material.

Price for 1 cu. 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 material: lime is used to obtain gas silicate blocks (62% quartz sand and 24% lime), and cement (up to 60%) is used for aerated concrete. Gas silicate is always white in color 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 / m3.

Foam concrete blocks

Another material related to cellular concrete. Produced from cement, sand and water with the addition of foam created in a 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 construction of the blocks can quickly become unusable.

Advantages of foam concrete

• the lowest cost compared to other blocks (except for cinder blocks) and, especially, wood or brick. Price - from 2800 rubles / m3.

Traditionally, a bath is built of wood, but today it is very difficult to find a good master carpenter who can competently build walls, and very expensive. Therefore, more and more often for the construction of baths are used building blocks. There are many types of them today, they have advantages and disadvantages, but their main advantage is that having at least some experience in construction or building friends, you can independently fold 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 cellular 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. At high pressure under the influence of steam, quartz sand forms new strong compounds. In fact, it is a synthesized fake diamond high strength.

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

For erection bearing walls and partitions it is desirable to choose autoclaved aerated concrete, and non-autoclave can be used for insulation - 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 building walls.

For the construction of small buildings, you can use D500 aerated concrete (with a density of 0.5 t / m 3) - it may well serve both for the construction of the box and for the construction of partitions, but it costs much lower than brands with a higher density. When erecting the walls of the bath, for less consumption of blocks, they are placed on the edge, so the wall thickness is about 200 mm. This is quite enough, since the block holds 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 a conventional drill), does not burn and acquires greater strength 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 aerated concrete blocks on a special glue. When using cement, they absorb moisture from the solution, which significantly worsens thermal insulation.

gas silicate differs from aerated concrete of the main binder material: for aerated concrete it is lime (62% quartz sand and 24% 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 gas concrete.

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

Detailed information about the construction of gas silicate blocks you can find in the video.

foam concrete - one of the varieties of cellular 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 made privately. This is where the danger lies: high probability of acquiring quality material , which will quickly break down.

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 from 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 - 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, 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), has a small weight. The disadvantages include a rather high absorbency, but it can be reduced by almost half by pre-treatment of sawdust with water-repellent solutions or by waterproofing the walls.

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

The heat-insulating properties of expanded clay concrete depend on the fraction of the filler - the larger the fraction, the better thermal insulation, but less dense. 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 shows some block parameters that will 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
Bulk 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 laboratory tests and inspections of objects built from ceramic blocks show, everything is not as good as manufacturers are trying to present.

From what we saw above, we can conclude that ceramic blocks should not be used in the construction of a bath.

Features of the construction of 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 blocks are light in weight, 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 in the same way as brickwork, with the only difference that every 2-3 rows it is desirable to lay metal mesh. It will give additional rigidity strength to the entire structure. In order to make the work easier, it is very important to lay out the first row of blocks evenly. They need to level and compensate for all existing irregularities in the foundation. At the very top, you can strengthen the crown of the timber, to which it will be convenient to attach truss system and 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 membranes are laid. It is desirable to provide a gap between the foil (membrane) and finishing materials by stuffing slats 2.5 cm thick and attaching the lining to them.

Most 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 finish 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 bath from blocks can be any - to your taste without any special restrictions.

There is an abundance of wall materials on the construction market: expanded clay concrete, foam, gas and cinder blocks. In this review, the features of the frequently encountered foam and cinder concrete will be considered. This will help the future homeowner, when building a home, decide what is best for a house or a garage.

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

the same shape and also some general properties create a misleading impression of identity.

Only a small list of general attractive indicators includes:

• good geometric shapes that facilitate and reduce the cost of transportation;
• ease of use that does not require professional skills when laying;
• good fire resistance;
• minimum construction period;
• the same frost resistance F15–F50;
• budget 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.

Characteristics	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 may include ingredients such as: blast furnace slag; expanded clay crumb; screening of rocks; gravel; crushed stone; cullet; breakage of hardened cement or brick. Not subject to standardization by weight, dimensions and properties. In their composition, they can have a variety of components, be manufactured on installations that differ in device and technology for performing work.	During manufacture, a foaming agent is added to the concrete mixture, which creates porosity. The process is carried out on 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

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

Using foam concrete for building a house, you can significantly save on energy saving, since this material practically does not let heat 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 hydroprotection;
• excellent protection against noise;
• vapor permeable and poorly absorbs water;
• communications are seamlessly laid through foam concrete walls;
• well mechanically processed, allowing you to create any geometric figure;
• light weight and low load on the base allow you not to build an expensive foundation and involve special equipment;
• environmentally friendly and safe for humans.

Foam blocks also have their disadvantages:

• Insufficient strength to hang heavy objects on the walls of the house.
• Application in the course of a laying of specialized glue as binding material. The use of a cement-sand mortar leads to a decrease in the thermal insulation of foam concrete.

When choosing foam or cinder concrete for individual construction, the future owner of the house needs to know that the latter, which attracts with its budgetary cost, has more minuses than pluses.

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

• quick drying of the folded finished wall;
• the possibility of creating in industrial environment bricks of the required dimensions and properties;
• blocks are not exposed to fungi or mold, they do not contain bacteria, pests and insects;
• low specific gravity.

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, therefore, vapor and waterproofing is needed from all sides;
• propensity to absorb radioactivity;
• environmental friendliness, which depends on fillers;
• poor sound insulation;
• the fragility of the blocks, which are very easy to damage individually (not in the finished building) by mechanical action.

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 better 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, in 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 outbuildings 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 heat and waterproofing is performed with high quality. These small buildings, a garage and a bathhouse, are built in just a few days at meager labor and material costs. But the choice of technology, depending on the purpose of the structure, is determined by the financial capacity of the potential homeowner involved in the construction of his own estate.

At the present time, the variety of building materials is very large, so it will not be difficult to build a fence, a house or a garage. With such building materials It is easy to work for both a professional builder and a simple person. Now on the market quite often they offer foam concrete or aerated concrete for the construction of houses. They practically do not differ from the 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 before starting construction, you need to pick up good and high-quality material, so it’s much more reasonable to first find out 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 do not rush 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 finished housing. 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 area. It has been tested for decades, and that is why they are not afraid to buy it and build houses from it. In any more or less large settlement you can find a cinder block manufacturer, with the production technology everything has been clear and understandable for a long time - a lot of experiments were carried out that 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 directly depends 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 match, 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 makes it impossible to unequivocally judge the quality of the material.

Another one of distinguishing features cinder block is a low thermal conductivity when compared with a brick or foam block. But here the developers have found a way out. they have improved with the help of various fillers. Therefore, if you need more thermally conductive materials, pay attention to the composition of the cinder block.

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

Pros of cinder block

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

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

A wall built with a cinder block dries much faster than from another 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 cinder block

It has a very low level of sound insulation. Therefore, cinder block is still better to use 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 soundproof the walls, and this pleasure is troublesome and costly.

After the construction of the walls is completed, it will be necessary to do the interior and exterior decoration, since outwardly 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 through the elements of the hydro and vapor barrier of the walls, both from the outside and from the inside of the building.

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

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

If, nevertheless, you settled on cinder block material, do not forget that after using it, you will need to overlay 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 practically in no way inferior to brick. And the biggest plus is the cost of blocks. It is much lower than a brick. But, despite the fact that foam concrete is very similar to brick, it also has its positive and negative sides.

Pros of the foam block

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

Fire resistant and responds well to possible temperature changes.

The walls of the 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.

Minuses of the foam block

Broken technology in the manufacture of foam blocks can affect the quality of the product itself. Blocks will break and crumble badly.

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

All the shortcomings of the foam block can be easily and quite 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. The 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 than a cinder block. Also, the long service life of this material will not leave anyone indifferent. Considering current trend to energy savings, the high heat-retaining index of the foam block will more than pay for its cost in just a few years.

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

Let's find out, but first let's compare gas silicate (), and answer: which 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; in the manufacture, the mass is usually heated in an autoclave.
• Foam blocks contain a special foam concentrate that forms pores, and their drying often occurs naturally - in the air.

What is the difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete, what are their pros and cons, we will describe 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 foam concrete?

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

Blocks of foam concrete and aerated concrete

Technical specifications

Now let's compare the main technical parameters:

• 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 (which determines strength), both materials have floating rates: from 300 to 1.2 thousand kilograms per cubic meter. In foam concrete, the strength is very dependent 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.
• 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 millimeters per meter usually do not crack.
• Thermal insulation a (which has a low density) is better. After all, it is more “bubbly” in structure.

With regard to safety in terms of ecology, lightness, fire resistance and durability, both materials are quite up to par.

Having drawn 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, we have identified their advantages and disadvantages, we will also consider gas silicate in this regard.

Foam concrete and gas silicate

• Aerated concrete blocks are made using a slightly more sophisticated technology than aerated concrete ones. For them, the autoclave is an indispensable condition. The main components are, water, and. For the appearance of pores, aluminum is added in the form of powder.
• The material is strong, retains heat well, it does not crack. White color.
• The price of gas silicate blocks is about a quarter higher than that of foam concrete ones. But, as already described above in the aerated concrete example, it is cheaper and faster to build from them. Shrinkage of the wall will be no more than 0.3 millimeters per meter. The remaining 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 walls of a bearing type and various structures, it is better to take gas silicate, to save heat - foam concrete. Also, the latter will be good for small street buildings that are not supposed to be finished. The material resists moisture and frost well.

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 polystyrene foam is used as a filler. Depending on the composition, the density (respectively, the thermal insulation ability) of the material may change. 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 a 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 / m K, and for foam concrete blocks - 0.14 W / m K.
• 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 less able to withstand the compressive load.
• With regard to fire resistance, the situation is different. If foam concrete does not burn at all, then its competitor belongs to slow-burning materials. Polystyrene balls melt when heated strongly, releasing harmful substances. Therefore, polystyrene concrete for safety requires a plaster coating of three centimeters.
• Water absorption in foam concrete is higher - 14 percent. Its lighter competitor has just 4 percent.
• Styrene granules are not always distributed evenly, which is why the structure of expanded polystyrene is less homogeneous than that of foam concrete. Because of this, he 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 thermal properties, cement mixture add smooth expanded clay rounds. This is how expanded clay concrete is obtained with a grayish noticeable textured surface, which is as easy to manufacture as foam concrete. They are also similar in features.

Here is a comparison:

• The thermal conductivity of expanded clay concrete blocks is from 0.12 to 0.55 W / m K. Foam concrete has an average of 0.14 W / m K.
• 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 can withstand thirty-five defrosts, and expanded clay concrete - twenty-five.
• 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 (they are almost the same in price, but expanded clay concrete is still cheaper).

Foam concrete and cinder block

For (otherwise, wall bricks) all kinds of industrial waste introduced into the cement mixture are used. For example, coal screenings, brick fragments, building materials breakage. This is due to its low cost (lower than that of foam concrete). Outwardly, the material is not very presentable, it resembles a dirty-colored pumice stone.

Let's compare both materials:

• Foam concrete is more environmentally friendly, so cinder blocks are made from waste that is not always environmentally friendly.
• Foam concrete absorbs less water. Cinder 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 ones. They are comparable to bricks.

We draw conclusions: foam concrete is useful if you need to build a small cottage inexpensively 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 smaller and looks more decorative, having a white or red tint and a smooth surface. However, building with brick 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 extra effort.

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. In 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 at the same level, but the frost resistance of bricks is better (75 cycles versus 35 for foam concrete).
• Environmental friendliness and resistance to fire in both materials - on the "solid five". As well as vapor permeability, allowing the walls of the house to breathe.

We draw conclusions. More expensive brick is appropriate to use 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 protecting it so well from noise and storing heat.

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