Glued wood blocks. Wooden brick: pros and cons, manufacturing technology

The story began fifteen years ago. I was looking at an old file of the Engineer magazine, and, if memory serves, I read a short note in the November 1986 issue under the heading of world inventions. The article described the invention of a resident from an American town in Texas. It was about the technology that an American invented to build a house, solving his housing problem.

The material used for the construction of the walls was 40/100/300 mm in size, which was made from waste from a local sawmill, assembled and glued together into the structure. The order of laying wooden “bricks” is the subject of the invention. The parts are laid “in a row”, longitudinally along the wall on the edge, butt to butt. Through three bricks there is a transverse ligation of the outer and inner rows of the wall from the same “brick” parts of the same size, weight, wood, etc. The transverse ligation of one layer-row is shifted relative to the ligation of the lower layer by one and a half “bricks” - this scheme ensures the simultaneous overlap of layers and row parts by half a brick. The result was: a strong, lightweight, hollow wall structure; correct masonry geometric shape and ornament.

Try to assemble a similar “structure” from dominoes and you will get a visual model, which many of those present have probably already built, at work in a smoking room or on a table in the yard, but did not attach any importance to it. And the Texan found a practical application for this harmless activity.

The application of the invention in the form in which the author did it when building his house, despite the obvious advantages that I listed, also had disadvantages:

With the mass (more than 8,000 blocks were produced) artisanal method of manufacturing “bricks,” the quality suffered, tolerances of -/+1 mm or more were inevitable. Laying and fixing such blocks into the structure caused some problems; It was not always possible to seal the gaps at the joints of parts with glue - gaps remained. To get closer to the ideal, it was necessary to use an archaic method - a stretched cord, as when laying brickwork.
The erected walls were plastered to give additional strength, protect the glue from destruction and hide flaws in the masonry.

This method is not suitable for industrial development.

I set a goal - to get rid of the disadvantages and develop POTENTIAL. In order to know what to move towards and who needs it, give us a CONCEPT (S. I. Ozhegov and N. Yu. Shvedov, Dictionary Russian language, 4th edition Moscow 1999, p. 293). No sooner said than done. I did it for a long time - years. In the end, the view of the problem, as I imagine it, was formed. Here's what happened:

1. The use of the latest technologies in the design and design of CAD systems (AUTOCAD and other programs) is mandatory.
2. The priority in design is individual projects.
3. The production of parts should be carried out in a workshop environment using high-tech equipment (machines with program controlled, automatic lines), with tolerances no more than +/-0.1m.
4. Wide application standard parts and constant expansion of their range.
5. How construction material use only high quality wood.
6. Do not use adhesives or cushioning materials.
7. At the construction site, only assemble from finished parts. No modifications on the knee.
8. Eliminate the “finishing” operation in the generally accepted sense (plastering, paneling, painting).
9. Use the technology in the construction of small buildings (baths, country houses) and houses up to 100 m2 with an area of ​​no more than two floors.

The price of the issue remains open, but for the middle class and above it is real.

Working draft

For clarity, let me present a working draft. Bathhouse size 35000*55000mm with a relaxation room, washing room and steam room. In creating the project, many years of experience and skills in working in AutoCAD were used. 185 standard parts were modeled in the “solid-state” program environment. Based on them, a structure was assembled in the same environment from 4553 parts. The structure is fastened with cable tensioners in the hollow space of the walls to anchors in the foundation. The accumulated volume is 329 MB in 245 files. I show four types of models below:

Northwestern corner and western wall of the model;

Center of the model, top view

Pay attention to the joints of the parts. The joint forms a lock, protects against the formation of cracks, strengthens the structure, and makes the wall decorative. The parts are stacked one after another on a double tongue-and-groove sawtooth profile, so they ideally take their place in the structure without shooting. The connection between the outer and inner wall shells is made with metal spacers that are fixed in hidden cuts wooden parts inside the walls (if we look at the example of a row, after two “bricks” there is a third one with a spacer). For outdoor corner connections I started to invent something and used a “classic” proven lock. For two perpendicularly connected walls, the lock of the original design was clever, I will not dwell on it in detail. Coverings of door and window openings, window sills can be made of solid wood or laminated veneer lumber. The entire structure rests directly on the lower support beams. Pressing bars are placed on the top row, on which the cable tensioner plates rest. The parts in the structure are connected without gaps or voids, which gives the structure solidity. I believe, that the best insulation Sawdust will be used in the walls. This is an excellent heat insulator that does not interfere with natural air exchange in the room, and is an environmentally friendly material.

The outer and inner surfaces of the walls, if the developer’s imagination goes beyond their “bare” design, can serve as a platform for wood carvers. In this case, the cutting depth is allowed up to 20 mm without compromising the strength characteristics of the structure. The presented method of construction from small wooden parts relieves internal stress in the massif and the structure eliminates bending and cracking of the wood.

My solution probably has shortcomings and disadvantages, but there are also attractive aspects that I hope you will appreciate.

From time immemorial, wood, due to its availability, low thermal conductivity, natural origin and beauty is invariably considered one of the best materials for construction. Any professional will confirm that wood has very few shortcomings, and humanity has gradually learned to deal with those.

Our ancestors built houses from wild log house. Difficulties with manual adjustment of logs during construction, a lot of questions about wall insulation and drying out of the initial material, as well as the need to unify and reduce the cost of all cycles for the construction of wooden houses led to the emergence of production facilities rounded logs, timber and profiled timber. In turn, the problem of shrinkage and constantly increasing quality requirements interior decoration premises, together with scientific approach, gave birth laminated veneer lumber. But high price the latter and controversial environmental indicators (especially laminated veneer lumber domestic production) forced the institute wood construction look for new ways to build high-quality and affordable wooden housing.

The lumber manufacturer, inventor and designer Yuri Chmil repeatedly thought about creating a new material that was not inferior in its characteristics and strength to laminated timber but, at the same time, would surpass it in all other indicators. Since 2001, Yuri Svyatoslavovich has been analyzing the cycles of production and further construction of wooden houses. The conclusion was clear - despite huge selection wall materials made of wood, there are no products or technologies on the market that would combine the properties of laminated veneer lumber and at the same time meet stringent requirements for resistance to heat transfer, ecology, and were also unified in design, production and construction.

Finally, as a finished product, wooden block brick was prepared by the joint efforts of specialists under the leadership of Yuri Chmil at the end of 2009. The product was presented at the exhibition for the first time wooden house construction in Kyiv. Yuri Svyatoslavovich became a laureate of the competition Innovative technologies in the field of wooden house construction, and block brick was noted in the Best Product nomination and awarded the corresponding diploma.

The study of global trends and the experience of our own experiments made it clear that wooden block bricks are not a separate product. As a result, it was developed new technology wooden house construction taking into account modern world (in particular European) requirements. Special attention focused on heat transfer resistance.

Unfortunately, economic crisis did not allow practical testing of prototypes to be carried out as planned, and only in 2010 did it become possible to finance the construction of the first houses from wooden block brick, manufactured at the company's production site (Kyiv).

The company's management realized that the main task of the team was to develop the technology to build such wooden house, which will become an equally comfortable and reliable home. That is why specialists needed several more years to observe and check the product in ready-made designs. Houses built from wooden block bricks were tested at temperatures from – 29 C (winter 2011) to +40 C (summer 2011, 2012) and at relative humidity air 35-100%. As a result of research into the characteristics of the material and technology in general, a full cycle of production and quality control of wooden block bricks was set up.

In means mass media and on the Internet there are a lot of projects and articles devoted to the so-called “wooden brick”, but these are just surrogates created “on a quick fix" Having studied in detail all the types and technologies for manufacturing such wooden products (calling them “wooden bricks” is hard to come by), it is not difficult to make both simple and at the same time unique correct conclusion- this technology is unique and has no analogues.

Wooden brick is a multilayer timber of a unified size (for example: 750:125:145mm), consisting of several boards (lamellas), which are glued and fastened together with a certain offset, resulting in the formation of locks on all sides to connect the bricks to each other. For gluing the lamellas, environmentally friendly glue is used water based. Using exclusively coniferous wood (depending on cost: more affordable pine, spruce, as well as cedar and larch), a full production cycle and three-year observation ready-made objects made from wooden block bricks allows us to draw a loud but completely justified conclusion - wooden bricks made using this patented technology are the best that currently exists in the wooden house-building market. The cost of production of these products is 1.3 times lower than the cost of laminated veneer lumber (the closest competitor in essence and quality), and the range of applications is much wider. With it we have the opportunity to build objects of any complexity and configuration.

Walling made of wooden bricks are not subject to blowing (and wood structures suffer from this disadvantage). Walls made of wooden block bricks have increased resistance to heat transfer. In Europe, the coefficient of heat transfer resistance for wall materials is 3.61, and in Moscow it is 3.19. For example, according to the formula thermotechnical calculation The thickness of the laminated timber wall at the joints should be 42cm. for the Moscow region, and according to more stringent European requirements 52 cm. The calculated heat transfer resistance of a wall made using this technology corresponds to a heat transfer coefficient of 4.2, which exceeds existing requirements.

No deformation (torsion) structure due to the short elements that make up the block brick, the absence of shrinkage of the building, maintainability that has no analogues in similar technologies, as well as the speed of installation and the ability to make changes to the building plan directly on the site - all these are additional pros, speaking in her favor.

Wooden brick is applicable not only in the construction of cottages, dachas, production premises and other objects low-rise construction, but also for insulation, creating a unique microclimate, stabilizing humidity and aesthetic design of finished buildings. Wooden brick can be used for exterior and interior decoration of houses built using any technology (panel, monolith, brick, frame, etc.).

Wood block brick specifications

Block-brick made of wood is an environmentally friendly building material, consisting of several wooden lamellas connected to each other with a certain offset, resulting in the formation of locks for fastening the blocks to each other in the vertical and horizontal planes. The lamellas are connected to each other using glue and dowels

Elements for the manufacture of block bricks - lamellas - have the following characteristics:

• Dimensions: 750*125*35 mm (D.W.T.)
• Material: pine
• Humidity 10-12% (chamber drying)

A brick block consists of several lamellas.

Basic models:

1. Block brick 4 – consists of 4 lamellas, total thickness 142 mm. Purpose: external perimeter of the building.
2. Block brick 3 – consists of 3 lamellas, total thickness 106 mm. Purpose: internal perimeter, partitions.
3. The wall structure pie consists of: block-brick4 (142 mm) + frame with insulation (100mm) + block-brick3 (106 mm) = 348 mm total heat transfer resistance R0 = 3.81 [ m2 0C / W],

For comparison: profiled laminated timber 260 mm - heat transfer resistance R0 = 2.15 [m2 0C / W]

Modern new wood construction technology makes it possible to build houses from wood in compliance with the most stringent standards for the thermal conductivity of wall fences - the ability to form a wall of any thickness and any composition of the wall pie: block-air-block, block-insulation-block, block-insulation - lining, etc.

All photos from the article

Materials for construction wooden houses, it would seem, quite a lot, and it is no longer possible to come up with anything new. But manufacturers of building materials regularly prove that this is not so and surprise consumers with unusual offers. One of these new products was wooden brick, which appeared on the building materials market several years ago.

Below we will take a closer look at what it is this material, and how houses are built from it.

General information

Wood and brick is a classic combination that builders have been using for a long time; in particular, lining a wooden house with brick is a common operation. In brick houses they often use wooden beams ceilings and other elements. But wood brick is truly a novelty on the building materials market.

True, in America, the method of assembling houses from small blocks was patented more than twenty years ago. Then waste from a timber processing factory was used to make them.

The inventor built himself a house from the blocks, but this innovation did not gain further distribution.

This is due to many reasons:

• The method of assembling the structure was not worked out - the inventor assembled the walls using the method of selecting blocks.
• It was not possible to organize the production of the material due to the lack of proper equipment.
• The purpose of the development was to reduce personal construction costs.

As a result, no one began to promote this invention, since this technology did not inspire confidence among specialists. And so in 2012, a Russian architect, looking for a way to reduce the cost and simplify wooden house construction, returned to the topic of using small blocks and came up with wooden bricks.

In the photo - wooden brick

What is wood brick

Peculiarities

The material in question is made from solid wood on high-precision modern machines. The dimensions of such blocks are as follows:

Externally, the block is a beam, profiled on four sides with a comb-shaped lock. The depth of the ridges can range from 45 to 70 mm.

As for the type of wood, it can be very different. This even allows you to combine panels from different species, for example, when building a bathhouse. The inner wall can be made of linden or larch, and the outer wall can be made of cheaper pine.

Advantages

This material has many advantages.

Below we consider the main ones:

• Simplifies construction, since you can lay the blocks with your own hands.
• There is no internal tension inside the small panel, thanks to which the walls of the house will not crack.
• Drying the material takes less time, thanks to this, well-dried blocks do not lose their shape.
• Simplifies transportation and unloading of blocks.
• Small panels allow you to assemble walls complex shape .
• Low price due to the fact that the blocks are often made from remnants of timber production.

Construction Features

Assembly of walls in in this case is also a kind of invention - houses are built according to the principle of hollow walls. Assembly is carried out along a multi-tiered continuous chain.

Spacers with profiled ends are placed in the space between the two walls. Spacers connect the outer and interior wall Houses. Moreover, they are installed strictly in certain places.

The basis for assembling walls is the one that is installed on the foundation. The first crown of the walls is attached to the beam using pressure bars and tensioners, which can be rod or track.

Advice!
In order for the house to be durable, it is necessary to properly perform the foundation and its waterproofing.
To do this, several layers of roofing material are laid on top of the foundation, after which a brickwork under wooden house, which performs the function of a base.

From below, the tensioner is attached to the foundation with anchor bolts. Moreover, they are installed after the walls of the house are assembled.

It should be noted that when assembling such houses there is no need to use seals between the crowns or lay insulation, since the tightness is achieved thanks to a comb-shaped lock. Vertical loads are regulated by tensioners, which give the walls stability.

Note!
When building any wooden houses, you must follow the rules fire safety, especially it concerns .
Metal or brick pipe in a wooden house should not touch walls, ceilings or other surfaces.

At the same time, the house turns out to be warm, thanks to the double wall, and attractive. Therefore, after erecting the box, you do not need to think about how to cover a wooden house with bricks or decorate the facade with other material.

The only drawback of this technology is that it can only be used for permanent buildings - houses, outbuildings etc. If you need a wooden extension to brick house, for example, a veranda, then for these purposes it is better to use traditional timber.

The point is that the adaptable wooden veranda to a brick house with your own hands in most cases has frame structure. But, even if you make its walls solid, certain difficulties will still arise when using blocks.

But attaching a brick structure to such a house will be possible without any problems. Moreover, there are several ways to connect a wooden house with brick extension. Most often, reinforcement is used for this, which is driven into the walls and then laid into the masonry, which allows you to obtain a securely connected structure.

Advice!
Often, novice craftsmen are interested in how to do it. wooden extension to a brick house with your own hands?
This design can be made on either a columnar or strip foundation.
In this case, adjacent elements are attached to the brick wall with dowels and nails.

This is, perhaps, all the basic information about wooden bricks and the construction of houses from them.

Conclusion

Wood bricks are promising modern material. Its main advantage is the cost-effectiveness of production. In addition, small blocks are more convenient to construct and provide more options for architects.

Get more useful information on the topic discussed can be found in the video in this article.

Despite the fact that the first house made of wooden blocks was built more than two decades ago, this building material was launched into mass production in Russia only in 2013 by the Baltic Architect company. This material was patented in Russia in 2012. The updated wooden brick is strikingly different from the material that was used to build the first house.

Note! New wooden panels are more convenient for construction, which significantly reduces the construction period and makes the walls more reliable.

What are they - wooden blocks

Wooden blocks for building a house are produced in several types. The length and height of the bars differ. The profiled appearance of surfaces connecting to other elements remains unchanged in production technology. The bottom and top surfaces are ribbed, as are the end sides.

Construction technology is beneficial in many respects:

• Lightness of the material;
• Hygroscopicity;
• Little waste during construction;
• Thoughtful fastening for quick assembly of a reliable structure;
• The material dries faster.
• The ridges of the brick, processed on ultra-precise machines, reliably hold the vertical of the wall, preventing distortions.
• In small, lightweight parts there is no internal stress, which protects the building from cracks.
• With help wooden bricks door and window openings are easier to create than when building from timber or logs.

Specifics of construction from wooden blocks

The peculiarity of assembling walls from wooden blocks is that the wall consists of two parts, between which there is a cavity.

Note! This assembly method allows you to make the house warmer without overpaying for additional materials.

Wall assembly technology:

1. A support beam is attached to the foundation of the future building.
2. The masonry is carried out so that a cavity is formed between the bricks, in which in a certain order spacers will be located.
3. The lower tier of the masonry is secured to the timber using clamping bars.
4. The pressure bars must be connected to metal plates. These plates will hold the tensioners, which will create a vertical load.
5. Installation of tensioners is carried out only after completing the assembly of all walls. Anchor bolts they will be attached to the foundation of the house.

Habitual brick walls, which can be seen in multi-storey and private construction, are losing their inviolability and relevance. In the construction of residential buildings, they are increasingly beginning to use building blocks made from lightweight concrete.

Such products have greater thermal insulation, are much cheaper than solid bricks, and are easy to install. The building material is relatively light in weight, which significantly reduces the load on the foundation and, accordingly, allows you to save on pouring it.

The modern construction market offers the consumer several types of wall blocks. To avoid difficulties when choosing a material, we will consider the advantages and disadvantages of wall blocks used in construction.

Foam concrete blocks

This is cellular lightweight concrete, the main component of which is cement-sand mortar with the addition of foaming additives. According to experts, this is the most practical and affordable material for the construction of wall structures, enjoying steadily growing popularity.

Advantages	Flaws
High strength combined with low density Low structural weight due to the cellular structure Excellent thermal insulation interior spaces High degree of street noise absorption Fire resistance - the material does not ignite and does not support the spread of fire Resistance to wet environments Good frost resistance indicators Budget cost	Foam concrete is subject to shrinkage over time, which should be taken into account during construction Heterogeneous structure: internal pores do not have the same size Difficulties with interior finishing - foam concrete is unable to hold conventional fasteners (nails, screws) Low bending resistance, easy to crack

The material is often produced in an artisanal way without following technology. It is almost impossible to identify a fake visually, so you need to take a responsible approach to choosing a manufacturer.

Aerated concrete material for the construction of walls

As in the previous case, gas silicate blocks have a porous structure. For production, a silicate base is used with the addition of binders and foaming additives.

Advantages

Flaws

The exact geometry of each block, which simplifies the process of erecting wall structures and allows you to accurately calculate glue consumption. Presentable appearance. Ease of processing: you can cut aerated concrete with a regular hacksaw. High level of fire safety. Environmental safety: no chemically active or toxic substances are used in production. Large block size - allows you to reduce the time for building walls.

Low strength - aerated block is not used in multi-story construction. After completion of work, shrinkage is observed up to 1.5 mm for every meter of height. According to this indicator, gas silicate blocks are considered the worst among lightweight concrete. Low frost resistance - only 10 cycles freezing/thawing. Therefore, walls made of this material necessarily require additional insulation. Dependence on humid environment. Aerated concrete absorbs water well, which leads to destruction of the structure of the block.

In terms of thermal insulation, aerated concrete blocks are close to solid brick, therefore additional insulation is prerequisite. However, the blocks have minimal weight, which significantly reduces the load on the foundation.

Sand blocks made by volumetric vibrocompression

This is a universal option, equally used in multi-storey construction and the private sector. In the manufacture of building materials, a cement-sand mixture is used with additives included in the composition. Products are pressed in special forms and dried using infrared radiation.

To achieve optimal strength, blocks are stored at room temperature in well-ventilated areas.

For walls made of foam blocks, insulation costs will be significantly lower than for concrete or brick structures.

Heat blocks - multilayer building blocks

This is a composite material with a three-layer structure.

The first layer is called the façade and is an imitation natural stone. The second is insulating and consists of high-density polystyrene foam. The third is the supporting one, made of expanded clay concrete.

Heat blocks appeared on the construction market relatively recently, but have already gained popularity among professional builders.

High speed of wall construction. Each block is both decorative and load-bearing structure, has a layer of insulation. Excellent thermal insulation performance. Block, thickness 42 cm, similar in performance to two-meter brickwork. Reasonable price. Good competition for gas and foam blocks. Light weight. You can save a lot on the foundation.	Weight. The blocks are considered light, but laying stones can be done alone, weighing 24 kg, it will be difficult. Low resistance to dynamic loads. Not suitable for buildings tall more than 3 floors. Geometry. The correct forms are found only from trusted manufacturers. If the block is made by hand, problems are guaranteed to arise with installation.

High-quality heat blocks have absolutely correct geometry, so it is allowed finishing without additional leveling of the walls. When installing blocks, through joints are formed that require high-quality sealing.

If construction technology is violated, high thermal efficiency indicators will be reduced to zero.

Polystyrene concrete blocks

The block is a monolithic structure, where the main component is high-quality cement. Used as filler quartz sand, foamed polystyrene, plasticizers that increase the strength and frost resistance of finished products.

Best indicator thermal insulation on the market. Allows you to save on heating interior spaces in winter. High strength. The material has high stability against compression and bending, has virtually no shrinkage. Excellent vapor permeability. Walls made from such blocks have the ability to “breathe”, which is guaranteed to prevent the appearance of mold. Ease of installation. Blocks are easily exposed additional processing, have a large standard size and correct geometry. Frost resistance. The product can withstand up to 150 cycles freezing/thawing without loss of original properties.

Direct dependence of quality on the manufacturer. Violation of manufacturing technology leads to the formation of internal microcracks. Difficulties in interior decoration. The surface of the block has poor adhesion to plaster solutions. The porous structure “does not hold” nails and screws.

Polystyrene concrete blocks are considered a non-flammable material, but when exposed to high temperatures they begin to release phenol, a substance harmful to human health.

Expanded clay concrete is a modern material originally from the 60s of the last century

The composition of such a block includes cement, expanded clay and sand, mixed in specified proportions. During production, the vibration pressing method is used, which provides the finished products with a fairly dense structure.

Despite the obvious disadvantages, expanded clay blocks are considered the most common building material in Russia.

Arbolite is a material made from wood chips and a mineral binder

Composite blocks created using cement based with the addition of water, sand and sawdust. This ratio of components makes the block resistant to any aggressive environment, while the finished products have a high margin of safety.

Thermal insulation. Analogs arbolite blocks on modern market There are no building materials yet. Easy to install and manufacture. You can cope with the work on your own. Environmental Safety. The composition does not contain harmful or toxic components. Light weight. There is no need for a reliable and solid foundation. Reasonable price. Considered one of the most available materials On the market.

They are destroyed by prolonged exposure to a humid environment. Attract rodents. Due to its inclusion in wood, the material burns.

Blocks are not suitable for multi-storey construction, target application: private sector.

Cinder block - there is no cheaper material

The material attracts the attention of buyers with a surprisingly low price: production waste is allowed to be used in production. The products are compacted using the vibration compaction method, the main binding component being cement.

Unlike previous materials, cinder blocks are hollow and monolithic, which significantly expands the scope of their application.

Advantages	Flaws
Absolutely non-flammable even with prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Long service life - at least 50 years without loss of original qualities. A wide range of. The variability of fillers allows you to select a product for any type of construction work. Easy to install. Possibility to make at home.	Dependence on humid environment. It causes inconvenience when installing utilities. Low rates of sound and heat insulation. Absence environmental safety: Slag contains sulfur and acids that are harmful to health.

Given the significant disadvantages, cinder blocks are more suitable for the construction of utility buildings than residential buildings.

Ceramic block is a worthy replacement for hollow brick

An excellent alternative to regular brick. Blocks appeared on the market relatively recently, but are rapidly gaining popularity in the private construction sector. The block is based on baked clay; the finished products have a hollow, cellular structure.

Advantages	Flaws
Absolute environmental safety. Excellent thermal insulation performance. Light weight. High level of vapor permeability. Reliable sound insulation of interior spaces. Ease of installation: the elements are joined with a tongue-and-groove locking connection.	Overcharge. Unreliable ends. Relative fragility, which makes transportation difficult. Dependence on strict adherence to installation technology. Difficulties in interior finishing: the hollow structure will not “hold” screws and nails.

Difficulties may arise during additional processing: it will not be possible to split a ceramic block like an ordinary brick; you will have to use a grinder.

Thermally efficient blocks of Balaev

A relatively new building material, reminiscent of thermal blocks. The products have a three-layer structure:

Cement, water and expanded clay are used as the main components. During production, vibrocompression technology is used in combination with the pressing method. The result was a fundamentally new building material.

The material appeared on the market in 2009, so I didn’t have time to manifest myself on the negative side. However, obvious disadvantages include high cost.

Technical characteristics comparison table

Comparison of blocks by construction cost

Often, the price issue is key when choosing a building material. The chart above shows how the prices of blocks compare to each other as a percentage. The most expensive block of Balaev was taken as 100%.

Depending on the region of the country and over time, this ratio may change.

The cost of a block is not a key indicator. For example, Balaev blocks are the most expensive material, however, do not require additional finishing and insulation. The final estimate for the work performed will be much lower than when constructing walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks.

bydom.ru

Building block: type, size, price and technical characteristics

The block has big size and high strength. However, it should not weigh too much. These basic material requirements dictate technological features its production.

Blocks can be divided into types according to the filler and the material used to bind the filler. So, what is this building material made of:

• foam concrete;
• slag concrete;
• expanded clay concrete;
• gas silicate;
• concrete;
• wood concrete;
• ceramics;
• polystyrene concrete;
• sawdust concrete.

In most cases, a cement mixture is used to bind the filler. Special technologies make it possible to create porous concrete.

Let's consider the types and characteristics of building blocks in more detail:

Types of blocks/Image	Description
	These are heavy elements made from cement mortar and gravel. For strength, such structures are reinforced with metal. The elements are laid using lifting equipment. The minimum weight of one block is fifteen kilograms. This building material is used mainly for forming the foundation and constructing external walls in multi-story structures.
	The basis building elements– a mixture of cement, lime and aluminum in paste form. Gas silicate blocks are hardened in an autoclave. The result is a material with a porous structure. After curing, the blocks are cut using special mechanism with cutting strings into geometrically regular fragments. Building a house from gas silicate blocks is one of the most popular options. Such houses have characteristic white walls that do not need to be plastered. Among other things, foam concrete is easy to cut and process by hand. It can be used to make structures of complex shapes. The standard size of aerated blocks for building a house is 60x20x25 cm.
	Cinder blocks are formed using a vibrocompression machine. Blast furnace slag or coal boiler waste, broken bricks and small crushed stone are used as filler. This building material is used for the construction industrial buildings and utility buildings. It is not recommended to use cinder blocks for the construction of a residential building. Their components may adversely affect the health of people living in the home.
	Foam concrete is formed without exposure to steam and temperature. It is whipped with a special mixer and poured into molds measuring 20x30x60 cm. The foam concrete hardens gradually at natural temperature. This building material has good heat and sound insulation.
	The building material perfectly combines all positive traits natural wood and the strength characteristics of cement. Wood makes the material vapor-permeable, and concrete makes it fire-resistant. Its only drawback is sensitivity to moisture. Walls made of such material must be additionally protected from contact with atmospheric moisture.
	They are produced, like cinder blocks, using a vibropressing mechanism, but foamy clay granules fired in a special oven are used as filler. This product can be used for the construction of residential buildings. It is environmentally friendly and has high strength. Modern technologies production allows you to create expanded clay blocks with polystyrene insulation and cladding from artificial stone. Walls made of such building materials do not need to be additionally insulated or treated. If desired, you can choose a coating that imitates brick, natural stone or tile.
	These elements contain polystyrene and a concrete base. The material has high thermal insulation qualities and good strength. Its disadvantage is that it shrinks under heavy load. So polymer blocks are more often used as insulation and partition elements, but not as the main material for walls.
	This building material contains ninety percent wood chips held together cement mixture. To improve the adhesion of materials, slaked lime and aluminum sulfate are used in the production of wood concrete blocks. The properties of wood concrete correspond to the properties of wood, but the material is not flammable and does not rot. The only thing that is “lame” about this type is excessive absorption of logs. When building houses from wood concrete blocks, the facade must be treated with vapor-proof plaster.
	To make building elements, clay is mixed with fine sawdust. In the oven under the influence high temperature the sawdust burns, and the clay acquires a porous structure. Standard sizes ceramic blocks 38x24.8x23.8 cm. The pros and cons of ceramic blocks are good heat retention and high strength, but fragile structure and high moisture absorption.

Related article:

How to choose the right foam blocks. In this review we will look at the characteristics, properties, advantages, secrets of the right choice and average cost this building material, and also provide practical recommendations for its use.

What are the best blocks for building a house: price of products

When deciding what better blocks When building a house, price is not the least important factor. Price various types building materials depends on the region, the average price in rubles for one element of a standard size:

• Foam blocks – 110
• Gas blocks – 130
• Arbolit – 120
• Ceramic blocks – 100
• Expanded clay blocks – 53
• Polymer – 110
• Sawdust blocks – 50
• Cinder blocks - 50

Let's compare: which blocks are better to build a house from?

Pay attention to the wall materials comparison table.

The cost per square meter of a wall made of different materials has slight differences, but the construction time differs significantly from each other. Silicate walls are considered the strongest, but ceramic blocks are almost as good in resistance to compression. The lightest of these are aerated concrete elements, but it is impossible to build a house with a height of more than two or three floors from them. Ceramic blocks show the ideal ratio of strength and density. They do not require a massive foundation and at the same time are able to withstand concrete floors.

The most better thermal insulation- near aerated concrete. Ceramic blocks take an honorable second place in this indicator.

In all respects, aerated concrete is the leader. It’s up to you to decide which material is best for building a house. But it is worth considering additional factors influencing the choice.

What else influences the choice of wall blocks for external walls

It is necessary to consider not only the technical characteristics of the building material, but also the specifics of the future structure:

1. For an energy-saving design with good thermal insulation, gas blocks will be required.
2. A building with two or three floors with a heavy roof must be built from durable materials– ceramic blocks and bricks.
3. When choosing a building material, its availability plays an important role. Agree, there is no point in choosing blocks if the cost of transportation will double their price.

Important! It is not often that you come across houses built from one type of building material. Ideal option a combination of different materials is considered depending on the design features. For example, for two-story house It is rational to use ceramic block for the construction of the first floor and foam concrete or wood concrete for the second.

Pros and cons of foam blocks for the construction of a residential building

Foam concrete and gas blocks are the leaders in popularity among developers of individual housing. If your choice fell on this particular building material, it is worth clarifying all the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

1. The material is environmentally friendly and provides a comfortable microclimate for humans in the house.
2. The cost of foam concrete in comparison with other types of blocks.
3. Lightweight material that does not require a massive foundation.
4. The speed of construction of housing from foam blocks is up to three months.
5. Excellent heat and sound insulation properties.
6. Fire safety.
7. Possibility of finishing with any materials.

Flaws:

1. Easily damaged during careless transportation.
2. It may crack if there is a sudden change in temperature after installation.
3. Requires reinforcement and exterior finishing.

• For storage and transportation, the material should be protected from moisture using plastic film.
• Blocks are transported on special pallets. To prevent the material from moving during loading, it is secured with slings.
• Construction from block material is carried out at a temperature environment not lower than five degrees Celsius.

• Gas blocks can be sawed with a regular hand hacksaw. Band-saw used when the scale of work is very large.
• For precision cutting of foam concrete building materials, a construction corner is used.
• Glue is applied to the joints with a trowel with teeth.
• The elements are adjusted and seated with a rubber hammer.
• When arranging the foundation, you should not forget about the blind area. She will take you away from block walls excess moisture.
• To strengthen aerated concrete walls, reinforcing materials should be used around the perimeter. It is especially important to use this technique when constructing a multi-story building.

• Floors in a block house can be made of wood or concrete. Good results gives a combination of materials.

Return