Advantages and disadvantages of houses from foam concrete blocks. Foam concrete pros and cons Cons of foam concrete
The construction of houses from cellular (lightweight) concrete (foam concrete, aerated concrete, expanded clay concrete, polystyrene concrete, fiber foam concrete, wood concrete) has justified advantages (cheap, fast, energy efficient). At the same time, foam concrete blocks are not without drawbacks.
We will try to conduct an objective assessment of the pros and cons of the foam block for the house based on the reviews and characteristics of the material.
Recommendations will also be given on how to choose and determine the quality of foam concrete blocks for walls and partitions of a cottage, garage, summer house or bath.
Foam blocks - pros and cons
Like any building material, foam concrete blocks have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros of foam blocks
compressive strength of the foam block. It is determined by the volumetric weight of foaming additives, their type. The humidity of the block has a considerable influence on this indicator. For a dry foam block, the compressive strength index is 3.5-5.0 MPa;
Note. Foam concrete gains strength during operation. Comparison of the new block and the block that was in operation for 50 years showed that the density of the latter exceeded the density characteristic of the brand by more than 3 times.
low density foam block. This indicator depends on the brand and ranges from 400 to 1,200 kg/m3. Foam block D600-800 is used for the construction of walls of a low-rise house.
foam block weight. A material that has air in its structure is lightweight. Reducing the mass of the house allows you to save on the arrangement of the foundation. The foam block with a volume of 0.036 cubic meters, with dimensions of 200x300x600 mm, has a weight of only 22 kg. This is also a significant plus for transportation;
low thermal conductivity of the foam block. Due to the presence of air in the concrete mass (40-80%), foam concrete retains heat better. In turn, this reduces the thickness of the masonry, which reduces the pressure on the foundation. And also reduces the cost of warming the house. According to the calculations of manufacturers, it is possible to avoid up to 30% of heat loss through the walls. In comparison with a brick, the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the D700 foam block is 3.5 times less.
good sound insulation of foam blocks. The porous structure absorbs sound, especially low sound frequencies. 300 mm foam block wall absorbs 60 dB noise;
incombustibility. Allows you to withstand the requirements for fire safety of the building. In addition, foam concrete does not emit harmful compounds from the effects of fire;
environmental friendliness of foam blocks (content of natural radionuclides). This indicator for foam concrete is 2 (for brick - 10). Foam concrete does not rot and does not decompose, it is safe for human health. In the production of foam concrete, a blowing agent (on a protein or synthetic basis) is used, which does not form harmful gases for the human body. Another situation is with the manufacture of gas silicate blocks, when foaming occurs in the autoclave as a result of a chemical reaction of fine particles of lime and aluminum. As a result of this reaction, hydrogen is produced, part of which remains in the pores of the gas silicate and will be released for some time;
low cost of foam block. Allows you to reduce the cost of building a house as a whole. For example, the difference in price: 1 m3. foam concrete costs 2200-2800 rubles, bricks from 3500 to 6500 rubles per 100 pieces, lumber from 4500 (solid wood) to 20000 (laminated timber).
convenience in work. Foam concrete is not heavy, but voluminous. Due to the size of the blocks, the work is done quickly, it is easy to give it any shape without the use of special tools;
house geometry. Foam concrete is amazing in that you can pre-set the necessary parameters. And the exact dimensions of the foam block are one of them. This allows you to build a house with a flat surface;
low consumption of the adhesive mixture during the construction of the house;
moisture resistance. Foam concrete practically does not absorb water. You can verify this by doing a test. A small cube of foam concrete must be placed in a container of water. It will float on the surface of the water;
frost resistance of the foam block. Due to its low hygroscopicity, closed pore structure and special additives, foam concrete is able to withstand a significant number of freeze / thaw cycles (depending on the brand) without significant damage;
the possibility of combining with other materials allows you to veneer foam concrete surfaces with any finishing materials.
Cons of foam blocks
low bending strength. According to this indicator, foam concrete is inferior to concrete and reinforced concrete. However, with an increase in the grade of foam concrete, the bending strength also increases. True, thermal insulation properties are reduced;
Note. The foam block increases strength as it stands (hardens). You need to know how long the foam block dries after manufacturing, this time is up to full curing and is 28 days.
It is not recommended to use a newly made block for construction. This is especially true in the season when foam concrete is in demand, and manufacturers are trying to make it in a volume sufficient to meet demand. In this case, there is a violation of technology (the period of drying, ripening). Eliminated by buying a foam block 3-4 weeks before the start of construction with proper storage on the site in a moisture-proof place
pore heterogeneity. The applied pore-forming agent (air-entraining additives) does not allow ensuring the uniformity of all pores in size. In practice, this leads to the fact that somewhere the material is denser and, for example, holds fasteners better, and somewhere less dense. This drawback is eliminated by using hardware (dowels, anchors) designed for fastening into the porous structure of cellular concrete;
possible deviations in density. Related to the production technology, for example, the violation of proportions or the quality of mixing. Eliminated by purchasing material from major manufacturers with the provision of appropriate documentation and warranty;
natural shrinkage of a foam concrete house within 1-2 months after construction is completed. Shrinkage can reach 2-4 mm. per running meter. This phenomenon is associated with a set of foam concrete strength. The shrinkage of the foam block is uniform, therefore it does not affect the quality of the structure, it only postpones the start of finishing by 3-4 months;
there are many private mini-factories for the production of foam blocks (handicraft), which cannot always guarantee the quality of the produced material. It is in the conditions of clandestine production that they often violate the recipe (the proportions of foam concrete components) and the terms for strength maturation. As a result, poor quality foam blocks with all the ensuing consequences (uneven shrinkage, cracks).
How to choose foam blocks for building a house
The durability of the house, cottage, garage or bath depends on which foam block is chosen. Experts recommend when buying foam concrete blocks to pay attention to such factors as:
1. manufacturer. Large manufacturing plants will not risk their reputation and usually offer foam concrete of a stable specified quality. Such material is accompanied by quality certificates confirming the results of laboratory research (tests), complies with GOST;
2. cost. If the material is sold at a price below the market price, this may indicate violations in its production. The discount can only be due to: second grade, volume of purchase, proximity to the place of delivery. In all other cases, you should think about why the foam block is sold cheaper;
3. storage location and packaging. The storage location must be dry, protected from moisture, and the packaging undamaged.
How to check the quality of the foam block
It is possible to determine whether foam concrete is good or not through visual inspection. The appearance of the block can say a lot.
Pore structure. Cells (pores, air cavities) in the foam block must be isolated, i.e. do not connect with each other. Otherwise, the material will absorb moisture. You can evaluate the structure by breaking the foam block. Inside and outside, it should be the same in structure.
Pore size. The more air in the structure of the block, the larger its pores will be. This is easy to determine by eye. The lighter and cheaper the material will be. However, its durability will suffer.
Color. The foam block should be gray (according to the color of cement) and have a uniform color. Too light color (closer to white) indicates that the specific gravity of the cement in the solution does not comply with GOST 25485-89 "cellular concrete".
The geometry of the foam block. A large run-up will not affect the functionality of the house, but will lead to an increase in the consumption of the adhesive mixture. To check the geometry, it is enough to put two blocks on top of each other (there must be a good fit and no swings).
The weight of the concrete block. It is checked by weighing a random block, this will make sure that the density of the foam block corresponds to the declared one.
Advice on how to check the foam block for strength. You need to try to break off a piece from the edge of the foam block with your hand, if this succeeds, then the material is of poor quality. The second option is to try to pierce the foam block with a nail, using only hand strength, if it turned out easy, then it’s bad.
It should be noted here that we are talking about structural blocks with a density of D600-900, because. there are heat-insulating blocks with a density of D300, which are easily destroyed. But, they are not intended for laying walls, but are used as a heater.
Conclusion
An objective review of the pros and cons of foam concrete blocks will allow you to give an accurate assessment of the wall material. And useful tips from practice will tell you how to determine the quality of the foam block by external signs (by appearance, color, structure). Most of the shortcomings are removable and are associated with improper production technology or violation of construction standards.
Until about 50 years ago, bricks and wooden beams were mainly used for the construction of buildings. Of course, brick houses were considered the most reliable, because wooden structures can be destroyed relatively quickly under the influence of external factors.
Today there is a great alternative to brick - foam blocks, which are in no way inferior in quality, and it is much easier to build houses with their help. What are the advantages and disadvantages of foam blocks? This will be discussed further.
"Pros" of foam blocks
First of all, it should be noted that the foam block is an environmentally friendly material that is made from sand, cement and a special foaming agent.
It is resistant even to large temperature changes, the effects of various chemical mixtures and fireproof. Due to the porous structure, the foam blocks used in construction retain heat remarkably and “breathe”.
This allows you to maintain comfortable conditions in the premises without using additional funds for heating or cooling. The described advantages allow you to build walls in one row, which reduces material costs.
Foam blocks weigh less than bricks, which means that a house built from them will be much lighter, which makes it possible to build such buildings on light foundations and unstable soils. The advantages of the material also include ease of processing, speed of installation, the ability to create channels in the foam blocks for laying electrical wiring, pipes and other communications.
Under the influence of high temperatures, the material does not crack and does not change shape. It has been proven that it is able to prevent the spread of fire for several hours.
In addition to the above, the foam block has such advantages as excellent sound insulation and the ability to give it almost any shape. The material is able to absorb sound, but not reflect it. The construction of houses from foam blocks allows you to get reliable, beautiful and practical structures with a small financial investment.
"Cons" of the material
In addition to numerous "pluses", foam blocks have some disadvantages. For example, they are quite brittle, especially if the technology was violated during their manufacture. In addition, walls made of this material can crack and absorb moisture, which, if frozen, can destroy them from the inside.
To prevent this from happening during construction, the facade of the building must be covered with high-quality moisture and heat-insulating materials.
During the construction of a house from foam blocks, it is recommended to use a strip foundation, which will be located around the entire perimeter of the building. In addition to the mortar during masonry, it is necessary to use a special binder. This will contribute to a tighter fit of the material, which will eliminate some of the shortcomings and improve the thermal insulation qualities.
Ideal building materials, as you know, do not exist - they all have their advantages and disadvantages. The foam blocks that I want to talk about are no exception. Therefore, so that you can decide for yourself whether it is worth using them or not, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with their main pros and cons.
Advantages
Among the advantages of foam blocks over other building materials, the following points can be distinguished:
Thermal insulation properties
The gas block is a porous material consisting of many small cells filled with air. And air, as you know, is an excellent heat insulator. Therefore, aerated concrete has a much lower thermal conductivity than concrete, brick and many other materials.
Moreover, the lower the density of the material, the better it protects against cold, as you can see from the data in the table:
As you can see, the structural grades of foam concrete, i.e. D500 and D600 have the same thermal conductivity as wood (0.09-0.2, depending on the species). Blocks that are not intended for the construction of load-bearing walls have an even lower thermal conductivity.
Despite the low thermal conductivity of the material, the walls built from it must be insulated. Otherwise, the moisture that penetrates the blocks from inside the building will freeze and thereby destroy their structure. The only thing is that as a heater, use vapor-permeable materials, such as mineral wool.
Thanks to this, gas-block houses are warm and energy-efficient. With a wall thickness of 300 mm, you will not feel cold in an apartment or house even in severe frosts.
Vapor permeability
Due to the porous structure, the material passes steam well. What does it give? As a result of human activity inside the dwelling, the humidity level is often higher than outside.
Due to the ability of the walls to "breathe", the moisture accumulated in the room comes out, as a result of which a favorable microclimate is formed inside the housing, and mold does not form on the surfaces.
True, this property also has the other side of the coin - the demands on external finishing materials are increasing. Their vapor permeability must be higher than the vapor permeability of the walls. Otherwise, moisture will accumulate between the finish and the walls.
Of course, if you wish, you can finish the walls from the inside with materials that do not pass steam well or do not pass it at all, and then the vapor permeability of the aerated concrete itself will not play any role. But in this case, it will be more difficult to achieve a favorable microclimate in the room.
Many beginners are interested in how aerated concrete is an environmental material. It all depends on the manufacturer - if the manufacturing technology is followed and there are certificates for the product, then aerated concrete will not cause any harm to health. For example, the commonly used slate is less environmentally friendly.
Availability
Aerated concrete is lighter than concrete, since during the manufacturing process it foams and expands. Accordingly, the production of blocks requires fewer ingredients than, for example, not the production of solid concrete.
Below is the cost of gas blocks from different manufacturers:
Prices are valid for winter 2018.
Ease of machining
Ordinary concrete is very difficult to machine. To cut it, you have to use special equipment and diamond cutting elements. Even drilling in concrete requires special carbide-tipped drills.
Things are quite different with foam blocks. To cut them, a hacksaw is enough for wood. This allows you to build walls of complex shape.
Light weight and large dimensions
Due to the relatively low weight and large dimensions, construction is greatly simplified and the speed of wall erection is increased. For comparison, one worker is able to lay an average of three cubes of foam blocks or one cube of bricks per day.
In other words, the walls of the material in question are built three times faster. The only thing to keep in mind is that one block still weighs more than one brick. Therefore, it is better to work with assistants.
disadvantages
Of the minuses of this material, the following points can be distinguished:
Low strength
The cellular structure of the material gives it a number of advantages with which we have become acquainted. But at the same time, it negatively affects strength, which entails the following negative consequences:
- Low bearing capacity. Therefore, it is impossible to build houses with a height of more than three floors. Moreover, as I have already said, only structural blocks of a grade not lower than D can be used for these purposes. For partitions, as well as walls in frame buildings, you can use blocks of the D400 and D300 brands, which are cheaper and “warmer”;
- The need for special fasteners. Manufacturers of aerated concrete blocks report that self-tapping screws and nails enter this material like wood. This, of course, is true, but they are silent that, unlike wood, fasteners do not hold in it. Therefore, hammering nails or screwing screws to secure something heavier than a picture does not make sense;
Related articles:
If you want to hang a shelf or cabinet on the wall, you will have to use special fasteners designed for gas silicate and other porous concretes;
- The need for reinforcement. Every fourth row of blocks must be reinforced. To do this, strobes are made in which reinforcement is laid.
Shrinkage
Block aerated concrete house is highly susceptible to shrinkage. Moreover, the lower the brand of block density, the more they shrink. As a result, plaster applied to newly built walls cracks quickly.
In this regard, the polystyrene block, which contains foam plastic granules in the structure, is superior to the foam block. But, this problem concerns only new buildings, besides, it can be solved by finishing the walls using frame technologies.
The need for outdoor decoration
Foam concrete strongly absorbs moisture, which destroys it. Therefore, after the construction of the box, it is highly desirable to immediately finish the facade. Any materials are suitable for this - plaster, siding, brick, etc.
An autoclaved foam block is more moisture resistant than a non-autoclave one. Autoclaved block walls can stand unfinished for a season or even two, as manufacturers claim. But, of course, it is better not to delay the lining.
I must say that the ability to absorb moisture is not the only reason why aerated concrete requires finishing. The fact is that the walls of the gas block are strongly blown, especially if the builders did not coat the vertical seams. But, even if the seams are smeared, it is very difficult to ensure perfect tightness.
This disadvantage applies primarily to non-autoclaved blocks, which have an inaccurate geometry. True, many factories for the production of aerated concrete products have solved this problem by producing tongue-and-groove blocks. But they cost more than flat blocks.
Here, perhaps, are all the pros and cons of aerated concrete blocks that you may encounter if you build a house out of them.
A few words about reviews
Recently, before buying something, people are trying to study the reviews of the owners on the construction sites of online stores and specialized forums. To save you time, I will describe the general picture that I have developed from personal experience and many opinions on the network.
So, most people do not regret that they preferred aerated concrete if the construction technologies were not violated. The material is really warm, eco-friendly and inexpensive.
But, at the same time, it is not called a “panacea” due to the shortcomings described above. In addition, often people are faced with the appearance of cracks in the plaster opposite the seams. Most often, they arise due to the fact that the owner decided to save money and used cheap glue, or the builders did not miss the ends of the blocks.
In general, the reviews confirm that the material is not bad, but it has its own nuances, as I have already mentioned above.
Manufacturing technology
Finally, let's take a brief look at the technology for the production of autoclaved foam blocks so that you better understand what kind of material it is:
| Illustrations | Manufacturing steps |
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Preparation of ingredients. At the initial stage, the main ingredients are mixed:
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Filling in forms.
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Processing in the pre-maturing chamber. Within a few hours, the mixture in the molds is heated at a temperature of about 40 degrees, as a result of which two reactions occur:
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Mechanical restoration:
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Autoclaving. The blocks are subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of about 180 degrees and a pressure of 12 atm. Autoclaving achieves the following goals: |
When planning the construction of a private house, it is logical to weigh all the pros and cons, compare and contrast different options and construction technologies, as well as the use of building materials.
Among the many organizational issues, you need to decide what is better to build a house from.
The topic is extensive and multifaceted, each material has advantages and disadvantages, but specifically in this case, wall material made of cellular concrete - foam concrete will be considered.
Pros and cons of houses from foam blocks
Pros of a foam block house
Low thermal conductivity
Aerated concrete materials (foam concrete, aerated concrete) have a unique porous structure, due to which they are good heat insulators.
Light weight
Depending on which brand of foam concrete blocks are used, the weight is 1 cubic meter. ranges from 300 to 1200 kg. This leads to softer requirements for the foundation and in practice translates into an opportunity to save on materials for the foundation for a foam block house.
Minimum hygroscopicity
In the process of manufacturing foam concrete, a method is used to form blocks by pouring them into molds. This affects the geometry of the block, but contributes to the formation of closed pores. Due to this, foam concrete does not absorb moisture from the environment. A simple test, immersing foam concrete in a container of water, can demonstrate the resistance of the block to water absorption.
Durability of foam concrete
It is due to the fact that concrete, which forms the basis of foam concrete, gains strength during operation. That is, the longer the house stands, the stronger the foam concrete will be.
fire resistance of foam concrete
According to the fire safety class, foam concrete is one of the safest building materials, since it does not burn and does not support combustion.
Ecological purity of foam concrete
For the manufacture of the foam block, water, sand, cement and foam concentrates are used. The latter can be of two types: natural and synthetic. Even if synthetic foam concentrates are used, their specific gravity is no more than 0.5% of the total mass, which allows us to confidently declare the environmental friendliness of the material.
High speed construction of a house from foam blocks
The installation of one block is faster than laying bricks of the same square. Plus, the installation error will be much lower.
Ability to embody any architectural style
Foam concrete is easy to process. Sawing, drilling, grinding the block is not difficult and does not require the use of special tools. Thanks to this, even a beginner who does not have experience in construction can drive out a box of a house from a foam block.
Ease of laying communications in foam concrete
Dictated by the malleability of the blocks to processing, they are easily chiselled for laying pipes, wiring, etc.
No finishing requirements
A foam concrete house can be used for a long time without additional finishing. As a rule, cladding is performed purely for aesthetic reasons. The most popular option is decorative plaster. A foam concrete house can be finished with any of the existing materials, it is important that they are designed for foam concrete blocks and do not adversely affect the microclimate in the building. Otherwise, the ability of the house to “breathe”, which is due to its porous structure, may deteriorate.
Ease of decoration
Thanks to a flat surface or finish with any other finishing material with minimal effort to prepare for finishing.
Relatively low price of foam block
Despite the fact that in absolute terms, foam concrete (35-39 rubles / piece) is more expensive than brick (6-10 rubles / piece). But, in order to close the same area, you will need one foam block (35-39 rubles / piece) and 13.5 bricks (13 * 6 = 78 rubles). The benefit is obvious. And taking into account the fact that the house does not need insulation and a strong foundation, savings can reach up to 30%.
Low cost of laying foam blocks
This aspect is relevant for those who do not plan.
Cons of a foam block house
home shrinkage
A house made of foam concrete shrinks by 2-3 mm per linear meter, you can start finishing only after a certain period has passed (at least six months). Shrinkage is caused by a long-term reaction between the constituent components of the foam concrete solution.
Foam concrete has a porous structure
The advantage of porosity is that it gives the foam block low thermal conductivity, but complicates the process of mounting fasteners into the wall. The way out is to use special fasteners designed for foam concrete. Their price practically does not differ from the cost of conventional fasteners.
Finishing material requirement
Only special plasters and paints are used for wall decoration.
The need for reinforcement of foam concrete
The reinforcement is laid in the area of the openings, and every 4-5 row of blocks is also reinforced. Without an appropriate armored belt, it is not possible to reliably install ceilings and a truss system.
High chance of buying counterfeit
The fact is that raw materials and equipment for the manufacture of foam concrete are relatively cheap, so the blocks are often made in a handicraft way, which is fraught with violations in production technology and affects the quality of the goods.
Direct relationship between strength / thermal insulation properties of the material
With an increase in strength (structural grades D 1000-1200), the thermal conductivity of the material increases. And vice versa, insulating foam block (grade D 300-500) cannot be used as a material for the construction of load-bearing walls. Especially when it comes to multi-storey buildings.
The fragility of the foam block
On the one hand, it provides a simple processing of the block, on the other hand, the bearing capacity of the material is reduced.
Requirements for calculating the load on foam concrete
The need for careful calculations of the thickness of walls and partitions, taking into account all possible loads. Usually walls are erected with a margin of safety.
Unaesthetic appearance of the house from the foam block
A house built of cellular concrete is often finished precisely in order to eliminate this drawback.
The need for a shaping foundation
Those. such a foundation for a house made of foam concrete blocks, which will allow leveling the low indicative bending strength that foam concrete differs from.
Not ideal foam block geometry
Causes each block to be sanded before laying, slightly increasing construction time.
As you can see, a house made of foam concrete has both pluses and minuses. Therefore, it is difficult to give an unambiguous answer what characteristics a house built of cellular concrete blocks will have. It all depends on the quality of the material itself, the skill of the bricklayer, compliance. The master must reduce the negative aspects of the foam block house to a minimum and not ruin the benefits that the use of foam concrete gives to the house.
Foam block house - owner reviews
Aerated concrete manufacturers and block laying craftsmen unanimously claim that aerated concrete is the ideal solution for individual construction. Foam blocks, large and at the same time light, allow you to build a wall in record time, and the porous structure makes it unnecessary to insulate the house from foam concrete.
Is this really the case or are manufacturers hiding something from us?
It is possible to impartially judge which foam concrete house is based on the feedback of those who already live in it. The opinions of real users differ, some consider foam concrete an ideal solution, others are categorically against it.
When deciding whether to build a house from foam blocks, the reviews of the owners will come in handy.
Victor (Moscow region)
I offer my know-how. Maybe someone knows this trick, but I thought of it myself. I was going to build a house with my own hands. There is some experience, assistants too. I read reviews about foam concrete. They write differently. But, in the village, half of the houses are foam concrete. So I settled on it.
One thing was embarrassing, if the screws in the block do not hold, how to install the doors-windows? They fall off.
The decision came unexpectedly. The blocks intended for laying the outer wall were sawn worse than the blocks of the inner row, due to their greater density. So we decided to install denser blocks along the contour. So what if their thermal conductivity is lower, there will still be plaster inside. Everything is holding up great. And in order to hang the shelves, it’s true, you have to keep a supply of special dowels.
As a builder with experience, I note that it is necessary to strengthen openings, even arched ones, in any house with metal corners. For clarity - a few photos.
Stepan (Tula region)
Why did we decide to build a house of foam concrete?
- Savings became tangible even at the stage of pouring the foundation.
- Production of blocks near the site - they brought it for free. We have a suburban area in the village of Malaya Dubna (Orekhovo-Zuevsky district, Moscow region) near the manufacturer Penoblok.Ru.
- The geometry of the foam blocks is decent. Used special glue. At first glance, they overpaid, but the seams are thin, beautiful, dense.
- The walls grew "by leaps and bounds", we did not expect such a speed.
- The windows were installed immediately upon completion of the work.
We were frightened by the shrinkage of the house, but either the metal corners did their job, or the foundation did not let us down, or the house settled evenly, but no cracks appeared. It looks, however, not very presentable, but they have not yet reached the exterior finish. In general, for 4 years of operation, no complaints.
Saburov brothers
We have built a foam concrete house in the Rostov region. Summer here is warm, but rainy, so over time we are going to cover the house with plaster. So far, so that it does not gain moisture, they covered it with a water repellent. I asked at a construction company, they advised Antipluviol With Mapei. Expensive, we have 5,200 for 5 liters in Rostov.
I bought Ceresit ST 13 (2,150 for 10 liters). The walls do not darken, which means that they do not draw water. Cracks for 7 years of residence has not increased. And those that are, unequivocally caused by the shrinkage of the foundation, the house did not stand up properly, they were in a hurry to build walls. As I understand it, the foam block, despite being lightweight, requires a good foundation. It's a pity it came late. But, finishing will improve the situation.
Nikita (Samara)
Before construction began, I read about the porosity of the foam block and that the fasteners do not hold well. Everyone advises using special fasteners. I thought this problem was not worth a damn. It turned out to be wrong. As it came to internal work - at least shoot yourself.
The water heater has been hung up for now, so many devices have been invented so that it stays in the wall and does not crash on its head. Special dowels do not hold a heavy structure. Furniture for the kitchen was ordered without hanging blocks at all, only pencil cases and lower cabinets. And like so, small things, fasteners. Both the foam blocks from the manufacturer and the construction technology are observed, but they are not immune from fragility in the walls.
Mikhail (Leningrad region)
I have been living in a house made of foam concrete for almost 12 years. Like any material, foam concrete has its drawbacks. For example, in some places there were cracks along the block itself, there are a couple of cracked seams. But they are not critical and are probably caused by the fact that they used a mesh with a wire diameter of 2 mm for reinforcement, but it was necessary to take reinforcement, at least 6-8 mm. At that time, I didn’t want to mess with the gating of the block, now we are paying. But the house is warm, compared to the neighbors who live in insulated brick houses, ours, not even plastered, just keeps the heat perfectly.
By the way, the walls are built in two rows. The first one is from a load-bearing (I don’t know what it’s called) foam block of the D 800 brand, the second is from a heat-insulating D 400. And yes, the dowels in it are excellent, the main thing is to take it longer so that they reach the second layer. In general, there are no complaints about the foam block house. The main thing is not to be too lazy and study the technology for both those who build themselves and those who order the work (so that you can control it). And of course, observe it during the construction process.
Sergey Mikhailovich (Karelia)
What is there to think, put your hand to the foam block and brick. Foam concrete is much warmer. A visual demonstration of savings on insulation. Of course, the best option would be a tree, after all, a unique microclimate in the house. But a rounded log or timber is more expensive, and it is not so easy to fold a log house with your own hands.
So, from the point of view of the microclimate and insulation, foam concrete is an ideal option. And complaints about the cracks - so you need to adhere to the laying technology or hire normal craftsmen. And then they save on everything, and then they complain. No wonder they say "the joy of a low price lasts less than the disappointment of poor quality."
A house is not the object on which you need to save. It is better to do the finishing gradually, and the box and foundation should be the same as it should be according to the technology. And even better with a margin of safety.
Mikhail (Tula region)
I chose foam concrete for the construction of a temporary hut in the country, rather for reasons of economy. As a basis, a shallow strip foundation (soil allows). The main purpose is to store garden tools, hide from the rain, a place for a snack.
Now summer cottages are gradually settling in, so we are thinking about building a capital house. Based on the fact that there are no complaints about the temporary building: the foam concrete has not cracked during this time, there have been no cracks in the masonry, I will use foam concrete.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is no unequivocal opinion about whether a foam concrete house is good. But most users agree that the purchase of high-quality blocks and adherence to the technology of building a house are the key to its long-term operation.
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