Foam block or gas block: which is better for construction. Foam concrete or aerated concrete? What's better? What is better foam blocks

There are many building materials on the market today. And cellular concrete blocks are among the most popular building materials. They are widely demanded both among specialists and among home craftsmen.

Today, two types of blocks are produced from lightweight cellular concrete: gas block and foam block. In this article, we will consider what is better foam concrete or aerated concrete.

Foam concrete or aerated concrete

Due to the large distribution of building materials on the modern market, many home craftsmen are trying to figure out what is better than cinder block or aerated concrete, not forgetting about such a popular material as foam concrete.

These materials are characterized by almost identical chemical composition.

The common components here are:

Cement.
Water.
Sand.

Due to the same composition, the foam block and aerated concrete have the following positive properties:

Fire resistance.
Resistance to various biological factors (damage by rodents, decay, etc.)
Resistance to the influence of chemically active substances.
Ease of installation. Knowing the principles of brickwork, you do not need instructions for building a wall from a foam block or gas block with your own hands. Therefore, most home craftsmen have just such a choice: foam block, gas block or brick.

What is the difference

Consider the technology for the production of these materials:

Foam concrete is obtained by adding a foaming agent to the concrete solution. After that, the composition is poured into prepared forms, where it gains strength.
Aerated concrete is obtained as a result of the chemical reaction of quicklime with aluminum. The composition of this material includes the smallest particles of aluminum powder. As a result of the reaction, gaseous hydrogen escapes, which forms a porous structure. This material is made in large blocks. After the block hardens, it is cut into products of the desired shape.

It is these differences in manufacturing that influenced the properties of the resulting materials.

Comparing the characteristics of materials

In order to decide which blocks are better than gas silicate or foam blocks, it is necessary first of all to compare their technical characteristics. Despite the rapid technological progress, today there are no ideal building materials, so you always have to choose by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of various blocks.

Determining which foam block or aerated concrete is better, we will compare the following parameters:

Strength.
Heat and sound insulation.

Environmental friendliness.
Price.
Hygroscopicity.
The need for reinforcement.
Ready for finishing work and installation.
Production quality.

Let's consider these points in more detail:

moisture resistance. A good home should be dry. And foam concrete in this case is an ideal material, since it practically does not absorb moisture.

Advice!
In order to verify the high water resistance of the foam block, you can conduct the following experiment: place the block in a container filled with water, leaving it in it for a long time.
The material will float on the surface of the water both after a week and after a month, etc.

In view of such a high hygroscopicity, experts recommend waterproofing only the outer walls of buildings lined with foam blocks.

Aerated concrete is also waterproof, but to a lesser extent. In addition, the drying of this material takes longer.

Thermal conductivity. Warm housing is the dream of many of our compatriots. Given the rather harsh winters, everyone dreams of forgetting about the cold, drafts and heating electrical appliances placed throughout the house.

Walls built of cellular concrete need to be insulated. Especially on the outside. Aerated concrete has a lower thermal conductivity, but thermal insulation is still a mandatory procedure.

Soundproofing. Separated pores in the structure of foam blocks provide a higher level of sound insulation than aerated concrete. However, soundproofing such walls is still necessary.
Strength.

Our country is accustomed to building "for centuries". Given the cost of modern building materials, this desire is very easy to justify. Therefore, a durable material for load-bearing walls is needed.

The strength of the foam block is lower than that of the gas block.

Advice!
Due to its lower strength, foam concrete is easier to process.
If necessary, you can easily cut such a block into the desired parts, drill a hole or grind the protrusions.

Aerated concrete blocks withstand external loads better, as a result of which they do not lose their shape and do not crumble during loading and unloading operations. Accordingly, the structure is more durable.

As you can see, in terms of strength, the answer to the question: “What is better, a gas silicate block or a foam block?” depends entirely on the nature of the proposed work. If the material is to be processed, then you should choose a foam block, but if you need a building with even strong walls, choose products made of aerated concrete.

Wall mounting. Let's figure out what is better gas silicate or foam block when laying, because ease of use is a very important parameter for any home craftsman.

Foam concrete blocks are not afraid of either cold or rain. They are ready for use immediately after production. Therefore, you can start work immediately upon the arrival of the material at the construction site.

Gas blocks, in turn, absorb moisture, so they should be used in masonry walls only after drying. On the other hand, plaster fits better on them, which greatly simplifies the finishing work.

Reinforcement. Determining which foam blocks or aerated concrete is better, it is impossible to bypass the topic of reinforcing the material in order to strengthen the structure.

Laying reinforcing bars prevents the appearance of cracks in foam concrete walls. Due to their reduced strength, this procedure is mandatory. Aerated concrete walls are also subject to reinforcement, however, in this case, reinforced blocks are laid only in the ceilings of doorways and windows.

Advice!
During the construction of one-story buildings, aerated concrete can not be reinforced at all.

When deciding which foam blocks or gas blocks are better, many will focus on cost.. Both materials are classified as inexpensive building blocks. However, there is still a price difference. Since the manufacturing process of gas blocks is more complicated, they are more expensive. And the difference can be about 20%.

Ease of manufacture allows the production of foam blocks not only in a semi-industrial, but also in a handicraft way. This significantly reduces the cost of purchasing equipment and the production of the material itself. Products made in artisanal conditions can be much cheaper than factory-made aerated concrete (up to 40%).

Transport cost calculation. When determining which foam blocks or gas silicate blocks are better, you should not least of all pay attention to transportation costs, because the delivery of material to the construction site is a mandatory step, since building a house requires a large amount of building materials.

Foam concrete blocks are less resistant to transportation. Requiring good packing, they can take miles of damage when transported over bad roads. Gas blocks are more durable, but are usually transported in covered vehicles in order to prevent moisture from entering.

fakes. Determining that gas blocks and foam blocks are better, few of the home craftsmen think about the fact that in the modern market it is quite easy to encounter fakes by purchasing material of dubious quality. And if the production of aerated concrete blocks excludes such cases in the bud, then foam blocks that are easy to manufacture are often faked by small cooperatives and one-day firms.

Industrial production of aerated concrete products becomes possible only with the purchase of specialized expensive equipment, so all building materials of this type meet all quality requirements.

But there are quite a lot of low-quality foam concrete on the modern market. And besides the low price, such building materials may have a number of other, more unpleasant characteristics, among which are increased brittleness and low environmental friendliness.

Facts and misconceptions

To date, there are several questions on these materials that are of interest to most home craftsmen:

How harmful to human health is aluminum contained in aerated concrete?

Such experiences are absolutely groundless, since aluminum, being one of the most common materials on earth, is also present in ordinary ceramic bricks. Moreover, its mass fraction in brick is much greater than in aerated concrete. This material does not have any harmful effects on the human body.

The gas block is laid on glue, while cement mortar is used for laying the foam block. Will work with a gas block be cheaper due to saving the solution?

The layer of cement mortar when laying a foam block is at least 1 cm. The adhesive layer when building a wall of gas blocks is only 2 mm. Accordingly, the consumption of glue is 5 times less, while its cost is only 2 times higher than the cost of concrete.

Advice!
Laying on glue allows you to virtually eliminate the occurrence of cold bridges, which will allow you to significantly save on wall insulation.

Conclusion

As you can see, modern building materials have certain differences, reflected in both advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, even experts, among whom there are different opinions, cannot decide which is better for a gas block or a cinder block. Therefore, given all of the above, the final decision should be yours.

In the presented video in this article you will find additional information on this topic.

Before building a home, you need to ask yourself the question of what material the house will be built from. Many factors are taken into account: climatic conditions, material possibilities, the purpose of the building. The strength and comfort of the structure depends on the material. It is necessary to take into account that the walls of the house are fireproof, environmentally friendly, protected from noise. Very often the question becomes what to buy: foam concrete or aerated concrete. It would seem that there is not much difference, but let's take a closer look at whether this is so. Maybe some of these materials are a priority and why.

Advantages of aerated concrete

When choosing between aerated concrete, foam concrete, brick or wood, it is necessary to take into account the advantages of each of the materials. Speaking of aerated concrete, it is worth noting that in order to build a house from this product, it is not necessary to have construction skills. Buildings made of aerated concrete are easy to erect, finish, carry out repairs and redevelopment. Because of this, aerated concrete is widely used in modern construction. Aerated concrete is made from lime, sand and cement. This is an artificially created building material, with a porous structure, more than eighty percent filled with air and gas. Due to these features, aerated concrete has low thermal conductivity, low weight, ease of use and processing.

Among the main advantages of aerated concrete are the following:

low cost - aerated concrete is considered one of the most inexpensive materials for building houses;
excellent thermal insulation abilities - the material perfectly retains heat, which makes it possible to reduce heating costs in winter and not feel high temperatures in summer;
ease of use - it is easy to work with aerated concrete, even a beginner can lay aerated concrete, it is large enough, lightweight, which makes it possible to transport, lay, cut and grind the surface;
vapor permeability - the structure of the blocks ensures the circulation of steam from the room to the outside;
the use of aerated concrete allows you to build a building in one layer without additional insulation;
dries very quickly, it is not recommended to cover with plaster, which will block the access of air;
safe for health, non-toxic, due to the fact that only natural materials are used in manufacturing;
helps to build a good quality home.

Aerated concrete allows you to build:

partitions;
external walls;
interior load-bearing walls;
reinforcement walls.

The main characteristics of aerated concrete:

high thermal conductivity;
density;
density-dependent strength;
fire resistance;
vapor permeability;
soundproofing;
big sizes.

Houses made of aerated concrete are durable, are not attacked by rodents, and have high thermal insulation rates.

Advantages of foam concrete

Foam concrete is a material that is used to make houses. The main requirements for modern products for building houses are:

low cost of the material;
long service life;
high level of thermal insulation.

Foam concrete is ideal for these requirements. The material is relatively inexpensive, the service life of the blocks is more than eighty years, the material is able to withstand even the most severe winters, while being able to retain heat.

Foam concrete belongs to the group of cellular concrete with high thermal insulation performance. A block is made by mixing cement mortar, sand, water and aluminum powder. It is the powder that reacts with other components and gives the composition a foamy look. In the middle of the material there is a large amount of air, which gives such high thermal insulation abilities to the blocks.

Speaking about the advantages of foam concrete, it is worth noting the following advantages of raw materials:

the ability to pass air, which allows you to maintain the level of humidity in the room;
material of relatively low weight, which reduces the load on the foundation;
due to the large size of the block, the construction of the dwelling is carried out in a shorter time;
when building walls, you can use a mortar-glue substitute, which will be cheaper;
it is much easier to apply finishing material on foam concrete walls than on surfaces made of other materials;
the foam block is an environmentally friendly material, completely safe for the health of living family members;
possesses fire-resistant ability, at emergence of the fire does not ignite.

As can be seen from the described advantages of the product, foam concrete is ideal for housing construction and is a competitor to other building materials.

Composition of foam concrete

Foam concrete can be purchased at a hardware store or made independently. To do this, you need to study the composition of the product. As already mentioned, at the end of the work, a block is obtained, in its composition and appearance resembling a sponge for washing dishes. The number of air compartments depends on the density of the material and varies depending on this. The composition of foam concrete is regulated by the document, it is he who regulates the quantitative and qualitative filling of the block. Material requirements are:

the use of cement of a special brand, which does not contain impurities;
use of water of a certain quantity and quality;
sand of suitable quality, the content of the quartz part of which should not exceed seventy percent;
the amount of foaming agents according to the recipe for the manufacture of the product.

Foaming agents of two options may be present in foam concrete:

natural;
synthetic.

The use of a natural product allows you to get blocks of high quality and environmentally friendly. Artificial blowing agent makes it possible to reduce the cost of the material. Sometimes additional components are used, such as ash, fiberglass.

There are also ordinary standard foam blocks and reinforced ones. The latter are necessary for high loads on the walls.

Composition of aerated concrete

Aerated concrete is an artificial material intended for the construction of dwellings. External and internal walls can be made from it. Due to its porous structure, the material does not exert a large load on the foundation. High thermal insulation properties make this material widely demanded.

The type of classification of aerated concrete depends on its purpose, shape, manufacturing technology and composition:

the material processing method can be - autoclave and non-autoclave;
according to its purpose, the block can be a material for thermal insulation, for construction, and mixed - structural - heat-insulating;
in the form of a block - U-shaped straight lines and with grooves.

To make blocks, you need to use:

sand;
cement;
water;
gypsum, aluminum;
water.

As an additional component, it can be slag or ash. Depending on the additional impurities, the blocks are divided into the following types:

cement;
slag;
lime;
ash;
mixed.

Aerated concrete is a porous and spongy material. To prepare the autoclave block, it is specially treated in autoclaves to harden. Those blocks that solidified in natural conditions are called non-autoclaved. Unlike autoclave blocks, these are subject to mechanical influence to a greater extent, so it is rational to use non-autoclave blocks for light loads.

The difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete

At first glance, it may seem that there is no difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete. On the one hand, both the first and second material are a product called cellular concrete. Thanks to the cells and the air contained there, the material becomes more valuable from a physical and technical point of view. Each of these types of concrete is produced by autoclaved, artificial, or non-autoclaved, natural methods. Autoclave requires the use of special equipment for hardening raw materials, and non-autoclave comes to condition in natural conditions. There is a big difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete, manifested in such features:

composition of products;
characteristics;
operational abilities.

Disadvantages of foam concrete

Even with so many useful properties, foam concrete has its drawbacks, which many do not know about. If you decide to build a house from foam concrete, study the strengths and weaknesses of the material. Knowing about the minuses and shortcomings will help to eliminate them in time and orient yourself so that after the construction of the finished project there are no unpleasant and unexpected consequences.

Among the shortcomings of the material are the following:

composition - foam concrete is based on aluminum powder, which reacts with other components, and although manufacturers claim that this composition is completely safe, it is better to carry out thorough surface finishing work, although this will increase the cost of construction, but will be able to protect those living in the home;
products for connecting blocks - so that the blocks are well connected to each other and the seams do not collapse, it is recommended to use not a cement mortar, but a special adhesive base, the use of glue helps to enhance the thermal insulation properties of the building;
the cost of materials for gluing blocks - the price of glue is much higher than the cost of cement mortar, this significantly increases construction costs, but also, on the other hand, makes the laying of blocks of the highest quality;
the composition of the block - since lime is included in the composition of the blocks, gradually over time it causes oxidation processes in the reinforcing joints of the house, over the years the strength of the wall is broken, in order to avoid this, it is recommended to cover the reinforcement with an anti-corrosion coating, which also significantly affects the cost of construction.

Disadvantages of aerated concrete

Aerated concrete, firmly established in the construction industry, is often used to build private dwellings. To build a house does not require special knowledge or special equipment. The structure of the blocks allows you to perform various manipulations with them. The material is fireproof and breathable.

But even with such a large number of positive material properties, aerated concrete has many disadvantages that should be taken into account when building a house:

Increased moisture permeability and water absorption - this is due to the structure of the blocks, the porous inner surface absorbs water and accumulates it, if you do not take care of this at the construction stage, then the gradual accumulation of a large amount of moisture will degrade the quality of the material and its properties.
Insufficient thermal insulation - this feature of the material appears after the blocks accumulate moisture, but if sufficient waterproofing has been carried out, then the voids are filled with air and this provides high waterproofing. Also, the material was carried not on a special glue, but on a cement mortar, its thermal insulation properties will be reduced.
High gas permeability allows the walls to breathe, but this happens only in the warm season, at low temperatures and strong winds, the thermal protection of aerated concrete is reduced.
Insufficient strength of the blocks - due to the insufficient strength of the material, it is necessary to use a special reinforcing layer, a support pad. This reduces thermal protection, and special additional funds make construction more expensive.
Low cold resistance - moisture that has entered the pores of the material leads to a decrease in cold-resistant qualities, this can be prevented with high-quality waterproofing.
The appearance of cracks - the blocks are not elastic enough, they are prone to fractures, they do not tolerate shrinkage of the foundation, they can break as a result of this, cracks appear after a few years. This does not cause the destruction of the house, but leads to a decrease in quality.
Poor quality of plaster - plaster laid on blocks collapses over time.

The shortcomings of aerated concrete can be smoothed out with proper use and enjoy a cozy and high-quality room. A large number of suggestions and explanations can be found on how to troubleshoot potential product problems in the future.

Comparison of foam concrete and aerated concrete

There is a difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete, not only in production technology, but also in the technical characteristics of materials. Consider these differences:

The blocks differ in composition: lime, sand, cement and water are used for the manufacture of aerated concrete, cement, sand and a foaming agent are needed for foam concrete.
The materials differ in cost - foam blocks are cheaper, they do not require special glue to connect surfaces, like gas blocks.
The quality of the appearance of the materials is different - for aerated concrete blocks, the proportion is better observed than for foam blocks. As a result, laying is easier, there is no need to level the rows with mortar.
Materials differ in strength, aerated concrete is several times stronger.
Due to the fact that the structure of the pores in foam concrete has a closed shape, the foam concrete surface "breathes" worse. On the other hand, it retains heat better.
Foam concrete is more resistant to water and it is much easier to protect it with waterproofing than aerated concrete.

Making a choice in favor of any one material is not easy. Both concrete options are lightweight and do not overload the foundation. They have excellent heat and sound insulation compared to other building materials. The large surface of the blocks allows you to build housing in a short time. Materials do not burn, are not damaged by rodents, do not rot.

It is not easy to answer the question which of them is better, and it is impossible to get a definite answer - in some cases it is preferable to use foam blocks, in others - gas blocks. It is necessary to take into account the climatic zone, weather conditions and many other objective factors.

If you still have questions about how to build a house from aerated concrete or similar material, watch the video, there you will find answers to all your questions and you can decide which material is better to use in your particular case.

Gas and foam concrete blocks are related building materials. They are made from lightweight cellular concrete. These two types of blocks are actively used in low-rise construction. Often, developers have a question, what material is better to use?

Choosing foam or aerated concrete will help knowledge about the method of their production and characteristics. They will be discussed in this article.

Which material is better - stronger and warmer

One of the main advantages of a building material is its strength. This parameter directly depends on the density (specific gravity) of concrete:

for foam concrete blocks, it ranges from 650 to 700 kg / m³;
for aerated concrete material, the density is 400-450 kg / m³.

Based on these figures, foam concrete blocks should be more durable. However, it is not. Aerated concrete building material is manufactured by the factory method and with the help of modern technologies. Due to this, with a strength of 35 kgf / cm² and a density of 450 kg / m³, it can withstand the same loads as foam concrete with a specific gravity of 650 kg / m³.

Both building materials are considered warm. But which one has the highest rate?

Aerated concrete blocks have lower cold resistance than foam blocks. However, their geometry is perfect. Thanks to this, this material can be placed on a very thin layer of glue. Because of this, there is a minimum number of cold bridges.

For comparison:

thermal conductivity of D-500 gas blocks is 0.12;
the coefficient of thermal conductivity of foam concrete analogues of the brand D-700 is 0.24.

The latter material has a high level of thermal resistance, it effectively accumulates heat. This makes it possible to reduce the cost of heating the home. However, in order for such a result to become possible, the thickness of the foam concrete walls must be twice as large as that of the enclosing structures made of gas blocks.

From this follows the conclusion: aerated concrete buildings are warmer (2 times) than foam concrete buildings, with the same thickness of enclosing structures.

What options to choose

Desired qualities of building material for walls:

ecological cleanliness;
form, convenient for masonry;
large dimensions;
not too much weight.

Foam and aerated concrete blocks have all these qualities. However, there are differences between them.

One of them is in the geometry of the blocks. Aerated concrete material is manufactured only in the factory. Therefore, it has an almost correct shape. As a result, gas blocks are more convenient to lay, and less masonry mortar is spent. Foam concrete material is often made handicraft, because of this, its geometry leaves much to be desired.

There are differences in the block production technology. Aerated concrete analogues are environmentally friendly. In the manufacture of foam concrete, production waste is often used to replace quartz sand. Moreover, lye or waste left after leather dressing is used to produce foam. Because of this, the blocks have a reduced shelf life, and the properties of this building material are unstable.

Foam blocks are made simply. This makes it possible to produce them handicraft. The mixed solution is placed in molds in which it hardens. Very often the shape of the material comes out uneven.

There are differences in the storage conditions of building materials. Aerated concrete building material again wins in this, as it is reliably packed. Thanks to this, it is protected from atmospheric influences and pollution during storage. Foam concrete analogues are not packed. This is their minus.

Which block production technology is better

The material for the production of both types of blocks is lightweight concrete, the structure of which is permeated with small pores (cells). The conditions of production and the ingredients used influence the quality of these related building elements.

Their production methods differ, cells are formed during various production processes.

Foam concrete blocks are made like this:

First, the components of the solution are mixed.
Then a foam additive is added to the mixture.
The ingredients of the solution are mixed mechanically.
The mixture is then poured into molds.
The blocks are then dried at natural temperature.

The equipment for their manufacture is inexpensive. Therefore, foam concrete blocks are often made in small workshops. Due to the wear of forms, products often have irregular geometry. The difference in dimensions can be significant, and this reduces the quality of the masonry.

Features of the production of aerated concrete blocks:

The porous structure of the material is formed as a result of chemical interaction between the ingredients of the solution.
To increase the strength of the product, it is processed in an autoclave.
Aerated concrete is produced only in factories. In this case, expensive, technologically advanced equipment is used. Therefore, the quality of blocks from it is higher than that of foam concrete counterparts.

Properties due to which it is worth choosing aerated concrete blocks for construction:

Easy processing. The material can be drilled, sawn and planed. Nails are driven into it without problems.
Ecological purity. The blocks are made from natural ingredients, so they do not contain harmful substances.
Fire safety. Aerated concrete is non-combustible, it belongs to the 1st class of fire resistance and the 2nd category of fire resistance.
Long service life. It is about 100 years old.
High level of strength.

For the production of foam concrete blocks, hydrated lime, water, Portland cement, blast-furnace slag, etc. are used. Sulfide or soap liquor is used to foam the mixture.

Aerated concrete is made from Portland cement, quartz sand, slaked lime and water. Aluminum paste is used as an additive. This ingredient is harmful to health, however, during the production of the material, its particles dissolve.

In foam concrete, the structure is obtained with closed cells. The walls come out of it warm and have good sound insulation. The material absorbs less moisture than aerated concrete. However, it is still necessary to veneer the walls from it.

In aerated concrete, the structure consists of small pores and microscopic cracks. It absorbs water more intensively than foam concrete. Therefore, aerated concrete walls must be protected with a moisture-resistant cladding.

Which masonry will cost less

An important selection criterion is the cost of blocks and, based on it, the price of construction. Equipment for the production of gas blocks is expensive, and the production technology is complex and costly. Therefore, aerated concrete blocks are not cheap. They cost 3000-3500 rubles per cubic meter.

Equipment for the production of foam blocks is several times cheaper. The technology of their manufacture is simpler. Thanks to this, the material costs 2500-2900 rubles per cubic meter.

Aerated concrete blocks are more expensive than the foam counterpart. However, due to their ideal geometry, masonry mortar is spent on them much less, and the walls are more durable.

Before choosing a building material, you should know about the scope of its use. Autoclaved aerated concrete blocks in most cases are used for the construction of building envelopes, as well as internal partitions in domestic construction. In addition, with their help, frames are filled during the construction of monolithic buildings. The material can be used in the construction of high-rise buildings.

For foam concrete blocks of natural drying, the scope of application is not so wide. The scope of their use:

construction of partitions and piers inside buildings;
construction of external load-bearing walls of buildings, up to three floors high;
erection of fences;
construction of industrial premises;
arrangement of heat-insulating layers of ceilings, floors and walls.

For the construction of residential buildings up to two or three floors high, private cottages, summer cottages, aerated concrete blocks are often used.

What building material to choose for the construction of a garage, utility and other non-residential buildings? Blocks for them must be strong, reliable, durable, resistant to mechanical stress. Aerated concrete meets these requirements, however, for reasons of economy, it is better to prefer foam concrete. Its characteristics are quite suitable for the construction of non-residential buildings.

If you need to build a bath, it is better to choose foam blocks. Aerated concrete is warm and well soundproofing rooms, but it is less moisture resistant, quickly absorbs water and dries for a long time. Therefore, it is undesirable to use this building material for a bath or sauna.

Foam concrete has better moisture resistance, it is cold-resistant. Therefore, it is ideal for the construction of a bath.

The choice in favor of gas or foam concrete blocks depends on their characteristics, features and cost. It is easier for amateur builders with little experience to work with the first type of product. They have standardized dimensions, high quality and good technical characteristics. Foam concrete blocks may have an uneven surface, but they are cheaper.

Watch the video posted in the article. It contains a lot of additional information on what criteria should be used to choose a building material:

In the construction of buildings, blocks of different materials are often used. Aerated concrete or foam concrete: which is better to use? Both materials are cellular concrete. This is a composition that consists of many cells. But gas blocks and foam blocks are made in different ways.

Block Characteristics

To understand for yourself the difference between foam blocks and gas blocks, you need to read their characteristics. What is the difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete? Aerated concrete is a simple material, but it requires high-tech equipment to create it. During processing, it can pass through an autoclave, in which the material is sintered at high temperatures. It can also be performed by the non-autoclave method. The first one will be much stronger. The components for manufacturing are the same:

Portland cement;
water;
lime;
sand;
aluminum powder.

Combining substances, you can change the characteristics of blocks of foam concrete and aerated concrete. Products made of foam concrete or aerated concrete are made in approximately the same way. The foamed mass, which has acquired initial strength, is cut into blocks and dried in the open air or in a special device. What is better: gas block or foam block? In Europe, aerated concrete is used. In the UK, it is used in the amount of 40% of the total mass of building materials, in Germany this percentage reaches 70. But all this is used only in low-rise construction.

What is the difference between a foam block and a gas block? One is created using chemical reactions, the other - using a special foam. These materials can be made in a special installation or using a conventional concrete mixer. The solution is decomposed into molds, from which finished blocks are removed. The forms themselves can be:

plywood;
metal.

Plywood is cheap products, but they have disadvantages. They quickly get wet and fail after a month or two of work. Therefore, they are not suitable for the manufacture of blocks on an industrial scale. For metal molds, metal 4 mm thick is used, which is cut by a laser. And such products have disadvantages. The side mounts are very difficult to pull off, so the metal bends and the finished blocks can be humpbacked. In forms, you can fill in blocks both at work and at home. And the method of pouring the plate is used mainly only in production.

The poured mass in the form of a large slab is cut with saws into pieces of the desired size. The equipment is expensive, dust and crumbs remain during operation. It can be 0.5% of the total mass of the spent solution. The difference between a gas block and a foam block is almost imperceptible at first glance. Both materials are very similar in appearance. But some benefits can be found in each of them. Aerated concrete blocks are characterized by ease and manufacturability of processing. This material is processed very easily: it is cut, drilled even with hand tools. Blocks are used to build walls for baths and houses. In the walls of a house made of aerated concrete, it is easy to make strobes for placing water and sewer pipes, laying electrical wiring.

Material Advantages

Walls made of foam concrete for a bath or a house have approximately the same performance as aerated concrete. The differences are hard to spot. Foam concrete blocks, like gas blocks, are lighter than bricks, hold heat well, and are frost-resistant and fire-resistant. Both of these materials are able to withstand temperatures of the order of 300 ° C, do not age or rot. They have good sound insulation, walls up to 20 m high can be built from aerated concrete and foam concrete. Does it make sense to compare these blocks if the difference between an aerated concrete block and a foam block is almost imperceptible? But it is better to give preference to aerated concrete for the reason that the bearing walls made of it are much stronger.

Foam concrete has some of its advantages:

it is significantly superior in quality to wood and brick;
the block is lightweight, which makes it possible to refuse the use of lifting mechanisms in the construction of foam concrete;
the blocks are the same size;
masonry is carried out on glue, which is warmer than the solution;
foam block walls do not burn;
foam blocks can be made right on the construction site;
the material exhibits greater resistance to frost;
has a high degree of sound insulation;
a foam block does not need a frame and a strong foundation.

Of the shortcomings, it is necessary to mention the shrinkage of the walls, which occurs within a month. Surface finishing must not be done before this time.

Walls lined with aerated concrete have their drawbacks. The main one is the fragility of the material. Throwing or hitting blocks of aerated concrete is not recommended. It can only be transported on euro pallets. Aerated concrete differs from foam concrete in that it is able to absorb moisture from the air. For this reason, the gas block is not recommended to be stored without a roof. When moisture is absorbed, the blocks increase in weight and lose their strength. With further freezing, the material may collapse.

When laying the gas block is able to absorb a lot of moisture from the solution. At the same time, the process of building walls is difficult.

What material to choose?

If we combine all the characteristics, we can conclude that foam concrete can be produced at the construction site, the gas block - only in production conditions. In terms of fire resistance, products made of aerated concrete and foam concrete are in no way inferior to each other. Comparison of foam concrete blocks with aerated concrete in terms of shrinkage will be far from in favor of foam concrete, which is significantly inferior in this to walls made of aerated concrete. Foam concrete products are cheaper and more affordable than aerated concrete. But you can also buy very low-quality material. How is aerated concrete different? A house made of aerated concrete is much stronger. From it you can build not only a bath, but also a multi-storey building.

If we consider and compare the advantages of foam block and aerated concrete, we can find pros and cons in each building material. What is better to build a bathhouse from, what is the difference and what is the difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete? It is better to take aerated concrete for building a house or a bath. It is more expensive, but much stronger than its foamed counterpart. How to distinguish a foam block from a gas block? After all, they are made from the same components, but using different technologies. Only in the manufacture of foam concrete is used SDO (saponified wood resin), and in the manufacture of aerated concrete - aluminum in the form of fine dust. In the manufacture of materials, various sizes can be obtained, which differ significantly from the standard ones.

The main characteristics of gas blocks and foam blocks are very similar. This similarity makes the materials look the same at first glance. Only the accompanying documents and factory packaging will tell you the brand of the material. But the difference between a foam block and a gas block can be considered with careful observation. Upon careful examination of the compared specimens of products, one can see that the air pores on the surface of the aerated concrete block are open. The material is like a sponge. Water enters these pores, and the weight of the material increases significantly. During the day, weight gain occurs up to 47%. Foam concrete, on the other hand, can float in water for a month without being saturated with moisture.

Cutting aerated concrete blocks gives more accurate dimensions of the material. This is its peculiarity. It is better to build a house or other structure from such material. For gluing blocks, a significantly smaller amount of glue is needed, since its layer usually does not exceed 2-3 mm. What is the difference between foam block and gas block in terms of heat retention? She is quite palpable. If you compare 2 materials, their characteristics in this case are completely different. The difference between a foam block and a gas block is that the second material is the best heat insulator. The characteristic of a 450 mm thick wall made of aerated concrete is the same as that of a 600 mm wall of foam concrete.

Conclusion on the topic

What to choose for building a house or a bath: wood and brick, gas block and foam block? What are the advantages of these materials, their pros and cons? What is stronger: walls made of gas block or foam block? What blocks to buy? All these questions concern new developers. Foam concrete is an excellent material related to cellular concrete. It is relatively cheap. Gone are the days when houses were built only of brick and wood. Now more and more buildings are made of foam block structures. Aerated concrete structures can be built even better. If you use a foam block, it does not get wet. This ability is one of its best qualities, although the use of gas blocks and foam blocks does not make much difference.

These materials are perfectly processed by hand tools. They can be sawn, drilled, ditched. They are light in weight. Aerated concrete and foam concrete: which is better? Foam concrete is able to give a fairly large shrinkage, which is uncharacteristic for aerated concrete. It is possible to clad surfaces from blocks with clapboard, siding, plaster, paint. Such walls do not need thermal insulation. Walls have their advantages and disadvantages, similarities and differences. What material to choose for personal use is up to the owner. Aerated concrete is a very reliable, but expensive material. It just needs to be protected from water. The good quality and evenness of the blocks have made it popular with developers. It is easy to install, reliable and beautiful.

The use of foam concrete or aerated concrete: which is better for construction? These materials, consisting of the same components, may differ from each other. But it is rather difficult to determine this. Which is better: foam blocks or gas blocks - now it should be clear.

Foam concrete or aerated concrete - which is better for building a private house? This question is asked by millions of people, as these two materials are often confused with each other. In this article, we will analyze how aerated concrete differs from foam concrete, and also talk about all the pros and cons of aerated concrete houses.

Aerated concrete and foam concrete are cellular materials obtained by mixing concrete mortar and a foaming agent. After hardening, hollow cells are formed in the structure of the components, which provide heat capacity and sound insulation of the walls, and also reduce the weight of the blocks. In the form of raw materials, inexpensive concrete is used, due to which the foamed blocks have a low price, acceptable for mass construction.

Production and structure of cellular material

Aerated concrete is obtained by mixing ordinary concrete and a blowing agent (aluminum powder). This material is always factory-made, as it is obtained by baking in special expensive ovens - autoclaves. Aerated concrete is immersed in autoclaves in large blocks, which, after completion of all chemical reactions, are cut into smaller blocks.

In an autoclave, aluminum forms a gas when interacting with concrete. Gas bubbles after solidification of the material form a cellular structure. The cell sizes are the same, and the heat-saving characteristics of the material are evenly distributed over its thickness. Neighboring cells are often interconnected, so the material is characterized by "through porosity", that is, it has the structure of an ordinary sponge.

The difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete is that it is obtained without an autoclave, by adding foam agents to the concrete solution. To obtain a cellular structure, the material is shaken (with a mixer). Production of foam concrete is possible in a handicraft way or independently, at the construction site. To do this, the finished foamed solution is poured into molds and allowed to harden.

The main difference between the internal structure of foam concrete is that its cells are isolated from each other. In addition, they have different sizes (from 1 to 5 mm), which is the reason for the uneven distribution of heat-saving properties over the concrete surface.

The presence of through and non-through porosity and different cell sizes provide differences in the characteristics and application of aerated concrete and foam concrete.

The shape and size of blocks for building a house

Aerated concrete, as mentioned above, is produced in an autoclave. After hardening, it is cut into separate blocks, which, at the same time, are obtained with a regular geometric shape with even surfaces (or with special grooves to simplify the laying of aerated concrete - the so-called tongue-and-groove blocks). The advantage of aerated concrete is that dimensional tolerances do not exceed 1 mm, so aerated concrete blocks can be laid on a small layer of glue, which reduces overall costs and improves the energy efficiency of the building, due to the reduction of "cold bridges" in the form of glue joints.

The standard dimensions of aerated concrete blocks for building a house are as follows: length 625 mm, height 250 mm, and width in the range from 85 to 400 mm. Making the walls thicker doesn't make sense.

In addition to the blocks of the correct geometric shape, there are also the so-called U - shaped blocks, which are used as ready-made forms for the house, or for pouring lintels over window and door openings. Such blocks are more expensive than conventional ones, but they allow you to get a reinforced jumper or belt without cold bridges much faster.

Foam blocks are cast into ready-made molds. At the same time, the dimensional accuracy is much less than that of aerated concrete - the tolerance is 3-4 mm, which makes it necessary to lay foam blocks on a thicker layer of mortar. This increases the cost of purchasing masonry cement mortar and provides increased heat loss of the building.
The video shows the process of self-casting foam concrete blocks.

The standard sizes of foam blocks for load-bearing walls are selected from the following range: length 600 mm, height 300 mm, and width in the range from 100 to 250 mm.

Material characteristics

The presence of cellular voids provides high heat capacity and sound insulation. A 30 cm thick cellular concrete wall retains heat like 1 meter of brickwork (more ), this is an indisputable advantage of both aerated concrete and foam concrete. However, the presence of through or non-through pores results in different moisture-absorbing capacity of materials and their ventilation properties.

Aerated concrete with a through-pore structure "breathe" like wooden walls. For them, there is no need to build a forced ventilation system. A traditional hood over the stove and ventilation ducts from the kitchen and bathroom are enough. On the contrary, foam concrete with insulated cells "do not breathe". A building with such walls requires mandatory ventilation, even in living rooms.

Moisture permeability of aerated concrete and foam concrete

Similarly, due to the different cellular structure, aerated concrete is able to absorb moisture, condensate, and get wet when exposed to precipitation. This minus of aerated concrete makes it necessary to finish the facade of the house as soon as possible, spending additional funds on this during the main construction.

In general, the durability and service life of aerated concrete houses directly depends on its protection from external atmospheric influences. If this issue is approached competently, then such a house will serve no less than a brick house without any problems.

Foam concrete, in turn, does not absorb atmospheric moisture and remains dry, so they are often used where the climate is quite humid. However, the gray appearance of buildings made of foam blocks, one way or another, obliges the owners to carry out the exterior decoration of the house.

The presence or absence of moisture in the pores of the wall reduces or increases frost resistance. Foam concrete walls have a higher frost resistance index.

Conclusion: in a climate with frequent thaws (middle lane), when the temperature fluctuates around 0 ° C in winter, foam block walls will be more durable.

Thermal insulation of cellular materials

The thermal insulation characteristics of aerated concrete in the technical data sheet are indicated by a coefficient of 0.116 (at a moisture content of 6%). Foam concrete has limits from 0.13 to 0.16. However, these figures are for dry material. For an honest comparison, it is necessary to increase the humidity to the same 6%, then the heat capacity indicators will slightly decrease and will be comparable with a similar characteristic of aerated concrete. Thus, the thermal insulation characteristics of the materials can be considered the same.

Strength of aerated concrete and foam concrete

The strength of aerated concrete (30-35 kg / cm 2) is higher than foam concrete (about 10 kg / cm 2) with the same density. This important advantage allows you to build two-story houses with aerated concrete walls 35 cm thick. While foam concrete walls will have to be made thicker (up to 65 cm) to provide the building with the necessary strength. This significantly increases the cost of materials for construction and increases the volume of construction work. Therefore, the advantage of aerated concrete will be a reduced consumption of material and money during construction.

In the line of aerated concrete, materials with different densities are used - from 300 to 600 kg / m 3. When building a house for permanent residence, it is best to use aerated concrete with a density of about 500 kg / m 3, since it is optimal in terms of price-quality ratio.

Aerated concrete is characterized by higher strength, reliability, it does not shrink. Foam concrete has lower strength characteristics and shrinks, but at the same time its price is 20% less. Therefore, foam concrete is used as a substitute for aerated concrete where there are no bearing loads (for construction , additional insulation).

To understand what is better for building a house - foam concrete or aerated concrete, you need to take into account all the above indicators and apply them to your area, house design and your financial capabilities. In any case, there are always fallback options in the form of brick buildings or .

Pros and cons of aerated concrete houses

Since aerated concrete houses are the most popular and optimal in modern construction, we will summarize all the information on this type of building in one place. The advantages of aerated concrete houses include the following aspects:

Material cost. Houses made of aerated concrete blocks will cost the owners cheaper than other stone materials.
Environmental friendliness. In the production of such material, no harmful substances or impurities are used. In addition, aerated concrete masonry breathes, creating natural air exchange.
Good heat capacity. Aerated concrete walls do not require mandatory external insulation. The thickness of aerated concrete masonry is comparable to the same wall made of timber or a meter-long brickwork.
Good soundproofing. Air pores in aerated concrete have a beneficial effect not only on the thermal insulation of the building, but also on sound insulation.
Savings on heating. Good heat capacity makes aerated concrete houses quite energy efficient. This property allows owners to reduce heat loss and thereby save on gas or electricity bills.
Ease of handling material. The lightness of aerated concrete allows its installation without the use of special equipment - you can transfer the blocks manually, despite their size.
Due to its precise geometric dimensions, aerated concrete is very easy to install, because during its installation, it requires minimal adjustment, creating perfectly even walls without thick adhesive seams. It follows from this that the laying of aerated concrete blocks can be done independently without serious experience and masonry skills.
Due to the ease of processing the material, you can easily build houses of any configuration. Aerated concrete is perfectly sawn with a conventional hacksaw without the use of a specialized tool.

Aerated concrete houses also have disadvantages, but there are not so many of them. The main ones are:

Due to the porous structure, aerated concrete is subject to moisture absorption on the outer layer, therefore, after the construction of the building box, it is necessary to finish the facade of the building as soon as possible.
In the event of design errors, or improper laying of blocks, improper shrinkage of the structure and the appearance of cracks may occur. Due to the brittleness of the material, cracks can be large, forming serious cold bridges.
Low frost resistance compared to brick. Frost resistance characterizes the resistance of a material to freezing and thawing cycles. This indicator for aerated concrete is several times lower than that of brickwork, so timely protection of the facade from precipitation will help your home last as long as possible.
The need to use special fasteners for fixing structures in aerated concrete. It is worth noting that at present this minus is becoming more and more a thing of the past, since the market has long been saturated with fasteners and allows you to choose special tools at an affordable price for fixing boxes and shelves in aerated concrete masonry.

As you can see, the advantages of an aerated concrete house turn out to be much greater than the minuses, which is why aerated concrete construction has been such a success in our country for the past decades.

Categories

Popular