What to choose - aerated concrete or foam concrete? Foam block or gas block: which is better for construction Construction of foam concrete and aerated concrete blocks

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.

Modern technologies for the construction of country houses widely use blocks of foamed concrete. They are light, strong and large in size, which allows you to build walls quickly. But it is not always clear what is better to choose - foam concrete or aerated concrete. And is there a difference between them?

There is a difference and it is in the method of obtaining the material. Foam concrete and aerated concrete are related materials, both of them are lightweight concretes with small air bubbles inside. In fact, it is foamed and frozen concrete in this state. But the way these bubbles form is different.

Why is concrete foamed?

As you know, the best heat insulator is air. The most effective thermal insulation materials are those that contain a large amount of air pores inside. But the more voids inside, the less durable such material. Foamed cellular concrete successfully combines the strength of concrete and good heat-insulating properties of air.

Production features

foam concrete made from a cement-sand mixture with the addition of a chemical reagent - a foaming agent. Foaming agent for foam concrete can be of synthetic and organic origin. The mixture is thoroughly mixed and poured into molds. Hardening occurs naturally, which makes it possible to produce foam concrete blocks for small enterprises.

aerated concrete or autoclaved foam concrete is made only in the factory. It does not contain any chemical additives for foaming, it consists entirely of mineral raw materials: sand, lime, cement, gypsum, water and aluminum powder as a blowing agent. As a result of a chemical reaction, bubbles form, and they form pores. Hardens the material at high temperature in a pressurized autoclave.

What are good houses made of foam concrete and aerated concrete blocks?

Both foam concrete and aerated concrete are durable building materials, they do not burn, are not environmentally harmful, durable and, at the same time, are easily processed. Houses made from these materials are much cheaper than those made from traditional bricks. There are several reasons:

The low cost of the blocks themselves.
Savings on heat and sound insulation. The low thermal conductivity of materials allows you to build walls of reduced thickness, the house will still be warm.
Large block sizes allow you to spend less connecting material (cement or glue) and build faster.
Both aerated concrete and foam concrete are lightweight materials; building a house does not require the construction of a massive foundation.

Comparative characteristics of foam and aerated concrete

The advantages and disadvantages of these building materials are about the same. The advantages include the following features:

High strength.
Ease.
Ease of handling and use.
Good heat-insulating and sound-proofing properties.
Does not rot, is not damaged by rodents.

Disadvantages of materials:

Compared to ordinary concrete, both aerated concrete and foam concrete withstand less mechanical stress.

How to distinguish aerated concrete from foam concrete

Differences between the foam block and the gas block are clearly visible:

Foam block: gray shade, smooth surface.
Gas-block: color - white, surface rough, embossed.

If you break off a piece, then the pores of foam concrete are much larger. After placing pieces of both materials in water, after a while you will notice that the open-pore aerated concrete will quickly absorb moisture and sink to the bottom, the foam concrete will remain on the surface for several days.

Strength

They are produced in various densities depending on the purpose of the materials. At the same density, foam concrete loses a little to autoclaved aerated concrete in terms of strength. Aerated concrete is stronger. In addition, the quality of aerated concrete is controlled by a large manufacturer, and in the production of foam concrete at small enterprises, its strength is difficult to control. Its strength depends on the quality of the foaming agent. It is no secret that manufacturers can use low-quality, cheap blowing agents to reduce the cost of blocks.

The strength is also affected by the factor that the structure of aerated concrete is more uniform. In foam concrete, there may be larger and smaller pores, which affects the strength indicators.

Ability to retain heat

The denser the structure of the concrete block, the worse it holds heat. Therefore, foam concrete, which has a low density, will be a better heat insulator than aerated concrete.

Exact block sizes

The accuracy of the geometric dimensions of blocks made of autoclaved aerated concrete is greater. It is regulated by GOST, the permissible deviations are up to 3 mm in length, up to 2 mm in width, and up to 1 mm in thickness, while for foam blocks, deviations in geometric dimensions in thickness can reach 5 mm.

This is due to the fact that when pouring molds for foam blocks, there are always deviations in size. Gas blocks are cut after hardening with a special string and their dimensions are more accurate.

At first glance, 5 mm is small relative to the total block size. But the violation of the geometric dimensions of foam concrete blocks leads to deterioration of the masonry and a greater consumption of masonry materials.

Environmental friendliness

Autoclaved aerated concrete is an absolutely environmentally friendly material. During its production, a reaction occurs between lime and aluminum. The hydrogen released as a result is not all released during the solidification of the material, but it is not a poisonous gas. Aerated concrete is made from mineral raw materials, therefore it is completely not subject to decay, and due to the ability to regulate the humidity of the air in the room, the likelihood of fungi and mold on it is completely excluded.

Foam concrete is also a safe building material. It is made from cement, sand, ash, crushed stone production waste, and chemical additives are used as foaming agents. Foaming agents forming foam concrete, both proteinaceous and artificial, do not contain harmful substances. The quality and environmental friendliness of such additives cannot always be strictly controlled. This fact is used by large enterprises for the production of aerated concrete to promote their product in the construction market. But even if there is a possibility that the chemicals are not entirely safe, their concentration in the foam concrete itself is extremely low. In addition, the pores of foam concrete are closed and airtight.

Both building materials do not have significant environmental deficiencies and this parameter cannot be decisive when choosing.

Water absorption

Both foam concrete and aerated concrete have a porous structure, which means that they absorb moisture to one degree or another.

Aerated concrete absorbs more moisture than foam concrete. This is due to the fact that in foam concrete the pores are of a closed type, and in aerated concrete there are pores of both open and closed types. Aerated concrete wall must be covered with a protective layer, otherwise it will pick up a lot of moisture. During frosts, wet aerated concrete does not behave in the best way - it cracks. As a coating, plaster or tiled lining is used.

Foam concrete can also be used without a waterproof coating, but usually the walls are finished, leveling them, as well as for decorative purposes.

Price

Foam concrete is cheaper, the components for its manufacture are not very expensive, and the equipment is not complicated. The production of autoclaved aerated concrete is more expensive. But during the construction of foam concrete, more may be needed than aerated concrete due to the fact that it is less durable.

It is also important that aerated concrete is laid on an adhesive mixture, and inexpensive cement mortar is quite suitable for foam blocks. True, with glue, laying is faster, and it will take much less than a cement mixture.

Findings:

If you want to build a low building, block a wooden building, make an extension to a country house, then foam concrete would be the best choice.

If you need to build a large house with reliable load-bearing walls - use aerated concrete. But do not forget that you need to build quickly, you can not leave an unfinished house to get wet in the rain.

We hope that this comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of foam concrete or aerated concrete was timely and helped you. Good luck building!

Foam concrete and aerated concrete belong to the class of cellular blocks with low weight, but they differ in composition, manufacturing method and characteristics.

What is better to choose - foam block or gas block?

To make a choice between similar materials, you need to learn more about their main features and characteristics.

In the process of manufacturing foam blocks, the following elements are used:

Portland cement;
sand;
water;
foam former.

This material is produced in two ways:

mixing of all elements in the pressure mixer;
mixing sand, water and cement mixture with the gradual addition of foam, which is produced in a special generator.

It is best to use the second method, however, the cost of funds in this case will be large. Foam blocks, which are produced in this way, have a uniform structure, they do not have large pores, because the material has greater strength.

In the process of manufacturing gas blocks, the following elements are used:

Portland cement;
sand;
water.

A porous structure can be obtained through the use of lime and aluminum powder. In the process of mixing such elements, a chemical reaction will occur and hydrogen will be released. This gas will give a light structure to gas blocks. After that, the mixture will need to be poured into containers and placed in an autoclave so that it hardens under conditions of high pressure and air that is saturated with steam. You can also dry the mixture naturally at high humidity.

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What to look for when choosing blocks

The main indicator that you should pay attention to in the process of acquiring foam blocks or gas blocks is density. It is expressed in kg / m³ and is indicated by the letter D. The greater the density, the stronger the material. It should be understood that the thermal conductivity also increases. Therefore, blocks with a high density are recommended for the manufacture of frames and load-bearing walls. Blocks of low density are best used in the manufacture of low-rise residential buildings. Low density blocks are used for thermal insulation of bases.

Some are interested in the question of which is stronger - a gas block or a foam block. You should know that it is the gas block that has the greatest strength.

The next indicator to pay attention to is strength. It depends on the block density. Using this indicator, you can determine the maximum load on the structure. Strength is expressed in kgf / cm², it is indicated by the letter M. If with the same strength, then the former will have lower density and thermal conductivity.

It is worth noting that each of these blocks has a low thermal conductivity. To date, you can find a fairly large number of positive reviews regarding foam concrete. However, in terms of strength, this material is inferior to aerated concrete.

Thanks to thermal processing at high pressure, gas blocks acquire a number of operational advantages over foam blocks. Gas blocks have an open-cell structure that allows the walls to breathe. Accurate linear characteristics of gas blocks can be achieved by cutting them.

In the process of choosing between an aerated concrete block and a foam block, one should take into account the fact that in Russia there is no foam concrete manufacturer with good geometric characteristics that allow foam blocks to be laid on an adhesive solution. Aerated concrete blocks of large manufacturers have excellent geometric characteristics.

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Which block production technology is better?

Foam blocks and gas blocks are related materials. They differ only in the formation of cells within the blocks. In foam concrete blocks, air bubbles are formed due to the foam, which is mixed with the concrete solution. When the concrete hardens, a block of given dimensions will be obtained, in which there will be a frozen foam in the form of bubbles.

Such blocks are light in weight and have a good level of strength. In the foam block there are cells of a closed type. This means that during the curing process, the air bubble will envelop the concrete. As a result, all the bubbles will be inside the concrete.

In order to get bubbles in gas blocks, aluminum chips should be used, which will react with oxygen, as a result of which gas will be released. Gas blocks have open type cells. This means that the air bubbles will communicate with each other. It is also worth knowing that the gas block in most cases is manufactured industrially and dried. In order to form a block, string cutting is used, which is able to provide the correct geometry. Thanks to this, you can make high-quality layout of blocks and spend less time on its implementation.

If there is any doubt about which material is better to choose, then you need to pay attention to the following nuances:

The foam concrete block has a closed cell structure, so it does not absorb moisture. The aerated concrete block absorbs moisture, due to which it collapses in the winter.
Foam blocks and gas blocks are porous materials and are able to absorb moisture. However, they can absorb moisture only if such materials are immersed in water. If the blocks are outdoors, they will not absorb too much moisture, and therefore any of these materials can be used.
A foam concrete block has a density of 650-700 kg / m³, and an aerated concrete block has a density of 450-500 kg / m³. From this we can conclude that the foam block is stronger.

It is important to take into account the fact that the quality of the cement mixture used is of great importance in the strength of the blocks. The use of cement containing slag or a low grade (M400 instead of M500) may lead to a decrease in the quality of the material. Private manufacturers of foam concrete blocks cannot check the quality of the concrete solution, while at large enterprises for the production of gas blocks, the quality of the cement mixture is always checked.

Today, some organizations have begun to produce innovative gas blocks, whose density is 350-400 kg / m³, and the strength is higher than the strength of foam blocks.

Gas blocks contain aluminum, which is harmful to health. There is no aluminum in foam concrete.

The composition of gas blocks also contains aluminum oxide weighing 20 kg / m³, which enters the material along with cement mortar and other elements. The foam blocks contain approximately 50 kg / m³ of aluminum oxide.

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Which blocks are the cheapest to build?

There is an opinion that laying gas blocks will be cheaper than laying foam blocks. This is due to the fact that foam concrete blocks are laid on a cement solution, and aerated concrete blocks on an adhesive mixture. In most cases, the layer of cement mortar for laying foam blocks is approximately 1 cm. In this case, the laying of gas blocks has a thickness of 2 mm. The difference in the volume of materials is 4-5 times. Therefore, the adhesive mixture for gas blocks will need about 5 times less than the cement mortar. At the same time, the adhesive mixture costs approximately 2-2.5 times more than the cement mortar. It is worth noting that the adhesive mixture is prepared much faster than the cement mixture. Even if we take into account the fact that the cost of foam blocks is slightly less than the cost of gas blocks, laying on an adhesive mixture will cost less than laying on a cement mortar.

An additional advantage of laying blocks on an adhesive mixture is that in this case, cold bridges are almost completely eliminated.

If you need to purchase foam blocks or gas blocks, then you should know that gas blocks that are produced at factories are definitely better than foam blocks that are made at private enterprises. Foam blocks of this type do not have the parameters that they should have.

The gas block and foam block are produced according to the same GOST and DSTU and have almost the same performance characteristics. The gas block has a more complex production process, because it is made exclusively by large enterprises.

The foam block is made much easier, because today the market has a fairly large number of various portable equipment that is used for the production of foam concrete. The equipment is inexpensive, so people who have absolutely no idea about such indicators as strength, density and thermal conductivity have taken up the production of foam blocks.

That is why foam blocks have a bad reputation. However, one should not draw conclusions from this. Foam blocks are great for walls, they are not too inferior in their characteristics and have some advantages. In the process of acquiring foam blocks, it is important to contact large organizations that have a good reputation and have been producing the material for more than a year. It is important to pay attention to the availability of quality certificates.

Foam blocks are of high quality, which are made from cement above the M500 grade.

Building blocks from subspecies of cellular concrete - gas and foam concrete - have been successfully competing with such building monsters as concrete, brick and wood for several decades. It is precisely due to their physical and operational characteristics, consisting of both advantages and disadvantages, that large companies and private developers have not yet finally decided which foam or aerated concrete is better, although they are similar in many respects.

The strength of these masonry products is inferior to those of brick and concrete, but they have no equal in terms of thermal conductivity, and for low-rise construction, choosing foam concrete or aerated concrete is preferable and more economical than building a house from hard stone materials. An important role in the choice of cellular concrete is played by the light weight of block products, which makes it possible to facilitate the construction of the foundation - both foam concrete and aerated concrete have a porous structure. The combination of cheapness, efficiency, high energy savings and sufficient strength - these are the whales on which the popularity of such modern building materials as aerated concrete or foam blocks is based.

Aerated concrete - properties and qualities

Load-bearing and non-bearing walls, internal partitions and auxiliary architectural structures are erected from aerated concrete blocks, panels and slabs. The solution for the manufacture of building elements is prepared from high-grade Portland cement (not lower than M 300), lime, refined fine sand, blast furnace or coal slag, and other industrial waste.

The gas-forming substance is aluminum powder, which, when reacted with lime, when water is added, begins to foam, releasing hydrogen. Hydrogen bubbles do not have time to completely leave the solution, since the reaction occurs under the influence of high temperature, and the remaining hydrogen forms a cellular structure of aerated concrete suitable for construction.

To better understand the differences between foam and aerated concrete, you need to familiarize yourself with the technology of their manufacture. It is impossible to make high-quality gas blocks in an artisanal way due to certain difficult conditions that occur during the process of forming blocks in an autoclave.

Advantages of aerated concrete:

Ecological purity of materials for the production of building elements from aerated concrete;
Easy, affordable and simple machining due to the low density coefficient - gas blocks and slabs can be sawn with a regular hacksaw, drilled, chiseled, etc.;
The strength coefficient makes it possible to compare aerated concrete with low-quality concrete, therefore, architects recommend building low-rise buildings from gas blocks - the strength is sufficient, and the heat capacity is much higher than that of brick or other artificial stone. Moreover, the autoclaved aerated concrete element is much stronger than a good foam concrete block;
The low weight of the products is a consequence of the low density and many air pores that provide the heat capacity of the material. Aerated concrete is seven times lighter than brick, so transportation, laying and storage are much easier, and the ability to lighten the foundation design completely outweighs the choice in favor of gas bricks;
Heat, noise and waterproofing. Energy saving is the most influential property of aerated concrete when choosing the main material for building a house, and the difference between it and concrete (brick, natural stone) is quite significant. High heat resistance is achieved by the presence of air pores and the presence of natural substances in the sand. The same parameters enhance the sound insulation properties, and low moisture permeability is ensured by the presence of aluminum in the blocks.

Disadvantages:

Porosity is a plus, but in certain cases it can play a bad role, for example:

Moisture in the form of condensate accumulating from the atmosphere. In the pores, condensate quickly accumulates, spreading along the walls. Therefore, additional waterproofing in regions with a high level of average annual precipitation is indispensable. And therefore, any construction of gas blocks requires waterproofing of facades, and sometimes protection of internal walls from excess moisture. Compared to foam concrete, the pores in aerated concrete are less isolated from each other and interact more with any liquids;
Porosity is a direct path to the appearance of microcracks. This can happen with subtle seasonal soil movements, when the house shrinks, or when the foundation is washed away with groundwater.

The optimal use of gas-block structures and structures is in low-rise construction during the construction of internal load-bearing and non-bearing walls, interior partitions, complex architectural elements (arches, niches), as well as strengthening the thermal insulation of rooms. Block products are used for walls and partitions, panel products are used to create a heat-insulating layer between walls and partitions and directly to the room.

Foam concrete - properties and qualities

As a product of modern building technologies, both foam concrete and aerated concrete are very similar to each other and are subspecies of lightweight cellular concrete. The composition of the solutions is very similar, but the methods of processing the working mixture are quite different. The main difference is that foam concrete is produced using a mechanical process (in a pressure unit using a foam generator), aerated concrete is produced by an autoclave chemical method.

Advantages of foam concrete:

With an average strength index, foam concrete, working under permissible SNiP conditions, retains the specified properties for a very long time. Very often, builders call foam blocks eternal;
High energy saving rates: holding heat well, foam blocks can accumulate it. That is, in winter the foam concrete house will be warm, in summer it will be moderately cool. Foam block walls are able to pass air well - “breathe” like walls made of logs or timber, thanks to which a comfortable microclimate with an optimal humidity level for a person is always maintained in the premises;
Mounting foam concrete or aerated concrete is very simple - blocks are made with a special comb-groove system, and it is quite difficult to lay the wall unevenly along these guides. In terms of density and specific gravity, both foam concrete and aerated concrete are also similar. Both products have the correct geometric shapes, which facilitate transportation, lifting to a height and stacking blocks into a structure. Machining with hand tools allows you to form geometrically complex, and even curvilinear structures in walls and interior ceilings;
Profitability, affecting the total cost of building a house. Precise and fast laying of walls means savings on building materials and labor costs, low weight means minimizing transportation costs. Components of natural origin - this is the cheapness of production;
Fire resistance in the first class means that the 150 mm thick foam block can withstand open flames and high temperatures for up to 240 minutes.

Disadvantages:

Both foam blocks and aerated concrete products quickly absorb atmospheric moisture, reducing the life of the building by reducing the reliability of the building material;
The strength of foam materials depends on the brand, but is always lower than the strength of concrete or brick;
A simple manufacturing technology gives rise to a lot of fakes that cannot be visually distinguished from a quality product. Certification documents can also be qualitatively forged, and this is used by unscrupulous businessmen. Therefore, it is recommended to buy foam blocks from trusted manufacturers;

A generalized answer to the question of which is better: foam blocks or aerated concrete products, there is only one answer - foam concrete structures are used in construction in a wider range of possibilities, including the construction of external walls with a sufficient degree of strength. Aerated concrete is used in more specialized architectural structures, but with greater responsibility in terms of performance.

It is blocks, and not panels or slabs, that are more in demand, since walls are erected from them in low-rise and high-rise buildings, and partitions inside the house can be built from foam blocks. The frequent use of foams for decorative and complex architectural applications is justified by their ease of machining.

Foam concrete in the form of a solution is used for pouring flat roofs, floor screeds, for thermal insulation of any engineering communications, etc. Foam concrete of high strength grades withstands weight loads well, works as a foundation for low-rise buildings built from lightweight materials.

All types of cellular concrete, including foam concrete and aerated concrete, in many special cases can replace brick structures, most often internal ones. When choosing building materials for the home, remember: aerated concrete is stronger, and foam concrete has a wider area of use, the surface of the foam concrete product does not have pores open to moisture, which provides increased thermal insulation. In production, foam concrete is cheaper.

Who is better foam concrete and aerated concrete updated: January 16, 2017 by: Artyom

Construction begins with the choice of which the building will be erected. It is optimal that it be strong, durable, with good insulating characteristics. Cellular concrete possesses all these properties. Let's figure it out what is the difference between a gas block and a foam block, the most sought after of its varieties.

Features of cellular concrete

Traditionally, houses are built of wood, brick,. Each of them has advantages that improve the quality of construction. Modern technologies have made it possible to create a composition in which all these advantages are successfully combined. The cellular mass is used for the construction of internal and load-bearing walls, partitions, insulation, etc.

The defining moment is the density of the product and its porosity. The more pores, the lower the density and, accordingly, the strength. Compositions with high porosity belong to the category of thermal insulation. More dense are designed for the construction of load-bearing structures. In any case, the cellular mixture is distinguished by:

security.
Good warmly and soundproofing.
Sufficient strength.
Ease of processing.
Fire safety.

Under the name cellular concrete, a whole group of materials is hidden, similar in structure, but differing in properties. The most popular of them are foam and aerated concrete, which are produced using different technologies. Specialists recommend using them for the construction of low-rise buildings.

What is a foam block

This is the name of the building module, made by foaming the mixture. The production technology is quite simple:

A mixture of water, Portland cement, sand and fiber is kneaded in a concrete mixer with inclined blades.
A foaming agent is added to the solution, after which kneading continues.
The finished composition is poured into molds.
It is left to dry completely in natural conditions. Sometimes an autoclave is used, in which case products of higher quality are obtained.

The ease of manufacture of foam allows you to do it literally on the construction site. What does it look like similar production can be seen on the net. However, it is almost impossible to achieve uniform density under such conditions.

Air bubbles move randomly inside the solution. Therefore, the porosity of foam concrete varies not only within the batch, but also within the same block, but it costs cheaper other varieties. Let's get acquainted with its characteristics:

Light weight, which removes a significant load from and facilitates installation.
Low thermal conductivity. A wall made of standard-sized parts retains heat in the same way as a brick partition 0.7-0.8 m thick.
Sufficient strength. Depends on the density of the module, but in any case lower than that of a brick or. Nevertheless, a number of models can be used with additional reinforcement in the construction of buildings no higher than three floors.
Moisture resistance. pores foam block closed, which makes it non-hygroscopic. When it enters the water, it will float without absorbing liquid for seven days.
Fire resistance. Does not support combustion, substances released under the influence of a flame are not toxic.
Good frost resistance. The material retains its properties at low temperatures.

Significant disadvantages include non-uniform density. The geometry often depends on the manufacturer. Handicrafts can have significant deviations, which seriously complicates installation.

All about the gas block

Production technology in comparison with foam concrete has minor differences at first glance. However, it is they who determine the difference in their characteristics. Aerated concrete is made as follows:

A blowing agent is added to a mixture of Portland cement, sand, fiber and water. Most often it is aluminum paste. After stirring, a chemical reaction begins, which is accompanied by the evolution of gas.
The solution is laid out in forms so that they are only partially filled.
Within two hours, the mixture increases in volume, after which the excess mass is removed.
Products are sent to the autoclave for drying.

The result is homogeneous in composition, almost perfect geometry. Given certain difficulties in manufacturing technology, it cannot be produced in a handicraft way.

We list the main properties of the module:

Light weight, which is about a third of a brick of the same volume.
Low thermal conductivity. The air trapped in the pores is a good insulator. The material accumulates heat, resulting in heating costs Houses reduced by about a third.
. Gas blocks are completely safe. The toxic aluminum paste used in the manufacturing process dissolves without residue.
Ease of processing. Modules easily amenable to any cutting tool. They can be sawn, drilled, etc.
Frost resistance. It is estimated at a minimum of 25 cycles, subject to construction regulations.
Fire safety. The product can withstand direct exposure to a flame for about 3-7 hours.

The main disadvantage of aerated concrete is hygroscopicity. In contrast from the foamed analogue, its pores are open, it quickly absorbs water. For this reason, effective waterproofing of the building is essential.

Gas block and foam block: what is the difference

It may seem that these varieties of cellular concrete have a set of almost identical properties. However difference between them is and it is essential. Let's compare the most significant characteristics.

Module geometry

The better it is, the easier it is to carry out. So, even structures can be mounted using a special one. The thickness of the seam is only 2-3 mm, which allows you to completely get rid of cold bridges. At the same time, the speed of working with geometrically correct elements is much higher. Finishing costs are also reduced, since leveling is not required. Foam blocks according to this indicator are noticeable different. The error of their sides is 3 mm and higher, for gas blocks it is no more than 1 mm.

Insulating properties

Both varieties are filled with air bubbles, but their number is not the same. Aerated concrete is more porous, therefore, it retains heat better and dampens noise. However, the differences are small. In both cases, structural and insulating models are produced. The latter are designed to insulate buildings from more "cold" materials, for example, cinder blocks.

Hygroscopicity

Foamed concrete is absolutely non-hygroscopic, it can build without special protection against moisture. The open structure of the gas modules makes them vulnerable to moisture. They are quickly soaked with water, which worsens their performance properties. Therefore, mandatory additional waterproofing of the structure is necessary.

Strength

Characteristics depend on the density of the modules and how they are produced. stronger all products made of aerated concrete, processed in an autoclave. They are allowed to be used in the construction of houses up to 3 floors for mounting, load-bearing and external walls. When filling the frame, the products are placed without restrictions. Foam concrete has less strength, therefore project construction should provide for mandatory reinforcement of structures.

The weight

Both options are cellular concrete, on the basis of which it can be assumed that their mass is approximately the same. So it is in fact. However, a little harder foam blocks. Due to the low weight, it became possible to produce parts that are much larger than, for example, standard bricks. This noticeably speeds up the laying process, since there are fewer elements per unit area.

Durability

Estimated life time both compositions is at least a hundred years old. It has not yet been possible to verify this empirically, since they appeared only in the second half of the last century. However, you need to understand that this will be possible only if the building is properly erected and further properly maintained.

Foam block or gas block: which is more profitable for construction

There is no doubt that a building made of cellular concrete will be much more economical than a brick one. But the debate continues about which one is better suited for individual construction. Not everything is clear here opinions divided. The fact is that, other things being equal, foam concrete will be cheaper. This is due to the low cost of its manufacture. However, the overall construction costs can be more significant.

A geometrically correct gas block can be placed on a special glue. Thickness strong is only 2-3 mm, so the consumption of an expensive composition will be minimal. Whereas the foamed module most often has significant irregularities, as a result of which it can only be laid on a cement mortar. To obtain reliable seams of the latter, a lot will be required, which will increase the expense item.

Additional reinforcement of foam concrete, which is mandatory for the construction of any building, even a small one baths, will also result in some amount. The next cost item is finishing. Aerated concrete, with its almost perfect geometry, does not need alignment. Foam concrete should at least be plastered. As a result, it turns out that initially cheaper material gives a noticeably larger cost estimate. This should be taken into account when choosing.

However, it is necessary to take into account one more aspect, namely the experience of the installers. Professionals can easily cope with laying aerated concrete on. This is more difficult than laying on cement and requires certain skills. Therefore, it is better for novice builders to work with foam concrete. In this case, you need to choose only high-quality material.

We dismantled differences between foam block and gas block. There are quite a few of them and they are significant. But at the same time, both types of cellular concrete are in demand, because they allow you to quickly and cost-effectively build a strong and warm house.

Material prepared: Inna Yasinovskaya

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