The best materials for building a house. Modern building materials for the walls of the house. Comparison of building materials

The first and main issue to be resolved before the start of construction of a country house is the choice of material.

Not only the comfort of living, but also the level of energy saving depends on the correctness of his decision. Let us consider in more detail what materials are offered on the market today and how each of them fits into the universal formula “price-environmental-friendliness-energy saving”.

Brick house (brick, ceramic blocks)

There are two advantages of such a building - durability and environmental friendliness. Indeed, in terms of its bearing capacity, a brick wall is not much inferior to a concrete one. At the same time, it does not contain crushed granite, which gives a radiation background in buildings with a monolithic reinforced concrete frame and floor panels. However, in terms of energy saving, walls built entirely of solid clay or silicate bricks are seriously inferior to other materials.

In order to meet the modern rigid framework of energy efficiency, the thickness of a brick wall must be at least 120 cm. It is clear that there is no point in building such a powerful "bunker". Therefore, nowadays brick is losing its primacy and is most often used as a decorative exterior cladding.

Attempts to improve the energy-saving qualities of bricks have been going on for a long time. To do this, voids of various shapes (point or slot) are made in it. Such a modification gives a slight increase in the energy efficiency of the wall structure, but does not fundamentally solve the issue. If we add to this the laboriousness of building walls from small-sized standard clay bricks, it becomes clear that he needs to look for a replacement.

A good solution to the question of what is better to build a house from is to buy, produced under various brands (Porotherm, Kerakam, Poroton, etc.)

This large-sized material (250x250x140 mm, 380x250x219mm, 510x250x219mm) replaces 4 to 14 standard bricks (250x120x65mm). Thanks to this, the laying process becomes faster and easier.

The thermal conductivity coefficient of such walls is 0.21 W / m ° C, which is almost 3 times less than that of ordinary bricks. In terms of strength, the ceramic block is also not inferior to it (100 kg / cm2) and at the same time it has good frost resistance (up to 50 freeze-thaw cycles) and vapor permeability.

The only drawback of porous ceramic blocks in the recent past was their high cost (more than 4,000 rubles per 1 m3). In 2016, the average price for this material decreased and ranged from 3,500 rubles per cubic meter.

House from building blocks

Large-sized building blocks seriously pressed the standard clay brick. And the point here is not only that their installation requires less time and effort. Affordable price is an important factor determining the choice of a developer. Since the list of building blocks produced today is quite extensive, we will talk separately about each type.

Foam and gas blocks

These materials today enjoy deserved popularity in low-rise construction. The fundamental difference between foam and gas blocks lies in the manufacturing technology and internal structure.

Aerated concrete is obtained by introducing a powder blowing agent into a mixture of cement, sand, lime and water, which creates a network of small through channels inside the material. A foaming agent is added to the raw material for foam concrete, which creates closed pores filled with air inside the block. This also significantly reduces the weight of the unit and increases its energy-saving characteristics.

Open channels serve as good conductors of moisture, so gas blocks need to be protected from getting wet. The foam block is more profitable in this regard, since it absorbs less water. The thermal conductivity and frost resistance of these materials are almost the same.

Density is in the range from 300 to 1200 kg/m3, which allows the developer to accurately select the block for their needs. Manufacturers produce heat-insulating (density from 300 to 500 kg / m3), structural and heat-insulating (500-900 kg / m3) and structural (1000-1200 kg / m3) blocks in several thicknesses - 10, 15, 20 and 30 cm.

This allows you to make the wall warm without additional costs for laying insulation and its protection. To do this, it is necessary to lay a thinner heat-insulating block (15 cm) in the outer row of masonry, and make the inner layer of denser structural and heat-insulating blocks 30 cm thick.

Thanks to the ideal geometry, a do-it-yourself block house without the involvement of professional masons is built quickly and requires minimal finishing in the form of putty or decorative plaster.

The cost of these materials starts from 3000 rubles. for 1 m3. In their reviews, the owners of houses made of lightweight cellular blocks highlight the low cost of construction and minimal heating costs.

Expanded clay blocks

Without abandoning the use of solid bricks, builders invented in the last century. This composite material consists of expanded clay gravel (pellets of burnt and porous clay) and a cement mortar that holds them together.

The material turned out to be quite warm (density from 500 kg / m3) and very durable (you can build houses up to 3 floors high).

For the price, the expanded clay concrete block looks attractive (from 2900 rubles / m3). The environmental friendliness of this building material also deserves attention. The absence of synthetic and polymer additives, good vapor transmission allow it to be fully used in housing construction.

Shell rock blocks

In the era of cheap cargo transportation, the shell rock was a serious competitor to the expanded clay block. This "free" material, which had only to be cut out of the marine sedimentary massif and loaded into wagons, has become "biting" today.

Judge for yourself, the price per cube with delivery to the central regions of Russia reaches 5,000 rubles. Coupled with the fragility and poor geometry of the stone, the developer can only rely on its excellent environmental friendliness.

Arbolite blocks

The main components of this material are wood chips and sawdust (4:1 ratio). They not only make the block warm and light, but also reinforce it, increasing its strength and crack resistance.

The binder, as in the case of expanded clay blocks, here is the cement mortar. The density is in the range from 500 to 850 kg/m3. From it you can build low-rise buildings without using a reinforced belt. This material is sufficiently elastic, therefore, without the formation of cracks, it can withstand the load from floor slabs. The breathability of wood concrete blocks is high and quite comparable with wood.

Its low density speaks eloquently about the good heat and sound insulating qualities of wood concrete. Impregnation with cement makes wood chips durable and resistant to decay. Finishing the walls of wood concrete does not require the use of a reinforced mesh, since the rough surface of the material perfectly holds the plaster. The price of wood concrete blocks starts at an average of 4,000 rubles per 1 m3.

Teplosten blocks

The developer's dream of a masonry material, which simultaneously contains a load-bearing part, insulation and exterior finish, has found its embodiment in Teplosten blocks.

By design, it is a three-layer "sandwich". Its outer and inner layers are made of expanded clay concrete, and inside there is foam. Dissimilar materials in the contact zone protect the fiberglass rods installed inside the block from delamination.

On the outer face of the three-layer block, we see a textured pattern. Having built a new house from this material, the owner can only paint the walls in the desired color, without resorting to expensive decorative plaster.

Appearance of the Teplosten block

The main disadvantage of Teplosten blocks is obvious. This is a foam plastic enclosed between layers of expanded clay concrete. It does not allow water vapor to pass through, so without forced ventilation the house will be damp. Manufacturers solve this problem by releasing special blocks in which there is a vent with a grate.

If the owner of the future house from Teplosten blocks does not take care of the ventilation problem in time, then the foam plastic can give him another unpleasant surprise. Consider the physics of the process of diffusion of water vapor through a wall. Having met an insurmountable obstacle in the form of foam plastic on its way, water vapor will condense in the inner layer of expanded clay. This will lead to wetting of the walls with all the ensuing uncomfortable consequences for living.

The cost of Teplosten blocks starts from 7,000 rubles/m3. Despite the rather solid price, let's not forget that such a wall does not require insulation and rough finishing.

cinder blocks

They were produced in the 80s of the last century as an inexpensive alternative to scarce bricks. Today, cinder blocks are rarely used in residential construction. The large weight and high thermal conductivity of cinder block walls require insulation with mineral or ecowool slabs (10-15 cm) and high-quality finishes.

The cost of cinder blocks offered today to private developers is low and ranges from 2300 to 3000 rubles per 1 m3.

Houses made of logs, timber, wooden frame

At the same time, you should know that a warm enough house for permanent residence can only be built from a log with a diameter of at least 40 centimeters. Today, the standard thickness of the walls of a log house is from 24 to 32 cm, which does not meet the requirements of thermal engineering standards. Therefore, in order not to spend significant amounts on heating, a wooden frame must be additionally insulated.

The cost of 1 m3 of rounded logs prepared for laying in 2016 is from 7,000 to 10,000 rubles. The cost of dry profiled timber is even higher and starts from 10,000 rubles per cubic meter.

For glued profiled timber, which gives minimal shrinkage and is practically not subject to warping, sellers ask from 22 to 26 thousand rubles. Forecasts of market specialists indicate that in 2017 a price jump for this material is not expected.

Finishing a brief review of materials for the construction of wooden houses, a few words should be said about the frame technology.

It is difficult to call it high-speed, since the degree of factory readiness here is practically “zero”. At the facility, builders assemble a frame from individual beams and boards, spending no less time on this than masons laying blocks. But in terms of reliability and durability, a house built using frame technology is not much inferior to capital structures made of wood.

There are no problems with energy saving in such housing either. The customer can choose any thickness of insulation, without spending money on external insulation and finishing, as in the case of block or log construction.

Since no one regards the frame in cubes, then we will have to compare the cost of 1m2 of a frame wall with the cost of a log and timber wall.

The main elements of the frame - racks, board, mineral wool, vapor barrier, wooden blockhouse or DSP slab (outside), drywall or lining (inside) are considered quickly and simply, amounting to a total of 1,200 rubles / m2.

At the same time, the cheapest wall made of logs with a thickness of 32 cm will cost you 2,500 rubles per 1 m2. Do not forget that it will still have to be insulated, spending from 250 to 300 rubles. Thus, at the price of materials, the “framework” noticeably outperforms the log house.

With the same heat-insulating ability, the wooden wall of a frame house turns out to be cheaper than a block one (a frame with 150 mm mineral wool versus 40 cm thick aerated concrete blocks + 5 cm mineral wool).

SIP panel house

This material cannot be called optimal from the point of view of environmental friendliness, although the manufacturers of such buildings are trying to prove the opposite.

The main advantage is the high speed of construction. It is difficult to categorize these designs as cheap.

The cost of 1 m2 of a sandwich plate, depending on the thickness of the insulation (10,15,20 cm), ranges from 900 to 1500 rubles. For comparison, the cost of 1 m2 of a gas block wall 40 cm thick is about 1200 rubles.

LSTK (light steel structures)

The undivided dominance of drywall technology has prompted engineers to create a more durable analogue for assembling the frame of low-rise buildings. So a new technology was born. It was based on light steel structures (LSTS).

The assembly of buildings from a steel profile is similar to the installation of wooden "frames". At the same time, LSTC houses surpass them in terms of durability, biostability and fire safety. The speed of construction of such housing is lower than when using SIP panels, but higher than that of block and log construction.

The high cost of the metal is the main drawback of the LSTK technology. The average cost of materials for the construction of 1 m2 of a metal profile wall is about 2,400 rubles.

concrete panels

Large-sized expanded clay panels are rarely used these days. The main reason for the low demand is the minimum choice of sizes and layout solutions.

Expanded clay concrete wall panel

However, one can quickly build a new house from them compared to using bricks, timber or cellular blocks (the price of 1m2 of a 34 cm thick panel does not exceed 1,300 rubles). To this price you need to add the cost of insulation (150-200 rubles per 1m2). Without it, the wall will not meet modern thermal standards.

Summing up our review, we will give brief practical recommendations.

1. Among the most popular budget options for low-rise construction are gas and foam blocks, expanded clay concrete blocks and a wooden frame.

Ceramic blocks, which were included in the category of expensive materials, have fallen in price in most regions of Russia today. Therefore, we will also rank them in the category of budget solutions for private construction. Excellent heat-insulating qualities, impeccable environmental friendliness, a large selection of standard sizes - all these positive qualities of ceramic blocks deserve your attention.

2. Arbolite blocks occupy a higher price step. The house from them turns out warm and durable. It creates a comfortable microclimate and comfortable acoustics. The disadvantages of wood concrete should include the dependence of quality on the production capabilities of a particular manufacturer. Not all companies producing this material use high-quality wood chips, adding a large amount of sawdust and substandard woodworking waste to the feedstock.

3. Blocks Teplosten and LSTK at first glance cause sympathy. Houses from them are built quickly and not expensively. At the same time, many developers have reasonable doubts about their reliability and environmental friendliness, which does not have the best effect on the popularity of these materials.

4. Installation of a house from SIP panels can rightfully be called the fastest and most budget option. It is difficult to attribute these designs to the category of popular solutions, since there are serious doubts about their environmental friendliness and reliability.

5. A log and profiled timber, as a first approximation, look quite budgetary. However, here you need to take into account the additional costs of insulation and regular antiseptic treatment of walls. In addition, the quality of log cabins strongly depends on the quality of the material used and the qualifications of the installers. The main advantages of round logs and profiled timber are environmental friendliness and aesthetics.

6. Glued laminated timber is an elite building material. Beautiful and environmentally friendly houses are being built from it, which cannot be classified as budget houses. The lack of shrinkage and high assembly speed please developers who have chosen this option.

Concluding our review, we note that when looking for the best option for building a new house, you need to:

• Find out the availability and price of the material you like in your region.
• Study the reviews of the owners of houses built from it.
• Get as much information as possible about suppliers, manufacturers and contractors offering construction services from the material you are about to buy.
• Visit construction exhibitions in your region, production workshops and facilities under construction. Here you will receive valuable and objective first-hand information.

Living in your own home has many more advantages than even the most luxurious apartment. A private home is a place where you are free to do whatever you want. Here you will not be disturbed by noisy neighbors who want to make repairs early in the morning or late. Here you are not at risk of being flooded or experiencing the inconvenience that apartment residents face. Many are accustomed to believing that buying a plot, and even more so building a house on it, is fabulous money. However, with the development of modern technologies in construction, the cheapest technology for building a house has become several times more affordable. Now we will consider the main question: where to start, and most importantly, from what to build the cheapest house?

Preparatory stage

The first point that needs to be determined initially is the functionality of the house. What is it for.

If this is a country cottage for seasonal living, then only materials are needed,

if this is a full-fledged house for permanent residence, then it is completely different.

To decide what kind of house will be, you should thoroughly study the climate and weather conditions of the region where construction is planned. After all, the choice of building materials directly depends on the temperature regime during the year. A house for regular residence must be constantly heated during the cold season, which entails certain financial costs. Therefore, when choosing a material for a building, one should be guided by thermophysical properties: thermal conductivity and heat capacity, as well as shrinkage.

Each climatic region has its own temperature regime, wind speed and protection class in terms of heat-shielding properties. Therefore, when choosing a material and calculating the thickness of the walls, two main parameters must be taken into account: the coefficient of thermal resistance and thermal conductivity.

For each region, its own specially calculated indicator of the thermal resistance of the CTS is used. In order to obtain clarity on the upcoming heating costs, it is necessary to calculate the CTS of the future design. To do this, the width (δ) of the wall is divided by the coefficient of thermal conductivity (λ), which is indicated in the technical specifications of the building material R = δ / λ. The calculated value of heat transfer resistance must comply with the standard.

As an example, consider the use of cellular concrete, which has a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.12 W / m * ºС. Let's take a block with a thickness of 0.3 meters and calculate: R \u003d 0.3 / 0.12 \u003d 2.5 W / m 2 * ºС. This figure is below the norm and is suitable, except for construction in the southern regions of Russia. A block 0.4 meters wide gives heat transfer resistance 0.4 / 0.12 \u003d 3.3 W / m 2 * ºС, which is slightly higher than the standard indicator and can be used in the construction of buildings in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The calculation is relevant only when laying blocks on glue.

To determine the wall thickness corresponding to the advanced generally recognized standards in terms of energy efficiency, you can use the same formula, where it will be equal to the product of the heat transfer resistance value and the thermal conductivity coefficient δ \u003d λ x R.

From this it follows that in order to obtain the standard value of resistance λ = 3.2, the thickness of the wall from a solid wood of coniferous species (pine, spruce) will be 0.18 x 3.2 = 0.576 m, from brick 0.81 x 3.2 = 2.592 m, and from concrete 2.04 x 3.2 = 6.528 m. At the same time, mineral wool insulation with a thickness of 140-150 mm complies with the standard: 0.045 x 3.2 = 0.14 m.

Therefore, when choosing a material and determining the thickness of a structure, one should take into account the resistance to heat transfer and the coefficient of thermal conductivity.

Coefficient of thermal conductivity,

specific heat

and the change in linear dimensions for each material is different.

In addition, when choosing a material for building an inexpensive house, you need to study the market for building materials that are typical for this region. Delivery of materials, as a rule, occupies a considerable share in their cost.

Now you need to decide on the size of the future home. For example, do you want to build a one-story house inexpensively or the house will have more floors. What will be the area of ​​the house in relation to the area of ​​your site?
You can calculate the area of ​​​​your plot online.

Windows of standard sizes;

Practical layout without frills;

simple roof;

Available building materials;

Flat small fireplace;

You should also take into account one important nuance, if you have a small plot, then you can choose a simple project of a two-story house. Such a solution will be much cheaper than building a one-story large house.

The cost of a future home is determined by three components, on each of which you can save:

• architectural layout is compact, maximum functionality and comfort and allows you to achieve 20% savings;
• a simple design solution should be rational and not contain any architectural frills will provide another 10% savings;
• modern materials make it possible to use the latest technologies in construction, allowing you to do the work yourself or with the involvement of a minimum amount of outside labor, which guarantees up to 40% savings in the end result.

The optimal solution for a family of 2-3 people is housing consisting of three rooms with a total area of ​​approximately 50 m 2 . A reasonable option would be a 6x9 house, which includes: two bedrooms, a living room in the form of a studio, with a kitchen, a combined bathroom and a bathroom and a small entrance hall.
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Layout: maximum functionality and comfort

The main principle of space planning is to extract the maximum benefit from each square meter of space. In our case, this is the ratio of total and usable space. This house, consisting of three rooms with a total area of ​​54 m 2, will fully satisfy your needs in modern housing. Moreover, the ratio of total and usable area (52 m 2) is 96.3%.

But over time, you will want to increase its area. Such a structure is most suitable for transformation. It can be expanded in width and height.

Second option

Important! The construction of the second floor must be thought out in advance in order to lay the appropriate foundation.

Third option, first floor

Third option, second floor

The exterior of the house economy option

Exterior view of the house after expansion

The key to savings: simplicity of design

Designs should also be approached as simply as possible, without additional frills. With economical construction, there are a number of points that must be considered:

• The selected house width of 6 m will allow you to easily install floor slabs. The standard size will not require the construction of an additional load-bearing wall.
• Combining the dining kitchen and the hall into a modern living room, according to European standards, will save on the absence of walls and doors.
• A sufficient width of the walls will be 30 cm, and heat resistance can be achieved due to the thickness of the layer of heat-insulating material when facing the house. In this case, the plinth is reduced in width to 25 cm.
• It is advisable to make the walls in the house from drywall, they do not require a foundation and are easy to install.
• The roof is made gable, without unnecessary frills - this is the most cost-effective design.

Building a cheap house with your own hands is the most economical option

Approximately half of the cost of construction is payment for the performance of work. When building a cheap house, it is more expedient to do the maximum amount of work with your own hands, without involving hired workers.

Why you need to purchase only modern material. Its installation technologies are designed for a simple average person, so construction will not require professional skills from you and will provide an opportunity to save money. As a labor force, you can attract one assistant. If you do not have free time to build a house with your own hands, hire a team of two people with the appropriate qualifications, leaving control over the work.

Another option is the construction of standard projects. Here you do not need to participate in the construction, it is enough to take the finished house into operation, be sure to draw up an act of acceptance of the work performed, specifying the warranty obligations of the developer.
This 6×9 house is a great version of a two-story transformation.

Reviews and disputes: which cheap house is better?

To explain which of the cheap houses is better, we invite you to read the comments we have collected from various forums:

Alexander V.

I want to talk about building a cheap house. And I will touch not only the monetary side of the issue, but also the labor-intensive one. We buy modern materials, preferably in a construction hypermarket, where prices are much cheaper. We discard ideas about buildings from improvised materials (clay, straw, savage stone) as untenable. In the 21st century, we can talk about how walls made of clay and a foundation made of rubble. We are talking about modern housing, not Grandpa Pumpkin's house. We will not even consider the environmental friendliness of building materials. At the time of the developed world wide web, you can find the most controversial opinions about any material.
Hired builders will not be considered either. This multiplies the estimate at least twice initially. We carry out construction on our own, everyone can do it. The issue is the duration of the process.
And so the foundation. When building a house, you can not do without it. The most expedient and cost-effective - strip foundation on piles. The job is not difficult. Every 2m we drill piles, the length depends on the soil, and pour the grillage.
Nevertheless, the cheapest construction will be a frame house, insulated with mineral wool or polystyrene foam. Building a house of brick or sides on cement mortar will increase the cost of the estimate, take a lot of time, as a result we get a cold building that requires insulation.

Bogdan S.

I was going to build a house 6 × 9. For the past two months, I have been doing a personal project and drawing up a construction estimate. I read smart books, I participate in forums on all topics of interest, I watch videos. Now I read it and understand that everything is as you said: the foundation is piled, the house is frame, the roof is slate. Finishing inside: drywall, OSB boards and wallpaper. Of course plus heating and lighting. One thing I can say is that I do not invest in 10 thousand conditional raccoons. A bit more.

Sergei Zh.

I developed a project for a house of 50 m2 for my friend. Nothing special budget option, but house for year-round use. The foundation is solid. Wooden frame house insulated with mineral wool. Outside vapor barrier film, inside hardboard. The roof is slate. Pretty warm building, suitable for winter use. Appearance is not very good. Just covered with vapor barrier. Subsequently, you can sew up the siding. But the budget is the most modest. A friend spent only 4 thousand USD. True, he built it himself, he didn’t even want to hear about any hired brigade.

Looking at my house, I am more and more convinced that it is hardly possible to build anything cheaper than a frame house. I insulated the walls, rollers, the roof with mineral wool 15 cm thick. In addition, I built an attic floor. My roof is the simplest gable, covered with zerolin. Outside finished with siding, and inside the OSB and pasted wallpaper. It cost me a pleasure of $ 9,500.

The frame is the cheapest and warmest, but this does not mean that it is free. Everything is relative. My friends built a house from Sibit. They were happy until winter came. They froze through the winter, and now they are deciding how to insulate themselves and what it will be like.

Of course, the main costs are building materials, which we will talk about in more detail.

Modern building materials - the cheapest way to build a house

There is a lot of competition in the building materials market today. Therefore, by making a small detour of the main points of purchase, building materials such as a hypermarket, a bazaar or a warehouse, it will not be difficult to find the most reasonable price. But different material differs significantly in price.

The author of the article does not pursue the goal of promoting this or that building material, since the site does not sell them. The main thing is that a person who has a limited budget for construction can become the owner of a good and solid house.

Before reading the various options for houses, pay attention to Compared with other houses, it is characterized by cheap construction.

Cheap brick house?

1. Brick.

As many people know, brick is one of the most durable, but at the same time heavy materials. Based on this, it has both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

1. high strength and durability;
2. excellent sound insulation;
3. availability;
4. environmental friendliness.

disadvantages:

1. large mass - laying a solid foundation will be required;
2. insufficient energy saving;
3. poorly processed;
4. long construction process.

Modern brick allows you to build any size and design of the house.

Cheap steel structure house

1. Steel strong constructions.

Today it is one of the most durable and affordable building materials, which allows you to build reliable structures, houses, etc. in the shortest possible time.

Advantages:

1. affordable cost;
2. quick and easy installation;
3. versatility - you can build any structure;
4. using modern finishing materials, you can create a unique exterior.

disadvantages:

1. low strength;
2. poor and thermal insulation sound insulation without the presence of additional insulating materials.

Steel durable structures are becoming more and more popular today in the construction of private houses.

Cheap wooden house - is it true

1. Log or timber

A modern stylish log house looks amazing, and high environmental friendliness, durability and thermal insulation distinguish this building material from others.

Advantages:

1. high strength;
2. environmental friendliness;
3. excellent sound insulation;
4. quick and easy installation;
5. high thermal insulation;
6. easy to process;
7. relatively small weight;
8. amazing appearance.

disadvantages:

1. price;
2. the need for additional pest control;
3. fire hazard without special impregnations;
4. low water resistance.

A modern house made of logs or timber is stylish, practical and comfortable.

Favorite: cheap foam concrete house

1. Foam concrete is the most profitable material for building a house.

A lightweight building material that outperforms others in its characteristics.

Advantages:

1. quick and easy installation;
2. high load capacity and low weight;
3. over time, high strength;
4. excellent sound and heat insulation;
5. light weight;
6. acceptable cost;
7. easy to process;
8. environmental friendliness.

Disadvantages:

1. the first few years after manufacture has a low strength;
2. the porous structure of foam concrete will require additional finishing work;
3. hot in the summer.

Foam concrete is the cheapest way to build a house.

We looked at some of the most affordable building materials that can be used to build an inexpensive home. Today they are also widely used: twin blocks, monolith, ceramic stone, etc.

For example, the cost of a one-story frame house with two rooms, a kitchen, a living room and a bathroom will cost 600-700 thousand rubles. Thus, the cheapest frame houses can be built for relatively little money.

What materials are best for building a house? What materials are cheaper and better? These questions are of concern to every person who has begun such an important period of his life as the construction of his own home, and an exhaustive answer to them is growing in this section of our site.

When planning the construction of your own house, it is very important to choose the right materials, this will not only allow you to get the desired result, but also save money and time. You will learn not only what materials are available on the modern market and how to use them correctly in construction.

If you are the owner of a construction company and want to keep up with the times and be aware of the latest in this area, in this article you will find reviews of materials that are just emerging and starting to gain popularity.

The process of building a house can be divided into just 3 main stages: foundation, walls and roof. This is the so-called “box”, which needs to be given special attention, since this is the main foundation of the house and the reliability and durability of the structure depends on its quality.

Also, the choice of materials for the walls and roof affects the aesthetic appearance of the house, so you need to consider whether further exterior decoration is planned or the walls will be finished additionally.

What to consider when choosing

• Price- for most people, this is the main indicator when choosing. It should be understood that cheap materials are not always worse than expensive ones. There may be brand promotion, imported or domestic material, etc.
• Labor cost when using- it often happens that expensive material is easier to work with, and this saves on the work of the master. You also need to take into account the time of work with materials and all the costs associated with this.

For example, buy ready-made concrete or prepare it directly on the construction site? Ready-made concrete will be more expensive, but you will save a lot of time. If you make the mixture yourself, you will save money, but waste time. If you hire workers to cook it, spend money on paying them. So making an unambiguous choice is not always easy and you need to consider the situation from all sides.

• Quality- the reliability and strength of the entire structure, as well as the overhaul period, depend on this. Therefore, it is impossible to save on this material indicator, although many construction companies often ignore this fact.

The issue of quality is also not always unambiguous, for example, a brick from one factory can be of different quality in different batches, it all depends on the clay used to make it. Also, manufacturers do not always follow manufacturing technologies, trying to save money. Therefore, the purchase of such materials should be carried out with an experienced specialist..

• Additional expenses- this may include the cost of subsequent finishing, which in general can be more expensive than using a more expensive initial material that does not require additional finishing. You also need to take into account the need for delivery, loading and unloading with a crane, etc., which will affect the final cost.

What materials are available and which ones are best to use

brick house

A lot of materials are used to build a house. However, not all of them have passed the test of time and deserve attention. Let's look at only the most popular, reliable and affordable for a person with an average income.

Brick

ceramic brick

The most common material for building walls, used both in private construction and in the construction of multi-storey buildings. It has been used for more than one hundred years, so the masonry technology has already passed all possible quality checks. But, any material has its pros and cons, Let's look at them.

After looking at the advantages and disadvantages, you can already decide whether this material is suitable for your task and capabilities. But, you also need to know what types of bricks are.

Ordinary brick laying

According to the material of manufacture, the brick is divided into:

• ceramic (red) - made of clay;
• silicate (white) - made of lime and sand.

Red brick is divided into two types according to the type of use, these are:

• Private- the cheapest, designed for laying walls for further finishing. This is the main building material, where small chips, cracks or potholes are allowed.
• Facial- this is a brick without defects, intended for external, sometimes internal, wall decoration. It can be of various colors, with a smooth or decorative front. It costs several times more than an ordinary one and requires skill to lay it.

silicate brick

Silicate is considered universal, it is divided only by grade, it can be used both with and without subsequent finishing. The density of this brick is greater than that of ceramic, but it is more fragile. The disadvantage is its low moisture resistance and thermal insulation qualities. The masonry has a less attractive appearance.

Marking

Brick marking is the letter “M” and a number next to it (from 75 to 300). This is an indicator of the load in kilograms per square centimeter that it must withstand. The higher this indicator, the stronger the material, but also heavier.

• For the foundation and base, use M150 or M175.
• For building walls up to 3 floors M100 or M125.
• For building walls above 3 floors M150 or M175.

Grades with higher strength are not used in private construction; as a rule, these will be buildings that require increased strength.

For laying bricks, cement mortar or special ready-made mixtures are used. This is an additional cost item that must be taken into account when choosing this material.

Construction of wooden houses

By prescription, only wood can compete with brick. This is a natural material that began to be used for construction even before the advent of clay processing technologies.

Thanks to the development of technology, the process of wood processing has become much easier and faster, which makes it possible to implement complex projects. A wooden house now is no longer a log house with four walls, but a beautiful, modern building.

For the construction of modern houses, wood is used in the form of rounded logs or in the form of glued beams of a certain section. The technology of frame construction is also used. Consider the pros and cons of this material.

As you can see, this material has much more advantages than disadvantages. However, some disadvantages can also be eliminated by using special formulations and impregnations, which can be purchased without problems on the modern market. Eliminating them by 100% will not work, but it is quite possible to significantly reduce them.

The use of round logs

rounded log

The item is made of a single log, which is processed on a special lathe. It is given an exact cylindrical shape of a given diameter, usually 200mm. Such a house preserves the natural appearance of the material as much as possible, which makes the building very similar to an old log house in a modern design. It looks very nice, especially if you are a connoisseur of natural materials.

Disadvantages, as in all materials, they are. The log is processed as a whole, therefore natural wood defects such as knots, cracks, mold, etc. cannot be avoided. You can select better material, but you will not see what is inside the log.

The use of glued laminated timber

Glued laminated timber

Such material is more expensive than rounded logs, but it also contains fewer defects. Timber is made from already dried boards to dried to 10-18% moisture, pre-processed to the required size and glued into timber. Further, a profile with a section of 200-230 mm is attached to it on a milling machine and it is ready for work. The house is assembled like a constructor, very quickly and reliably.

The beam solves the main problem of using wood, this is shrinkage. No need to wait 3-5 months for the material to dry and shrink, as it has already been dried. But, it is necessary to wait at least 1 month before the next work for the material to undergo climatic adaptation.

Frame technology

The frame of the house is made of building timber. Rafters, racks, trusses and other elements are installed. They are connected using mounting metal corners and self-tapping screws.

• wooden lining,
• OSB boards,
• siding.

This technology is the cheapest for building a house, while the fastest.

Advantages In addition to all the advantages of using wood, the frame technology has several advantages: easy dismantling and redevelopment of walls, the ability to hide all communications inside the walls.

Main disadvantages technologies: low strength relative to timber or logs, the need for additional front finishing.

Cinder blocks, ceramic blocks and foam blocks

Block types

These materials are often used in construction as they are relatively inexpensive. A large number of types of these blocks are presented on today's building materials market, I wrote more about them in this article and now I don’t want to repeat them.

The block is 50 x 24.8 x 23.8 cm in size, weighs 25 kg, and is equal in volume to 15 bricks of 3.3 kg each. It is easier and faster to lay one such plate, and less mortar is needed. The blocks are 20-25 cm wide. Their length can be from 25 to 60 cm, depending on the type.

I will describe in general the pros and cons of their use, they are relatively common for all types of blocks:

Advantages:

• Low cost of materials.
• Fast construction speed.
• Large selection of colors and sizes.
• Resistant to corrosion, mold and mildew.
• Good heat and noise insulation.
• Not combustibility.

Disadvantages:

• For masonry, an experienced master is needed.
• Low vapor permeability due to the porosity of the material.

For laying blocks, as well as bricks, a mortar or adhesive mixture is used, but in a smaller amount, since their size is several times larger, which means that the number of seams is less.

Ceramic blocks

This material is considered the most environmentally friendly of all types of blocks, which is why it is so popular in many European countries. Made from clay, no chemicals added. Due to its cellular structure, it retains heat well, thermal conductivity is from 0.14 to 0.29 watts per square meter per degree Celsius . This material costs more than other types of blocks, the speed of building construction is approximately the same.

Use of concrete

Monolithic construction

Technology, as a rule, is used for the construction of multi-storey buildings and is used by large construction companies. It has established itself as reliable, fast and inexpensive. But, for the use of concrete, it is necessary to have such equipment as formwork, with the help of which a form is built where the mixture will be poured.

The exception is the finished reinforced concrete products:

• foundation blocks,
• floor slabs,
• Wall panels.
• Beams, columns, etc.

They are delivered ready to site and ready to use. With the help of such elements, it is possible to significantly speed up the process, however, their use requires loading and unloading equipment, since the weight of them is measured in hundreds of kilograms or even tons. Read more about the use of concrete in construction here.

Table of the ratio of the cost of material and the period of construction of the house

* It should be understood that the table shows approximate prices for the period of 2016. They may differ in different regions. Material or work may change in price over time (which is why the price is in dollars).

The price also depends on the thickness of the walls, the table was compiled based on the most common masonry thickness.

Video review of materials

This article is useful for those who are looking for the cheapest materials for building a house with their own hands. With the advent of the latest technologies on the market, the owners of summer cottages have a real opportunity to install cheap houses with very good performance characteristics suitable for permanent residence.

Nowadays, there are plenty of methods for building economical and reliable housing.

We propose to consider in more detail the inexpensive materials used to build houses.

When deciding what the walls of housing, its ceilings and the roof will be directly erected from, it is necessary to focus on the relevant features.

Place of residence. Climate. In areas with a cool climate, it is preferable to use materials that retain heat well in building a house.

In the southern regions, the choice is much wider, which means that it is possible to use completely different innovative materials at an affordable price.

Features of the materials used. Of course, houses made of SIP panels either cost less than those made of timber or bricks.

Regional market. In wooded areas, wood will serve as the most inexpensive material for a house, and concrete in steppe areas.

Analysis of the cost of materials

Consider in more detail which one is for building a house. Very economical and comfortable housing can be built using materials such as described below.

bar

Outcome: about 2000 rubles, per 1 sq. m, excluding work. It is important to remember that building a house from gas blocks requires a lot of labor costs for workers, so we take into account the payment of specialists, and this is in the region of 1300-1600 rubles.

Wood

house from wooden beam will cost:

• timber 200x200x6000 mm - 0.8 pcs. - 1416 rubles;
• mortar for plastering walls - 70 rubles.
• insulation (vapor barrier or mineral wool) - 0.1 cu. m - 400 rubles;

Outcome: 1900 rubles, plus wages of workers 1700-1800 rubles.

Good for building a small home, designed to relax with family or friends, but not for permanent residence.

Calculation of materials for a frame house

• timber - 0.05 cu. m - 375 rubles;
• softboard - 230 rubles.
• insulation, vapor barrier, waterproofing - 270 rubles;

Outcome: 875 rubles, plus the wages of the construction team 1500-1700 rubles.

Conclusion

Having collected all the information about cheap materials for the house with our own hands together, we draw final conclusions based on the cost.

Timber houses are the most expensive type of housing. The most acceptable can be considered frame-type houses.

But there is one BUT! It's important not to forget. Thicker walls need a well-fortified foundation. Therefore, the final cost of houses will be approximately the same.