Warm ceramics or. Warm ceramics - ceramic blocks, stone, brick. Main qualitative similarities

Porous ceramic stone is an artificial stone made from special clay with impurities, obtained by firing. The composition of the clay mixture includes elements that burn out during firing, thus forming peculiar pores. The pores reduce the thermal conductivity of the material without affecting its strength. Porous ceramic stone is called differently, warm ceramics, porous ceramic brick or block and otherwise.

Simple clay after firing loses its shape and changes geometry, but technology does not stand still, and manufacturers have learned how to get fired clay ceramic blocks of the correct and desired shape!

The porous stone has 3 main size groups 380 mm, 440 mm and 510. These dimensions indicate the thickness of the block, that is, the thickness of the future wall laid out from a similar block.

Blocks 440 and 510 mm do not need insulation, 380 mm can be insulated with mineral wool.

Table of sizes of produced ceramic stones (in accordance with GOST).

Porous ceramic blocks of large size are called large-format.

Porous stone has a porous structure. The porous stone becomes due to the sawdust added to the composition, which, when the stone is fired, burn out and form pores.

The presence of pores reduces the thermal conductivity of the stone, that is, makes it warmer.

Due to porosity, in addition to thermal insulation, porous ceramic stone has good sound insulation.

The structure of ceramic blocks is cellular. It has tongue and groove connections on both sides for ease of installation.

Porous ceramic block, shortcomings or lack of knowledge of the rules of use

The geometry of the stone. According to builders, one of the disadvantages of porous ceramic blocks is their imperfect geometry. That is, when laying, height differences are possible, be careful!

The fragility of a porous stone, maybe everything is not so scary? It cannot be said that the porous stone is so fragile that it cannot be used in building a house. It largely depends on compliance with the technology of laying such blocks. It is recommended to maintain the thickness of the masonry mixture of 7-14 mm, and do not overdo it!

They say that a kitchen set or other weighty object cannot be hung on a wall made of porous bricks. In fact, it is not! To drill a hole in a wall of porous ceramic bricks, you need to drill with a Pobedite drill in shockless mode. You can use drills of different diameters from 6 to 12 mm, the latter will be enough to hang a kitchen set or a water heater. It is better to use longer plugs to go through several walls inside the stone. And, in order to finally remove all doubts about the reliability of the elements fixed on the wall, we recommend using chemical anchors. The figure below shows how this is done.

If everything is done correctly, then you can safely hang a TV, a kitchen set or a water heater on a wall made of porous ceramic stone.

Video on how to properly drill and gouge porous ceramic blocks, with a demonstration of strength

Clear advantages of using ceramic porous stone

Porous blocks are excellent for laying exterior facades and interior partitions. But what about load-bearing walls?

Whether or not to use porous stone for laying load-bearing walls, everyone chooses for himself. We would recommend it for the laying of external walls, the load-bearing ones being made of simple solid bricks.

• Environmental friendliness. They consist of clay, thus they are completely environmentally friendly material;
• Low thermal conductivity. Compared to conventional two-brick masonry, the use of porous stone saves about 25% on home heating;
• High sound insulation;
• Relatively light weight. For a building material of this volume, porous ceramic stone is very light. This is achieved thanks to its cellular structure;
• Block size. If the ceramic block is 250 mm high, then each such row is equal to three rows made of ordinary bricks;
• Relatively fast installation. Due to the large size of the blocks, the laying speed increases significantly. When laying, the side seams are left without mortar, mortar is needed only for a horizontal seam. This is achieved due to the structure of the ceramic stone, the block has a tongue and groove connection. The side seams are empty - saving the solution.

Video about porous stone

In this video you will see what a porous ceramic stone looks like both outside and inside. A few words about the quality characteristics of the product.

If you are building with porous ceramic blocks, you should know this.

Rumor has it that the porous stone can be placed on an adhesive base with a thickness of about 2 mm. It is possible, but the stone must be polished. Manual grinding is quite labor-intensive, and polished porous blocks from the manufacturer are more expensive than usual ones!

Chemical anchors are used to fix very heavy hinged structures. If everything is done correctly, then TV panels, a kitchen set or a water heater can be safely hung on a wall made of porous ceramic stone.

The additional version of a large-format ceramic block has special grooves in the middle, destroying which you can divide the stone exactly in half.

The 380mm block has a pair of large rectangular holes closer to the corners of the stone. These holes are for easier mounting.

Interior walls can be made of 120 mm porous stone

If the ceramic block is 250 mm high, then each such row is equal to three rows made of ordinary bricks.

The blocks are stacked butt to each other without laying mortar, which indicates that air can pass between the blocks. This is eliminated by plastering the outer and inner surfaces of the walls.

Starting a new row, before laying the mortar, a thin mesh is laid on the ceramic porous block, which prevents the mortar from falling inside.

All the thermal characteristics of the stone are lost if an ordinary cement-sand mortar is used during masonry.

For laying ceramic blocks, a special warm mortar based on perlite is used, which, like porous stone, has good heat and sound insulation performance.

In Russia, the main producers of porous stone are: Wienerberger, Braer, Rauf, Samara Combine of Ceramic Materials. The table below shows manufacturers from Russia and neighboring countries.

I would like to note the fact that not all manufacturers produce products in accordance with the state standard. Be careful!

Large-format ceramic blocks or, as they are commonly called, warm ceramics, are a new generation of high-quality building material that combines the most modern technological solutions, coupled with centuries-old traditions in the use of clay and ceramics in particular. Warm ceramics are large-format porous blocks made of fired clay. It is a durable and environmentally friendly material.

Currently, there is a tendency for people to reduce the cost of energy costs for a house, as well as a desire to use natural resources more economically (although not universal, but still). As a result, one of the most important factors in deciding such a sometimes difficult question is “What to build a house from?” become parameters for reducing the cost of work and heat loss. The laying of porous ceramic blocks, although similar to the laying of ordinary bricks, takes much less time and requires less mortar. In addition to the speed of construction, warm ceramics put less pressure on the foundation of the building, respectively, the cost of foundation construction is reduced. In addition, sawdust added to the clay, which, under the influence of high temperature and pressure, burn out during pressing and form pores. Due to this, the thermal conductivity coefficient of the block can be λ=0.12 W/mºС. And this is in operating conditions B! (more on that below)

However, the advantages of the material do not end with the above arguments. The figure shows the main advantages, which are discussed in more detail below.

After the tightening of SNiPs in 2003, many wall materials no longer meet the requirements for thermal insulation. With regard to private housing construction, this has not become such a fundamental point, but over the past 10 years, the cost of energy in the country has increased by more than six times and continues to increase. The prospect of “heating” the street attracts few people, so many people decide to additionally insulate the walls of the house. But there are two nuances here:
1) In a single wall there are elements that have different service lives, which react differently to external influences. So, a brick can serve a hundred or more years, but a heater immured in it is about 20 years old. From here it is not difficult to imagine the loss of energy efficiency.
2) Heat transfer resistance is known to depend on humidity. For the Moscow region - these are operating conditions B. This means that the coefficient of thermal conductivity increases significantly for almost all materials. This is due to the fact that moisture conducts heat 22 times stronger than air. With a negative temperature, the difference increases up to 80 times. Water, filling the smallest pores, sharply reduces thermal resistance. At the same time, insulation suppliers recommend using figures that correspond to operating conditions A (!), They say their material does not come into contact with the external environment, but is located under the facade cladding. It is not uncommon to ignore cold bridges, which are created by masonry mortar, as well as fasteners for suspended facades. So in 1 sq.m. only six anchors, and this reduces the effectiveness of thermal insulation by 7%.

Construction of houses from warm ceramics

A fundamentally different view of the construction of a stone house is that the wall material itself acts as a heater. For the Moscow region, under operating conditions B, the minimum allowable value of the heat transfer resistance of enclosing structures is R = 3.13 mºС / W. From this it follows that the required wall thickness without additional insulation when using, for example, the KERAKAM SUPER THERMO block (λ = 0.12 W / mºС) is 0.12x3.13 = 0.38 m. Among structural materials, this indicator of porous blocks has no equal. So the thermal conductivity coefficient for the Moscow region under operating conditions B:
. softwood is 0.18 W / mºС, respectively, the required wall thickness is 0.56 m.
. gas silicate and foam concrete with a density of 400 kg / m3 - 0.15 W / mºС (0.47 m)
. hollow ceramic brick with a density of 1000 kg / m3 - 0.52 W / mºС (1.63 m)
. reinforced concrete - 2.04 W / mºС (6.39 m)

Regarding thermal characteristics, I would like to add that porous ceramics (ceramic block) has a high thermal inertia - walls made of blocks of warm ceramics very slowly release the accumulated heat. Although, it should be noted here that it is more difficult to melt such a house after temporary conservation. Therefore, a house made of warm ceramics is not very suitable for seasonal living, such as houses made of profiled timber.

Houses made of warm ceramics

The next positive point of warm ceramics is its high vapor permeability. Due to it, a comfortable microclimate is created in the room, the wall breathes perfectly. Another plus is the removal of excess air humidity to the outside, while condensation does not form on the surface of the walls. The voids in the blocks, on the one hand, exclude the formation of fungi and mold, on the other hand, they significantly enhance the soundproofing properties of the wall.

Due to the larger block size, the number of mortar joints is significantly reduced. Vertical joints do not require filling with mortar, thanks to the tongue-and-groove connection. And this saves money on the solution by 3-4 times, the loss in time for its preparation also decreases by the same amount (in comparison with conventional masonry). In addition, the mortar joint is a cold bridge, respectively, when using warm ceramics, the thermal characteristics of the wall increase. Also, a smaller amount of mortar reduces the humidity of the masonry, the building dries out faster. Therefore, it quickly acquires the required level of thermal resistance, which corresponds to the characteristics of the product. Using warm ceramics is an easy and effective way to reduce building and maintenance costs.

Due to the larger block size, the

number of mortar joints. Vertical joints do not require filling with mortar, thanks to the tongue-and-groove connection. And this saves money on the solution by 3-4 times, the loss in time for its preparation also decreases by the same amount (in comparison with conventional masonry). In addition, the mortar joint is a cold bridge, respectively, when using warm ceramics, the thermal characteristics of the wall increase. Also, a smaller amount of mortar reduces the humidity of the masonry, the building dries out faster. Therefore, it quickly acquires the required level of thermal resistance, which corresponds to the characteristics of the product. Using warm ceramics is an easy and effective way to reduce building and maintenance costs.

Ceramic porous blocks are gaining more and more popularity in the construction of low-rise buildings and are leaders in sales compared to materials of a similar group. This is due, first of all, to the fact that warm ceramics have excellent insulating properties, compared, for example, with solid bricks, which easily transmit heat. Since the brick wall, which ensures the safety of heat in the dwelling, must be quite thick, in order to save building material, a porous block was developed.

On the other hand, even such modern material has certain disadvantages and disadvantages. In order to better study it, let's take a closer look at the main features, technical and operational characteristics.

Features of warm ceramics

Ceramic blocks, like ordinary bricks, are made of red clay, but sawdust is added to it during their production. After molding, the material is fired, during which the sawdust burns out, while the clay acquires a strength similar to stone.

Important! The main reason for the popularity of porous stone is its low thermal conductivity, which allows building codes to be met without the need for thick walls.

Its performance is largely achieved by using a special adhesive solution, which is why the seams between the elements are minimal, which eliminates the appearance of cold bridges. Laying warm ceramics is carried out using the adhesion of vertical recesses and protrusions located on the long side surfaces of the blocks, as a result of which the mortar is not required to be applied to them. In addition, during molding, many voids are made in each product, separated from one another by thin partitions. As a result, the brick is very light, because voids can occupy up to half of its volume.

It is worth noting that ceramic blocks have dimensions that are multiples of bricks, which makes it possible to calculate any standard project in block equivalent. A number of sizes of porous material are provided on the market, allowing you to choose the best option, and depending on the specific building:

1. 250x380x219 mm.
2. 380x250x219 mm.
3. 440x250x219 mm.
4. 510x250x219 mm.

The most common large format block, as it provides the best value for money. When choosing a building material, you should pay attention to its marking, which includes the following parameters:

• NF - indicates how many times the porous block exceeds the dimensions of a standard brick 250x120x65 mm;
• M is the strength value. The higher the indicator, the stronger the product, respectively;
• F is an indicator indicating how many cycles of freezing followed by thawing can withstand.

Special attention deserves the environmental friendliness of the material, its ability to breathe. Thanks to this, excess moisture is removed from the house, and if it is lacking, on the contrary, it will enter inside, providing a comfortable microclimate inside the premises.

Building material disadvantages

Like most building materials, porous brick has both advantages and disadvantages. The number of minuses is large, which requires careful study of them:

• lower strength indicators compared to ordinary building bricks;
• vulnerable structures, such as arches or window openings, require additional reinforcement when building a house from a porous block;
• labor-intensive laying during construction, which is caused by the fragility of the material, which also entails the need for careful transportation, loading and unloading;
• problematic drilling, chasing of warm ceramics;
• exposure to moisture, which requires reliable protection from groundwater. In addition, reliable protection against atmospheric precipitation should also be ensured during storage of the unit;
• high demands on auxiliary materials. Porous stone is not recommended for use in conjunction with products that differ in thermal conductivity. In addition, it requires "breathing" plaster, as well as special cementitious mixtures.

After the erection of the walls, it is imperative to take care of the exterior finish, which entails the need for additional cash costs, given that you need to use special plaster. Interior decoration should be carried out using a protective vapor barrier coating. In addition, the laying of a porous block requires experience and skill, since it is unacceptable for the adhesive mixture to get inside it, which negatively affects the properties of the material.

Advice! As a rule, a fiberglass mesh is used for this, which also strengthens the structure, but at the same time requires additional costs for its acquisition.

Positive aspects of porous blocks

Despite the impressive list of negative features of warm ceramics, its advantages are still significant, which is why it is very popular among buyers. The most significant advantages are:

• light weight, which contributes to the faster construction of buildings compared to other materials;
• good soundproofing properties, which makes the ceramic block an excellent choice for interior partitions;
• fire resistance;
• high energy-saving characteristics;
• the need for a small amount of adhesive solution;
• in a house made of warm ceramics it is warm in winter and cool in summer;
• smooth surface of the walls, which facilitates its plastering;
• environmental friendliness.

Of course, the positive qualities of the material require compliance with all the rules for its installation, otherwise no effect from its use will be achieved. In general, warm ceramics is a modern, economical material that allows you to build energy-efficient housing in a short time.

One of the main questions that arises before any developer is: What to build a house from? We believe that each of the users at least once heard the saying: "My home is my castle".

To paraphrase this phrase, we can say that a modern house, first of all, should be a warm and comfortable fortress.

A strong house is traditionally associated with brick, although the material is durable, it requires additional insulation. But is there a way to build strong, reliable and at the same time warm walls? After all, you must admit that in the light of the constant rise in energy prices, this issue is becoming more relevant than ever.

The realities of the approach to building an energy-efficient home dictate their own characteristics. And one of the most effective methods to build such a dwelling is the construction of walls from the so-called large-format porous bricks, or, as it is also called, warm ceramics.

Warm ceramics in questions and answers

So what is it - warm ceramics?

Commercial director of the company "Gzhel brick factory" Pavel Novikov :

- Warm ceramics is a high-tech artificial stone made of clay and has a rather complex shape. Keramoblock is an alternative to hollow brick and is used for laying walls, ceilings, partitions and other building fences. In terms of size, a ceramic block is 10-15 times larger than a standard brick.

The large-format ceramic block can be used for laying exterior and interior walls, as well as load-bearing walls of residential and industrial buildings up to 5 floors high. Also, porous blocks are used when filling the frames of buildings. Cottages built from this material are distinguished by their solid construction and excellent heat and sound insulation, and the walls, due to the porosity of the material, as they say, breathe which provides a favorable microclimate in the house.

It is important to know that the porosity of the ceramic block is achieved by adding special additives to the clay, for example: sawdust. Due to the fact that during the firing of bricks they burn out, the smallest pores filled with air appear, and since air is a good heat insulator, this increases the thermal insulation of the wall, and the block itself, with large dimensions, due to the characteristic internal voids, turns out to be quite light .

So, the main characteristics of warm ceramics include:

• When using large-format blocks, the speed of building walls increases and, accordingly, time is saved for building a house;
• Due to the low thermal conductivity of the ceramic block and its size, there is no need for additional wall insulation;
• Due to their strength, ceramic blocks can be used as load-bearing walls in the construction of multi-storey buildings;
• The use of large-format blocks provides a high level of sound insulation at home;
• Since one large-format block replaces several standard bricks, the load on the foundation is reduced due to the low volumetric weight of the material, which accordingly leads to a reduction in costs during its construction;
• Thanks to the connection of the blocks using the groove-ridge system, it becomes possible to masonry with only horizontal seams, which reduces the consumption of masonry mortar and reduces the area of ​​​​cold bridges;
• Also, due to the exact geometry of the blocks, even masonry of the wall is ensured, which means that there is no need to level the surface before further finishing.

Block sizes

Since there are several sizes of ceramic blocks on the market, any developer may have a question: What to look for when choosing a ceramic block?

The main sizes of large-format ceramic blocks in millimeters are as follows:

• 250x380x219
• 380x250x219
• 440x250x219
• 510x250x219

The most widespread in the construction of an energy-efficient house are the following sizes: 380x250x219 and 440x250x219, since these formats provide the best price-quality ratio.

Also, when choosing a ceramic block, you should pay attention to the following letter designations:

• NF - the number NF means how many times this block is larger in volume than a single brick with a size of 250 * 120 * 65mm;
• M - strength class. The greater the value of the number after the letter, the stronger the block is considered;
• F - frost resistance. The number behind this letter means how many conditional cycles of alternate freezing and thawing can transfer the material in a state saturated with water.

Since ceramic blocks are considered a structural element of a house being built, thanks to several standard sizes, the developer gets the opportunity to use blocks of different sizes during construction, guided by the climatic characteristics of the region of his residence and the architectural features of the building being erected.

Similarities and differences between warm ceramic blocks

Despite the fact that most ceramic blocks are outwardly similar to each other, however, they may differ from each other in several parameters, for example, the strength and frost resistance factors mentioned above, as well as the use of special additives that burn out during firing, provide material porosity. But what happens if the ceramic block is additionally insulated?

Brick Sales Manager « TEREX" Alexander Astresov :

- Due to the fact that mineral wool is embedded in the voids of the brick, the thermal conductivity of the ceramic block decreases and thanks to this we get a ready-made wall with a thickness of 380 mm. And since the block is polished, a special adhesive solution is used during its laying, which makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the seam to 1-3 mm, and thereby eliminate cold bridges.

A block of 380 mm, in comparison with blocks of greater width, allows you to increase the usable area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room, as the wall thickness decreases.

Since warm ceramics have a certain heat capacity, this smooths out the temperature regime in the room. Thus, the block turns into a heat accumulator, which, at the right time, releases the accumulated energy and retains heat better.

Also, warm ceramics is a breathable, environmentally friendly material that balances the humidity in the room and ensures that excessive moisture escapes from the room to the outside, and if the air is too dry, then warm ceramics let moisture in. This ensures a constant and comfortable microclimate in the house.

Advantages of warm ceramics

According to a company specialist RotenSteinAlexey Semin The advantages of warm ceramics include:

• A house made of warm ceramics - due to the peculiarities of this material, it is warmer than brick, which reduces heating costs;
• The masonry speed increases, and since the mortar is not used on the side joints, this reduces the consumption of the adhesive solution by 4 times compared to conventional brick masonry;
• Warm ceramics accumulate heat in winter and then are able to give it away for a long time, and in summer it is not hot and easy to breathe in a building made of ceramic blocks;
• Due to the fact that when laying the blocks a flat surface is obtained, when finishing the walls, a smaller amount of plaster is required.

But in order for the walls of the house made of warm ceramics to show all their positive qualities to the maximum, it is necessary to adhere to the following rules:

• When laying blocks, instead of a cement-sand mixture, you should use a special warm glue, which allows you to reduce the thickness of the laying joint and, accordingly, minimize cold bridges;
• Under adverse weather conditions, the upper part of the wall being built should be protected from precipitation and water should not be allowed to enter the block;
• In order to avoid a cold bridge in the vertical seam formed at the junction of the smooth surface of the block with the tongue-and-groove side of another block, it must be filled with an adhesive solution;

When drilling a block of warm ceramics, use drills with the percussion mechanism turned off, and for attaching heavy objects to the walls, you must use special anchors recommended by the manufacturer of ceramic blocks.

As an interior finish for ceramic blocks, it is recommended to use plaster, and the relief surface of the side surface of the ceramic block ensures reliable adhesion of the plaster to the wall. Outside, facing brick is most often used.

It is important to remember that a gross violation of the rules for laying warm ceramics can lead to No all the advantages of this material, so the construction of the house must be carried out by highly qualified personnel and according to the technology recommended by the manufacturer of ceramic blocks.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that, using warm ceramics during the construction of a house, the developer receives an efficient, perfect and modern material, which, due to its properties, ensures the construction of an energy-efficient, durable and prestigious home in the shortest possible time.

Users of our forum can learn more about building houses from warm ceramics. You can read a detailed story about how our forum member approached the construction of his house from warm ceramics. In this forum of ours, there is a heated discussion of already built houses from ceramic blocks. And after reading our video, you will clearly see how to properly communicate and hang heavy objects in a house built of warm ceramics.

Ceramic blocks or porous ceramics - a building material that is a hollow blocks with a microporous structure, designed to create masonry with improved thermal insulation. Ceramic blocks are produced on vacuum presses by plastic molding.

Buy ceramic blocks from an authorized dealer of leading ceramic block manufacturers such as Wienerberger, LSR, Gzhel and Braer. Delivery is carried out in Moscow, the Moscow region and in any region of Russia.

The composition of the blocks and the technology of their manufacture

In the process of making ceramic blocks, which can also be called warm ceramics, the following components are used:

• loams, clays, mudstones;
• loess and siliceous rocks such as diatomite, tripoli;
• industrial waste, such as slag, ash, coal waste;
• organic and mineral additives;
• water.

The production technology of ceramic blocks can be divided into the following stages:

• crushing of initial components;
• moistening of raw materials with water and thorough mixing of the mass;
• forming blocks from pre-prepared mass;
• drying molded blocks;
• firing pre-dried blocks.

As a result of strict observance of all stages of the technological process, ceramic blocks are obtained at its output that fully comply with the requirements of GOST 530-2007 “Ceramic brick and stone”.

Varieties and classification of ceramic blocks

Overall dimensions of ceramic blocks can have the following values:

• length 250, 380, 398, 510 mm;
• width 180, 250, 255 mm;
• thickness 140, 188, 219 mm.

Each type of product has its own designation, which depends on comparing its volume with the volume of the so-called normal format brick, which is accepted as a unit of measurement. As a unit of measurement, a single brick is taken, having dimensions of 250x120x65 mm or 1NF. The largest ceramic block has the designation 14.3 NF, while its overall dimensions are 510x250x219 mm. In other words, this value indicates the number of standard bricks that could fit in the volume of this block. It should be noted that some manufacturers have the right to develop and apply their own specifications, as a result of which products are supplied to the market with other overall dimensions that differ from the requirements established by GOST.

The weight of one ceramic block, depending on its overall dimensions, can be from 8 to 30 kg.

Functional purpose

According to their functional purpose, ceramic blocks are divided into front and ordinary. Regardless of their function, the blocks must meet all the performance characteristics of the masonry. In addition, the front blocks should provide a decorative function. They can have a natural look or be painted on the front side. The front surface can be smooth or embossed.

Shape and structure of ceramic blocks

As a rule, ceramic blocks are produced in a shape resembling a parallelepiped, their sides have grooves and ridges, the presence of which gives the masonry the necessary rigidity. All blocks are produced exclusively hollow. Technological voids are through, they can have different geometry. The number of voids is evenly distributed throughout the volume of the product. The voids may contain square or rectangular openings designed to provide a comfortable grip during assembly of the building structure.

In addition to voids, micropores are created during the molding process and subsequent firing. Micropores appear at the site of burnout of organic additives, as a result of which the product becomes porous.

Characteristics of ceramic blocks

When designing a building, depending on its design and the need for wall insulation, the characteristics that ceramic blocks should have are set. As a rule, the following indicators are included in the category of general characteristics of ceramic blocks:

1. Low degree of thermal conductivity, provided by the presence of pores and voids in the body of the block. In this case, all voids of the block have a closed volume.
2. Thermal inertia. A wall made of blocks arranged in one layer should not require insulation, it should maintain the natural heat and air balance in the room.
3. Ease of installation. Since ceramic blocks have significant intrinsic dimensions, their laying must be carried out at a high pace.
4. Duration of operation. The durability of the ceramic block is 50 years or more. For comparison, the average lifespan of traditional bricks ranges from 25 to 50 years.
5. Large format. Thanks to this characteristic, the process of building buildings is greatly simplified and accelerated. Laying one ceramic block takes the same amount of time as it takes to lay 15 traditional bricks. As a rule, the overall dimensions of the front and ordinary ceramic blocks do not differ from each other. The difference can only arise when using products from different manufacturers.
6. Low own weight. Ceramic blocks, due to their own relatively low weight, are not able to make the structure heavier and create an additional load on the foundation of the building.
7. Profitability. For laying ceramic blocks, a much smaller amount of traditional mortar is required, in comparison with brickwork. Moreover, the tongue-and-groove joint does not require any filling at all, resulting in additional savings.
8. Excellent soundproofing. Due to the presence of technological voids in the body of the ceramic block, the material has high soundproofing qualities.
9. Fire safety. Ceramic blocks do not burn and do not support combustion. When exposed to an open fire block, it will never emit harmful substances into the surrounding space.
10. High environmental performance. Since only natural components are used in the production of ceramic blocks, the product does not pose a danger to human life and health.

Disadvantages of ceramic blocks

As you know, each medal has two sides - front and back. Unfortunately, such a seemingly extremely positive material as a ceramic block, in addition to many useful characteristics, also has pronounced disadvantages. The main shortcomings are listed below:

• High material cost. So the price of a warm ceramic block with an operating density of 750 kg / m3 can be called not just high, it can be safely called “sky-high”. The use of cheaper ceramic blocks with an operating density of 900 kg / m3 or 830 kg / m3 in the construction of cottages in central Russia, to ensure acceptable conditions for heat preservation, will require building walls with a thickness of 70 cm to 1 meter. Given the cost of the material, a country cottage built from these ceramic blocks can be called “golden” without exaggeration.
• Reducing the thermal insulation characteristics of the walls of the house. The fact is that a single ceramic block in itself has a low thermal conductivity, however, for its docking with other blocks, the height of which may differ from each other within 4 mm (according to the requirements of GOST), a rather thick layer of sand- cement mortar, which sharply reduces the heat-saving characteristics of the structure, and also increases the material consumption of construction.
• Inaccurate abutment in the tongue-and-groove connection. Almost every selling company tries to convince its potential customers of the maximum accuracy of the tongue-and-groove connection in a row of adjacent ceramic blocks in the masonry. Let's see if this is real or not. The requirements of GOST regulate the discrepancies in the length of the block from 4 to 10 mm, the permissible discrepancies in its width can be 3-5 mm. There will always be such discrepancies. No developer will be able to choose the dimensions of the blocks perfectly, so if he does not want to live in a house with drafts, he will have to fill in the vertical seams. And this is an additional cost of building materials, time and, ultimately, an increase in the cost of the construction process.
• Conditional manufacturability of ceramic blocks. Despite the assurances of manufacturers, ceramic blocks can only be called a technological building material with a big stretch. It is very difficult to drill them, it is problematic to ditch them, various additional elements can be cut out exclusively using reciprocating, pendulum or electric saws. And as you know, such a tool does not allow you to achieve the desired accuracy.
• Brittleness of ceramic blocks. Due to the fact that ceramic blocks have a slotted structure, each individual element is very fragile, so that you do not have to build a house from the rubble, you need to be careful when loading and unloading the material.
• Controversial environmental safety. Manufacturers, and after them sellers of ceramic blocks, assure their customers that ceramic blocks are created on the basis of natural materials, and therefore do not contain and cannot contain harmful additives. Such a statement cannot be 100% true, since the environmental safety of the final product, i.e. ceramic block entirely depends on the location of the clay quarry and the exact observance of the requirements of the technological process in the manufacture.