We are building a house from expanded clay blocks. We build a house from expanded clay concrete

There is probably not a single family that does not dream of a cozy, warm home. Often dreams are shattered by the realities of life related to the material side of the issue. In such cases, you should pay attention to a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks. On construction market products from this lightweight concrete has not lost popularity for several decades due to its favorable price-quality ratio. Let's take a closer look at the characteristics of the building material and the technology of working with it. Let's figure out how to build a house from expanded clay concrete blocks so that it warms not only us, but also our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

House made of expanded clay concrete blocks

Expanded clay concrete - characteristics, advantages, disadvantages

Products made from lightweight concrete, the main filler of which is baked clay pellets, are in high demand in the construction of small private houses, as well as in construction country houses and auxiliary buildings. Expanded clay is a lightweight, environmentally friendly, porous and, at the same time, very durable material.

When binding pellets with cement mortar, products are obtained that have many positive aspects:

Advantages that do not affect the quality of work, but improve mood when purchasing materials and during construction activities include:

• low cost of production. The use of readily available components in the manufacture allows maintaining price range, available to most developers;
• ease of masonry. Small dimensions and weight of individual elements allow installation at an accelerated pace;
• increased surface roughness, which improves adhesion to finishing compounds and facilitates cladding work.

Having studied the advantages, we can quickly conclude that a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks is ideal. Reviews from owners largely confirm this opinion.

But when choosing a building material, you should not turn a blind eye to the disadvantages, which include:

Studying the advantages and disadvantages will help you properly prepare for construction activities.

Calculator for expanded clay concrete blocks for home

To one of preparatory stages construction refers to the design stage. After developing and agreeing on the project, it is necessary to calculate the need for materials. You can determine the required amount of building material yourself. Let's take for example cottage made of expanded clay concrete blocks with dimensions of 10x20 m and a ceiling height of 3 m.

Calculation can be done using two methods:

• by area;
• by volume.

When calculating the required number of elements according to the first option, we proceed according to the following algorithm:

1. We define total area walls In our case – (10+10+20+20) x3=180 m².
2. We calculate the number of units of production per 1 m². For an element with dimensions 400x200x200 mm this is 12.5 pieces (1/0.4x0.2=12.5).
3. We multiply the total area of ​​the walls and the quantity by 1 m² - we get the required number of units of production - 180x12.5 = 2250 pieces.

How many expanded clay blocks are needed to build a house?

The second calculation option is similar to the first, only when carrying out calculations they operate not with area indicators, but with the values ​​of masonry volumes and one unit of production.

It is worth emphasizing that window and door openings are not taken into account in the calculation process. This was done deliberately to account for the loss of building materials during the work.

We build a house from expanded clay concrete blocks

Having understood the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of products, having studied methods for calculating the need for building materials and having made their purchase, you can begin construction work. To build a strong and durable house from expanded clay concrete blocks with your own hands, adhere to proven technologies.

The general construction algorithm includes:

• foundation construction;
• walling;
• roof arrangement;
• waterproofing, insulation, cladding.

Let's take a closer look at each point.

Foundation for a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks

When choosing the type of foundation, you first need to focus on the structure and composition of the soil, as well as the groundwater level.

Foundation for a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks

Of the variety of foundations for structures made of lightweight concrete, only three types are suitable:

• tape;
• pile;
• slab

By analyzing the soil at the construction site, you can determine which foundation will be preferable. A slab foundation is justified on unstable soils prone to movement. Due to large area and increased strength, it is able to compensate for bending loads and prevent cracking of the material during soil shifts. But there is a nuance that you need to be aware of - a slab base is labor-intensive to install.

A pile foundation has many advantages when erected on soils prone to frost heaving. It is also indispensable in cases where it is necessary to build a building on a site with a slope. But pile foundation unevenly distributes loads arising from soil shifts. Therefore, choosing screw design for a house made of lightweight concrete, carefully weigh the pros and cons.

Optimal, with low occurrence groundwater, is a strip foundation.

It has a number of advantages over other types of bases:

• distributes loads evenly, which prevents cracks;
• allows you to fill it yourself, since the work process does not require large-sized equipment;
• allows the arrangement of a full-fledged basement.

How to pour a strip foundation

Pouring work strip foundation follow the following algorithm:

1. Plan the site surface. Uproot trees and bushes. Remove small vegetation by hand or using chemicals.
2. Mark the base using pegs and rope.
3. Dig a trench to a depth greater than the freezing level of the soil. Level the walls and bottom of the trench.
4. Prepare and install the formwork. For formwork, you can use scrap boards or use plywood panels.
5. Fill the trench with crushed stone and sand mixture. Perform tamping.
6. Assemble the reinforcing frame. The connection of metal rods can be done using welding or binding wire.
7. Prepare concrete mortar according to the recipe. Use a concrete solution of at least grade M400 for work.
8. Fill in ready-made composition into the trench. Tamp the solution thoroughly to remove any air bubbles.
9. Level the surface. Cover with plastic to retain moisture.
10. After completing the hardening process, remove the formwork.
11. Waterproof the foundation.

After the base has gained strength, begin building the box.

When laying expanded clay concrete blocks, professionals advise using adhesives

Wall construction work two-story house from expanded clay concrete blocks in the same way as country house from expanded clay concrete blocks, follow the general algorithm:

1. Place the first row. Start laying from the corner area.
2. Check horizontality using a level.
3. Lay the next row, shifting the elements relative to the lower level by a third or half of the thickness.
4. Reinforce the masonry every 3-4 rows. Use metal rods or reinforcing mesh for this.
5. Strengthen door and window openings.
6. Concreting the reinforced belt at the upper level to install the roof structure.

Upon completion of work, proceed with the installation of the roof.

Roof arrangement

The roof, like the foundation, is the key to the durability of the building. Before you start installing the roof, think over the design, choose suitable material ceilings Save when choosing roofing material not worth it.

It is important that he be:

• durable;
• durable;
• resistant to natural factors;
• environmentally friendly.

Arrangement of the roof of the house

To install the roof, prepare the following materials:

• wooden beam 150x150 mm for the Mauerlat;
• edged board for sheathing;
• roofing material;
• hardware for fastening structural elements.

Guided by the documentation, assemble the frame and secure the roofing material.

Insulation of a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks

Buildings made of expanded clay concrete need insulation. Developers often have a question about how to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks. To maintain a comfortable microclimate, it is advisable to install thermal insulation both inside and outside. Such A complex approach to insulation will reduce the cost of maintaining a favorable temperature.

How to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside

For external insulation, it is important to choose the optimal heat insulator.

Insulation of walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks

The most common insulation materials include:

• Styrofoam. It is characterized by low price, ease of installation, ease of finishing. Disadvantages - flammability and damage by rodents;
• mineral wool. Is different affordable price, increased thermal insulation properties. When laying it outside the building, the use of waterproofing is a prerequisite;
• facing panels. They are distinguished by high prices and increased level installation costs. The installation technology ensures effective thermal insulation.

Any of the proposed options has the right to life. The choice depends on financial capabilities.

Estimated construction cost

The estimated cost of construction can be obtained by summing up the following cost items:

• development and approval of project documentation;
• purchase of materials for the construction of the foundation, walls, roof, finishing;
• transportation costs for delivery of building materials to the work site;
• expenses for the services of hired workers.

Using current prices, you can get an approximate cost and plan the amount of upcoming costs.

One of the most important points in the construction of a new house is correct selection building materials. The strength of the structure, its energy efficiency and aesthetic appearance depend on this. Although the last parameter is not very important at first glance, it is currently of great importance. There is no need to talk about energy efficiency with current energy prices. A properly built home can save you a lot of money in the future.

For construction modern houses used wide range materials: Wood. Concrete. Brick. Foam concrete blocks. Cinder blocks. Expanded clay blocks. It is the last material from this list in present time gained the greatest popularity. Due to its structure, expanded clay has quite good operational properties, which at a relatively low cost makes it one of the leaders among builders. The technology of construction from expanded clay concrete blocks is practically no different from the specifics of construction from brick or cinder block. By appearance such a block is not too different from a slag-cast one, but has differences in composition. Expanded clay is used as a filler instead of blast furnace slag. Expanded clay is small balls that have a spongy structure. Due to this, the weight of the block is significantly reduced in comparison with the same brick, which has a beneficial effect on the weight of the structure, reducing the cost of constructing the foundation. In addition, due to the porous structure of the filler, such blocks have low thermal conductivity and excellent noise insulation, which is quite important for modern structure. The ease of working with this material allows manufacturers to make blocks of various sizes and configurations for construction external walls, and intra-house partitions. The advantages of expanded clay concrete blocks include: Environmental friendliness. In comparison with the same blast furnace slag, expanded clay does not contain impurities harmful to humans, which makes it possible to use it for indoor installation. Fire safety. This material has excellent resistance to high temperatures, difficult to ignite. Moisture resistant. Durability. Low thermal conductivity, compared to aerated concrete blocks Expanded clay material has thermal conductivity almost 1.5 times lower. Good sound insulation. High productivity during installation. Due to the excellent weight-to-size ratio, such blocks are quite easy to install, reducing the time for building a house. However, it is worth noting that for all its advantages, such construction material is not without its shortcomings. Among them: Mandatory presence of finishing of external and interior walls. If you leave such a house without external finishing works for a period of more than 1-2 years, the strength of expanded clay concrete will noticeably decrease, which will negatively affect the rigidity of the structure. This material cannot be used for the construction of building foundations. Its density does not allow it to withstand strong mechanical loads. Due to its lightness and large dimensions, the costs of cargo delivery increase. However, it is worth noting that this negative effect matters only for large volumes of construction. Calculation of the required amount of material The first step when building a house from expanded clay concrete blocks is to clearly calculate the amount of material. It will be possible to sell the extra parts after the work is completed only at a large discount, and this is an extra cost. Calculating expanded clay concrete blocks for a house is very simple. You need drawings of the building being constructed and specifications for the purchased blocks. Typically, manufacturers use standard size produced block, which is 190 mm x 190 mm x 360 mm for external walls and 190 mm x 90 (120) mm x 360 mm for interior partitions. By calculating the area of ​​all walls, the thickness of the masonry and the size of the blocks, you can calculate their number. We multiply this figure by 1.2 (we leave 20% in case of battle or damage) and feel free to buy the resulting quantity. When purchasing expanded clay blocks, you need to pay close attention to their quality: The seller must show a product quality certificate. It should indicate the standards to which the blocks are manufactured. Find out the conditions for block production. Manufactured in a nearby garage from questionable raw materials, using homemade equipment and unskilled workers, it is better not to take them. Check dimensions. Several blocks randomly selected from the proposed batch should not differ in size. Check the geometry of the blocks. The surfaces of the side faces should not have any irregularities. For construction one-story house It will be enough to use solid elements from expanded clay concrete blocks with your own hands. If the house has 2 or more floors, in order to avoid excessive pressure on its foundation, it is better to use multi-slot blocks. Their peculiarity is that they have special joining grooves at the ends, which allow the blocks to be connected at the ends without the use of mortar. Foundation arrangement Construction of the foundation is one of the fundamental works in the construction of any house, including buildings made of expanded clay blocks. The layout of the foundation depends on whether the construction of a technical floor is planned or not. In the case of planning a basement in which it will be possible to place a boiler room, technical floor, laundry or Gym, the base is built from concrete blocks. If the construction of a basement is not planned, the foundation is made as a strip along the perimeter of the load-bearing walls. To do this, dig a trench no more than 50 cm deep and a width equal to the width of the wall +100 mm. Place at the bottom of the trench sand cushion. Then from chipboard panels or OSB produce formwork and reinforcing mesh. It is needed to bind the concrete so that it does not crack under the weight of the walls. The reinforcement is usually tied using tying wire. After laying the reinforcing mesh, concrete mortar is poured, which is prepared based on a mixture of grade 400 cement and screenings. The ratio of cement and screenings should be 1:3. Every 15-20 cm, the concrete layer is compacted with a special tool. Hardening of concrete depending on weather conditions can last from 2 to 4 days. The slower this process occurs, the stronger the foundation will be. Therefore, when building a house foundation work They try to do it around April. The fact is that the finished base will shrink within 12 weeks and it is not advisable to build on it at this time. After removing the formwork, the foundation is covered with a waterproofing layer. To do this, you can use mastic or melted resin. The gap between the foundation and the ground is filled with sand. Construction of a house from expanded clay concrete blocks The procedure for carrying out installation work: After the foundation has settled, its surface may be curved, so before starting laying it must be leveled with mortar. The evenness of the surface is checked using a level. After the solution hardens, 2-3 layers of roofing material are laid on the surface of the foundation, which will serve as waterproofing. A layer of mastic is placed between the layers. Laying blocks begins from the corner. This must be done along a cord stretched between the corners of the building. First, the first row is laid around the entire perimeter, then the second. As often as possible, it is necessary to control the correctness of the masonry using a level and plumb line. The fact is that the blocks may have a taper in their geometry, which can lead to curvature of the walls. After laying 3-4 rows of blocks, the wall is reinforced with reinforcement. To do this, metal rods are laid along the perimeter of the walls, on which the mortar and the next row of blocks are placed. When erecting double walls, two rows of blocks are laid simultaneously, connecting them together. To install the blocks, use a regular cement-sand mortar, which coats the lower and side parts of the block. If you plan to build a two-story house, then the thickness of the walls of the first floor must be at least 400 mm. To do this, either two rows of blocks or thick blocks are laid. Some manufacturers for multi-storey buildings They produce similar materials measuring 590 mm x 400 mm x 200 mm. After completing the construction of the walls of the first floor of the building, the top layer of blocks is strengthened with a reinforcing belt. It is done to more evenly distribute the load on the blocks from the side of the ceiling or walls of the second floor. Such a belt is made of solid brick or reinforced concrete blocks. The reinforcement belt must be insulated, since solid brick or concrete has much higher thermal conductivity than expanded clay blocks. Exterior wall decoration when building a house from expanded clay blocks For better thermal insulation walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks use several facade options: The simplest and cheapest insulation option is a facade made of polystyrene foam blocks. Such slabs are up to 50 cm thick and can insulate a house quite efficiently. They are laid on special solution onto the wall surface and secured with dowels. Then a layer of reinforcing mesh is installed, onto which polymer cement is applied. Apply to its surface decorative plaster or facing tiles. Also very popular are the so-called ventilated facades using mineral wool. Installation of such a facade is quite complex and costly. First of all, a layer of vapor barrier is laid on the surface of the expanded clay concrete wall. For this you can use aluminum foil. Then the guides are mounted, to which mineral wool, a layer of waterproofing and external finishing: siding or aluminum panels. This version of the facade is more durable and has the best thermal insulation properties. Project of a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks: photo House made of expanded clay concrete blocks: video

Expanded clay concrete is an inexpensive, but at the same time durable and strong building material with high thermal efficiency and sound insulation abilities. The use of expanded clay concrete is widespread in all areas of low-rise construction; both residential and commercial structures with a height of 1-3 floors are erected from it.

This article examines in detail the technology of building a house made of expanded clay concrete. You will also find out what advantages and disadvantages it has. this material and how to make it at home.

For front finishing, we recommend choosing facing brick. Between layer brickwork and the surface of the insulation must be left with a ventilation gap 1 cm thick. Interior decoration done in several layers - the first one goes gypsum plaster, and drywall is attached on top of it or wallpaper is glued.

2.1 House cost, reviews

If you decide to build a house with your own hands, then the amount of costs for building materials, project documentation, transportation costs and rental of crane equipment will vary between 500-800 thousand rubles per project one-story building with an area of ​​70-80 squares. The project of a similar house ordered from a construction company is estimated at around 1.5 million. The price includes all work - you already get the full finished building with interior decoration.

Read reviews about expanded clay concrete houses from the owners of such housing.

S. V. Nikiforov, 29 years old:

My father and I built a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks in 3 months. Everything was done with our own hands; we spent 600 thousand for a 7*8 m building. We are happy with the result - the housing turned out to be well-made, warm and cozy. Among lightweight concretes, in my opinion, expanded clay concrete is best choice for low-rise construction.

D. V. Baryshkin, 38 years old:

I live in expanded clay concrete house more than 10 years. The building was recently insulated mineral wool, as a result, heating costs decreased by almost 30% - they started turning on the boiler much less often, so the house now keeps heat perfectly. I have heard more than once that heavy objects cannot be mounted on expanded clay block walls - I have a 150 liter boiler hanging, there are no problems.

The old cinder blocks have been replaced by a material that has replaced them with dignity. It is in great demand in construction and is famous for its remarkable technical characteristics and positive aspects. Houses, garages, bathhouses, agricultural buildings and other buildings are built from it. The products are quite easy to work with, and for processing you do not need to have high-tech tools. Due to its porous structure, the material is lightweight, has a low thermal conductivity coefficient and perfectly protects the room from noise. Even bad weather is not scary for him, since he is not afraid of moisture. And thanks to its environmental friendliness, it is used everywhere. What kind of miracle material is this? It's about about expanded clay blocks.

Expanded clay is known to everyone as an insulating material. But, by adding large and small fractions of expanded clay to the concrete, it turned out universal material, ideal for building houses. A house made of expanded clay block is a fairly popular design. You might think that with such characteristics, its cost would be exorbitant. But don't rush to conclusions. Expanded clay concrete is very affordable. Its price is even lower than gas silicate blocks. In this article we will discuss the pros and cons of houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks, and also find out reviews from owners who have already built similar buildings.

Features of expanded clay concrete blocks for home

Expanded clay concrete blocks are made according to standard technology. The composition is quite simple and understandable. Here is the usual set for concrete: sand, cement and water. However, it is the filler that makes expanded clay concrete blocks just the way they are. The main component of this material for building a house is expanded clay. Combined in one product positive sides concrete and expanded clay. That's why it has so many benefits.

Note! The construction of houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks in Russia began actively 60 years ago. Just as the products were popular then, they are still popular today.

Due to its dimensions and weight, building a house is much faster. The standard block has dimensions: 188 mm – width, 390 mm – length, 190 mm – height. And its weight can reach 15 kg. The technology for laying the walls of a block house is very simple. And due to different forms and the purpose of the blocks, the design can be improved. Blocks can be hollow or solid. It will be convenient for you to transport, store and serve them at height. The masonry of a block house is identical to that of brick. But, in the first case, it takes less solution, effort and time.

Now everyone wants to insulate the house from the inside or outside in order to retain the generated heat and save on heating costs. However, a clear advantage expanded clay concrete block is its level of thermal conductivity. A house made of this material will be warm. And since expanded clay concrete is also a sound insulator, extraneous noise from the street will not disturb you.

Here is a list of the main characteristics of expanded clay concrete:

1. Moisture resistant.
2. Light weight material.
3. High strength and reliability.
4. Resistance to rotting and the influence of microorganisms.
5. Expanded clay concrete is not afraid of temperature changes.
6. Is fireproof.
7. Doesn't rust.
8. Excellent vapor permeability of the walls of the house.

On store shelves you can find various brands of expanded clay concrete. What do they mean? Blocks have special letters indicating the category. For example:

• P – septal;
• P - means that it is ordinary (unpresentable, requires subsequent finishing of the walls of the house);
• L – front (presentable, not requiring finishing);
• C – wall.

The following letters indicate the purpose in the design. For example, PZ is used for bandaging seams, UG is used at corners, PR is an order product. If the block is hollow, then PS is indicated. The marking also includes length, compressive strength, frost resistance and density. If you see the marking of the expanded clay concrete block KSL-PR-PS-390-75-F20-1200, then you will understand that this is a facing stone for walls, decent with voids, length 390 mm, strength 75, freezing cycles 20 and density 1200. A Why are houses made from expanded clay concrete blocks so good?

House made of expanded clay concrete blocks: pros and cons

Building a house is every man’s dream. However, this is not an easy task. Not only do you need to choose a material, you also have to work hard to create a comfortable, durable and warm structure. Many owners of houses created from expanded clay blocks are very glad that they chose this material. Why are houses so good?

Advantages:

Flaws:

1. Due to porosity, the frost resistance of the structure is not so high.
2. During laying, cold bridges may form. The house has to be additionally insulated.
3. Poor ventilation of the material.
4. The material itself is fragile.

A house made of expanded clay concrete blocks can be seen in the photo.

To summarize, it becomes clear that using expanded clay concrete as a raw material for building a house is a great idea.

Note! The products are 100% environmentally friendly. Expanded clay itself is made from clay, which is fired in a kiln. Therefore, living in a building will not cause any harm to health.

But in order not to be unfounded and to check the material itself in action, let's look at how good expanded clay concrete blocks are by reading the reviews of the owners of such houses. So, we will find out how the material behaves in practice and whether it is worth thinking about taking it at all. Perhaps it tricky move marketers? Let's see.

Independent reviews from owners of houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks

So, we have selected several statements from people who have recently or for many years lived in a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks. The product rating is really very high. All those characteristics and positive aspects are probably real.

This is what Roman from the Moscow region says: “I built a house of 230 m2 from these blocks. I've been living there for 11 years now. What can I say - this is a profitable replacement for the popular gas silicate block. Not only are the products stronger and moisture resistant, but their price is much lower! I've been thinking about what to build my house from for more than a month. I decided to use expanded clay concrete. I just came across a problem: unscrupulous companies sell materials made from sand-cement blocks under the guise of expanded clay concrete. Therefore, check the products when purchasing. What conclusion did I draw: the advantage of the material for the home is its low cost, strength, reliability, breathability and light weight of the blocks. There’s only one downside: the building needs to be insulated.”

And Anton from Chelyabinsk noted: “My one-story house was built 12 years ago. I was surprised by the speed of building the house; you can’t achieve that with brick. I didn’t insulate it with anything, I just lined it with brick. After construction, there was no shrinkage of the material. In winter, with frosts down to -38 ℃, it is warm here, and in summer it is cool. Advantages: the material itself is a solid advantage. I didn't find any cons. But there are a lot of fake products.”

“Immediately before purchasing expanded clay concrete blocks for the house,” shares Stepan from Saratov, “I surfed the entire Internet, read tons of information and asked friends about it. I doubted it, because the word concrete itself confused me. It absorbs moisture tremendously. But as it turned out, expanded clay concrete blocks are moisture resistant. Despite the difficulty of choosing, I decided to purchase them. Over these 15 years, I have never regretted the decision. There were only positive impressions left. Now I recommend this material to everyone. The block is inexpensive, lightweight and retains heat well in the house. Difficulties arose only with sawing off expanded clay concrete. But these are trifles.”

Do you want to build the most cheap house made of durable concrete blocks? Then choose expanded clay concrete block. This is the case when cheap means both good and reliable! Newer options for expanded clay concrete blocks are heat blocks, expanded clay concrete blocks with finishing stone cladding.

The advantages of houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks (eco-blocks) are undeservedly forgotten today. And they are very significant for construction country houses, dachas, cottages, garages:

The high structural strength of the block, close to concrete, and the absence of shrinkage allow you to use blocks with a thickness of 190 mm and not worry about the reliability of a building up to 3 floors high.

Thermal insulation characteristics improved compared to concrete provide savings on external thermal insulation of walls and heating. The size, weight and geometry of the blocks speed up the construction process compared to brick and make it more technologically advanced and simpler.

Sometimes expanded clay concrete blocks are called ecoblocks or bioblocks, because... they consist of cement, sand and expanded clay. All components are made of stone and do not release anything into the air even when heated. They don't rot. Absolutely non-toxic and safe for people.

Expanded clay is a stone porous heat insulator. It is made from special types of clay and fired at a temperature of 1100-1400 C. Some factories in Russia produce from the same clay cosmetic masks for face. A fraction of expanded clay of 5-10 mm should be used in the block.

The rough, cement-porous surface of the blocks is absolutely suitable for further plastering or wall finishing.

The use of hollow lightweight blocks allows not only to improve thermal insulation properties, but also reduce the load on the foundation. The use of blocks for load-bearing walls with a thickness of 190 mm and partitions with a thickness of 90 mm increases the internal usable area Houses.

The lowest cost of construction of non-lined concrete walls. The cheapest and most durable stone house.

What is expanded clay as a stone insulation? We take suitable clay, roll it into rods, cut it into small cylinders and into the oven. The firing technology is the same as for ceramics, but has its own specifics. The subtlety is that the final fired granule must have large voids inside and a durable shell.

Therefore, the oven is long and the granules in it move in special regime. Firing takes place at a temperature of 1100-1400 C. Everything that could come out of the clay flies away. Expanded clay does not rot like stone, although it has significant water absorption due to large quantity open pores. In the block, the expanded clay pores are closed with a cement-sand mixture.

The areas of application of expanded clay as insulation extend from internal and external insulation of floors, walls, roofs to insulation of paths, blind areas, etc.

The myth about expanded clay. On the Internet they often talk about the supposed radioactivity of expanded clay or blocks. However, expanded clay and blocks sold in Russia by large manufacturers do not have an increased radioactive background. And this can be easily checked before purchase using a radiometer (costs from 5 thousand rubles) and make sure that the characteristics declared by the manufacturer correspond to reality.

The advantages of expanded clay concrete block provide significant benefits to both builders and home owners.

Reference. In Russia, the number of buildings in which expanded clay concrete blocks are used is about 7%. In a number European countries this figure reaches 40%.

The precise geometry of the block allows for:

• make the thinnest possible seam using regular mortar, which reduces cold bridges and reduces mortar consumption;
• speed up the laying process, as it does not require time spent on adjusting the blocks;
• create smooth internal and external wall surfaces, which significantly saves money on plastering and finishing.

Stable quality and supplies from reliable large manufacturers allow:

• have guaranteed block quality;
• make timely deliveries on time;
• eliminate financial risks when purchasing blocks;
• have high-quality packaging and a minimum of defects.

The high strength and lack of shrinkage of expanded clay concrete makes it possible to:

• erect load-bearing walls, floors and roofing immediately, without waiting for a shrinkage period of 1-2 years;
• avoid cracks during the construction and operation of the house;
• increase the internal area of ​​the house by reducing the thickness of the wall. In a house of 10*10 m on 2 floors, 11 cm of wall thickness gives an increase in area of ​​about 9 m² - a whole room!

In general, building a house from expanded clay concrete blocks is a completely rational option in terms of price/quality ratio and speed of construction.