When building a bath, it is traditionally customary to use wood as the main building material. Recently, however, the use of various types of blocks, which have advantages over the classical construction method, has become widespread.

Earlier we already considered what is better to build a bath from, in this case we will dwell in detail on the choice of a specific type of blocks. In order to answer the question of which block it is better to build a bath from, it is necessary to consider all possible options for the block materials used.

Advantages of using blocks in construction

• The simplicity of technology. It is much easier to build walls from blocks than from any other material. These works are quite capable of being carried out independently, without the involvement of highly qualified and, therefore, expensive workers.
• Cheap material and construction technology. The production of blocks using modern technologies makes it possible to achieve their high quality at a relatively low cost. In addition, their characteristics, mainly light weight, save effort and money on the foundation, making it lightweight.

Aerated concrete blocks

The material is a kind of cellular concrete. It is made from cement and quartz sand with the addition of special foaming agents. Blocks with the required increased strength are additionally processed in autoclaves. Therefore, there are two types of aerated concrete:

• bulk weight 0.3-0.5 t/cu. m. - can be used for thermal insulation;
• bulk weight 0.5-1.2 tons / cu. m. (autoclaved) - used for laying walls.

For the walls of a one-story bath, aerated concrete of the D500 brand (0.5 tons / cubic meter) is quite enough, and the blocks can be installed on the edge, then the wall thickness is approximately 20 cm. Since the blocks are usually insulated and finished outside, the resulting structure will be excellent keep warm and have the required load-bearing capacity.

Advantages of aerated concrete

• relatively low weight;
• ease of processing (drilled with a conventional drill, cut with a hacksaw);
• incombustibility;
• becomes even stronger over time.

Flaws

• rather high price (compared to other blocks);
• requirements for the quality of the material (the need for strict adherence to manufacturing technology);
• hygroscopicity (reduced by the use of special additives), leading to the fact that the laying of blocks requires the use of special glue. Laying on the mortar will lead to the absorption of moisture by the blocks and a decrease in the thermal insulation properties of the material.

Price for 1 cu. m. of autoclaved aerated concrete - from 3200 rubles.

gas silicate blocks

According to the manufacturing technology, it resembles aerated concrete, but differs from it in the composition of the binder material: lime (62% quartz sand and 24% lime) is used to produce aerated concrete blocks, and cement (up to 60%) is used for aerated concrete. Gas silicate is always white in color and is even more hygroscopic. Moreover, when saturated with moisture, it loses its strength characteristics, which can lead to the destruction of the material. Therefore, its use for the construction of a bath without additional processing or isolation is irrational. Price - from 3000 rubles / m3.

Foam concrete blocks

Another material related to cellular concrete. Produced from cement, sand and water with the addition of foam created in a foam generator. The manufacturing technology is simple, which allows the production of blocks in private conditions. This leads to the fact that the quality of the purchased material must be carefully checked. Otherwise, the construction of the blocks can quickly become unusable.

Advantages of foam concrete

• the lowest cost compared to other blocks (except cinder blocks) and, especially, wood or brick. Price - from 2800 rubles / m3.

The most important task after deciding on the construction of a house is the choice of building materials. And to choose what is better than a foam block or a cinder block, it is necessary at the stage when the house is still in the project. This decision will determine the characteristics of the finished structure, environmental parameters and operational terms. Both materials have been on the construction market for a long time and are quite widely known. They are somewhat similar, but they also have a lot of differences. It is required to consider the main characteristics, and make a comparison: which is cheaper and better?

Characteristics of the cinder block

Slag concrete was closely associated with Soviet metallurgy. It was from the waste remaining in large quantities during the production of various metals that this building material was made. Its main component was blast-furnace slag. Now it is successfully replaced by various components:

• combustion products - ash and slag;
• small gravel and crushed stones;
• brick fight;
• sawdust;
• expanded clay;
• perlite.

All kinds of waste are used instead of slag. This explains the cheapness of the blocks. Dry components (cement and filler) are mixed, then water is added. After obtaining a homogeneous consistency, the composition is poured into pre-lubricated molds and placed on vibratory tamping equipment. Forms stand under normal conditions for several days. It is allowed to use fresh cinder blocks immediately for construction, but cement gains strength over the course of a month, so it is better to wait.

The benefits include:

• good thermal insulation properties;
• ease of construction, due to the large size of the blocks (5 times more than a brick);
• moisture resistance;
• incombustibility;
• strength;
• frost resistance.

The disadvantages are:

• poor sound insulation;
• exterior and interior decoration required;
• fragility;
• strong exposure to water, mandatory waterproofing is required;
• do not recommend building houses above 3 floors;
• questionable environmental friendliness.

The characteristic of the physical properties of cinder blocks is determined by the raw materials used for their production. They can be very different. It is difficult to compare them with each other. Conventionally, they are divided into light and heavy. Heavy ones have higher strength characteristics and are used in the construction of foundations and basements. Lungs go to build walls.

Characteristics of the foam block

Foam concrete is a type of lightweight cellular concrete. It consists of:

• cement;
• clean sifted sand;
• water;
• foaming components (plasticizers).

The essence of production is the process of foaming due to special additives. The production technology is significantly different from the previous one. The foamed filler is mixed with the rest of the components, then poured into molds. Ready-made foam blocks can be dried both under normal conditions and in special chambers.

The undeniable advantages include:

• fire resistance;
• accuracy of geometric dimensions;
• good sound insulation;
• light weight;
• excellent thermal insulation;
• ease of processing;
• ecological cleanliness.

The foam block also has disadvantages:

• not very high strength (high-rise buildings are not built from it);
• fragility;
• fasteners (dowels, nails, etc.) do not hold in the walls;
• shrinkage;
• the need for strict adherence to masonry technology, special glue is required;
• water absorption.

According to their characteristics, foam blocks are often compared with bricks. But its delivery to the construction site will cost significantly less due to its low weight. Building with it is much faster and easier, since it is almost 20 times larger in volume. Due to its low weight, lightweight foundations are enough for it. But its strength is not so high, and therefore it is not used in its pure form for high-rise buildings. It is ideal for the construction of low-rise houses and cottages.

What is better cinder block or foam block? After a comparative analysis, it will not be possible to unambiguously answer this question. When compared in cost, cinder blocks are cheaper. But the foam block is much larger in volume, and the cost of its transportation is less. For regions with a continental climate and cold winters, a foam block is better suited. The cinder block has rather low heat-retaining abilities, its insulation will be quite expensive, and the cost savings will be minimal. It is not recommended to build residential buildings from cinder blocks, but they are perfect for outbuildings, garages and utility rooms.

The first question that arises at the stage of preparation for construction work is the choice of material for the construction of walls. There are many options on the market and it is not easy to find your own among them.

Foam blocks and cinder blocks are considered one of the most popular wall materials. They have different specifications and prices. To answer the question of which material is better and cheaper, it is necessary to analyze their advantages and disadvantages, their position in the market.

Foam concrete is a cellular concrete obtained in the process of hardening a solution, which includes cement, sand, water and foam.

Foam blocks are a hardened mixture of a binder, silica component and air cells, which are formed due to the action of foam concentrates. It is the last component that ensures uniform distribution of air in the blocks. They are considered lightweight, warm structural building products.

They burn very poorly, protect other materials from ignition. Foam block houses will be warm and reliable, and during operation they will save on heating the building. It is important that their thermal conductivity and bulk density are several times lower than those of silicate bricks.

Foreman's advice: for laying load-bearing walls (internal and external), partitions of low-rise buildings, it is better to use foam blocks with a density of at least 500-500 kg / m³.

Cinder blocks are made from cement, sand, water and a special filler (usually blast-furnace slag or expanded clay chips). They have good technical characteristics, but some significant drawbacks require a special approach to their use during construction. The owner needs to take care of high-quality waterproofing, wall and roof insulation.

But this material is cheaper, it is easy to lay (even a non-professional can do it). A cinder block bath needs careful finishing of the internal walls. First, a wooden crate is attached to the surface, then a heater, foil, and at the finishing stage - wooden upholstery.

Type of building material Price of slag block per piece Compressive strength kg / cm² Thermal conductivity coefficient W / m ° C Percentage of water absorption Density kg / m³ Dimensions (mm) 300×400600×300×200600×300×130600×300×100Cinder block17-48 r.

Foam and cinder blocks have different technical characteristics, structural capabilities. But subject to the construction technology and choosing the right product according to the characteristics of the selected building material, it will qualitatively fulfill its task.

The foam block has better properties, but it costs significantly more. The cinder block is cheaper, but has some drawbacks that need to be compensated for by good thermal and waterproofing. The choice should depend on the financial capabilities of the owner of the building and the requirements for housing.

Cinder block Foam block Conclusion

From the Author: Greetings, dear reader. In the article, we have provided a comparative analysis of the two most popular building materials so that you can make a choice: cinder block or foam block, which is better for building a house, garage or other building.

Source: http://sarstroyka.ru

If you asked me to express my opinion about the construction of houses, then my choice would be unequivocal: brick.

But our article is not about bricks, therefore, dear reader, opt for foam blocks. In short, a foam block is better. On this you can finish reading the article - and go to the warehouse store for the necessary building material.

But still, not so fast. It is worth finding out why the foam block is still better.

To do this, we will divide our article into three parts. In the first, we will describe the advantages and disadvantages of slag blocks, in the second, we will characterize the foam block, and in the third, we will provide links to useful articles that will be useful to you in further work. That is, you will find out what you have to do after you build a cinder block or foam block structure - insulation, wall decoration, and so on.

Let's get started.

cinder block

A fairly popular material that has been used in construction for quite a long time.

Not since ancient times, of course, but with mass buildings during the Soviet era, this building material managed to prove itself well. It is strong enough, relatively durable, but most importantly - easy to manufacture, and therefore - cheap. Houses with cinder block walls still stand in their places.

But, of course, their condition often leaves much to be desired. I would not like to use a formulaic phrase and dilute our text with “water” excessively, but “there can be many reasons for this.” The article “How to strengthen the wall from the outside: the second life of your home” describes the process of reconstructing cinder block walls, therefore we will not disclose this topic in detail here.

Source: http://skorobogatko.com.ua

There is no single GOST for cinder block. Therefore, the weight of each item may vary. You can buy a cinder block in warehouses-shops that are in any more or less large settlement in our country.

Let's name the advantages of cinder block:

relatively low cost. In the production of cinder blocks, a "secondary" material is used - slag.

However, it is clear from the title. Now you know which is cheaper. More specifically, the price of a cinder block in Russia at the moment is about 20-30 rubles apiece; the speed of construction of the structure.

Here, rather, it is appropriate to compare this material with a brick. Elementary, Watson: where you would put seven bricks somewhere, you will put only one cinder block. But in terms of weight, of course, one cinder block is not equal to seven bricks.

Bricks are heavier; theoretically non-toxic. In its production /should not/ be used materials that are harmful to the body of people and animals. But, again, theoretically, anything can be mixed into its composition.

Therefore, before purchasing a batch of this building material, it will not be out of place to check the certification to make sure of the quality of performance; thermal insulation. The material itself can serve as a good heat insulator due to its structure. And in combination with the insulation of the house, produced using the right technology, you can be sure that you will not freeze in the cold season; versatility.

It is impossible to say unequivocally which is more practical: cinder blocks or foam blocks. The fact is that both of these materials are suitable for building both a house and a garage or other building. In a word, both building materials are universal.

Separately, we highlight one more fact that undoubtedly deserves your attention. Cinder blocks are used in the construction of the foundation. At what - quite successfully.

As it often happens in practice, when pouring the foundation, various construction debris is often “buried” there, which, by the way, not only does not make the structure worse, but in some way makes it stronger and more durable. Of course, if not everything is dropped there in a row, but various fragments of bricks, perhaps metal (for example, unnecessary pipes). So, a reliable and durable construction is also obtained from the cinder block.

Now let's discuss the cons of the cinder block:

low soundproofing. More precisely, the absence of such.

Due to its structure, the material is practically not an obstacle to sounds from, say, the street. Therefore, if you built a cinder block house, you will have to get used to the noise of cars passing along the street. Although, there is another way out - soundproofing.

But this, of course, is additional work, time and, of course, additional costs. Therefore, the cinder block is more suitable for the construction of garages or other non-residential buildings. Or for building walls inside the house from, say, foam concrete; unattractive appearance.

If a brick wall, for aesthetic reasons, can remain without a finishing exterior finish, then a cinder block structure will not look very attractive. Let's just say, a rare amateur. Therefore, you will have to deal with exterior decoration using sidig, brick or other material.

At the same time, it is possible (and necessary) to lay a heater between the wall and the finishing material (foam plastic, extruded polystyrene foam, mineral wool). But, again, if not a house is built, but a garage, there will be no need to bother with finishing. A garage for that and a garage; complexity in subsequent processing.

To lay the necessary communications in the room with your own hands, you will have to try hard. It is better to hire professionals who will do the work for you; the need to build a solid foundation. You can’t call this a disadvantage, since the foundation must be reliable.

That's why he's the foundation. But if you are going to build a two or three-story structure on loose soil, this is not the best idea, since there is a risk that the building will “float”; the need for waterproofing the walls. The fact is that the cinder block very actively absorbs moisture.

And for buildings (especially residential) - this is completely useless. Moisture destroys building materials and promotes the formation of fungal colonies, which also destroy building materials. In addition, mold is dangerous to health.

Well, here we have dismantled the properties of the shalk block. For construction, this material is not bad, but not great either. Personally, I would not build a house out of cinder block.

But the garage is another matter. By the way, my garage is made of this material. And they built it without much haste - in less than a couple of weeks (taking into account the time spent on facing).

Enough about cinder blocks. Let's move on to foam blocks.

Foam block

We will not go into consideration of foam block production technology. And there is not much sense in this in the context of our today's conversation. We confine ourselves to what we note: the foam block is obtained by foaming concrete using special equipment.

Most often, this material is compared to brick. Many builders say that these materials are identical, but their main difference is the price. The foam block is not fully identical to the brick, and the price for it is really lower.

Consider the advantages of the foam block:

low cost in comparison with brick; low thermal conductivity. The material itself is a good thermal insulator.

Therefore, do not ask which foam blocks or cinder blocks are warmer - in this regard, they are identical; versatility. The material is suitable for the construction of structures of any type. As, however, and shalkoblok; small weight.

You can build a house or garage from foam blocks on almost any soil and not be afraid of "seismic activity" on a local scale. But the foundation must still be strong and reliable - no one cancels this; a sufficient level of sound insulation compared to the previous material; relative ease of processing. It will not be as difficult to conduct communications as in the case of a cinder block.

Source: https://www.calc.ru

Now it's time to reveal the flaws. In fact, these shortcomings are of a relative nature and cannot be called shortcomings of the material. But in order not to write a slogan here, like “The foam block is perfect!”, We will nevertheless submit them for your consideration:

if the batch is defective, it is critical.

It is clear that marriage is bad for any building material, but if you build a building from foam blocks, the production technology of which has been violated, there will be trouble. The material will simply begin to crumble. Although, you can identify the marriage even at the stage of purchase.

Just be careful; the material "does not like" moisture. More precisely, he loves, but for us, as for the residents of the house, this is not very good. Foamed concrete blocks actively absorb moisture, so proper wall finishing after construction is necessary.

OK it's all over Now. There are no more significant shortcomings in the material. It is quite simple to process, serves as a good heat insulator (but this does not mean that the house does not have to be insulated at all), and also has soundproof properties.

As for the cost, one foam block with parameters 600 × 250 × 50 mm / 5 kg is on average 30–50 ₽. As we can see, it is more expensive than a cinder block.

But in terms of technical characteristics, this material is superior to the previous one. But if you are building not a house where you will later live, but, say, a garage or a greenhouse or even a country house where you will only spend the night periodically, you can use a cinder block. Here it is appropriate to be guided by the advertising slogan that came to us from the era of perestroika: “Why pay more?” But if the house is being built for permanent residence, build it from a foam block (or better, from a brick).

Conclusion

In this section, we will provide a list of articles that will be useful to you in further work, that is, when insulating a house, when decorating walls, when constructing a floor structure, and so on. I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the following articles posted in the public domain on our website:

I understand that this is far from all the information that, theoretically, you may need in the context of our today's topic. This is just a minimal list.

To search for other articles - use the convenient navigation on the site. Just write in the search box a keyword from the topic that interests you (for example, "plaster" or "flooring"). The system will give you all the articles that mention the topic you are interested in.

Thank you for reading this article, dear visitor of the site.

I hope it has been useful to you. If suddenly you have any questions, the answers to which you did not find on the site, ask them in the comments and you will soon receive a detailed answer. Thank you for your attention, dear reader, please visit again!

Today, the construction of houses, garages, fences and other structures is not difficult. The market offers a variety of building materials that even a non-professional builder can use.

Houses are built mainly of brick, wood and no less popular materials, which include cinder blocks, aerated concrete and foam blocks. If everything is clear with brick and wood, then the remaining three materials still cause mistrust. The question of which is better - a brick or a cinder block, a foam block or aerated concrete, can only be answered by a specialist who understands the composition of the given materials and their technical characteristics.

If the question of choosing a suitable material arises before construction, all the materials offered should be thoroughly studied. Let's try to determine: what are the differences between aerated concrete, cinder block and foam block. After all, these identical-looking materials contain a lot of distinctive features.

Aerated concrete in construction

Aerated concrete has become popular relatively recently. Perhaps its popularity was affected by the global crisis: since it has a fairly low cost, anyone can buy it. Despite the cheapness of the gas block, it has a number of positive features.

The benefits of aerated concrete include:

excellent thermal insulation, so there is no need to spend money on additional insulation; it is very convenient to use, its weight, large size, grips and grooves make it possible to quickly build the intended structure; aerated concrete has vapor permeability due to its porous cells; makes it possible to build external single-layer walls without insulation; environmentally friendly, harmless to human health.

As for the shortcomings, they are also present. Moreover, all its negative qualities completely coincide with a brick.

The main disadvantage that you should pay attention to is their moisture absorption. This feature characterizes the absorption of moisture into the material, due to which the house can be humid for several days after construction is completed. Also in winter, glaciation of the outer wall is observed, which leads to a decrease in heat in the house.

Back to index

Before answering the question of which material is still better, you should fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of the cinder block.

They will help you make the right decision when choosing.

Cinder blocks are used not only in the construction of walls, but also for laying the foundation.

Its low cost is due to the use of waste materials in the production.

The blocks are made of concrete mixture with the addition of the necessary fillers. Weight, block dimensions may vary slightly. Here, the standards are not observed, since not only enterprises, but also private entrepreneurs are engaged in manufacturing.

A distinctive feature of the cinder block is its low thermal conductivity in comparison with brick or foam block. But thermal conductivity also depends on the filler, so when choosing, you should pay attention to its composition. The most durable, according to experts, are cinder blocks made of lime.

The advantages of cinder block include:

the main positive quality is ease of construction, namely, speed: cinder block is 7 times larger than brick, so laying the wall will take only a few hours; due to its low thermal conductivity, cinder blocks have good thermal insulation; a finished wall made of cinder blocks dries quickly; the material does not toxic and harmless to health.

This material has disadvantages:

low level of sound insulation; after completion of construction, it will be necessary to carry out external and internal decoration; makes it difficult to conduct internal communications; cinder blocks are afraid of water, under its frequent influence, the service life of the blocks is noticeably reduced.

Giving preference to the described material, it should be borne in mind that it may be necessary to overlay the external walls with bricks, and this leads to additional monetary costs.

Construction Materials

Cinder block or foam block - which is better for construction?

From the author: welcome, dear reader. In the article, we have provided a comparative analysis of the two most popular building materials so that you can make a choice: cinder block or foam block, which is better for building a house, garage or other building.

Source: http://sarstroyka.ru

If you asked me to express my opinion about the construction of houses, then my choice would be unequivocal: brick. But our article is not about bricks, therefore, dear reader, opt for foam blocks. In short, a foam block is better. On this you can finish reading the article - and go to the warehouse store for the necessary building material.

But still, not so fast. It is worth finding out why the foam block is still better. To do this, we will divide our article into three parts. In the first, we will describe the advantages and disadvantages of slag blocks, in the second, we will characterize the foam block, and in the third, we will provide links to useful articles that will be useful to you in further work. That is, you will find out what you have to do after you build a cinder block or foam block structure - insulation, wall decoration, and so on.

Let's get started.

cinder block

A fairly popular material that has been used in construction for quite a long time. Not since ancient times, of course, but with mass buildings during the Soviet era, this building material managed to prove itself well. It is strong enough, relatively durable, but most importantly - easy to manufacture, and therefore - cheap. Houses with cinder block walls still stand in their places. But, of course, their condition often leaves much to be desired. I would not like to use a formulaic phrase and dilute our text with “water” excessively, but “there can be many reasons for this.” The article "" - describes the process of reconstructing cinder block walls, therefore we will not disclose this topic in detail here.

Source: http://skorobogatko.com.ua

There is no single GOST for cinder block. Therefore, the weight of each item may vary. You can buy a cinder block in warehouses-shops that are in any more or less large settlement in our country.

Let's name the advantages of cinder block:

• relatively low cost. In the production of cinder blocks, a "secondary" material is used - slag. However, it is clear from the title. Now you know which is cheaper. More specifically, the price of a cinder block in Russia at the moment is about 20–30 ₽ apiece;
• construction speed. Here, rather, it is appropriate to compare this material with a brick. Elementary, Watson: where you would put seven bricks somewhere, you will put only one cinder block. But in terms of weight, of course, one cinder block is not equal to seven bricks. Bricks are heavier;
• theoretically non-toxic. In its production /should not/ be used materials that are harmful to the body of people and animals. But, again, theoretically, anything can be mixed into its composition. Therefore, before purchasing a batch of this building material, it will not be out of place to check the certification to make sure of the quality of performance;
• thermal insulation. The material itself can serve as a good heat insulator due to its structure. And in combination with the insulation of the house, produced using the right technology, you can be sure that you will not freeze in the cold season;
• versatility. It is impossible to say unequivocally which is more practical: cinder blocks or foam blocks. The fact is that both of these materials are suitable for building both a house and a garage or other building. In a word, both building materials are universal.

Separately, we highlight one more fact that undoubtedly deserves your attention. Cinder blocks are used in the construction of the foundation. At what - quite successfully. As it often happens in practice, when pouring the foundation, various construction debris is often “buried” there, which, by the way, not only does not make the structure worse, but in some way makes it stronger and more durable. Of course, if not everything is dropped there in a row, but various fragments of bricks, perhaps metal (for example, unnecessary pipes). So, a reliable and durable construction is also obtained from the cinder block.

Now let's discuss the cons of the cinder block:

• low soundproofing. More precisely, the absence of such. Due to its structure, the material is practically not an obstacle to sounds from, say, the street. Therefore, if you built a cinder block house, you will have to get used to the noise of cars passing along the street. Although, there is another way out - soundproofing. But this, of course, is additional work, time and, of course, additional costs. Therefore, the cinder block is more suitable for the construction of garages or other non-residential buildings. Or for building walls inside the house from, say, foam concrete;
• unattractive appearance. If a brick wall, for aesthetic reasons, can remain without a finishing exterior finish, then a cinder block structure will not look very attractive. Let's just say, a rare amateur. Therefore, you will have to deal with exterior decoration using sidig, brick or other material. At the same time, it is possible (and necessary) to lay a heater between the wall and the finishing material (foam plastic, extruded polystyrene foam, mineral wool). But, again, if not a house is built, but a garage, there will be no need to bother with finishing. Garage for that and a garage;
• difficulty in post-processing. To lay the necessary communications in the room with your own hands, you will have to try hard. It is better to hire professionals who will do the work for you;
• the need to build a solid foundation. You can’t call this a disadvantage, since the foundation must be reliable. That's why he's the foundation. But if you are going to build a two or three-story structure on loose soil, this is not the best idea, since there is a risk that the building will “float”;
• the need for waterproofing walls. The fact is that the cinder block very actively absorbs moisture. And for buildings (especially residential) - this is completely useless. Moisture destroys building materials and promotes the formation of fungal colonies, which also destroy building materials. In addition, mold is dangerous to health.

Well, here we have dismantled the properties of the shalk block. For construction, this material is not bad, but not great either. Personally, I would not build a house out of cinder block. But the garage is another matter. By the way, my garage is made of this material. And they built it without much haste - in less than a couple of weeks (taking into account the time spent on facing).

Enough about cinder blocks. Let's move on to foam blocks.

Foam block

We will not go into consideration of foam block production technology. And there is not much sense in this in the context of our today's conversation. We confine ourselves to what we note: the foam block is obtained by foaming concrete using special equipment. Most often, this material is compared to brick. Many builders say that these materials are identical, but their main difference is the price. The foam block is not fully identical to the brick, and the price for it is really lower.

Consider the advantages of the foam block:

• low cost in comparison with brick;
• low thermal conductivity. The material itself is a good thermal insulator. Therefore, do not ask which foam blocks or cinder blocks are warmer - in this respect they are identical;
• versatility. The material is suitable for the construction of structures of any type. As, however, and shalkoblok;
• light weight. You can build a house or garage from foam blocks on almost any soil and not be afraid of "seismic activity" on a local scale. But the foundation must still be strong and reliable - no one cancels this;
• a sufficient level of sound insulation compared to the previous material;
• relative ease of handling. It will not be as difficult to conduct communications as in the case of a cinder block.

Due to their light weight, low price and good technical parameters, foam blocks are loved by developers. And what will be the results if we compare foam concrete with other building materials suitable for the same purpose?

Let's find out, but first let's compare gas silicate (), and answer: which is better, what is the difference and similarity of materials?

So, what is the difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete, or are there no differences? Both of these materials belong to representatives and basically contain. However, they differ somewhat in composition and.

• Aerated concrete blocks become porous due to the introduction of aluminum paste with lime; in the manufacture, the mass is usually heated in an autoclave.
• Foam blocks contain a special foam concentrate that forms pores, and their drying often occurs naturally - in the air.

What is the difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete, what are their pros and cons, we will describe further.

The following video will tell you which is better, foam concrete or aerated concrete:

How to distinguish from each other?

How to distinguish aerated concrete from foam concrete?

• Snow-white aerated concrete and gray (cement-concrete color) foam concrete are easy to visually distinguish from each other.
• The latter is cheaper - somewhere in one-fifth.
• However, if we calculate the construction costs, it turns out that more foam blocks need to be taken than gas blocks.
• And it is more expensive to lay them, since for this you will have to make a cement mortar. And for aerated concrete, a special glue is needed, which is consumed much less, and the laying itself is faster.
• Due to thin seams, aerated concrete walls will be warmer.

Blocks of foam concrete and aerated concrete

Technical specifications

Now let's compare the main technical parameters:

• Dimensions are more stable for aerated concrete (factory conditions allow this to be achieved).
• The absorption of moisture in foam concrete is much lower (untreated, like sponges, absorb water, but do not collapse at the same time). Accordingly, foam blocks are more.
• In terms of density (which determines strength), both materials have floating rates: from 300 to 1.2 thousand kilograms per cubic meter. In foam concrete, the strength is very dependent on the quality of the foam concentrate. Gas blocks have the same strength throughout the volume, foam blocks do not. At the same density, aerated concrete is stronger.
• Shrinkage at the wall of foam blocks is greater - 1-3 millimeters per meter. Therefore, cracks sometimes appear in it. Aerated concrete walls with a shrinkage of no more than 0.5 millimeters per meter usually do not crack.
• Thermal insulation a (which has a low density) is better. After all, it is more “bubbly” in structure.

With regard to safety in terms of ecology, lightness, fire resistance and durability, both materials are quite up to par.

Having drawn conclusions, it can be noted that it is better to build load-bearing walls from gas blocks, and to carry out thermal insulation from foam blocks.

Now that we have made a comparison of the characteristics of foam concrete and aerated concrete, we have identified their advantages and disadvantages, we will also consider gas silicate in this regard.

Foam concrete and gas silicate

• Aerated concrete blocks are made using a slightly more sophisticated technology than aerated concrete ones. For them, the autoclave is an indispensable condition. The main components are, water, and. For the appearance of pores, aluminum is added in the form of powder.
• The material is strong, retains heat well, it does not crack. White color.
• The price of gas silicate blocks is about a quarter higher than that of foam concrete ones. But, as already described above in the aerated concrete example, it is cheaper and faster to build from them. Shrinkage of the wall will be no more than 0.3 millimeters per meter. The remaining parameters are similar to aerated concrete. Including high water absorption, which requires a high-quality finish.

The conclusions are the same as in the previous case: for the construction of walls of a bearing type and various structures, it is better to take gas silicate, to save heat - foam concrete. Also, the latter will be good for small street buildings that are not supposed to be finished. The material resists moisture and frost well.

What to choose, foam concrete or gas silicate - the following video is devoted to this issue:

In polystyrene concrete, as the name implies, the lightest polystyrene foam is used as a filler. Depending on the composition, the density (respectively, the thermal insulation ability) of the material may change. Outwardly it has a grayish color. It is easy to distinguish it from foam concrete by taking the block in hand.

Let's compare the characteristics:

• By weight: foam concrete is heavier (more than twice). A square meter of a wall made of it weighs 302.5 kilograms. Polystyrene concrete has 135 kilograms.
• In terms of heat conservation, polystyrene concrete blocks are also in the lead: they have a thermal conductivity of 0.075 W / m K, and for foam concrete blocks - 0.14 W / m K.
• And in terms of frost resistance: foam concrete can be frozen up to thirty-five times, polystyrene concrete - up to a hundred times.
• Foam concrete blocks are one and a half times less able to withstand the compressive load.
• With regard to fire resistance, the situation is different. If foam concrete does not burn at all, then its competitor belongs to slow-burning materials. Polystyrene balls melt when heated strongly, releasing harmful substances. Therefore, polystyrene concrete for safety requires a plaster coating of three centimeters.
• Water absorption in foam concrete is higher - 14 percent. Its lighter competitor has just 4 percent.
• Styrene granules are not always distributed evenly, which is why the structure of expanded polystyrene is less homogeneous than that of foam concrete. Because of this, he is fragile.

In principle, both materials are suitable for the construction of low-rise buildings and thermal insulation.

But, unlike foam concrete, polystyrene concrete (which costs a little more) requires mandatory plastering. But due to the low thermal conductivity, the total cost of polystyrene concrete structures is 1.4 times lower.

Foam concrete and expanded clay concrete

To improve the heat-shielding properties, smooth expanded clay rounds are added to the cement mixture. This is how expanded clay concrete is obtained with a grayish noticeable textured surface, which is as easy to manufacture as foam concrete. They are also similar in features.

Here is a comparison:

• The thermal conductivity of expanded clay concrete blocks is from 0.12 to 0.55 W / m K. Foam concrete has an average of 0.14 W / m K.
• The compressive strength of expanded clay concrete is from 3.5 to 7.5 MPa. For foam concrete - from 2 to 7.5 MPa.
• In terms of frost resistance, foam concrete is better: it can withstand thirty-five defrosts, and expanded clay concrete - twenty-five.
• Water absorption is slightly lower for foam concrete (14 percent). His competitor has 18 percent.

Thus, both materials are quite suitable for the construction of inexpensive buildings up to two floors (they are almost the same in price, but expanded clay concrete is still cheaper).

Foam concrete and cinder block

For (otherwise, wall bricks), all kinds of industrial waste introduced into the cement mixture are used. For example, coal screenings, brick fragments, building materials breakage. This is due to its low cost (lower than that of foam concrete). Outwardly, the material is not very presentable, it resembles a dirty-colored pumice stone.

Let's compare both materials:

• Foam concrete is more environmentally friendly, so cinder blocks are made from waste that is not always environmentally friendly.
• Foam concrete absorbs less water. Cinder blocks are not used without plastering and waterproofing.
• Foam concrete is less fragile.
• Cinder blocks have low thermal insulation, as well as noise protection. Foam concrete wins in these parameters.
• But cinder block structures, as a rule, are stronger than foam block ones. They are comparable to bricks.

We draw conclusions: foam concrete is useful if you need to inexpensively build a small cottage or country house. But it is better to build something out of cinder concrete: sheds, toilets, utility rooms.

Foam concrete and brick

It is easy to distinguish them from each other: a brick (it costs much more) is twenty times smaller and looks more decorative, having a white or red tint and a smooth surface. However, building with brick is much longer and harder - this requires skill, experience and a lot of tools. You can build a wall from a foam block very quickly, without using extra effort.

As for the characteristics:

• Brickwork is stronger (from 50 to 300 kg / cm 2) than foam concrete (from 9 to 90 kg / cm 2).
• But in terms of sound insulation and heat saving, foam blocks win. In brick, these indicators are much worse. Thermal conductivity, for example, 0.8 W / m K (foam concrete - 0.14 W / m K).
• The moisture absorption of both materials is approximately at the same level, but the frost resistance of bricks is better (75 cycles versus 35 for foam concrete).
• Environmental friendliness and resistance to fire in both materials - on the "solid five". As well as vapor permeability, allowing the walls of the house to breathe.

We draw conclusions. More expensive brick is appropriate to use for the construction of strong foundations and load-bearing walls. And cheap foam blocks - for partitions, thermal insulation.

So you can combine materials, harmoniously combining them and making the construction quite budgetary. If we talk about a completely brick house, then it will cost more than a foam concrete one, while not protecting it so well from noise and storing heat.

Even more data on comparing foam concrete with aerated concrete, cinder blocks, polystyrene concrete contains the video below: