Continuing the topic of building materials based on concrete and various additives, we will analyze such a popular material as gas silicate blocks. Many advantages, as well as versatility of use, have brought this material high popularity in many regions of the world, including in our country.

The blocks are based on high-quality cement, gypsum, lime and water. All these materials are mixed together, after which aluminum powder is added to the solution. The latter reacts with lime, causing the release of gas and the composition is filled with small pores. Modern technologies allow you to adjust the size of the pores.

After mixing the material, pouring it into molds and cutting the latter, the blocks are sent to autoclaves, where they undergo the final strengthening and impart those performance characteristics for which gas silicate is valued. However, there is also a non-autoclave production method, but in this case gas silicate blocks are less durable and less environmentally friendly.

Advantages of gas silicate blocks

• The gas silicate block has high compressive strength. This is a reliable building material that will allow you to obtain strong load-bearing or interior walls. Naturally, we're talking about on load-bearing structures in low-rise construction;
• Ease. Aerated concrete is five times lighter than conventional concrete and has high strength. Light weight not only facilitates construction, but also makes it possible to save time and money on the construction of a massive foundation;
• The material is 8 times superior to ordinary concrete in terms of thermal insulation properties. IN winter time you will spend less resources on heating even if you save on wall insulation during construction;
• The porous structure makes the gas silicate block an order of magnitude more effective sound insulator than brick;
• Such blocks are mainly manufactured by highly qualified professionals. So the quality of the product is usually very high. The deviations are minimal, so when correct masonry, the walls will be as smooth as possible;
• For rodents, gas silicate blocks are of no interest;
• Large sizes allow you to build walls much faster than with brick. At the same time, you can work independently. By following a number of simple rules, you can build a structure from these blocks without much knowledge in construction;
• The material is completely environmentally friendly and is not subject to fire;
• High vapor permeability allows for complete gas exchange, creating a pleasant microclimate in the premises.

Disadvantages of the material

• Hygroscopicity, as is the case with other options for cellular concrete, is very high for gas silicate blocks. Having absorbed a lot of water, such a block becomes susceptible to destruction and loses its performance characteristics, and also provides the fungus with an excellent environment for reproduction. As a result, additional waterproofing measures are required;
• Low strength. When attaching heavy structures to walls, it is necessary to use special dowels;
• Mediocre frost resistance, which also increases the cost of protective measures;
• Shrinkage of these materials can be quite significant. For this reason, every three to four rows it is better to use reinforcing mesh or reinforcement. Otherwise, the walls may crack over time;
• As with all porous concretes, thermal insulation properties fall with increasing strength characteristics.

Glue or cement?

Laying of gas silicate blocks is done either with a standard cement-sand mortar or with specialized glue. What to choose? First of all, it is worth noting that both fastening substances have a higher thermal conductivity than the gas silicate blocks themselves.

On the cement side the cost is several times lower. The disadvantage is the large thickness of the layer, which increases the width of the cold bridges. The glue allows the blocks to be almost end-to-end, which is very good. However, to lay the first layer of blocks directly on concrete base Cement mortar will still be needed, as it will allow for the necessary leveling in this case.

Technology for laying gas silicate blocks

We will describe the construction of a foundation, which can be strip, in more detail in another article, since this topic is very large. As for the actual laying of blocks, the first row is placed on the concrete mixture from the highest corner of the foundation. If necessary, we make additional adjustments using a solution. Use levels.

• Important! The high ability of the gas silicate block to absorb water should be taken into account when installing the first row of blocks on the solution. To prevent moisture from the latter from being absorbed into the block, the lower part of the block is wetted with water before installation on the concrete support.

All other rows can be laid with special glue. In this case, every three or four rows the walls should be reinforced in order to reduce shrinkage.

• Precast concrete slabs cannot be laid directly on this type of concrete blocks due to the latter’s insufficient strength. In this case, it is necessary to build a reinforced concrete belt around the perimeter of the wall, made using the technology monolithic construction. When building two-story or higher houses, reinforced concrete load-bearing structures are required. In addition, reinforced concrete belts require thermal insulation;
• The strength of the block is one of the determining factors. If you are building a one-story structure, you will need a block with a density of at least half a ton per cubic meter. If we are talking about the construction two-story houses, then you need to choose options of 600 kilograms per cubic meter. We have already said that as strength increases, the insulating qualities are lost, so walls made from such a block must have a minimum of 40 centimeters in thickness. Otherwise you will need additional insulation. It is impossible to build a base from such blocks;
• Chips and other damage to the blocks are not allowed. Since the material is fragile, it must be transported, stored and handled carefully. Try to buy more blocks than necessary, as some may get damaged. Blocks need to be cut special tool and as carefully as possible.

The main costs in the construction of a low-rise building are the material used for the construction of external load-bearing walls and partitions inside the building. To save money, builders often recommend using gas silicate blocks for this. They are environmentally friendly and light in weight. Their housing is warm and energy efficient. However, in addition to a lot of advantages, these blocks also have negative sides.

What is a gas silicate block?

Gas silicate blocks are artificial stone, made from one of the varieties of cellular concrete. This building material can be made even in artisanal conditions. It is enough to mix the solution and leave it to harden in the air for several days near the foundation of the future house. But oh high quality there is no need to talk about such a stone.

Grinding the mixture to produce blocks

Much more often, the production of gas silicate blocks occurs using an autoclave. High temperature with pressure in the latter accelerate the hardening process concrete mixture and make the product more durable. Now the autoclave method is the main one for all factories where this building material for walls is produced in industrial scale to sizes corresponding to GOST standards.

To make a gas silicate block, mix:

Quicklime;

Portland cement;

Sand (fine or ground);

Water with aluminum powder;

Additives to accelerate hardening.

Autoclaves in which they dry at a temperature of 120 degrees and a pressure of 12 atmospheres

During the process of mixing the solution, aluminum powder, lime and water react, resulting in the formation of hydrogen. Because of this, after hardening in concrete, it forms large number small sealed cavities. On the one hand, these voids make the block light, and on the other hand, they reduce its thermal conductivity.

Types and sizes of gas silicate blocks

The weight, dimensions of gas silicate blocks and their other parameters are determined by GOSTs 21520-89 and 31360-2007. These standards provide general tables for all similar products made of cellular concrete. Moreover, the standardized sizes of foam blocks and gas silicate building materials with similar properties differ greatly in numbers.

For the first foam concrete option, the standards indicate ten standard sizes from 88x200x398 to 188x300x588 mm. For wall blocks as such, GOST standards standard sizes No.

For them there are only maximum values:

Height no more than 500 mm.

Width (thickness) up to 500 mm.

Length no more than 625 mm.

However, manufacturers often produce gas silicate according to specifications. The size in this case can be anything. For example, products for partitions in a house are most often made in the form of thin slabs with parameters 100x250x600. And analogues for external walls usually have dimensions of 300x250x625.

Much in terms of size depends on the manufacturer and the equipment he has for cutting aerated concrete into individual blocks. The comparative table below shows some options for such products, indicating density, frost resistance and other characteristics.

Table of sizes and characteristics of wall gas silicate

Table of sizes and characteristics of gas silicate partition blocks

According to their purpose and density, gas silicate products are:

Thermal insulation D300–D500;

Structural and insulating D600–D900;

Structural D1000–D1200.

Their weight depends not only on size, but also on medium density aerated concrete. For comparison, one cubic meter of D400 weighs about 520 kg, and D600 is already 770 kg. Accordingly, the walls are made of different types gas silicate blocks have different loads on the foundation of a house. All this must be taken into account when choosing the building material in question.

Pros and cons of blocks

The advantages are the following:

Light weight - you can load/unload aerated concrete products, as well as build a house from them, alone;

Excellent sound insulation - the presence of many voids guarantees excellent insulation of all street noise;

Ease of processing - to cut a block of aerated concrete when building a cottage yourself, a hacksaw is enough;

Low thermal conductivity - a house made of gas silicate is warm and energy efficient;

High speed of wall construction - the blocks are larger in size than standard 1NF bricks, which greatly speeds up the masonry process;

Non-flammability – gas silicate belongs to the group of low-flammable materials “G1”.

Construction of block walls

Houses made from gas silicate blocks are famous for their comfort and environmental friendliness. Thanks to good vapor permeability, their walls are “breathable”. However, such a cottage can be built with a maximum of two floors. Otherwise, if the load is too heavy bottom rows will begin to collapse under the weight of those laid on top.

Gas silicate blocks also have disadvantages, including

High water absorption;

Relatively low heat resistance.

Aerated concrete does not burn. However, at temperatures above 700 C it begins to collapse. After a severe fire, a house made of gas silicate blocks will most likely become unsuitable not only for habitation, but also for reconstruction.

The second problem is moisture absorption. When water gets on aerated concrete, almost all of it ends up inside the block. And when it freezes, such a “sponge” simply breaks into pieces.

In this regard, ceramic blocks have much more benefits. Of course, photos of brick houses sometimes disappoint aesthetes with efflorescence stains, which are also associated with exposure to moisture. But this does not have much effect on the strength of the masonry. But gas silicate blocks quickly begin to lose their high heat from exposure to water technical specifications and gradually collapse.

This is what a damp block looks like

Photos of houses

Aerated concrete blocks retain heat well in the cottage, but only as long as they remain dry. If gas silicate walls from the facade are not reliably protected from precipitation, they will not last long. In terms of cost, this building material outperforms many analogues. However, in the general estimate for the construction of such a building, it is necessary to take into account the obligation to complete its façade finishing.

For houses that are planned to be built from gas silicate blocks, there is no need to make an expensive and powerful foundation. This building material does not weigh that much. However, the foundation for masonry from it must have a grillage or be strip. The slightest distortion will inevitably lead to the appearance of cracks in the enclosing structures of their aerated concrete.

Gas silicate is inferior to brick in strength, but benefits in terms of thermal efficiency and less load on the foundation. The foam concrete analogue, with equal density, will also win in the matter of heat preservation. However, aerated concrete is much inferior to both of them in terms of moisture absorption. You need to choose this material thoughtfully, having first weighed all the pros and cons. It will take more money to finish and waterproof a home than for a brick or wooden building.

View of a block house

Unusual house geometry

House "under the roof" made of blocks

It is better not to leave the blocks open during the winter.

House with a turret

Partition gas silicate blocks were used above the window spaces

Most often, such walls are faced with brick.

Gas silicate was invented as an alternative to concrete and brick. The main goal of the developers of the new building material there was a reduction in the cost of construction of buildings without loss of strength characteristics of load-bearing and not load-bearing structures. Manufacturers of gas silicate blocks position them as one of the best building materials for low-rise buildings. However, the practice of its use shows that the gas silicate block also has its pros and cons.

What is a gas silicate block

Gas silicate block is a building stone intended for laying walls, supports and partitions. It is made from cellular gas silicate concrete, the peculiarity of which is the absence of cement in its composition. The binder function is performed by a mixture of lime and quartz sand in a ratio of 0.62:0.24.

The production technology is simple:

1. Measure out the required amount of lime and sand.
2. Sift on a vibrating sieve.
3. The listed ingredients are finely ground together in a ball mill.
4. Add water.
5. Aluminum powder is added, which acts as a gas former.
6. The resulting mixture is poured into molds, filling each of them by ½ volume.
7. Maintain for two hours at a temperature of +40°C, waiting for completion chemical reaction, during which hydrogen is formed.
8. Place the blocks in an autoclave, where they remain for 12 hours at a pressure of 0.8–1.3 MPa and a temperature of up to +200°C.
9. The blocks are removed using a dividing crane and laid for further hardening and gaining brand strength.

The resulting material is a porous stone with the following technical characteristics:

• dimensions of voids (cells) – 1–3 mm;
• density - 200–1200 kg/m 3 (corresponding to brand: D200-D1200);
• thermal conductivity - 0.11–0.16 W/°C*m2.

Frost resistance deserves special attention. For blocks of brands D200-D400 this indicator is not standardized. Building stones with a density of 500–600 kg/m3 can withstand up to 35 freeze-thaw cycles without loss of strength and other characteristics. The frost resistance of blocks of higher grades (D700-D1200) corresponds to F50-F75.

Outstanding technical performance is due to the porous structure of the material

Scope of application

Residential and non-residential buildings are erected from gas silicate blocks. Construction technology involves the use of stones of different densities for specific purposes:

• D200-D350 - structural insulation.
• D400-D600 - masonry material for the construction of load-bearing and curtain walls in low-rise construction.
• D700-D1200 - masonry material for the construction of high-rise buildings, subject to reinforcement in every fourth row.

Gas silicate allows you to significantly save on space heating

Difference from aerated concrete

Gas silicate and aerated concrete blocks- materials of the cellular concrete class. They have much in common in properties and technical characteristics and are used for the same purposes. All this creates confusion in the classification of these materials, and due to the external similarity, even experts cannot accurately determine which block is in front of them: gas silicate or aerated concrete.

For internal partitions suitable structural and thermal insulation type of material

But there are significant differences between them. First of all, this is the composition and method of production. There are other differences that can be found in the table.

Differences between gas silicate and aerated concrete

The dimensions of gas silicate blocks are standardized by GOST 31360–2007. All enterprises specializing in the production of cellular concrete adhere to accepted recommendations. But this does not exclude the possibility of producing building stones according to custom sizes customer.

Standard block parameters

The selection of objects for construction is carried out based on the pros and cons of gas silicate blocks.

Pros

The undeniable advantage of gas silicate is its low thermal conductivity. This property is due to the porosity of the material. It consists of a large number of hollow cells filled with air and having an irregular spherical shape. They are the best heat accumulator. The principle of insulation of buildings and communications is based on this property of air. fibrous materials(mineral wool in rolls and slabs).

Gas silicate has other advantages:

• High accuracy geometric parameters products. According to GOST 21520 89, there are three categories of accuracy, each of which allows small deviations: in height - 1–5 mm, in thickness and length - 2–6 mm. Using even, equal-sized stones in masonry allows you to save on the binder: cement-sand mortar or glue.
• High rates of vapor and air permeability, corresponding to similar parameters of most types of wood. In this regard, gas silicate can be called a “breathing” material.
• Environmental safety due to the absence of components harmful to human and animal health.
• Fire resistance, allowing the use of gas silicate blocks for the construction of fire barriers. In a building made from this material, the fire spread limit is 0.
• Light weight. The mass of a block depends on its density and geometric dimensions. The weight of a standard stone 625x300x250 with a density of 400 kg/m 3 is 17 kg; density 1200 kg/m 3 – 28 kg. A low-rise building made of gas silicate blocks does not require a powerful foundation. In most cases, private developers choose between shallow-depth tape (MZLF) or slab. But with the construction of the foundation, not everything is so simple, as will be discussed below.
• Flexibility in processing. Blocks of cellular concrete can be sawed with a regular hacksaw. Nails and screws are screwed into them easily. All this greatly facilitates construction and finishing work.
• They do not attract rodents and insects and are not damaged by them.

Has the least weight thermal insulation type gas silicate blocks

Cons

Private developers often express negative opinions about gas silicate and aerated concrete and report on their experience in building and operating houses from these materials. Based on the reviews, we can draw conclusions about the inherent shortcomings of these blocks.

Hygroscopicity

Gas silicate has one significant disadvantage that can minimize and negate all the advantages of this material: a high degree of hygroscopicity. It identifies many problems that arise during the construction and operation of houses.

The moisture permeability of porous stones is due to the presence of air in them. It is able to penetrate into the smallest cracks and fill them. The moisture contained in it is absorbed by a mixture of sand and lime (components of the gas silicate composition). Aerated concrete is also exposed to the same danger, since the presence of cement in it is not a barrier to the penetration of water into the structure of the block.

We draw conclusions: a wet block is a cold block. Consequently, the thermal technical characteristics of the material declared by the manufacturer correspond to the conditions of its operation: at low or normal air humidity.

In reality, this cannot be achieved, since a natural phenomenon - precipitation in the form of rain and snow - will always increase the level of humidity in the atmosphere surrounding the house. In addition, this indicator is inevitably affected by the proximity of bodies of water: rivers, ponds, pools.

To confirm the information presented, one of the recommendations regarding cellular concrete can be cited.

According to clause 1.7 of the “Reference Guide to SN and P for engineering and technical workers of research and design organizations,” cellular concrete, including gas silicate blocks, is classified as non-moisture-resistant and non-bioresistant materials that are not recommended for the construction of walls of rooms with damp and wet conditions.

Beams can be used to protect external walls

Fragility

For all its advantages, gas silicate has low bending strength. This causes the fragility of the blocks and the appearance of cracks in walls and partitions. The lack of elasticity makes gas silicate structures responsive to the slightest deformation.

Practice shows that houses higher than three floors are not built from this material. For construction high-rise buildings high-density blocks are required: from D700, which have lower thermal insulation characteristics. The cost of construction increases significantly, as the costs of purchasing more expensive blocks, heat and waterproofing materials.

But even a three-story building requires a high-quality foundation made of heavy concrete. Moreover, it is important that the foundation of the house has a high bearing capacity and had a perfectly smooth, horizontal surface. In this case, the risk of shrinkage deformation of the walls and the formation of cracks in them is minimal.

The experience of builders suggests that without a reliable foundation, contacting cellular concrete doesn't make sense. When choosing MZL or a shallow slab as the base, experts recommend building the basement floor from brick. And only after that start laying gas blocks.

A poorly laid foundation leads to cracking of gas silicate

Low mechanical strength

To secure massive structures, heat and waterproofing materials to gas silicate walls, you will need special fasteners. Ordinary ones, in the form of disc-shaped dowels, will not work. Blocks made of cellular concrete have a fairly loose structure, so they require special screw-in dowels or chemical anchors. The price for these fasteners is 5–6 times higher than for disc fasteners.

On average, the cost of insulation, waterproofing or finishing 1 m2 only due to the use of specialized fasteners increases by 250–300 rubles. Total area The façade of a private house is at least 300 m2, so this feature of gas silicate blocks leads to a significant increase in the cost of construction estimates.

U structural type gas silicate low thermal insulation

Use of material for bath construction

An aerated block bathhouse has an optimal price-quality ratio. Adherents of log houses will find many negative aspects in construction from cellular concrete, but not every owner has the funds to purchase expensive wood. In this situation, affordable materials come to the rescue: gas silicate and aerated concrete. They have a number of characteristics that can be regarded as positive for the construction of a bathhouse:

• Pre-fabricated. Due to the light weight and correct geometric shape of the blocks, masonry can be done independently, without the involvement of specialists. Large sizes of building stones provide high speed erection of walls.
• Low thermal conductivity. With the same wall thickness, a bathhouse made of aerated blocks will be warmer than one made of brick.
• Light load on the foundation. A small one-story building can be erected on a strip or column base. Recently, the Semykin foundation, patented by the author, has been gaining popularity. Such a foundation is built from sand-filled car tires. It is perfect for building a bathhouse from aerated blocks.
• Walls made of cellular concrete hold heat well and give off heat for a long time.

Negative aspects of building a bathhouse from gas silicate blocks:

• high-quality hydro- and thermal insulation of walls is required;
• It is desirable to install a heated floor, which will ensure quick drying of the building;
• It is important to comply with increased requirements for storage, transportation and laying of aerated concrete blocks, preventing the occurrence of chips and cracks.

A bathhouse made of this material is an advantageous structure in all respects. You just need to properly protect it from moisture and cover it.

Gas silicate can be easily cut into pieces of the desired size

Construction of house walls from blocks

For the construction of a private house, a gas block is not the best material. If there is no other way out, it can be used, but you need to be prepared for additional costs for insulation and waterproofing of walls and ceilings. Will be required special attention to the quality of foundation construction: it must be reliable and level.

An important point in building a house from gas silicate blocks is the thickness of the walls. Manufacturers claim that 380 mm is sufficient for Moscow and the Moscow region, but this does not meet accepted standards.

When calculating in accordance with SNiP 23–01–99 “Building Climatology” and SNiP II-3–79 “Building Heat Engineering”, it turns out that the minimum wall thickness for Moscow and the Moscow region (when using gas silicate and not taking into account seams) is 535 mm, the maximum - 662 mm. Taking into account seams - 588–827 mm, respectively. It is irrational to build such walls, so you will have to make high-quality, expensive insulation.

Lining gas silicate blocks will protect them from destruction and extend the service life of the material.

Video: house made of gas silicate

How to choose the right one

When choosing aerated blocks, first of all, they are determined by their type: wall or partition. The former are necessary for the construction of load-bearing structures, the latter - for non-load-bearing ones. The market offers a wide range of blocks of different brands. For building a house optimal choice will be the following:

• D400 B2.5 - suitable for the construction of buildings up to three floors;
• D500 B3.5 - used for the same purposes, more dense and durable, but the thermal conductivity coefficient is higher than that of D400 B2.5;
• D600 B3.5–5 - high-strength stones recommended for the construction of basement floors, houses with ventilated facades and hanging structures.

A visual inspection of the blocks is also important, which will give an idea of ​​the condition of the building material of the entire purchase batch. High-quality stones are smooth, with clear edges and without cavities. An autoclave-produced gas block is much lighter than the one that gained brand strength through natural drying.

The high density of the material reduces its thermal insulation qualities

When choosing materials for building a house, a private developer is guided by several

criteria, the main ones being: low cost, opportunity

quick and relatively easy installation, optimal performance characteristics.

At least there's a choice building materials quite large, but in any case it comes down to construction:

• frame-panel type;
• made of brick - ordinary, silicate;
• made of wood, including varieties of wood materials - rounded logs, timber, etc.;
• as an option for private housing construction, can be used monolithic method construction of a building;
• from cellular concrete: foam concrete, aerated concrete, gas silicate, etc.

Some requirements for materials for building a house


Main requirements requirements for the future home:

• structural strength;
• creating comfortable living conditions and an ideal microclimate;
• good or excellent thermal insulation characteristics, the presence of which will not only help retain heat in the house, but will also significantly reduce operating costs associated with its heating.

That's why, choosing gas silicate, is quite justified: an affordable material, with good vapor permeability, comparable to the vapor permeability of wood.

Also contributes to the popularity of gas silicate, and ecological cleanliness and the naturalness of the raw materials used in the production of blocks.

Artificial stone – gas silicate

Artificial materials are created in order to solve certain problems: to offer the market and saturate it with a product in which there is increased interest (and humanity has never stopped building) or in order to obtain a material with new properties that are most interesting to the consumer.

In this context, the appearance of gas silicate immediately responded two criteria and the result was a material that simultaneously has two purposes: being essentially a structural material for construction, it simultaneously, thanks to its porous structure, also performs thermal insulation functions.


In addition, taken into account wishes of the builders related to facilitating installation and reducing the time required to build houses. Therefore, in cases where it is difficult for the consumer to choose between brick and wooden house, then you can settle on a compromise option and build a house from gas silicate blocks.

Construction of houses from gas silicate blocks: pros and cons

Like any building material, gas silicate has its apologists and fierce opponents. But in order to find out which of them is closer to the truth, get acquainted with the arguments of the first and second.

Material price and construction cost

So, defenders insist that building a house from gas silicate blocks– an option for affordable construction. And they are right, indeed 1 m³ of blocks costs on average 3000-4000 rubles. In this case, construction is allowed in one row, with a wall thickness of an average of 40 cm, even in a temperate climate zone, without installing an additional thermal insulation layer.

In addition, in their opinion, you can significantly save on foundation construction: since the material has a small specific gravity, then will provide minimum load on the base.

Opponents of this material, in a dispute about low price material, give their reasons. Yes, the weight of the material is small, but due to the lack of bending work of the material, a reliable and strong foundation will be required, otherwise problems with cracking not only of the masonry at the seams, but also of the blocks themselves cannot be avoided.


Therefore, you will have to choose between constructing the base in the form of a monolithic slab or strip foundation. Increase in construction costs will also occur due to finishing work, since not every material is suitable for this, taking into account such technical characteristics of gas silicate as high moisture absorption capacity and poor surface adhesion with plasters and putties traditionally used for finishing work.

It should also be taken into account the fact that gas silicate blocks differ in their density.

As a material for constructing walls, it is recommended to use blocks with a density of D500, the acceptable minimum is D400, and material with a higher density is naturally more expensive.

Thermal conductivity of walls

Often the choice in favor of gas silicate is determined by the low thermal conductivity of the material, which makes it possible not to use additional insulation. But, only if the walls are thick enough to retain heat. Despite the fact that it is claimed that a wall only 35 cm wide and without insulation will protect well from severe frosts even, for example, in the Moscow region, this is true only under the condition high expenses for heating the house.

And if you want to spend the winter warm and at the same time reduce heating costs, the thickness of the external walls should, in this case, be at least 50 cm. Residents of more southern latitudes can afford walls 35-40 cm thick. If the walls are thin, then it is necessary to install a heat-insulating layer, preferably mineral wool, installed on the outside (facade) side.

Vapor permeability of gas silicate and microclimate in the house

This property does not cause heated debate: both opponents and defenders are united. Really, vapor permeability of walls made of gas silicate comparable to the vapor permeability of a wooden frame.

This feature is explained by the porous structure of the material and its ability, when there is excess humidity in the room, to absorb it and remove it outside the house and vice versa, especially in winter, when the air is dried by heating - it evens out the level due to the increased humidity outside.

But this scheme only works until the owner of the house gets the idea to insulate the house by choosing, for example, polystyrene foam, an absolutely non-breathable material.

House made of gas silicate: easy and fast

• One craftsman spends an average of 15-20 minutes laying 1 m³ of a wall made of gas silicate blocks, instead of the 3-5 hours required for laying a brick wall. Speed ​​is provided by:
• large product sizes, the most common of which is 600×200×300 mm;
• precise geometry of the blocks, the error of which ranges from 0.3 to 0.8 mm;
• the use of special adhesive compositions for gas silicate, instead of cement mortar.

Using glue Instead of cement mortar, it not only allows you to lay out the wall more accurately and quickly, but also contributes to additional thermal insulation of the house, due to its thickness of several millimeters, helping to avoid the appearance of cold bridges. And, despite the fact that glue is more expensive than conventional mortar, several times less of it is required, so construction costs will not increase.

Work with gas silicate quite simply, for example, if an additional element is needed, it can be easily cut from the whole block with a regular hacksaw or saw. It is also easy to groove blocks for laying reinforcement. But later, when it becomes necessary, for example, to hang a picture or a shelf on the walls, you will need to use special dowels.

The main disadvantages of gas silicate

The most “terrible” disadvantage gas silicate, like other cellular concretes, is high moisture and water absorption. Their use in conditions of high (more than 60%) humidity should be limited, but even under normal operating conditions it is necessary to take measures aimed at protecting them from moisture.

First of all, before laying the first row of the wall, it is necessary to arrange a reliable waterproofing layer between it and the foundation. Subsequently, all walls: external and internal must be finished with materials that will protect them from moisture, the excess of which will lead to brittleness of the material and its further destruction.

Another undeniable drawback This is due to the fact that aerated silicate is produced exclusively by an industrial method; therefore, it is impossible to organize its production directly at the construction site, as sometimes happens with other cellular concrete: foam concrete, non-autoclaved aerated concrete. Therefore, it will not be possible to reduce the cost of blocks for construction.

Reviews

Alexey Golovatov, Tver

“To build the house, I chose gas silicate blocks, built from D400, made the thickness of the load-bearing walls 40 cm. Since we harsh winters not uncommon, I decided to insulate the house, for this I installed a system of ventilated facades from vinyl siding, and used for insulation mineral wool. A team of builders was working and it was they who suggested that instead of cement mortar it was necessary to buy special glue in order to make the seams minimum thickness and do not arrange additional outlets for heat. As a result, during the construction season two-story house, with an area of ​​250 m², was ready. together with the facade decoration, and in the spring next year finishing work has begun. And now our family has been living in a spacious house for 7 years and during this time no troubles have happened, I haven’t even noticed a single crack.”

Timur Markelov, Izhevsk

“I decided to make my dream come true and build a house outside the city. But I really didn’t want to get bogged down in construction for several years, so I chose between houses made of wood or gas silicate; I didn’t consider the frame-modular option. I gave preference, albeit artificial, to stone and made a lot of mistakes. Firstly, I believed the advertising and made the outer walls only 30 cm, in the first winter the house practically did not heat up, I had to insulate it - I chose the option facade finishing from siding and mineral insulation. Secondly, based on the fact that light material, the foundation was laid shallow, but it’s good that it was reinforced, so even though cracks appeared in the spring, but only in the seams, the blocks themselves remained intact. The only thing I took into account was the moisture absorption of gas silicate, so I decided not to leave the house without façade finishing over the winter, I plastered it, but this beauty was then hidden behind the siding.”

Grigory Svyatkov, Mytishchi

“My neighbor was building a house from gas silicate blocks, I sometimes helped him with this and also thought that in a couple of years I would build my own, from the same material. Since I saw the whole process, I concluded that working with this material is not difficult, and in addition, it is relatively inexpensive compared to brick or even wooden beam. But a year has passed since my neighbor’s housewarming, and I was disappointed, although, in essence, the problem is not in the material, but in an error related to the fact that it turns out that the masonry should have been laid with glue, and not with mortar. As a result, the house is cold and you will have to incur additional costs for its insulation. In the end, I decided not to take risks and will build my house from profiled timber, as I calculated it won’t be more expensive.”

Yuri Zagrebelny, Saratov

“In our country, gas silicate is a very popular material, so the question: what to build a house from didn’t arise for me. But popularity and the ability to work with him turned out to be not the same thing. In addition, I planned to build on stilts, but as it turned out, this is not the best for gas silicate blocks. correct view foundation. But it’s good that I managed to learn all these subtleties, as well as many other interesting things, before construction began. Therefore, since I did not plan to arrange a basement under the house, I decided to make monolithic slab under the foundation of the house, and entrusted the work to the craftsmen, after looking at the objects they erected and talking with their owners.”

Igor Tretyakov, Stary Oskol

“I built a garage from gas silicate blocks and didn’t have time to finish the façade before winter, but now I don’t believe that the material is completely safe for humans. The wet blocks began to crumble (this is my mistake - I was warned that it has high water absorption), but the smell of lime and other chemicals is very strong, so when planning to build with it new home, I’ve already changed my mind - I’ll do it the old fashioned way ceramic bricks, albeit long, but reliably.”

Kirill Zagrabovich, Klyazma

“I wanted to build my own house, and since I decided to work independently, without hiring construction team, decided to choose gas silicate blocks for this. Besides the fact that the masonry of the walls reminded me of a construction set, the price was also pleasant. In general, it’s decided and done. But I encountered problems even at the foundation stage. As a result, I entered into an agreement with the maintenance crew and everything was done efficiently and on time. As it turned out later, I did everything correctly, since the material has some features that I had no idea about and I still need to be able to work with it. Therefore, you should not save money, but should trust the work to professionals, especially if own experience in construction is zero.”

Rustam Mansurov, Naberezhnye Chelny

“I would like to warn all those who are planning to build houses from gas silicate blocks. If you choose this material, then give up the basement. There won't be any problems, especially if you do the waterproofing poorly. But even in this case, the process of “pulling” moisture from it in blocks will occur constantly, and accordingly, the house will slowly but surely collapse. But if you don’t believe me, check it out. I'm already convinced."

Gas silicate block is a fairly new “representative” of the construction industry, it became known not so long ago, but has already been able to establish itself as an inexpensive, “people’s” building material that can be used in the construction of any construction project.

It’s a pity, but, alas, the perfect building material has not yet been invented. Any of the existing building materials has both positive and negative indicators. We propose to dwell on the main advantages and disadvantages of these blocks, without trying to present them in a better light.

Advantages gas silicate blocks

• Thermal and sound insulation. They occupy first place among materials with low thermal conductivity and low sound transmission. This is due to the presence of a bubble structure in their structure. After all, it is a known fact that air is one of the strongest heat retainers. Indeed, as the number of bubbles (density) increases, the thermal insulation of the material increases.
• Durability. This material is not of interest to rodents, which cannot be said, for example, about wood and various types bricks In this regard, walls made of gas silicate are not afraid of destruction caused by these animals.
• Environmental friendliness. Gas silicate blocks are environmentally friendly. They do not contain dangerous chemical components. Walls made from them do not pose a danger to the health of residents. In addition, the construction of dwellings from this material does not cause much harm environment, when compared, for example, with wood, for which forests are cut down.
• Low cost. Building houses from this material is cheaper than using wood or brick. The solution for creating a block has a fairly simple composition and is unpretentious to work with. Accordingly, the price of the resulting product is very reasonable.
• Ease of processing. Gas silicate blocks lend themselves well to cutting and, in some cases, drilling due to their light porous composition. The process of building the wall itself is also not difficult. The blocks, although voluminous, are not heavy. Therefore, the raising of the walls is quite intensive and with minimal labor costs.
• Low weight. Since a gas silicate block has a porous composition, it is much lighter in weight than, for example, a brick. Despite this, builders do not advise saving too much on laying the foundation, believing that the process can actually be made quite cheap. A gas silicate block requires a reliable strip base to ensure optimal foundation of the walls.

Flaws gas silicate blocks

• Fragility. The inside of the block is not too dense, the reason for this is the porosity of the composition and the presence of air bubbles. These units should be transported, moved and used very carefully. Alas, even a minimal blow can split the block, cracks form and the material becomes unsuitable for construction. In addition, builders advise using a reinforced concrete belt as insurance, which will provide additional durability.
• Low-rise construction. Gas silicate blocks are afraid of heavy loads. For this reason this material not used in the construction of multi-storey buildings. The building should be no higher than 1-2 floors.
• Fear of moisture. One of significant shortcomings The material is recognized as moisture resistant. Because of it, the gas silicate block loses its strength characteristics and collapses. In this regard, block walls must be finished inside and outside. The best way- plastering using heat-insulating material.
• Building restrictions. It is impossible to build from this building material, for example, a bathhouse, sauna, etc. This is due to the fact that the material is afraid of increased moisture. In this case, it is more appropriate to use brick.
• Shrinkage. Walls made of this material may shrink after some time. As a rule, shrinkage appears 20-25 days from the moment the wall is built. Until this point, the wall should not be plastered. This is due to the fact that if finishing work carried out directly after installing the blocks, splits and ruptures may occur as a result of shrinkage.

Gas silicate blocks are...

As you know, a gas silicate block is essentially foamed concrete, the structure of which resembles cells. The production of this block in the industrial sphere is carried out in a special autoclave oven, where cement, sand, lime and aluminum chips are mixed, after which the mixture hardens at a certain temperature conditions and pressure. By the way, it’s pressure that plays a role main role in obtaining a strong and dense structure of this block.

From the above it is clear that gas silicate blocks, despite all the disadvantages, have a huge number of undeniable advantages. All the shortcomings of the material can be easily eliminated by using the latest materials used for finishing. Thanks to gas silicate blocks, it becomes possible to build a warm, reliable and strong house at a very attractive price!