Always dreamed of having your own own house far from the city, from roads, from cars? You have land plot in an excellent location, have you completed all the bureaucratic procedures and are now the full owner of the site? Well, dreams must become reality, which means it’s time to think about your own home. First of all, about what material you are going to build it from, what kind of roof it will be, external and internal cladding.

In this article you will learn why it makes sense to build buildings from foam concrete; we will tell you how to build a house from foam blocks with your own hands.

Construction of a house from foam blocks

When looking for the strengths and weaknesses of this material, it should be understood that if foam concrete had any significant disadvantages that would make building a house impractical, then most likely houses would not be built from this building material. Architects, in this case, would not have been offering hundreds of expensive projects for houses made of foam concrete for decades.

Let us list the main advantages of this material. It is precisely because of these advantages that many builders decide to build foam concrete houses:

• Foam concrete walls have the same ability to “Breathe” as wooden ones.
• Foam concrete is a type of very heat-resistant material; it keeps heat well in winter and cool in summer.
• Foam concrete has soundproofing qualities.
• From the point of view of environmental standards, foam concrete is clean and does not require additional processing.
• Allows you to save on heating.
• Over time, foam concrete becomes stronger.
• Affordable price because it contains simple, affordable components.
• The volume of the blocks is equal to the volume of fifteen bricks, despite the fact that their weight is half as much, and it is much easier to build from foam concrete.
• Houses made of foam concrete do not require foundations that can withstand particularly heavy loads.

Despite the convincing list of advantages, if you decide to build a house from foam blocks with your own hands, you will have to face some disadvantages of the material:

• The house must be built exclusively according to frame technology, thus, you will have to experience all the disadvantages of frame construction.
• It will be necessary to carefully monitor the quality of each connection and make labor-intensive calculations and measurements. If you do not have proper experience in construction, you will need a specialist designer.
• The structural basis of the blocks requires insulation; be especially careful when choosing it.

Reviews

Here are some reviews from those who dealt with this type of material during construction:

Vladislav Voronin, novice builder, Engels:

“I participated in the construction of a house made of foam blocks twice: the first time, so to speak, I helped. The second time, the guys and I laid out the armored belt and started laying down the blocks. I got the impression that with proper design, foam blocks are the building materials of the future. You can build almost any building from it - a garage, a house, or even a full-fledged two-story mansion. The house was built in almost a month. The main thing to remember is that professionals should work in the team, because if you deviate from the standards - ready house will not be durable."

Igor Korchygin, owner of a house made of foam blocks, Moscow region:

“Seven years ago, my wife and I decided to build our own house and bought a plot with a ready-made foundation. For everything together they paid about 1.5 million, despite the fact that half of the money went to the site. Thus, the house cost (give or take) 800 thousand. The price included foam blocks and roofing, support posts and a team of four people to build an armored belt. There was one large load-bearing wall inside the house. The armored belt was erected within one day. The dimensions of the walls grew and grew every day, I laid a huge number of blocks myself, but not without advice (they advised how to properly moisten the surface of the blocks with water for better masonry). I saved not only money, but also nerves and time. It’s funny now to see how people give advice, saying that a house made of foam blocks will not last, it will not be as warm as we would like, etc. If you have any doubts, don’t build anything at all, but if you want to build, I recommend foam block structures to everyone.” .

Step-by-step construction of a house from foam blocks

Step #1. Paperwork.

To get started, you'll need documentation. To start building a house with a clear conscience, solve all the formal procedures - obtain building permits, for the site, develop or modernize water supply systems, drainage, heating and electricity issues.

A rationally laid out water supply system is the key to comfort

Step #2. Order in the workplace.

Avoid the usual order of things. A construction site is not a dirty place where everything around is dangerous and chaotic. Provide water supply to the construction site, allocate a special place for tools and building materials. The area should be clean - no nails, screws or scraps of foam blocks. There should be a designated area for you and those who will help you, tools should be protected from rain, covered with a thick tarpaulin, if necessary.

Mark all future structures on the site, think through everything in advance, including the number of people you may need.

Step #3. Construction materials and soil preparation.

Construction of the foundation is considered one of the main stages of building a house. You will have to consult with many people and read a lot of literature.

Preparing the soil for strip foundation

The most the best option is a strip foundation. According to the project, you need to make precise markings on the site, according to which you will dig a pit, either manually or using machinery.

Step No. 4. Pit.

Before laying the foundation, sand must be poured into the pit (the layer thickness is no more than 0.25-0.3 m of sand). It is necessary to pour crushed stone on top of the sand - its thickness should be the same. After compaction, the concrete pad can be considered ready. After this, it is necessary to assemble the reinforcement frame.

Pit filling scheme

The reinforcement must be attached to each other as firmly as possible and high level- no slipping or shifting.

Installation of formwork

The next stage is the installation of formwork. You will need strong boards that will be fastened into a shield. They must be placed strictly parallel to each other, otherwise the pit will not be level. From above, all panels must be connected to each other with transverse wooden fasteners.

Now it’s time to prepare the concrete: one volume of cement + sand (three units) + small crushed stone. The solution is poured onto the pillow, then erect the entire structure. The foundation tape should have a width of 0.3 to 0.5 m and a height of 0.7 m or more.

If you have completed the foundation, now it’s time to start bringing in building materials: foam blocks, glue, reinforcing rods, waterproofing.

Step #5. Walling.

Construction can begin, which means start building walls. Having processed the foundation waterproofing materials, you can start laying foam blocks. To do this, use special notched spatulas.

Coating the foam block with a solution

It should be noted that laying walls is a pleasant job (from the point of view of visibility of the result), but not easy. Particular care must be taken to place the first row of blocks. The quality of further rows depends on its evenness.

Start of construction of walls

Do not forget that the strength of the house depends not only on the material, but also on the principles of masonry - use the binding of foam blocks exactly as with brick: in each row, move the blocks according to the principle of “row relative to the previous row” by half the length of the foam block. This type of masonry will make a great contribution to the strength of the future home.

Dilution of glue for foam blocks

Glue for foam blocks must be prepared according to the recommendations on the packaging; with a notched trowel, it must first be applied to the side edges of the blocks, and then to the bottom. Then lay the block. The level needs to be checked not every row placed, but every block placed. Yes, the work is painstaking, but the result will bring you so much joy and pride that it is worth it.

We invite you to watch a video that shows how in 15 days the guys built a house from foam blocks with an area of ​​90 square meters:

Reinforcement and insulation of walls

Reinforcement is the key to strength. The reinforcement procedure is very important. Those who complain about the fragility of a house built from foam blocks, as a rule, initially decided to save on reinforcement. It is this process that prevents cracks from appearing in the future. After you have laid out the first row of foam blocks, you need to make grooves on their surface using a wall cutter (as a rule, a size of 0.4 m x 0.4 m is sufficient, and at the same time step back from the edge of each block by at least 6 cm). Make two grooves, they should be parallel and have rounded corners. Be sure to clean the grooves from any remaining dust, after which the adhesive solution should be poured into them. Place reinforcing rod inside. Then continue laying the rows. Every 3-4 rows it is necessary to repeat laying the armored belt. Some builders reinforce each row, this significantly slows down the construction process, but we can only guess how much this strengthens the structure!

Cleaning grooves for armored belts

You should know that when working on window and doorways, we should not forget about metal corners. The length of the corner to be laid (placed above the future window and doors) must be at least 0.6 m greater than the width of the opening itself.

According to observations, a team of 4 people copes with the construction of the walls of a 120-meter house on average in a week. If you work at a relaxed pace, three weeks will be enough.

Attic and ceiling

In order to build a ceiling, as a rule, ready-made products are used, namely concrete slabs from the factory and wooden beams. When buying beams, remember that they must be dry. It is advisable to tie the beams with 3 cm boards.

The most correct thing is ground assembly of attic structures with further lifting and installation. The structure should be sheathed with boards, then waterproofing layers should be laid, and then the roofing should begin.

We are building wooden frame second floor

Facade finishing

Since you are building a house, this means that you, first of all, want for yourself and your family comfortable conditions accommodation. The appearance of the house is an important component of comfort, so the surface of the walls must be finished from the outside, otherwise the house will darken and turn into a “gloomy castle.” Moreover, the aesthetic component is not the main reason for the need for external work; finishing enhances the parameters of foam concrete, the house becomes stronger and warmer, and moreover, sound insulation characteristics increase.

Exterior decoration of the house

There are several ways to decorate a foam block house:

• Decorative panel. It is necessary to leave an air gap between the walls and hanging cladding.
• Mixtures that are used as concrete plaster.
• Stones or bricks for finishing.
• Painting with silicone, waterproof and steam-resistant paint.

Concerning interior decoration, then here “there are no comrades according to taste and color” - the interior design depends solely on your taste and imagination.

Roof d oma from foam blocks

When erecting the roof of a house, you should remember that its weight should not be too large, because, otherwise, the load on the edges of the walls will be unacceptable.

If the walls of the house were made of reinforced concrete, then the roof could be anything, but with foam blocks things are somewhat different - the material has a cellular structure, you should try not to load it, excessive forces on the blocks can lead to destruction.

In order to make the roof lighter, you should adhere to the following rules:

• use a lighter lattice shape;
• use a hollow wooden crossbar;
• Use channels that are based on OSB;
• Use corrugated sheet materials, copper sheet structures, and metal tiles for roofing.

House made of foam blocks - an intermediate stage of construction

Foam block is considered a light and durable material for building a cottage or house. If you are thinking about how to build a home yourself and want to do everything yourself, but are hesitant to start without experience in such work, read the article and watch the video.

Preparation for construction. Selecting and purchasing foam blocks

Sometimes the construction of housing from foam blocks is compared to assembling a construction set: no mortar is needed to hold the material together, the blocks themselves are light and voluminous, so the process moves quite quickly. Despite this, without preparatory work not enough. They include project development, site research, and collection of necessary permits. All this is immediately followed by installation and finishing.

House project made of foam blocks

Collecting necessary documents, take care of:

• master plan;
• site passport;
• permits for construction and installation of communications;
• act on the land plot;
• purchase and sale agreement;
• plans for the house itself.

Before starting construction, it is advisable to study the thematic video to imagine the scope of work. Be sure to explore the geology of the site, find out the wind and snow load, characteristic of this area, the level of groundwater.

It is important to take into account the depth of soil freezing in order to determine the depth of the future foundation. For these tasks it is better to involve specialized experts.

Prepare everything in advance necessary tools and purchase materials

While creating future home plan You should also consult with specialists. Having drawn up a design project and approved it with the architects, start purchasing materials. Experienced store employees will calculate how much foam block you will need based on the size of your future home. It is better to make purchases in parts.

Find out what you need foam block quantity You can do it yourself. One way is to sum up the area of ​​all the walls and divide it by the area of ​​one face of the block. For example, if the length and width are 1 pc. foam blocks are 60 cm and 30 cm respectively, and the area of ​​the house is 120 sq. m, the calculation looks like this: 120/(0.3 x 0.6) = 667 pcs. Taking into account defects and waste, about 800 pieces will be needed.

Foam blocks are transported using wooden pallets. After receiving the shipment, make sure that it is intact and pay attention to whether there are any cracks or other damage. Check the quality of the foam block by pinching off a small piece and rubbing it with your fingers. If you managed to grind it quite easily, keep in mind: during production you saved on cement. The design may be unreliable.

Advice. If the foam block has a non-uniform color, this may also indicate a violation of the manufacturing technology. For example, the products were dried in an accelerated mode.

Construction of the foundation. Sequencing

For foam block buildings, a strip foundation is usually made, which is a closed loop under all load-bearing walls. First you need to mark the area and designate the places where communications will be laid. Then you should dig a pit approximately 80-170 cm deep: the level depends on how deeply the soil freezes. The length and width of the pit correspond to the dimensions of the future house; you only need a margin of 0.6-1 m on each side.

Advice. Do not take the excavated soil far away: it may be useful when planting a vegetable garden.

At the bottom of the pit you need to make a “pillow”: pour sand, gravel or crushed stone. The thickness of the layer is 20-30 cm. It should be compacted. To do this, the “cushion” is filled with water, and after a while it is compacted again. If the area has damp soil, you can lay polyethylene on top.

Construction of the foundation

After this, a frame is assembled, which makes the structure stronger. Steel reinforcement bars are installed vertically to the height of the foundation. The distance is 1-1.5 m. They are connected to each other with horizontal rods, and the entire base is connected by welding. Then formwork is constructed - temporary wood flooring in the form of a shield, which is necessary for proper pouring of concrete.

The height of the formwork must be at least 70 cm. The distance between the two decks depends on the thickness of the walls and is on average 30-50 cm. The panels are installed parallel to each other, and connected on top with wooden lintels. The reinforcement base should be inside.

Reinforcement

It is quite possible to prepare concrete for pouring yourself by mixing cement, sand and crushed stone in a ratio of 1:3:5. The resulting solution should be thick, take the shape of a slide and not spread. Pouring inside the formwork is done in stages; during the process, the concrete is compacted with a shovel to prevent bubbles from appearing.

After covering the foundation with film, you need to wait for it to dry completely. This usually takes up to 4 weeks. After this, the formwork is removed, and waterproofing is done on top of the foundation, lining the entire perimeter, for example, with roofing felt.

Attention! While the concrete is drying, it must be carefully protected from sunlight and periodically moistened.

Construction of walls. How to make the right masonry

If you watch a thematic video for construction beginners, you will see that the craftsmen begin the construction of walls from the corners, and first of all mark the highest of them. To begin with, 4-5 blocks are laid on each corner. After this, they pull the rope between the resulting columns and begin laying the first row. It is done using cement-sand mortar. Subsequently, a special adhesive solution is used, the layer thickness is up to 3 mm. For application it is better to use a notched trowel.

Further construction depends on the first row. To avoid distortion of the structure, you need to constantly check the correctness of the vertical and horizontal lines using a level or level. Each subsequent row should be offset by approximately half a block relative to the previous one. To do this, use either masonry in a ring, or start from the corners, moving towards the center of each wall.

Start laying foam blocks from the corner

Sometimes a solid foam block needs to be cut so that it fits firmly into the row. A grinder or hacksaw is suitable for these purposes. Coat the resulting fragment with adhesive solution on both sides and place it in the gap. To ensure it fits tightly, use a rubber mallet. With its help, you can reduce the distances between blocks to a minimum, and therefore prevent the appearance of “cold bridges”. The cracks between the foam blocks are covered with a solution.

Between the first and second rows, reinforcement (strengthening) of the walls is made. Suitable for these purposes:

• plastic mesh;
• metal grid;
• fittings

The mesh needs to be laid on top of a row of foam blocks and filled with adhesive solution. If you use rods (reinforcement), use a wall chaser to make 2 parallel channels 4 x 4 cm around the entire perimeter of the structure. The distance to the outside of the foam block should be at least 6 cm. The resulting channels are cleaned of dust, filled with glue and reinforcement with a diameter of 0.8 cm is placed in them, bending it at the corners.

Attention! Reinforcement should be done every 4-5 rows of masonry.

The construction of walls must be done taking into account openings for doors and windows. A reinforcing element should be placed above them. Most often this is a steel corner 8 x 8 cm. In this case, the length of the corner should be at least 60 cm greater than the width of the opening. Sometimes they use reinforced concrete floor. At the bottom and top of the window, foam block formwork is installed, which is reinforced and filled with concrete.

Anchor bolts in foam block

The final row is laid 2 cm below the intended ceiling of the house. The gap that appears is covered with plaster. This technique will reduce the load on internal partitions. Before installing the ceiling, a reinforcing belt must be made around the entire perimeter of the structure. Its width coincides with the width of the wall, and its height is 10-20 cm. The diameter of the reinforcement, as well as the number of rods, depends on the distance between the load-bearing walls.

Roof installation. Step-by-step instruction

1. Formation of the ceiling. For this, wooden beams or special slabs are used. They are tied with boards, the thickness of which is approximately 3 cm.
2. Collection truss structure. It is better to do this on the ground, and then place the finished base on the walls.
3. The finished rafters are sheathed with boards.
4. Roofing material is laid on top of them for waterproofing and mineral wool– for thermal insulation.
5. The final covering of the roof is tiles, slate, etc.

Advice. Treat all wooden elements with antiseptics.

Owners of foam block housing note that construction cannot be done without exterior finishing, for example, siding. If you neglect it, the house will soon lose its attractiveness. appearance. In addition, due to weather changes, the foam block begins to deteriorate faster. Taking into account finishing costs, housing may be more expensive than construction using other materials. However, due to the relative ease of construction, environmental friendliness of the foam block and other advantages, these structures are becoming increasingly popular for permanent residence, and as an exclusively country option.

Construction of an ohm from foam blocks: video

How to build a house from foam blocks: photo

Foam block houses

Foam block houses

Everyone knows that the construction of even the most small house– it’s not a simple or cheap matter. Many people save money for years, postponing the realization of their dreams further and further. In order for plans to be implemented in life as quickly as possible, a relatively new material- foam concrete, which many people successfully replace such traditional Construction Materials like brick and wood.

One of the most popular technologies for building houses is houses made of foam blocks. Many people don't like it wooden houses, since fires occur quite often, and the issue of the durability of the house is also not in last place. The solution is houses made of cement, brick or stone. Houses made of stone and concrete have always had one significant drawback: stone and ordinary concrete have high thermal conductivity. Need to a large number of insulation and work on its installation so that the house is not cold. The exception was brick houses. But not everyone can afford this option, brick is expensive, and the work is difficult and time-consuming.

Houses made of foam blocks do not have this drawback. They allow you to save on insulation, and the entire process of erecting such buildings is much simpler and faster compared to others construction technologies. Foam blocks are made from foamed concrete. As a result of foaming, it is possible to increase the thermal insulation properties of the resulting material many times compared to conventional concrete. In addition, less cement is used, which reduces the cost and makes it comparable to the cost of building houses made of wood.

The dimensions of the foam blocks are optimized in order to simplify and speed up the construction of buildings as much as possible. Thus, the construction of houses from foam blocks is carried out quickly and does not require special equipment or expensive specialists. For construction brick houses We need bricklaying specialists, whose services are not cheap. Builders with less high qualifications can work with foam blocks, which also reduces the cost of all work.

To summarize, we can name 3 main advantages of houses made of foam blocks: low cost, speed and ease of construction, high thermal insulation properties of the house. The latter feature allows you to move in and live in such a house even in winter, without performing any maintenance work. exterior decoration. Does this technology have any disadvantages? Of course, like any other. One of the disadvantages of foam blocks is that it is difficult to securely screw screws into them. As a result, it is a little more difficult to hang something on the wall. But this is not a big problem. This disadvantage is more than compensated for by the low price of houses made of foam concrete and the ability to quickly get ready-made housing, where you can immediately move.

Video about building a house from foam blocks

Advantages of building a house from foam concrete blocks

Foam concrete has many advantages. Practical Europeans know about this and therefore have been using foam concrete in construction for a very long time. The construction of a house made of foam concrete is 2-3 times cheaper than the construction of a similar building made of brick or wood. Why does this happen?

Many people tend to think that foam concrete is a lighter material and that is why it is cheaper, and in appearance it looks like foam rubber or pumice. Even at construction exhibitions, foam concrete cannot be found immediately. Nevertheless, many domestic construction organizations actively use foam concrete in their work, because walls made of this material, in terms of thermal insulation properties, are many times superior to heavier structures.

In terms of its composition, foam concrete is a solution of cement and water to which foaming components have been added. Foam concrete has a porous structure and really looks like cellular foam rubber or pumice gray. Thanks to this structure, foam concrete is much lighter than other building materials and surpasses them in heat and sound insulation properties. Agree, this is an important factor in our climatic conditions.

A simple calculation shows that a foam concrete wall has the same thermal conductivity as brickwork, which is five times thicker. From here, it is logical to conclude that construction from foam concrete is not only cheaper, but also allows residents to save on heating in the future.

Thanks to its cellular structure, foam concrete reliably protects against noise from the street, sounds from neighboring apartments, and the penetration of air and water. In a house made of foam concrete, as in wooden house, cool in hot summers and warm in winter. From an environmental point of view, foam concrete is completely safe.

Walls made of foam blocks are not prone to mechanical deformation, even with significant temperature changes, and are absolutely non-flammable. Therefore, foam concrete is much more practical and safer to install as interior or apartment partitions.

Due to the porous structure of foam concrete and the presence of only natural components in it, the building maintains a microclimate close to that established in a wooden house. Foam blocks do not emit toxic substances during operation, and therefore are one of the most environmentally friendly structural elements. Nowadays, when protests are heard from everywhere about poisoned rivers, polluted air, low-quality products, etc., this factor can be considered a determining factor.

If we compare the environmental friendliness factors of some common materials used in the construction of houses, we can see the following (a wooden frame is taken as a standard):
- tree 1
- foam concrete 2
- brick 10
- expanded clay blocks 20

A house made of foam blocks will be warm in winter and cool in summer. Due to the vapor permeability of the material, the walls “breathe”; they are able to absorb moisture and release it into the atmosphere. As a result, you don’t have to be afraid of appearing in rooms high humidity air, as well as associated mold, fungi and bacteria. This is very important for residents suffering from chronic pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases.

The next advantage of foam concrete is its strength, reliability and long service life. Time acts on foam blocks like a good wine, which only improves its taste over the years. Likewise, foam concrete becomes more mature over the years. Strengthening of the material continues in natural conditions, and after a decade and a half this figure reaches 200%, compared to the standard 100%, which foam concrete reaches 28 days after production.

Having almost the same environmental friendliness as wood, foam blocks, unlike timber, do not rot and are not damaged by insects, rodents and other living creatures. This is an almost eternal material, which is confirmed by buildings and structures erected in the middle of the last century - they still serve their owners, without the slightest sign of destruction.

Continuing the conversation about the benefits that a developer receives when choosing foam blocks as a material for building a house, we should mention one of the main qualities - excellent thermal insulation properties.

Air is known to be the best heat insulator. In foam concrete, air bubbles occupy from 10 to 87% of the total volume (in 2003, a technology for producing super-light foam concrete was patented in Russia, in which, through the use of microsilica and chopped fiberglass, the share of air is 92 - 96 percent by volume, without loss of strength! ). This determines its thermal insulation properties. The thermal conductivity coefficient, depending on the brand, is in the range of 0.10 - 0.38 W/(m * oC).

For comparison:
- silicate brick 0.81
- reinforced concrete 1.70
- wood (15% humidity) 0.15
- cement board 1.92
- stone 1.40

Thus, the thermal protection provided by foam concrete is at the level of wooden walls. As a result, by retaining heat in residential premises, 30% of heating costs are saved during the cold season. In addition, foam blocks, unlike brick and heavy concrete, fully comply with the new legal requirements that define standards thermal insulation properties building materials.

Due to its structure, foam concrete has another positive quality. It has a high degree of sound insulation (D coefficient = 58 dB). Sound waves are crushed and dampened by the tiny walls of numerous air cells.

For comparison:
- plastered wall with ½ brick 44
- plastered wall with 1 brick 50
- concrete slab 48
- double window 30
- single door 18

Any rigid building material, into the pores of which moisture can penetrate, must be protected from the effects of atmospheric factors using plaster, facing tiles, etc. If this is not done, during the cold season the water that gets inside will freeze, which will ultimately lead to the destruction of the integrity of the structure.

In foam concrete, the air cells are closed, i.e. do not communicate with each other, so the foam blocks do not absorb water. This ensures their frost resistance. During laboratory tests, a foam concrete slab successfully withstood 80 freeze-thaw cycles. This is confirmed by the characteristics of the material - structural foam blocks have a frost resistance grade of “F 75” (the “F” value determines the number of cycles at – 100 °C).

If we express positive properties foam blocks briefly, we can say that they combine best qualities stone and wood, and at the same time free from their inherent disadvantages. For example, wood is afraid of fire, while foam concrete belongs to the group of non-combustible materials. According to the requirements of SNiP P-3-79 “Building Heat Engineering”, it can withstand one-sided exposure to fire for at least 120 minutes (in practice – 5, 7 hours). The fire resistance limit (i.e., the time from the beginning of contact with fire to the destruction of the material or heating of its opposite wall to 220 ° C) of a wall made of foam blocks with a thickness of 18 to 36 cm is REI 240.

Foam blocks significantly reduce the cost of construction. In terms of cost, including savings on cement mortar, they are 2 - 2.5 times cheaper than bricks. In addition, one standard foam block is equal to 14 bricks, which significantly speeds up the laying of walls and reduces labor costs for masons. As well as workers who will carry out the laying of utilities, since foam concrete is easy to process, so work at the final stage of construction will be carried out faster and easier.

The low specific gravity of the material (grade D 600 is three times lighter than solid brick, which has a density of 1600 - 1900 kg/m3) allows you to lay a lightweight foundation, which will also require less money. Due to the high geometric accuracy of the dimensions of the foam blocks and the use of glue, the appearance of “cold bridges” is eliminated, which makes it possible to lay a layer of plaster twice as thin. Transportation of this material is also cheaper due to optimal combination low weight, volume and packaging.

We can talk for a long time about the advantages of foam concrete. Say, for example, that it is easy to process hand tools, i.e. it can be easily sawed, cut, drilled, or hammered nails into it. This is in addition to acceleration finishing works, allows designers to realize the most daring and original projects. Or remember that the average activity of natural radionuclides in this material is 75.5 Bq/kg, with a standard value of 370 Bq/kg. And shrinkage upon drying is only 1.5 - 2 mm, with a norm of 3 mm. But the main thing has long been clear without further ado - foam concrete is the best material for construction!

A foam block house is perfect solution for every developer. Such a structure is distinguished among buildings made from other materials by its relatively low cost, minimal construction time, and resistance to rotting processes and fire. Block walls are warm and reliable. In this article we will tell you how to properly make a house from foam blocks with your own hands.

Foundation

The first step is to create a foundation that can support a house made of foam blocks:

1. We make calculations of the width and depth of the formwork system. The width is equal to cross section structure under construction, and the lowest point depends on the climatic conditions of the area and the degree of soil freezing. The depth of the foundation must be at least 500 mm.
2. Next, a trench is dug, the depth of which is about two meters.
3. Coarse sand (300 mm) is placed at the bottom of the trench. Then the sand cushion is moistened with water and compacted well.
4. To give the foundation precise shapes, formwork is placed and strips of roofing felt are secured.
5. A fastening belt made of reinforcement is installed along the perimeter of the trench.
6. After which you can fill the foundation with a special solution (5 parts of crushed stone, 3 parts of sand, and 1 part of cement).
7. We move the formwork, increasing the construction of the foundation. During pouring for laying sewerage systems, asbestos pipes are laid in places specified according to the scheme.
8. Every 50 cm concrete mortar should be compacted.
9. The foundation will “mature” for at least a month. During hardening, cover it from ultraviolet radiation and periodically moisten it with water.
10. On top concrete structure it is necessary to roll out the moisture-proofing material.
11. WITH outside a blind area is constructed, its width is from one to two meters, and its height is 150 mm. This is done so that natural precipitation is removed from the first floor or basement. It must be divided into sections to prevent various deformations or ruptures.

Wall masonry

Foam concrete blocks are superior to brick in terms of heat conservation and sound insulation, but at the same time, huge jointing between foam blocks reduces these indicators to a minimum, and “thermal gaps” are formed.

During masonry, you must comply with all construction standards for construction, in other words, reinforce the places under the doors and window openings, supporting lintels, etc. using fiberglass weaves. Thus, a house made of foam blocks can be insulated.

It is necessary to lay the 1st row very carefully, checking the verticality and horizontality of the structure with a water level. It is not difficult to correct unevenness, since foam blocks are easy to process - sawing, planing and much more.

To install the reinforcement, holes of 0.3 × 0.3 m are cut on the surface of the foam block using a circular saw. After which they are filled with a special adhesive solution. In the plank formwork form, a 0.2 m reinforcement tie is made along the top row of blocks.

External insulation is carried out with glass wool insulation or polystyrene foam 5 cm wide. This is necessary so that the walls “breathe”. The first row is laid using cement mortar, the second - with special glue. The height of the base should be 0.4 m.

Next, the mineral sheets are secured from the outside with plastic anchors. Wind and waterproof material should be secured on top of them. Facade wall laid on cement mortar using the principle of spoon masonry. In this case, a splice row is placed every four rows of spoons. In order to increase air circulation, it is necessary to separate the front masonry and the main wall with a five-centimeter interval.

At brick cladding Every 5 rows, the façade masonry should be connected in blocks using flexible anchors and fiberglass material (when using rigid materials, cracks may form).

For the construction of any structure, you can use thermally efficient blocks that combine three layers simultaneously: expanded clay concrete, expanded polystyrene and concrete. Dye is added to the outside, and the front side resembles the texture and color of any stone or facing material.

Floors

The design of the floor is carried out according to a ready-made diagram, which gives an idea of ​​​​the interaction of the load of the beam, the dimensions of the span and the cross-section of the beams. You can use boards connected with screws. The ends are sawn off at a certain angle - 60 degrees. Then it is treated with an antiseptic and wrapped in bitumen.

Initially, the final beam beams are laid, then the rest. Beams measuring 200 mm or more are placed on the wall structure. The above-basement structure should be thermally insulated with a special film and insulation. A metal sheathing is attached above the beams. Then a mesh of fiberglass and mineral insulation is applied. On the top floor, sheets of plywood and balsa fiber are attached. Finally, we cover the floor with wood chip sheets.

Roofing a house made of foam blocks

It is necessary to build a rigid structure using timber sheathing and complementing it roof trusses. A certain distance should be maintained between the rafters - from 600 to 900 mm, the dimensions of the rafters are from 50 to 150 and from 100 to 150 mm. They are installed at an angle of 20 degrees.

Galvanized iron would be better suited for a ridge, but it also makes a good valley. To continue the “life” of a slate roof, you need to paint it with a water-dispersion coating. In this case, the service life roofing material can be increased by 1.5 times.

• The boards are attached at right angles to rafter legs. Their dimensions are 2.5x10 cm and the interval is 0.2 m.
• Then the corner edges of the slate sheets are cut off. This is done in order to prevent layering at the joints.
• Next you need to make holes at a distance of 0.1 m from the edge. Please note that the diameter of the hole must exceed the diameter of the nail.
• The slate is attached using round-headed nails.
• You need to start nailing the slate from the bottom row. The holes are prepared in advance.

A house made of foam blocks is warm, reliable and stable. You can live in such a building with the same comfort as in a brick one. The building withstands the vagaries of the weather and is capable of comfortable living in it.

Video

In this video you will learn the features of laying blocks made of foam concrete, and how it differs from aerated concrete.

Nowadays, the issue of reducing housing construction costs is becoming increasingly urgent. All people want to buy themselves a warm and high-quality home, but to buy or build it with minimal waste of money.

How can you build inexpensive house from foam blocks, in order to still obtain housing with stable and reliable structural characteristics.

Foam blocks have become quite popular in the construction of houses in Russia, although they have only recently received general recognition here. Foam concrete and aerated concrete are now among the most the best materials for the construction of private houses. Construction of houses from foam blocks has an acceptable cost.

Concrete with bubbles

The technology for making foam blocks is very simple: first beat liquid concrete, which hardens to form gas or foam concrete filled with many small bubbles. This is a lightweight and durable material that retains heat well and has good sound insulation. The technology for building a house from foam blocks is almost the same as that of brick houses.

But there are some nuances. When building houses, foam blocks can be easily processed. To give the desired shape you will need a drill, a hand saw and a grinder. By cutting foam blocks, you can give them the shape of geometrically complex elements - arches, even pediments, the shape of semicircular and multifaceted bay windows.

Therefore, working with this material you can bring to life any design solution. But if the house under construction includes several floors, then in order to increase the reliability of the structure, the installation of reinforced columns from monolithic concrete. The floor panels will rest on them.

Foam concrete is a very light and strong building material, so your home does not need an expensive foundation. When building a house from foam blocks, you can use special glue to hold them together. Thanks to this, the gaps between the blocks will be reduced to 2-3 mm, and the house will save 30 percent more
heat. It should be said that it is still more reliable to use a regular cement-sand mortar for foam blocks. In such a house, you can insulate the walls if you apply polystyrene foam to the façade.

And in areas where the air temperature in winter drops below -20 degrees, roof insulation may also be necessary during the construction of a house made of foam blocks. Which insulation to choose will depend on what configuration the roof is and what building materials were used for its construction.

For interior decoration of the house, it is advisable to turn to professional builders. They will lay the blocks evenly and with high quality; in the future you will only need to trim the walls a little. Therefore, you can save money on rough finishing work.

Advantages of gas and foam concrete

The construction of houses from foam blocks simplifies the connection of communications. In gas and foam concrete
it is much easier to punch holes for electrical cables, plumbing and heating systems. Also, one of the advantages of building a house from foam blocks is the low price and quick construction.

After all, foam blocks are usually produced in large sizes, which significantly speeds up the construction process. Foam and aerated concrete do not rot and do not ignite. It meets all sanitary and hygienic standards required for the construction of residential buildings.

A serious disadvantage of foam concrete

Cellular concrete has an unattractive appearance, so when designing a house made of foam blocks it is worth thinking about exterior finishing. Besides, everything country houses foam blocks must be impregnated with a hydrophobic liquid and not allowed to get wet. Therefore, the outside walls are usually plastered, finished with siding or brick.

But still, the main advantage of houses built from foam blocks is that these houses can really be called stone. After all, cellular concrete is essentially a stone of artificial origin. Therefore, houses made of foam concrete combine all the positive qualities of houses made of stone: they are fire-resistant, strong and durable.

To build a house from foam blocks you need to remember

When building a house from foam blocks, the following points must be taken into account:

• The blocks are made of a certain density, which depends on the scope of their application. For various types construction, this density is different, this must be taken into account. Foam blocks are made by adding a special converter to a solution of water, cement and sand. As a result, the material acquires necessary qualities– porosity, lightness and sufficient strength.

• The best reinforcing material would be cellular concrete. Thanks to its porous structure, it is very light, but at the same time quite durable. In addition, this material is not flammable. Due to its excellent thermal insulation properties and lightness, cellular concrete has earned its popularity among a huge number of people. Depending on the technology of creation, this material is divided into foam concrete and aerated concrete. The cost of foam concrete is lower, but it is less strong, although the difference is very small.

• When building a house there will be no need for heavy equipment. Foam concrete is a very light material and lifting the blocks yourself will not be difficult. By building a house yourself, you can save a good amount of money that could have been spent on workers. And the foam blocks themselves are cheaper than traditional materials.

• Foam blocks are very easy to process. By installing electrical wiring into the house, as well as equipping it with other communications, no difficulties will arise.

Algorithm for building a house from foam blocks

1. First the foundation is built. It is best to make it as a strip and place it on a sand covering. To build a foundation or basement for a future home, foam concrete is needed great strength(D700-D1200). The width of the blocks must be at least 50 centimeters. To increase the reliability and comfort of your home, it is necessary to insulate the walls and apply a layer of waterproofing.
2. When starting construction, lay the first row of blocks on cement mortar. If necessary, level and straighten them using a rubber mallet. The second and subsequent rows of blocks can be laid on an adhesive mixture. Due to this, the strength and thermal insulation of the walls is improved. If it is necessary to make a small opening (less than 250 cm), you can use lintels made of reinforced foam concrete or aerated concrete. For larger openings, reinforced concrete lintels are best suited.
3. When constructing floors, it is necessary to build on a layer of cement, reinforced belt. The material for its manufacture can be wood or slabs. Internal walls must be built from foam blocks with a width of at least 100 mm.

And so construction works finished. And the radiant owner of a new home is doubly happy. After all, he not only built a modern and cozy home with your own hands, but also avoided unnecessary costs. But if the construction work is too much for you, you can always turn to professionals. They will build a turnkey house according to any project you like.