Aerated concrete blocks: disadvantages and advantages

In the modern world, construction is developing rapidly, thereby increasing the demand for materials. Cellular concrete has become popular in the domestic market. In due time products have been widely advertised, and demand for them now big.

Manufacturers of cellular concrete say that it is universal, but it is always hushed up that the aerocrete blocks have drawbacks too. In order to better understand the properties of the product, let's consider what is cellular concrete. This is an artificial material that has mineral binders and siliceous fillers. Inside the blocks there are pores. Its derivatives can be called foam concrete and aerated concrete. At the base of foam concrete is a foamed sand-cement mixture. Aerated concrete is obtained by adding aluminum powder and sand to the lime-cement mortar.

Advantages of the material:

• Fire resistance;
• Ecological compatibility;
• High thermal insulation properties;
• Light weight;
• Vapor permeability;
• Frost resistance;
• Ease of handling;
• cheapness.

The most cozy houses are built of Aeroc material (aerated concrete). Such buildings are absolutely protected from all the troubles that lie in wait for the inhabitants of country houses - fungus, insects, ultraviolet radiation and so on. Environmentally friendly material does not harm the environment.

Nevertheless, professionals do not often work with materials such as aerated concrete blocks, whose flaws they know as well as virtues. Not any cellular concrete is suitable for erecting a building, especially its load-bearing elements. Masters try to work with aerocrete of mark D500.

Experts know that gas-concrete blocks have the following disadvantages:

• Poor waterproofing;
• The fragility of the material;
• Insufficient resistance to bending (brittleness).

Houses of cellular concrete should be built by professionals. Because if mistakes were made while pouring the foundation, cracks will spread all over the house. For example, the foundation must be necessarily monolithic and ribbon, and not all can afford extra expenses when pouring large amounts of concrete.

For fifteen years in the west, houses are built of blocks that have other characteristics compared to, for example, brick and wood. When building houses from foam concrete does not require special equipment.

Builders use gas-concrete blocks for country houses, the drawbacks of which they always take into account. For example, products having insufficient density can not be used for bearing walls. It is necessary to use reinforcement in multi-storey construction. It should be taken into account that no more than 3-5 floors are built from blocks.

Aerated concrete blocks require special fasteners, so the specialists prefer not to work with them, despite their high quality and seemingly inexpensive cost price. The fact is that after a complete calculation of the required material, its value is significantly increased.

Cellular concrete is still very popular in construction. It is necessary not only to withstand the entire technological process of erecting a house, but also to acquire material manufactured in industrial conditions, rather than private companies.