To figure out which aerated concrete is better, we divided the answer into several points, namely: the best aerated concrete by manufacturer, the best by density and the best by thickness.
Let us immediately note that the density and thickness of aerated concrete is selected for a specific house project, in which it is necessary to carry out calculations for the load-bearing capacity and the required level of thermal resistance.
According to SNiP, for central Russia, the thermal resistance of the wall should be 3.2 m2 C°/W. Such heating technology is provided by the following options for aerated concrete walls: D300 (300mm), D400 (375mm), D500 (500mm).
Which aerated concrete is best for home
We believe that the most appropriate gas block for a private home is a high-quality autoclave D400 (375 mm) with a strength of B2.5, and there are four reasons for this:
- Strength is enough for 2 floors.
- Does not require additional insulation.
- This type of masonry is done in one block per row.
- The weight of such blocks (25-30 kg) makes it absolutely comfortable to work on your own.
Where are they produced?
In the small settlement of Staraya Kupavna, located more than two dozen kilometers from the capital, an enterprise for the production of aerated concrete blocks has opened its production workshops. Equipped with high-tech equipment, it produces high-quality material that is popular among builders. In the production of Bonolit aerated concrete from Staraya Kupavna, an autoclave method is used, which is distinguished by its unique technology and has no analogues in Russia.
The production process is automated and controlled by highly qualified specialists.
Bonolit and Maloyaroslavets are known for the quality of aerated concrete. It produces wall and partition materials, details of which can be found on the manufacturer’s official website.
The cost of goods from these manufacturers corresponds to the quality characteristics, the blocks are produced in various sizes, and they can be manufactured according to individual customer requests. The entire package of accompanying documentation confirming the quality of the material is provided for the products. Delivery is carried out by enterprise transport.
Aerated concrete D500
Now regarding the D500 blocks. Although they are more durable, to achieve the required thermal properties, a wall thickness of 500 mm is required. There are two options: a block 500 mm thick (weighing 50 kg) or two blocks in a row of 300 and 200 mm, which will greatly complicate the laying. As you understand, blocks weighing 50 kg are almost impossible to lay alone, and such blocks are rarely seen on sale.
Specifications
During the manufacturing process, aerated concrete material is processed in autoclave units. Before the mass is sent to the autoclave, the blocks must be separated. This method makes it possible to preserve the material without cracks or chips. The “separation” method will ensure uniform steaming, the material will be homogeneous, with high mechanical properties. The block surface has excellent contact with materials intended for finishing work.
The production process of the blocks ends with their packaging, for which a special polyethylene film is used, which helps maintain the integrity of the blocks not only during their storage, but also during transportation.
The main technical characteristics are:
- Low level of thermal conductivity. This figure does not exceed 0.14 W per unit area, which allows for excellent thermal insulation of the object at any external temperature.
- Lightness of blocks. The mass of one block is twenty-five kilograms. This allows you not to use additional equipment during construction work. In addition, the load on the foundation is reduced.
- Excellent resistance to low temperatures. Numerous through-type pores displace moisture and ice during frosts, which allows aerated concrete blocks to withstand at least one hundred freezing and thawing cycles.
- Ease of processing. Numerous reviews confirm that Bonolit aerated concrete is excellent at sawing, drilling, planing, and milling. Conventional tools can be used for this.
Which aerated concrete manufacturer to choose
Aerated concrete blocks from different factories differ slightly from each other, although the components in them are the same, the quality of the raw materials may differ, and the equipment is not ideal everywhere. As a result, aerated concrete can have different strengths and geometries.
The geometry of blocks from different manufacturers can range from 0.3 to 2 mm. The smoother the blocks, the easier it is to lay them, since the unevenness between the blocks has to be smoothed out with a grater to ensure a perfect plane.
And the compressive strength class, for D400, can be B1.5 and B2 and B2.5. We believe that when choosing aerated concrete, the most important thing is their strength; geometry is a secondary matter (a float will level it out). Although we note that perfectly smooth blocks can not be plastered, but immediately puttied, which is a significant saving. So keep that in mind.
We can praise the companies Ytong, UDK and Aeroc for their high strength and good geometry.
The best manufacturers of autoclaved aerated concrete are:
- Aeroc
- Ytong
- UDK
- StoneLight
- XCM
- Bonolite
Reviews about aerated concrete blocks
Today, aerated concrete blocks are gaining increasing popularity among both private and commercial construction. Especially often, according to consumer reviews, they are used in the construction of low-rise buildings. This building material, due to its porous structure, is characterized by low thermal conductivity, which largely has a positive effect on the final choice of the customer. Reviews talk about the ease of processing this material. Many consumers note high efficiency and ease of installation.
Vadim
According to reviews on the Internet, aerated concrete blocks are much more profitable than clay bricks.
And this is exactly what I needed. And less money. What they brought me was what I needed. I ordered from Bonolita. It’s cool to style it like that. I remembered my childhood and construction sets. Thank you!
Leonid Savelyev
I join Vadim! Before the May ones, I was unable to order ordinary foam blocks and I agreed to aerated concrete. It seems to me that my son’s designer is more difficult to assemble.))) It was interesting. :)
Nikolai
And I was completely stunned when they brought me smooth and white blocks. Yes, guys, I’ll tell you this, don’t get dirty with bricks. Thank you very much. Building with aerated concrete blocks is a joy. Apply glue and off you go! No need to struggle with the solution. You don't think where to put more or less. And of course they are not free-flowing at all. Light and dense. In short, aerated concrete blocks are certainly not the cheapest, but they save a lot of nerves and time. So I'm glad.
Stepan Anatolyevich
Bonolit respected me. I always like to approach everyone in detail in order to study and understand everything. I decided to build myself a summer house with a swimming pool. I am a military builder in the past, and therefore I approached the matter with proper planning. I read reviews on the Internet on forums, looked through websites, even looked in the encyclopedia to be sure. I was choosing between brick and aerated concrete blocks - I chose the blocks. I consider my choice to be correct. The material is beyond praise. For the walls I chose aerated concrete 400 mm thick (and without insulation!). It turned out cheaper. I'm very glad to get acquainted with new material. We'll see how it wears, but I think it won't let you down.
Arkasha U.
Thanks for the quality material! We have excellent aerated concrete partitions in our office. Everyone is just happy - now you can’t hear the accountant tapping on the keyboard at the end of the month - it used to be very annoying, like a woodpecker. And now we are happy. Unlike drywall, audibility is several times less.
Builder
I recently learned about aerated concrete blocks. I was pleased with their price and ease of installation (and this is the time!!!). I was tight about money, but it didn’t turn out as costly as I first thought. Mortgages back and forth. The house was quickly built. Satisfied as a mammoth. There is a stash left for the fence and the wife seems to be happy with everything (which is rare - to please her, you know))).
Dmitry Aleksandrovich
Let me boast - I organized the perfect arch from aerated concrete blocks: a minimum of plaster and labor. Efficient, beautiful. Delighted. Well, these blocks will be denser than drywall, and again, they won’t swell if the neighbors spill over like Niagara Falls.
Philip Konstantinovich
I consider aerated concrete blocks to be a solution for small buildings. Houses made from it are easy to build, the price corresponds to the quality and is somewhat lower than that of brick, and it is not inferior in terms of heat. I also recommend it for the construction of partitions. Again, easy to install and has a smooth surface that does not require rough work to level the walls. I judge from extensive work experience (construction business).
Alexei
My wife and I want to move to nature. Birds, all sorts of flowers, romance, in general. We bought the plot three years ago. We thought and thought about what to build from, whether to build it ourselves or hire it, and at the same time we saved and saved and saved and made the foundation. This is the third summer we’ve missed this, but I still want to move! One friend said: “Take aerated concrete. I built it myself and will help everyone.” In general, it sat on my ears so much that I had to take it. Folks, you won’t believe it - we bought the material a week ago and during that time we already installed the first floor (!). Can you imagine? We are planning to move at the end of this month. So thanks to Lekha and aerated concrete for our bright future!
Advantages
The main advantages of the material are:
- Precise geometric parameters. The lines used to cut block material allow deviations of no more than one millimeter.
- Environmental friendliness. Only natural raw materials are used in the production of blocks; waste-free production has been established. Each cycle makes it possible to use the generated steam in other work processes for the production of aerated concrete blocks.
- Excellent quality level. The production process is controlled at every stage. The factories have their own laboratory buildings, in which the necessary measurements are carried out using modern equipment and tests of Bonolit blocks are carried out.
- Long operational period. If all the requirements for construction work using Bonolit block material are met, the building will last at least a hundred years.
- High level of thermal conductivity. From Bonolit blocks, the width of which is forty centimeters, you can build a house in one row without using insulation material.
- Thermal conductivity index. The temperature regime inside the structure will not depend on climatic conditions. The indoor climate will always be comfortable.
It should be noted that facing work on external walls may not be carried out.
Features of use in construction
Aerated blocks produced by Bonolit are lightweight and durable. However, the porous structure determines a number of rules that must be followed when constructing walls. Recommendations for the construction of load-bearing and interior walls are somewhat different.
- The foundation for foam concrete must be waterproofed. Otherwise, the walls will draw moisture from the base. Roofing felt, waterproofing, and mastic are used. The surface of the foundation is pre-leveled. Height differences of more than 2 cm are not allowed.
- The corner blocks are laid first. They stretch a cord between them and lay out a wall along it.
- The first row is placed on cement mortar. It helps compensate for unevenness. The rest of the masonry is done using special glue.
- The first row is necessarily reinforced. If the wall reaches a length of more than 6 m, reinforcement is laid in every 4 rows. It is also necessary to reinforce the window sill space, support points and the last row of floors.
- Interior partitions can be laid either on the foundation strip or directly on the cement floor. The first 3 rows of the wall are reinforced in the same way as the last 3.
- The partition must be secured to a load-bearing wall. Fastening is carried out by driving metal crutches into the load-bearing wall.
- The partition is not attached to the ceiling; on the contrary, there is usually a gap between it and the ceiling that needs to be sealed with polyurethane foam.
Aerated concrete is hygroscopic, so it is advisable to plaster the external and internal walls of the house.
What are Bonolit gas blocks?
produces autoclaved and non-autoclaved cellular concrete . Its characteristics are slightly different, which determines the application. The autoclave version has almost no shrinkage and has precise dimensions and shape. This material is usually used for the construction of load-bearing walls, since strength and hardness are important here.
The manufacturer offers Bonolit gas blocks with a density from 300 to 600 kg/m³. The first option relates to structural and thermal insulation materials. It is noticeably warmer than ordinary concrete, but not as durable. The D600 brand is much stronger. However, the heat capacity of such stone is insufficient; in mid-latitudes, the walls of the building will have to be insulated.
