After the start of construction from aerated concrete, I understood why many people build from wood

Previous part: Building your own home. Part 5. Aerated concrete laying using a carriage

Always considered options for only a stone house. My choice was made towards autoclaved aerated concrete. Why is a topic for a separate article, especially since I already wrote about this.

Before the start of construction from aerated concrete, there was an experience of building a bath from a bar, there is something to compare with. The final understanding of the fundamental difference came after the third row of brickwork:

For many, the refusal to build energy-efficient stone houses from aerated concrete is associated with the myth that this is a fragile, unreliable material with a high probability of cracking. A powerful expensive foundation is needed for such a house. But to reliably insulate and veneer the foundation on screw piles is not much cheaper than a 30 cm thick foundation slab.

Still few people understand that with the strength of aerated concrete B2.5 allows you to build up to 5 floors. Chips and cracks can be on any wall blocks: brick, expanded clay concrete in case of mistakes in laying the foundation.

But the most important thing that repels from the choice of building a stone house is wet work and technical solutions in masonry technology, a lot of subtleties that need to be studied (if you build yourself). It is necessary to dilute the glue for the masonry or carefully sand the masonry if you lead it on the glue-foam.

With a bar, everything is simple and clear, and a skeleton frame will be built by a team. Fast, dry and with a nice looking wood even in the rough version. And their price is lower.

And there are really a lot of subtleties in the GB masonry. But the Internet for learning in our time is the # 1 assistant for the self-builder. All the tricks, tips are on YouTube. For example, the reception of grouting with floats with coarse sandpaper, laying on glue-foam, chasing, reinforcement, etc.

Many are scared off by the weight of the blocks (if you build it yourself). I know examples when a self-builder abandoned the thickness of blocks of 400 mm (in Siberia) towards 300 mm only because he was not sure that he could lay walls on his own. To be honest - yes, heavy. But after three rows of masonry to a mass of 40 kg / block (wet after the rain weighs under 50 kg) - you get used to it. And blocks of 300 mm seem like toys... Well, there are hand grips (in blocks manufactured by Sibit).

A few of my tips and tricks in masonry:

Blocks from GB need to be sawed (additional blocks). On the corner and end ones, I still saw off 3-4 cm with a lock and grooves - this is how the masonry and walls in general look more aesthetically pleasing. This also repels many. Although cutting aerated concrete with a hand hacksaw on aerated concrete is no more difficult than a tree. To facilitate this process, I made a GB sawing machine. Assembly Description here

If you make a double thread mooring, you cannot make a mistake in laying. The bottom one controls the vertical plane of the wall. Upper - so that the block is in the horizon and so that it does not fall to the sides.

I use a milling cutter to reinforce every fourth row and blow out the dust with a regular household hair dryer. There are articles about this too here and here

Reinforcement is made with fiberglass, composite reinforcement. Reinforcement of GB masonry serves only to compensate for shrinkage deformations. For GB it is 1 mm / m. For foam concrete - up to 4 mm / m. draw conclusions. I pour the reinforcement into the mineral glue for GB masonry. It has better adhesion compared to concrete mortar.

To speed up the masonry, I use a homemade carriage. How to make it - article here

I foam the vertical seams with glue foam. There are no gaps like when applying mineral glue to vertical edges.

Knowing and applying these solutions makes GB laying easier and turns the process into a brick game for an adult. It is not for nothing that they say that men do not grow up - for men, the cost of toys only changes ...)))

And what to build from is up to everyone personally. But before making a decision, you need to study the pros and cons.

Partner companies of my construction:

- Aerated concrete from the company Sibit with their shipment by a dealer in Krasnoyarsk, a company Stroybyt

- Company TechnoNIKOL

***

Photos of the author (c)

Subscribe to the channel, add it to your browser bookmarks. There is a lot of interesting information ahead.