Myths and legends of aerated concrete

Anyone who faces the challenge of selecting the wall material for his future home is faced with a flood of the most contradictory information. It did not pass this fate, and such well-known material such as aerated concrete.

But before we move on to the myths and legends of aerated concrete, it is necessary to understand that kind of stuff.

What is the aerated concrete?

Edward Gallyamov (Director of "Aerated Ekostroy"):

–Autoclaved aerated concrete is a type of cellular lightweight concrete and is made from quartz sand, lime, cement and water with the addition of blowing agent, which acts as aluminum powder or paste. We can say that in essence autoclaved aerated concrete is an artificial stone in which a chemical reaction by reacting the blowing agent mixture with other elements, are formed finely dispersed small air cavity.

Autoclaving - refers to the process taking place by heating and under pressure above atmospheric. Since under these conditions the increase in reaction rate is achieved and a higher yield of final product.

Edward Gallyamov:

- A feature of autoclaved aerated concrete, unlike conventional foam is just his factory production in the automated high-precision equipment using autoclaving process at high pressure and temperature environment superheated steam. A feature of these units is their high geometric accuracy of up to 2 mm, which allows the clutch blocks on the adhesive.

One of the main advantages of aerated concrete in construction is its adaptability, fast and easy installation. Aerated concrete can be sanded and cut to size on site using standard hand-held saws.

Today the factory mainly produces aerated concrete blocks 3 versions:

• D400 B2.5
• D500 B3.5
• D600 B3.5-5
• Aerated concrete blocks density D400 B2.5 strength have a low thermal conductivity and sufficient strength recommended for private house construction to 3 floors.
• Aerated concrete blocks density D500 B3.5 strength are slightly higher coefficient of thermal conductivity and a sufficiently high strength, allows laying the floor slab directly on the unit with cement mortar, are recommended for the construction of private houses up to 5 floors.
• Construction of houses more high-rise is recommended to concrete load-bearing structures with layerwise concreting floors.
• Aerated concrete blocks density D600 strength B5 have a higher thermal conductivity and high strength, mainly used in construction with hinged ventilated constructions houses facades.

The first myth

Since the manufacture of aerated concrete is used aluminum, the house can not be built from this material an environmentally clean and lime contained in the aerated concrete, leads to rusting metal fittings.

Understand this question will help us representatives of the company "Kcell-Aeroblok Center" brand YTONG - Technical Specialist Iskrov Nikita and Marketing Manager Zmitser Bandarenka.

Zmitser Bandarenka:

- Yes, indeed, in the production of aerated concrete is used aluminum paste, but as a result of a chemical reaction does not remain in the metal aircrete aluminum reacts, it is oxidized and ultimately formed alumina - absolutely harmless chemical compound which is widely used in a pot and economy.

The aluminum paste is added to the reaction with slaked lime in the weight of components available for production of aerated concrete, hydrogen is formed, which is just promotes formation of fine pores and "raising" material.

Aluminum is completely harmless material because of it even made children's dishes.

Lime and other components such as sand, water, and aluminum paste are not contained in the final product in pure form, they are used only during fabrication. When autoclaved silicates synthesis reaction occurs, and formed minerals which determine such properties as durability aerated. Especially that aerated concrete prepared with cement and lime is alkaline, which as we know, on the contrary prevents metal corrosion.

The second myth

Quite often we hear the saying that concrete, unlike the foam, is afraid of water, and he hygroscopic and moisture accumulates, which makes this material unsuitable for use in damp masonry walls areas.

Zmitser Bandarenka:

- Dazobeton has low hygroscopicity and high humidity in unheated rooms wall Cellular concrete can dial up to 10% of its weight of moisture, but in warm gradually periodvlazhnost decreases.

Hygroscopicity - a material property to absorb - absorb moisture from the air.

Keep in mind that today the majority of manufacturers of concrete blocks manufacture units with closed-cell foam, which prevents the spread of moisture.

Also interested in the opinion of specialists of "Build a fast Technology" brand DRAUBER Head of Sales Department Alexei Bushina iglavnogo technologist Lobodenko Eugene.

Loboenko Eugene:

- All construction materials are afraid to direct moisture. Nevertheless, concrete, absorb moisture well and it gives. Also finishing in the market of building materials there is a sufficient variety of ground hydrophobic impregnation, which prevent the ingress of moisture into the concrete, while not altering its main features - thermal conductivity.

To protect aerated weatherproof, hydrophobic impregnation to be applied that will prevent the ingress of moisture into the building material. Further exterior finish aerated concrete masonry remains at the discretion of the owner of the house, you can, and leave in this state, and it is possible to produce finishes for greater aesthetic.

myth three

Aerated necessarily require weather protection with the help of exterior finishes.

Zmitser Bandarenka:

- This is perhaps one of the most popular misconceptions. For example, take a house built in Riga, from concrete blocks and which for more than 70 years worth of free outdoor decoration and atmospheric effects him uneasy.

Qualitative aerated with a large percentage of tobermorite - durable material, frost having 100 cycles, and which may be used without external finishing integer decades.

Edward Gallyamov:

–It is important that in the house built of aerated concrete has been installed roof and windows are closed, which greatly degree protects the wall from the outside against precipitation, then the house without finishing can be several years.

myth fourth

aerated concreteis a brittle material, idlya construction of the building necessary to build monolithic strip foundation or basement of a conventional heavy concrete, which entails considerable costs.

Zmitser Bandarenka:

–Building a house of aerated concretehowever, like any other material requires a responsible approach. ANDIf during the construction there is the slightest doubt about the foundation of rigidity, it is necessary to take measures to strengthen its design features.

One of the most reliable forms the foundation for the house of aerated concreteIt is a concrete slab, provides a minimum and uniform shrinkage deformation. Also for the home base can be a monolithic strip foundations on peschanoypodushke or pier foundation, tied with monolithic reinforced concrete belt.

Since the aerated concrete has low resistance to deforming stress for bending the monolithic foundation minimizes deformation load and prevents the occurrence of cracks in gas concrete walls.

The fifth myth

Let's move on to the fifth myth - which states that for the erection of two-storey house needs aerated density is not less than 500-600 kg per cubic meter.

Iskrov Nikita:

– The bearing capacity is estimated not aerated density and compressive strength class. For the construction of load-bearing walls only suitable constructional and thermal insulation, aerated concrete or structural. According to the Standard, the constructional and heat insulating gas concretes is aerated class of compressive strength not lower B1,5 and marks on medium density - not higher D700.

If aerated mark on average density D400 has a compressive strength below B1,5, then, of course well out of it is not recommended to build load-bearing walls, it can be applied, for example, in the filling frame.

myth six

One of the most common myths about the aircrete is the assertion that the aerated concrete block masonry on a special adhesive more expensive than the solution.

Zmitser Bandarenka:

- This is a misconception, due primarily to the fact that the same volume of the bag, grout is cheaper than the glue. But in practice, glue laying requires significantly less expensive.

For example: the thickness of the adhesive joint is 1-3 mm, the thickness of the cement slurry is 12mm, it is easy calculate that the glue consumption is just over 15 kg per 1m3 and grout more than 156 kg 1m3.

Masonry concrete blocks our adhesive 7 times stronger than similar masonry cement mortar. Just laying on the glue is done much faster than with cement mortar.

Bushin Alex:

–Thin seams not only reduce construction costs, but also to maintain optimum thermal regime in a residential area costs.

Since the bulk of the heat is lost through the "cold joints" - gaps in the wall material. And when tonkoshovnoy masonry joints thickness is only 1 - 3 mm.

myth seven

House of aerated concrete is not enough warm and always requires additional insulation.

Bushin Alex:

- Aerated concrete house at a suitable wall thickness does not require additional insulation. The house of aerated concrete will always be a favorable microclimate in the summer will be cool, and in winter the minimum time required for heating of the house with maximum heat retention.

For example, for the Moscow region RTD ratio should be at least 3.16 m * C / W, and the wall of aerated concrete D 400 37.5 cm thick will meet these requirements.

Aerated concrete due to its porous structure is itself a heater. The lower the density, the lower and the thermal conductivity. The house built of aerated concrete density D600, will have a thermal conductivity higher than a house built of aerated concrete density D400. Accordingly, the aerated density D400 will retain heat longer in the house.

Edward Gallyamov:

–House of aerated concrete breathes better than a house made of bricks, because the water vapor permeability of aerated concrete is 3 times better than brick. brick walls require additional insulation because to build a house of brick thick wall 90 cm is not economically feasible, and the wall of aerated concrete 40 cm longer requires additional insulation.

Which ultimately allows the developer to build a relatively inexpensive, durable, eco-friendly and beautiful house of aerated concrete.

Learn more about the construction of stone houses users forumhouse.ru can in this section our forum. A detailed story about our new posts building a house of aerated concrete can be read here. Detailed description with many photos of all stages of the construction of the house of aerated concrete is available this link. A familiarized with our video reel You clearly see how six months can be on their own to build a house of aerated concrete and fully prepared to move in the first floor.

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