A dacha made of expanded clay concrete blocks: material properties, construction nuances

Expanded clay concrete blocks are gaining popularity as a material for dacha construction because of their special combination of qualities. Cement, water, and expanded clay aggregate—a lightweight, porous material—are combined to create these blocks. This combination produces a building material that is strong and thermally efficient, which makes it perfect for designing cozy, energy-efficient dwellings.

The superior insulating qualities of expanded clay concrete blocks are one of their most notable qualities. The expanded clay aggregate’s porous structure aids in air retention, producing organic sound and heat insulation. As a result, structures made with these blocks can keep their interior temperatures constant, which lowers energy costs by obviating the need for extra heating and cooling equipment.

Expanded clay concrete blocks have several advantages, including excellent insulation as well as durability and resistance to environmental elements. They are a durable option for building in a variety of climates because they are resistant to fire, mold, and mildew, as well as rot. In addition, these blocks are easier to handle and transport during construction because they weigh less than traditional concrete blocks.

It is necessary to take certain particulars into account when building a dacha using expanded clay concrete blocks. In order to guarantee that the structure fully utilizes the properties of the material, proper planning and construction techniques are imperative. For example, in order to achieve the desired strength and stability, it’s crucial to use the proper type of mortar and to adhere to wall thickness and reinforcement guidelines.

Material Properties	Construction Nuances
Expanded clay concrete blocks are lightweight, provide good thermal insulation, and have a long lifespan.	Ensure proper waterproofing to prevent moisture issues. Plan for additional insulation if needed.
The blocks are fire-resistant and environmentally friendly.	Use suitable mortar to bond the blocks securely. Consider the structural load when designing the layout.
They are easy to work with, making construction faster and more cost-effective.	Pay attention to the alignment and leveling of blocks during construction.

Characteristics of blocks

Let’s examine the definition, types, and characteristics of a keramzitobeton block in order to gain a deeper comprehension. This material’s quality needs to meet GOST 33126-2014, "Expanded clay concrete wall blocks."

The image is available in this article:

Sizes of expanded clay concrete blocks

Expanded clay concrete block standard sizes:

• wall expanded clay concrete block 20-20-40 (in practice 19×18.8×39);
• partition block 20-10-40 (18.8x9x39).

Additional block sizes, such as 390x120x190, 390x140x188, 390x300x188, and 250x120x188, are now being produced by manufacturers. Certain manufacturers may also be able to fill specific orders if production permits.

Types of blocks

The following categories of blocks are distinguished based on their structural makeup:

• Solid. These high-strength products are manufactured without voids, but may have technological recesses that serve for ease of movement or for laying reinforcement.

• Hollow. This building material has through or blind cavities, which are obtained at the molding stage. The outer walls of such blocks have a thickness of 20 mm. Hollow products have improved characteristics for noise insulation and energy efficiency, however, they are less durable.

The picture depicts several kinds of standard blocks, including:

According to their intended use, expanded clay concrete blocks are separated into:

• Wall;
• Partition;
• Ventilation and chimney – they have technological cavities intended for laying communications.

• Ordinary. Used in laying walls and partitions with subsequent finishing.
• Facing. These products have one or two front faces. Using such blocks in the construction of walls or other structures allows you to do without finishing work. The surface can have a smooth, polished, corrugated texture, imitate chips of natural stone.
• By adding pigments during the production of products, colored expanded clay concrete blocks are obtained.

• Corner. Their scope of application is the corners of building walls.
• Abutment blocks. Their purpose is to ensure adjoining to columns, ceilings, beams.

The products’ ends can have a tongue-and-groove mechanism or be smooth. The tongue-and-groove method is intended to speed up the masonry process and enhance its features, such as removing cold bridges.

Densities between 500 and 1200 kg/m3 are used for heat-insulating and structural blocks, while densities between 1200 and 1800 kg/m3 are used for structural materials. Expanded clay concrete blocks with cladding and insulation have been available recently. They try to make the construction process as simple as they can.

Advantages material

A wide range of characteristics of expanded clay concrete blocks are required for the building of sturdy and comfortable homes, including:

• Environmental friendliness. Due to the fact that natural materials are used in the production process of this product, expanded clay concrete blocks do not emit substances that threaten human health.
• Lightness. The light weight of the blocks makes it possible to organize construction independently, without involving third-party specialists and complex equipment.
• Good sound insulation. The presence of porous material – expanded clay concrete in the structure of the blocks, as well as voids, contributes to increased sound insulation capacity.
• High frost resistance. A building constructed from expanded clay concrete blocks can withstand 35-100 freeze/thaw cycles.
• Convenience and high speed of laying structures from blocks.
• Good energy efficiency characteristics (low thermal conductivity, especially for low-density and hollow products (from 0.18 W / m * deg for blocks with a density of 500 kg / m3 to 0.9 W / m * deg for products with a density of 1800 kg / m3)).
• Non-flammability. Blocks can withstand up to 10 hours of open fire.
• Good vapor permeability.
• Affordable price.
• Resistance to fungi and mold, as well as rodent attacks.
• Chemical resistance.

The strength of the blocks ranges from M35 to M200, depending on the filler type and void content. Expanded clay concrete blocks also have the strength of solid dense products.

Disadvantages of expanded clay concrete

The aforementioned material presents certain drawbacks of its own.

• Low moisture resistance. This problem is solved with the help of reliable waterproofing;
• Violation of the geometry of blocks in some manufacturers;
• Not very attractive appearance;
• The material is quite fragile, not very resistant to impact loads. During sawing, defects may appear.

Production of expanded clay concrete blocks

When producing blocks, expanded clay concrete must adhere to GOST 25820-2014 "Lightweight Concrete." Unlike traditional concrete products, expanded clay is used in place of crushed stone during the production of expanded clay concrete blocks. This results in a lighter material with better soundproofing and thermal conductivity properties.

The steps involved in block production are as follows:

1. Mixing the necessary ingredients:

• Binder – cement (grade from M400);
• fillers: expanded clay of various fractions, sand (from rocks, expanded perlite, slag sand, sand for construction work), fly ash;
• additives;
• pigments;
• water.

The mixer is filled with water first, and then the other ingredients are added. In a concrete mixer, the ingredients are mixed uniformly. The mixture that results ought to maintain its shape.

1. Molding. The mixed mixture is poured into molds. It is better if the molds have a locking connection. Then the process of extracting the blocks eliminates damage to their surface. The solution is tamped using vibration. The resulting excess mass is removed.

1. Drying. Preliminary drying in molds occurs at a temperature of 50-60 degrees for 2 days, then the blocks are removed and sent to the site to gain strength (up to 28 days).

Expanded clay concrete blocks provide a special blend of affordability, longevity, and insulation when building a dacha. This substance, renowned for its sturdy yet lightweight characteristics, offers superior thermal insulation, which makes it perfect for vacation homes. When compared to traditional materials, the construction process is straightforward and frequently takes less time and labor when using these blocks. Expanded clay concrete blocks are also low-maintenance and weather-resistant, making them an environmentally friendly option for long-lasting structures. The main characteristics of these blocks are examined in this article along with crucial advice for a productive build.

Construction of a summer house from expanded clay concrete blocks

Building construction necessitates meticulous material calculations and a well-written project.

Calculation of materials

The quantity of expanded clay concrete blocks needed for masonry should be accurately calculated before making any material purchases or beginning summer house construction. Let’s look at a crude expanded clay concrete block calculator.

We will require the following dimensions for the calculation:

• height of walls ̶ h;
• perimeter of walls ̶ p;
• total area of ​​doorways ̶ s1;
• total area of ​​window openings ̶ s2;
• masonry thickness ̶ l;
• block size ̶ a / b (length and height, and when laying in one and a half blocks, the length value changes to width).

Determine the quantity of blocks:

1. Calculate the total area of ​​the walls (m²), S = p x h.
2. Calculate the area of ​​the masonry (subtract the area of ​​the openings) (m²), Skl = S – s1 – s
3. Calculate the lateral area of ​​one block (m²), Sbl = a x b. The thickness of the seams should be taken into account.
4. Determine the number of blocks (pcs), n = Skl / Sbl.
5. If you plan to lay two blocks thick, then the resulting value must be multiplied by 2.

Consequently, we figure out how many wall and partition blocks there are.

Crucial! When making material purchases, one must estimate the potential proportion of defective expanded clay concrete blocks and build up a material stock of roughly 5–7%.

Buying products from reputable manufacturers after carefully reviewing the official website and reading the documentation is crucial. Additionally, mesh or reinforcement (8–10 mm in diameter) will be required.

You have two options for laying blocks: either make your own solution or purchase a ready-made mixture for expanded clay concrete blocks, which is more costly but has higher-quality features.

The ready-made mixture is used to prepare the solution, following the directions on the packaging. For every m3 of masonry, 40 kg of the mixture are typically used. To create the solution on your own, combine one part cement, three parts sand, and water in the volume until the desired consistency is reached. Incorporate plasticizers as well.

Crucial! The amount of solution to be prepared should not be more than what is needed for two hours of work.

Tile adhesive or glue for expanded clay concrete blocks can also be used for block laying. Typically, the second row of masonry is above the glue line. Blocks need to be arranged in the first row on a cement mixture.

Masonry of a summer cottage

You should get the necessary inventory ready in order to organize the process.

Equipment needed to lay expanded clay concrete blocks:

Stages of erecting walls from expanded clay concrete

And now everything is in its proper place:

1. The foundation of the building must be level (for a summer house made of expanded clay concrete, a strip, pile-screw or slab foundation structure is usually used). If necessary, it can be leveled using a sand-cement mixture. Waterproofing should be laid on the foundation (for example, roofing felt).

1. Laying starts from the corners. It is carried out similarly to brick. The solution is applied in an even layer to the horizontal surface and side edge with a notched trowel.
2. Blocks are laid in the corners of the building. Fixation is carried out using a mallet. Blocks are pressed into the solution. A cord is stretched between the blocks to determine the installation level of the remaining blocks. The correct installation of corner blocks determines the geometry of the entire perimeter.

1. Blocks can be stacked in different patterns, depending on the size of the products and the requirements for the characteristics of the building:

• Laying in half a block;
• The thickness of the walls is one block;
• Laying a wall in one and a half blocks;
• The device of a wall two blocks thick, using a bandage through a block or through two blocks.

The figure displays the laying schemes:

By using a level and adjusting the thickness of the applied mortar, some deviations in the block geometry are eliminated. The external and interior walls are placed in parallel. Foam plastic separates the side of the block that inserts into the outer wall. This will assist in halting the development of a cold bridge.

If the question comes up, the best tool to use to cut the expanded clay concrete block is a grinder. Between every three to four rows of masonry, reinforcement is done. Reinforcement is inserted into specifically designed recesses or is offered in completed goods. Jute tape is placed in the center of the masonry to prevent cold air from passing through the mortar.

1. A monolithic insulated armored belt is arranged for the installation of floor panels. This reinforcement contour is made of reinforced concrete and serves to evenly distribute the load.

Calculation of mortar composition for masonry work

The strength, durability, and unique combination of properties that expanded clay concrete blocks offer make them the perfect material for dacha construction. Their lightweight design lowers labor and transportation expenses while also making construction simpler. The superior thermal qualities of the blocks also contribute to the preservation of a cozy interior atmosphere, which lowers energy expenses and the requirement for additional insulation.

It is important to pay attention to specific construction nuances when using expanded clay concrete blocks in construction. Sufficient waterproofing and management of moisture are crucial to avert possible moisture problems that could compromise the building’s longevity and structural soundness. Using the proper mortar and reinforcement is also crucial to ensuring the stability and safety of the structure, particularly in load-bearing walls.

All things considered, expanded clay concrete blocks offer a flexible and useful way to build a sturdy and energy-efficient dacha. It is possible to create a long-lasting and comfortable retreat that suits your needs by learning about the properties of the material and following best construction practices. These blocks provide a strong basis for your dacha project, whether you’re looking for a more permanent home or a seasonal retreat.

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