A garage made of foam concrete – is it profitable or unreasonable?

Homeowners can select from a variety of materials when building a garage. Foam concrete is one option that is growing in popularity. But is this contemporary material really a wise decision, or might it turn out to be more trouble than it’s worth?

Foam concrete, sometimes referred to as cellular concrete, is a thin material that is created by combining foaming agent, water, and cement. The end product is a substance that can be molded into a variety of shapes and sizes and is versatile and easy to handle. Because of its special qualities, it is a popular material for many building projects, including garages.

The superior thermal insulation of foam concrete is one of its main benefits. This implies that a garage made of this material will be able to keep a more constant temperature, shielding your cars and stored goods from bad weather. Moreover, foam concrete resists fire, giving your property an additional degree of security.

There are a few things to bear in mind, though. Particularly when subjected to high loads or repeated use, foam concrete may not be as durable as regular concrete. In order to avoid cracking and other types of wear and tear, it might also need more maintenance over time. Foam concrete can also be more expensive initially than other materials, but it may end up costing less in the long run due to its energy efficiency and lower heating expenses.

The profitability of a foam concrete garage will depend on a number of factors, such as your budget, the local climate, and your long-term goals for the property. You can decide whether this cutting-edge building material meets your needs and expectations by weighing the advantages and disadvantages.

For many homeowners, building a garage out of foam concrete can be a very practical and affordable option. Foam concrete is a wise investment because it provides superior thermal insulation, is long-lasting, and simple to construct. Because of its light weight, a heavy foundation is not necessary, and its fire resistance provides an additional degree of security. Even though the upfront costs may be higher than those of some traditional materials, over time they may prove to be a more cost-effective choice due to the reduction in energy bills and maintenance costs.

What is the benefit of building a foam concrete garage

Compared to building a private home, using foam concrete for a garage is not the worst choice. See our publication "What a house made of foam concrete should be like" for more information on why foam concrete is so bad for residential buildings.

There are benefits to building a garage with this material for a number of reasons:

  • For a one-story building without a residential attic, a bathhouse over a garage or a temporary building, the thickness of the walls can be 20 cm or 30 cm. In the first case, the garage wall made of foam concrete is erected in one block, in the second – the product is laid flat. With such thick walls, it is not necessary to heat the garage.
  • There is no need to worry about the poor geometry of the blocks and the purchase of special glue – ordinary masonry mortar is quite suitable for constructing a garage. There will be “cold bridges”, it doesn’t matter, because you don’t want to live in this garage, but only store your car.
  • Mandatory finishing of walls made of cellular material is required by regulatory housing construction – garages made of the material in question can still “overwinter” without it. But only one season, and only if the products are of excellent quality. And this is already an excellent head start for more rational construction in economic terms.
  • Due to the good volume of a single wall product and the small area of ​​the garage, the costs of erecting its frame are almost two times less in comparison with brick, wood and even aerated concrete, which must be urgently “protected” from adverse atmospheric conditions.

These are, in theory, the primary benefits that allow you to consent to building a garage out of the products that were agreed upon. However, how challenging will it be to use it during the planning and building stages?

Important nuances of construction

As you browse the projects for foam concrete cottages with garages, it occurs to you that perhaps it would be better to start with a well-built motorhome in which you can store all of your tools, set up a boiler room and electrical panel, and then gradually construct the main box of a residential building with your own hands. All you need to keep in mind is that foam-block garages need to be completely fire-safe and have enhanced protection against condensation and groundwater.

Why not arrange everything carefully if you have the will and the chance? If not, money is lost because foam concrete is a material that can be erratic in many ways.

Perhaps in certain situations, such as those involving shifting soils and shallow groundwater, it is preferable to get in touch with highly skilled artisans who design garage projects in order to avert worldwide issues that could eventually result in the building’s destruction.

Once the project is completed and the materials have been acquired, you can safely move on to construction:

Like any construction project, building a garage starts with clearing the area and marking it with standard pegs and twine in accordance with the project. Remember that the site needs to be leveled if there are any bumps. You could certainly give it a shot, but it’s best to avoid taking a chance and hire a surveyor to do the job instead.

  • Stage 2. Fundamental work

Once the area has been divided, you can safely move on to the foundation work. Building a block foundation for a standard garage doesn’t require any special skills. We drive in a monolithic slab in heaving soils; a strip foundation works best in dry, dense soils.

However, the foundation must be adequately waterproofed, which calls for regular roofing felt. In the event that a reinforced concrete slab is utilized as the foundation, the best course of action would be to place one row of blocks on the slab. This will provide a solid foundation for the subsequent wall installation as well as dependable moisture protection.

The order in which the gates are installed and the masonry work is completed varies depending on the project. Such a sequence is also dependent on numerous concomitant variables. We will examine a more popular choice based on the initial wall layout.

The installation of any block is essentially the same process:

  • The first foam concrete products in the corners are exhibited, and further rows will go from them, so we do everything as smooth as possible, operating with the construction level.
  • The first row must be laid on masonry mortar – the rest are optional, you can use special glue.
  • Each subsequent row is mounted with a block offset of about one third.
  • It is necessary to reinforce every second row of masonry with a metal mesh or reinforcement. It is best to give preference to metal rods, but they are more labor-intensive to work with, since it is necessary to cut channels for the whips.
  • The mesh is simply laid on the blocks, and such a seam is generously coated with masonry mortar. Considering the small area of ​​the building, masonry mesh is more acceptable for reinforcement.

A tiny ruse. Before installing the blocks, give them a quick mist of water to improve their adherence.

Remove any distortions as soon as possible by taking apart and rearranging the blocks. Distortions can be found by using a building level to examine each row. A grinding tool can be used for even the smallest errors.

And one more item. The lower and upper rows’ blocks must have tiny spaces between them in order to drain condensate. This is given that there isn’t a system for exhaust ventilation.

Constructing a garage in accordance with a project is a personal procedure, particularly in terms of installing the gate. The type, fastening method, and other details affect how they are installed. We guarantee their dependable service and have included a mini-instruction for installing a beam above the gate.

  • There are two variations of such a metal structure. In the first, you can make a metal frame in accordance with the dimensions of the gate, but at the same time add 0.2 meters more in length on each side. After which such a hollow frame is simply filled with concrete.
  • Most often, an I-beam is used as such a beam. For its reliable fixation, a frame of a 50×50 cm metal corner is also cooked along the width of the gate and mounted close to the inner wall of the garage per solution.
  • An I-beam is installed on this frame, and the gate is mounted on the existing structure.

Just remember that every kind of gate has unique characteristics and subtleties. For instance, an extra frame consisting of a corner is needed around the whole perimeter of the opening for metal swing gates with traditional designs.

  • Stage 5. Construction of a reinforced belt

In any foam block house, reinforced belts are required for the last phase of building the building frame, regardless of whether there will be an attic or a second floor. It is required to balance the load on the foundation and walls and to reinforce the masonry. Such "golden" rules should not be followed in order to avoid the outcome shown in the picture below.

An illustration like this proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the building was constructed improperly. A strong wind bore fruit from the thin walls, the two metal gates without beams above them, and even the lack of armored pooms. The garage fell apart as easily as a house of cards.

A rectangular reinforced concrete beam is called a reinforced concrete belt. Because reinforced concrete is so heavy, it is acceptable to use foam concrete instead of the traditional version of this product.

Today, craftspeople work at these locations:

  • put up thinner blocks (simply cut across) along the edges of the wall;
  • tie a reinforcement frame from ribbed reinforcement with a 10 mm profile, laying it in the resulting opening;
  • fill the frame with concrete, leave it to stand for 5-7 days and then resume construction.

There will be no space for permanent block formwork if the walls are only 20 cm thick. In this instance, you could fasten a standard wooden one to the wall, install the reinforcement frame, and then pour concrete throughout.

Perhaps the installation of Mauerlat will be necessary, depending on the garage project, particularly if it is intended to arrange the roofs of roofs from the beam. Accepting and properly distributing the roof load will be required. It is constructed simply out of a bar fastened with bolts. It already has the remaining roof components attached to it.

We’ve covered the essential steps for constructing a foam block garage. Common problems are resolved, including floor pouring, exterior and interior decoration, insulation, and communications.

This is not a concern if you have the project completed; simply adhere to the technical guidelines. This article’s video will walk you through the process of producing construction work for an actual foam concrete garage.

Calculation of the composition of the mortar for masonry work

Pros Cons
Good insulation properties Lower structural strength
Cost-effective material Requires additional finishing
Easy to work with Can absorb moisture
Fire-resistant May need reinforcement
Lightweight Less durable than concrete

For many homeowners, building a garage out of foam concrete can be a sensible and economical option. Excellent thermal insulation provided by foam concrete aids in preserving a constant temperature inside the garage. This can be especially helpful if you intend to use the garage for purposes other than car storage, like workshop space or storing goods that need to be kept at a specific temperature.

The simplicity of use of foam concrete is another benefit. Because of its ease of use and relative light weight, the material can expedite the building process and lower labor costs. You can finish the walls faster since foam concrete blocks are frequently larger than conventional bricks.

But there might be some drawbacks to take into account. Since foam concrete isn’t as durable as some other building materials, it might not be the best choice for buildings that need to support large loads or for areas with harsh weather. Maintaining adequate waterproofing and reinforcement is essential to avoiding structural problems and extending the life of your garage.

Whether it makes sense to build a garage out of foam concrete ultimately depends on your needs and the state of the area. Foam concrete can be a great option if thermal insulation and simplicity of construction are your top priorities. On the other hand, you might need to look into alternative materials or sufficiently reinforce the foam concrete if you need a very robust structure that can withstand bad weather.

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Anna Vasilieva

Journalist with a technical education, specializing in construction topics. I can explain complex technical topics in simple and accessible language.

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