Building a house from aerated concrete is becoming increasingly popular due to its excellent thermal insulation properties, affordability, and ease of use. This lightweight material offers a practical solution for those looking to construct a durable and energy-efficient home without breaking the bank.
We’ll take you step-by-step through the process of creating an aerated concrete house in this article. We’ll go over every step in detail, from laying the foundation to putting up the walls and completing the roof, so you know exactly what to anticipate at every stage.
This guide will give you the necessary information to get started, regardless of whether you intend to handle the project yourself or just want to learn more about it before hiring experts. Let’s examine the essential procedures for building a sturdy, dependable house out of aerated concrete.
Aerated concrete provides superior insulation and durability and can be built with ease using a straightforward process. From laying the foundation to finishing the walls, this article takes you step-by-step through the building process and offers helpful advice and insights to help you build a sturdy, energy-efficient home using aerated concrete.
- Advantages and disadvantages of buildings made of aerated concrete and the main features of the material
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Distinctive characteristic
- Stages of house construction
- Project documentation and calculation of the required material
- Preparation of the territory, surveying
- Construction of the foundation
- Masonry work
- Installation of floor systems and roofing
- Communications in the house: electricity and water supply
- Installation of windows
- Options for finishing the facade of the house
- Interior decoration
- Search for design solutions and a brief description of the progress of work
- Review of the estimated construction times for a house made of aerated concrete blocks
- Video on the topic
- One-story house made of aerated concrete. CONSTRUCTION – all stages.
- 3 years of house construction in 14 minutes with prices
- Review of a one-story house made of aerated concrete | House construction | Compact and Ergonomic House Project
- Aerated Concrete House. Construction Stages.
- How Much Does It Cost to Build a Turnkey One-Story Aerated Concrete House. Thoughtful House
- BUILDING A HOUSE FROM AERATE CONCRETE. STEP-BY-STEP CONSTRUCTION OF A HOUSE
Advantages and disadvantages of buildings made of aerated concrete and the main features of the material
We will make an effort to examine the characteristics and properties of the material objectively, depending only on precise test results rather than subjective data, in order to ensure that the conclusions are as objective as possible.
Strengths and weaknesses
There are several advantages to aerated concrete. The quantity of indicators may differ slightly among manufacturers, but there won’t be any departures from the specifications, guaranteeing the preservation of the properties.
Among the benefits, it is important to emphasize the following:
- Aerated concrete belongs to the class of lightweight concrete. It has a low weight, which entails a decrease in the load on the foundation. But at the same time, the strength of houses made of aerated concrete leaves many competitors behind.
- The products have a low thermal conductivity coefficient, which will undoubtedly affect the ability of the walls of the future building to retain heat.
- The blocks are very easy to handle, armed with a hacksaw or saw, you can give it any desired shape, easily cut to the desired size.
- Due to the ability to vapor permeability, a comfortable microclimate will be established in the building. The fact is that the aerated concrete block, with high air humidity, has the property of absorbing it. And in the opposite case – giving it off.
- The material is environmentally friendly and, most importantly, safe.
- The cost of construction will be relatively inexpensive.
- The frost resistance indicator is quite enviable. It ranges from 35 to 100 cycles.
- Due to the impressive size of the products, the process of erecting a wall occurs in the shortest possible time. And thanks to the almost ideal geometry of the block, the number of cold bridges is reduced to a minimum.
- Increased biological and climatic resistance make buildings virtually invulnerable to any changes in climate.
For most customers, this array of benefits is probably a strong enough argument. However, since each person has different needs in terms of a particular set of attributes, it is important to consider any potential drawbacks. Furthermore, it’s possible that some of them don’t fulfill the developer’s requirements.
- Aerated concrete is more capable of absorbing moisture than many representatives of lightweight concrete. On the one hand, the porosity of the structure is a plus, but on the other hand, it is a minus. In winter, absorbed moisture, under the influence of negative temperatures, necessarily crystallizes. Thereby having a destructive effect on the structure.
- The block is quite fragile. This is especially noticeable during transportation and work. Even as a result of a small mechanical effect or shrinkage of the foundation, it can crack.
- A small negative moment is the inability of aerated concrete to reliably hold the elements of fasteners.
Distinctive characteristic
After going over the main advantages and disadvantages, many prospective homebuyers might wonder, "So why the gas block?" Ultimately, numerous substances meant for wall construction possess comparable characteristics. It is, in fact.
It would be reasonable to contrast the gas block with other items that serve as its primary rivals in the building sector.
Table 1 presents a comparison between aerated concrete and alternative materials that could be utilized in wall construction.
Name of the indicator | Aerated concrete for walls | Foam concrete for walls | Expanded clay concrete wall | Brick | Wood |
Thermal conductivity | 0.115 | 0.25 | 0.3-0.4 | 0.52 | 0.14 |
Density | 600-800 | 1000-1200 | 900-1200 | 1500-1900 | 500 |
Frost resistance | 35-100 | 35-50 | 50 | 25 | — |
Shrinkage | 0.3 mm/m2 | 0.33 mm/m2 | 0.4 mm/m2 | Up to 10% | |
Required wall thickness | 0.4 | From 0.4 | From 0.4 | From 0.5 | Up to 1m |
Environmental friendliness | + | + | + | + | + |
Fire hazard | Does not burn | Does not burn | Does not support fire | Does not burn | fire hazardous |
Cost | Average price category | Average price | More expensive than other types of concrete blocks | High cost | Average price |
The table illustrates how almost all materials are removed by aerated concrete in many ways. It is feasible to construct a structure up to three stories from it, even if you are unable to build an apartment complex. And now that the products have been sorted, it’s time to move on to the following phase of the building process.
Stages of house construction
The process of building a house is drawn out and technically challenging. As a result, it pays to thoroughly research all the intricacies of the task beforehand, evaluate the sequence’s order, and estimate future costs.
Project documentation and calculation of the required material
Any building’s construction, no matter how big or what it’s for, starts with project documentation preparation. It has all the details you need to know about the phases of the project, the building’s cost, and—above all—the architectural and technical innovations.
Counseling! Purchasing a project is best done by getting in touch with the right company. After all, mistakes in the documents may have unanticipated repercussions. The entire process of future construction is determined by drawings of aerated concrete houses.
There are multiple basic geometric calculations that must be done in order to determine the necessary amount of gas block.
We calculate the piece amount of material needed by dividing the total area of the walls by the area of one block. Assume, for illustration purposes, that the future home’s walls have a 120 m2 area. The block that is being used is 625*400*300 in size. In this instance, the block’s area will be 0.625*0.4=0.25.
120 / 0.25 = 480 pieces is the number we require. But you’ll also need to buy a lot of other supplies in addition to the gas block. These include roofing components, cement, building mixtures, reinforcement, base bricks, and many more.
Preparation of the territory, surveying
The main and surrounding territory will be prepared, and measurement activities will be conducted, as the first phase of the work.
- If you follow the technology from start to finish, then first they carry out a deep study of the soil characteristics. This must be done in order to determine the required type of foundation. When the decision on the construction of the foundation is made, they proceed to further actions.
- The top layer of soil is subject to removal, all plants and roots are removed. Next, markings are made in accordance with the project, on the basis of which a pit must be dug.
- If this is a strip foundation, then trenches up to 1.5 meters deep and 0.4-0.5 meters wide are dug. However, the exact values depend on the region and its climatic conditions. Often, builders rely on the level of soil freezing.
Construction of the foundation
A monolithic strip foundation is the best kind of foundation. A columnar foundation is another option, but it is limited to one-story lightweight buildings.
A sand cushion is placed on the bottom of the pit after it has been dug. Next, formwork is put in place, which is required in order to fix the concrete’s shape.
Stages of the solution are poured, and reinforcement is required. After then, a specific amount of time must pass for the concrete to reach its technical strength. The house’s construction is put on hold until this point.
You can take down the formwork once the concrete has frozen and the foundation is ready.
Installing a monolithic slab foundation is advised for homes consisting of three stories or more (or two stories plus an attic) that are to be constructed using aerated concrete blocks.
It is also the priciest type of foundation out there. Since it is much simpler to complete the task with your hands in this situation than it is to use construction equipment to dig a massive deep pit, the slab beneath the house is typically made shallow.
The primary benefit of this type of foundation is that the slab shifts position collectively rather than individually as a result of shrinkage.
Masonry work
Laying the base is the first step in the masonry process and is required for a house built with aerated concrete blocks. Usually, red brick is used to make it. When employing the majority of comparable wall materials, the masonry of the walls was constructed using a similar technology.
The corner that determines the highest point is where the first block is laid. Next, the remaining corners of the future building receive the products. Between them is a construction thread that acts as a guide. The number of beacon blocks can be increased if needed, and they should be spaced two meters apart.
Cement mortar is used to lay the first row. As a result, the block can adhere to the base more strongly. Aerated concrete block laying compounds can be used to erect subsequent ones. They will highlight the beneficial aspects, drastically thin the layer, and consequently decrease mixture consumption.
Similarly, every other row should begin at the corner, but with an offset seam for every second row.
If the masonry is uneven, the laid block can be adjusted with a rubber hammer within the first ten to fifteen minutes. Such mistakes cannot be undone in the future. The wall can only be destroyed; it cannot be disassembled while maintaining the material’s integrity.
If small flaws show up, grinding tools can be used. This method of processing gas blocks is simple.
Above the door and window openings, a reinforced lintel must be installed; if necessary, the blocks are cut to the appropriate size.
Counseling! Make the layer as thin as you can—roughly 1-2 mm—if the block’s geometry is not broken. The house will get warmer as a result.
Reinforcement of the wall is a must when it comes to construction. The following is the sequence of work: on the block’s surface, recesses are created by chasing around the whole perimeter on both sides. They are filled with reinforcement that has an 8 or 10 mm diameter.
Its joints must not fall on the building’s corners or in areas meant for window and door openings. They should ideally land in the center of the item.
After soaking it, the material is packed full of mortar. A similar dressing procedure is done in the first row as well as every fourth or fifth row. If you need further assistance understanding the work, the video will walk you through it from beginning to end.
Kindly take note! Aerated concrete homes are susceptible to cracking precisely because wall erecting practices are not followed during foundation shrinkage. However, if the block is still cracked, it can be fixed by covering the damaged areas with a mixture of gypsum and cement.
It is now worthwhile to discuss window and door sills.
There are multiple methods for installing them:
- Lintels are sold ready-made. They need to be purchased and installed
- You can make lintels yourself from a regular block: they are glued together with a mortar mixture, grooves are cut along them, into which reinforcement is laid. After that, everything is filled with cement mortar and they are left to set for 24 hours. Such lintels are fixed with the reinforcement down and are only suitable if the passage is narrow.
Once the final row of gas blocks is placed, the armored belt needs to be filled.
The following is the work order:
- Formwork from gas blocks 10 cm wide is formed in a row.
- Reinforcement is placed in it and filled with cement-sand mortar.
- If the house is one-story, fastening studs are fixed in the armored belt itself, to which roofing elements (mauerlat) are attached in the future.
Kindly take note! Almost every block-built home needs a seismic belt. By preserving its integrity, it gives the structure strength and dependability.
Installation of floor systems and roofing
Installing the floors will be required once the masonry work is completed. The potential load on the structure must be considered when choosing the material for them.
The primary kinds
- Monolithic floor
- Slab
- Wooden or metal beams
- Precast monolithic
The traditional slab floor type is utilized more frequently than the others. The distance between the load-bearing walls is taken into consideration when choosing the products’ sizes. Furthermore, the load needs to meet GOST requirements based on the building’s anticipated future storey count.
With the least amount of human interaction possible, laying is done with a construction crane. On top of the top layer of blocks, a brick cushion is first laid, and then the installation is completed.
The following are slab floors’ primary benefits:
- The material has a high strength and load-bearing capacity
- Products are quickly installed using construction equipment
- The soundproofing characteristics of the slabs are very high.
To guarantee the products’ adherence, cement mortar is poured in between them, and construction doesn’t start until the technical readiness is attained. The cost is really affordable. Monolithic floors are used to build structures with higher loads, but they are also highly expensive.
Precast-monolithic construction involves placing a block onto a prefabricated beam frame. Although this method is somewhat less expensive, it requires a lot more time than building a slab floor.
As soon as the house reaches the necessary number of stories, you should install the roof in the following order:
- Installation of the rafter system
- Installation of hydro- and thermal insulation
- Lathing and counter-lathing
- Installation of the finishing coating.
You are free to select any type of roof, though gable, mansard, and hip roofs are the most popular. When building residential structures, the single-pitched type is essentially never utilized. But this is a good option if you need to cover a small garden house.
Counseling! It is best to get in touch with experts if you want to construct a house out of aerated concrete yourself but are completely inexperienced with roofing. Then, the question of how long your house will stand will undoubtedly be answered. Installing a roof requires specific expertise.
Communications in the house: electricity and water supply
Many developers may find this process to be the most challenging. It is not required to connect a new client to itself, for example, if there are electric poles of some partnership nearby the house. In this instance, the developer will need to find an independent solution to the issue.
The wiring in a house is typically not a difficult task. What then does a technician do?
Grooved walls are simple to create because gas blocks are simple to saw and cut. After that, wires are walled up and arranged in the grooves according to the plan.
Clamps hold them in place. Additionally, slots are cut for switches and sockets. We refer to this installation option as hidden.
An option that is less common is open wiring. Everything is installed using the same principle, with the exception that all of the cables are concealed on the exterior of the wall rather than inside it, beneath the baseboard, in gutters, and in corrugations. The electrical system in the house needs to be double-insulated and compliant with the Electrical Installation Code.
Selecting the wiring system beforehand is worthwhile.
Three primary schemes exist:
- Lighting devices and sockets operate from the power supply of one circuit breaker
- Lighting devices are connected to one, and sockets to another circuit breaker.
- All sockets in a separate room are connected separately from lighting devices and separately from household appliances.
Let’s now discuss hooking up the water supply. In the event that there isn’t a central one, the home can get its water supply from a well close by. It can descend to a maximum of 150 meters. To supply water, pipes are then installed, and a pump is set up.
Installation of windows
It’s not too difficult to install windows in a home made of aerated concrete.
And all you have to do to get a good outcome is adhere to these guidelines:
- Slopes must be level, this fact is checked using a building level.
- The surface is pre-cleaned of dust and dirt, impregnated with a deep penetration primer.
- Internal slopes must be thermally insulated.
- Vapor barrier tapes are glued over the thermal insulation.
- The window frame is installed and the sashes are hung. In this case, the resulting cracks are carefully sealed.
- Finally, installation of platbands, window sills and drains is carried out.
Options for finishing the facade of the house
Almost any material can be used to cover the exterior of the house. Keeping up with application technology is crucial.
The table shows the most popular options that developers are looking for.
Table 2. Completing an aerated block home’s facade:
Interior decoration
Any materials that fit the specifications and qualities of aerated concrete blocks can be used to decorate the interior of the home. Highly specialized raw materials should be used to select plaster mixes and screeds, and finishing materials must adhere to all GOST and SNiP regulations.
You should first make a decision about what you hope to see in the end. Let’s think about our options.
Search for design solutions and a brief description of the progress of work
We shall employ the technique of meticulous planning for the design of each component of the premises in order to maintain clarity.
Table 3. Various designs for the home’s interior décor:
Review of the estimated construction times for a house made of aerated concrete blocks
Every developer is curious about the answer to the urgent question: how long will it take to build an aerated concrete house from start to finish? Let’s solve it together.
Table 4. When a house made of aerated concrete was built and decorated:
Project development, survey work and preparation of the territory | 1-2 months |
The foundation device | From several months to a year. Some types of foundation should set about |
Pantry | 2-6 weeks |
Installation of floors and roofs | 4-6 weeks |
Summer of communications | Up to 6 months |
Electrical and plumbing work | 1-3 months |
Facial cladding | 2-4 months |
Interior decoration | From 2-3 months to an indefinite period |
As is evident, the developer, his financial situation, preferences, and ability to hire outside contractors all play a significant role in how long the project takes to complete. Naturally, in the latter scenario, the work will proceed much more quickly.
You can learn more about how to construct a house as quickly as possible using the materials we discuss in the video that is included in this article.
Step | Description |
1. Foundation | Start with a solid foundation, typically a reinforced concrete slab or strip footing, to support the aerated concrete blocks. |
2. Wall Construction | Lay the aerated concrete blocks using a special adhesive mortar, ensuring that each layer is level and aligned. |
3. Installation of Lintels | Place lintels over door and window openings to distribute the load from above. |
4. Reinforcement | Reinforce walls with steel bars in specific areas like corners and around openings to add stability. |
5. Roof Installation | Construct the roof structure, ensuring proper insulation and waterproofing to protect the aerated concrete. |
6. Finishing | Apply exterior finishes such as plaster, paint, or siding to protect the walls and enhance appearance. |
For those seeking to construct a sturdy and energy-efficient home, building a home with aerated concrete presents a workable and affordable option. The material’s thermal insulation qualities help to maintain a comfortable indoor climate, and its lightweight nature makes it easier to handle and speeds up construction.
It is essential to take a step-by-step approach if you want your project to succeed. Every step, from building the foundation to putting on the roof, needs to be carefully planned and carried out. Your home’s lifespan can be increased and future problems can be avoided by paying attention to small details like the concrete’s proper curing and the placement of reinforcement.
Aerated concrete is an adaptable material that works well with many different architectural forms and aesthetic tastes. Whether you’re creating a straightforward one-story home or a more intricate multi-story building, this guide offers the fundamental procedures required to realize your vision. You can build your dream home with confidence if you have the necessary planning and knowledge.