A house made of arbolite (arbolite blocks) – do-it-yourself construction, step-by-step instructions

Combining the affordability and durability of arbolite with the satisfaction of do-it-yourself construction, building your own home with arbolite blocks can be a fulfilling project. Arbolite, sometimes referred to as autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), is a lightweight, easily workable, and environmentally friendly material that is perfect for individuals wishing to construct their own homes. We’ll take you step-by-step through the process of building a house with arbolite blocks in this guide.

First things first: let’s talk about what arbolite blocks are and why building with them is a good idea. Cement, lime, sand, water, and a tiny bit of aluminum powder are the ingredients of arbolite. This mixture is autoclaved, meaning the blocks are cured in a steam chamber with high pressure. As a result, a strong, lightweight material with superior thermal insulation qualities is produced that is both ecologically and energy-friendly.

You will need to gather the required tools and materials before you begin construction. In addition to the arbolite blocks themselves, which are available in different sizes and shapes for different areas of the construction, you’ll also need water, sand, gravel, cement, reinforcement bars, and mortar mix. Essential tools include a spirit level, trowels, a block-cutting saw, and safety equipment like goggles and gloves.

Laying the foundation is the first step in the construction process. This is important because it gives your house a solid foundation. You may select between a reinforced concrete slab foundation and a conventional strip foundation, depending on soil conditions and local regulations. For the structure to support the weight of the arbolite walls and the entire structure, the foundation needs to be level, sturdy, and oriented correctly.

After establishing the foundation, you can begin installing the arbolite blocks. Thin-bed mortar, an adhesive mortar that has been specially formulated to ensure strong and even bonds between the blocks, is usually used to join the blocks. Starting from the wall corners, proceed along the lines, making sure each step is plumb and level. Your plan should take into consideration windows, doors, and other openings, installing lintels and reinforced concrete beams as necessary.

When building the walls, it’s crucial to incorporate the plumbing and electrical systems as needed. Utilities can be seamlessly integrated into the structure by cutting channels into the arbolite blocks to accommodate wiring and piping. To make sure that all services are correctly routed and available for maintenance in the future, this step requires careful planning.

Eventually, you can start building the roof and finishing the interior after the walls are finished and all required installations are in place. Because arbolite blocks are lightweight and lessen the overall load on the structure, roofing is made easier. Depending on your tastes, interior walls can be finished with drywall or plaster to create a livable and adaptable space.

Building a home with arbolite blocks is an affordable and environmentally friendly substitute for conventional building techniques. Building your own arbolite house may be a rewarding experience that leads to a long-lasting and energy-efficient house with careful planning, attention to detail, and adherence to safety regulations.

Step	Description
1	Prepare the site: clear the area and level the ground.
2	Foundation: lay a concrete slab or footings to support the arbolite blocks.
3	Layout: mark the walls using string lines and stakes.
4	Stacking blocks: begin laying arbolite blocks, ensuring each course is level and plumb.
5	Wall reinforcement: insert rebar and fill voids with concrete for added strength.
6	Roof and finishing touches: install the roof structure and complete any remaining details.

Advantages and disadvantages

Another name for arbolite is wood concrete. Arbolite competes with more well-known building materials because of its advantageous qualities, although some situations prohibit its use because of certain characteristics. Therefore, for instance, building a house out of arbolite will not be feasible in highly humid conditions; structures are not constructed out of it.

– less weight on the foundation and simplicity of installation without requiring specialized equipment.

(which is frequently the case with wooden homes), rodents—because the wooden chips are protected from adverse effects by being enclosed in a concrete shell.

Design

To lay the right foundation for a project, it’s critical to ascertain the composition and properties of the soil before beginning work. Subsequently, they ascertain the house’s form, ideal wall thickness, thermal insulation, door and window placement, among other factors. Following project creation, the kind and quantity of building materials needed are determined.

Much depends on the area; in Sochi, for instance, a wall’s thickness of 20 centimeters is sufficient, but in Omsk, one must build a wall at least 50 centimeters thick.

Every standard residential building project involving an area of 100–150 square meters is tailored to the construction region’s conditions (soil, climate, etc.). These are typically one- or two-story homes with a basement, garage, or attic.

– by putting in permanent formwork and filling it with mortar. The only area where technology varies is in wall construction; all other phases are completed in a similar manner.

Features of construction – step-by-step instructions

Prior to beginning construction with arbolite, you should carefully consider which high-quality material to use or become acquainted with the characteristics of making blocks by hand. The first option is better because blocks produced under factory conditions typically have better characteristics.

Arbolite is utilized in structures no taller than seven meters, or two to three stories. If additional stories are to be added, it is advisable to consider using columns, support pillars, or other components that can support a portion of the weight.

– displaying the complete chemical makeup, cement quality, study findings, etc.

Foundation

Arbolite can be almost any material for the foundation because of its good bending strength. However, they typically favor combined or strip.

The weight and quantity of building materials, wall material, the presence of a plinth, the number of floors and their composition, roofing material, kind of insulation, number of doors and windows, facing material, interior decoration, floor covering, type of floor covering, and design weight furniture (195 kg/m2) are all taken into consideration when calculating the static load.

The following factors determine the dynamic load: wind load (calculated as follows: area of the house x (15 x height of the building + 40), soil resistance under pressure (the weight of the building is divided by the area of the sole, the resistance should not be higher than 30%), snow load in the area (for example, if the snow load according to SNiP is 180 kg/m2, it is multiplied by the roof area and the desired indicator is obtained).

• Marking on the territory
• Removing a soil layer of the required depth
• Creating a carefully compacted (with watering) sand and gravel cushion
• Installation of formwork, reinforcement with steel rods and nets
• Pouring the foundation with the creation of channels for communications
• Carrying out waterproofing of the foundation strip
• Carrying out backfilling with sand inside the squares, ramming
• Full waterproofing of the foundation

Erecting walls

Making a plinth will shield the arbolite from the effects of moisture. The base is made of brick or concrete, and the ideal height is between 50 and 60 centimeters.

Because the properties of the blocks will require a high glue consumption and result in significant costs, the walls are constructed using a cement-sand mixture. One meter of central fiber foam is needed for every eight to ten liters of wood concrete blocks.

The process for building walls with wood concrete is the same as with any other block; however, it is necessary to wet the wood concrete beforehand because it will absorb moisture from the concrete mortar.

• Laying is done from a corner, in rows, checking the degree of deviation by level and adjusting the dimensions.
• The seam width is 10-30 millimeters.
• The solution is usually applied to the block of the previous row along the edges of the block, creating a thermal break to compensate for the thermal conductivity of the masonry mixture.
• In the seams, you can lay a foam of polystyrene foam, tearing the solid seam and eliminating the bridges of the cold.
• Normal wall thickness is 30 centimeters (one floor), 40 centimeters (for two-story houses). The thicker the wall, the warmer the house will be. If you plan to clad it with brick or provide additional insulation, walls 20 centimeters thick will be enough.
• Reinforcement – with metal rods or plastic mesh to reinforce corners, door/window openings, wall junctions.
• Bandage – in a checkerboard pattern, 3 rows are laid along the perimeter and wait 24 hours.

Interfloor ceilings

• Window/door openings – a metal corner can be used (the edges are walled up in the walls), a channel (holes are cut in the blocks to insert it).
• Reinforcement under the ceilings – the outer row is laid out in half a block, formwork is installed inside, reinforcement is mounted in 6 rows with a diameter of 10 millimeters in the recess, poured with concrete mortar. For convenience, you can use a U-shaped block.
• The ceiling can be a monolithic reinforced concrete slab, metal or wooden beams. It is better to choose a wooden beam for strapping the perimeter of the wall under the ceiling. The wall plate is attached to the arbolite with a waterproofing layer.
• Next, communications are laid – it is easy to make holes in the arbolite, so it is not necessary to make channels for sewer pipes and heating in advance.

Roof construction

You can use any type of rafter system and roofing material when constructing a home out of arbolite. Typically, they construct the wall plate out of 15 by 15 cm wood, the posts out of 15 by 20 cm wood, the rafters out of 5 by 20 cm boards, and the sleepers out of 20 by 20 cm wood.

Bituminous shingles are ideal for roofing because they can withstand wall vibrations without deforming. The roof needs to be extended 30 to 50 centimeters away from the wall to prevent rainwater or melting snow from entering directly.

With the correct advice, building a house out of arbolite blocks is a do-it-yourself project that is feasible. This article offers detailed, step-by-step instructions for building a house out of sturdy, lightweight arbolite blocks. You will learn all the steps required to build a sturdy structure, from setting the foundation to placing each block and adding the finishing touches. This guide, which includes helpful advice and tips throughout, aims to streamline the process for both novice and experienced builders, making your dream of a custom-built home a reality.

Finishing a house made of arbolite

The primary goal of finishing an arbolite home is to keep it dry and free of moisture, which deteriorates the material and shortens the building’s service life and performance characteristics.

External finishing

The arbolite block assumes a very small amount of shrinkage—roughly 0.4%. Finishing work can therefore begin as soon as construction is finished. Because arbolite absorbs a lot of moisture, it needs to be protected from moisture, and the walls don’t look very nice.

Any material can be used for external wall finishing, including clapboard, brick, siding, and plaster (the most popular choice, but it must have a vapor permeability index equal to arbolite). Siding or clapboard finishing ensures adequate ventilation and waterproofing.

It is best to choose the finishing material in advance because, in this scenario, the house can be built with consideration for certain features (you can make thinner walls if you finish with brick, for example, as this will provide additional heat conservation).

Interior finishing

Any material can be used for interior finishing, but extra vapor barriers must be installed in rooms with high humidity.

Insulation

If the walls are at least 30 centimeters thick, you can live without insulation in warm climates. An insulated wall should be 30 to 40 centimeters thick in cold climates.

• Foam plastic – only for external finishing, provided that the ventilation system in the house is improved. The slabs are attached to the facade with glue, fixed with plate dowels, and the cracks are filled with foam.
• Mineral wool – insulated with a layer 10 centimeters thick, in two layers to eliminate cold bridges.
• Cellulose insulation – a natural material, poured during the construction of walls between the finishing brickwork and the load-bearing wall. Polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, expanded clay can also be used inside the walls.

Insulating the floor is crucial because it loses 50–60% more heat than the walls do. Typically, mineral wool or expanded clay are used as floor insulation. Because of its 15 centimeter thickness, breathable materials are preferable.

Thermal insulation of the ceiling, roof

If the attic in your home is not residential, you will need to insulate the floor as well as the ceiling. In the case of a residential attic, the slopes are insulated.

Thermal insulation of windows

Working with the cracks is crucial in this situation because they are filled with different kinds of sealants, polyurethane foam, and silicone-based sealants.

Heating and ventilation of a house made of arbolite blocks

The house already has excellent thermal insulation and natural ventilation because of the qualities of arbolite. As a result, unnecessary system costs are irrelevant.

• Forced ventilation should be provided only where there is a thermos effect (most often due to the use of polystyrene foam).
• For heating in an average climate, weak radiators in combination with a "warm floor" system are quite sufficient.

Other than that, the guidelines for setting up a heating system in an arbolite home are the same as for any other: the resources are chosen based on availability, affordability, and the region’s unique resource supply.

• Designing a warm foundation with a basement/basement.
• Reducing the total glazing area.
• Installing a ventilation system with a recuperator, where the exhaust air will heat the fresh air.

For many homeowners, building a house out of arbolite blocks—also called aerated concrete blocks—is a do-it-yourself project. Compared to conventional building materials, these lightweight blocks have better insulation qualities and are easier to handle. We have covered every stage of building a house with arbolite blocks in this guide, from laying the foundation to building the walls.

First and foremost, it’s important to know what supplies and equipment are needed. Cement, sand, lime, and additional ingredients are combined to make arbolite blocks, which have a porous structure full of air bubbles. Because of its composition, which lowers each block’s weight while improving its thermal insulation qualities, arbolite is a popular material for environmentally friendly building.

Next, the project’s overall framework is established by laying the foundation. To support the weight of the structure, the foundation must be sufficiently cured, level, and reinforced. The first course of arbolite blocks is laid after the foundation is ready, and care must be taken to ensure that each block is precisely positioned and firmly bonded with mortar.

The verticality and alignment of the walls become more and more crucial as they rise. Regularly aligning each layer of blocks during construction with a spirit level preserves both the structural integrity and visual appeal of the finished product. Additionally, extra caution should be exercised around window and door openings, as they may require extra support.

Planning and carrying out the integration of HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems should be done with foresight throughout the building process. These systems can be installed easily thanks to channels in the arbolite blocks, guaranteeing functionality without lowering the walls’ thermal efficiency.

Ultimately, the arbolite block structure is transformed into a cozy and aesthetically pleasing home by adding finishing touches like painting, plastering the interior, and applying exterior cladding. By taking these actions, the homeowner can customize the look of their home to fit their tastes while also improving the house’s resilience to weather and durability.

In conclusion, do-it-yourselfers who want to build a sustainable and energy-efficient home will find building a house with arbolite blocks to be a rewarding experience. With careful attention to detail at every stage of construction, homeowners can achieve a high-quality result that blends environmental responsibility with practicality by following these detailed instructions.

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