Country house made of aerated concrete – construction features

Constructing a country home is an exciting project that offers the possibility of a tranquil getaway from the busyness of city life. Because of its lightweight and energy-efficient qualities, aerated concrete is a common material used to build these homes.

Natural raw materials like sand, lime, cement, and water are used to make aerated concrete, also known as autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). The material gets its distinctive lightness and insulating properties from the addition of tiny air bubbles during the production process of a foaming agent.

Aerated concrete has many advantages when used in construction. Its ability to insulate heat helps keep interior temperatures comfortable all year long, negating the need for large-scale heating or cooling systems. Furthermore, the material’s ability to withstand fire and its soundproof properties make living spaces safer and more peaceful.

Aerated concrete construction does, however, call for additional methods and considerations. Ensuring the longevity and structural integrity of the house requires careful handling and installation. Gaining knowledge about these building elements will enable you to design your country home with the best possible outcome and make well-informed decisions.

Feature Description
Lightweight Aerated concrete blocks are light, making them easy to handle and reduce the overall load on the foundation.
Insulation The material offers excellent thermal insulation, helping to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures year-round.
Durability Aerated concrete is strong and durable, providing long-lasting structural integrity for your country house.
Workability The blocks can be easily cut and shaped, allowing for flexible design and faster construction times.
Cost-effective Using aerated concrete can reduce construction costs due to its affordability and efficiency in installation.

What is aerated concrete

The utilization of autoclave-produced aerated concrete blocks for load-bearing walls is justifiable, as demonstrated by practical application. The most crucial characteristics required for the construction of high-quality housing are combined in aerated concrete blocks: they are lightweight, reliable, long-lasting, and energy-efficient.

Production of aerated concrete

Among the types of cellular concrete that can be produced through autoclaving is aerated concrete.

Aerated concrete has lime added to it, quartz sand added as a filler, and Portland cement used as a binder.

Aerated concrete gains a highly porous structure, allowing it to "breathe," through the addition of aluminum powder during the gas formation reaction.

Aerated concrete positive qualities

The following are some advantages of aerated concrete blocks:

  1. Aerated concrete blocks are a durable material. Construction of country houses from aerated concrete is possible in any climatic zones;

  1. Aerated concrete has high frost resistance, allowing blocks to retain their characteristics after 50 freeze-thaw cycles;

Fascinating information Because moisture only enters the outer layer of the gas concrete block and the inner pores are always dry, the block does not break down from the inside during freezing. The liquid expands during freezing and spreads through open, dry pores without applying internal pressure to the material.

  1. Aerated concrete walls do not require additional insulation, due to the low thermal conductivity of the material. In climatic conditions, double walls can be used, using D400 or D300 aerated concrete blocks as an insulating material – they have less strength, but a much larger number of pores. Therefore, these blocks are called heat-insulating. Blocks of the D500 and D600 brands are structural and heat-insulating;

  1. Aerated concrete is environmentally friendly and safe for human health. Due to its high air permeability, this material "breathes" like natural wood, creating the effect of air microcirculation. This quality allows you to build summer cottages from aerated concrete with optimal microclimatic conditions;
  2. Due to the light weight, of aerated concrete blocks, construction is as economical as possible. When building a house, no special equipment or any other devices are required at the construction site. You can build a country house from aerated concrete with your own hands;

Fascinating information Because aerated concrete blocks are bigger than regular bricks, building a house with them takes less time and requires less mortar. Additionally, the end sides’ unique recesses make it easier to transport blocks around the building site.

  1. Aerated concrete blocks are easy to process, which can be done at the construction site – they can be sawed, drilled, chased and given any necessary shape;

  1. Aerated concrete blocks are used in the construction of architectural elements of buildings of complex configuration – semicircular or polyhedral.

This article’s video will walk you through the entire process of building a rustic home using aerated concrete by hand.

We’ll walk you through the process of building an aerated concrete house by hand below.

Aerated concrete construction presents distinct benefits and challenges, making it a great option for individuals looking for longevity and energy efficiency in a country home. In addition to being lightweight and manageable, aerated concrete blocks offer superior thermal insulation that keeps houses cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Construction can be completed more quickly thanks to this material’s ease of use and added safety provided by its fire resistance. To address potential problems like moisture sensitivity and the requirement for particular construction techniques to ensure long-lasting stability and comfort, however, good planning and expert workmanship are crucial.

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Foundation

Determine what kind of foundation will be used before you begin constructing an aerated concrete cottage or private home.

Although aerated concrete is a long-lasting material, it is common for microcracks to start appearing on its surface a few years after a house is built, either along the masonry line or on the blocks themselves. These cracks get bigger over time. Instead of the anticipated savings, building such a house becomes more expensive due to the need for repairs.

Spend no less on the content. Experts refer to the foundation’s poor decision as the cause of this issue. Despite its strength, aerated concrete cracks when the foundation moves even a little bit.

Strip monolithic foundations are therefore the ideal foundation for aerated concrete walls. The idea is that the wall masonry and support are integrated into a single, sturdy system. The soil’s quality has a major influence on the type of foundation chosen and how stable it is.

Stages of foundation construction

The best type of foundation for a country house built with aerated concrete blocks is a shallow monolithic strip foundation. The following steps are involved in its construction: marking the location, excavating a trench, adding reinforcement and a cushion, and pouring the solution.

Crucial! It is advised to speak with experts when selecting the type of foundation so they can perform the required calculations and collect soil samples.

Preparation

The project is followed, including the marking of the land.

Next, carry out the subsequent tasks:

  1. In accordance with the calculations and marking of the site, dig a trench for the foundation. Usually this is 50 – 60 cm from the ground surface. The width of the trench is selected depending on the estimated width of the walls;
  2. The side surfaces and the bottom of the trench are leveled so that they have the correct geometric dimensions;
  3. Fine-grained sand is placed on the bottom of the trench as a leveling cushion with a thickness of 15 – 20 cm;

Counseling! The cushion is wet and compacted to give it a firm, level surface.

  1. A polyethylene film is placed on the bottom of the trench.

Reinforcement

As seen in the above photo, the strip foundation for the summer house being built with aerated concrete is reinforced. As seen in the instructions below, a standard reinforcement scheme is applied in this instance.

Metal reinforcement with a 1 cm diameter is used for both vertical and horizontal reinforcement. Wire or welding can be used to secure the rods together.

Formwork device

Boards are used to make formwork. First, with a 50 cm step, shields composed of horizontally nailed boards and vertical beams are positioned on the bottom of the trench and secured with nails. The shields must be gap-free, flex-proof, and have a smooth upper edge that can be covered with a polyethylene film.

To ensure that the formwork walls remain in a precise geometric position and that the distance between each shield is always the same width, wooden blocks are nailed to their upper edges to regulate the width of the gap. The shields are fastened from the exterior by wooden spacers driven into the earth.

Pouring the solution

The solution chosen will directly affect the future foundation’s quality. The foundation for a summer home built with aerated concrete might be branded M150. The ratios of the three primary ingredients—cement, sand, and crushed stone—are displayed in the table below.

Crucial! Mix the dry ingredients first, and then slowly pour in the water.

  1. The solution must be poured at once over the entire area of ​​the formwork. If this cannot be done, then the second pass is performed before the first layer begins to harden;
  2. In the process of pouring the foundation, the solution must be tamped using a construction vibrator for uniform distribution;
  3. After pouring the concrete and starting to set, a polyethylene film is placed on top of it;
  4. For uniform drying, the surface of the concrete is moistened with water every 12 hours over the next few days;
  5. When the concrete surface hardens, it is leveled to create a flat horizontal surface.

Crucial! During the formwork structure stage, communication inputs and ventilation holes must be installed around the foundation’s perimeter.

Calculation of MZLF according to Sazhin

Walls

A unique adhesive composition or sand-cement mortar can be used to lay aerated concrete blocks. The ratios listed in the table are used to mix cement and sand mortar. Grade 150 mortar can be used to lay aerated concrete.

Counseling! Experts advise utilizing a construction mixer to mix the adhesive composition. It produces thinner seams with a cost-effective material consumption. This contributes to the building’s increased energy efficiency.

Use bitumen mastic to waterproof the foundation before beginning any work.

On the foundation’s upper surface, roofing material is applied.

There are many benefits to using aerated concrete when building a country home. This material’s reputation for being both strong and lightweight facilitates quicker and easier construction. Because of its superior insulation qualities, your house will continue to be energy-efficient and keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

There is greater design and construction flexibility possible with aerated concrete blocks because they are simple to handle and cut. Labor and material costs may be reduced as a result. Additionally, the accuracy and uniformity of the blocks lessen the need for extra finishing work, which can save even more time and money during construction.

But it’s crucial to take into account the particular needs of aerated concrete, like using the right reinforcements and sealing the material properly. Controlling moisture is essential to avoid future problems with wetness or structural integrity. Maintaining the longevity and functionality of your country house can be achieved by making sure these factors are taken into consideration during construction.

All things considered, aerated concrete offers a useful and effective choice for constructing a country home. It is a common option for contemporary construction due to its cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and insulating qualities. A house constructed with aerated concrete can offer a cozy and long-lasting living area for many years to come with careful planning and competent execution.

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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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