Garage made of foam blocks (foam concrete): projects, we build with our own hands – detailed instructions

Although building a garage can be a big undertaking, it can be much more manageable if foam blocks, also called foam concrete, are used. Foam blocks are a great option for a do-it-yourself garage project because they are lightweight, simple to work with, and offer superior insulation. You can construct a strong, long-lasting garage that suits all of your needs with the appropriate blueprints and supplies.

Foam concrete blocks are renowned for being user-friendly and adaptable. Simple tools can be used to cut and shape them, eliminating the need for specialized equipment and enabling precise construction. They are therefore ideal for people who would rather handle construction projects themselves. Furthermore, foam blocks support sustainable building practices because they are energy- and environmentally-efficient.

It’s critical to begin the planning of your garage with a precise and comprehensive project plan. Taking into account the size of your car, the amount of storage you require, and any extra space needed for a workshop or hobby area, think about the size and design of the garage. Making sure your garage is both aesthetically pleasing and functional can be achieved with careful planning.

The next step after making plans is to acquire the required supplies and equipment. Among the necessities are foam concrete blocks, mortar, reinforcing materials, and simple construction tools. The building process will go more smoothly and effectively if you make sure you have everything you need before starting.

There are a few essential steps involved in building a garage with foam blocks, starting with laying the foundation and moving on to building the walls and roof. Ensuring the structural integrity and longevity of your garage requires meticulous attention to detail and adherence to best practices at every stage. You can confidently move through the construction process by adhering to a step-by-step guide.

When you choose foam concrete blocks for your garage project, you are selecting a useful, affordable, and do-it-yourself building material. You can successfully build a garage that protects your vehicles and increases the value of your property with proper planning, the right supplies, and well-defined instructions.

Project Steps	Description
Planning	Determine the size and location of your garage, considering local regulations and space requirements.
Foundation	Lay a sturdy concrete foundation, ensuring it is level and properly cured before proceeding.
Wall Construction	Build the walls using foam blocks, stacking them securely and filling gaps with mortar.
Roof Installation	Construct and install a roof frame, then cover it with suitable roofing material to protect against weather.
Finishing	Apply exterior and interior finishes, such as plaster or paint, to protect the foam blocks and enhance appearance.
Doors and Windows	Install garage doors and windows, ensuring they fit well and provide adequate security and ventilation.

Characteristics of foam blocks as a material – table of dimensions

Foam concrete blocks are perfect for building garages and other outbuildings because they are affordable, lightweight, and durable.

Brand	Height, mm	Width, mm	Length, mm	Required pcs. per 1 m²
D500	250	200	600	33.3
250	26.7
300	22.2
350	19.0
D600	250	200	600	33.3
250	26.7
300	22.2
350	19.0

1. Grades D150-D400 – material with high thermal insulation characteristics, having a density of 150-400 kg/m³. Strength of D400 blocks – 9 kg/cm³.
2. Brands D500-D900 – have a density level of 500-900 kg/m³, belong to a type of structural and thermal insulation materials. The strength of the blocks, depending on the brand, is 13-35 kg/cm².
3. Brands D1000-D1200 – differ in density 1000-1200 kg/m³, belong to structural. Strength level is 50-90 kg/cm².
4. Brands D1300-D1600 – have a density degree of 1300-1600 kg/m³, belong to a subtype of structural porous building materials. Products are produced in small batches, not standardized according to GOST.

If you follow the right instructions, building a foam block (foam concrete) garage is an easy and affordable project that you can do on your own. This article offers a detailed how-to that covers every stage, from design and planning to building and finishing touches. Our comprehensive instructions, which include helpful tips and advice to ensure your project is a success, will assist you in building a sturdy and functional garage, regardless of your level of experience with do-it-yourself projects.

Pros and cons

1. High thermal insulation characteristics of structures.
2. Low weight, 2.5 times lower than that of expanded clay concrete elements. The weight of the building material allows for easy transportation of blocks, no need to use trucks at the construction site. A reinforced foundation is not required during construction, which simplifies installation work, reduces costs and increases the pace of construction.
3. Increased strength and density of the building material determined the resistance of the blocks to mechanical overloads.
4. The material is durable. The shelf life reaches 60-70 years depending on the brand.
5. The environmental friendliness of aerated concrete blocks is due to the composition of the product, which does not contain toxic components. The formula of the materials includes inorganic compounds (quartz sand, cement powder, lime). There are no harmful fumes when heated.
6. Buildings can be built in seismically hazardous regions. With damage, the elements do not crumble and do not crack.
7. Increased frost resistance is due to the porous structure of the building material. The blocks withstand freeze-thaw cycles without deformation or cracking.
8. Increased fire resistance of the composition allows buildings to withstand exposure to fire for up to 5 hours.
9. Ease of processing during construction work allows for complex design solutions. It is possible to create arches, columns, shaped elements, holes for fasteners.
10. Low cost of the material reduces construction costs. The small weight of the elements allows for a reduction in the cost of pouring the foundation.
11. The elements are moisture resistant.
12. Bio-resistance of materials prevents the appearance of fungi and mold on the surface of the elements. Additional treatment of blocks with special antifungal impregnations is not required.
13. Long service life – up to 70-90 years depending on the quality of the building material.
14. The presence of even surfaces in blocks determines simple work, the construction of wall partitions without deformations and distortions.

1. Increased hygroscopicity causes water absorption by building elements. To prevent damage, it will be necessary to treat the panels with hygroscopic impregnations.
2. Possibility of linear deformation of buildings during operation after 2-3 years of using the building.
3. Difficulty in cladding external panels with some building materials (ventilated facade, siding). It is not recommended to drill monolithic partitions made of blocks.
4. Need to use only specialized fasteners.

Features of choosing foam blocks

1. The material must be certified, manufactured in accordance with GOST standards.
2. The cost must correspond to the average market price, inexpensive products may not meet the requirements of standards and safety.
3. It is recommended to determine the level of strength of the material for solved problems.
4. It is important to inspect the selected blocks, the color of the product should be light gray with color transitions, uniform tinting is not allowed.
5. The cells of the blocks must be sealed, rounded, cracks and chips on the surfaces are unacceptable.
6. For comfortable laying, the blocks must be rectangular, with smooth surfaces.
7. Blocks manufactured before sale must be stored for 28 days to achieve maximum strength of the products.

Drawing up a project and cost estimate

Foam block garage projects can be traditional or unique. The land plot’s topography is taken into consideration when creating the drawings. In order to choose the best type of foundation, the depth of the soil beneath must be determined.

The project is sketched out on paper or in a graphic editor. Architectural features (such as the existence of an observation pit, a cellar, the quantity of machines, the requirement to store tools, spare parts for the vehicle, the requirement for utility space, etc.) are taken into consideration when determining the building’s size.

A building that is 5–6 meters long and roughly 3.5–4 meters wide can hold a passenger car. You will need a room that is 8 by 8 meters in order to create a large garage. Should you lack design expertise, it is advised that you use standard designs or consult experts.

The price estimate covers dyes, fittings (locks, fasteners, etc.), basic and finishing materials.

Calculation

After figuring out how thick the garage complex’s wall partitions are, the calculations start. The block height is 20 cm, the panel thickness is 30 cm, and the panel length is 60 cm. The necessary number of elements per square meter is determined and multiplied by the total area of the panels—that is, the area less the window frames and the gate opening—calculated.

When planning the construction of a garage complex, compliance with the following stages of estimate and calculation compilation will be required:

1. Determining the costs of the preparatory stage (design, compilation of design documentation, preparation of permission to build a building on a site in municipal bodies in Moscow or other territorial entities).
2. Calculation of labor costs and the price of hired employees, auxiliary workers (if necessary), as well as determining the number of tools and their cost or equipment rental.
3. Calculation of the cost of building materials for a garage.

Materials and tools

The garage was constructed utilizing

1. Wooden blocks 5 mm thick for creating formwork.
2. Sifted sand with coarse grain size.
3. Cement grade M400.
4. Metal reinforcement (up to 12 mm thick) for the foundation.
5. Foam concrete blocks for load-bearing panels.
6. Special adhesive base for laying blocks.
7. Boards and I-beams are required for the roof.
8. Expanded clay for performing thermal insulation work on the roof.
9. Sheets of roofing felt for laying the roof and waterproofing the foundation of the building.
10. Concrete mixer and trough.
11. Metal buckets, trowel, shovel.
12. Electric welding machine, electrodes.
13. Bitumen mastic.
14. Reinforcement structures, masonry mesh.
15. Mineral wool for insulation of ceilings.
16. Materials for laying the roof (metal tiles, slate, roofing material, etc.D.).
17. Fastenings, screws, screws, metal brackets.
18. Metal gate.

Instructions for the construction of a garage

We use foam blocks to construct a garage in compliance with

• Creating the foundation;
• installation of the frame;
• roof installation;
• panel sheathing;
• interior decoration and creation of a ventilation system.

Foundation preparation

You design and pour the foundation of a garage using your own hands. Making a big foundation hole for a foam concrete structure is not advised because foam concrete is lightweight and doesn’t need a substantial foundation. A strip foundation is the suggested solution since it can be installed gradually and doesn’t require complicated labor.

Frame installation

The first step in installing a block frame structure is to use sturdy pegs to pull a cord around the outside of the garage building’s wall partitions. To make installation work easier, you can create a design using individual corner blocks. Along the panels, foam blocks are positioned to facilitate operational work performance and lower raw material consumption.

It is essential to lay a metal grid or reinforcing bars to strengthen the wall partitions at the end. By advancing technology, you can stop panel deterioration and the formation of chips and cracks.

The roof of the garage

Artificial block garage structures typically have a single-sided roof. This kind of roof requires walls to be built with a slight slope toward the building’s back wall. A 5 centimeter reduction in the height parameter is required for every meter of wall support.

The saw’s power will be required to form the bars into a specific size. The material for aerated concrete is cut in various directions.

Features of the masonry of foam blocks

When completing the masonry on an outbuilding, consideration must be given to

1. A special adhesive solution for foam concrete elements is applied to the vertical edge, then the composition is distributed over the coating using a spatula.
2. The seam between the blocks should be up to 20 mm thick.
3. The first row of building materials must be laid on a mastic with sealing properties.
4. The adhesion of building materials can be improved with the help of water, which is used to wet the blocks.
5. The accuracy of laying can be controlled using a cord, it is necessary to check the symmetry of its location with a building level.
6. Skewing of surfaces must be eliminated immediately during the process of laying the elements.

1. At the first stage, it is necessary to align the frame of pegs and cord.
2. At the second stage, laying begins from the corner along the wall. After fixing the corner structure, the blocks are laid along the wall panel. When laying, it is necessary to check the symmetry of the masonry. When working between the blocks, a metal mesh and individual rods are placed in the concrete solution to fix the gate leaves.
3. At the third stage of laying the blocks, it is necessary to prepare the gate frame. The finished structure is fixed tightly to the wall panel and welded to the metal rods. Additional reinforcement is carried out on cement mortar.
4. At the final stage of laying the elements, the blocks are placed to the top of the wall panel. The blocks are fixed in accordance with the type of the selected roof.

Sheathing technology and thermal insulation

Aerated concrete blocks need to have their faces completed, and the surfaces need to be thermally insulated. Both materials for ventilated facade structures and ornamentation are made of mineral or standard plaster. A specific mesh that is fastened to the wall panel is covered in plaster.

You can apply a single-layer brick layer to improve the structure’s protective qualities. Because the air permeability parameters of different materials vary, an air gap will need to be created.

Wet vapors cannot pass through tightly packed bricks, which can cause the garage compartment to become more humid.

Interior wall decoration and ventilation

Finishing touches for aerated concrete materials must include plaster, facade paint, etc. Panels, siding, or tiles can be used to create the design. Plasterboard sheets that are resistant to moisture can be used to cover the walls.

Setting up a thorough ventilation system is essential for maintaining the building’s long-term functionality and a pleasant microclimate in the space. Installing an exhaust hood keeps moisture from building up in the garage and shields the car’s metal panels from harm.

Make holes in wall panels at various levels (below ceilings, near the floor) to establish a basic ventilation system. The openings have ventilation grilles installed with movable shutters.

The air flow can be changed based on the time of year and the weather. A supply and exhaust ventilation system is installed in large rooms.

For any homeowner, building a garage out of foam blocks is a doable and useful project. Foam concrete is a lightweight, yet sturdy material that is perfect for building a long-lasting garage. Even someone with no prior construction experience can produce a result of professional caliber by carefully following the instructions.

In addition to being simple to work with, foam blocks provide superior insulation, which keeps the temperature in the garage steady. Extreme weather protection for cars and stored goods can be especially helpful in this regard. The material also resists fire, which gives your property an additional degree of security.

Think about the size and arrangement that best meet your needs when organizing your garage project. Thorough planning guarantees that you will have enough room for your cars as well as any extra storage or work area. Assembling all necessary equipment and supplies in advance will expedite the building process and increase its effectiveness and enjoyment.

Detailed instructions for building the walls, laying the foundation, and finishing the structure guarantee that every stage of the construction is carried out correctly. An attractive and durable garage can be achieved by taking the time to properly align and fasten each foam block. Carefully following these guidelines will help you steer clear of typical pitfalls and guarantee the success of your project.

In the end, constructing a garage from foam blocks is a rewarding endeavor. It not only enhances the functionality of your property but also adds value. With patience and attention to detail, you can create a customized garage that meets all your needs while enjoying the satisfaction of a job well done.

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