In any construction project, selecting the appropriate concrete wall blocks is an essential first step. The kind of blocks you use will greatly affect the longevity, insulation, and general performance of the structure, whether you’re building a garden wall, a garage, or a house.
Concrete blocks come in a wide variety of forms, each with unique qualities, benefits, and drawbacks. The selection can be overwhelming, ranging from common solid blocks to more specialized options like hollow or aerated blocks. Making an informed choice that satisfies your unique needs will be made easier if you are aware of what each type offers.
You will be guided through the important considerations for choosing concrete wall blocks by this article. To help you choose the best type for your project, we’ll go over the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular varieties.
| Feature | Description |
| Material Type | Different blocks are made from concrete, cinder, or aerated concrete. Choose based on durability needs and budget. |
| Insulation | Aerated concrete blocks offer better insulation, making them ideal for energy-efficient homes. |
| Weight | Lightweight blocks are easier to handle and reduce load on the foundation. |
| Strength | Concrete blocks are stronger and more durable, but heavier and may require more reinforcement. |
| Cost | Concrete blocks tend to be more expensive, while cinder and |
Selecting the best concrete wall blocks requires knowledge of their characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks. It’s important to match the block type to the needs of your particular project because different types of blocks have different strengths, insulating qualities, and costs. This post will walk you through the important things to think about so you can make a well-informed choice that strikes a balance between cost, energy efficiency, and durability.
- Features of the material
- Hollow concrete blocks
- Aerated concrete
- Foam concrete
- Polystyrene concrete
- Expanded clay concrete
- Characteristics of wall blocks
- Video on the topic
- Concrete blocks in yards: pros and cons
- Sand concrete blocks. What to pay attention to.
- Cinder blocks. PShS blocks. Choosing a material for construction. Pros and cons and energy of the material.
- Expanded clay concrete blocks. GOST.Types of blocks. Differences in blocks
- About expanded clay concrete blocks! Again.
- Real disadvantages of expanded clay blocks. What mistakes should not be made when building a house from blocks?
- A COMPETITOR OF AERATED CONCRETE?! / Is it possible to build a house from expanded clay concrete?
- SUPER-MODERN polystyrene concrete for building a country house! / Main PROS and CONS
Features of the material
Today, concrete wall blocks are very popular because of certain characteristics of the material. This is especially important if you’re building a house by hand because using the material doesn’t require a lot of laborers, specialized tools, knowledge, or equipment.
These days, aerated concrete, solid and hollow concrete, foam concrete, expanded clay concrete, and polystyrene concrete are the most widely utilized building blocks. Each of them has specific functional qualities, benefits, and drawbacks.
Hollow concrete blocks
These kinds of blocks are typically utilized in the construction of low-rise structures. Concrete blocks with a hollow structure typically measure 20 by 20 by 40 centimeters. Their primary benefits include being reasonably priced, light, vapor permeable, low flammability, soundproof, and heat-insulating.
A concrete wall block with a closed pore structure prevents water from penetrating the block, making it resistant to moisture. Products include reinforced concrete and concrete, from which walls are constructed by filling the channels with cellular heat-insulating concrete or polymer foam insulation. When heavy concrete is poured into the voids and reinforcement is added, blocks are frequently used to create permanent formwork, which results in a monolithic prefabricated structure.
Aerated concrete
In contemporary private construction, aerated concrete blocks are most frequently utilized. Although the material has good thermal insulation qualities, it needs to be protected from moisture. This kind of concrete wall block is composed of Portland cement, lime, water, quartz sand, and aluminum powder. Bubbles form during the reaction with the aluminum powder and solidify in the material when it is heated.
Three characteristics of aerated concrete are its high density, low weight, and precise geometric dimensions. The best quality material is thought to be autoclaved. Products may vary in terms of dimensions, form, and the existence of specific auxiliary indentations and slits on the block surface to aid in installation.
Foam concrete
The ingredients for foam concrete blocks are cement, sand, water, and specific foaming agents. After combining all the ingredients, the foamed raw materials are placed in a formwork structure or collapsible forms and left for a specific amount of time (four to twelve hours) to gain strength naturally. Concrete blocks for walls are made by cutting larger blocks into smaller pieces.
The shape of the pores and the geometric characteristics of the edge strength and accuracy distinguish foam concrete from aerated concrete. These kinds of blocks are typically used in low-rise building for wall installation; in frame construction, they fill the spaces left by load-bearing structural elements.
Polystyrene concrete
These products contain granules of polystyrene, which serve as insulation.
The primary benefits of concrete made of polystyrene:
- Simple and quick installation
- Thin seams made of adhesive composition
- High-quality adhesion with any finishing materials
- Excellent quality of performance in terms of geometry and dimensional accuracy
- Strength – the ability to use blocks even in seismically active zones
- Resistance to large temperature changes, various environmental factors
- Resistance to deformation, fungus and mold
- Excellent thermal insulation and sound insulation characteristics
- Good level of vapor permeability
Expanded clay concrete
Vibration casting technology is used in the production of expanded clay concrete wall blocks. The cement and expanded clay volumes in the blocks must be equal. These concrete wall blocks (which come in different sizes) are typically used to build walls and partitions.
Because the material contains stiffening cavities, it exhibits good strength indicators and thermal insulation. Because of the structural elements, a substantial reduction in mortar usage is achievable. Even though expanded clay concrete blocks weigh more than foam and aerated concrete, you can still construct with them without the need for specialized tools.
In addition to residential structures, retaining walls, fences, different types of partitions, enclosures, and utility buildings are all constructed using expanded clay concrete.
Characteristics of wall blocks
Every concrete wall block has specific qualities that are dictated by the material’s composition and manufacturing processes.
The following factors should be taken into consideration when making your decision: fire safety; resistance to extreme heat and cold; strength; environmental friendliness; thermal conductivity; shrinkage; vapor permeability; the requirement to reinforce the masonry; the type and power of the foundation; the cost of the material; and the labor.
Ideal technical attributes:
- Density in the range from 1350 to 2250 kg / m3
- Strength – from 75 to 25 kg / cm2
- Frost resistance level – 50 freeze / thaw cycles
- Service life of the building – about 100 years
- Thermal conductivity – within 0.51-1.14 W / m * C
The material used to make the blocks is non-combustible, has good heat-insulating qualities, and is composed entirely of environmentally friendly materials, though it usually needs to be waterproofed.
It can be fixed using mortar, color-mix cement, or a unique type of adhesive. Because of the products’ large size and low weight, all of the work can be completed independently and quickly.
Selecting the appropriate concrete wall blocks is essential for any building endeavor. It is important to know the benefits, drawbacks, and features of each type of block so that you can make an informed decision that fits both your building needs and budget.
A few advantages of concrete wall blocks are their strength, heat efficiency, and sound absorption. They do have certain disadvantages, though, such as weight and the requirement for expert installation. Finding the greatest choice for your unique situation requires balancing these factors.
