Quite often, recently there has been a debate about which is better - aerated concrete or wood concrete. It is only possible to answer it unambiguously only when a specific situation is being considered. If we analyze the materials in general, then each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. The article will provide information that will allow you to understand which material from the above is better to choose in order to cope with the planned tasks.
Some people think that aerated concrete is better, since its shape is perfect. Others argue that arbolite is better suited for areas where the soil is not strong enough. You can deal with this by reading the article.
Features and advantages of aerated concrete
If you cannot decide whether it is arbolite or aerated concrete, which is better, then you should consider these materials separately. If we are talking about aerated concrete blocks, it can be noted that they are products created on the basis of mineral fillers and cement mortar. In the process of mixing the composition, pore-forming additives are added to the ingredients, which contribute to the formation of sealed microscopic cavities in the thickness of the material.
Aerated concrete can be used in the form of ready-made modules and in the form of a solution poured into the formwork at the construction site. When deciding whether wood concrete or aerated concrete is better, you should consider some of the advantages of the porous structure of aerated concrete. Firstly, this material has a small specific gravity. Secondly, it is quite easy to process. Thirdly, the blocks that are manufactured in an industrial environment have an almost perfect geometry.
As for the specific gravity, in the case of aerated concrete, this parameter starts from 800 kg / m 3 . The final figure will depend on the particular brand of material. The construction of buildings on low-power foundations and soft soils became possible precisely due to the lightness of aerated concrete. If you decide to purchase wood concrete or aerated concrete, which is best suited to your conditions, you need to decide in advance.
The last of these materials is easy to process. It is characterized by relative softness, therefore it is well polished and cut. That is why expensive cutting with diamond circles can be abandoned. Thanks to the ideal geometry of the blocks, which were manufactured in compliance with all tolerances, the construction of the building turns into an easy task, which is similar to the assembly of the Lego constructor.
To facilitate the work and improve the operational characteristics of the walls, instead of mortar, you can use special glue, which is used for laying aerated concrete blocks. The cost, of course, will be slightly higher, but the installation speed will increase significantly.
Cons of aerated concrete
If you do not know what to purchase - wood concrete or aerated concrete, which is better, you need to find out in advance. You can understand this by reading the information presented in the article. For example, aerated concrete has not only advantages, but also disadvantages. Among the latter, it should be noted that at breaks the material crumbles quite strongly. In addition, thermal insulation is insufficient to refuse additional insulation.
It should also be noted that the masonry is quite thin, and if its thickness is from 30 to 40 cm, this indicates that with a strong wind it will be cold in the house from aerated concrete. If you cannot decide whether it is arbolite blocks or aerated concrete, which is better, then for a start you should consider all the disadvantages of each of the listed materials. For example, the moment that aerated concrete crumbles heavily entails the need to create an ideally strong foundation that will be stable and can prevent distortions and cracking.
Thermal insulation of aerated concrete, although higher than conventional concrete, is insufficient. Therefore, buildings made of this material must be insulated with mineral wool panels or polystyrene from the outside, followed by their cladding. You won’t be able to get rid of blowing walls even if you make very thin adhesive joints.
But the standard clearances of 12 mm for the solution in this vein are better not to talk about. If you want to buy wood concrete or aerated concrete, the characteristics of these materials should first be considered. Thus, aerated concrete, although it has its advantages, but the blocks require a responsible approach to construction. But to bring the building "to mind" after the completion of construction will have to sweat.
Technical characteristics of aerated concrete
Arbolit or aerated concrete, characteristics, reviews of which you can read in the article, are often purchased by consumers. In the case of the latter material, the tensile strength is from 25 to 50 kg / cm2 . Frost resistance can be equal to 50 cycles.
Water absorption by weight is 20%. The mass of the wall can vary from 700 to 900 kg, which is true for one cubic meter. In terms of fire resistance, aerated concrete belongs to the first class. Its thermal conductivity is 0.09-0.12 W / m K.
Description and main advantages of wood concrete
Like aerated concrete, wood concrete is a lightweight material. It is created on the basis of wood filler and concrete. At the stage of mixing the solution to the ingredients are added:
- sawdust;
- hemp fiber;
- straw dust.
This contributes to the formation of a composite with excellent performance features. If possible, it is necessary to purchase products that were made using a coarse fraction filler. Compared to sawdust, wood chips win. It is better than chopped straw. This is due to the fact that it copes well with strengthening the mixture and heat conservation.
If you want to buy arbolit or aerated concrete, comparison, which is better, will allow you to understand. For example, among the advantages of arbolite should be highlighted:
- effective thermal insulation;
- high mechanical strength;
- excellent climatic characteristics;
- fire safety.
Why you should choose arbolit
Arbolit perfectly insulates. Those materials used in its manufacture have low thermal conductivity, so the walls themselves form an energy-saving layer. Arbolite blocks are very durable. Despite this, they have a low mass, and the masonry does not imply additional reinforcement. This can not be said about the gas block. The material itself is simply processed, so diamond drilling is not needed, and you will have to make holes in the products for laying communication channels.
If you can’t decide whether it’s arbolite or gas block, which is better, then you need to consider all the features of these materials. An additional advantage of wood concrete, for example, is the convenience of facing. With mechanical action, the blocks do not crumble, in this they win against aerated concrete. This allows the panels to be fastened using conventional anchors.
Why arbolit is better
Arbolite is also good because it contains cellulose, which has high hygroscopicity. Therefore, the walls are able to independently regulate indoor humidity. The fire safety of products is high, and this is despite the fact that among the ingredients are wood components. Blocks do not burn, but there is no need to talk about their full fire resistance. In order to provide a basic level of fire safety, arbolitny blocks are quite suitable.
Arbolite disadvantages
Arbolite has its drawbacks, they are the need to protect products from moisture. In addition, loose filler does not allow to achieve the ideal shape of the products. It is important to mention also the cost, which sometimes repels consumers. Protection against moisture arbolita is required for the reason that it contains cellulose. If this recommendation is neglected, then with constant wetting of the material, it will begin to swell and decompose.
The arbolite wins in the fact that the latter has ideal geometric parameters. Laying the gas block is much easier. But with the use of wood concrete, construction should be accompanied by checking the position of each row using a level. You also need to use an additional plumb line, the only way to correct distortions.
Technical characteristics of wood concrete
If you intend to purchase arbolit or aerated concrete, the characteristics and description of these materials should definitely be studied. One of the most important parameters can be considered thermal conductivity. It arbolita varies in the range of 0.07-0.17 W / (m · K). As for the average density, it can be equal to 500 850 kg / m³.
Bending strength is equivalent to 0.7-1.0 MPa. The compressive strength is 0.5-3.5 MPa. The elastic modulus is 250-2300 MPa, water absorption can be equal to from 40 to 85%. The frost resistance of this material is 25-50 cycles.
What to choose
If you cannot decide what to choose, arbolit or aerated concrete, a comparison of their characteristics must be made. Perhaps it will allow you to understand which material to prefer. When deciding what to choose, it is necessary to focus on several points at once. If you are not limited in budget, then you need to purchase arbolit. You will spend a little more time on the construction of the box of the building, but save on additional insulation.
Do not take risks in the case when the construction has to be performed on moving soils. In this matter, aerated concrete loses wood concrete. However, if you want to choose the first version of the material, you will have to build a powerful foundation. In all other cases, the use of aerated concrete is permissible. Here you should carefully approach the heat engineering calculations, since the cost of insulation for aerated concrete can "eat" all the economic benefits.
Instead of a conclusion: reviews
According to consumers, in order to decide which is better - foam concrete or wood concrete, it is necessary to analyze the whole range of conditions. Arbolit, for example, according to customers, has better operational characteristics. However, it cannot be called universal.