In modern construction, a large number of materials are used, and with each year they become more perfect and innovative. For example, a ceramic block has been increasingly used. Reviews say it is lightweight material that is easy to handle. What are the blocks and what are they made of? Let's try to figure it out.
Clay is the foundation
In the construction industry, ceramics is understood to mean materials, products that are obtained by molding and burning clay. Thanks to such processing, the material is strong, durable, while the decorative features of ceramics cannot be overlooked. The ceramic block, reviews of which attract many buyers, can be dense and porous. The first variety is characterized by water absorption of 6%, and for the second - up to 20%.
How to choose?
Ceramic blocks should be selected depending on the manufacturer, size, as well as the wall structure of the future home. For example, today large-format ceramic blocks are increasingly being used for construction. However, having decided to build from such material, you need to carefully study the dimensional grid and take into account all these details in the project. In addition, before designing it is important to calculate the sufficient thickness of the exterior and load-bearing walls. For example, if the structure will be multi-layered or it is planned to equip a ventilated facade, the thickness of the ceramic blocks should be chosen depending on what strength the structure will be.
Blocks on the market today have a compressive strength of 100 kg / cm 2 . That is, when building a cottage or low-rise construction, blocks of minimal thickness are quite enough. If the wall will be in one layer, taking into account the subsequent cladding (for example, plaster or brick), you should choose blocks according to the heat engineering calculation.
Price: is it important?
Building from ceramic blocks is a profitable solution, but you should not always focus only on profitability. After all, its quality depends on the price of the goods, and in the case of the construction of residential facilities, it plays a huge role. As a rule, the cheapest ceramic blocks are offered by new companies that want to become popular as quickly as possible. Accordingly, they produce products quickly, the technological process is simplified, which means that there will be no proper control over the production process.
The middle price segment is mainly represented by retailers and wholesalers who want to receive a trade allowance. They sell materials at higher prices, hoping to reach an uninformed buyer. Ideally, you should buy materials from well-known brands that belong to the elite class.
Completeness: the second secret of success
Today, many manufacturers offer to buy complete solutions for those who buy ceramic blocks. That is, in addition to the main material, they are invited to purchase special elements and additional components, for example, blocks for laying corners, additional blocks and so on. To create partitions and internal walls in the house, you can choose blocks that are resistant to acoustic changes.
Production date
Buyers need to be careful when buying ceramic blocks. Their characterization as an excellent wall material depends on how correctly they were created and stored. Ideally, in the factory, the blocks should be stacked on wooden pallets, packaged in film and delivered to the site in this form. If you store the material for a long time in the open air, moisture can get inside it, which will fill the walls of neighboring voids. Be sure to monitor the appearance of the blocks: they should not get wet, damaged, chips or cracks.
Features of the exterior wall decoration of the ceramic block
A porous ceramic block is often used as a wall material, while any facade decoration can be performed on it. For example, facing brick will be a traditional solution, while in such cases, embedded elements connecting the wall and facade masonry will also be used. The most budgetary solution can be the use of plaster, however, in this case it is important to correctly calculate the wall thickness in order to achieve good heat engineering performance. An alternative to conventional plaster can be insulation plaster to improve the thermal performance of the wall. As a heater, materials such as mineral wool or expanded polystyrene can act.
The porous ceramic block selected for the wall construction allows the installation of a ventilated facade. In this case, two issues will be resolved at once: on the one hand, the house will have an attractive appearance, and on the other, the standard indicators of thermal insulation will be observed. If you use light heaters, then you can choose not large blocks, but varieties with a smaller thickness. This will not only save on costs, but also remove the extra load from the foundation.
On the other hand, it is worth remembering that voids in ceramic blocks, as well as a small wall thickness, for example, 10 mm, require minimal machining. Accordingly, when installing the facing material, only those tools and fasteners that will not lead to the destruction of the wall should be used.
Interior decoration
As a material convenient in additional finishing, the ceramic block also received positive reviews. It is noteworthy that the surface of the ceramic masonry is not much different from the usual brick surface, respectively, and the additional lining will not differ much. That is, you can safely choose those finishing materials that seem to you the most suitable for your home. However, experts increasingly give preference to dry plastering, which is a quick-mounted structure created on the basis of drywall sheets. The main feature of such systems is excellent surface quality, high speed of work and the absence of dirty work. True, if the walls of ceramic sides are finished on a profile system, you will have to work hard, since the partitions between voids in the blocks are thin and fragile.
Technical characteristics of ceramic blocks
It is worth noting that the final characteristics depend on what the structure of the house will be and what thickness the wall will be (in two or three layers with insulation or one layer of blocks). In fact, there are many options, since the ceramic block sizes are different. We will go over the features of a single-layer wall, which is minimally finished. So, from the technical side, ceramic blocks have the following features:
- Thermal conductivity: it is achieved through rational voids and pores in the stone. Pores are distinguished by a molten surface and a closed volume.
- Thermal inertness, due to which it is possible to erect a single-layer wall without the use of insulation, while the walls will meet the requirements of the standards. It is noteworthy that single-layer walls are characterized by ease of construction, resistance to damage, durability and efficiency.
- Due to the thermal inertness of the block and the possibilities of ceramics as a building material, the walls accumulate heat, providing thermal and air balance in the room.
- Ceramic blocks are characterized by compressive strength.
- Large-format blocks can significantly simplify the construction process: one ceramic block can immediately replace 15 bricks of the usual format. At the same time, the walls do not turn out to be heavy, they are built quickly, and the load on the foundation does not increase.
- Cost-effective construction: a solution for large-sized ceramic blocks is prepared in the usual way, while it requires much less. Such indicators are also achieved due to the tongue-and-groove joint, which is not filled with solution at all.
- Plaster is easily and quickly applied to the rough surface of the ceramic block, which is also used economically.
- Natural conditioning. Wall structures are distinguished by a certain humidity regime, due to which a favorable climate is created in the room.
- Environmental friendliness. Ceramics is an environmentally friendly product, and its capillary structure allows to achieve optimal moisture exchange in the room, due to which the walls breathe.
- Soundproofing: cells in ceramic blocks form a series of chambers, due to which soundproofing characteristics are improved.
Porotherm products: what are the features?
Porotherm ceramic blocks have long gained popularity as a high-quality modern building material. It is noteworthy that it is produced in accordance with ancient traditions, into which innovative solutions are correctly written. These blocks have strength class M100, M150, which allows them to be used for the construction of load-bearing structures in multi-story buildings. The distinctive features of ceramic blocks of this brand include:
- high energy efficiency;
- heat preservation in the room;
- reduction in the number of mortar joints;
- the presence of a tongue-to-groove joint;
- quick and easy assembly;
- good vapor permeability.
Porotherm block houses feature
As a building material, this ceramic block received the most positive reviews. Today, many seek to build their home from new materials, using modern technology. And the ceramic block opens up wide possibilities for this. Firstly, a house built of large-format ceramic blocks will “breathe”, which means that the optimum humidity and temperature balance will be achieved in the room. Secondly, the material is resistant to decay and aging, which means that the house will be durable. Thirdly, the ceramic block sizes are different, and therefore it is possible to make the walls of the required thickness. For example, for the construction of load-bearing external and internal walls, blocks of 380x250x219 size can be used. When mounting load-bearing single-layer walls without additional insulation, it is possible to use material with dimensions 510x250x219.
Sustainability and profitability above all
And yet, everyone who builds a private house, wants it to be cheap and at the same time environmentally friendly. A warm ceramic block meets both requirements, because it is created on the basis of clay, to which sawdust is added. Forming and further firing are carried out at a temperature of 1000 degrees, so the sawdust burns, and pores are formed in their place. The peculiarity of warm porous ceramics is that it shows high thermal insulation properties. With a thickness of the outer wall of about 380-510 mm, you can not think about additional insulation of the house.
When choosing innovative technologies and materials, pay attention to large-format ceramic blocks. They are ideal for the construction of private houses and at the same time meet all the requirements of the modern construction process.