Foam concrete blocks: the pros and cons of the material

The main issue for most future owners of private homes is the issue of strength and ability to retain the building material of heat. It is these qualities that primarily distinguish foam blocks. Pros and cons of this material are described in more detail below.

Determining properties of foam concrete

Considering the basic qualities of foam concrete blocks, it is necessary to allocate:

• Low material cost;
• Excellent environmental properties;
• security;
• Ability to heat-saving and soundproofing;
• Relatively small mass with large dimensions;
• The possibility of application with a wide range of external and internal works.

Pros of foam concrete blocks

Building blocks made of foam concrete belong to the category of the cheapest materials available, since their production requires a minimum cost of production capacity. However, despite the relatively low cost, foam concrete is characterized by the highest level of heat savings and noise insulation.

Finding more lightweight building materials is extremely difficult. The special lightness of the foam concrete blocks facilitates their rapid transportation without unnecessary material and labor costs. Along with this, the special strength of the material allows it to be used when building structures in more than 3 floors without installing reinforced concrete frames.

Evaluating the foam concrete blocks, pluses and minuses of the material, one can not but note their special resistance to the action of an open flame. So, in the event of large fires, the material is capable of resisting the fire for more than 2 hours and does not ignite.

Foam concrete has a high level of ecological purity. The level of material safety is absolutely in line with the latest European requirements and standards.

Foam concrete blocks are easy to assemble and maintain their integrity in almost any kind of processing. Thanks to these features, the material is easily customized to the required parameters.

Disadvantages of foam concrete blocks

If we talk about the disadvantages of foam concrete, then in the first place is relatively low strength with significant mechanical effects. Due to its porous structure, blocks of foam concrete absorb moisture well. Therefore, the final finishing of walls of foam concrete is usually carried out not earlier than six months after the completion of the final laying.

Considering the pros and cons of foam concrete blocks, it is also necessary to pay attention to the high probability of deformation of the walls laid from this material. Avoiding these troubles allows the laying of a reliable ribbon foundation.

How to choose a high-quality foam concrete?

Having considered the defining qualities that distinguish foam blocks, pluses and minuses of the material, attention should be paid to the criteria for choosing this construction basis.

First of all, concentrate on the manufacturer's assessment. The guarantee of the quality of the material is the availability of official certificates confirming the conformity of the material characteristics to state standards. The open complex provision of information about the properties of the material on the part of the manufacturer indicates the availability of proper quality and transparency of the company's activities.

It is possible to evaluate the quality of foam concrete visually. Thus, the technology of production of this material does not allow the release of blocks of bright light shade. According to regulatory requirements, the color of the foam concrete should be gray, sometimes with heterogeneous coloring of surfaces.

Evaluating foam blocks, pros and cons of a particular brand, it is necessary to pay attention to the level of tightness of the cells of the material. To do this, it is enough to split the block and see how homogeneous its internal and external structure. It is absolutely not recommended to purchase material with no round cells in the medium of the porous structure, in the presence of cracks and chips.

Recommendations for the application of the material

Having considered in detail the pros and cons of foam concrete blocks, it is worth paying attention to a few tips that deal with the features of rational use of the material.

1. To load blocks from foam concrete for transportation should be extremely cautious, as their low resistance to mechanical influences easily leads to appearance of appreciable damages.
2. Put foam blocks are better with the use of special cement-based glue. Due to this, the thickness of the mortar layer will be minimal, which will prevent the so-called cold bridges from appearing, which can transmit an impressive share of heat to the outside.
3. The outer surface of the foam concrete walls needs to be lined. Otherwise, under the influence of environmental factors, the material will gradually break down.
4. When decorating foam blocks with decorative bricks, it is necessary to leave air gaps. The maximum tight fit of materials in the absence of any ventilation will inevitably lead to reflection of moisture inside the premises, since evaporation simply can not pass through the layer of brick facing.