Sawdust concrete or wood concrete is better for construction

GB and polystyrene concrete

The most remarkable property of polystyrene concrete is lightness. The maximum volumetric weight of the material is 550 kg. Structures made of it are not just light, but super light.

• At the same time, the strength is lower than that of aerated concrete: the maximum pressure that it can withstand is 2.5 MPa, so the material is used for low-rise construction. But polystyrene concrete has higher performance when working in bending, therefore, when the foundation shrinks, the wall is not covered with cracks.
• Its thermal conductivity is slightly lower than that of gas blocks - 0.055 W / (m * C). Material with a minimum density is used as insulation.
• What is really an advantage is low water absorption - 4–8, and, therefore, excellent frost resistance: polystyrene concrete can winter in the open air, easily endure autumn rains, and so on. The material does not need protection.
• High-quality polystyrene concrete blocks are also distinguished by their precise shape. In addition, the fragility of the material is lower.

The following video will help you figure out which is better: aerated concrete or polystyrene concrete:

Arbolit

Properties and main advantages

Arbolite is a lightweight construction material based on concrete and wood filler. At the stage of mixing the solution, sawdust, straw dust or hemp fiber are introduced into it, which contributes to the formation of a durable composite with excellent performance characteristics.

Wood concrete composition

The pluses of wood concrete are:

• Effective thermal insulation. The material with which the inner pores of the blocks are filled has low thermal conductivity, due to which the walls themselves act as an energy-saving layer.
• High mechanical strength. Despite the fact that wood concrete is quite light, masonry from it does not need additional reinforcement. At the same time, the material itself is relatively easy to process, so that diamond drilling of holes in concrete for laying communication channels is definitely not needed.

• Good climatic characteristics. Cellulose, which is part of the solution, is highly hygroscopic, because the walls in some way regulate the humidity inside the room themselves.
• Despite the high content of woody components, the blocks do not burn. Of course, there is no need to talk about full-fledged fire resistance (resistance to temperatures over 1000 C), but this is quite enough to ensure the basic level of fire safety.

Cement-cellulose block masonry

Disadvantages of wood concrete in construction

Of course, wood concrete has its disadvantages:

• First, it is desirable to protect blocks with cellulose from moisture. Otherwise, with constant wetting, it will begin to swell and then decompose.
• Secondly, the loose filler does not allow to give the wood concrete blocks a perfectly even shape. That is why, when doing the laying with your own hands, you need to control the position of each row in terms of level and plumb line, and correct any distortions.
• And finally - the cost. Here the dispute "which is better arbolite or expanded clay concrete and other porous compositions" is decided unambiguously not in favor of the first.

Walls require high-quality waterproofing

Comparison with other materials

For the construction of a residential building or outbuilding, it is very important to choose the right building components. But you should know that there are no good or bad materials, there are only suitable and not very

Expanded clay concrete. Just like wood concrete, it is an environmentally friendly material and belongs to the class of lightweight concrete. It consists of expanded clay (burnt clay or shale), cement, sand and water.However, expanded clay blocks have an indicator of thermal conductivity (0.5 - 0.7 W / m · K), that is, slightly worse than that of wood concrete. Therefore, for the house, from the point of view of keeping warm, it is better to choose wood blocks. Despite its higher strength, expanded clay concrete may not withstand excess pressure. This is due to the hollow space inside the product.

• Sawdust concrete. In composition, this material is very similar to wood concrete. In both cases, wood waste is used. Just like wood concrete is considered an environmentally friendly building material, it has high heat-shielding qualities and is resistant to stretching, bending and impact.
• Aerated concrete. The cellular composition consists of sand, cement, water and a blowing agent, due to which the characteristic porosity appears. Unlike wood concrete, the aerated block has a clear geometry of the product. The material is characterized by high water resistance and fragility. If we compare this material and wood concrete, then in many respects aerated concrete wins.

• Polystyrene concrete. This is a type of lightweight concrete, consisting of Portland cement, expanded polystyrene granules and air-entraining additives. It is distinguished by its high structural strength. Gives shrinkage, but much less than gas blocks and foam blocks. As well as wood concrete, it has good thermal insulation properties. Polystyrene concrete blocks do not need additional insulation.
• Straw blocks. They are a building material consisting of environmentally friendly raw materials - pressed straw. Straw blocks have a better thermal conductivity index than wood concrete (0.05 - 0.065). But they also have disadvantages such as high moisture absorption and low fire resistance.

• Bar. It is a highly eco-friendly breathable material made of glued boards or logs. Differs in a remarkable indicator of thermal conductivity and high strength. It is a worthy competitor to wood concrete.
• Gas silicate. This cellular material is obtained from a solution of fine sand, lime, blowing agents and water. It is similar in structure to aerated concrete, but there is a difference in composition and, consequently, in properties. It is characterized by good thermal conductivity, high fragility and increased moisture absorption.

• Fibrolite. This is an analogue of wood concrete with a very similar composition. In both cases, wood waste acts as components. But if in the first version there are shavings, then wood fiber is used in the fiberboard, made in the form of thin and narrow strips. Just like wood concrete, it has good thermal conductivity (0.08 - 0.1 W / m · K) and needs additional protection from moisture.
• Sibit. Consists of concrete, gypsum, aluminum powder with the addition of surfactants and water. It is considered environmentally friendly materials, as an artificial stone is formed as a result of reactions. Possesses extremely high frost resistance (up to 250 freeze and thaw cycles), but low fracture strength. Usually not used for a low-rise building.
• Adobe. It is the oldest building material, consisting of environmentally friendly raw materials - clay soil and straw. Saman has an excellent thermal conductivity coefficient (0.1 - 0.4). However, it has an important disadvantage - increased moisture permeability.

About the pros and cons of wood concrete, in the video below.

Price question

Most often, private developers think about financial benefits. Therefore, first of all, buyers look at the price. Arbolit, which is a representative of new generation building materials, is 1.5-2 times more expensive than gas silicate blocks. But judging by the amount of material required, aerated concrete passes cold more easily. Much more materials will be needed to insulate it. Therefore, as a result, the cost of the structure will increase significantly. Perhaps the construction of wood concrete will be much cheaper. Before starting work, everything must be carefully calculated.

Arbolit is in the middle price category

Aerated concrete construction will be relevant in the southern regions, where there is no need for additional insulation. There will not be a big difference in price even if a one-story or economic structure is being erected, since the consumption of materials in this case will be minimal.

Advantages and disadvantages

To understand what is best to use for building a house, aerated concrete or polystyrene, it is necessary to consider the positive and negative sides of each of the building materials.

Aerated concrete block

This material has long been in demand among consumers. The fact is that a selection of quality characteristics and properties of such a material, if the technological features of construction are observed, can give the future object reliability, strength and comfort.

> Let's take a closer look at the main advantages:

1. The product is considered environmentally friendly, does not harm nature and the human body.
2. Aerated concrete belongs to the group of non-combustible materials, it can withstand high temperature conditions for several hours.
3. Low thermal conductivity improves the ability to maintain a comfortable microclimate at any time of the year.
4. Light weight combined with sufficient density creates minimum load forces on the foundation. It is allowed to erect buildings of several floors.
5. The material is easy to process, which speeds up the construction process.
6. The geometric parameters of the block material remain at a decent level. Much depends on the manufacturer, but the established standards allow for minimal deviations from the dimensions - 1 - 2 mm. These conditions guarantee fast construction and minimum consumption of masonry mortar.
7. High sound insulation.
8. The porosity of the structure allows the material to control the microclimate by absorbing or releasing moisture.
9. The blocks are resistant to biological and climatic conditions.
10. The range of sizes is large.

To make the idea of ​​materials more complete, it is necessary to consider its negative sides:

• the product is fragile. During transportation and during construction, some of the blocks may be damaged. Mechanical effects are contraindicated;
• moisture absorption is high. This is the main disadvantage typical for each concrete composition of the light group. Water entering the pores destroys the block structure. This is especially evident in the winter;
• a high probability of cracks in the walls of aerated concrete material;

there are some difficulties when decorating walls inside and outside

The process is considered very costly and requires special attention. If the technical requirements are violated, the basic properties of aerated concrete are reduced or partially lost.

Polystyrene concrete

We continue to consider aerated concrete vs polystyrene concrete. Now let's look at the merits of the second building material. It has a clear similarity to an aerated concrete block, but naturally differs in properties, which affects the list of its pros and cons.

Positive characteristics include:

1. Light weight with impressive parameters. This gives the convenience in the construction of masonry. The wall is durable, with good thermal conductivity and vapor permeability.
2. Resistance to frost from seven dozen cycles, can reach 150.
3. The material is environmentally friendly, able to resist fire.
4. It is easy to process, you can give it different shapes.
5. There is the ability to resist the effects of natural factors.
6. The market offers polystyrene concrete blocks with a facing surface. They do not need additional finishing, they look attractive. The facing layer is made taking into account the requirements for surface protection.

> If we compare polystyrene concrete and aerated concrete, then their positive qualities will be identical. It remains only to deal with the negative aspects:

• difficulties arise when fixing fasteners. It is necessary to purchase special hardware. If heavy objects are to be placed on the wall surface, then the fixation points will have to be strengthened without fail;
• the level of fragility is relative;
• the main drawback of the material is the ability to absorb moisture. Accumulating in pores, it destroys the block structure;
• the manufacture of the material is not difficult, but numerous handicraft industries degrade the quality.
• during finishing work, difficulties arise that cause additional funding aimed at improving the adhesion of the base and reliable protection of blocks from the negative effects of moisture and other factors.

If you strictly follow the rules of masonry, cladding and operational requirements, then such a block will last a long time.

Advantages and disadvantages of bricks

An artificial stone with a regular rectangular shape is a brick. It is created from clay, which contains lime and other additives. For a long time, the creation of products of this kind was a laborious and time-consuming process. But with the development of technology and the beginning of the use of industrial kilns, as well as special belt presses, brick gained popularity and availability. Today in the construction industry the following types of products are most common:

Ceramic, subdivided into several subspecies: construction, used for the construction of walls, as well as facing, used for external processing. In addition, such products are divided into hollow (with a cavity inside) and corpulent;

• Silicate. Has similar divisions as ceramic types, but additionally can have a smooth, chipped or embossed type of texture;
• Facing. By their shape, they are divided into curly, rounded, classic or trapezoidal.

Similar to other building materials, brick has its own positive and negative properties. So, its advantages are:

• Strength;
• Good heat capacity, which keeps a brick building warm in winter and keep it cool in summer;
• Refractoriness of products, which makes it possible to use them for the construction of furnaces and other heating elements in the form of chimney or ventilation ducts;
• A wide variety, which makes it possible to choose suitable options for ongoing projects for a large number of properties.

> At the same time, it is worth mentioning about the shortcomings that bricks have in construction:

• Due to the high heat capacity of products, along with thermal inertia, the erected buildings cool down for a long time and also gain heat;
• High rates of moisture absorption, which require heat and vapor insulation of the surface of buildings, to prevent them from freezing in winter.

Pros and cons of aerated concrete

Main advantages:

• Low density means low weight for the same volume. Weight is three times less than that of bricks;
• Using special glue instead of cement when laying;
• Thin seams at the joints;
• Easy processing - excellent sanding, cutting;
• Smooth flat surface of products created in the factory allows to reduce labor costs for interior decoration.

Aerated concrete construction.

Disadvantages:

• Relatively high fragility due to the presence of pores;
• Shrinkage cracking;
• High moisture permeability requires the installation of additional waterproofing;
• Requires the use of special fasteners;
• Buildings often suffer from rodents, which easily make passages in a relatively soft substance.

Peculiarities:

• High vapor permeability prevents condensation from accumulating in the room, making the room drier. If installed outside, additional insulation will be required.
• It is not recommended to manufacture supporting structures. Due to the increased fragility, the consumption increases, the profitability of the building decreases.
• Ideal for non-stressed interior partitions.

Comparison of materials by various parameters

Before saying which is better to use: wood concrete or foam block, you need to compare these materials.

It is necessary to compare wood concrete and foam blocks in terms of such parameters as frost resistance, resistance to high temperatures, thermal conductivity, price, strength, and duration of operation.

Low temperature resistance

Arbolite looks much more attractive in terms of frost resistance. The lined block is able to withstand 50 cycles, while foam concrete only up to 35 cycles, and this is the best case.

Fire resistance

Foam concrete is significantly superior to arbolite in terms of fire resistance. In the manufacture of the latter, coniferous chips are used, which burns perfectly. Therefore, this material does not withstand high temperatures - its fire resistance is limited to a maximum of two hours. At this time, foam concrete gives absolute fire resistance.

Thermal conductivity

Which retains heat better: wood concrete or foam block? The final answer is arbolite. When buying foam concrete, you also need to additionally insulate the walls, while arbolite eliminates this procedure and the costs for it. Its efficiency in heat saving is about 50% higher.

Price

To build a meter of a square wall of foam concrete 30 cm thick, you need to spend about 1000 rubles. Whereas for the construction of a similar wall made of wood concrete, on average, you will have to pay 200 rubles more.

Strength

Foam concrete blocks are fragile, but wood concrete is a material that boasts special elasticity. If the load on the foam concrete block is too large, then it will crack and break. In the same situation, the block made of wood concrete is deformed, but if the load is reduced, it will return to its previous state.

Foam concrete will demonstrate its strength only if reinforced rods (reinforcement) are also used in the construction of walls.

Duration of operation

In total, wood concrete looks much more attractive in terms of service life. But there are some nuances. A house built of wood concrete in an area with high humidity will last less than a house made of foam concrete. In other cases, it is better to use wood concrete.

Where is used in construction

The use of these lightweight and durable materials is gaining momentum. People who personally deal with construction understand that these lightweight and durable materials are much more convenient to use than brick and the like.

Arbolite and foam block are indispensable materials for the construction of modern houses, apartment complexes, industrial enterprises, and so on.

Walls made of wood concrete or foam block differ in comparison with brick:

• relatively low weight, which reduces the load on the foundation;
• simplicity of decoration (sometimes it does not need to be done at all);
• in the lion's share of the case, there is no need to do additional insulation;
• ease of installation;
• good indicators of moisture resistance and frost resistance;
• in the case of wood concrete - incredible strength, since the material is very elastic.

3> Performance characteristics

Before choosing a material for construction, it is extremely important to study the operational characteristics - only then you can answer which is better: wood concrete or foam concrete

Arbolite is an ideal material for construction, but it is not very versatile. It is better not to use it in construction in areas with high humidity.The foam block is universal, but most of its characteristics are inferior to wood concrete.

What is wood concrete and its main properties

The name of the material comes from the French word arbre, which translates as "wood" (hence the other name for the blocks "wood concrete").

Wood concrete is made from three main components:

• Chips 1 centimeter wide and 25 centimeters long are shredded, usually woody (beech, pine, spruce), but flax fire, rice straw, pine needles, bark, cotton stalks, etc. can also be used.
• Cement in the form of a binder - at least M300 grade and above
• Special additives to increase the adhesion of components, the degree of hardening, plasticity - chemicals are used, most often aluminum sulfate, calcium nitrate / chloride, water glass, etc.
• The resulting material must comply with the standards and indicators specified in GOST 19222-84 or TU, SN 549-82.

The main types of wood concrete for their intended purpose: heat-insulating, which is used as a heat insulator or for the construction of partitions (density about 400-500 kg / m3), and structural for the construction of load-bearing walls (density up to 850 kg / m3).

The main forms of wood concrete:

• Plates - differ from blocks in increased dimensions of width and length, reduced thickness. They are produced by tamping and pressing, in a large number of sizes and options (reinforced / ordinary lintel blocks, window panels, narrow canvases, wall panels, etc.), can be equipped with reinforcing loops for fasteners and a facing rough layer.
• Blocks - usual for straight walls or with a U-shaped opening (for door / window lintels), the standard size is 50x30x20 centimeters (but there are different ones).
• - a cheaper version of the material with reduced strength.

The main property of wood concrete, which is valued in the construction of houses, is its thermal insulation characteristics, which make it possible to create a warm house with minimal investment in decoration. The small weight of the blocks is also important, thanks to which you can quickly and easily build a house on your own, without the involvement of special equipment.

But the features that provide the positive characteristics of the material, at the same time determine the disadvantages of wood concrete. Wood chips, which guarantee low weight and good thermal insulation properties, tend to absorb water. Therefore, wood concrete requires mandatory protection measures, correctly implemented and extending the service life.

Aerated concrete or foam concrete: which is better for construction?

So, foam blocks or aerated concrete - which is better? Both materials belong to the category of lightweight aerated concrete and are very similar in their characteristics. These are highly porous materials, without a filler, with a very similar composition, but with a different manufacturing technology. It also determines the difference in some parameters. GOST regulates the properties of all cellular concretes, only highlighting the material by the method of hardening and by composition. However, the brand and class are different.

Various binders can be included in the basis of aerated concrete, due to which an additional classification has appeared. Aerated concrete based on Portland cement, gas silicate, gas gypsum, gas slag concrete differ in their properties. Therefore, when using the material, you need to know exactly what kind you intend to work with.

• According to the conditions of hardening, autoclave and non-autoclave aerated concrete are distinguished. In the first case, it undergoes accelerated hardening at elevated pressure and temperature. This method provides a higher strength. Non-autoclave hardens naturally - hence lower strength and greater shrinkage. If we compare both materials with foam concrete, it turns out that autoclaved aerated concrete is superior in strength to foam concrete with the same indicators of porosity and density. What does this mean? With the same density - from 300 to 1200 kg / cu. m. aerated concrete is stronger, that is, it allows you to erect walls subject to heavy loads.
• With the same strength, aerated concrete shows the best performance in thermal insulation, as it turns out to be more porous. This means that the walls made of it, in accordance with the requirements for heat loss, will be thinner, will make a smaller load on the foundation, but at the same time they will also be warmer.
• For the construction of load-bearing and self-supporting walls, less reinforcement is required with equal density indicators.

What aerated concrete is inferior to foam concrete is in water resistance. The pores in the material are open, which means not only very good vapor permeability, but, unfortunately, water absorption, and the same from both sides - both from the street and from the room. True, the stone does not store moisture, but immediately evaporates, again, in both directions. During construction, the material is necessarily protected. In foam concrete, most of the pores are closed - a different manufacturing technology affects, so it absorbs much less moisture, although it also needs protection. Its vapor permeability is lower. However, when finishing, this turns into an advantage: it is easier to find a suitable finishing material for outdoor cladding.
Foam concrete was awarded an environmental friendliness index of 2 - for a tree it is 1. Aerated concrete "costs" more, but not due to any danger to humans and the environment, but because a lot of electricity is consumed during autoclaving. From the point of view of environmental friendliness, this is a disadvantage.
Foam concrete can be used in monolithic construction. Aerated concrete excludes such a possibility, even if it is carried out without autoclaving.
Aerated blocks are obtained by cutting the massif. They are distinguished by extremely precise geometrical dimensions. This allows the blocks to be laid on glue, which eliminates the appearance of "cold bridges". Foam concrete blocks cannot boast of such "correctness".

About which is better, aerated concrete or ceramic blocks, read on.

The following video in all details will tell you about the advantages and disadvantages of aerated concrete and foam concrete, answering the question: "which is better?":

No. 7. DIY wood concrete blocks

Numerous reviews of private builders indicate that it is better to buy wood concrete ready-made than to produce it yourself. The technology does not seem to be complicated, but it is difficult to achieve the necessary strength at home, and the labor intensity of the work is very high. Moreover, it is better not to use a self-made wood concrete block for laying load-bearing walls, but a shed or garage can be built from it, therefore we give instructions on how to make wood concrete blocks with your own hands:

• chips of the required size are dried for 90 days, stirred periodically;
• the dried chips are sieved to get rid of small debris. Gypsum can be added to the chips at the rate of 200 liters per 1 m3 of finished blocks, the chips are periodically mixed;
• to produce a cubic meter of material, you will need 1200 liters of chips, 240 liters of cement and water in that amount until the mixture starts to shine. Chips are poured first with a small amount of water, cement is added, mix well, preferably in a concrete mixer, add water if necessary;
• the mixture is poured into pre-prepared forms, which are best lubricated with machine oil;
• after three days, the blocks are removed from the molds and left to harden for 3 weeks.

To improve the quality of the material, it is better to acquire a vibrating table and split forms. The composition and proportions of the mixture can vary depending on the desired result.

For the construction of the walls of the house, wood concrete blocks of 500 * 250 * 300 mm or 500 * 250 * 200 mm are used, the masonry is carried out in one or one and a half blocks, partitions are erected from blocks of 500 * 250 * 150 mm. It is advisable to take a dry break after every 3-4 rows of masonry. When erecting low-rise small buildings, reinforcement is not required - in other cases, it is better to lay the reinforcement every 3 rows

Arbolite house will last at least 60 years (this is how long the first houses from this material turned, and they are still in excellent condition) - it is only important to choose high-quality material with the necessary performance

Summarizing

Having made a comparison of wood concrete and foam block, the following results can be summed up.

When choosing a material, you need to build on the following factors:

1. Financial opportunities - if you have money, it is better to choose an arbolite. With it, you need to spend more money on a box of buildings, but for that it will come out to save on insulation. If the construction is going on in an area with mild winters, then it is quite possible not to spend extra money and use a foam block.
2. Soil mobility - if present, then only wood concrete, because it is elastic.
3. Humidity of soil and atmosphere - the foam block does not require additional waterproofing, and therefore it is recommended for construction in such areas.

Most importantly, don't just look at the cost of materials

Before construction, it is important to study such parameters as: soil mobility, humidity, air temperatures in different seasons, the size and weight of the building itself. Having studied this, you can make the right choice, and with it, the constructed building will last longer.