What do the owners say about the houses made of wood concrete blocks? reviews

Stage 3. Arbolite house foundation

A distinctive feature of wood concrete is a good indicator of bending strength, regardless of the purpose of the block. This gives the block the ability to recover from stress. In practice, this removes restrictions when choosing the type of foundation, which is an integral part of any structure. To a large extent, it is the quality of the foundation that determines the duration of the operation of the house.

Foundation device under the house from wood concrete (formwork) Arbolite foundation for a house

What is the best foundation for a wood concrete house?

In practice, anyone can be used. Most often it is tape or combined.

Foundation technology for wood concrete house:

1. foundation markings;
2. removing the soil layer to the required depth;
3. arrangement of sand and crushed stone cushions;
4. tamping (recommended with watering to achieve greater density);
5. installation of formwork;
6. reinforcement;
7. pouring the foundation.
8. waterproofing of the foundation tape;
9. backfilling of sand inside the squares formed by the foundation tape, followed by ramming;
10. complete waterproofing of the foundation.

Note: in the process of pouring, the channels provided for by the project are left for further laying of communications.

Before starting work, you need to decide on the size of the foundation.

laying depth. Depends on the type of soil, distance to groundwater, number of storeys of the building. The dependence of the parameters on the type of soil is shown in the table;

The depth of the foundation, depending on the soil

foundation thickness. Depends on the total (static and dynamic) load on it.

When calculating the static load, take into account:

• materials used in construction (their weight and quantity);
• the presence of a base;
• wall material;
• material and number of overlaps;
• used roofing material;
• the presence of insulation and its type;
• number of windows and doors. The total weight of the elements of the warm circuit. When calculating the weight of the doors, you need to remember that entrance doors are usually made of metal, which affects the load they create;
• facade cladding material;
• materials for interior decoration;
• floor slab and type of floor covering.
• estimated weight of furniture (195 kg / sq. m. according to SNiP 2.01.07-85).

In addition, the dynamic load is taken into account:

snow load in the region (see map). For example: the annual snow load for Moscow is 180 kg / sq. M. (according to SNiP 2.01.07-85). By multiplying this number by the roof area, we get the total load. The calculations take into account the roof configuration and the result obtained must be multiplied by coefficient M (0.94).

Snow load in the regions of Russia - map

wind load is calculated by the formula = House area * (15 x House height + 40);

soil resistance to pressure exerted on it (according to SNiP 2.02.01-83). According to this standard, the resistance should exceed the pressure on it by 30%. Building pressure is calculated by dividing the weight of the building by the area of ​​the base of the foundation (base).

Note: if the type of soil is not defined, the minimum resistance value is used for calculations.

Arbolite masonry

Arbolite blocks, bought or made on their own, have the correct geometry, so their laying is not very difficult

Arbolite blocks, bought or made on their own, have the correct geometry, so their laying is not very difficult. As a masonry mortar, an ordinary cement-sand mortar is used in a ratio of 1: 4 (cement m-400 and sand, respectively). It is recommended to make the consistency of the solution semi-liquid, since wood concrete actively absorbs moisture.

The laying is done in the usual way. First, the corners are raised with careful control of verticality, after which, according to the resulting seams, the threads are pulled along which the ordinal laying is made.If it is necessary to cut blocks, an angle grinder (grinder) with a concrete disc or, as an option, an electric or chainsaw is used. The same tools will help to make blocks of the wrong geometry, if the need arises.

Upon completion of the laying of the last row, to strengthen the building, it is recommended to make an armored belt, which significantly increases the strength of the structure and prevents possible horizontal movements of the walls. Another purpose of the armored belt is to perceive the load of the roof or floors.

To make an armored belt, you need to install a low (up to 10-15 cm) vertical formwork around the perimeter of the walls built with arbolite, tie it with reinforcement and fill it with ordinary concrete. After the armopoyas has been standing (1-2 weeks), the surface is isolated from moisture (like waterproofing between the foundation and the masonry), a Mauerlat is laid along the perimeter, from which roofing work begins.

Design

In the process of creating a project, the composition and characteristics of the soil are established in order to calculate the characteristics of the foundation in accordance with this information. Then they establish the shape of the house, the thickness of the walls, the presence or absence of thermal insulation, the placement of windows and doors, as well as other necessary characteristics. In addition, in the process of creating a project, the amount and type of building material is established.

For example, on the outskirts of the city of Sochi, a wall thickness of 20 centimeters makes it possible to do without thermal insulation, while in the Omsk zone the smallest wall thickness, which makes it possible to do without the use of thermal insulation, is 50 centimeters.

A well-designed project will save you from unnecessary consumption of materials and the ability to rebuild some areas or details during the construction of the house.

Projects of houses made of wood concrete with an area from 100 to 150 sq.... m can be one-story or two-story and have an attic, a garage and even a basement or basement in their structure.

How to choose a bath project?

If it is firmly decided to use wood concrete, it is time to decide on the size. Quite often, a bathhouse in a suburban area is built with a second residential floor, and in this case, the search for a suitable project has its own characteristic features. The total size of the building is chosen according to how many people will use it at the same time. For the constant, systematic use of a bath of this kind, it is required to build an almost full-fledged suburban dwelling. In this case, it is also recommended to choose projects that allow, in addition to the steam room, to place a leisure room, a gym and some other utility rooms on the ground floor.

Since even when using light wood concrete, the total mass of a two-story bath is quite large, it is irrational to put it on a lightweight columnar base.

As for heating, heating with a double-circuit gas boiler is probably the best choice. At the same time, on the ground floor, for the sake of observing traditions and the necessary color, an ordinary stove is mounted a stove.

In places with a harsh climate, it is useful to place such water sources inside the bath itself. For obvious reasons, it is worth placing a staircase inside, leading to the second floor. Since everything you need to place in a limited area is difficult, sometimes you have to turn to professionals to draw up an individual project.

What is arbolite

The name itself comes from the French word arbre, which means "tree". It is also called "wood concrete" and is made from 3 main components:

1. Filler in the form of crushed rice straw, flax fire, cotton stalks, needles, bark, but most often - wood chips (spruce, pine, beech), up to 25 cm in length and 1 cm in width.
2. Binder - cement grade not less than M300.
3. Stabilizers that regulate the improved adhesion of components, as well as the degree of hardening of the material, its plasticity are additives of chemical origin, mainly aluminum sulfate, calcium chloride and nitrate, as well as water glass and so on.

The quality of the material obtained is regulated by the established standards of GOST or TU.

How to choose a wood concrete block

Due to the simplicity of manufacturing the block and the availability of its components, a lot of wood concrete blocks of private production have appeared on the market. Like foam concrete, wood concrete made with violations of production technology is often found, respectively, of poor quality and unsuitable for строительствР° Р ° СЂР ± РѕР» итового РґРѕРјР °.

How to determine a high-quality wood concrete and not buy a fake?

Masters are advised to pay attention to indicators such as:

delamination index (heterogeneity). The block should not be divided into its constituent parts. According to GOST, this figure should not exceed 10%;

lack of a certificate. Arbolite blocks are subject to certification

By the way, pay attention to the authenticity of the certificate. Although, the availability of documents is a dubious advantage, because

everything is bought and sold, including certificates of quality and conformity;

significant violations of the block geometry. They can be caused by two factors: either the presence of chips of different sizes, which is unacceptable, or low-quality equipment or a violation of production technology;

color and foreign matter. Various shades of green and brown indicate that the block is not dry enough even at the manufacturing stage. Natural color is gray. The impurities can be soil, bark, twigs, straw, leaves, etc. Their presence in the composition at the level of 5% is permissible. However, the craftsmen consider such a block to be of poor quality and do not give a guarantee for work;

chips in size exceeding the permissible limits. Such chips are not completely impregnated with chemical compounds, which ultimately affects the strength of the block (the adhesion of chips and cement is disturbed);

use of sawdust or small chips. This is also unacceptable, since the proper reinforcing bond is not provided. A block made of fine chips is initially fragile. The manufacturer is trying to increase its strength characteristics by increasing the amount of cement in the composition. However, such an arbolite block has a higher thermal conductivity coefficient;

the volume of voids between the chips should not exceed 3%, visually the block should look "tightly knit";

try to buy wood concrete blocks from the manufacturer or its official representative in the region with the possibility of on-site verification (test tests of selected samples from a batch).

Having familiarized yourself with the pros and cons of wood concrete, as well as recommendations for a relative choice, you can be sure of the correctness of the decision made, building a house from wood concrete blocks.

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Basic construction principles

Foundation

When building a bath from wood concrete do it yourself sometimes the base is made of an insulated plate equipped with stiffening ribs.The recommended thickness of such a slab is 3 cm. It is imperative to provide for insulation of the blind area. To prevent the foundation from getting wet, all liquid is drained from it through the drainage pipe. Both the features of the blind area and the use of a drainage system are taken into account when digging a pit.

Walls

In the usual step-by-step instructions for the construction of wood concrete baths, the fact that they are being built in the spring is often ignored. More precisely, the professionals who compose such instructions forget this fact, which is most obvious to them. If necessary, the blocks can be cut into desired parts using a circular saw. It is supplemented with a 33 cm disc. The openings must be strengthened.

Installation of windows and doors

For the bath, it is recommended to choose wooden windows and doors. The thickness of the structure must be such that the dew point is inside the glass unit. If the required thickness exceeds 22 cm, you have to either strengthen the thermal protection, or use triple glazing. Self-tapping screws and anchors into wood concrete walls are almost always screwed manually. Only in some cases are tools used.

Be sure to evaluate what the dimensions of the opening are, how it is located. If necessary, if the level shows the presence of excess, they are cut off, and the surface will have to be sanded. The part of the block where chips are exposed that are not covered with a cement layer must be impregnated with a protective mixture. Natural oils are the best option for processing.

Do the same when installing doors.

Plastering the walls outside

In some cases, only the seams can be finished with plaster, and the rest of the surface can be left without finishing. In wet rooms, the entire volume is plastered. In dry rooms, all surfaces, except for the seams, are upholstered with clapboard. If, nevertheless, plaster is applied, careful preparation is not needed - adhesion to the surface is provided initially. But in order to extend the life of the structure, it is useful to use steel wire mesh.

Making the ceiling

First of all, they equip the overlap. The material must be treated with fire retardants. Mounting plates made of selected metal are used for fastening the beams.

Further:

• hemmed with boards;
• make insulation with expanded clay or other material (most often with basalt wool);
• form a vapor barrier;
• make hydraulic protection;
• put a flooring of boards.

Interior decoration

The material with which the walls of the wood concrete bath are finished inside must be:

• strictly hygienic;
• perfectly tolerates heated air, contact with water;
• non-toxic;
• resistant to mechanical damage.

No insulation required. The steam barrier is only installed in the steam room. For its manufacture, foil-clad material is used. A crate with a gap for ventilation is placed above it. Already a lining is attached to this crate.

Construction stages

When planning to build a house from wood concrete according to the selected project, it is necessary to carefully study all stages of the construction process

Regardless of whether it is planned to do everything with your own hands or with the involvement of specialists, it is important to familiarize yourself with general information about the main tasks

If a typical project is selected, then it must be adapted to the wood concrete. Almost any project is suitable for the construction of a house from this material, just certain nuances are being finalized.

What stages of work need to be worked out when adapting a project:

• Geodetic surveys - check the depth of the groundwater, choose the optimal type of foundation and determine other important points.
• Slabs - Timber concrete is strong enough to withstand both precast monolithic reinforced concrete and timber slabs.
• Waterproofing - must be made of materials suitable for wood concrete.
• Insulation is a frost-resistant material, therefore, at this stage of work, you can save money (do not perform at all or to a minimum).
• Finishing - carried out using materials that are suitable for wood concrete and reliably protect it from negative influences.

The main stages of building a house from wood concrete:

Geodetic exploration, selection or creation of a project.
The choice of the foundation - most often it is a tape or monolithic option. Arbolite is light, too strong a base is not needed for it. Shallow tape will be the ideal choice and will reduce construction costs. If the groundwater is high, it is better to make a columnar foundation or equip a basement.
Basement - equip over the foundation due to the fact that the wood concrete is hygroscopic (absorbs water), the height of the base is 50 centimeters, it is well waterproofed.
Wall masonry - wood concrete, with or without a frame. The outer walls are made from 30 centimeters thick, the inner ones can be narrower. For masonry, special glue or cement mortar is used (but in this case, cold bridges may appear). Blocks in the process of masonry are moistened with water or treated with moisture-retaining impregnation so that moisture from the solution is not absorbed into the material. If wood concrete is used as insulation, then it is placed between brick walls.
Rafter system - can be of any configuration. But the edges of the roof should be taken out 30-50 centimeters from the wall.
Roof - an arbolite box can withstand any type of roof, so the roof can be made of slate, ceramic tiles, but bituminous tiles are considered the best choice

It is important to make the overhangs wide so that oblique rain cannot reach the wood concrete.
Insulation - it is not necessary to insulate walls made of wood concrete, but it is advisable to conduct a heat audit at home to find places where heat can be lost. Most often they lose heat: in the floor due to proximity to the ground (they are insulated with expanded clay or mineral wool), through the ceiling / roof (in the presence of a non-residential attic, the ceiling must be insulated, otherwise, the roof must be insulated), windows (all cracks are filled with foam , seals or silicone sealants).
Protection of walls from dampness is an important point that must be taken into account when performing external / internal decoration.
Finishing work - can be carried out immediately after the completion of construction, because the shrinkage of wood concrete demonstrates at the level of 0.4%.

External finishing usually involves plastering. Consumption of plaster when working with wood concrete can be one and a half to two times more in comparison with finishing a concrete wall. The layer will turn out to be even and strong even without the use of a reinforcing mesh.

Suitable types of plaster for decorating an arbolite house:

• Lime - requires additional processing (primer, filler).
• Cement - a 2 cm layer is sufficient for a standard block.
• Decorative - compositions based on acrylic, lime, latex are suitable.

Sheathing is performed most often with the installation of a ventilation gap in the form of a wooden crate.

What external finish is suitable for wood concrete:

• Lining, block house, imitation of timber - housing decorated with such materials looks like a wooden house.
• Facing brick - the house will be no different from the brick one.
• Vinyl siding - the number of options is huge, the material is practical, non-combustible, it is well attached directly to the wall.

Interior decoration is most often performed in the format of plastering or cladding with drywall sheets on the frame. Then the walls can be pasted over with cardboard or painted.

It can be finished with clapboard, which is mounted on a crate, which acts as a ventilation gap and allows you to effectively hide all communications.

Arbolit pros and cons

Our time is characterized not only by an abundance of construction technologies, but also by a large selection of materials that can be used to build houses for permanent residence.Several decades ago, private developers had to choose between two materials. They were choosing between brick and wood. Depending on their financial capabilities, they purchased the most suitable material.

In the conditions of existing reality, the choice is incredibly huge. In addition to wood, developers can choose a foam block or opt for aerated concrete. In addition, houses can be built from materials based on expanded clay.

Recently, such material as arbolite began to gain popularity. Pros and cons of this material we will consider.

Arbolite composition

Pros of wood concrete

So, wood concrete, it is sawdust concrete (chip concrete) or wood concrete. Blocks made of it are inexpensive and at the same time have a large set of performance characteristics. Many people who want to build an eco-friendly home make a choice in favor of this material. Despite the fact that blocks of wood concrete for the most part consist of wood chips, they nevertheless please with their reliability and durability.

Arbolite textured

The properties of this material largely determined the situation when many developers prefer it in its favor. By building a house from this material, you can get a reliable structure that will not have any effect on health and at the same time will be inexpensive. Many people do not like the gray look of such buildings. However, this problem can be easily solved if you carry out the finishing work of the facade walls using modern materials, which are offered in a wide range in hardware stores.

Arbolite textured

It must be understood that none of the building materials offered at the moment are free from disadvantages. Although wood concrete blocks have many advantages, nevertheless, this unique material also has disadvantages. If you are seriously considering wood concrete as a material for the construction of your new home, then, of course, you should learn about the main disadvantages of this material.

Cons of wood concrete. Material disadvantages

One of its main disadvantages is that it does not tolerate moisture. Therefore, when erecting a structure, the walls of rooms in which high humidity will be present must be made of another more moisture-resistant material, but not wood concrete.

The thing is that this material is made from wood chips, and everyone knows that wood does not tolerate moisture well. Therefore, it is worth abandoning the idea of ​​using this material in rooms with high humidity. If you neglect this recommendation and, for example, in the bathroom will make the walls from this material, then you will face certain problems. The material will absorb moisture, and ultimately this will lead to the fact that its performance is noticeably reduced. As a result, the service life of the building will be significantly reduced.

However, we note that it is possible to eliminate this disadvantage. To do this, you can finish the walls of wood concrete blocks using modern finishing materials. An excellent option would be to use plaster.

Another disadvantage that you should be aware of is that wood concrete blocks have poor resistance to gases with an aggressive environment.

In addition, this building material has other disadvantages. The basement of the house, which is built of wood concrete blocks, must be additionally finished. The main goal of this work is to achieve maximum dryness. In this case, you can ensure a long service life of the structure.

It should not be forgotten that wood concrete blocks are 90% made of wood. For this reason, it is necessary to regularly monitor the condition of the base. In winter, it is necessary to regularly inspect it and ensure effective drainage, and also make sure that the basement is free of snow.

Another drawback of the material is that such blocks do not have ideal geometry. However, we note that this drawback has no effect on the speed of construction work. But it is still necessary, when performing masonry, to make a choice in favor of a solution based on cement and sand. In this case, the irregularities that the blocks used during the construction have will be leveled by the solution.

It is interesting: Building a house from wood concrete blocks

Advantages and disadvantages

Due to its structure and features, arbolit (wood concrete) is endowed with both a number of positive qualities and some flaws.

In general, there can be no building material consisting of some advantages, otherwise it would be used everywhere, and the rest were undeservedly forgotten. The advantages of wood concrete as a building material are obvious.

So, a block made of wood concrete has many advantages.

The disadvantages of wood concrete blocks include some nuances.

The ability of the manufacturer to profit from the cement used in the production of the blocks. In this case, the building material sharply loses its strength, thus, this minus also eliminates some of the previously presented advantages.
Similarly, a disadvantage that can nullify a number of advantages is the permissibility of the manufacturer changing the fraction of wood particles in the structure. From this it follows that the release of products with a too coarse fraction of chips is likely, or, on the contrary, sawdust can make up the main share of the wood component.

Both options have a great impact on the quality characteristics of the finished block and, therefore, the structure built from it.
Wood concrete due to wood in its structure is able to absorb water in significant volumes, because of this, it is required to pay close attention to protecting structures made of wood concrete from water penetration.
Another drawback is the frequent errors in the geometry of wood-concrete blocks, they, as a rule, are not very strong, but they can lead to an excess of the masonry cement mortar. And it increases the thermal conductivity of the rebuilt wall more, which is also difficult to call an advantage.

Having examined all the advantages and disadvantages of wood-concrete blocks, one can draw the proper conclusions.

Building material should be used with caution for buildings with a high level of humidity of air masses inside. Before purchasing, it is imperative to check the material and make sure of its quality characteristics.

It is necessary to assess the size and intertwining of wood particles in the structure, to check the absence of excessive formation of frozen cement mortar or loosely coupled component components of products

Before purchasing, it is imperative to check the material and make sure of its quality characteristics. It is necessary to assess the size and intertwining of the wood particles in the structure, to check the absence of excessive formation of frozen cement mortar or loosely coupled component components of the products.

Properties and advantages of wood concrete

Having considered this problem, experts came to the conclusion that the best solution to such shortcomings would be to use other materials for the construction of walls. And such a material was invented back in the distant 50s of the twentieth century. It consists of crushed chips used as a base and a cement mixture that acts as a binder. The material was named Arbolit. Depending on the proportions of the components, blocks made from it acquire strength comparable to foam concrete or shell rock stones, but at the same time they have a number of advantages. If, in the manufacture, mineral reinforcing components were also used, then the material acquires additional resistance to destruction.

• Firstly, due to the high content of wood in blocks, houses built from wood concrete are distinguished by excellent sound insulation. Moreover, the walls acquire this property even without finishing. When the house is plastered and the interior finishing work is done, the soundproofing properties are further increased.
• Secondly, the wood contained in the walls perfectly retains heat inside the house and prevents the penetration of cold outside. With a wall thickness of wood concrete equal to 30 cm, thermal protection is comparable to walls made of bricks and having a thickness of at least one meter.

Along with the positive aspects, the wood content also introduces certain restrictions. In particular, the outer part of the walls must be plastered and insulated without fail, since, due to their structure, the blocks have increased ventilation and absorb a lot of moisture. For the rest, reviews about a house made of wood concrete, people living in cold regions, incline to the idea of ​​building their homes from this material.

Most of the owners of houses built from wood blocks made their choice in favor of this particular material due to not only its heat protection and sound insulation, but also environmental friendliness. In the process of making briquettes, no substances are used that can harm human health, and this is a fundamental factor for many.

In addition, it is also important that, despite the high content of wood, the blocks are absolutely fireproof. If the wood block is thrown into a fire, then it will not catch fire, even after it has been in the fire for about half an hour, which means that a wall made of it is just as resistant to fire as a brick or other similar materials

Another question that initially worries the future owners of an arbolite dwelling is how susceptible the walls are to attacks by insects and other parasites that usually live in wood. To allay fears, it is enough to say that wood-concrete is classified by specialists in the 5th group in terms of biostability. This means that thanks to special processing, the appearance of any microorganisms inside the walls is completely excluded. In the walls, not only insects, but also mold or any other fungal microorganisms do not start.

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Composition and properties of wood concrete blocks

By their structure, wood concrete blocks are quite simple. They have four main components. Let's list them again and analyze each one separately. It is also worth opening the veil of secrecy over the standardized production of wood concrete blocks. Let's start with the basics and composition of this wonder material.

• Wood chips. The final density of the wood concrete block directly depends on its size and quality. The recommended chip size is 40 × 10 × 5 mm. It is highly not recommended to mix various sawdust and straw with wood chips. Only clean bark is good. But not all manufacturers adhere to this rule, so you need to buy this building material from trusted companies.
• Chemical additives. To improve the quality of the blocks, it is necessary to reduce the sugar content in their filler, and to reduce the water permeability. For this, the composition is mineralized in chemical reagents. The main substances are: calcium chloride, lime, alumina sulfate.
• Water. In the process of preparing wood chips, water with the necessary solution is prepared in advance. The water in which the chemical components are dissolved is mixed with wood chips in a special mixer. The mixing time is about 20 seconds. Then cement is added to the mixture.
• Cement. Without it, it is impossible to achieve the required block strength. Cement with a grade of at least 400 should be used. The best option is grade 500.

The next stage in the production of wood concrete blocks is their formation. It should be done within 15 minutes after mixing.Formation is possible by hand or using a special vibrating machine. Naturally, factory production, where all stages are automated, gives a higher quality material with blocks that are almost identical to each other.

It is very important to observe the exact dosage of all components. It is regulated by a separate GOST

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