Stairs.  Entry group.  Materials.  Doors.  Locks.  Design

Stairs. Entry group. Materials. Doors. Locks. Design

» Which block is better to build a bathhouse from? Cinder block or gas block, foam block, aerated concrete: which is better Which foam blocks are best to build a bathhouse from?

Which block is better to build a bathhouse from? Cinder block or gas block, foam block, aerated concrete: which is better Which foam blocks are best to build a bathhouse from?

Nowadays diversity building material very large, so building a fence, house or garage will not be difficult. It is easy to work with such building materials as professional builder, so to the common man. Nowadays, the market quite often offers foam concrete or aerated concrete for building houses. They are practically no different from standard materials that have already become traditional for us: wood, cinder block and brick, but for some unknown reason many builders are afraid to work with such materials. But before you start construction, you need to select good and high-quality material, so it is much wiser to first find out everything about everything, and then make the only right choice for yourself. Moreover, progress does not stand still and being afraid of the new is definitely not the right choice.

Unknowing people, seeing a foam block and a cinder block, can say that they are very similar and are unlikely to differ in any way from each other. But don't rush to conclusions. Outwardly, they are indeed similar, but a number of distinctive qualities make these two building materials completely different both during the construction process and during the operation of the finished housing. Let's take a closer look at all the advantages and disadvantages of foam concrete and cinder block and find out how they differ and which one will be better.

cinder block

A cinder block is not new material V construction field. It has been tested for decades, and that is why people are not afraid to buy it and build houses from it. In any more or less large locality you can find a cinder block manufacturer, everything has been clear and understandable with production technology for a long time - a lot of experiments have been carried out that have been tested in practice and have given certain results that allow us to draw conclusions.

The first thing that catches your eye is that it is quite low price material, it directly depends on the fact that secondary material - slag - is used in the production of blocks. The block is also made from concrete mixture and various fillers, so it will be somewhat lighter than brick. The weight and size of each block may not be the same, since GOST standards do not have cinder blocks. Such material can be produced not only in factories, but also in private firms, which again does not make it possible to unambiguously judge the quality of the material.

Another distinctive feature of cinder block is its low thermal conductivity when compared with brick or foam block. But here, too, the developers found a way out. they improved with various fillers. Therefore, if you need more heat-conducting materials, pay attention to the composition of the cinder block.

Many experts who have worked with such blocks recommend cinder blocks with lime admixtures, as they are more durable. And few people know that cinder blocks can be used not only to build walls, but also to lay a solid foundation.

Pros of cinder block

    One of the most important advantages is speed and ease of use. A cinder block is the size of approximately 7 bricks, so it only takes a couple of hours to lay out the wall.

    Due to its low thermal conductivity, cinder block is a good thermal insulation material.

    A wall built with cinder blocks dries much faster than with other materials.

    Cinder block is not dangerous to human health, as it is completely non-toxic, does not contain radioactive substances, and is fire resistant.

Although, of course, it would not be superfluous to check the documents with a sanitary and hygienic certificate for the purchased batch of material. Radiation is a relative indicator.

Cons of cinder block

    Has a very low level of sound insulation. Therefore, it is still better to use cinder blocks for walls inside a residential building. If you live near a busy road or are building apartment house for several residents, after a short period of time you, with a large share Most likely, you will want to soundproof the walls, but this is a troublesome and expensive pleasure.

    After the construction of the walls is completed, it will be necessary to do the interior and exterior decoration, since externally the cinder block is not distinguished by its elegance and attractiveness.

    Cinder blocks are very afraid of water and moisture, so walls can collapse relatively quickly in our climatic conditions. This can only be avoided by substantially working out the elements of waterproofing and vapor barrier of the walls, both externally and externally. inside buildings.

    The heavy weight of a cinder block wall requires a reliable foundation. It is not recommended to use such material for multi-storey construction, as there is a high risk of cracking of the walls and foundation.

    Cinder block makes it difficult to install internal communications wiring. Working with it is not very easy; it requires considerable physical strength both for transportation and for laying walls. Even if it is possible to work with cinder blocks on your own, it is definitely problematic.

If you still choose cinder block material, do not forget that after using it you will need to cover the outside of the house with brick or, for example, siding. And this will lead to some waste.

Foam blocks

Foam blocks are made by foaming concrete using special installations. The quality of the foam block is practically in no way inferior to brick. And the biggest advantage is the cost of the blocks. It is much lower than a brick. But, despite the fact that foam concrete is very similar to brick, it also has its positive and negative sides.

Pros of foam block

    Foam block - environmentally friendly pure product, which does not harm people. It is made almost entirely from natural materials: sand, cement and foaming agent.

    Fire-resistant and responds well to possible temperature changes.

    Foam block walls do not require additional insulation.

    The low weight of the foam block will allow you to install a foundation and drive out walls on not very stable ground. It is easier to work with, which means the time spent on construction is reduced.

    Compared to a cinder block, communication in a foam block is quite easy.

    It has a very high level of sound insulation, so it can be used not only for interior walls.

Disadvantages of foam block

    Improper technology in the production of foam blocks can affect the quality of the product itself. The blocks will break and crumble a lot.

    Just like the gas block, it does not like moisture; lack of ventilation, as a result, can collapse.

All the shortcomings of the foam block can be easily and quite simply eliminated. And in order to protect yourself from low-quality products, you need to buy blocks from trusted manufacturers. Also façade wall can be protected from moisture by finishing the façade with thermal insulation material.

Which material is better - cinder block or foam block

After all the positive and negative aspects of these materials have been listed, a conclusion can be drawn. Cinder block will not be the worst material for construction, and its low price, compared to brick, is good news.

But still the most suitable material There will be foam blocks for the construction of houses. It is not inferior in quality to either brick or cinder block. And also all the shortcomings of the foam block can be easily corrected and the price will be much less than brick, but more than cinder block. Also, long service life of this material will not leave anyone indifferent. Considering modern trend to save energy, the high heat-retaining indicator of the foam block will more than pay for its cost in just a few years.

Bathhouse on personal plot or a dacha - the dream of many owners. Such water procedures are not only pleasant, but also useful - they cleanse and strengthen the body, and help improve blood circulation. Friendly communication over a cup of aromatic tea after a steam room can hardly be overestimated. When it comes to choosing a material for building a bathhouse, you need to take into account not only the price factor. This is a specific room with special functions, high humidity and temperature. Therefore, it is important not to get lost among the diversity that the market offers. To choose what to build a bathhouse from, it is recommended to consider different building materials in advance from the point of view of their suitability for the construction of a given building. This will allow you to understand which one will be optimal for your needs and conditions.

General requirements for materials from which bathhouses are built in the country

The construction of bathhouses, like any other objects, is regulated by SNiP standards:

  • SNiP 30–02–97, which describes the rules for the development of garden and personal plots;
  • SP 11–106–97 - rules for creating a site development project.

Many owners are surprised to learn that the requirements for baths are in some aspects even stricter than for residential buildings. This is due primarily to increased fire hazard due to the presence of a stove. In addition, there are technical requirements to building materials. They have to:

  • provide good thermal insulation;
  • be resistant to high humidity and temperature.

The issue of price in this case comes in last place, although it also matters, other things being equal.

What to build a bathhouse from: advantages and disadvantages of different materials

The market offers us many options:

  • tree;
  • aerated concrete;
  • expanded clay concrete;
  • brick;
  • wood concrete;
  • cinder block

Gas block or foam block

Aerated concrete blocks are made from cement, quartz sand and foaming agents. The material belongs to cellular concrete. The resulting blocks are processed in autoclaves to increase strength. They have the right geometric shape and are, in fact, a synthetic stone.

Advantages of aerated concrete:

  1. Fire resistance. This important indicator the material from which the bathhouse will be built.
  2. High strength that increases over time.
  3. Light weight. Thanks to this, you can save on the foundation.
  4. Ease of processing. It is easy to cut with a hacksaw and drill with a drill.

The main disadvantages of this material are its high cost and hygroscopicity (the ability to absorb and accumulate moisture). Therefore, the use of aerated concrete for the construction of a bathhouse requires some measures. To reduce the amount of moisture absorbed, special additives are added to the material.

Additionally, during construction it will be necessary to create vapor and waterproofing.

For a bathhouse, such a material characteristic as its thermal conductivity is important. For aerated concrete it depends on its density. The material different brands from D300 to D600 the thermal conductivity coefficient ranges from 0.072 to 0.141. The lower the density of gas blocks, the less they conduct heat. At low density, the cells of the material contain a lot of air, which heats up slowly and is an obstacle to heat transfer. It turns out to be a thermos effect. It should be taken into account that the thermal conductivity indicator is given for aerated concrete at zero humidity. When moisture is absorbed, it increases noticeably.

Another feature of building with aerated blocks is that they need to be laid with a special glue that looks like cement mortar. The latter is not recommended to be used, since the blocks absorb moisture from it, thereby reducing the thermal insulation of the room.

Frame bath

Frame baths are gaining more and more popularity due to their advantages:

  1. Light weight, thanks to which it can be mounted on a lightweight foundation.
  2. High speed of construction. On average, a frame bath can be assembled 3 times faster than a timber or brick one. Construction takes no more than 2–3 weeks.
  3. Good thermal insulation. In terms of warmth, it is comparable to log and timber buildings.
  4. It can be erected at any time of the year, including in winter at temperatures down to -15 degrees.
  5. The material of the walls absorbs and allows air to pass through, allowing them to “breathe”, so this bathhouse has a pleasant microclimate.
  6. Natural frame materials are safe for human health.

Such a bathhouse is not without some disadvantages:

  1. Shrinkage within 2 years, during which the building can settle by 10 cm. To reduce it, you need to use chamber drying materials.
  2. Additional costs for insulation and finishing. The frame itself is cheaper than timber or brick baths, but costs increase due to interior and exterior decoration.
  3. Difficulty in choosing effective insulation. Mineral wool or polystyrene foam will not work here. You will have to look for insulation that does not absorb moisture and does not ignite.

A frame bath is considered the best budget option.

Brick

Brick as a material for building a bathhouse has three main advantages:

  1. Durability. Brick baths can last more than a hundred years, while the average service life of wooden ones is 15–20 years.
  2. Attractive appearance. The brick does not require additional finishing. You can use it to create any design elements of buildings.
  3. Fire resistance. Unlike wood, brick does not burn.

There are many more disadvantages of this material in the context of building a bathhouse:

  1. Need to create strip foundation. This is an expensive and time-consuming process.
  2. The brick takes longer to warm up. It takes on average no more than 1–1.5 hours to light a wooden bathhouse. To warm up a brick one, you will need much more time and, accordingly, fuel.
  3. Poor ventilation. Brick walls“breathe” much worse than wooden or frame ones.
  4. High price.
  5. Long construction period. You need to wait until the concrete in the foundation dries and gains strength. Laying walls also takes a lot of time and effort.

Due to its long service life and fire safety, many owners prefer brick. A beautiful appearance is an additional incentive. If you also decide to build a bathhouse from it, use some tips:

  1. The best option in terms of price and quality is one-and-a-half red bricks. And gas silicate is also often used.
  2. In such a bathhouse, you need to think through the ventilation system and leave ventilation gaps.
  3. Cement for the solution must be taken at least grade M200. It will ensure the reliability of the seams and good thermal insulation.
  4. It is better to insulate a brick bathhouse from the inside so as not to spoil the external appearance.

Expanded clay concrete

This is a monolithic material, naturally cured, which contains cement and expanded clay - foamed and fired clay. Expanded clay concrete has a number of advantages - it is non-toxic, does not absorb moisture well and has low thermal conductivity. In addition, such blocks have low mass. This makes construction easier and the foundation cheaper. A bathhouse made of this material requires less insulation than, for example, one made of aerated concrete or a heat block. Frost resistance, and therefore durability, of expanded clay concrete is 5 times higher than that of aerated concrete blocks, and 2 times higher than that of foam blocks. Another indisputable advantage of the material is zero shrinkage.

Thermal conductivity depends on the filler fraction, therefore it ranges from 0.15 to 0.45. The larger the fraction, the lower it is, but also the lower the density of the material.

To lay walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks, you can use ordinary cement-sand mortar or special adhesive mixtures.

cinder block

This is a cheap building material that is obtained by pouring concrete into waste products - combustion products of coal and other materials or sawdust. In the second case, the material is called sawdust concrete (it is absolutely non-flammable).

Cinder blocks come with voids inside and solid ones.

Advantages of the material:

  • long service life - up to 50 years;
  • fire resistance;
  • low cost compared to wood or brick;
  • A variety of fillers allows you to choose the material for different needs.

Among the main disadvantages are:

  • hygroscopicity - when using the material to build a bathhouse, it will require waterproofing;
  • increased thermal conductivity - the bathhouse will have to be additionally insulated.

Cinder blocks have another important feature. Before using them in construction, they must be weathered under open air during a year. Otherwise, the blocks will release harmful substances. Therefore, the only obvious advantage of this material is its low price. This is not the best option for building a bathhouse.

Tree

A wooden bathhouse is classic version. Tree happens different breeds, and lumber made from it also differ in characteristics. Industrial are:

  1. Pine. This tree has a natural defense against mold and pests - their resin. Wood has high moisture resistance. Pine is available - there is a lot of it on the market, it has no high cost compared to other breeds. Its disadvantage as a material for building a bathhouse is its ability to “cry” at high temperatures. Needs additional treatment against rotting.
  2. Linden. This type of wood is easy to process. Suitable for building a bathhouse because it has important property- good heat resistance. However, without additional processing, the linden darkens. She is also afraid of moisture.
  3. Aspen. It is not afraid of moisture, has a high density, and becomes even denser over the years. Aspen exhibits low shrinkage. It is durable and practically does not crack when dried. In addition, the wood has a beautiful red color. The disadvantages of aspen are its high price and difficulty of processing due to its high density. And it is also believed that aspen is not suitable for building baths, because it makes you feel worse and causes headaches.
  4. Fir. It is rarely used in construction for two reasons - it is susceptible to rotting and has soft and fragile wood.
  5. Alder. It is widespread in Russian forests, but still has a fairly high cost. The wood has a beautiful color - from flame to brick. Gives little shrinkage. Practically does not warp. It is easy to process and does not twist, which is important for building a bathhouse. However, it darkens after several years of service and is susceptible to rotting.

Log house

Rounded logs are considered a completely ecological product, unlike laminated veneer lumber. A bathhouse built from it will not need additional external and interior decoration, because the log has a natural chic appearance. Thanks to minimal gaps on the crowns, log houses made of rounded logs are characterized by increased thermal insulation. The ability to connect logs at any angle allows you to realize unique design solutions during the construction of buildings. The disadvantages of logs are twisting, cracking, and bowing. The material has high shrinkage.

timber

Profiled timber can be solid or glued. In general, it is not subject to deformation, like a log, and has good performance characteristics. It is impregnated with antiseptics and fire retardants to increase resistance to biological factors and fire. Solid profiled timber is considered more environmentally friendly because it does not contain adhesives. At the same time, glued wood is less susceptible to cracking and has increased strength and resistance to deformation.

Building a wooden bathhouse with your own hands requires certain skills. If you do not have sufficient experience, it is better to hire specialists for this.

Arbolite blocks

This material has been known since the times of the USSR. The blocks consist of 90% wood waste. They are brought to required sizes in a chipper and crusher, then filled with cement with the addition of calcium chloride or liquid soda glass. These additives are needed in order to neutralize resin acids, which destroy wood, and accelerate the hardening of the mass.

Wood concrete as a building material has a number of advantages:

  • low thermal conductivity;
  • the ability to maintain a comfortable level of humidity in the room;
  • environmental friendliness;
  • low cost.

Provided you purchase high-quality blocks, this material can be called good option for a bath. One more important feature wood concrete has a heat capacity that is higher than that of air. This means that in a bathhouse built from it, the air will warm up first, and then the walls. When using brick, the opposite happens.

Arbolite is only suitable for low-rise construction, because it has low strength and is not able to withstand heavy loads. It is worth considering its high hygroscopicity. You cannot do without waterproofing and a good ventilation system. It is not possible to use ordinary plaster for finishing.

It is best to finish the outside of wood concrete walls facing bricks, clapboard or moisture-resistant wood. There will be lining for the bathhouse the best option, otherwise the cost of construction will increase, which will defeat the purpose of using this material.

What material to choose to build a bathhouse (reviews)

Nothing helps you make a choice more than reviews from people who have experienced something themselves.

Before building my own bathhouse, I thought that it had to be made of wood, but wood breathes. But no matter how much I walked around such baths, no matter how long I stayed inside, I never saw (didn’t feel) this breath. Today I am sure that a bathhouse is the conditions that should be created in a steam room, optimal ratio humidity and temperature. The project was born quickly, because I clearly understood what I wanted from it: a steam room and a wash room must be separate, a large and comfortable relaxation room, a firebox must have a fireplace effect and... the opportunity to spend time comfortably in the winter. A bathhouse in winter is a song. That’s why I chose foam blocks for the walls.

Konstantin

https://www.forumhouse.ru/threads/394720/

My steam room/sink is a log house made of aspen d=250\300 and the dressing room is a frame building. I did not pour concrete under the pouring floors, but welded a frame of 12 reinforcement bars with slopes in the center towards the scupper (aka ladder) and stretched a thick plastic film. I also made “eternal” joists under the floors, fortunately we sell inexpensively used thick-walled timber (76\6 mm), welded strip pads to it along the edges (so as not to spin) and scattered 6 pieces. with an interval of 0.5 m (the ends of the pipes lay on the lower strapping beam, in the places where half-logs are placed near the log house). Another “know-how” is to ensure that the floorboards of the pouring floors are not attached to the joists (you can always lift them to dry, or clean the drain under them) and so that they do not run together and lie at equal intervals. Along the edges of the boards (with an indentation of 10 cm) you drilled and inserted PVC “mushrooms” to attach the insulation to the facades, then you measure 10 mm and cut the mushroom with a hacksaw. The result is a board with spaced chips along the edges, simple and reliable, it won’t rot and holds tightly.

Andrey

https://www.forumhouse.ru/threads/282522/page-2

In fact, from a quality point of view, frame 100 or timber 100, raw, unplaned, and frame 200 are the optimal technologies, respectively, for an unheated and heated bathhouse.

Viant

https://www.forumhouse.ru/threads/389121/

Good afternoon The wood concrete material for a bathhouse is not bad, but you need to use it wisely. Namely, you can insulate, if you don’t plaster the wood concrete, it breathes wonderfully, the cake will turn out like this: interior lining(solid wood) ventilation gap 1.5–2 cm, vapor barrier, basalt insulation 5–10 cm, wood concrete, windproof film, ventilation gap 2–5 cm, outer skin. Why is basalt insulation used? Because the thermal conductivity of the insulation is much lower than that of wood concrete, respectively less loss and warms up faster. If you plaster the outside, then such a structure will not be able to breathe towards the street and will accumulate moisture, and it can even penetrate through the vapor barrier, since small leaks and damage are possible. In terms of vapor permeability, materials must follow each other in order of increasing vapor permeability (from the inside to the outside); there are no plasters comparable in vapor permeability to wood concrete.

Tooth

https://www.forumhouse.ru/threads/100295/

Regarding the construction of a bathhouse from laminated timber. A definite plus, from my point of view, is minimal shrinkage and understandable behavior of the timber in the future. Of course, provided that the timber is of high quality.

Konstantin

https://www.forumhouse.ru/threads/390466/

Video: how to choose material for building a steam room

There are many options for building materials for a bathhouse, and each of them is good in its own way. Making a smart choice requires careful consideration of the pros and cons of each. If you know what is your priority - price, appearance, ease and speed of construction, or thermal insulation properties, then you can easily determine the appropriate material for yourself.

In this article we will try to explain in an accessible and detailed way how to build a bathhouse from blocks. The use of this building material is completely justified, since it provides significant cost savings while maintaining the high performance qualities of the structure itself.

Moreover, special skills are not needed for such work - it is enough if you master the basics brickwork and basic finishing technologies.

Material for construction

The first question that we need to solve at the preparation stage is which blocks are best for building a bathhouse?

In fact, the choice is by no means obvious, since modern market offers us several quite comparable options:

  • Aerated concrete. It is produced on the basis of cement and quartz sand with the addition of a special foaming agent. This component ensures the formation of an internal fine-cell structure, and steaming the finished blocks in an autoclave gives them strength.
  • The optimal brand for the construction of load-bearing structures is D500, but it is characterized by a fairly high cost.

Note!
Non-autoclaved blocks can also be used during construction.
They are not suitable for load-bearing structures.

  • Gas silicate blocks, unlike aerated concrete blocks, do not contain cement. Lime is used as a binder. The high hygroscopicity of the material makes it not the best choice for the construction of baths and saunas.

  • Foam concrete is another cellular building material, which is characterized by its relatively low mass and high heat-saving rates. The composition of foam concrete includes sand, cement and special foam, which is supplied to the solution from a foam generator.
  • The properties of foam concrete are quite acceptable for construction, at least it absorbs less water than gas silicate. And the price of foam concrete modules is quite affordable.
  • Porous slag is used as a filler for cinder blocks. A special feature of cinder block is its low cost, but it transmits heat more intensely than previous options.
  • Expanded clay concrete blocks for the construction of baths are modules made of expanded clay, filled cement mortar. The high heat-saving characteristics of the material greatly facilitate the process of insulating it: the walls themselves cope with this task quite well.

In principle, the range is not limited to these varieties, but we have already listed the most popular items. In most cases, the choice will need to be made from these options.

Sequence of work

Laying the foundation

When we have chosen the type of blocks, we need to take care of preparing a reliable foundation. Most materials used for the construction of a bathhouse are characterized by high porosity and low mass, so the foundation should not experience any special loads.

And yet, a bathhouse cannot do without high-quality support:

  • For baths that are relatively small in size (up to 6-7 m on the long side), columnar or strip foundations are most often laid.
  • The columnar structure involves the installation of concrete supports at the corners of the building and at the junctions of the walls. It is also possible to support long straight sections with poles.

  • To ensure greater strength, the pillars are often connected with a reinforced grillage.
  • The strip structure is a trench up to 50 cm deep and 30-40 cm wide, filled with reinforced concrete. The trench runs under everyone load-bearing elements and ensures load distribution on the ground.
  • On complex substrates, pile supports are also used.

Regardless of the type of foundation, it must be raised above ground level by at least 40-50 cm. This is done in order to protect hygroscopic building blocks from penetration of soil moisture.

For the same purpose, it is necessary to ensure effective waterproofing: when we build a bathhouse from blocks, we must lay between concrete base and the first row of masonry is two layers of roofing felt.

Advice!
It is necessary to provide openings in the foundation for the removal of sewerage pipes.

Walls and roof

  • We carry out the laying of walls according to all the rules, always monitoring the quality of work using a level and plumb line.
  • Every three to four rows we reinforce the welded structure metal mesh or reinforcing bars.
  • For registration window openings we use either wooden casings, or special long panels (if necessary, you can cast them yourself).
  • We place metal pins with a diameter of 10-12 mm in the top row of blocks. We attach a wooden beam-mauerlat to them, which acts as a support for the roof.

The following instructions assume installation rafter system from timber and boards with a thickness of at least 20 mm. The roof in a bathhouse can be either gable or single-pitch: the first is more expensive, but more convenient to use, the second requires periodic snow removal winter period and needs additional waterproofing.

As roofing material you can use metal tiles, euro slate, etc.

Also at this stage of work we provide communications: electricity, water, sewerage, etc. For laying cables and pipes, it is necessary to provide openings in the wall enclosure.

Room decoration

If we want to build a bathhouse from blocks and make it as warm as possible, then in addition to choosing the material with the highest energy saving indicators, we must ensure effective thermal insulation.

As a rule, interior decoration is responsible for this:

  • both from the attic and from the room. This will minimize heat loss, because hot air constantly rises. It is also worth taking care of internal insulation roof slopes - at a minimum, install panels from mineral wool and cover them windproof membrane won't hurt.
  • It is better to make the floor concrete, insulated with expanded clay, foam glass or polystyrene slabs. The boardwalk must provide effective drainage.
  • We fill the walls with lathing from wooden beam. We lay panels between the sheathing segments basalt wool or similar heat-resistant insulation.
  • Cover the top thermal insulation layer foil material. The foil also acts as a reflector for infrared radiation, and as a vapor barrier.
  • On top of the foil we install a counter-lattice made of thin slats, to which.

Advice!
The interior of the bathhouse should be finished according to the same scheme, but the thickness of the insulation may be different.
The most powerful layer of thermal insulation should be placed in the steam room - this way we can maintain a high temperature there.

External insulation is carried out if external walls we built it in one block. For thermal insulation with outside Foam concrete or aerated concrete blocks are most often used.

Conclusion

We hope that after reading this article, you will be able to choose which blocks are best to build a bathhouse from, which one to lay the foundation for, and how to build and finish the structure itself. Well, the video in this article and the application of the acquired knowledge in practice will help you finally understand all the nuances!

The first question that arises at the stage of preparation for construction work- this is the choice of material for building walls. There are many options on the market and it is not easy to find yours among them. One of the most popular wall materials They count foam blocks and cinder blocks. They have different specifications And . To answer the question of which material is better and cheaper, it is necessary to analyze their advantages and disadvantages and position in the market.

Features of the use of materials

Foam concrete is cellular concrete obtained through the hardening process of a solution that contains cement, sand, water and foam. Foam blocks are a hardened mixture of binder, siliceous component and air cells that are formed due to the action of foaming agents. It is the latter component that ensures uniform distribution of air in the blocks. They are considered lightweight, warm structural construction products. They burn very poorly and protect other materials from fire. Houses made of foam blocks will be warm and reliable, and during operation they will allow you to save on heating the building. It is important that their thermal conductivity and volume weight several times lower than that of sand-lime brick.



Foreman's advice: for masonry load-bearing walls(internal and external), partitions of low-rise buildings, it is better to use foam blocks with a density of at least 500-500 kg/m³.

Cinder blocks are made from cement, sand, water and a special filler (usually blast furnace slag or expanded clay chips). They have good technical characteristics, but some significant disadvantages require a special approach to their use during construction. The owner needs to take care high-quality waterproofing, insulation of walls and roofs. But this material is cheaper and easy to install (even a non-professional can do it). needs careful finishing of internal walls. First, a wooden sheathing is attached to the surface, then insulation, foil and, at the final stage, wooden upholstery.



Comparative characteristics of foam concrete and cinder block

Foam and cinder blocks have different technical characteristics and design capabilities. But if you follow the construction technology and choose the right product according to its characteristics, the selected building material will perform its task efficiently. Foam block has better properties, but it costs significantly more. Cinder block is cheaper, but has some disadvantages that need to be compensated for by good thermal and waterproofing. The choice should depend on the financial capabilities of the construction site owner and housing requirements.

Video

Initially, “small towns” – wooden chocks – were used as point supports. But over time, any wood rots and requires replacement, so it was replaced by concrete structures.

This type of foundation is good because its construction can smooth out the unevenness of the site: it is enough to deepen a row of foundations to the required level to obtain a level area. Can be used in the construction of small one-story baths.

Pile gained great popularity, especially due to the fact that screw piles can be installed even in winter. Therefore, construction of other types of baths for which such a base is suitable can begin at any time of the year.

The essence is to twist specially made piles at equal intervals (the distance between them is regulated depending on the massiveness and size of the structure).

Pile foundations also include foundations made from bored piles, about this, as well as about pile foundations We recommend reading it.

What is better to build a bathhouse from: the main question is the walls

The wall material directly determines:

  • type of foundation required;
  • types of insulation and their application (outside or inside).

Therefore, it is so important to understand the walls in the topic “What is the best material to build a bathhouse from.”

Blocks: what material are they made of?

Block baths have won love among builders and buyers for good reason: they are characterized by incredibly short construction times with a relatively low cost. If you have a certain amount of skills, you can independently cope with the construction of a bathhouse from blocks. The most common types of blocks include:

  1. foam concrete;
  2. expanded clay concrete;
  3. aerated concrete;
  4. gas silicate;
  5. cinder blocks.

Block baths require decorative finishing, because... do not differ in special aesthetic qualities in their “pure” form.

Which blocks are best to build a bathhouse from?

Ease of production cinder blocks leads to the development of handicraft production, which cannot maintain product manufacturing standards. However, they undoubtedly have one advantage - low price.

Gas silicate the blocks are highly hygroscopic, require high-quality hydro- and vapor barrier, in addition, it is important not to make a mistake in its types: they all have different parameters for strength and thermal insulation. Use for bathhouse construction is not always justified.

Therefore, answering the question: which blocks are best to build a bathhouse from, we say: they fit well aerated concrete and foam concrete– they are easy to use, light in weight and easy to process. The cellular structure guarantees excellent thermal insulation properties, but also requires high-quality vapor barrier and waterproofing.

Tree

The tree is one of the most traditional materials, which meet all environmental requirements. Today the industry offers different types processed wood:

  1. log(the most thorough material);
  2. timber(processed wood of certain dimensions, for example: 100*100, 200*200);
  3. carriage(a log hewn from two opposite sides - especially popular in Scandinavian countries);
  4. double beam(represents 2 boards with grooves, between which insulation is placed, most often mineral wool or ecowool).

What kind of wood is best to build a bathhouse from?

The main division of wood building material lies in the nature of the logs used: resinous (coniferous) or non-resinous (deciduous) species.

What kind of wood is best to build a bathhouse from? Made from dense and well dried. Aspen is one of the non-resinous species, but such wood is very expensive, and oak is especially expensive. The fundamental difference is that poorly dried coniferous wood will resin for a long time (resin smudges will form).

Therefore, they are most often built from pine and other coniferous species. In addition to a lower price (compared to the same aspen), they have such advantages as:

  1. smooth and straight trunk;
  2. easy processing of logs;
  3. knots do not spread inside the wood (as, for example, in birch);
  4. retain heat excellently (aspen is significantly inferior in this characteristic).

In view of the above, if you chose pine as the answer to the question: what kind of wood is best to build a bathhouse from, then you should give preference to well-dried wood.

From which forest? is it better to build a bathhouse? It would be desirable if this were winter forest (that is, chopped in winter and dried during the summer under cover).

REFERENCE. Dead wood is periodically offered as a building material, and this is to some extent justified, such wood has a high density. But it requires special treatment with antiseptics, otherwise there is a high chance of damage by rot in places of high humidity.

Timber or log: what to make a bathhouse from?

Each of these materials has its own advantages:

  • log sauna does not require additional thermal insulation, except for inter-crown insulation;
  • timber bathhouse It’s easier to lay than from a log; a minimum qualification is enough to lay the beam with minimal gaps.

Therefore, when choosing a material and what to make a bath from, use additional information from .

Which timber is better to build a bathhouse from?

To build a bathhouse, it is best to use well-dried timber: it will shrink less, and there will also be a lower risk that the timber will begin to bend. High humidity timber reduces its thermal insulation properties.

Which timber is better to build a bathhouse from? For, based on the type of wood from which it is made, you can use the table below:

Wood species Dryness coefficient, % Mechanical strength for wood with 15% humidity, MPa (kgf/cm²)
in the radial direction in tangential direction for compression along the fibers bending chipping
in the radial plane in the tangential plane
Coniferous trees
Pine 0,18 0,33 43,9 79,3 6,9 (68) 7,3 (73)
Spruce 0,14 0,24 42,3 74,4 5,3 (53) 5,2 (52)
Larch 0,22 0,40 51,1 97,3 8,3 (83) 7,2 (72)
Fir 0,9 0,33 33,7 51,9 4,7 (47) 5,3 (53)
Hardwood species
Oak 0,18 0,28 52,0 93,5 8,5 (85) 10,4 (104)
Ash 0,19 0,30 51,0 115 13,8 (138) 13,3 (133)
Birch 0,26 0,31 44,7 99,7 8,5 (85) 11 (110)
Maple 0,21 0,34 54,0 109,7 8,7 (87) 12,4 (124)
Elm 0,22 0,44 48,6 105,7 13,8 (138)
Elm 0,15 0,32 38,9 85,2 7 (70) 7,7 (77)
Soft-leaved tree species
Aspen 0,2 0,32 37,4 76,6 5,7 (57) 7,7 (77)
Linden 0,26 0,39 39 68 7,3 (73) 8 (80)
Black alder 0,16 0,23 36,8 69,2
Black aspen 0,16 0,31 35,1 60 5,8 (58) 7,4 (74)

According to the results of many studies, double timber is superior to the similar indicators of conventional timber, but the use of mineral wool as internal insulation casts doubt on its use in the construction of a bathhouse.

Useful video:

Watch the video explaining the benefits double timber. It seems reasonable to conclude that the technology is more suitable for homes than for baths.

For good warm bath it is best to use timber 200*200, application more thin timber or half-beam (for example, 100*50) will require significant financial costs for external insulation. Although, if the bathhouse is heated only in the summer ( country option), then not thick walls, 10 centimeters, may be enough.

Foam block

As already mentioned, it has a high ability to absorb moisture due to its porous structure, so proper vapor and waterproofing is required. You can read about the advantages and strengths of a foam concrete bath in these articles:

  • , and .

Frame baths

Gained great popularity thanks to short terms construction, as well as others that allow carrying out. You should be careful when choosing insulation for the frame, since a bathhouse is a building with increased temperature conditions use. Therefore, the insulation must be safe and not emit harmful substances when heated. You can read more detailed information in this article:.

Dedicated to choosing the type of foundation for frame baths.

Insulation

It was not for nothing that log bathhouses were so popular, because before there was no such assortment of insulation materials, so everyone made do with simple caulking: plugging cracks and gaps with natural materials: moss, flax, etc.

Bathhouses made of timber already require minor insulation from the outside, especially in areas with cold winters.

But during the construction of block and brick baths You can’t do without insulation at all.

What needs to be insulated in any bathhouse?

In any bathhouse, regardless of what building material it is built from, it is required. This is no accident: after all, warm air always tends upward. If you do not insulate the ceiling, then all the heat will go outside. baths Frame baths have insulation already inside the frame, so additional insulation is appropriate if you are in an area with extremely cold winters. More .

Floor

Any floor needs insulation, especially if the foundation has not been insulated. Depending on the organization of the floor in your bathhouse (spill or non-spill), the choice of insulation depends. If the floor is torrential, then the insulation must be protected from moisture, otherwise when wet it will lose all its properties. More information .

Roof

Roof insulation will be needed if you organize attic floor, in this case you can use polystyrene foam or mineral wool.

Insulation from inside or outside

Most often, insulation is done from the inside, while the outside is insulated. log baths and baths, which are used in winter in cold regions. often combined with decorative finishing. provides the effect of a thermos and protects the wall material from damage high temperature. It should be remembered that.

A little about insulation

It is necessary to understand that you cannot purchase a batch of one type of insulation and use it to insulate the entire bath.

This topic is the subject of heated debate, which only flares up more brightly with the advent of the next new product on the insulation market.

What can you use to make a bathhouse quickly and inexpensively?

What can you use to make a bathhouse quickly and inexpensively? Choose one, or build it yourself from timber or. These materials require minimal qualifications and dexterity. The use of natural insulation materials will also reduce the cost of the project.

They are also popular because of their low cost and ease of implementation, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with them.

Conclusion

It is difficult to give a definite answer to the question: what is the best material to build a bathhouse from? As you can see, the choice is huge. It is worth focusing on your personal preferences and budget options. We have tried to provide you with a detailed section of information that will allow you to more easily understand this difficult topic and choose the solution you need.