The dimensions of the shell rock correspond to the standards approved back in Soviet times, and are still applicable today.
Standard sizes of Crimean shell rock: 18*18*38 cm (180*180*380 mm). There is a permissible error of 1 cm in the length of the stone.
In its structure, limestone is quite strong, at the same time it is light and has high density. By quality characteristics rapidly overtook those artificially created for construction work materials.
The level of thermal conductivity of stone is 0.3 – 0.8 W/m*K, which is significantly lower than the performance of foam blocks.
Natural stone has increased frost resistance and excellent water-absorbing property, and is 15%.
Thanks to the rectangular shape familiar to builders, laying walls or other structures is quite comfortable.
The weight of a standard building limestone block ranges from 10 to 35 kg.
Based on weight, shell rock is divided into types:
As you can see, the type of brand speaks for itself in terms of weight characteristics. The color of the stone tends to change from sand to yellow. This is also influenced by the typical characteristics of the material. directly depends on its type - the higher the brand, the more expensive the building stone.
The size of the shell stone during mining is quite large. Limestone is created by pressing shells of sea mollusks, mineral components and bottom sand chips. During its processing, the shell rock is given the desired shape.
Since prices for building stone in stores vary and can be quite high, it will become the right decision. A high-quality shell will be delivered to the customer directly from the quarry where it was mined. In addition, the customer will be able to purchase it at a favorable price.
This building material, known for a long time and especially popular in the southern regions of Ukraine, is called shell rock, shell rock, shell rock. Denser rocks of the same origin and composition are limestone and marble.
The name of shell rock reflects its constructive essence: all limestones are of organic origin, and shell rock - porous limestone - consists mainly of shells of mollusks and other marine organisms. The process of its formation took more than one million years.
The coastal territories of Ukraine were flooded with the sea, the remains of microorganisms and shellfish fell to the bottom and remained in the sea sand. Over time, the water receded, the sandbanks were gradually covered with a layer of soil, which became a kind of press, under which dense rock was formed.
Shell rock is a soft, porous stone of yellow, reddish-yellow or light brown color. Material for construction is cut out of solid rock, producing stones in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.
They are lightweight but strong enough to be erected load-bearing walls buildings up to three floors high. The porous microstructure of shell rock, filled with air, provides it with excellent heat and sound insulation properties.
By external signs construction shell rock is divided into two groups: yellow, with a compressive strength of 5-15 kg/cm2, and white, with a compressive strength of 10-20 kg/cm2.
Chemical composition shell rock is constant and does not depend on the deposit. In addition, this is a material with pronounced layering.
The main advantages of shell rock are low thermal conductivity, high vapor permeability, good sound insulation properties and environmental friendliness.
Thanks to its porous structure, the stone “breathes” freely and excess moisture is simply displaced without destroying it. It is always dry in a shell rock house, since the moisture formed inside passes through the walls, and if they get wet, they dry quickly.
In such a house it is cool in summer and warm in winter. The material does not rot or burn, but under the influence high temperature burns out and collapses.
Its advantages include its low price. Thus, a wall made of shell rock is about 20% cheaper than the same one made of foam concrete and almost half the price of a brick one.
The low thermal conductivity and good soundproofing properties of shell rock are associated with the presence of air pores. The porosity of the material, which can vary (22-70%), determines its low density and lightness. His volume weight is 700-2,300 kg/m3. Several grades of shell rock of different strengths are used in construction - from M10 to M35.
Although shell rock has many advantages, it is primarily its environmental characteristics that make it unique. Thus, it has a natural background radiation of about 13 μg/h, while the permissible natural norm in Ukraine is 25 μg/h. Moreover, it is the only material in the world that is 100% resistant to radiation.
In addition, it is absolutely inert and does not react with substances contained in other construction and finishing materials. And also, as experience shows, rodents do not breed in buildings made of this stone.
The uniqueness of shell rock is that walls made from it enrich the air with iodine and salt, and also have bactericidal properties (therefore, if the wall is multi-layered, it is useful for the layer of shell rock to face the inside of the house).
To top it all off, this stone does not cause allergic reactions. According to people living in houses made of shell rock, a person’s mood and vitality improve in them, and the general condition of the body improves.
The wide range of uses of shell rock can be attributed to its advantages. So, this stone can be used for:
In addition, crushed stone and sand from shell rock are good fillers for lightweight concrete. It is also used in the production of lime and other binding materials. The only things that cannot be made from shell rock are stoves, fireplaces and chimneys.
The ease of processing of this material allows you to make various architectural elements from it: rounded walls, arches, etc. Due to its high wear resistance, dense varieties of shell rock are suitable for cladding flights of stairs, terraces and porch. For example, the steps of a staircase cast from concrete can be faced with shell rock tiles.
Mining shell rock open method, in quarries. Special stone-cutting machines open the layers of rock and cut the stone. There are deposits of this material in Moldova, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Poland, Romania, but only domestic stone is presented on the Ukrainian market.
It is common in Crimea and the Odessa region, but shell rock is mined on an industrial scale only on the Crimean peninsula, in Saki region, where several deposits are being developed.
Shell rock is not sold in DIY construction supermarkets because it does not have clear, standard sizes, density and proportions. Mainly engaged in sales specialized companies who extract stone, supply it (including throughout Ukraine), and sometimes also build houses from it.
Not a single barrel of honey is complete without a fly in the ointment. The same can be said about shell rock.
Despite a lot of advantages, it has a significant drawback - the heterogeneity of the structure.
The porosity index of this material varies widely, which causes differences in other physical characteristics, primarily in thermal conductivity.
Different layers in a quarry also mean different densities and textures of the stone. It is this drawback that prevents shell rock from being sold in supermarkets. And that is why, when purchasing it, you need to be careful: to build a house, you should select a batch with the same characteristics and structure.
The heterogeneity of the material is associated with its natural origin and depends on the state of the formation from which it was extracted. Therefore, shell rock blocks different brands and with different structures can be found among the proposals of all mining companies.
The heterogeneity of the structure leads to the fact that the material may have through or open pores. There are especially many of them in low-density shell rock.
Pores in shell rock repeatedly worsen the thermal insulation properties of the structure. A wall made of such shell rock not only “breathes,” but rather “sees through.”
There are two ways out of this situation. The first is to choose a material without open pores, inspecting and setting aside heavier stones, weighing at least 16 kg (they have a denser structure and smaller pores), and also check the quality certificate.
The main way to test the density of a stone is to hit it against hard surface. If it splits into no more than three parts, it means the grade of material is M25 and it is quite dense. The lower the density, the more parts and sand will be generated from the impact.
Shell rock of the M35 brand does not break at all. If the stone has a uniform structure, correct geometry and high density, the wall will reliably protect the house from the winter cold.
However, due to the same porosity, shell rock easily absorbs moisture and substances dissolved in it. Therefore, upon completion of construction work, it is advisable to cover it with a special water- and dirt-repellent solution, which will protect the surface of the material from exposure to rain, dirt and water-soluble salts.
If the building is located on a street with heavy traffic, it will also need treatment with an oil-hydrophobic compound. The bactericidal composition will protect the stone from lichen, moss and fungi. There are also special compounds that protect shell rock from the effects of acids, alkalis, paints and organic solvents.
The second way out, which allows you to protect the house from both drafts and environmental influences, is the installation of an external barrier, that is, protection of the wall structure. The external barrier involves finishing with vapor-permeable plaster or facing with brick with a ventilation gap from the main wall.
You can also install a layer of insulation from mineral wool slabs or mats on the outside using the “ wet facade"or "ventilated facade". Such a house will be warm, reliable and natural inside.
New effective method- installation of a wooden ventilated facade, developed by a Kharkov company that builds environmentally friendly houses. This technology is interesting due to its combination natural materials: wood and shell rock.
A wooden sheathing is “put on” the load-bearing wall made of shell rock, of course with a ventilation gap. At the same time, unlike the usual ventilated facade, there is no special system of profiles; the facade is mounted on wooden beam using self-tapping screws. Wooden load-bearing beams laid in the wall during the process of laying shell rock blocks. Making such a wall is easy, quick and simple.
The dimensions of a shell rock stone are usually about 20x20x40 cm, the exact standard is 18x18x38 cm. One block of shell rock replaces 7-9 bricks. Accordingly, to build a 1 m 2 wall one block thick (38-40 cm) you will need 30 blocks, or 18 if you put it in half a block (a wall 18-20 cm thick).
A wall one block wide is sufficient for our climate, provided that a wind barrier is installed, and a half-block wall will have to be insulated.
You can build a house from shell rock yourself: thanks to large sizes stone masonry is quite simple and does not require serious skills, as is the case with ceramic bricks.
There are no special requirements for the foundation: various types can be used, depending on the type of soil, terrain characteristics, etc.
If you are not sure of the quality of the foundation, it is better to make the foundation monolithic or use a foundation slab.
Also, any type of ceiling can be laid on top of a shell rock wall: wood, metal, reinforced concrete, but for environmental reasons it is better to use wooden beams.
In seismic areas, monolithic reinforced concrete belts are made along the perimeter of the walls and floors are laid on them.
The layering of shell rock makes it easier to process. It may be needed for connecting with other walls or structures, inserting lintels, installing beams and solving other structural problems. This stone is easy to cut with any saw, including a hand saw.
Raw shell rock walls are often left indoors to enhance the home’s connection to nature. There is no arguing about tastes, but it is better to use only small areas walls, and cover the rest with plaster, hide under drywall or wood trim.
How many blocks of stone can there be in a cube?
Which material will be better, with or without pores?
Which one is in the shell rock? load bearing capacity walls?
How to determine the density of shell rock?
How much shell rock is needed for square meter walls?
How can I place an order?
What determines the cost of shell rock?
Is your company a manufacturer or does it resell?
Is it possible to buy shell rock directly from the quarry?
If you buy a stone from a quarry, how will you pay for the purchase?
Why does the cost of shell rock change all the time?
Once again, good afternoon!
Look, in the GOST you are referring to, average indicators are given for all shell rocks of the former Soviet Union. The parameters of shell rock (compressive strength and weight) depend on the deposit.
Thus, the compressive strength (25) that you write about is valid only for Inkerman and high-quality white Crimean shell rock. The most common is Crimean yellow (average strength 6). As for Odessa shell rock, the average strength is 7, and the maximum is 12.
The block with a weight of 17 kg that you are writing about is from Odessa:
Calculation: 0.188x0.19x0.38=0.0136m3
17/0.0136=1250 kg/m3 - Odessa (but this is an average weight) and the maximum weight of the block will be 1500x0.0136=20.4 kg.
count like this:Loading surface area = 38 cm x 19 cm = 722 cm2
Maximum load = 722 cm2 x 25 kg/cm2 = 18050 kg = 18 tons
Maximum load = 722 cm2 x 7 kg/cm2 = 5054 kg = 5 tons
Calculated resistance R to compression of solid masonry concrete stones and natural stones (sawn or clean hew) with a masonry row height of 200-300 mm are shown in the table below. The row of masonry is 190+10=200 mm.
Thus, the load on a masonry area of 720 cm2 should not exceed 720x5=3600 kg/cm2, not 18050 kg.
Accordingly, further comparison with the weight of slabs and blocks for a house with 3 floors (your figure is 7 tons) does not make sense.
By the way, in addition to the loads you listed, you also need to take into account the payload per m2 of floor (250 kg/m2), the weight of the roof, snow, and much more.
Let's sum up the results :-).
If the house is planned to have reinforced concrete floors slab - monolithic belt is required. The slab rests on 12-14 cm of the masonry, and does not lie on the entire thickness of the wall. And these places of support can simply chip off.
As for construction above three floors, without belts. In Odessa, of course, these houses are standing (in the sense that they are not falling), but they are “cracking.” And their ceilings, as was said, are wooden beams. And the snow in Odessa is probably less than 70 kg/m2. I cannot give recommendations on the construction of such houses. You need to look at a specific location, loads, soils, understand how these walls will be reinforced, etc. You see, you can’t write: build, it’s possible, but in fact, even if it’s possible, it’s not everywhere, not always, and under conditions. There is no document prohibiting the construction of shell rock houses higher than three floors. But there is also no document recommending or permitting such construction. There are recommendations in the Architect's Handbook (published in 1946, but shell rock has hardly changed during this time :-))
but this is not DBN or SNiP.
3.38. For laying load-bearing and self-supporting walls or filling the frame, the following products and materials should be used:
a) stones or blocks made of shell rocks, limestones of grade no less than 35 or tuffs (except felsic) grade 50 and higher.
Piece masonry walls should be carried out on mixed cement mortars grades not lower than 25 in summer conditions and not lower than 50 in winter conditions. For laying blocks and panels, a solution of a grade of at least 50 should be used.
But here the brand is standardized, nothing is said about height.
I repeat once again that despite the absence of standards on this issue, I DO NOT take responsibility for asserting that shell rock houses above three floors can be built without monolithic belts.
answerShell rock and foam block
Analyzing which is better - shell rock or foam block, their general and individual qualities will be compared.
Comparison of shell rock and foam blocks with other materials
Since the foam block is artificial material, its qualities completely depend on the manufacturer. All data taken for comparison assume that the foam blocks comply with the requirements of GOST 25192-82 and GOST 21520-89.
Shell rock or foam block, which is better? To answer, you need to know the features of each specific case, not forgetting to carefully study all the main parameters.
The main advantages of natural stone are its environmental friendliness and durability:
By the time it arrived at the construction site, the shell rock had survived every possible cataclysm in nature thousands of times. Its durability indicator is proven by nature.
These shell rock walls have withstood more than one siege.
The opportunity to leave the most original stones part of the design, gives in comparison “what better foam block or shellfish?”, a significant point for the shell.
But the foam block also has its advantages. Produced according to a prescription, it has clear characteristics that allow engineering calculations.
More accurate geometric dimensions make it much easier and faster.
Both materials have high noise and heat insulation characteristics.
The main common disadvantage is low strength, but the foam block may still be at the production stage. In this case, its bending strength becomes several times higher.
When deciding whether shell rock or foam block is better to choose for load-bearing walls, this factor plays a very important role.
The second problem is the high degree of moisture absorption. Voids that retain heat well are also well filled with liquid.
A high percentage of shell rock is still in the quarry
The foam block splits no worse than shell rock!
Important! The strength of one package of foam blocks is usually stable. To check, just try to break one. If it breaks with difficulty, the halves will be needed in the masonry. If it’s easy, it’s better to return the entire package to the seller.
This method is not applicable to shell rock, since the characteristics may differ within the same stone. For such a check, you need to break all the blocks.
Foam blocks are made from a mixture of cement and sand, and shells are cut from layers along the banks south seas. It is this difference that gives rise to factors influencing the choice: which is better, foam block or shell rock?
Available deposits of shell rock are found in places where the sea retreated from its boundaries thousands of years ago. The location of the quarries is on the coasts of the Black, Azov and Caspian seas.
Until the mid-20th century, stone was cut and hollowed out by hand. Impact loads led to frequent cracking of the blocks.
Nowadays sawing machines operate in the quarries, carefully cutting out products from the layers.
The method for making foam blocks is very simple.
This availability of production leads to the appearance of frankly bad products on the market.
One person can easily complete the entire process
Advice! There is no need to buy products of unknown origin. The presence of certificates does not guarantee the integrity of the manufacturer. But at least it gives you a chance to buy foam blocks of normal quality.
By technical indicators Besides ecology, foam block is superior to shell.
Depending on the mining region, quarry, formation and many natural factors, the parameters of shell rock are a very relative concept. Such instability is a significant disadvantage when comparing which is better, foam block or shell rock.
Differences in density and strength of shell rock by place of origin
Standard cut blocks have dimensions of 380/180/180. Unfortunately, these dimensions are kept within the range of 20-30 mm.
Shell rock is divided according to strength grades.
Dimensions and weight of shell rock by brand
Externally, stones of different brands can be distinguished by the number of pores and color - the fewer cavities and the whiter, the stronger the block. At the same time, there are durable blocks with large pores. Nature does not like to comply with standards.
Produced artificially, has more wide range characteristics:
Characteristics of foam blocks
Blocks of the same party are like twins
Dimensions of foam concrete blocks
From the point of view of convenience and speed of work, as well as the accuracy of preliminary calculations, foam blocks clearly win.
The advantage of the shell is the ability to use leftovers for design purposes.
The main purpose is construction; the originality of each stone provides many additional possibilities.
The blocks are easy to cut into decorative tiles or other parts for interior and exterior work.
Create an exclusive landscape with your own hands.
Shellweed in the landscape Advice! Structures made of shell rock are not load-bearing and can be laid on an environmentally friendly clay mortar. The amount of water depends on the parameters of the clay.
These blocks are used to build internal partitions and external load-bearing walls.
Shell rock has a wider range of applications. But it is more difficult to build from it, so the price of the work will be higher and the construction period will increase. By watching the video in this article you can learn more interesting facts.
Video about shellfish:
Video about foam blocks:
Since foam block can be produced in any region, its cost is stable and depends on the brand of density.
In places of extraction, shell rock is one of the cheapest building materials. As you move away from the quarry, its price increases. This feature can be decisive in comparison - shell rock or foam block, which is better to choose for your home.
