Many of us want to build a solid, reliable house with minimal costs. However, toda it is quite possible to do this thanks to the development of construction technologies. It is difficult for the developer to choose which material is better to build a house. Brick, aerated concrete, wood, sandwich panels - which is better, more reliable, more durable and warmer?

The cost of building walls in the house accounts for 40% of the cost of all work, so it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each material in order to make the right decision. It is also necessary to take into account the requirements for thermal insulation in the house, the cost of fuel used for heating, as well as the intensity of work and the budget allocated for construction. Today there are many materials for building a house - finding the one that most precisely meets the needs is not a problem.

N1. Wood

The most conservative and traditional material for building a house is wood..

Its advantages include:

• naturalness and environmental friendliness

• low thermal conductivity

• optimal microclimate inside the house

• the possibility of equipping a simple foundation (the column is suitable

• Excellent appearance and does not require additional details.

own characteristics:

• high fire hazard, despite the fact that today special impregnations are used in timber production

• Wood is sensitive to moisture and pests, they also try to fight it, but without constant maintenance, the material will be permanently damaged

• contraction

• high price

Due to the difference in processing technology, the properties of houses built from wooden materials can vary significantly.

The main problem is shrinkage, which lasts about a year and amounts to about 10 cm per floor. Shrinkage causes cracks that require careful repair to prevent heat loss. In addition, it will not be possible to make decorations and install windows in the first year. In addition, despite many disadvantages, wooden houses are still actively built, because they provide special comfort to the house and, under normal maintenance, can last for a long time.

N2. Brick

Another classic and time-tested material for building a house is brick. Despite the existence of alternative materials, it remains the most popular for the construction of low-rise private houses.

Advantage:

• high durability and strength;

• Inertness to rodents, insects and mold;

• fire resistance;

• The material breathes;

Negative:

• The need for careful preparation of the foundation, because brick is a heavy material.

• low thermal insulation properties;

• high intensity of work and low speed of construction;

• Brick house is more expensive than other materials.

Only two types of bricks are used to build walls:

• ceramics (red);

• Silicate (white).

Ideally, it is better to build with plastic molded ceramic bricks. It is made of high quality clay by extrusion. Due to high geometric accuracy, ceramic bricks of dry and semi-dry formation are mainly used for paving. Red brick is good sound insulation and durable. Silicate brick is produced on the basis of sand and lime, it is cheaper than ceramics, but more fragile, has low thermal insulation and low moisture resistance.

N3. Aerated Concrete

Light concrete blocks are the most promising material for building a house of all available. Because the block has large dimensions (it replaces 17-20 bricks), the construction of buildings is fast. In terms of durability and durability, the material is practically not inferior to brick. Cellular concrete includes aerated concrete, foam concrete, expanded clay concrete and polystyrene concrete, but the first two have become the most common in private construction.

Aerated concrete is produced on the basis of cement and sand with the addition of blasting agents, sometimes with the addition of lime, gypsum and ash. After the addition of water, a gas-forming reaction takes place, many communication pores are formed in the mass. It is better to give preference to autoclave production, which involves drying not under natural conditions, but under the influence of steam. After cutting, standard blocks are obtained, which are used to build load-bearing walls.

Advantage:

• High speed of construction is ensured by large size of blocks and relatively low weight;

• low thermal conductivity, due to the achieved porous structure;

• The material "breathes", approaching wood in terms of vapor and air permeability;

• high compressive strength;

• resistance to fire, microorganisms and pests;

• environmental friendliness;

• low price

Negative:

• High water absorption, which can reach 35%. Due to this, the strength, durability and thermal insulation properties are reduced. Reliable waterproofing, high-quality ventilation, good drainage system and moisture-resistant coating, this problem can be minimized;

• Low bending strength, therefore, improper installation

N4. Frame Panel

They are also called Canadian and sandwich panel houses. Buildings are assembled according to the designer's principle, from ready-made standard factory elements, consisting of a wooden frame covered with plywood or boards, between which there is a heater (usually mineral wool or polystyrene foam is used).

Frame houses repeat many of the advantages of wooden houses, but they are built quickly and cheaply. They stand out in terms of quality and durability, if, of course, high-quality materials are used and technology is fully protected.

Advantage:

• high thermal insulation properties, because the most efficient heaters are used in the panels;

• high speed of construction, because the house is assembled from ready-made panels of standard size;

• Finishing can begin immediately after construction is completed - there is no need to wait for the solution to dry or compact;

• The panels are treated and protect them from mold and pests;

• low weight and low load on the foundation;

• Relatively low cost.

Negative:

• fire hazard as a wooden house;

• Frame houses are characterized by a certain uniformity, because they are built with standard elements;

• high labor intensity of finishing and you will have to deal with engineering systems, because the wiring, for example, must be installed on the walls - it is forbidden to equip flammable structures inside it;

• The need to strictly follow the construction technology. This is important for any home, as it will be difficult to correct mistakes in panel frames;

• low sound insulation;

• You can hang things only on the support frame;

• Polystyrene is a good environment for rodents to live in.

The low price and high speed of construction made frame houses very popular, and whole cottage villages are built in this way.

N5. Reinforced Concrete Panels

Another option for rapid construction is the technology of building houses from prefabricated reinforced concrete panels. A low-rise house can be built in a few days! Used for rapid construction of millions of square meters of residential space.

Advantage::

• high speed of construction, because the panels are produced in the factory;

• ideal geometry;

• high strength and durability;

• low price;

• fire safety;

• The panels are already insulated;

not compressible;

Negative:

• A solid foundation is needed;

• a small number of offers on the market (several companies pour tiles for the created project - usually elements of typical sizes are made);

• Such a house "does not breathe";

• Concrete does not retain heat well.

When you need to quickly build a decent-sized, reliable and durable house, then this is one of the best options, especially since today it is possible to cast panels of strictly required shape and size to build a building according to an individual project.

When choosing a material for building a house, it is important to consider the climate, soil type, future heating system and many other factors. But even the highest quality building materials can cause disappointment if the construction technology is broken or the foundation is laid incorrectly, so these points should be given no less importance.