What to make the walls of the house. Frame walls are their thickness. So, what are these wonderful walls made of?

Date of writing: 23.04.2022

Reading time: 34 minutes

Analytical material about what to build the walls of the house from. An overview of popular materials and a brief description of each of them.

It is the walls that are the most important structural element of any house or cottage. In the final cost of construction, the cost of erecting walls reaches 30%. Depending on a number of climatic and other conditions, the choice of material, design and wall thickness is made. These parameters are determined by the design decision, which necessarily precedes the start of construction of any house.

The materials used to build the walls of the house are divided into three groups:

Wooden.
Stone.
Heterogeneous.

How to choose the right material for the construction of the walls of a residential building?

This article will help you find the right answer to this difficult question. Suppose that we are faced with the task of choosing materials for the construction of walls:

two-story residential building
with a total area of 150-200m 2 .
in the conditions of a temperate climatic zone, characteristic of most of the territory of the Russian Federation.

Essential characteristics of any wall materials

Before proceeding to consider the characteristics and features of the use of the most popular materials belonging to the groups presented above, it is worth noting that for any wall of the house, regardless of the materials used and design features, there are a number of mandatory functions and requirements:

Structural strength. This criterion is one of the most important, since for several decades the walls must bear the load not only of their own weight, but also the weight of the roof and ceilings, communications and engineering units, and interior decoration. That is why all erected walls must have a certain margin of safety. For the construction of the walls of the house we are considering, you need to focus on the strength of the material, not exceeding 150kg/cm2.
Minimization of loads on the foundation. This parameter is no less important than the previous one, since neglecting this factor can lead to the destruction of the entire building or to a significant increase in the cost of the zero cycle.
Thermal resistance. This factor characterizes the indicator of thermal comfort indoors. It directly depends on the thermal conductivity of the material of the walls and their thickness. For the material of the walls of our house, you can focus on the value 2.5m 2 K/W.
Water absorption. The features of a particular material to absorb and retain moisture are determined precisely by this criterion, which characterizes the percentage of the mass of water absorbed by the wall to the mass of dry matter of this wall. The water absorption of the wall materials used to build the house we are considering should be in the range from 6% before 15% .
fire resistance. This criterion characterizes the ability of walls to limit the spread of flames.
Frost resistance. This parameter characterizes the ability of wall materials and various structural elements to withstand alternate freezing and thawing. Most modern building materials have a frost resistance coefficient equal to 25-35 cycles. This value fully satisfies the requirements for the construction of the walls of our house. Experts do not recommend the use of materials with a frost resistance coefficient of less than 15 cycles, since in this case it is necessary to carry out additional processing, which will prevent the penetration of moisture from the facade.

Option number 1: wooden walls

The most widespread among the materials belonging to this group are the following:

Beam (simple and profiled).

The construction market does not stand still. With an enviable frequency, new building materials appear. However, despite all the newfangled trends, houses made of logs and timber not only have not lost their popularity, but are becoming increasingly relevant. The wood used for building walls has a number of advantages. Durability, strength, light weight, ease of processing - this is not a complete list of the advantages of this building material.

The construction technology of modern wooden houses is greatly influenced by the appearance the latest technologies and equipment. Whole wood is practically not used anymore. He was replaced by a wooden beam, which is a log hewn from all sides. It is the pre-treatment of the logs that ensures their almost perfect fit to each other. This technology improves the quality of housing and reduces the cost of construction.

However, the construction log used for the construction of walls has its own advantages:

Strength.
Ease of construction.
Natural beauty.
Environmental friendliness.
Ease of machining.

The ability to quickly ignite, the need for additional processing to prevent decay and uneven shrinkage are the main disadvantages that characterize the use of construction logs.

Houses built from timber plain, profiled or glued) have a number of common advantages:

Cost reduction (compared to other building materials).
The speed of assembly at home. The two-story house (150-200m 2) described at the beginning of the article is quite realistic to assemble in two to three months.
Creation and preservation of a special microclimate indoors.
Design versatility.
Ecological purity.
Low thermal conductivity. An unheated house warms up completely in just a couple of hours and holds 6 times more heat than a brick house, and about 1.5-2 times more than a foam concrete house.
Resistant to deformation.
The ability to remove excess moisture.
Excellent frost resistance. Houses can stand for more than a hundred years.
High strength and elasticity.
Practically no internal and external finishing is required (especially for houses made of profiled and glued beams).
Aesthetic appearance.

In addition, houses built from simple, profiled or glued beams have a number of individual features and advantages. So, for the construction of walls from a simple wooden beam, you can use a columnar foundation or "floating columns".

Profiled timber provides increased durability of the building, high solidity, excellent vapor and air permeability, ease and speed of assembling the house, maximum environmental friendliness. The light weight of the timber can significantly reduce the load on the foundation, and the cheapness of the material (about 2-3 times cheaper than glued timber) and the aesthetics of the building sometimes tip the scales in the direction of the profiled timber.

houses built from glued beams, are distinguished by high strength, improved thermal insulation and higher (compared to natural wood) fire resistance. The advantages of glued beams include a fairly short period of construction of the building and, of course, the natural beauty of the tree and its texture.

Walls made of wooden beams, as well as from other materials, have their drawbacks:

Anisotropy of wood. This indicator characterizes the heterogeneity of strength, steam conductivity, thermal conductivity and other properties depending on the direction of wood fibers.
Limitation of use depending on the ambient temperature. So, it is not recommended to operate houses made of glued laminated timber in conditions of prolonged heating above 35 ° C, all the rest - above 50 ° C. A temperature of 35°C is not typical for the temperate climate zone (this is where our house is conditionally located), but in recent years it has not been such a rare occurrence. This fact makes us once again think about the use of glued beams.
The possibility of cracking (except for glued beams). In fairness, it should be noted that this drawback is quite simply eliminated by rubbing with special mastics.
The need to use additional finishing materials when using a simple bar. This will prevent moisture from getting into the space between the bars.

Thus, houses and walls made of wood quite successfully combine excellent consumer qualities and a relatively low price, and the environmental friendliness and beauty of this material cannot be overestimated. That is why wooden buildings continue to be built for many centuries, despite the emergence of modern building and finishing materials.

Option number 2: block walls

The most popular and widespread are the following building materials belonging to this group:

The masonry of walls from a wide variety of blocks has gained wide application and great popularity. Walls built from one or another type of blocks have different physical properties and features inherent in the material of the block filler.

However, most buildings built from block building materials are characterized by excellent heat and sound insulation properties, increased fire and frost resistance, environmental friendliness, lightness, strength, durability, resistance to mold and fungi, and ease of processing. In this section, we will dwell in detail on the advantages and disadvantages of various types of this building material.

cinder blocks

Slag, which is a flux-containing components of waste rock, is the main filler of cinder blocks. A wide variety of materials can be used as building stone fillers: cement, expanded clay, cullet, brick and concrete cullet, gravel, sand, granite screenings, crushed stone. Cement is the main binder of cinder blocks.

The main advantages of cinder blocks include the following:

Low cost due to the cheapness of the components used. As a result, the cost of masonry and construction of the entire house is significantly reduced.
Ease of use. For the construction of walls from cinder blocks, special skills are not required.
Strength and durability.
Fire resistance and frost resistance.
Possibility of self-production.
Low consumption of binder solution.

However, cinder blocks also have some disadvantages, among which the following can be distinguished: poor soundproofing properties, high thermal conductivity, the need for double-sided plastering of walls and the problematic laying of various communications.

Foam blocks

This type of building material is made from foam concrete, which is a type of cellular concrete. For the manufacture of foam blocks, cement mortar, sand, water and a foaming agent are used. The foam block is an artificial porous stone that can float in water. A wall made of this material is able to "breathe", creating an ideal microclimate in the premises. Approximately the same microclimate is created in houses built of wood. However, foam blocks, unlike wood, do not rot and do not burn.

Advantages of foam blocks:

Low specific gravity.
Low hygroscopicity.
Ease in processing.
High durability.
Environmental friendliness.
Cheapness. Foam block is one of the cheapest materials.
Good soundproofing.
Economical due to low weight. Thanks to this, you can significantly save on the construction of the foundation, the thickness of the plaster layer. Foam blocks can even be laid on glue.
High fire resistance.
Low shrinkage factor.
High thermal insulation properties.

The disadvantages of foam blocks can only be attributed to the fact that the construction of walls is possible only in a frame way, and a synthetic foaming agent is able to enhance the hygroscopicity of concrete.

gas blocks

This building material has unique characteristics and is becoming increasingly popular. It is gas blocks that make real competition for classic bricks due to their natural origin and excellent performance. For the production of gas blocks, sand, lime, cement, water and aluminum powder are used. Depending on the binder used (lime or cement), a gas silicate or aerated concrete block can be obtained. Both types of gas blocks, due to their high porosity (up to 85%), have excellent performance properties inherent in both wood and stone:

High strength.
Ease of processing.
Low thermal conductivity.
High fire resistance and frost resistance.
Excellent soundproof properties.
Excellent vapor permeability.
Durability.
Environmental friendliness.
Ease.
Resistant to fungus, bacteria and mold.
Moisture resistance.
Installation speed.

However, gas blocks also have a number of negative properties. In particular, additional cladding of external walls or protective plastering may be required, sound and heat insulation properties decrease with increasing density and strength. It is impossible to build high-rise buildings (more than 3 floors) from aerated concrete blocks. However, in our case (the construction of a two-story house), this factor has absolutely no effect on the choice of material.

silicate brick

This building material is made from sand, lime and some additives. Sand-lime brick is used for the construction of external and internal walls and for cladding. It is not recommended to use silicate brick in places with high humidity and for masonry, which may be exposed to elevated temperatures. These features of the use of silicate brick are due to its ability to absorb moisture well, to decompose hydrate components with a significant increase in temperature.

The main advantages of silicate bricks include the following:

Reliability and durability.
Environmental friendliness.
Resistance to the influence of aggressive factors.
High fire resistance.
Can be used for a wide variety of architectural solutions.
High noise reduction factor.

However, silicate brick also has a number of negative properties that limit its use:

Increased construction time and high labor intensity of work. This state of affairs is possible due to the small size of the silicate brick.
High ability to absorb moisture.
Big weight. Sand-lime brick is one of the heaviest building materials.
Low adhesion with cement mortar.
Limited use (in terms of temperature and humidity).

ceramic blocks

Ceramic blocks or "warm" ceramics are an environmentally friendly building material made from high quality clay with some additives. Many builders use the expression "warm block" in their everyday life, which indicates one of the main characteristics of this material - ceramic blocks are distinguished by excellent thermal insulation qualities. In addition, these blocks have almost all the positive properties of ceramic bricks:

Resistance to aggressive factors.
High strength.
Light weight.
Environmental friendliness.
Ease of processing.
High adhesion achieved due to the corrugated surface of the blocks.
Durability.
Frost resistance.
Excellent heat and sound insulation properties.
Optimum indoor climate.
Reduced construction time (compared to brickwork).
Saving mortar when laying.

There are few disadvantages of ceramic blocks, but they are: high price, the need to plaster the walls to protect against moisture, fragility during transportation.

Arbolit

This building material is a type of lightweight concrete. For its manufacture, a mixture of organic aggregates (woodworking waste, fires, reeds, etc.), a binder and water are used. There are also some additives in the mixture. For example, calcium chloride and alumina sulphate are added to accelerate cement hardening and aggregate mineralization.

Arbolit very successfully combines the best qualities of stone and wood. This unique building material is characterized by excellent heat capacity (the thermal conductivity of wood concrete is 4-5 times lower than brick), high strength, resistance to decay. It is environmentally friendly and fireproof. The negative quality of wood concrete can be called high water absorption, which can be successfully overcome by creating a reliable protective coating.

The positive qualities of this unique material more than compensate for this shortcoming:

Low thermal conductivity, which allows you to significantly save on heating the house during the heating season.
Environmental friendliness.
Plastic.
Ease of processing.
High strength.
Small specific weight.
Fire safety.

In addition to the block building materials discussed above, ceramic bricks, expanded clay blocks, twin blocks, gas silicate blocks, sand concrete blocks, polystyrene concrete and sawdust concrete blocks can be used to build houses. These building materials have almost the same performance characteristics inherent in all block building materials.

Option number 3: heterogeneous (multilayer) walls

Among the building materials belonging to this group, the most common are the following:

The materials listed above have a number of undeniable advantages, among which are such as a significant reduction in construction time, low weight, cost savings, an excellent combination with other building materials, and a long service life. The main operational qualities of each material separately are presented below in more detail.

SIP panel

The SIP-panel is a structure, which consists of two oriented strand boards or OSB (OSB), between which there is a layer of insulation glued under pressure - solid expanded polystyrene. Expanded polystyrene has a number of excellent physical and operational properties.

It is resistant to aggressive environments, environmentally friendly, durable, easy to use. This material is characterized by a low degree of thermal conductivity and vapor permeability.

Houses built from SIP panels have the following qualities:

Strength.
Durability.
Energy efficiency.
Relative cheapness.
The beauty.
Fire resistance.
Environmental friendliness.
Practicality.

In addition, houses made of this material are assembled very quickly. So, the two-story house with an area of 150-200m 2 considered in this article can be assembled in 12-15 days on a prepared foundation, and a full construction cycle, including interior decoration, will take no more than three months.

The relative cheapness of building buildings from SIP panels is achieved due to the following factors:

Inexpensive foundation.
Short construction time.
Simplicity of finishing works.
No additional insulation required.
Significant savings on heating and maintenance of the house.

However, ideal building materials that have absolutely no flaws do not exist. SIP panels are no exception, the main disadvantages of which include the following: fire hazard, the need to use a ventilation system, and the possibility of rodent penetration.

Fixed formwork

Fixed formwork consists of panels or blocks made of various materials, which are mounted in the formwork structure. The use of fixed formwork can significantly speed up and simplify the construction process by combining several operations into one technological cycle.

The main advantages of using fixed formwork include:

High construction speed. For example, the box of the house discussed in this article can be built in just a week.
Lightweight blocks.
Variety of architectural solutions.
Low material cost.
High fire safety.
Environmental friendliness.
High strength.
Excellent heat and sound insulation.
It can be used in any climatic conditions and on any soil.

This material also has its drawbacks. The use of fixed formwork is characterized by the difficulty of compacting the concrete mixture and arranging door and window openings, the need to use protective finishing materials and a grounded loop that protects the building from lightning.

Multilayer heat blocks

Multilayer heat blocks are made using the casting method from expanded clay concrete and contain a heat-insulating insert made of expanded polystyrene. The decorative front surface, made of expanded clay concrete painted with iron oxide pigment, is the third layer of this building material.

Multilayer heat blocks are practically devoid of disadvantages, but they have many advantages:

High construction speed.
Significant cost savings.
Additional heat and sound insulation is not required.
Excellent thermal efficiency.
Durability.
Aesthetic appearance.
Environmental friendliness.
Fire safety.
Possibility to increase living space.
Light weight.

Brisolite and insulated laminated timber, as well as the heterogeneous (multilayer) building materials discussed above, are widely used in the construction of houses and have many similar physical and operational properties.

Summary

Thus, this article outlines the comparative characteristics of the main building materials used for the construction of walls and houses. As you can see, all the presented materials have their pros and cons.

From what building material (group of materials) is it better to build the house considered in this article? I am sure that each reader has found the answer to this question on his own, having analyzed the physical, operational, aesthetic and economic features of each building material.

Questions and answers on the topic

No questions have been asked for the material yet, you have the opportunity to be the first to do so

Exterior walls- the most complex building structure. They are subjected to numerous and varied force and non-force influences (Fig. 1). The walls perceive their own weight, permanent and temporary loads from ceilings and roofs, wind exposure, uneven deformations of the base, seismic forces, etc. From the outside, the outer walls are exposed to solar radiation, precipitation, variable temperatures and humid outside air, external noise, and from the inside - to the influence of heat flow, water vapor flow, noise. Performing the function of an external enclosing structure and a composite element of facades, and often a supporting structure, the outer wall must meet the requirements strength, durability and fire resistance, corresponding to the capital class of the building, to protect the premises and adverse external influences, to provide the necessary temperature and humidity conditions of the enclosed premises, to have decorative qualities. At the same time, the design of the outer wall must meet the industrial requirements, as well as the economic requirements of minimum material consumption and cost, since the outer walls are the most expensive structure (20-25% of the cost of building structures)

In the outer walls, there are usually window openings for lighting the premises and doorways - entrances and exits to balconies and loggias. The complex of wall structures includes the filling of window openings, entrance and balcony doors, the construction of open spaces. These elements and their interfaces with the wall must meet the requirements listed above. Since the static functions of the walls and their insulating properties are achieved when interacting with internal load-bearing structures, the development of external wall structures includes changes depending on the natural-climatic and engineering-geological conditions of construction, and also, taking into account the features of space-planning solutions, they are cut by vertical expansion joints of various types: temperature-shrinkage, sedimentary, anti-seismic, etc.

Classification.

By static function load-bearing, self-supporting or non-load-bearing structures.

load-bearing walls in addition to the vertical load from its own mass, they perceive and transfer to the foundations loads from adjacent structures: ceilings, partitions, roofs, etc. Self-supporting walls perceive the vertical load only from their own weight (including the load from balconies, bay windows, parapets and other wall elements) and transfer it to the foundations directly or through plinth panels, end beams, grillage or other structures. Curtain walls floor by floor or through several floors, it is supported on adjacent internal structures of the building (ceilings, walls, frame). They carry the load from their own weight and wind within the floor with a height of not more than 6m. Bearing and self-supporting walls perceive, along with vertical and horizontal loads, being vertical elements, the rigidity of structures.

Bearing and non-bearing external walls can be used in buildings of any number of storeys. The height of self-supporting walls is limited in order to prevent operationally unfavorable mutual displacements of self-supporting and internal load-bearing structures, accompanied by local damage to the finish of the premises and the appearance of cracks.

By material There are four main types of wall structures: concrete, stone, non-concrete materials and wood. In accordance with the building system, each type of wall contains several types of structures: concrete walls - from monolithic concrete, large blocks or panels; stone walls - hand-made, walls made of stone blocks and panels; walls made of non-concrete materials - fachwerk and panel frame and frameless; wooden walls - chopped from logs or bars, frame-sheathing, frame-panel, panel and panel.

Constructive decisions. Exterior walls can be single-layer or layered construction. Single layer walls are built from panels, concrete or stone blocks, cast-in-place concrete, stone, brick, wooden logs or beams. in layered walls performance of different functions is assigned to different materials. Strength functions provide concrete, stone, wood; durability functions - concrete, stone, wood or sheet material (aluminum alloys, enameled steel, asbestos cement, etc.); thermal insulation functions - effective heaters (mineral wool boards, fibrolite, expanded polystyrene, etc.); vapor barrier functions - rolled materials (roofing felt, foil, etc.), dense concrete or mastics; decorative functions - various facing materials. An air gap can be included in the number of layers of such a building envelope. Closed - to increase its resistance to heat transfer, ventilated - to protect the room from radiation overheating or to reduce deformations of the outer facing layer of the wall.

Structures of single-layer and multi-layer walls can be made prefabricated or in traditional technique.

Walls made of small-sized elements (stone walls): scope; materials and types of masonry; basic measures to ensure strength, stability, durability, heat-shielding ability; details of stone walls (plinths, openings, cornices and parapets).

Handmade walls. Material for stone walls, bricks or stones of the correct form are used, made of natural or artificial (baked clay, concrete) materials, and a mortar (lime, lime-cement or cement), along which the stones are laid in horizontal rows with mutual dressing of the seams. Brick (clay and silicate, solid and hollow) has a mass of up to 4-4.3 kg, stones (ceramic hollow with a density of up to 1400 kg / m3, lightweight concrete hollow with a density of up to 1200 kg / m3, from autoclaved and non-autoclaved cellular concrete with a density of up to 800 kg / m3, from natural light stone materials with a density of up to 1800 kg / m3) have a height of up to 20 cm and a weight of up to 30 kg.

Structural strength of the wall ensure the strength of stone and mortar and laying stones with mutual ligation of vertical seams. At the same time, the dressing of the masonry seams is provided not only in the plane of the wall, but also in the plane of the transverse walls adjacent to it. The most common type of masonry is six-row, where five spoon rows successively laid with dressing in the plane of the wall are tied up (in the plane and from the plane of the wall) with the sixth row of rows. Only with high requirements for the strength of the wall, a more laborious two-row masonry is used with dressing of all vertical seams in each row (the so-called chain masonry).

Stability of stone exterior walls provided by their spatial interaction with internal load-bearing structures - walls and ceilings. To ensure spatial interaction, the outer walls are rigidly connected to the inner walls by bonding the masonry, and with the ceilings made of reinforced concrete flooring - by inserting the latter into the wall by at least 100 mm, resting on the wall through a layer of strong mortar and connecting the walls with the ceilings with steel anchors. When arranging ceilings along beams, the latter are inserted into the wall by 250 mm and connected with anchors to masonry every 6 m. In multi-storey buildings, in addition, floor-by-floor reinforcing belts are provided, located in the mortar joint under the ceiling or above it (with high window lintels).

Durability stone walls provides frost resistance of materials used for the outer part of the masonry. Accordingly, the grades of stones and facing materials in terms of frost resistance for the outer walls of residential buildings of medium and high-rise buildings built in a temperate climate are taken at least 15 Mrz, and for individual parts of the walls (cornices, parapets, window sills, belts, plinths, etc.) , subject to especially intensive atmospheric humidification - 35 Mrz.

Heat shield ability exterior walls in the design is assigned in accordance with hygienic requirements and taking into account the need to save fuel resources. The wall thickness is taken according to the largest of the values obtained as a result of calculations of the required R 0 tr, economically feasible heat transfer resistance R 0 eq and static calculation. Materials and designs of stone walls have a variety of thermal qualities. The thermal conductivity coefficient of solid masonry varies from 0.7 W/(m°C) for tuff masonry to 0.35 W/(m°C) for masonry of ceramic hollow stones. This makes it possible, by choosing the most heat-efficient material, to significantly reduce the cross section of a single-layer wall, its massiveness, cost and labor intensity of construction. Therefore, the solid masonry of the outer walls is mainly made of hollow ceramic, lightweight concrete stones or bricks. To save stone and labor costs while maintaining the required heat-shielding ability, lightweight multilayer walls are used. In residential buildings, the most common are three-layer lightweight masonry structures. They contain longitudinal walls half a brick thick and between them an internal insulating layer. Sometimes, according to the strength requirements, the inner layer of masonry, to which the load from the floors is transferred, is made 1 brick thick.

Differences in masonry designs are in ways to ensure the joint static work of the outer layers of the masonry, as well as in the insulation material and the participation of this material in the static work of the wall. The bonds between the layers are designed to be flexible or rigid. Flexible connections are made in the form of steel brackets. With flexible connections, the brick layers of the wall separately perceive the loads that fall on them.

Rigid connections are made in the form of transverse diaphragms connecting the outer layers. According to the location of the transverse diaphragms, wall structures with horizontal and vertical ties are distinguished. In walls with horizontal diaphragms, the latter are performed every five rows; in walls with vertical diaphragms (well masonry), the step of the diaphragms is 0.65 or 1.17 m. fiberboard, foam glass, liners made of lightweight or cellular concrete, monolithic lightweight concrete with a density of up to 1400 kg/m3 or mineral backfills with a density of up to 1000 kg/m3.

Stone wall details. plinths stone walls are made of solid solid bricks of solid masonry. Brick brand for frost resistance - 50 Mrz. At a distance of 15-20 cm from the top of the blind area, a horizontal waterproofing layer is laid that protects the ground part of the wall from ground moisture. The waterproofing layer is made of two layers of roofing material on mastic or cement mortar. In accordance with the compositional solution, sometimes brick plinth lining is used with natural stone slabs or leaning ceramic tiles.

When making a plinth from concrete foundation blocks or plinth panels, the latter are placed indented inward from the facade surface (the so-called undercut plinth). At the same time, in the outer wall hanging over the basement, the facade stones of the lower row of masonry are replaced with reinforced concrete bars. Plinths made of concrete blocks are usually lined with ceramic tiles, and plinth panels have a protective and finishing layer made at the factory from decorative concrete or facing tiles.

openings window and door windows in stone walls are made with quarters on the outside along the vertical and upper edges. The quarters protect the junction of the masonry with the carpentry block filling the opening from infiltration. The size of a quarter in brickwork is 65x120 or 88x120, in stone - 100x100mm. The openings are covered, as a rule, with prefabricated reinforced concrete lintels, which perceive the vertical load from the overlying masonry, and in load-bearing walls from ceilings.

The crowning part of the outer walls is made in the form of a cornice with external drainage from the roof or a parapet with internal drainage.

Cornice in stone walls they are often laid out of brick or stone, however, the amount of removal of such cornices, according to strength conditions, is limited to half the thickness of the wall, and the successive overlap of bricks to form an overhang should be no more than 1/3 of the stone in each row. If necessary, a cornice with a large extension is made of prefabricated reinforced concrete slabs anchored into the masonry.

Parapet is a part of the wall, rising above the roof, made in solid masonry. The thickness of the wall in the area of the parapet is taken reduced (up to 1 stone). The elevation of the parapet above the roof surface must be at least 300 mm. The upper plane of the parapet masonry is protected from moisture by a drain made of galvanized steel or a concrete parapet stone.

Large-block walls: scope; materials for large blocks; types of blocks depending on their location in the wall; cutting walls into large blocks; ensuring strength, stability, durability of block walls.

Large-block houses are usually designed frameless, based on two structural schemes: with longitudinal walls for 5-story buildings and with transverse walls for multi-story buildings. Sometimes (in separate sections of the building volume) a combined structural system of large-block buildings with an internal frame is used. Accordingly, large-block walls are carried out as load-bearing or self-supporting with cutting along the floor height into 2, 3 or 4 rows of blocks. The choice of cutting type depends on the material and the static function of the walls.

Materials for large blocks, lightweight concrete with a density of up to 1600 kg/m3 on various porous aggregates, autoclaved cellular concrete with a density of up to 800 kg/m3, brick solid or lightweight masonry, natural stone (limestone, tuff, etc.) with a density of up to 1800 kg/m3 .

For any of the cuts, the principle of dressing the seams and laying blocks on the mortar is observed. In accordance with the location, there are wall, lintel, window sill, basement, cornice, parapet, ordinary and corner blocks. Lintel blocks have quarters on the inside: on top to support the ceilings, on the bottom to install the filling of the opening. In the wall blocks for installing the filling of openings, quarters are provided along the vertical side faces. From the outside, the blocks have a protective and finishing layer.

Strength large-block walls are achieved by the strength of concrete blocks and mortar, bandaging of masonry blocks and their adhesion to the mortar, floor-by-floor binding with lintel blocks connected by steel ties. The brand of concrete in terms of compressive strength for lightweight concrete blocks is assigned according to static calculation, but not less than M 50, and mortar - not less than M25.

Sustainability large-block external walls provide them with spatial interaction with ceilings and internal transverse walls, combined with external walls by special steel ties.

In mid-rise buildings, the connections of intersecting walls are designed from L- or T-shaped welded meshes, from strip or round reinforcing bars laid in a solution of horizontal seams.

Durability large-block walls are ensured by the use of concrete with a frost resistance grade of at least 25 Mrz with the corresponding frost resistance grades of concrete and solutions of protective and finishing layers. The frost resistance grade of concrete for cornice, parapet and basement blocks is 35-50 Mrz.

Panel concrete walls and their elements: scope; main types of wall cuts on the panel; material and design of wall panels; rigid and flexible connections in three-layer wall panels.

External walls made of large panels can be load-bearing or non-bearing. The mass use of panel walls in almost all countries of the world determined the exceptional variety of their designs and cuts. However, in most cases, only single-row cutting is used (without dressing the vertical seams) and sometimes (for low-rise and medium-rise houses) two-row, vertical, cruciform and tee.

Panels made of concrete materials are designed as layered and single-layer. Bearing walls are designed from laminated reinforced concrete panels made of heavy or structural lightweight concrete. Single-layer panels made of lightweight structural and heat-insulating concrete are used for the load-bearing walls of a building with a height of no more than 12 floors. Load-bearing panel walls made of autoclaved cellular concrete are used only in low-rise buildings. Non-bearing walls are made of panels of any design.

Single layer concrete panels are made of lightweight or autoclaved cellular concrete. The density of concrete should be no more than 1400 kg/m3. Panels of load-bearing and self-supporting single-layer walls are designed as eccentrically compressed concrete structures. Nevertheless, single-layer panels of even non-load-bearing walls contain structural reinforcement that protects against brittle fracture and the development of cracks during transportation and installation.

The concept of "single-layer panel" is conditional. In fact, in addition to the main structural layer of lightweight or cellular concrete, such panels contain an outer protective and finishing layer and an internal finishing layer.

The facade protective and finishing layer of lightweight concrete panels is made with a thickness of 20-25 mm from vapor-permeable decorative concretes, mortars or from ordinary solutions (with subsequent painting), shrinkage deformations and modulus of elasticity of which are similar in magnitude to those of the main concrete layer of the panel. For the facade layer, ceramic and glass slabs, thin slabs of sawn natural stone, crushed stone materials are also used. From the inside, a finishing layer of mortar with a density of up to 1800 kg/m3 and a thickness of no more than 15 mm is applied to the panels.

The required density and water resistance of the facade protective and finishing concrete layer is achieved when the panels are molded with the facade surface to the pallet of the “face down” shape. The same molding method guarantees maximum adhesion of the concrete panel to the slab cladding.

concrete panels double layer construction have a bearing and insulating layers: bearing - from heavy or structural lightweight concrete, warming - from structural and heat-insulating lightweight concrete of a dense or cellular structure. A denser carrier layer has a thickness of at least 100 mm and is located on the inside.

concrete panels three-layer construction have outer and inner structural layers of heavy or light structural concrete and an insulating layer enclosed between them. The minimum grade of heavy concrete is M 150, light - M 100. For the insulating layer, the most effective materials with a density of not more than 400 kg / m3 are used in the form of blocks, slabs or mats of glass or mineral wool on a synthetic binder, foam glass, fiberboard, polystyrene or phenolic foam.

The concrete layers of the panel are combined with flexible or rigid connections, which ensure its assembly unity and meet the requirements of strength, durability and thermal insulation. The most perfect design of flexible connections consists of separate metal rods, which provide the mounting unity of the concrete layers with the independence of their static work. Flexible connections do not interfere with thermal deformations of the outer concrete layer of the wall and completely exclude the occurrence of thermal forces in the inner layer. Elements of flexible connections are made of low-alloy steels resistant to atmospheric corrosion or of ordinary structural steel with durable anti-corrosion coatings. In three-layer panels with flexible connections, the outer concrete layer performs only enclosing functions. The load from it, as well as from the insulation, is transmitted through flexible connections to the inner concrete layer. The outer layer is designed with a thickness of at least 50 mm from concrete of the Mrz 35 frost resistance grade and reinforced with a welded mesh. These measures provide the necessary durability and crack resistance of the facade layer. Along the butt edges of the panel and along the contour of the openings, the outer concrete layer is thickened for the device of waterproof profiling of the joints and edges of the openings. The thickness of the inner concrete layer of three-layer panels with flexible ties in load-bearing and self-supporting walls is prescribed at least 80 mm, and in non-bearing walls - 65 mm. The panels are insulated with the most effective materials - expanded polystyrene, mineral wool and glass wool plates. Steel elements designed to connect the panel with the rest of the building structures are located in its inner layer.

In three-layer concrete panels, along with flexible ones, rigid connections are also used between the layers in the form of transverse reinforced ribs molded from heavy or light concrete. Rigid connections provide joint static operation of concrete layers, protection of connecting fittings from corrosion, ease of implementation, allow the use of any type of heaters. The disadvantage of the design is the through heat-conducting inclusions formed by the ribs. They can lead to condensation on the inner surface of the wall in their area. To eliminate the danger of condensate, the heat capacity of the inner concrete layer is increased, thickening it to 80-120 mm (according to the results of calculating the temperature panels), and the thickness of the connecting ribs is set to no more than 40 mm.

Structural reinforcement of three-layer panels with rigid connections is performed on both sides. It consists of spatial reinforcing blocks, similar to those used in single-layer panels, but supplemented with a welded mesh with a cell of 200X200 mm, reinforcing the facade concrete layer.

This method allows you to solve housing problems in rural areas and quickly build up suburban areas.

In addition, the frame walls of these houses make your home safe, warm, environmentally friendly and quiet.

The first frame fechwerk houses

This type of construction received particular popularity and fame for the possibility of using more economical material.

When erecting and installing on frame walls, it takes several times less wood than for block and log walls. Thanks to this feature, their weight is reduced and the house can be installed on.

For the inside of the block, special polyurethane is used, or. The thermal insulation characteristics of these materials are very high. This ensures less heat loss during space heating. You can connect all layers into a monolithic panel using polyurethane adhesive. Holes for doors or windows in such blocks can be cut out at the construction site.

In terms of their design features, frame walls made of small-sized panels do not differ in any way from the features of standard wall partitions. The only difference is that during the device, the panels are laid in a single piece, and their joints are reinforced with a special silicone mass. For a strong grip and fixation of individual parts and elements with a lower beam, the fastening is fixed strictly along the seams and the inside of the assembled frame wall.

Wall installation frame house

Installing a wall alone

The installation and installation of frame walls begin with the bottom strapping. For this, wooden bars are also prepared. The lower harness is laid in a strictly horizontal position. All splicing joints at the joints and in the corners, if necessary, can be made in half a tree. During installation, be sure to control the squareness of all lined contours through measurements of the lower diagonals. Fasten the lower harness with twists to the anchors embedded in the foundation.

Install racks with a minimum step of 600 mm.

The distance between the racks for and doors can be determined by the size of the box of these elements. If necessary, their number is increased by adding window and overhead racks.

For the strength and rigidity of the supporting structure in places where the wall partition is adjacent to frame house, install a special additional support, which is reinforced with struts.

On top of the racks, the upper harness is laid, connecting them to each other in half a tree. When building up the strapping, its fastening is carried out strictly above the racks. The resulting frame wall structure, as a rule, is sheathed with wood or other selected materials with a mandatory gasket and.

Walls (vertical fences) can be load-bearing and when they, in addition to their own gravity, perceive the load from other parts of the building; self-supporting, if they bear the load only from the gravity of the walls of all floors of the building; non-bearing (hinged), when they perceive their own weight only within one floor.

Rice. 1. Architectural and structural elements of the walls: 1 - plinth; 2 - cordon; 3 - sidernc; 4 - window sill; 5 - main cornice: 6 - corner partition; 7 - intermediate cornice; 8 - partition; 9 - jumper; 10 - window opening; 11 - pediment; /2 -cornice; 13 - doorway; 14 - pilaster; 15 - buttress; 16 - parapet; 17-edge of the wall; 18 niche; 19 - raskrepka.

External walls, being the main structural and architectural elements of the building, form its facades: main, side, rear.

The walls must be strong, stable, have sufficient heat-shielding and sound-proofing properties, and be safe in terms of fire. In addition, the walls must be frost-resistant, moisture-resistant and bio-resistant, have a minimum mass and the lowest cost.

The walls are stone and wooden. Stone walls can be laid out from bricks, stone blocks, light-weight concrete small-sized stones, ceramic stones, large-sized elements (panels or large blocks).

The wall usually consists of a plinth, piers, openings, cornices, trimmings and other parts (Fig. 1).

The plinths of the walls are laid out from ordinary baked clay bricks.

To cover openings in brick walls, prefabricated reinforced concrete lintels are most common.

Cornices are made with a small extension (no more than 1/2 of the wall thickness) from the same brick as the wall masonry, with a gradual release of masonry rows. With the removal of more than 300 mm, the cornice is made of reinforced concrete slabs.

Walls made of stone blocks. The nature of masonry walls made of stone blocks, lightweight concrete small-sized stones and ceramic stones does not differ significantly from brickwork. Only the thickness of the walls and the system of ligation of stones change.

Wooden walls are subdivided into log chopped, cobbled, frame, panel.

Log walls are made of logs (thickness in the upper cut 220-260 mm) laid in horizontal rows with cuts in the corners.

Block walls are made of horizontally laid wooden beams with a section of 180X180 or 150×150 mm.

Frame walls require less wood and labor. Saving wood is achieved by the fact that the frame, which performs load-bearing functions, consists of racks or pillars, girders, and, if necessary, braces that increase rigidity, and the fence and thermal insulation is a filler made of various heaters (slag, sawdust, slag wool, etc.). The insulation is sheathed with boards from the outside and inside.

Rice. 2. Lightweight brick wall with well masonry: 1 - transverse brick wall: 2 - outer and inner longitudinal walls in 1/2 brick; 3 - insulation.

Rice. 3. Prefabricated reinforced concrete lintels: a - bar section 65X120 mm (type B); b- bar section 140X120 mm (type B); c - slab section 65X580 mm (BP type); g - bar section 220X120 mm (BU type).

Shield walls consist of enlarged parts - shields prepared at factories. Construction is reduced only to installation and finishing.

Walls of large elements. The most economical and industrial are the walls of large elements - blocks and panels. They are installed using cranes.

Large blocks are made at factories from lightweight concrete (slag concrete, expanded clay concrete, cellular concrete, etc.).

The block thickness is taken equal to the wall thickness - 400, 500 and 600 mm.

The main structural scheme of buildings from large blocks is a scheme with external and internal load-bearing walls. The spatial rigidity of these buildings is provided by a system of transverse walls. The method of dividing the wall into separate blocks is called cutting, the most common is a two-row cutting. Blocks are wall-mounted, lintels, window sills, blocks of internal walls.

The most vulnerable point in block (as well as in large-panel) construction are joints. They must be carefully sealed with various materials (sealants, rubber or polymer gaskets, lubrication with a solution).

A large wall panel is an element of a larger area and less thickness than a large wall block. Figure 15 shows the most common type of panel and the interface between the outer and inner panels.

Rice. 4. Some types of cornice designs: 1 - stacked brick, with a small offset; b - from a reinforced concrete slab, with a large offset; c - from ceramic figured facial stones (1-mauerlat; 2 - twist, 3 - pin, 4 - fencing, 5 - roof, 6 - anchor).

Rice. 5. Wall of single-layer expanded clay concrete panels: a - panel design; b - interface of the outer panel with the inner one; c - the same, internal to each other (1 - lifting loop, 2 - expansion joint, 3 - heating panel, 4 effective insulation. 5 - finishing layer, b - decorative concrete, - steel connecting rods, 8 - embedded steel parts, 9 - panel of the inner wall, 10 - the same, of the outer wall).

Wall panels arrive at the construction site almost completely finished, lined with ceramic or glass tiles on the outside, painted or prepared for painting.

In the housing construction of the USSR, structural schemes with load-bearing walls are the most common. In this case, cutting of the outer walls and panels of 1 or 2 rooms is used.

Panels of internal walls, partitions and ceilings are made the size of a room.

Wall panels are made of lightweight concrete or reinforced concrete with the use of effective heat insulators. They are single-layer (made of lightweight concrete) and layered construction (made of reinforced concrete).

Balconies, bay windows, loggias. The elements of the walls are also balconies, consisting of a bearing plate and a fence; bay windows, which are part of the room protruding beyond the plane of the facade of the building; loggia-balconies built into the building envelope.

- Walls of buildings

Until now, there is no unequivocal answer to the question of what material is better to make the walls of a residential building. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Builders and designers cannot agree on the choice of the most optimal product for making walls. The thing is that in each case, the best material must be selected based on the purpose of the building, its configuration, the climatic conditions of the area and the financial capabilities of the owner. In our article, we will consider the most common wall materials, describe their properties, pros and cons, and you yourself will be able to choose the best one based on the construction conditions.

Factors affecting the choice

A quarter of all construction costs go to building walls. Since the wrong material for building walls in the future can lead to even more expenses, the following factors should be taken into account when choosing it:

If you want to save on arranging the foundation by making a shallow lightweight option, then choose a light material for the walls. Additional savings in the case of using light elements for the walls of the house will be during transportation and installation, because it can be done by hand without the use of expensive lifting equipment.
Choose building materialsthat have good thermal insulation characteristics. Otherwise, cold walls in winter will cost you dearly due to heating costs.

Tip: it is best to perform a heat engineering calculation taking into account the climatic conditions of the construction region. This is the only way to be sure that you have chosen the right material and wall design. So, in the northern regions of our country, even walls made of materials with high thermal insulation properties need to be insulated.

If piece materials, for example, bricks, are used to build the walls of the house, then a significant proportion of the costs will be the cost of paying masons. Even if you do all the work yourself, then consider the time and physical costs. It is much more profitable and faster to build from large-sized elements. The highest speed of wall construction is for houses built using frame-panel and frame-panel technology.
When choosing building materials for walls, it is worth considering how easy they are to finish and whether they need it at all. For example, the walls of an OSB frame house can not be finished at all, but simply painted, and a log house needs a thorough finish outside and inside.

To understand what to build your house from, you need to understand the characteristics of building materials, so further we will describe the properties of each of them, list the advantages and disadvantages.

Brick

A house built of brick can stand for a century, or even a century and a half. There are many varieties of bricks that differ in important operational and technical characteristics.

So, for the construction of walls, silicate and ceramic types of bricks are used. Consider their features:

ceramic brick made from fired red clay. It is durable, moisture resistant, environmentally friendly material. On sale there is a corpulent and hollow brick. The more voids in a brick, the higher its thermal insulation performance.
silicate brick is made on the basis of lime, sand and some additives. It also happens to be full-bodied and hollow. The latter option is characterized by lightness and improved thermal insulation qualities. Silicate full-bodied products are distinguished by good sound-proofing properties, but high thermal conductivity.

Also, this wall material is divided into front and ordinary:

It is better to build the walls of the house from ordinary brick. Products may have small defects in the form of cracks and chips, but due to this, their price is more acceptable. In addition, for the internal masonry of walls, the appearance of the product is not as important as for the front masonry.
Facing brick (front)- this is the wall material with which the facade is made out. All products must have the correct geometric shape, smooth or embossed surface, be free of flaws and defects. The price of a front brick is higher than that of its ordinary counterpart.

The strength of this wall material is directly related to its brand, which can be from M 75 to M 300. The number indicates the load that one square centimeter of the product can withstand. The higher the brand, the greater the specific gravity of the product. To build a 2 or 3-storey house, brick grade 100-125 is enough. To perform the foundation and base, products with the brand 150-175 are used.

Also, when choosing a brick, it is important to take into account its frost resistance, that is, the number of freeze and thaw cycles that the product can withstand without damage and a decrease in strength by no more than 20%. This indicator is marked with the letter F and a number from 15 and above. For warm regions, you can use products with a frost resistance grade of 15; in colder latitudes, bricks of the F25 grade are used. For facing work, a brick with a frost resistance of at least 50 is suitable.

Advantages and disadvantages of brick

Among the advantages of this wall material, it is worth listing the following:

Impressive service life.
aesthetic appeal.
Unlimited possibilities in terms of design and implementation of the most complex projects.
The material is not susceptible to corrosion, damage by fungi and microorganisms.
The product does not burn.
High sound and heat insulation characteristics.

The disadvantages include the following:

Due to the small size and large specific gravity, laying brick walls takes a long time and costs a lot.
Under brick walls, it is necessary to equip a solid buried foundation, and this entails increased costs for materials and earthworks.
In most cases, brick walls need to be additionally insulated.

ceramic blocks

A ceramic block is a material made from a mixture of clay and sawdust, after which the element is fired in a kiln. This is a fairly durable product that allows you to quickly build the walls of the house. The strength of the ceramic block is so high that a multi-storey building can be made from it. Inside the material has a porous structure, and the outer surface is corrugated. For a tight connection, the ends of the material have grooves and ridges.

The height of the ceramic block is a multiple of the rows of brickwork, and the other dimensions may be different. Thus, it is possible to build from a ceramic block according to projects that are designed for bricks. But the speed of construction is much higher, since one ceramic block measuring 238x248x500 mm, which weighs 25 kg, is equal to 15 bricks, each of which weighs 3.3 kg. In addition to increasing the speed of construction, the cost of mortar is reduced, because it will be needed less.

Important: the width of the ceramic block can be 230, 240 and 250 mm, and the length is in the range of 250-510 mm. On the long side of the product there is a comb-groove lock.

Walls with a thickness of 380 mm or more made of this material do not need to be insulated, since the thermal conductivity of the product is only 0.14-0.29 W / m² x ° C. Marking wide blocks M 100. If you need to make thin but strong walls, then you can take elements marked 150. Frost resistance of ceramic blocks is at least 50 cycles.

Pros and cons of ceramic blocks

The advantages include:

The low specific weight and high strength significantly expand the scope of this material.
Installation of large-sized products is carried out quickly and without unnecessary labor.
Saving mortar due to the size of the elements and the absence of the need to make vertical seams.
The frost resistance of an ordinary ceramic block is higher than that of an ordinary brick.
Good fire resistance. The product is able to resist burning for 4 hours.
An optimal microclimate is created in the room from ceramic blocks, since the walls can "breathe" and regulate the humidity of the air.
The house can last a century and a half and at the same time will not lose its thermal insulation characteristics.

This material also has disadvantages, among which it is worth mentioning the following:

The price of ceramic blocks is quite high.
Since these products are relatively new in our market, it is difficult to find a good mason to perform masonry.
This fragile material needs to be stored and transported very carefully.

gas blocks

This material has excellent thermal insulation properties. In terms of thermal conductivity, a gas-block wall with a width of 300-400 mm is not inferior to a multi-layer brick structure. Walls of gas blocks maintain optimal temperature and humidity conditions indoors. The material is not subject to rot and has an impressive service life. The thermal insulation qualities of a gas block are 3 times greater than those of a brick wall.

Aerated concrete is quite light, so it is easy to transport and stack. It is easily cut with a regular hacksaw to the desired size. The laying of elements is carried out on a mortar or special glue, which requires little. The smooth, even surface of the gas blocks is easy to finish. Aerated concrete is considered environmentally friendly and non-combustible. It has a fairly high frost resistance.

Attention: for aerated concrete, the density characteristic is important. This indicator can be in the range of 350-1200 kg / m³. For an ordinary residential building, it is enough to take elements marked 500-900.

Advantages and disadvantages of gas blocks

The advantages of this wall product are many:

The laying of walls from gas blocks is carried out 9 times faster than the laying of bricks.
The low thermal conductivity of the product is a big plus in its favor.
Aerated concrete has a high fire resistance, it does not emit harmful substances even during combustion.
The porous structure of the material contributes to high frost resistance.
In terms of vapor permeability, aerated concrete is comparable only to wood.

Cons of aerated concrete:

Low bending strength.
The material is prone to cracking.
Hygroscopicity. After absorbing moisture, the thermal insulation performance of aerated concrete decreases, so the facade needs a protective finish.
It is impossible to lay floor slabs and beams directly on gas blocks, therefore, before laying them, you will have to make a monolithic armored belt. This entails additional costs and time.

Wood

Many people who decide to build a house make a choice in favor of wood. This natural material is environmentally friendly. It creates a favorable microclimate in the house, maintains optimal humidity and saturates the air with healing phytoncides. In a wooden house it is warm in winter and not hot in summer, because wood has good thermal insulation characteristics.

A wooden house can be built from the following products:

The log can be of natural shape or rounded. In the latter case, the material has a regular shape and a smooth surface, but needs additional protective treatment, since the natural protective resin layer, which is under the bark, is removed during the cylindering process.
You can use glued (profiled) and sawn or planed timber. Higher-quality houses are obtained from glued laminated timber, which has special grooves and ridges for a snug fit of the elements. Sawn timber is more often used to make frame houses.
Frame-panel houses are made of OSB, chipboard, moisture-resistant plywood, which are attached to the frame. Insulation is laid inside the wall.

The main advantages of wooden houses are their environmental friendliness, comfort and reasonable price. Under such a house, you can make a lightweight foundation. Disadvantages - fire hazard, shrinkage.