Advantages and disadvantages of expanded clay as insulation

When insulating floors, a material such as expanded clay is often used.

The insulation has low weight and high porosity. The technology for making expanded clay consists of high-temperature firing of clay, resulting in oval granules. Depending on the size of expanded clay granules (fractions), its thermal insulation properties vary.

Expanded clay is a fire-resistant environmentally friendly material, frost-resistant, and not subject to biological or chemical influence. The cost of insulation is low, which makes it possible to widely use expanded clay both in construction (when filling foundations) and for thermal insulation work.

Advantages of expanded clay

In addition to its low cost, expanded clay has a fairly simple installation technology.

In addition to its low cost, expanded clay has a fairly simple installation technology, which allows you to carry out thermal insulation work yourself without the involvement of highly qualified specialists.

The low thermal conductivity of the material ensures high energy efficiency of the thermal insulation layer. The insulation does not attract rodents and insects. The high soundproofing properties of the material prevent the penetration of extraneous noise from the street into the room.

The material is resistant to temperature changes and does not change its properties in both heat and cold. It is thanks to its high frost resistance that expanded clay is used to insulate cold floors located on the ground or above unheated basements. The insulation is a highly environmentally friendly material, does not emit dangerous toxins and is safe for human health.

Application area

Expanded clay, as insulation, is used for thermal insulation:

floor - can be used as a dry screed, expanded clay concrete screed, combined screed (cement mortar is poured on top of the dry screed);
walls - filled between the load-bearing wall and decorative brickwork. Another option for wall insulation is expanded clay concrete blocks;

ceiling - insulation is poured onto the ceiling from the attic side;
roofs.

Disadvantages of insulation

The disadvantages of expanded clay include its high fragility, which greatly complicates the creation of a thermal insulation layer.

The disadvantages of expanded clay include its high fragility, which greatly complicates the creation of a thermal insulation layer. Thermal insulation material should be laid carefully, since disruption of the structure of the granules leads to a decrease in thermal insulation properties. The material has a porous structure, thanks to which it absorbs moisture well.

The moisture-absorbing properties of the material can be both a disadvantage and an advantage of expanded clay, since the material not only absorbs, but also does not release moisture, therefore, it can be used as a dry backfill when insulating a floor in a screed.

A significant disadvantage of expanded clay is the large thickness of its thermal insulation layer, so the material is not suitable for insulating the floors of rooms with low ceilings, since its use involves raising the floor level.

Classification of heat insulator by fractions

The variety of material is determined by the size of the fraction, i.e. size of granulates:

Small. According to the parameters, it is 0.1-5.0 mm. Used as a bulk mixture for backfill. Also used in the production of concrete blocks.
Average. Reaches sizes of 10-20 mm, called gravel. Construction experts consider this fraction of expanded clay to be better for insulating ceilings, floors and floors of buildings.
Big. Sizes vary in the range of 20-40 mm. Expanded clay of this fraction is used to insulate roofs, basements and semi-basements, as well as floors in garages and cellars.

Today, the building materials market offers about ten varieties of expanded clay. The distribution of types of material is carried out due to the density of the filling level. Thus, expanded clay of a large fraction has a lower density. Thus, the lower the grade and density of the granulate, the higher the quality.

Technology of floor insulation using expanded clay

Expanded clay can be used for insulating wooden and concrete floors.

Expanded clay can be used for insulating wooden and concrete floors. The insulation technology is as follows:

Preparing the base. Before laying the thermal insulation layer, it is necessary to clean the base from existing contaminants, and also dismantle the old coating (if any): Laying waterproofing. Before filling the expanded clay, it is necessary to ensure reliable waterproofing of the base.

Installation of the heat-insulating film should be done overlapping, and the joints of the material should be taped with special tape. It should be remembered that the waterproofing film should extend slightly onto the wall (8-10 cm). Backfilling of the thermal insulation layer. When installing expanded clay, it is necessary to take into account the shrinkage of the material during operation.

For backfilling it is necessary to use expanded clay of various fractions. It should also be taken into account that the thickness of the thermal insulation layer must be at least 15 centimeters. Expanded clay should be used as the base material, the length of the granules is 1 cm (fraction 10). Applying a leveling screed.

A leveling screed is applied on top of the heat-insulating layer. The screed should be applied carefully so as not to damage the thermal insulation layer. If the screed is applied incorrectly, then holes and sags may form on the floor.

When insulating a floor with expanded clay, one should take into account the loads that the floor must bear. Calculating the thickness of the expanded clay layer is quite important, since not only energy efficiency, but also the load-bearing capacity of the floor depends on it. Despite the fact that the thermal insulation qualities of the material are sufficiently manifested with a layer thickness of 15 centimeters, this thickness may not be enough for the floor to fully absorb static and dynamic loads.

Advantages of expanded clay concrete blocks

- Light weight. One expanded clay concrete block weighs 2 times less than a brick, but at the same time boasts a similar load-bearing capacity.

- Durability. The declared service life of an expanded clay concrete block is 60-70 years. Not much time has passed to evaluate the capabilities of this building material, but everything indicates that it can even exceed the specified period.

— Durability. Expanded clay concrete blocks with strength grade M75 are suitable for the construction of houses and cottages 3 floors high. If the strength grade of the block is lower, it can be used to build one-story and two-story buildings.

— Frost resistance. Manufacturers claim that the material in question can easily withstand 100 freeze-thaw cycles from -40°C to +40°C without losing its properties.

Important! To build a house in mid-latitudes, the grade of expanded clay concrete blocks must be at least M50. This is quite enough to protect your home from harsh winters.

- Environmentally friendly. Expanded clay concrete block consists of environmentally friendly materials - clay, sand and water. Yes, and cement is hard to call a harmful component, and therefore blocks from such materials can be used for the construction of a residential building without fear for one’s own health.

— Moisture resistance. Unlike expanded clay gravel, expanded clay concrete blocks practically do not absorb moisture, which significantly increases their durability and other performance characteristics.

— Noise insulation. It is the expanded clay present in the concrete block that protects the room from noise and creates a calm microclimate inside. This is especially true for buildings and structures erected near busy highways, railway lines and airports.

— Chemical inertness. Absolute inertness to chemicals and moisture resistance save houses made of expanded clay concrete from the development of putrefactive processes, the appearance of mold and mildew.

- Good adhesion. The relief surface of the block ensures excellent adhesion of the material to the masonry mixture.

- Price. Practice shows that one expanded clay concrete block can replace 7 bricks, and this is a good saving when building a house. Moreover, building a house from such blocks takes much less time, and even one person can handle them, because the weight of one solid M75 block is 14 kg.

Alternative to expanded clay

Why insulate with polyurethane foam from Ecotermix, and not with any other material? Find out in the video below:

A worthy alternative to expanded clay is the liquid heat insulator polyurethane foam.

A worthy alternative to expanded clay is liquid polyurethane foam insulator. The thermal insulation material is lightweight, and its structure allows air masses to circulate freely in the thermal insulation layer. Thanks to this feature, the polyurethane foam thermal insulation layer does not require additional installation of vapor and waterproofing.

High thermal insulation properties make it possible to create an energy-efficient thermal insulation layer of much smaller thickness than when using expanded clay. Polyurethane foam can be used for insulating the floors of rooms with low ceilings, for insulating the floors of apartments and private houses.

The polyurethane foam thermal insulation layer is highly durable and monolithic.

The technology of insulation with polyurethane foam is quite simple.

The insulation is sprayed directly onto the surface to be insulated, and its high adhesive properties ensure reliable adhesion of the material to the surface. The polyurethane foam thermal insulation layer is highly durable and monolithic. As for the properties of polyurethane foam, it is significantly superior to expanded clay in fire resistance, moisture repellency, heat and sound insulation.

The high strength of polyurethane foam allows the leveling screed to be applied directly to the thermal insulation layer. The screed can be applied 3-4 hours after spraying the polyurethane foam. The thermal insulation layer does not require additional reinforcement.

Polyurethane foam is biologically and chemically inert, environmentally friendly, capable of withstanding high loads and is the optimal insulation material for floors. Using polyurethane foam you can insulate both concrete and wooden floors. It is best to entrust floor insulation with polyurethane foam to specialists who will correctly calculate the thickness of the thermal insulation layer and also ensure that a uniform coating is applied over the entire insulated surface.

We recommend that you first watch the video below to clearly understand how this happens:

Expanded clay is an excellent material for building a house

If you want to live in a cozy, warm house with all the amenities, you will have to “sweat” arranging it. And in this case, expanded clay as an insulation material will perhaps become the best option for constructing floors, ceilings and roofs. How walls are insulated with expanded clay, what are its properties, how much expanded clay weighs, the advantages and disadvantages of this material - read about this in our article.

Today, an increasing number of domestic developers choose expanded clay: reasonable price, good performance properties and widespread availability in construction markets lead to the fact that this building material is gaining wide popularity.

"Dry" screed

This type of floor insulation is much simpler. “Dry screed” can be used for both soil and concrete foundations. The thickness of the layer will differ. In the first case - 20-25 mm, and in the second - 5-10 mm.

"Dry" screed

With this method of laying the floor, first prepare the base and cover it with waterproofing. After this, expanded clay is poured and leveled, covered with a vapor barrier, on which sheets of gypsum fiber are placed. The joints of the sheets are lubricated with glue or mastic and fixed with self-tapping screws.

What is expanded clay?

Expanded clay is small granules of light weight due to small pores that are obtained as a result of clay firing. Thus, the result is a completely environmentally friendly natural material that has good technical indicators, such as:

noise insulation - dampens shocks; thermal insulation - retains heat well; frost resistance - does not collapse at low temperatures; fire resistance - is not exposed to fire; strength - does not change its structure under the influence of cold/hot water; durability - does not change its properties under the influence of high/low temperatures temperatures, lasts longer than other insulation materials.

Equipment for the production of expanded clay

If we compare expanded clay with other thermal insulation materials, it significantly benefits in terms of service life. In addition, expanded clay is much cheaper than other thermal insulation materials in this category.

But the most important property of this material is that, for example, pouring a floor with expanded clay is an excellent option when building your own home.

Varieties of ceramic grain

Types of expanded clay and its technical parameters
The material is classified according to grain size. Based on this, it is divided into 3 categories.

Sand

Granules no larger than 5 mm, made by crushing large pieces of baked clay or burning the remains of the initial raw materials. Fine expanded clay can be used as a filler for ultra-light concrete or cement mixture.

Gravel

Rounded grains measuring 5-40 mm, produced by swelling a clay billet in a blast furnace. Due to its good thermal insulation properties, it can be used as insulation or for the manufacture of concrete blocks.

Crushed stone

Elements with corners, large - from 5 to 40 mm. Production is carried out by crushing ceramic layers. The material is a filler required for lightweight concrete.

How is it produced?

The production of expanded clay occurs in several stages:

The initial raw material - low-melting clay - is loaded into a thermal chamber, where it is softened to a dough-like structure. Then the material is rapidly heated (at a temperature of 1000-1300 C), which leads to the “boiling” of the raw material. “Swelling” entails the formation of voids in the raw material, which, when hardened, forms porous granules - expanded clay fractions. If the production technology is fully followed, then the output is a completely new, environmentally friendly thermal insulation material (its thermal insulation properties are better, the greater the number of pores in is formed in granules). The very surface of the material will melt under the influence of high temperature - this forms an excellent sealed shell, which has high strength and wear resistance, as well as resistance to mechanical damage.

The quality of the product will directly depend on the accuracy of compliance with all the rules of the execution technology. Since the entire technological process of manufacturing expanded clay material and its environmental friendliness are clear from the above, the question “is expanded clay harmful?” disappears by itself.

Thermal conductivity of polystyrene foam, comparison with other materials

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a popular insulation material. The material is produced by extrusion, which provides it with high performance qualities. The main advantage is low thermal conductivity, which allows you to retain heat inside the room, optimizing heating costs.

Important advantages of this material also include:

High strength.
Ease of processing.
Ease of installation.
Light weight.
Waterproofing properties.
Environmentally friendly.
Durability.
Reasonable price.

Expanded polystyrene is suitable for insulating the facade of low-rise buildings made of brick, cinder block, reinforced concrete slabs, etc. The thermal conductivity coefficient of expanded polystyrene is the amount of thermal energy transferred from the warm section of the building structure to the cold one, and the smaller it is, the better it retains heat inside the room.

What does the thermal conductivity of PPS depend on, comparison with polystyrene foam

Extruded polystyrene foam is a material with low thermal conductivity, which is due to its porous structure, which helps conserve thermal energy. The production technology is based on mixing granules at high temperatures, followed by pressing, resulting in a fairly dense material with a closed porous structure and small granules. At the same time, the thermal conductivity of polystyrene foam made by extrusion is 00.028–0.034 W/(m K). This figure is significantly lower than that of other insulation materials.

In general, thermal conductivity depends on the density of the material. Compared to the thermal conductivity coefficient of polystyrene foam, it is lower for polystyrene foam. Moreover, its density is significantly higher (100 kg/m3) than that of foam plastic (30 kg/m3). This is also due to the fact that the cells of the foam plastic are filled with gas, while in PPS they are filled with air, which does not evaporate and, accordingly, retains thermal energy inside itself, regardless of climatic conditions.

Low thermal conductivity is also associated with its structure. It has a small volume of solid matter, less than three percent. The cell sizes vary from 0.1 to 0.2 mm, and the granule sizes are correspondingly smaller. And the smaller and more uniform they are, the higher the quality indicators of the material.

This is due to the production technology; in the case of polystyrene foam, it is based on the joining of granules due to thermal expansion (the feedstock is processed with dry steam). The result is a material with heterogeneous cells and large granules that are not very tightly bonded to each other.

That is why polystyrene foam is significantly inferior in strength, and therefore can transmit heat. Although in recent years, manufacturers have been offering foam plastic made using the extrusion method, which in terms of density (30, 50 kg/m3) and thermal conductivity (about 0.002 W/(m K)) is not far behind PPS.

In general, the thermal conductivity of polystyrene foam, although slightly, can vary depending on the grade of material, which is determined by the manufacturing technology:

Pressless.
Pressed.
Extrusion.
Autoclave.
Autoclave extrusion.

Each type differs in density, with the lowest thermal conductivity of polystyrene foam, the specific weight of which is about 30 kg/m3, but on average this indicator varies between 0.031 - 0.035 W/m·K.

Thermal conductivity coefficient and plate thickness

Manufacturers offer PPS boards with a thickness of 10–200 mm. But this indicator has little effect on the thermal conductivity coefficient. For sheets up to 30 mm thick, this figure is up to 0.035 W/(m K); they are used for thermal insulation of interior partitions.

PPS up to 100 mm thick has a lower thermal conductivity of 0.3–0.031 W/(m K), they are used to insulate facades and interior walls to reduce heating costs. Samples with a thickness of 100 mm or more have a thermal conductivity of 0.31-0.32 W/(m K), their use is most effective in harsh climatic conditions for thermal insulation of the foundation.

Selection of insulation, thermal engineering calculation

The thermal conductivity of insulation is the main indicator when organizing work on thermal insulation of a room. To achieve the desired effect, a thermal engineering calculation is carried out, taking into account the purpose of the room, the design of the building, the climatic conditions of the region and other features.

For insulation of foundations, basements, floors and ceilings, polystyrene foam with a thermal conductivity of 0.033 - 0.038 W/m·K is used. Samples with indicators of 0.037 W/m·K are used for insulating facades.

The influence of various factors on the thermal conductivity of PPS

Practice shows that during operation the thermal conductivity value may deteriorate. For example, insulation loses its effectiveness when used for a long time at high temperatures (the maximum allowable value is 80 degrees).

A change in the structure, and, accordingly, a deterioration in thermal insulation qualities is observed due to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Therefore, after installing polystyrene foam, it is necessary to finish the EPS boards using plaster or siding.

But the last, no less important requirement for ensuring effective thermal insulation using EPS boards is compliance with all technological rules when installing them, otherwise polystyrene foam of even the lowest thermal conductivity cannot provide the desired result.

Where is it used?

When installing the floor. Oddly enough, expanded clay as an insulation material is an almost ideal material.

For example, you want to insulate the floor in your home as much as possible, but installing a heated floor makes a significant hole in the family budget. Then expanded clay can become a good insulation material. And depending on the type of floor base, methods of insulation with expanded clay are selected.

Using expanded clay for flooring

So, for reinforced concrete floors, there is the following method: first, a vapor barrier material is placed on the slab (an ordinary thick film will do), which protects the material from moisture, then expanded clay concrete mortar is poured/poured onto the film. Thanks to the combination of expanded clay with a concrete mixture, it is possible to reduce the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the floor, which, in turn, means an increase in the thermal insulation qualities of the insulated floor.

If the house has wooden floors, then insulation is carried out as follows: a vapor barrier film is laid on the wooden floor, dry expanded clay is poured onto the film, and the expanded clay layer is covered with floorboards on top. In this case, not only does heat loss decrease, but even mice will not live in such a floor!

When laying the foundation.

In this case, insulation can be performed both externally and internally. When insulating the foundation from the outside, you should fill the hollow space under the blind area from the street, but if you are insulating the inside, then you need to fill the void under the ceiling of the first floor. By acting in this way, you can reduce the depth of the foundation, thereby increasing the thermal characteristics of your floor.

Important! In both cases, it should be remembered that expanded clay must be protected from moisture with good waterproofing.

When constructing walls. As you know, the easiest way is to insulate newly erected walls with expanded clay - using the three-layer masonry method: the load-bearing layer consists of expanded clay concrete blocks (20-40 cm thick), the main layer is capsimet (a solution of cement milk and expanded clay), the third layer is protective, for which panel slabs, bricks for cladding, and even wood are used.

Roof insulation with expanded clay

When installing roofs and attics.

If you want to turn your attic into a warm attic, then you can also use expanded clay for insulation - it has the quality of being light weight (which is a very important indicator when constructing an attic, and also significantly affects the load of the foundation). A waterproofing material is laid on the base of the attic floor, onto which expanded clay is subsequently poured. You can then walk on expanded clay.

But when installing a roof, there is a slightly different method: first, a void space is prepared (the void is created by constructing the internal and external sheathing), a vapor barrier film is laid on the sheathing, the void of which is filled with expanded clay.

For thermal insulation of soil. As a rule, such work is only needed in gardening work, when it is necessary to “insulate” the soil for seedlings, etc.

Expanded clay screed

This type of screed is used for floors in bathhouses and garages. It's very simple. The beginning is the same as in other methods of laying and insulating floors using expanded clay. Only granules are added to the screed mixture, which is poured directly onto the waterproofing layer.

Expanded clay can also be used to insulate wooden floors on which joists are installed, lining them with waterproofing, pouring granules between the joists, and covering them with a vapor barrier. And from above you can pour the screed in the usual way or lay boards for wooden floors, etc.

In some cases, expanded clay is laid without spilling out of the packaging

In some cases, expanded clay is laid without spilling out of the packaging. The bags are placed directly on the waterproofing and cut into them. The space between the packages is filled with finer expanded clay.

Advantages and disadvantages of expanded clay

Pros:

Good thermal conductivity of expanded clay - grade 500 has a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.12-0.15 W/m*KWeight of expanded clay - only from 250 kg/m3 versus 2500 kg/m3 of concrete. With its help, the service life of wooden floors is extended to 50 years. Resistance to chemically aggressive environments. Environmental friendliness. Comparatively. low cost

Minuses:

You have to fill in a thick layer of expanded clay - more than 50 cm, i.e.

otherwise, noise and heat insulation will be poor. It is an absolutely moisture-unresistant material - therefore, expanded clay walls will be ineffective in damp rooms. Therefore, in this case it is recommended to use either a waterproofing film or not to use expanded clay at all

And finally, here are some useful tips on how to use expanded clay.

If you are going to use expanded clay, the use of which lies in the field of insulation material, you should remember that it is better to take more thickness of the backfill (“in reserve”) so that the heat and sound insulation properties of the expanded clay backfill are as high as possible. For example, it is advisable to pour a solution of cement and expanded clay to a layer thickness of at least 10 cm.

Expanded clay should be backfilled only onto the vapor barrier layer (use an ordinary thick polyethylene film), which is laid with a slight overlap. The amount of overlap must correspond to the height of the backfill.

If you plan to insulate the ceiling with expanded clay, then you can use expanded clay of two different fractions - this will result in a denser backfill, which will serve as a more reliable thermal insulation material.

Before laying the cement mortar, it is advisable to “shed” the expanded clay layer with cement laitance. This way the fractions will “set” faster, and the maturation of concrete can proceed much faster.

It will be possible to walk on the “expanded clay” floor within a week, although the material reaches brand strength within a month. And you can check whether the concrete is “ripe” in a fairly simple way - simply lower the glass jar onto the floor upside down. If the inside walls of the jar become foggy, it means the concrete is not yet mature.

Date: 03/25/2015 Comments: Rating: 45

In order to create comfort in your own home and fill it with warmth during the cold season, you need to pay special attention to the thermal insulation of rooms in the house. Expanded clay, as insulation, in this case is the most suitable option. With its help you can create a thermal insulation layer in walls, floors and ceilings.

This material, like any other, has its own characteristics, which you need to know about before equipping a thermal insulation layer in your house with its help. Of course, it has its pros and cons. Below we discuss in detail all the features of this material, after understanding which you can decide whether it is worth insulating your house with expanded clay.

Expanded clay is resistant to cold and heat, as well as flame resistant.

First of all, it is worth noting that expanded clay is one of the most popular thermal insulation materials in our country. This is due to the fact that it has low cost, excellent performance characteristics and is widely used in construction-oriented markets.

The use of expanded clay for the insulation of the roof at home

The scheme expanded clay roof insulation.

You can organize on their own, without the need to hire professionals to do so. Before you insulate it, you need to know what the concrete block and why it is so highly prized for thermal insulation of buildings and structures. Expanded clay is a natural material. It has high strength and can last for a long time, unlike synthetic insulation. At the heart of it - clay. For all these reasons it does not rot, it can withstand very low temperatures, which is especially appreciated in cold climates. It is crumbly and porous structure. Porosity contributes to the conservation of heat. The great advantage of this material is its fire resistance.

Warming of the frequently most performed expanded clay gravel, sand or gravel. In addition to the above, concrete block is a pretty light material, making it easier to carry out works. Today, many plastics are not environmentally friendly, which is not about the concrete block. It is completely safe for humans when operating. Expanded clay waterproof, so do not need to do additional waterproofing layer. Cost of it is low, which is important in the consumer market. In addition, it provides a minimum load on the house and the roof itself. The main disadvantage is its fragility.

The technology of expanded clay roof insulation

Driving a single-layer insulation of the attic.

Before you insulate roofs expanded clay, you need to know some features of this work. In the first place, to obtain good effect when it is advisable to take into account the particular roof insulation of the house, its structure, walls and a sloping roof. Modern (Roof) includes several basic steps: the inner lining, vapor barrier, laying down a layer of insulation and finishing work on the surface (stacking plates or other coating).

is no different from the standard. If there is a reinforced concrete ceiling slabs of the upper floor of the house, the work is somewhat easier.

This will provide a more complete and thorough filling all voids and irregularities. The layer thickness should be 25 cm. clay gravel leveled and compacted. This can be done manually or using a special machine. It is recommended to make a screed on top of the first layer. This construction will give greater strength and rigidity, a flat surface. It is advisable to organize some ventilation ducts between the inner and outer layers to be able to remove excess moisture and ventilation space. On top of the layer of insulation roofing material is placed. It is important that coils overlapping fit and there are no gaps. Above him - shingles or tiles.

List of tools and equipment

Thermal insulation of the roof will require a whole set of tools and materials. It includes: insulation (expanded clay gravel or crushed stone), a shovel, a bucket, a log or stick to ram, rail to align the expanded clay layer, a waterproof film web material (roofing material), Knife, tiles or shingles. Based on the above we can conclude that the insulation of the roof with the help of expanded clay is an effective and simple way. This material is different fire safety, lightness, strength, resistance to low temperatures and humidity, which is especially important for our country. In addition to thermal performance, it is inherent in the soundproofing effect due to the physico-chemical characteristics. It is durable, so found a wide circulation. Expanded clay is used not only to insulate the roof (the roof), it is perfect for warming the floor, hangars, ie all horizontal designs.

Features of using expanded clay granules in heating

Expanded clay-concrete blocks for construction
Expanded clay can be used as an insulating building material for wood or concrete floors, attics, roofs, ceilings, walls, and interfloor structures. Granules can be used to protect not only a house, but also bath structures or foundations from heat loss. It can be used in bulk form or in the form of blocks.

Making blocks

The process involves preparing an expanded clay concrete mixture from clay balls, cement, sand and plasticizer additives. The recipe should be based on 1 cubic meter of solution. In the end you will need:

230 kg of cement M400;
600 kg of quartz sand with fractions of 2-2.5 mm;
190 kg of water;
600-760 kg of expanded clay gravel with fractions of 5-10 mm.

The output is concrete M150, which is suitable for wall structures. If necessary, a 10% aqueous solution of bitumen mastic is added to the mixture.

Making blocks yourself

For manual production of blocks you will need a vibrating machine or concrete mixer, molds and shovels. The form can be made from boards, plywood or iron, cutting them into blocks 19x18.8x39 cm or half-blocks 9x18.8x39 cm. The technological process is carried out in stages in a well-ventilated room:

Making a solution. Cement is poured into a concrete mixer and water is poured. The remaining components are added in portions.
Pouring the mixture into molds. It is carried out in portions, 2 shovels each. Each layer is distributed and compacted.
Pre-drying. Containers with concrete dough are covered with metal lids and left for 24 hours.
Drying. Forms with expanded clay concrete are placed on wooden pallets on the street with a gap of 2-3 cm. A full set of brand strength occurs after 28 days.

To prevent moisture from affecting the blocks, it is better to build a canopy.

Production of masonry mortar

Preparation of cement mortar for laying expanded clay concrete blocks
Laying expanded clay concrete blocks is carried out using a cement-sand mixture, which will require the following number of components:

1 part of cement grade M400;
3 parts sand (river + quarry);
0.7 parts water.

To improve the performance characteristics of the mixture and eliminate the risk of separation, plasticizers are used. You can add 30-50 g of soap or dishwashing detergent to the batch.

Dry cooking technology. The advantage of the solution is that it reduces the time for mixing in a concrete mixer. All components are mixed with a mixer until smooth. The disadvantage of this method is the overconsumption: for 1 cubic meter of masonry you need 40 kg of composition.

Wet cooking technology. Concrete dough is not prepared in advance, since the hardening process occurs after 1.5-2 hours. Production is carried out in a concrete mixer, into which water is poured, and then dry ingredients are gradually added. Almost before the end of mixing, add the remaining liquid and plasticizers.

The procedure for insulating floors, walls, roofs and foundations

Insulation of brick walls with expanded clay
Construction expanded clay is durable, environmentally friendly, and able to effectively maintain a comfortable microclimate. For this reason, it is used for thermal insulation of all building elements.

Insulation of walls with expanded clay is carried out using a three-layer structure consisting of a load-bearing element, backfill with compaction and impregnation with cement laitance and decorative cladding. Before work, consider the type of material:

Aerated concrete. Thermal insulation measures are carried out after the construction of the house. They lay out an auxiliary wall, which together with the main one forms a “well”. Granules are poured into it, compacted and soaked. To remove moisture from the inside, ventilation channels are made.
Frame construction. Insulation work is complicated by tamping technology, during which load-bearing elements are damaged. The frame type of buildings without compaction of the granules may shrink over time.
Log house Wooden material cannot withstand the load created by ceramic grains.

Cement laitance is made from 3 parts water and 1 part Portland cement.

Insulation of an embankment roof
Insulation of a pitched roof with granular expanded clay is rarely found in practice. To implement the technology you will need:

Make a pallet for the material by placing boards on the bottom of the rafters.
Lay a film vapor barrier with an overlap. It will also serve as a waterproofing layer.
Sprinkle ceramic granules evenly onto the film.
Cover the thermal insulation with a membrane with vapor barrier properties.
Install a counter-lattice for ventilation.
Attach the boards holding the roof to the counter-lattice on top.

At the last stage, the roofing covering is laid.

Insulating the floor with expanded clay using a dry method

Floor insulation with expanded clay is acceptable in a country house or country cottage. Laying of bulk material is done dry, wet or by backfilling under a cement screed. To ensure effective thermal insulation, you should calculate how much expanded clay is needed for the floor of a certain area. Reliable protection against cold penetration is achieved with 40 cm of granules on wooden flooring and 30 cm on expanded clay concrete. For each interfloor space of a private building you will need 20 cm (for wood) and 15 cm (for concrete).

The procedure for insulating a finished foundation with loose expanded clay depends on the location of the layer.

External work begins with preliminary excavation of the base and making a trench 80 cm wide. Further work includes:

Installation of waterproofing using a coating method, bitumen mastic or rolled roofing felt.
Organization of a drainage channel remote from the foundation at a distance greater than its depth. Geotextiles are laid on the ground surface, crushed stone is poured and pipes with holes 1-2 cm in diameter are laid.
Backfilling of expanded clay fractions. The drainage is covered with plastic film, onto which dry material with medium-sized granules is poured. The height of the embankment is up to the soil level.
Installation of blind area. The design will prevent the clay ball from getting wet and covered with silt.

After laying the expanded clay, it is filled with cement laitance.
At the last stage, formwork is made at a height of 10-15 cm, reinforcement is installed and concrete is poured.

To insulate the basement, a protective brick wall is first constructed, removing it 20-30 cm from the upper edge of the foundation. After masonry, expanded clay is poured, and a roll of moisture-proof material is laid on top of it.

The subfloor is insulated by filling the space or using pre-made formwork. Polyethylene waterproofing must be laid at the bottom of the cavity. The clay fractions are poured out so that there are no gaps between them. A subfloor is placed on top of the loose expanded clay. It is allowed to pour concrete over reinforcement.

To maintain the temperature of the coolant in the pipes and reduce heating costs, a “cushion” of granules is backfilled. It is also made by mixing bitumen mortar with expanded clay gravel. The insulation should protrude 20 cm or more above the pipes. The convex part is covered with a polymer film, the side parts of which overlap the expanded clay by 10 cm.