Which is better, brick or foam block?
Ideal materials for construction, or at least having an undoubted advantage over others, have not yet been invented. Both the brick and the foam block have their pros and cons. Brick attracts with durability, and foam block - simplicity and speed of construction. In addition, the foam block has higher thermal insulation indicators. So what to build a house from ?
Brick houses
brickBrick houses are solid structures that are not affected by biological factors (insects, fungi). The brick allows air to pass through well, the structure turns out to be "breathing". At the same time, the thermal insulation performance of bricks is low, and other materials are preferred in this regard. A brick house requires insulation. Lovers of wood sheathe the inner surface of the walls with clapboard.
A brick house is strong, fire resistant, but not without its drawbacks. First of all, these are expenses for the foundation, which must be well buried. Subsidence of soil after construction threatens the formation of cracks in the building. A house made of this material requires plastering, which will also have to be paid for. Finally, bricks have relatively low frost resistance.
Houses from foam blocks
The format of foam concrete blocks allows you to increase the construction speed several times. This is not the only advantage of foam blocks. They are inexpensive, have excellent thermal insulation properties, and the cost of the foundation is lower than for a brick house.
The cons of aerated concrete depends on the type of material used. There are several of them: foam concrete, aerated concrete, polystyrene concrete, expanded clay concrete.
Gas silicate blocks can crack. The reason for this is good moisture absorption. To prevent cracking, it is recommended to wait with the veneer until the material dries during the heating season. Foam concrete has low frost resistance. Polystyrene concrete requires ventilation, since the material itself is vapor-tight. It is also sensitive to sunlight.
The likelihood of deficiencies in aerated concrete blocks largely depends on the quality of production. Thus, the risk of getting low-quality building material can be attributed to the general disadvantage of foam blocks.