We build a house from expanded clay concrete blocks. House of expanded clay concrete blocks

Expanded clay concrete is still insufficiently mastered by domestic builders, but has long been popular in Europe. A house made of expanded clay concrete blocks is an economical and reliable structure that is quite possible to build on your own. Before starting work, it is necessary to study the possibilities of the material, the technological methods of masonry, and make a preliminary calculation of the cost of construction.

Lightweight concrete is obtained by adding to concrete mix expanded clay - hollow balls of foamed and fired clay. Blocks with this filler not only have a low specific gravity, they can be machined, they do not collapse when nails are driven in.

Good heat and sound insulation is characteristic of all types of porous concrete, but expanded clay has other positive properties. It almost does not absorb moisture, is stronger and harder than foam and aerated concrete. The voids in the blocks are used for reinforcement or frame construction.

Pros and cons of houses from expanded clay blocks

The main advantages of expanded clay block structures include:

absolute environmental Safety- due to the absence of toxic components;
resistance to fire, insects and rodents;
moisture resistance;
durability;
low thermal conductivity of walls - 1.5 times lower than that of aerated concrete;
low weight - thanks to this, a massive foundation is not required and overall costs are reduced;
simplicity and pace of installation - one bricklayer lays almost 3 m 3 blocks per shift, while saving the mortar is almost 60% compared to brickwork;
the possibility of using dowels for mounting the finish.

Difficulties in the use of expanded clay blocks arise when the technology of their manufacture is violated, due to which the density and geometric parameters become unstable. To calculate the foundation you need to know exact weight structure, which can only be determined on the basis of real source data.

To avoid negative phenomena during construction, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the negative aspects of expanded clay block buildings:

the impossibility of using a lightweight foundation - the house is lighter than a brick one, but heavier than a foam block;
the formation of cold bridges during the masonry process - the walls need external thermal insulation;
the walls are not left without exterior finish more than 2 years - this reduces the durability of the house;
expanded clay concrete is not used for foundation work - it is inferior to concrete in terms of density and strength;
increased costs for transporting blocks due to their large dimensions.

Calculation and purchase of materials for construction

Prior to construction, a suitable project should be developed or purchased, developed by design bureaus in compliance with building codes and regulations. Customers choose houses, during the construction of which expanded clay concrete blocks were used, taking into account the following conditions:

total area;
number of storeys;
layout, number of rooms.

The layout of the building should include the dimensions of the walls and openings. For them, structural-insulating blocks with a density of 700 - 1,200 kg / m 3 are most often used, the dimensions of which are 190x190x390 mm. Partition claydite blocks differ only in width - it ranges from 90 to 120 mm.

In order to build a house from expanded clay concrete yourself, you need to determine the required amount of building material. To do this, sum up the lengths of all walls and load-bearing partitions. The final number is multiplied by the height of the ceilings, and then by the thickness of the wall. If it is necessary to calculate the piece quantity of expanded clay blocks, the resulting volume is divided by the volume of one element (0.014 m 3). When calculating the dimensions of the openings, it is better not to subtract or purchase material with a 20% margin.

When purchasing claydite blocks, check:

Availability of certificates for products.
Production conditions (handicraft is better not to buy).
Surface quality - there should be no obvious defects and depressions.
Dimensions.
Density (weigh one element and divide the mass by the volume).

For one-story houses With wooden floors you can buy full-bodied ones, and a three-story cottage (to reduce pressure on the foundation) is often built from multi-slot blocks - their side faces are joined using ridges and grooves, without mortar.

Building a house from expanded clay blocks with your own hands

Foundation

If it is planned to equip the basement, then the foundation is built from concrete blocks; in the absence of a basement, it is used strip foundation- simple and durable option. To do this, first dig trenches with a depth of 0.5 m, they place a sand cushion in them. Then a wooden formwork is made (it must be waterproofed), reinforcement is laid and poured concrete mortar, which is compacted every 0.2 m.

After the solution has hardened (3 days), the formwork panels are removed, the upper and side planes of the concrete strips are waterproofed with mastic and roofing material. The gaps between the foundation and the trenches are filled with sand. Shrinkage of the structure lasts about 12 weeks, after which they begin to lay the walls. It is easy to make such a basis for a claydite-concrete structure on your own, but it is first necessary to conduct geological studies to determine the bearing capacity of the soil.

Laying of expanded clay concrete wall blocks

1. The foundation surface is leveled with a three-centimeter layer of cement mortar (check the plane by level). After solidification, 2 - 3 layers of roofing material are laid, layering them with mastic.

2. Laying starts from the corner, forming a row along the stretched cord along the perimeter, and then the next row. As often as possible, control the quality of installation with a level and a plumb line - this is necessary due to the small technological taper of the blocks.

3. With two-row masonry, both rows are built at the same time, performing their bundle. From inner wall every second block is released into the outer one (the length of the outlet is ½ the length of the block). In order to avoid the formation of cold bridges, the end facing the outer row is insulated with a 40 mm thick polystyrene foam gasket. Often used single-row masonry, followed by insulation.

4. Use regular sandy cement mortar, which fills both vertical and horizontal joints. At the same time, a seam thickness of 12 mm is observed.

5. The strength of the walls is increased by reinforcement with a diameter of 8 - 10 mm - it is laid on a lined row along the perimeter every 2 - 3 rows.

The laying of the walls of the 1st floor of the house is completed with the installation of a reinforcing belt made of solid brick or reinforced concrete to redistribute the load from the floor over the surface of the block. The second version of the belt is a conventional solution using a grid (diameter 4 - 5 mm, cell 70 x 70 mm). The armored belt must be thermally insulated, since its thermal conductivity is higher than that of a hollow one.

Expanded clay blocks in the construction of a 2-storey house are used in such a way that the thickness of the bearing walls is at least 0.39 m. Some manufacturers produce blocks of 590x400x200 mm in size - they provide strength, and in this case, thin rolled insulation is sufficient for thermal insulation.

Exterior finishing options

The role of the cladding is to prevent the destruction of the walls due to temperature fluctuations. For this purpose, the following materials are preferred:

facing brick;
fake diamond;
plaster;
siding;
thermal panels are a modern, environmentally friendly and inexpensive material.

Under facing material insulation is installed in two layers - most often basalt wool (brands Knauf, Rockwool, Izorok) up to 10 cm thick. A windscreen and a waterproofing layer are placed between the layers of thermal insulation. Such a system will not miss home warmth outside and protect the expanded clay concrete from moisture. Aluminum foil is used as a parabarrier.

For floors claydite-concrete houses usually use hollow iron concrete plates factory-made 0.21 - 0.63 m long, 0.16 - 0.22 m thick, 0.99 - 1.19 m wide with the designation PK and PNO. These panels are distinguished by good sound insulation, durability, and stable technical characteristics.

Interior decoration

Usually the first finishing layer of the wall is cement-sand or gypsum plaster. First, with the help of dowels and self-tapping screws, a reinforcing mesh is mounted - galvanized or polymer. The surface is pre-coated with concrete contact to increase adhesion or a special plaster mixture is selected that adheres well to expanded clay concrete. After plastering, the walls are lined with drywall, clapboard, wallpaper or ceramic tiles are glued.

How much does construction cost

To determine how much a house built on its own from expanded clay concrete will cost, calculate the estimated cost of each material, multiplying its market price by the estimated quantity. The calculation includes:

expanded clay blocks;
reinforced concrete lintels for openings;
reinforcing mesh and round reinforcement;
lumber for formwork;
thermal insulation of walls and roofs;
parabarrier film
lining;
masonry mortar;
foundation concrete;
roofing material, waterproofing, mastic;
reinforced concrete floors;
wooden beams for rafters and battens;
roofing;
plastic windows;
nails, screws.

The calculation also includes transportation costs and services of handling equipment, the price of project documentation (about 25,000 rubles). The average cost of do-it-yourself construction one-story house(8 x 7 m) of expanded clay concrete with siding sheathing and a metal roof is about 800,000.

If the laying of the walls will be carried out by a construction company, then only the construction of a box at home will cost 80,000 rubles (with a thickness of 0.39 m). Full complex price construction works with interior decoration - 13,500 rubles / m 2. A house with a turnkey attic measuring 8x9 m at such prices costs 1,850,000.

Expanded clay concrete - inexpensive, but at the same time durable and strong construction material, which has high thermal efficiency and soundproofing abilities. The use of expanded clay concrete is widespread in all areas of low-rise construction, both residential and commercial buildings 1-3 floors high are being built from it.

In this article, the technology of building a house from expanded clay concrete is considered in detail. You will also find out what are the advantages and disadvantages of given material and how to make it at home.

For front finishing we recommend to choose a facing brick. Between layer brickwork and the surface of the insulation must be left with a ventilation gap 1 cm thick. The interior decoration is done in several layers - the first is gypsum plaster, and drywall is attached on top of it or wallpaper is glued.

2.1 Cost of the house, reviews

If you decide to build a house with your own hands, then the amount of costs for building materials, project documentation, transportation costs and rental of crane equipment will vary within 500-800 thousand rubles for the project of a one-story building with an area of 70-80 squares. The project of a similar house, ordered from a construction company, is estimated at around 1.5 million. The price includes all work - you get a completely finished building with interior decoration.

Check out the reviews of expanded clay concrete houses from the owners of such housing.

S. V. Nikiforov, 29 years old:

The house of expanded clay concrete blocks was built together with my father in 3 months. Everything was done with their own hands, they kept within 600 thousand for a 7 * 8 m building. We are satisfied with the result - the housing turned out to be solid, warm and comfortable. Among lightweight concretes, in my opinion, expanded clay concrete is the best choice for low-rise construction.

D. V. Baryshkin, 38 years old:

I have lived in a concrete building for over 10 years. Recently, the building was insulated with mineral wool, as a result, heating costs decreased by almost 30% - they began to turn on the boiler much less often, so the house now keeps heat perfectly. I have heard more than once that heavy objects cannot be attached to the walls of expanded clay blocks - I have a 150-liter boiler hanging, there are no problems.

Since the time when expanded clay appeared, no significant changes in the technology of its production have occurred. Porous blocks made using this material are also highly environmentally friendly and are relatively cheap. In buildings erected from these products, it “breathes” easily; and a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks, which in terms of thermal insulation characteristics is not inferior to a structure made of gas or foam concrete, can be built even by a novice builder.

The main types of expanded clay concrete blocks

Expanded clay concrete blocks (according to GOST, they are regulated like stones) are produced in different grades with an indication of compressive strength. Depending on the volume of expanded clay, the density of the blocks varies from 350 to 1800 kg / m³. The less expanded clay in the product, the denser, heavier and its thermal conductivity coefficient is higher, that is, the material is durable, but not very “warm”. The high content of porous expanded clay significantly reduces the density of the material and its strength, but gives it good thermal insulation characteristics. Therefore, only after understanding the purpose of the stones and their scope, you will be able to understand what products you will need to build a building from expanded clay concrete blocks with your own hands. Based on the density, all expanded clay concrete blocks are divided into the following types:

Thermal insulation products with a density of 350 to 700 kg/m³: used for laying the thermal insulation layer.

Important! Heat-insulating blocks cannot be used for the construction of load-bearing walls.

Mixed-use blocks with a density of 700 to 1400 kg / m³: used for construction wall panels And interior partitions that are not heavily loaded.
Structural blocks made of expanded clay concrete, the density of which varies from 1400 to 1800 kg / m³ (they are quite heavy). They are used for the construction of load-bearing structures.

Advice! The structure of products of this type turns out to be durable, but “cold”, so plan: how to insulate a house built from expanded clay concrete blocks.

Conclusion: a material with a low density has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity, but its strength leaves much to be desired; a material with a high density has good compressive strength, but using it in the construction of a house, it is necessary to produce insulation.

In the construction market, expanded clay concrete products are represented by two varieties: hollow and full-bodied. Solid ones are highly durable and are used for the construction of load-bearing walls and structures that can withstand heavy loads. Hollow blocks are not very durable, but have good heat-saving characteristics. They are used to build internal partitions, and sometimes as an additional heat-insulating or sound-proofing layer.

To facilitate the construction of a building such as a house made of expanded clay concrete, reduce the amount of mortar and prevent the formation of cold bridges, products with a tongue-and-groove system are often used.

Calculation of the required number of blocks

How to calculate required amount blocks for building a house from expanded clay concrete with your own hands? Very simple. The calculation is made without taking into account the thickness of the masonry joint. Initial data: the width of the front wall is 6 m, the length of the side wall is 9 m, the height in the corner is 3 m, the height in the ridge is 7 m, we lay the wall in half a block.

Calculate the total area of the walls: S(total) = 6×3×2 + 9×3×2 + 4×3×2 = 36 + 54 + 24 = 114 m².

Determine the area window openings(given that the width of one window is 1.4 m; height - 1.2 m; quantity - 4 pieces): S (windows) \u003d 1.4 × 1.2 × 4 \u003d 6.72 m².

We determine the area of the doorway (assuming that the width of the doorway is 1.2 m and the height is 2.2 m): S (doorway) \u003d 1.2 × 2.2 \u003d 2.64 m².

Wall area (without windows and doorways): S (walls) \u003d S (total) - S (windows) - S (doorway) \u003d 114 - 6.72 - 2.64 \u003d 104.64 m².

Expanded clay block with a size of 0.2 m × 0.2 m × 0.4 m has an area: S (block) = 0.2 × 0.4 = 0.08 m².

The number of blocks required for masonry: N \u003d S (walls): S (block) \u003d 104.64: 0.08 \u003d 1308 pieces (this number of blocks is necessary for our construction).

The amount of material will decrease if the thickness of the masonry joint (about 15 mm) is taken into account in the calculation, but it is better not to do this (let there be a small margin). The calculation of the number of products for internal partitions is done in a similar way.

The technology of building a house from expanded clay concrete

If you are building claydite-concrete house, stick to the recommended technology and you will succeed.

Foundation

Professionals say that a strip foundation is most suitable for building a house from expanded clay concrete blocks (by the way, as well as for a monolithic house). The technology of its arrangement is simple, so you can easily make the foundation necessary for your house from expanded clay concrete blocks yourself. We carry out the following work:

we dig a trench under the foundation (the width exceeds the width of the wall by 10-15 cm, and the depth is 50 cm);
at the bottom we place a pillow of sand (height - 15 cm);
abundantly moisten the sand with water and ram;
pour a layer of crushed stone (15 cm high);
we tamp rubble;
we equip a waterproofing layer (for example, roofing material);
we mount the formwork, which we must waterproof;
inside the formwork we make a reinforcing frame;
pour concrete;
after 5 days we produce demoulding, upper and side surfaces we waterproof the foundation with mastic and roofing material;
we fill the cavities between the foundation and the trench with sand;
we take a break for 1-3 months so that the foundation settles;
we start laying the walls.

We make laying of expanded clay concrete wall blocks

The laying algorithm looks like this:

on the foundation we lay roofing material in 2-3 layers (we coat each layer with mastic);
we lay 2 blocks from each corner on the solution;

along the entire perimeter we stretch a cord between the corner blocks, along which we equalize the laying of expanded clay concrete products of the first row;
check the masonry level, adjust the position of each block with a rubber mallet;
we take a break for 1 day so that a row of masonry settles;
we erect subsequent rows in a checkerboard pattern, starting from the corner (we lay no more than 3-4 rows per day);
before laying the floors between the floors and the roof truss system, we equip the reinforcing belts.

Important! As often as possible, control the quality of the masonry with the help of a level and a plumb line.

Laying options for standard blocks depending on the desired thickness:

Warming

To insulate houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks, different materials are used outside: mineral wool with a foil layer (vapor barrier for this material is provided aluminium foil), glass wool, polystyrene foam, foam plastic.

Important! To increase the service life of the heat-insulating layer, it is necessary to equip a vapor barrier on top of it.

most efficient and available material counts mineral wool with a foil layer (available in the form of dense and durable slabs), it is the best suited for such a "breathing" material as expanded clay concrete.

The technology for laying the heat-insulating layer is quite simple:

we clean the outer walls from dust and treat with a primer for outdoor work;
knead the glue according to the instructions on the package;
we apply glue around the entire perimeter of the mineral wool sheet and additionally in the middle;
glue the plates to the wall in a checkerboard pattern, starting from the bottom of one of the corners;
after 1 day, we fix the glued mineral plates with plastic dowels (“umbrellas”);
we install the reinforcing layer (special facade fiberglass mesh): we press it into the layer of applied plaster adhesive with a wide spatula;
on the dried reinforcing layer we lay another layer of special glue and cover it with some kind of facade decorative plaster;
after the final drying, we paint.

In custody

If you decide to build and you can build a house with your own hands, follow our recommendations, use expanded clay concrete products. As a result, you will receive housing with a favorable microclimate.

become popular in foreign countries expanded clay concrete blocks are increasingly being used in construction low-rise buildings in the vastness of our country. Have you been dreaming about your private house away from the noisy city for a long time? Today is the time to make your dream come true. In this article we will tell you how to build a house from expanded clay blocks with your own hands in a short time, with minimal cost both material and physical.

The use of expanded clay concrete

A house made of expanded clay blocks does not need special care and different long periods operation. For the construction of cottages or country houses mainly used multi-slit and full-bodied expanded clay concrete. If you are planning to build cottage with a light wooden ceiling, it is better to raise walls from solid blocks. For buildings with two or more floors, both types of blocks are used.

The multi-slot blocks are provided with grooves and ridges on both sides, which allows installation along vertical seams without the use of mortar. Such masonry is called a butt joint and is designed to improve the thermal conductivity of the wall by reducing the number of cold bridges.

The project of the future home should be ordered from a highly qualified specialist. When discussing various nuances, special attention should be paid to the fact that the house will be built from expanded clay blocks. A well-designed project indicating all dimensions will help to avoid various unforeseen situations that worsen the quality of the structure.

Advantages of expanded clay blocks over the use of other building materials:

Ecological purity.
Stability of blocks to various external influences.
Increased manufacturability.
Low rates of water absorption.
Expanded clay concrete has excellent thermal insulation properties.
A small mass of products does not require a powerful foundation.

Calculation of the required number of blocks

You can save construction costs if you know how to calculate claydite blocks for a house. To carry out the most accurate calculations, you need a house project. From it you can determine the size of the building. The length of the external and internal load-bearing walls should be summed up. The result is the length of all the walls of the house, which must be multiplied by the height of the premises. To continue the calculation, you need to know the thickness of the designed walls and the dimensions of the blocks used for construction. The last figure obtained during the calculations is multiplied by the designed wall thickness. The result is the volume of all the walls of the house.

When buying expanded clay blocks, start from the received volume and be sure to add up to 5% to it for unforeseen situations. It can be a fight or a marriage of individual elements.

Construction technology

Consider the technology of building a house in stages.

Foundation

If the project provides basement, the foundation must be erected from concrete blocks. For ordinary house a strip foundation is laid from expanded clay blocks.

The construction site must be carefully cleared of debris and leveled.
Dig a pit, the depth of which depends on the type of soil and level ground water in the construction area.
At the bottom of the pit, fill a pillow of sand and crushed stone of a large fraction in layers of 30 cm.
Install the reinforcing cage and formwork from wooden panels.
Using a concrete mixer, prepare a solution of fine crushed stone, sand, cement and water. Pour the foundation.

When laying the foundation for the house, it is necessary to immediately lay pipes for supplying water and draining wastewater. Do not forget about the device ventilation holes around the entire perimeter of the building.

Leave the foundation to harden for at least two weeks, and preferably three months. During this time, the base will sag under its own weight, which will improve the quality of the construction of the entire building. To prevent moisture from entering the basement and foundation, it is necessary to arrange high-quality waterproofing.

For convenience, pull the cord from corner to another corner. Start laying the walls from the corner. Having laid the corner block on the base, check its vertical and horizontal position. After completing the laying of the first row, proceed to the laying of the second. Be sure to tie between rows.

The height of the seam between the blocks should be 10 mm. There should be no empty gaps between the blocks, so it is necessary to thoroughly coat all seams with a solution.

If you want your home to be warm and cozy, we recommend that, along with the laying of claydite blocks, parallel laying of insulation and external decorative element. It can be facing bricks, special blocks or other materials.

Using brick for facing the building, it is necessary to make a dressing between the inner and outer layers of the masonry with fiberglass rods or mesh. Special attention give to the laying of blocks that form window and door openings.

Check each row of masonry horizontally and vertically.

Reinforcing the walls every four rows will help to give greater rigidity to the building structure. To do this, you will need reinforcement or masonry mesh. After completing the laying of the walls, you need to install a reinforcing belt made of reinforced concrete or ordinary brick on top.

roof construction

The better the truss system is made, the more reliable the roof structure will be. Expanded clay blocks should also be used for laying gables. Do not forget about the need to carry out thermal insulation and waterproofing works before installation roofing material. Particular attention should be paid to the installation of chimneys.

A house made of expanded clay blocks can be faced with the most different materials. The cheapest way is to finish the building with sand and cement plaster. You can do normal or decorative plaster and paint the building any color you like.

Aesthetic and noble will look a natural stone. The most important thing is that its characteristics include an excellent indicator of frost resistance.

Economical cladding - thermal panels made of polyurethane foam and clinker tiles. Excellent environmentally friendly material perfectly retains heat in frost and life-giving coolness in the heat.

So we told you how to build a house from expanded clay blocks so that it turns out to be warm and reliable. About how to do inner lining buildings from expanded clay blocks, installation floor coverings, truss system, supply of communication systems and other works you can read in our next articles.

Video

We bring to your attention a video from which you will learn how to properly lay the corner of a house made of expanded clay concrete.

Initially, claydite-concrete blocks were produced as a kind of insulation for brick wall. Block masonry was organized from the outside of the building and its purpose was to keep thermal radiation inside the structure. According to the strength characteristics, expanded clay concrete is not suitable for the organization of enclosing and load-bearing structures. However, with the development of science, the production of this type of building material has also improved.

Characteristics of expanded clay concrete structure

Today, expanded clay concrete at a relatively low specific gravity(it all depends on the degree of porosity of the material and the quality of the binder solution) - up to 1.5 times less than that of brickwork, has a compressive strength of 5-25 kg / cm2. This allows it to be used for the construction of ordinary low-rise houses. The advantage is its low thermal conductivity and high soundproofing properties.

2). M75 - under construction bearing wall, 200 mm thick.

3). Hollow blocks - perfect solution for construction country house. This is a lightweight version of the material. He has uneven surface, which will affect the cost of its further processing.

4). You can use a solid block, but it weighs a lot (more than 1000 kg / cubic meter) and requires a powerful foundation.

The subtleties of the construction process

Regarding the foundation, the opinions of most owners are in the direction of a monolithic structure with a reinforcing frame.

If the soil is not stable and geodetic studies confirm the close flow of groundwater, then it is better to use a pile version of the foundation of the house. Of course, the price of construction in this case will increase significantly (due to the complexity of the design and the involvement of special equipment), but the result will be a solid house.

The basement is being built if the ground difference is large, and its artificial leveling has not been carried out. For this, a special basement brick, plus a reinforcing mesh in several rows. The result is in the picture.

The ceiling of the first floor is equipped after the basement has gained strength. For this, concrete slabs with reinforcement inside are taken.

Direct laying of blocks:

For load-bearing and enclosing structures, a brand block from M50 is used. For partitions in the house - partition material. Blocks are placed on cement mortar. According to the recommendations of the owners of houses, every fifth row of masonry is reinforced. Work begins with forcing corners, then moving along the wall.

After the organization of window openings and the first floor, for laying the floor for the next floor, an armored belt with removable formwork is organized.

After the cement stone of the armapoyas has matured, floor slabs are laid. Regarding the insulation of the walls of the house and ground floor most owners lean towards glued foam, a ventilated gap and facing the house with decorative bricks.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any building, a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks has its advantages and disadvantages.

Positive aspects of the design

The positive characteristics include low thermal conductivity, large volume with a low specific gravity. This allows you to save some on the purchase of material. Knowing the mass of one structural element, it is easy to calculate its strength and thermal conductivity. According to the obtained data, it is possible to determine optimal thickness and foundation height.

Negative points

To organize normal temperature regime in a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks, a wall thickness of up to 1.2 m is required. Of course, no one will build this. Therefore, all developers insist on additional insulation buildings.

Styrofoam is not suitable in this case, since it is combustible, and under an additional facing layer on top of the insulation, it will be difficult to extinguish it in case of fire. However, this is a theory. Many people still resort to using this particular heater and are satisfied.

According to the norms of the building for the insulation of the walls of the building from expanded clay concrete block it is better to use mineral or basalt wool in slabs. Additional waterproofing is also necessary, since expanded clay concrete is a porous structure.

Duration of operation

Regarding the strength of the blocks, there are also no complaints from the owners of expanded clay concrete houses. All nails on dowels hold well. The main thing is to choose the right dowel. For furniture fit 10 mm. For heavy structures - you need to use self-tapping screws. Expanded clay does not crack when the temperature drops.

Video review: Expanded clay concrete blocks

Expanded clay blocks. Material Features

Those who built a house from this building material note that microcracks may appear in the first 3-5 years after its construction, but only about 5% of blocks are subject to this trend.

Houses made of blocks are strong, easy to use, durable. They look decent. Most people, using this material, did not regret their choice.