Constructing a cellar or basement can greatly increase your home’s worth and usefulness. Expanded clay concrete blocks are among the most widely used and efficient materials for this type of building. Professional builders and do-it-yourselfers alike favor these blocks because of their superior insulation, robustness, and handling ease.
Clay and concrete are combined, and the mixture is heated to produce expanded clay concrete blocks, which are a lightweight but durable building material. The end product is a block that is insect and moisture resistant in addition to offering good thermal and acoustic insulation. This makes it perfect for underground buildings, such as basements and cellars, where controlling temperature and dampness are essential factors.
A strong foundation is essential when constructing a cellar or basement using expanded clay concrete blocks. Excavation and leveling are two important aspects of site preparation that guarantee the stability and longevity of the building. Because of their consistent size and shape, laying the blocks is simple once the foundation is ready. You can build sturdy, level walls that will endure over time by paying close attention to the mortar application process and the placement of your blocks.
The adaptability of expanded clay concrete blocks is another significant benefit. They offer a great degree of customization because they are simple to cut to fit around corners and other architectural features. Their lightweight design also makes them simpler to handle and transport, which lessens the physical strain on builders and expedites the building process.
All things considered, using expanded clay concrete blocks to build a cellar or basement is a useful and effective option. They make a great foundation for designing a useful and cozy subterranean space in your house because of their strength, insulating qualities, and simplicity of use.
Aspect | Description |
Materials | Expanded clay concrete blocks are lightweight and have good thermal insulation properties. They"re ideal for basement walls and cellars. |
Foundation | Start with a solid, well-drained foundation. Make sure the ground is level and compacted. |
Wall Construction | Lay the blocks with mortar, ensuring they"re level and aligned. Use reinforced concrete for extra strength if needed. |
Insulation | Insulate the walls to prevent moisture issues and maintain a comfortable temperature. |
Waterproofing | Apply waterproofing membranes or coatings to protect against water ingress. |
Ventilation | Ensure proper ventilation to prevent dampness and improve air quality. |
Finishing | Finish the walls with plaster or other materials to create a smooth surface. |
- Feasibility of construction
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Suitable elements for walls
- Pie thickness, wall requirements
- Necessary materials and tools
- Stages of DIY construction
- Differences for the basement
- Possible mistakes
- Video on the topic
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Feasibility of construction
Even the process of constructing a cellar and basement out of expanded clay concrete blocks can be finished by you. The resulting ground depressions, whether above ground or below ground, recessed or recessed, will have all the features required to produce an ideal indoor microclimate.
These buildings’ walls will be robust, dependable, and long-lasting thanks to their meticulous finishing, external double-sided waterproofing, and layer of insulation that protects against external and mechanical damage.
Because it is lightweight, tightly bound to one another, and firmly attached to reinforced rods or mesh, expanded clay concrete is incredibly simple to work with.
Furthermore, expanded clay concrete resists spontaneous combustion and offers good fire protection.
Given that the mixture contains only naturally occurring bitumen emulsion, quartz sand, clean water, granules of special baked clay, and good-grade cement (M500 and above), the mineral composition used to make artificial stone expanded clay concrete is thought to be environmentally friendly.
All soil types can support the construction of an expanded clay concrete cellar or basement, but extremely heaving soils should not be used for this, particularly if the house is close to a pond. The room may have overly wet walls and high air humidity because the block material is porous and absorbs water from the surroundings well, even with improved waterproofing.
Furthermore, liquid will seep in and moisture will continuously appear on the walls and floor due to spring floods and an increase in groundwater levels.
Even though the material doesn’t easily grow mold or fungus, it’s still an uncomfortable situation. However, if the building is done on a hill and the waterproofing is done to a high standard, the subterranean structure will be suitable on extremely heaving soils; these soils will require extra strengthening with ASG and unique drainage systems.
Consequently, the majority of experts tend to think that it is preferable to construct an enlarged clay concrete cellar or basement outside rather than within the home. First, different loads will be removed, and second, waterproofing sheets can be used to completely cover the room from the pit side (outside). Ruberoid provides excellent water resistance, particularly when laid in two layers, giving the impression that the room is wrapped from the outside.
The ideal setup for an expanded clay concrete basement or cellar is a monolithic foundation that complies with all GOST 13579–78 technical guidelines.
The project makes use of structural blocks from the top brands, both hollow and solid, into which rods for reinforcement can be inserted. The standard dimensions of the blocks are 200 (400) x 100 x 200 (mm) + (-) 50 mm. The second layer of expanded clay concrete blocks, which is regarded as thermal insulation, can also be used in this process.
Expanded clay concrete basement and cellar layouts always require consideration of load-bearing components, ventilation systems, location within the landscape, and the degree of soil freezing in the surrounding communications. Regulations and a pre-drawn project are mandatory for every building.
Ordering a cellar or basement project from a nearby construction company or architectural office is the best option. Experts will handle everything with professionalism, creating a schedule of work and an estimate for the required supplies and equipment.
Advantages and disadvantages
The following are the primary benefits that builders see in using expanded clay concrete blocks to construct cellars and basements:
- Possibility of building premises in any climate zone.
- Budget and low cost of the total amount of material used (2 times cheaper than brick and reinforced concrete).
- Environmentally friendly due to mineral composition.
- Durability and strength of walls.
- High frost resistance and thermal conductivity.
- Easy installation due to low weight.
- Excellent compatibility of expanded clay concrete with cement and adhesive mortars, as well as any types of finishing.
- Good adhesion to reinforced materials (rods and mesh).
- No tendency to spontaneous combustion.
- Walls do not shrink with a properly constructed foundation.
- Does not form mold or mildew, has good vapor barrier.
Expanded clay concrete cellars and basements have the following drawbacks:
- They cannot withstand heavy loads, so the construction of two-story cellars or basements is undesirable.
- Expanded clay concrete is prohibited from being used for foundations.
- The construction requires high-quality waterproofing and ventilation.
After examining the aforementioned, it is clear that expanding clay concrete has advantages when it comes to subterranean structures. The most important thing is to select high-quality material with density B and the marking M from a reliable manufacturer.
Using expanded clay concrete blocks to build a cellar or basement is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way for homeowners to optimize their living area while preserving energy efficiency. Expanded clay blocks are a great material for subterranean construction because they are strong, lightweight, and resistant to moisture. This technique adds to a cozy and ecologically responsible living space in addition to offering a strong and affordable foundation.
Suitable elements for walls
Expanded clay concrete blocks that meet GOST standards can be used to build cellar and basement walls. These blocks can be hollow or solid, and they can also be half-blocks produced without autoclaving.
The half-blocks are square in shape, and the blocks are rectangular. Because expanded clay concrete products are designed to be load-bearing walls and have the capacity to support specific loads, their markings will always match those of indicators M500–M700 and higher.
Heat-insulating structural type "P" (septum) blocks can also be used to arrange interior spaces or partitions in basements. They can also be used to arrange blocks in a second layer, which comes after the load-bearing ones, to further improve the temperature in the room.
In areas with cold winters, the second layer of expanded clay blocks is especially advised. Additionally, slotted products can be used here; they are helpful for thermal and waterproofing applications.
The surface of the block and semi-block is smooth or rough, with a gray tint regardless of appearance and dimensions. Because hollow products can be strengthened with tiny rods, they work well when placed in succession with solid ones.
When drafting a project, the specialist independently ascertains which materials (solid or hollow) will be used and why, based on external factors. Block examples are shown in the photo table below:
Pie thickness, wall requirements
Expanded clay concrete block buildings must adhere strictly to the construction standards outlined in technical documents, which outline the specifications for the project, walls, foundation, and pie thickness.
- GOST 32488-2013;
- STO-NO "SPKIK" -001-2015;
- SP 50-101-2004;
- GOST 24476-80.
These documents state that every cellar and basement is set up on a monolithic foundation, which needs to be fixed within a year of the building date. The monolith is always covered with two layers of waterproofing before the walls are built.
When the foundation shrinks, the two-layer pie formed by the roofing material between the aboveground and underground portions of the future building will act as external waterproofing in the foundation pit itself, which is constructed in accordance with the technological guidelines of land work with required backfilling sinuses. A unique construction membrane can also be used in place of roofing material.
In addition to waterproofing, wall insulation can be installed on the soil’s side; this is particularly advised for fluffy soils and soils that freeze severely. By using these techniques, the underground room’s walls won’t freeze and the comfortable annual temperature will be maintained.
The following layers make up the cake of an underground structure’s walls:
- load-bearing walls (structural);
- external waterproofing, two-layer, on both sides of the load-bearing wall;
- external and internal insulation created in combination with an organized ventilation gap;
- a second row of expanded clay blocks, as additional insulation, if desired;
- finishing walls with any plaster material and any type of finishing.
The layers might appear roughly as depicted in the figure:
By all technological standards, the cellar or basement walls (the whole pie) can have a thickness of 65 cm. When waterproofing both inside and outside, a gap of no more than 20 to 50 cm should be considered. Indicators of wall thickness may differ amongst Russian regions. As an illustration, the thickness for
- southern regions – up to 40 cm;
- central part – up to 60 cm;
- northern regions – from 60 cm.
Strict adherence to the project and work plan is required when building the pie’s layers in order to prevent errors.
Installing a drainage well and ring drainage around the building will help shield the cellar or basement from standing water.
Necessary materials and tools
An online calculator can be used to determine how much expanded clay block volume is needed for the task at hand. High-quality marked blocks and half-blocks, along with the following supplies and equipment, are needed for construction:
- Dry glue (or foam) and sand-cement mixture, which will need to be diluted as used. You can also use ready-made mixtures, which are sold in packaged buckets.
- Container for preparing solutions, shovel, concrete mixer or construction hand mixer.
- Slats, beams for the ceiling and doorways, hinged doors, roofing materials – slate, ondulin, metal tiles (if the room is outdoor).
- Thermal insulation (mineral wool or expanded polystyrene slabs are considered the best for expanded clay concrete).
- Waterproofing (membrane or roofing felt).
- Reinforced mesh or rods.
- Finishing and plastering materials.
- Jute tapes, which are laid between the blocks to eliminate cold bridges.
- Fasteners, rubber and regular hammers, drill, chaser, grinder with attachments.
- Construction cord, ruler, level, plumb line, spatulas, including serrated, etc..
Additionally, the worker needs shoes and work clothes. You will need to wear protective glasses to shield your eyes from dust when using a grinder.
If an official contract is signed with a construction company for the construction of a basement or cellar, the entire list of tools and materials will not be required. As per the approved estimate, the company will supply all the necessary tools to complete the work.
Stages of DIY construction
You can build a cellar with your own hands by following these step-by-step instructions, which cover preparation, laying, organizing waterproofing, ventilation, and insulation of walls, roofing work, and hanging doors.
These are the components of preparation:
- design of the project;
- purchase of consumables;
- purchasing a tool;
- performing earthworks;
- formation of a monolithic foundation;
- Waiting time – 1 year for foundation shrinkage.
Masonry entails the following steps and uses checkerboard technology, similar to brickwork:
- 2 layers of roofing felt, sand and crushed stone are placed on the foundation for drainage;
- Using a cement-sand mortar, the first layer of expanded clay concrete structural blocks is laid to a thickness of 20 mm, along the marked perimeter, from the corners;
- then the blocks and half-blocks are laid in a checkerboard pattern on the adhesive base, not forgetting about the wall reinforcement every 3-4 layers, as well as jute tape and periodically tapping all laid layers with a mallet;
- with the help of formwork and reinforcement, a place is formed for the doorway, in the form of a lintel and further laying of floor slabs under the roof;
- during the masonry process, the master should not forget about the arrangement of external waterproofing and insulation, since he can perform internal work after the installation of load-bearing walls is completed;
- strictly according to the plan, it will also be necessary to install ventilation and outgoing ventilation pipes;
- the last layer of blocks under the roof is made in the form of an armored belt, since it will perform a load-bearing function;
- then a wooden frame of beams is installed, roofing felt is laid, sand and gravel mixture is poured into the voids and the space is filled with concrete;
- hang the entrance doors, cover the roof with the selected material;
- do internal waterproofing and insulation;
- last of all, plastering and finishing work is performed.
In the event that the room is double, partitions are set up. Expanded clay concrete blocks, known as "P" blocks by the manufacturers, are used for this.
Masonry layers are stacked in accordance with the type of load-bearing wall: the first and last layers are set in sand-cement mortar, while the remaining layers are adhered to, reinforced, and anchored (three to four times to the ceiling) strictly in accordance with technology.
The cellar or basement’s height and width are chosen at random and match the project drawing.
A wooden, metal, or monolithic staircase is also an integral part of every cellar or basement. On specialized websites, they are available for purchase premade. Building companies will construct stairs based on individual drawings, transport them to the designated location, and install them.
Compared to someone doing it themselves, professionals will finish the construction process far more quickly and will always offer guarantees for their work.
Differences for the basement
The plan calls for the construction of multiple rooms in the basement, all of which will be connected by a single common hallway. The construction of basements and cellars is essentially the same, with the exception that the basement will require more partition walls, have a larger area, and require both interior and exterior doors (the number of which will depend on the project).
Possible mistakes
If you adhere to the construction plan and strictly follow the technology for building the walls and foundation, it is easy to avoid problems and mistakes during the work process. The following are some factors that can make building basements and cellars more difficult:
- Purchasing low-quality consumables and blocks that do not meet quality standards. This is especially true for expanded clay blocks, the poor quality of which can be easily determined by their appearance. A yellowish appearance, the presence of white and dark spots indicate that the artificial stone is of poor quality, it contains a lot of sand and unknown additives. A manufacturer who monitors quality will always provide good products, a guarantee and a certificate for them.
- Error in calculations and project drawings. Can lead to geometric deformations of walls, incorrectly made wall layers, etc.d. Therefore, it is best to order the project from professionals.
- Incorrectly laid foundation caused by irregularities in earthworks, refusal to settle (within 1 year) and to use reinforcement to create a concrete foundation. Can lead to deformations and cracks on the walls, which will have to be eliminated every year, spending money.
- Carrying out work in weather that is unsuitable by construction standards. The norm for all construction processes, according to technological rules, is +5 °C, dry and warm weather.
- Violation of masonry technology. It will lead to cracks and distortions, so it is necessary to carry out the laying in a checkerboard pattern, focusing on the tension of the construction cord, adhering to the type of brick dressing, and not forgetting about the reinforcement every 3-4 layers.
- Refusal of ventilation and waterproofing. The basement and cellar will be damp and humid (walls, floor), due to the condensation formed. Therefore, when building, roofing felt is used not only for the floor (2 layers), but also for the walls outside and inside. They think about ventilation during the process of laying a wall. To do this, use special ready-made devices with pipes going outside.
If you adhere strictly to GOST technology, building underground structures yourself will never present any challenges.
Before beginning work, any material should always be dry because it will be difficult for it to dry underground.
Using expanded clay concrete blocks to build a cellar or basement is a cost-effective and useful option for homeowners. Because of their superior thermal insulation, the room remains warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Their durability guarantees a long-lasting structure, and their lightweight design facilitates handling and construction.
The ability of expanded clay concrete blocks to withstand moisture is one of their main benefits. For cellars and basements, which are frequently exposed to damp conditions, this is essential. You can drastically lower the chance of mold and mildew by using these blocks, which will improve the quality of the space used for storage or living.
Furthermore, using these blocks to construct something is a simple process. They are simple to shape and cut, giving designers more creative freedom. Expanded clay concrete blocks are flexible enough to meet your needs whether you’re designing a basic storage cellar or a more elaborate basement living space.
All things considered, there are many advantages to using expanded clay concrete blocks for your cellar or basement construction, from increased insulation and moisture resistance to durability and ease of use. It’s a wise investment that raises your house’s worth and usability. Selecting this material will guarantee a dependable, cozy area that fulfills your needs over the long haul.