What is the best material for building your own home. What is the best way to build a house: how to choose a material for the walls. The main types of materials for building a private house

What is the best way to build a house? Without exception, everyone who dares to change a cramped city apartment for a spacious one thinks about this. And this question is not idle, because it includes not only the economic aspect, but also the durability of the home. HouseChief has collected information about the most popular types of wall building materials for you. Let's try to make a choice together.

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What are the criteria for choosing materials

The preparation of the project begins with the choice of building materials. Only with ready-made data on technical characteristics, you can draw up a competent plan and estimate for construction work. What you need to pay attention to when considering possible options:

• strength characteristics of the material;
• terms of his service;
• requirements for and solutions;
• difficulties in installation;
• price.

The traditional choice is:, and. Today it is these types of wall materials that are most in demand.

Brick houses: reliable and durable

This is the most massive building material, which puts forward a lot of requirements for the construction process. For a brick, you need a strong and deep, professional skills and competent design calculations.

Pros of brick construction

The most important advantage is its high strength. The bearing capacity of brick walls is not inferior to monolithic concrete. You can build multi-storey structures with complex geometry from bricks without worrying about their reliability.

It is impossible not to mention aesthetics. Brick covered with glaze and having a variety of colors - just a sight for sore eyes. Moreover, maintenance of such a facade is practically not required.

Why do many people refuse bricks

It would seem that with such advantages the brick should remain in the lead, but why is it so confidently squeezed by other materials? The first reason is poor heat retention. Yes, in terms of energy efficiency, brick is inferior to many building materials. For full-fledged thermal insulation in the middle lane, walls of at least 2.5 bricks are required. It is for this reason that ceramic and silicate material is placed as cladding, and the inner part of the walls is made of other materials that retain heat better.

Moving further in the study of the disadvantages of this building material, we find that brick houses have low moisture resistance, which, among other things, affects the internal microclimate of the house. If it often rains in your area, the area is heated, then the house will be constantly damp and cool.

Finally, brick buildings require a special approach to the construction of the foundation.

Output: if you have a solid budget, not too humid climate and a desire to build for centuries, choose a brick.

Blocks: from aerated concrete to shell rock

In the construction market, bricks are confidently being squeezed out. Their production requires less costs, which means that they will cost you a little, but cheaper.

If you take off your rose-colored glasses, then it is not difficult to discover the flaws of this material. There are two most unpleasant: the blocks are quite fragile and contain chemical components that can adversely affect the health of the residents of the house.

Arbolite blocks for walls

Arbolite, in essence, is wood chips held together. It's lightweight and warm, strong enough to even withstand.

But this building material also has its negative nuances: unimportant geometry, the ability to absorb moisture and the danger of running into handicraft elements that are made with violations of technology.

Output: wood concrete is a material of excellent characteristics if purchased from a trusted manufacturer. But it should be combined with a protective finish.

Shell rock for building a house

Shell blocks are quite expensive. Why do so many choose this option? The fact is that such walls keep heat well and absorb sounds. Such houses are warm in winter and cool in summer. Houses "breathe", providing an excellent microclimate, and the high iodine content in the shell makes the house practically healing.

Output. If in your region a shell is a material available for construction - feel free to use such blocks.

Wooden houses: environmentally friendly

Beams: plain and glued

Output.- a real alternative to block and brick construction and, subject to technology and high quality processing, will last quite a long time.

Log: a tribute to tradition

- this is a tribute to the age-old Russian traditions and care for the health of household members.

They are very warm and incredibly beautiful, especially if you are lucky enough to find a good master.

The disadvantage in them, as in houses from a bar, is a prolonged shrinkage and the need for careful processing of wood with antiseptics, fire retardants and insect repellents.

Output. If you like the traditional way and style, it is better not to find a log cabin, but for construction you need to find high-class craftsmen.

Frame-panel construction

So popular abroad, it came into our life relatively recently. or wooden, and to fill it, use either with thermal insulation.

And most importantly, they are the cheapest of all of the above.

And everything would be fine, but living in such a house is like being in a cardboard box. Every sound is heard, and they also burn, like the same boxes.

Output. Frame construction is the cheapest and most energy efficient, but living in such a house is not easy.

Summing up

Before we finally summarize, let's take a look at the technical data of wall building materials:

There are really many options. There is no definite recommendation. Each individual case has its own nuances and conditions that will help to make the best choice. What matters is the terrain, climatic conditions, type of soil, your preferences and financial capabilities. One can only advise: before giving preference to any particular material, listen to the opinion of those who live in such houses. Here is an example of such an opinion:

Can you advise any of the listed options? Is your home built with some special material? Write about it in the comments!

Traditional brick or warm ceramics, aerated concrete or wood concrete, timber or frame technology - what material is better to build a house from? Any novice developer, when choosing a building material, is faced with conflicting information. Making the best decision is not an easy task. We will try to narrow the scope of your search by selecting the most practical and cost-effective options.

What to consider when choosing a material

The importance of choosing a building material for external walls can hardly be overestimated. To understand which house to build, experts recommend deciding on the following points:

• type of housing - short-term visits or permanent residence;
• requirements for the strength and environmental friendliness of the wall material;
• estimated time of check-in;
• heating method;
• construction budget and labor intensity of the process;
• availability of building materials in the region;
• whether the likelihood of further sale of the house is allowed.

There is no universal answer to the question of which material is better for building a private house. It all depends on the project, the climate, the characteristics of the region of residence and the personal preferences of the owner of the site.

Basic requirements for technological properties of materials:

• good thermal protection - heating a house with cold walls will be very expensive;
• fire safety;
• durability;
• soundproofing qualities.

An important factor of choice is the final strength of structural elements. The walls must be able to withstand the weight of the roof, ceilings, wind and snow loads.

Comparison of materials for building a house: a qualitative assessment

To understand in what situation this or that solution will be preferable, we will compare the technical and operational qualities of modern materials for the construction of a private house.

Brick - reliability and high cost

Despite the development of innovative technologies, brick houses hold the leading position. Main arguments for traditional material:

• excellent performance of sound insulation;
• fire and environmental safety;
• prestige, aesthetics and wide architectural possibilities;
• ensuring a healthy microclimate in the room.

Brick is the most durable material for building a house. The service life of the building reaches up to 100 years.

If everything is so good, then why experiment and develop new technologies? Brick also has disadvantages:

• the need to equip a solid foundation due to the severity of the brick walls;
• high cost and duration of construction;
• high labor intensity and seasonality of construction work.

Ceramic brick has a fairly high thermal conductivity. To achieve effective thermal insulation, it is necessary to resort to additional insulation.

The last flaw is deprived ceramic block- porous ceramics. Due to the smallest air pores, the material retains heat well. An additional plus is the increased size and accelerated masonry process. The disadvantage of warm ceramics is fragility. When chipping a wall, you can split a block.

Characteristics of foam and aerated concrete blocks

One of the options for how to build a warm and economical house is to use gas and foam concrete. The thermal insulation characteristics of the wall in one layer correspond to the properties of multilayer brickwork. The thermal efficiency of the blocks is three times higher than that of bricks.

Both materials have similar characteristics, their main difference is in the internal structure. Gas blocks are made from a homogeneous sand-cement mixture. When a blowing agent is added, small through channels are formed inside the block.

In foam blocks, on the contrary, closed pores are formed inside the material. This technology gives foam blocks some advantages over gas blocks:

• improved energy efficiency properties;
• reduced weight;
• insensitivity to moisture.

Weighty arguments in favor of both building materials: relative availability, fire and biological resistance, lightness, ease of processing.

Disadvantages of block technology:

• fragility of walls;
• the need for external finishing;
• presence in the composition of chemical elements.

Pros and cons of a wooden house

Adherents of natural materials prefer wood, focusing on the following advantages:

• environmental friendliness - walls do not emit toxic substances hazardous to health and the environment;
• attractiveness - wooden buildings have a special charm;
• low thermal conductivity of wood;
• creating an optimal microclimate inside the house - wood walls "breathe" and take on excess moisture;
• strength - it is not easy to break through a wall made of a log or bar;
• the possibility of arranging a simple base is suitable.

A relative plus is the cost of construction. In general, the construction of wooden housing will cost less than a brick house due to the absence of the need for wall finishing and strengthening of the foundation.

However, wood cannot be called the cheapest material for building a house. The price depends largely on the region. It is more profitable for residents near forest plantations to use a tree; for the rest, the expediency of building is questionable. The main arguments against wood:

• the duration of the wall shrinkage is about 3 years;
• fire hazard - refractory liquids partially help reduce the flammability of the material, but do not completely solve the problem;
• the likelihood of cracking;
• the need for regular protective treatment of wooden walls from rotting and insect attacks.

Many wood critics speak negatively about the thermal performance of homes. The presence of cracks negates the thermal conductivity of the tree. The building needs sealing and additional insulation.

Features of the use of wood concrete

The second name of wood concrete is wood concrete... The material is made from cement binder and organic fillers - woodworking waste. This symbiosis has awarded arbolite blocks with a number of technical advantages:

• low thermal conductivity (up to 0.18 W / m) and good sound-suppressing properties;
• bending strength - wood concrete does not crack;
• the material is hardly flammable and slightly flammable, the formation of smoke is low;
• ease of processing - plates can be sawn;
• breathability, resistance to decay;
• light weight - the ratio of the weight of wood concrete and brick is 1: 3, the requirements for the foundation are reduced.

Thinking about what to choose - wood concrete or other material, one must take into account the climate of the region. The key to the durability of wood concrete is to ensure dryness. The basement of the house needs additional waterproofing.

In conditions of constant humidity, the wood concrete block is capable of absorbing 40-80% moisture from the outside, which reduces its thermal insulation properties.

Additional disadvantages of wood concrete: imperfect geometry of the block and the high cost of quality material. Due to the simplicity of manufacture, the market is overflowing with private-made products, the quality of which does not always meet the standards.

Monolith and concrete blocks

Concrete is considered stronger and more durable than brick. There are two technologies for building a house:

• one-piece construction made of monolithic concrete;
• prefabricated structure from factory reinforced concrete panels.

Cast concrete... A rather complicated technology: the frame of the house is erected from reinforcement and is gradually poured with liquid concrete. As the mortar dries, the formwork is removed and rearranged to another casting area.

Advantages of monolithic technology:

• reliability - the strength of the building is explained by the absence of seams, a cast house is the best option for seismically active areas;
• durability - service life is more than 150 years;
• fire resistance - the walls of the house are not destroyed by fire;
• variability of forms - by building the formwork, you can give the structure any configuration.

Disadvantages of monolithic buildings: high cost, the need to strengthen the foundation, the complexity of creating high formwork, exactingness to the quality of concrete.

Prefabricated panels... This is an option for those looking for a way like home. Ready-made reinforced concrete panels are brought to the site and a structure is formed from them.

The main advantages of the method: speed of construction, ideal geometry, affordable cost, fire safety.

In private housing construction, the method is not particularly popular for a number of reasons: slabs are produced in standard sizes - the choice of projects is limited, concrete walls need insulation.

Frame technology - efficiency and speed of construction

For many Europeans and Americans, the question of what material is better to build a house from is not so relevant. Most people prefer wireframe technology.

The base of the building - wooden frame, which is subsequently sheathed with heat-insulating plates. The method has a number of significant advantages:

• speed of construction and the ability to perform work all year round - there are no "wet" processes;
• simplicity of construction - you can build a small house on your own without the involvement of special equipment;
• ease of construction - the frame does not require a strong foundation;
• convenience of laying communications - water pipes, ventilation ducts and electric cables can be laid in the cavities of walls, ceilings;
• good thermal insulation - subject to the construction standard and the use of high-quality energy-intensive components.

With a standard wall thickness of 30 cm, the frame retains heat, like a brick house with a wall thickness of 50 cm.

An important and sometimes decisive factor in favor of frame technology is a low construction budget. Prefabricated houses are the most affordable and very economical to operate in winter due to effective thermal insulation of the walls.

Prefab houses are demanding on the quality of wood for the construction of the supporting structure. Compared to brick buildings, they have a lower level of sound insulation.

When is it better to build a frame house? The popularity of wireframes among compatriots is increasing. Previously, the prejudiced attitude has changed - many have become convinced of the practicality and heat capacity of housing through personal experience. Such houses are versatile and cost-effective, their construction is justified in different climatic regions.

Alternative building materials for a private house

In some regions, in addition to the technologies described above, non-standard solutions are used:

1. Adobe... The building material is popular in Central Asia. Saman is made from a mixture of scraps and clay. The material keeps cool in summer and keeps warm in winter, but it is not particularly durable and is afraid of water. Adobe houses are suitable only for dry climates; in conditions of prolonged rainy autumn and harsh winters, the material cannot be used.
2. Natural stone. The choice of lovers of "antique" style and all natural. Building a house out of stone is an expensive pleasure. Such a structure will stand for more than a century.
3. Cinder block... A compressed block of filler - slag and binder - cement. Cinder block is a cheap alternative to brick, building material is popular for the construction of outbuildings and country houses. The environmental safety of pressed blocks is questionable, therefore they are not recommended for the construction of residential buildings.

What house to build: profitability scale

If we compare the cost of building houses from different materials and compare the upcoming maintenance costs, then the rating will look like this:

• 1st place... Frame house. Estimated construction cost - 180 USD e. / sq. m, heating and house maintenance costs are minimal.
• 2nd place... Wooden beams without insulation. The approximate cost of construction is 200 USD. e. / sq. m, but heating costs are twice as large, which means that heating bills are increasing.
• 3 a place... Aerated concrete with insulation. The cost of building a house is 320 USD. e. / sq. m. Heating costs in comparison with a frame house increase by a quarter.
• 4th place... Brick, double masonry. The price of the issue is about 400 USD. e. / sq. m. Operating a house in winter will cost three times more than maintaining a frame.

Potential developers often hesitate whether it is worth building a frame house or whether it is better to resort to traditional technologies. Long-term foreign experience, profitability indicators and positive feedback from compatriots speak in favor of frame buildings. In many respects, they are ahead of brick, wood and concrete houses.

Video: comparison of wall materials

Few can afford to buy a ready-made house, and it is difficult to find a layout suitable for themselves. At the same time, there is an option construction personal real estate according to your own project. Modern industry provides a lot of unique materials that can contribute to the embodiment of any individual idea.

And yet, most land owners are wondering, what is cheaper to build a house from and how not to lose in quality and reliability of the whole structure. Let's try to figure out the choice of the optimal project and materials for the organization construction.

Project selection: main criteria

The main goal is to build a dwelling for which the average resident of the country will have enough funds. There is no point in planning a room with the possibility of subsequent expansion or extension - no need to waste years on a grueling series of reconstruction works. Significantly more rational initially build more modestly, but more efficiently, this is the only way to get the maximum pleasure from living in your personal "apartment".

Among low-rise housing, projects of one- and two-storey buildings, sometimes with an attic floor, are very popular. The main criterion when choosing a technology construction is the price for 1 m². Consider which house is cheaper to build of the most common materials:

• brick;
• gas blocks;
• timber.

Another popular method of erecting a building is wireframe... It should be noted that the material for the walls is not the main indicator that affects the total cost when construction.

When making an estimate taken into account:

• the entire structure and thermal insulation must comply with all heat conservation standards;
• the project must be efficient in terms of economy and labor costs;
• the construction of the foundation must be optimally calculated for the soil and the selected material.

When drawing up a rough estimate we will take such indicators as a fact:

• the groundwater level is at the level of 2.5 m;
• freezing depth - 1.5 m;
• the soil is homogeneous-sandy loam with the presence of clay less than 10%.

Materials and structural elements will be calculated for a one-storey building with an attic residential floor.

Available options: what is cheaper to build a private house from

We will preliminarily clarify that the premises are intended for year-round living that especially important for calculating the price for 1 sq. meter for frame or pavement construction... For all of the above materials from which the walls are made, pile-grillage foundation is ideal.

Brick walls

This option is recognized one of the most effective in terms of the ratio of labor costs and financial investments... The construction is based on single-layer walls made of porous ceramic bricks, for example Porotherm 44 M-100... The calculation below demonstrates the answer to the question, which house is cheaper to build, and basic materials for the implementation of the process.

V cost of 1 square meter of wall includes:

• brick - 20 pieces - 1790 rubles;
• masonry mortar - 26 liters - 60 rubles;
• plaster - 280 rubles.

The total amount excluding work - 2330 rbl... If you plan to use labor of hired workers, then about 1000 rubles should be added to the announced figure.

Aerated concrete block walls

Aerated concrete block can be a worthy alternative to traditional brick. Its manufacturing technology allows you to achieve amazing characteristics: low weight, low thermal conductivity and excellent sound insulation. A small load on the foundation makes it possible to reduce the cost of its arrangement.

By all indicators, aerated concrete block D500 400 mm thick exactly the material what makes it cheaper to build your house, which is confirmed by calculations:

• blocks - 7 pieces - 1076 rubles;
• masonry glue - 10.5 kg - 85 rubles;
• reinforced concrete anchor, mesh - 220 rubles;
• support belt under the Mauerlat made of reinforced concrete - 200 rubles;
• columns of a monolithic frame made of reinforced concrete - 120 rubles;
• plaster - 280 rubles.

Price per 1 square meter walls from block D500 excluding work - about 2000 rubles... It should be borne in mind here that this option has a greater amount of labor, therefore when using hired labor, the price will increase by an amount in the range of 1300-1600 rubles.

Timber walls

This type of construction made of natural material in terms of heat-saving characteristics is practically a standard in comparison with the above walls. For example, a spruce wall with a thermal conductivity of 0.16 W / (m * C) and a thickness of 220 mm will match the parameters of a brick one only when the thickness of the masonry is at least 600 mm. Therefore, to meet the question of which house is cheaper to build, you need to consider a more economical option than brick. It is based on the use of 200 mm timber, 100 mm insulation and 20 mm plaster.

Exemplary cost of 1 square meter timber walls:

• timber 200x200x6000 mm - 0.8 pcs. - 1416 rubles;
• insulation (mineral wool and vapor barrier) - 0.1 cubic meters m - 400 rubles;
• plaster - 70 rubles.

The total amount is about 1900 rbl., when using hired labor workers will have to pay another 1,700-1800 rubles.

This option is perfect for building a small cozy house in the mountains for family holidays and skiing or spending a romantic evening by the fireplace.

Frame construction

The essence of this technology lies in the use of a wooden frame, thermal insulation and cladding (softboard). To erect the frame, you need dry planed timber 150x50x6000 mm... Calculation of materials for construction 1 square meter of wall from the materials given:

• timber - 0.05 cubic meters m - 375 rubles;
• insulation, waterproofing, vapor barrier - 270 rubles;
• softboard - 230 rubles.

Total amount - 875 rbl., for work you should pay about 1500-1700 rubles.

Final review: which house is cheaper to build and why

Judging by the results of the calculations, wooden beam is an the most expensive material... The most affordable in terms of price and time erection should be recognized frame structure... However, it is impossible to make a hasty conclusion that a dwelling from a bar will cost more than all the above options.

Here you need to consider wall thickness - the larger it is, the wider the foundation should be... If we take into account that a pile-grillage foundation was chosen in absentia, then the width of the grillage for stone walls should be wider than for a timber structure. Based on this, it must be said that the total cost of all buildings will be in the same price range.

Where else can you save

At first before thinking what is cheaper to build a country house from for all-season living, you need to decide on dimensions... Naturally, the smaller the size of the room, the lower the costs will be.

Secondly, the total cost of construction is greatly influenced by foundation construction and its optimal calculation. Therefore, it is better to turn to professionals who can accurately determine the planned loads and calculate the best option.

Thirdly – the simpler the cheaper... That is, complex roofs, bay windows, balconies - all this significantly increases the total amount for their implementation.

Before deciding on independent work on the construction, you should take into account all the nuances: the presence of certain experience, free time and, of course, the necessary tool. Perhaps, having soberly assessed your abilities, the best option would be to hire experienced craftsmen. In this case, the above calculations will also come in handy - they will help to more productively negotiate with any builders.

The purpose of this article is to help potential developers figure out which modern building materials are attractive not only in terms of their price, but also in terms of the expediency of their use in the construction of private houses.

The growth of individual construction has led to the emergence of various materials on the market, including those that no one had heard of before. The range of building materials is so large that even specialists are often lost, not knowing which is better to choose.

As a rule, individual developers are guided by the following indicators: price of materials (including facing); the ability to perform all operations with your own hands to the maximum; the total weight of the structure, since the type of foundation and the cost of its installation largely depend on this; the cost of finishing work; durability; the frequency of current (overhaul) repairs and operating costs (mainly for heating).

First, comprehensive information on each sample is a topic for a separate review. Secondly, there are no perfect materials. Each material has its pros and cons, which will be discussed. Thirdly, many of the shortcomings of materials are very relative, since the manifestation of their defects is mainly caused not by the quality of the products, but by the excessive self-confidence of the developer, elementary violations of the technology of production of construction and installation works and the technical illiteracy of builders on the issues of heat and waterproofing, thermal expansion of building materials , their compatibility, etc., etc.

What kind of house do you need? It is necessary to decide

There are three main types of houses built by private developers.

To the first type a residential building for permanent residence those who live in the countryside, but his labor activity is connected with the city and for those who want to run their farm on their own land.

These are, as a rule, capital buildings with a full range of additional premises, such as a boiler room, workshop, sauna, garage. Such houses are designed for year-round living, so their walls must have thermal insulation properties in accordance with the climate of the region.

The engineering equipment of houses for permanent residence should provide a maximum of communal amenities, surpassing the comfort of a city apartment.

To the second type ranked as a "second home" or the so-called cottage, an employee for temporary residence in the suburban area. Buildings of this type usually take into account the possibility of year-round living, therefore their walls are treated with the same attention as in houses for permanent residence.

To the third type houses include summer cottages and garden houses - houses for seasonal living or short-term visits, where you can come to spend the weekend in the warm season. Most often, such houses are operated at temperatures not lower than -5 degrees, so the thickness of the walls rarely exceeds 25 cm (in one brick), and engineering support is reduced to a stove, street toilet and a well, as a rule, for several houses.

All of these famous wall designs have their pros and cons. Therefore, the developer needs at least a little idea not only about the total cost of building a house from this material, but also about the advantages of the material for which he makes his choice in favor of this wall design, and with what disadvantages he will therefore be forced to put up with further during the operation of the house.

Before starting the construction of a cottage, it should be remembered that the box of the house - the foundation, walls and roof - sometimes takes more than 60% of the value of the house. And in these costs, about 50% are enclosing structures or walls.

If you decide to build your own home, the first thing you will have to figure out is the amount of materials you will need to build it. The process of counting all the necessary things is quite capacious, tedious and time-consuming, but it is extremely necessary for a stable and successful construction. Therefore, let's get down to the calculations.

• Decide on the size and volume of the house. Determine the exact footage you need for housing, distribute all premises, rooms in this footage and choose their arrangement.
• Use the services of a specialist. You can study specialized forums or sites that provide statistics on how much each type of building material is needed for a certain size of a building or room.
• If you cannot find the information you need on the network, go to the store and consult with the seller. Ask him which of the available material is most suitable for you, which of the materials have the highest quality indicators, and how much of this or that product you need to fill the entire footage.
• Make the final choice between traditional and modern building materials. You evaluate not only funds, but also the manufacturability of construction and the duration of operation. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain material with higher indicators of "survivability", and at the same time at a very reasonable price. The assembly process can be much easier, and the end result looks neater and cleaner.
• Review your notes again before going to the store. Make adjustments, count the quantity and price of all items. Don't forget to order building materials with at least a five percent surplus for emergencies.

The strategic issue is the type of walls. To begin with, we will consider three options for wall structures that are widely used in private housing construction.

Old and good tree

The traditional material for Russian housing construction is wood. About 33% of our houses have been built from it.

People who are thinking about what is better to build a private house from, often comes to mind this particular material. After all, a wooden house is health and comfort. Its walls not only "breathe", but also make the air healing, trapping harmful substances. Wooden walls create optimal humidity in the room and smell good.

The walls of a house made of wood have good thermal insulation and keep warm in winter and cool in summer. Heating costs for a wooden house can be significantly lower compared to brick walls.

A wooden house can be built from logs (rounded or profiled) and / or from timber (simple or glued).

Manual felling

This method is the oldest, our grandfathers and great-grandfathers used it. This is a hand-made log house. The tree trunk is cut to the desired length, and then locks and grooves are made on it. Next, the logs are connected, laying out the outlines of the house. It is imperative to wait for shrinkage - this is about a year, no less. Then they caulk the cracks and sheathe the windows and doors.

Today, this method of erecting a wooden house is not used. Anyone can build a house from a rounded log. Such a structure is assembled, like a constructor, we will talk about this further.

A house from a bar is easier and faster to build

Neat smooth logs are processed in production conditions and marked. Ready-made parts from which the walls are assembled are supplied to the construction site. The beam can have various sizes and sections (rectangular, square, in the form of the letter D). If it is profiled, then it has protrusions and grooves for connection. The oblique cut helps to drain off excess water. You can build a house from this material with your own hands.

There are several types of timber for building a house.

Sawed timber made of logs with a moisture content of 50 to 70%. As soon as he is cut out, he immediately goes to the construction site. Because of this, the house is prone to shrinkage (up to 10 cm). Cracks sometimes appear on the walls.

Planed timber dried under production conditions. The moisture content of the finished product is from 20 to 25%. After drying on a special machine, the products are rounded off. As a result, the shrinkage of the house, although it exists, is very small.

Glued timber made of several layers of lamellas (special boards, dried to 6 or 10% moisture). They are glued together under pressure, with the fibers of adjacent layers being perpendicular to each other. Finished products have a length of up to 12 m, and a thickness of 7.5 to 30 cm. They do not shrink, do not deform and do not crack. Therefore, many believe that glued laminated timber is the best material for the walls of a wooden house.

The positive aspects of wooden houses are obvious - they are environmental friendliness, frost resistance, speed of construction, seismic and wind resistance. In addition, wood does not need additional cladding, which bodes well for budget savings.

There are also disadvantages, but there are relatively few of them. First, wood is a capricious material. For example, wooden houses often shrink. Shrinkage of a house is a natural process of changing the volume of walls due to the drying out of the material from which they are made. The maximum shrinkage is about 10% and is observed in houses made from freshly cut logs. Such a building must stand without finishing for at least 8 months, and usually a year.

In the process of shrinkage, the house can go with cracks, which are coated with special compounds. The minimum shrinkage is observed in houses made of laminated veneer lumber and ordinary dried lumber. Such materials are almost immediately ready for finishing. However, it will take a lot of money to insulate a house from a bar.

Another disadvantage of wood is flammability, a fire can destroy such a structure in a matter of minutes. Therefore, wooden houses are impregnated with special compounds that increase their fire resistance.

Special formulations are needed to protect against rotting and insects. Impregnation is a necessary measure, and the special means themselves are not always environmentally friendly. In addition, a house made of wood requires constant maintenance, especially if it is intended for seasonal living, it must be heated, as damp wood begins to rot.

In general, the durability of wooden houses built by specialists, in compliance with all technological nuances, ranges from 70 to 100 years.

In short - the advantages of wood materials

It is one of the most sustainable materials. Building a wooden house is not as expensive as building a brick one. In terms of thermal conductivity, wood is much superior to brick. A wooden house is usually very pretty. Often, it does not require finishing, either inside or outside. The foundation is required lightweight and inexpensive. For example, columnar. A house made of wood, especially a hand-cut one, serves for a very long time.

In short - the disadvantages of wood materials:

The tree burns, can rot and be "eaten" by the fungus. To prevent this, all parts must be treated with special preparations. The shrinkage of the log house can take from 3 to 5 years. Sliced ​​beams and log cabins can crack.

Brick is a brick

Brick is considered one of the most popular materials on the market. More than 50% of houses in Russia are built of bricks

Ceramic bricks and silicate bricks. What is the difference?

In construction, two types of bricks are used: silicate (white) and ceramic (red) bricks.

Ceramic brick is red. Such material is not afraid of frost and does not allow water to pass through. It can be corpulent (no more than 13% of voids) and hollow (up to 49% of voids). The shape of the holes in the brick can be round, square, oval, horizontal or vertical. With an increase in their number, the thermal insulation properties improve.

For the construction of external fences, construction teams prefer ceramic bricks. Seven brands of ceramic bricks are produced: from M75 to M300. The higher the numbers, the stronger the brick. You should also pay attention to frost resistance, denoted by the letter F. The lowest quality is F15, the highest is F75.

Silicate brick consists of a mixture of quartz sand, water and air lime. It is strong enough, resistant to frost, and has good sound insulation. Sand-lime brick is white. Its main components are lime, sand and a small proportion of additives.

This type of brick is also produced both solid and with cavities inside. The latter is lighter, and the walls made of it are much warmer (air is an excellent heat insulator). But solid silicate brick can interest the developer with a variety of colors. For the strength of a brick, it does not matter whether it is solid or with cavities inside.

Ordinary and front bricks and their purpose.

Both types of bricks can be used for different purposes. Ordinary brick is also called building brick - it is used for internal masonry of walls. For him, small cracks are not considered a marriage. It doesn't matter if the corners or ribs are slightly beaten off and there are notches in the corners.

The front (facing) brick must have an impeccable appearance, not have notches and flaws.

About brick strength and frost resistance

Strength determines the grade of the brick. There is a special marking for this indicator: the letter M and a number next to it (from 75 to 300). This number is the load supported by this brand per square centimeter. The higher this number, the heavier the brick. For the walls of a two-story or three-story house, brands M100 and M125 are suitable. The basement or foundation is laid with M150 or M175 bricks.

When choosing which brick to build a house from, one should also take into account frost resistance (the ability to freeze and thaw without being damaged). To designate this indicator, the letter F was chosen, next to which there is a number from 15 to 100. It means the number of freezing and defrosting cycles without damaging the material. In warmer areas, F15 is sufficient for external walls, where it is colder - F25. The cladding is usually made with F50 brick.

The main advantages of bricks are strength, fire resistance, a wide variety and choice on the market, as well as an affordable price. A small brick house can sometimes be cheaper than a wooden cottage. Brick keeps the temperature well and, in this sense, is ideal for houses where year-round living is planned. But at the same time, in terms of heat transfer, brick is seriously inferior to wood.

The brick also has enough disadvantages. To build a brick house, it is sometimes necessary to spend one and a half times more time than building a wooden house. Brick is a heavy material that complicates logistics and storage. A brick building needs a strong and powerful foundation, and this is an additional cost.

A brick house can last for 100 - 150 years. It will perfectly survive the rains with hurricanes and hail, and severe frosts, and the drying heat. Brick walls have been laid since ancient times, so the technology of their construction has been worked out to the smallest detail. But a good master is not easy to find.

In short - the advantages of bricks: Attractive look. Durability. The ability to bring any complex project to life. Resistant to corrosion, mold and mildew. Non-flammability. Noise protection. Decent heat retention.

In short - the disadvantages of bricks: Great weight. High demands on professionalism in styling. The need for a solid foundation. The need to use a heat insulator

Inexpensive frame house

And from what cheaper build a house? For some, the answer to this question is most important. In this case, take a closer look at wireframe technology. In addition to the cheapness of such a dwelling, the assembly speed is also impressive. Just a few weeks - and you can move into a house that will be warm and comfortable.

The basis of such buildings is a frame made of wood or metal. It includes rafters, posts, trusses and other elements. Then a heater is put in, and on top it is all sheathed with dense sheets of chipboard or OSB. The wall of such a house weighs 15 times less than a brick wall.

There is not much expensive wood for the frame - 5 or 10 times less than for a felling. Insulation is the main expense. However, even he, even the best, gives the cost of a wall 1.5 times cheaper than that of a bar, and in comparison with a brick - 2.7 times.

Frame houses can be of two types:

Frame-panel house- assembled from ready-made shields. First, they are connected, then partitions are made between the rooms. The final stage is the construction of the roof.

Frame-frame house- made on the basis of a "frame" - a frame made of beams and logs, resting on the foundation. Next, they put the rafters and make the crate. After the manufacture of the roof, the frame is sheathed with insulation (mineral wool or PPS). At the end, the outer cladding is made.

Since the main material in the construction of a frame house is insulation, then when making correct calculations of the required amount, the structure turns out to be warm enough, which will allow you to significantly save on heating.

In short - the advantages of a frame house: Extremely low price and quick installation. Good heat saving (when the heating is turned off in frost at minus 10 ° C, the temperature will decrease by 2 ° C per day). There is no need for interior decoration, which reduces costs. Communications can be hidden inside the walls, which saves space. No special skills are required to build a frame house cheaply and quickly. With a timber frame, the most incredible designs are possible. A real flight of imagination is possible. A small shallow foundation is enough for a frame house.

In short - the disadvantages of a frame house: a frame house is considered not very environmentally friendly due to the large amount of insulation. Another problem with these houses is various insects and rodents. Like all wooden houses, they are combustible and not resistant to natural disasters. Another problem of frame houses is that it is stuffy in them, therefore, supply and exhaust ventilation is required. A house on a frame will last less than a brick or wooden one

Instead of a conclusion

What you need to know when choosing a material for the walls of the house?

Wall materials and the production of work on the construction of enclosing structures is a third of all costs for building a house. And if you, like the piglets Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nufu, carelessly take this serious choice, you will inevitably incur serious expenses in the future.

Therefore, we will consider the most important criteria and factors that must be taken into account when choosing a material for the construction of walls at home.

A) The question of price. Costs can be reduced by using lightweight material for the walls. Then you don't have to build a powerful and expensive foundation.

B) Thermal insulation. Cold walls are too expensive in winter. Therefore, before choosing a material, you need to do all the calculations, focusing on local climatic conditions. To achieve the desired degree of thermal insulation, you can resort to using heaters. If you take a material with good heat-insulating properties, then the walls do not need to be insulated, but it all depends on the region of development.

C) Labor costs. The cost of time and effort can be reduced by folding the walls from large blocks, rather than from small-piece materials. Such walls are erected 3-4 times faster and easier. The fastest speed is when erecting frame panel walls.

D) Subsequent finishing costs. Modern, smooth and aesthetic materials do not require additional wall decoration - this allows you to save money.

To determine what is better to build the walls of a house from, it is necessary to consider the main types of suitable building materials, determine and compare their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

Comparison of different wall materials

And more advice. Choosing a material for building a house, you should not approach the upcoming construction "on a grand scale". A person, in fact, does not need so much space for complete happiness, especially outside the city. All the savings that you achieve by reducing the cost of materials and construction technologies can be crossed out by unnecessary floors, rooms and spaces.

We wish you success in finding and finding the only correct solution!

Text: Valery Bordyuzhenko -

Starting the construction of a house, the future owner must solve many issues, the main one of which is what material to build from. The choice is influenced by many factors, both subjective and objective.

If for some developers the cost is not significant, then for others - this parameter is decisive.

Likewise, the future comfort and safety of living should be considered. This article discusses the features of various options for building a country house.

The main options for building a house

Along with the cost factor of construction, the features of the building project, climatic conditions, appearance and speed of construction work should be taken into account.

Brick house

A brick house always has a spectacular appearance, but it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the choice of material. Brick products vary significantly in quality. For example, there are bricks that cannot be operated in conditions of high humidity and temperature extremes.

Houses made of such material will not last more than 15-20 years. But there is material from which houses will stand for more than 30 years.

The advantages of brick material are:

• durability;
• strength;
• increased noise and heat insulation;
• environmental friendliness and the possibility of a variety of interior decoration.

At the same time, such material is quite expensive, construction is possible only in the warm season, and the houses themselves take a long time to warm up and are afraid of dampness.

Houses made of aerated concrete and foam concrete

Cellular concrete is an artificial stone in which the cell pores are evenly distributed and filled with gas or foam bubbles. Unlike foam blocks, aerated concrete is more inclined to accumulate moisture.

Artificial stone blocks are easy to move and do not rot and rust.

In comparison with brick material, foam blocks withstand lower loads, therefore these materials are often used in combination - brick is used for load-bearing walls, and foam blocks with high thermal insulation properties are used for internal walls.

Benefits of foam concrete:

• profitability and fast pace of construction;
• higher noise and heat insulation compared to brick;
• the ability to conduct communications through the voids of the blocks.

Such blocks are less durable, and in the cold season you need to warm up the house and provide protection from dampness.

Artificial stone must be covered with protective materials, and during the operation of the house, sediment and cracks may appear. In the latter case, a more powerful foundation and adherence to masonry technology are required.

A good solution for permanent residence are houses made of rubble stone. In summer, they are kept cool by thick walls.

But with irregular living, additional heating costs will arise - it is quite problematic to heat a building with such walls.

Monolithic houses

Monolithic concrete houses are characterized by high strength. This material is used in the construction of houses with a higher number of storeys. The advantages of such houses are:

• high construction speed;
• slight shrinkage of the structure;
• strength and long service life;
• seismic resistance and the possibility of construction on difficult ground, in areas with increased risk of floods;
• the ability to create original designs.

At the same time, the construction of monolithic houses is higher, in winter it increases even more, including due to the use of special equipment. Such houses are characterized by low sound insulation, poor ventilation, and require additional insulation.

Modern frame houses

Frame-panel technologies are widespread in the construction of houses due to their low cost, high speed and ease of construction (assembly), as well as due to relatively good operating parameters and seismic stability.

In such houses, reinforced concrete or timber is used. Its purpose is to provide the structure with strong supporting and load-bearing structures. To ensure insulation, a variety of heaters are used, which are subsequently covered with finishing materials.

Since timber frame houses are light and resilient enough, they do not require a strong foundation. The shrinkage will be insignificant, and therefore finishing can be done immediately after the construction of the structure.

Panel houses are built from ready-made panels filled with special insulation materials. From the outside, the house is finished with special facade tiles.

The significant disadvantages of frame houses include:

• low sound insulation and vibration isolation;
• possible voids in which pests may appear;
• destruction of insulation, which is harmful to the health of residents.
• requirements for the height of the house - no more than 2 floors.

Construction of log houses

Wood is an environmentally friendly, radio- and magnetically transparent material that is often used in the construction of houses. In summer, wood absorbs moisture in the air and dries it out.

And in winter, when it dries, it evaporates moisture, softening the air in rooms. However, this effect persists for several years, until the wood dries out and loses these properties. And the increased absorption of moisture can lead to deterioration of the material.

When a decision has been made to build a house from rounded logs or profiled beams, it is necessary to plan additional processing of seams and joints after the tree dries and shrinks.

The wooden house needs constant maintenance. Permanent residence in the building is necessary in order to heat it and dry it in a timely manner. Otherwise, the risk of rotting and the development of mold and mildew increases. Therefore, wood is treated with special antibacterial compounds, as well as fire-fighting solutions.

Wooden houses can be built on difficult ground and do not require a strong foundation. In addition, frost resistance and maintenance of a stable temperature regime are ensured.

And the most important condition for ensuring the long-term operation of the house is a high-quality roof with a high base, which will eliminate leakage and wetting.

The considered advantages and disadvantages of various design solutions for a house are decisive when choosing a construction method.

If you are planning a long-term stay, then you need to opt for a stone structure with external insulation. The best solution for a sauna and a summer house is a wooden beam. The choice is yours, taking into account the budget and the desired layout.

Photos of the best buildings of private houses