What is better - timber or aerated concrete: a comparison of

It is well known that aerated concrete is cheap material. Can a tree compete with him in this category? If you talk about laminated veneer lumber, then, clearly, no. If we take the usual product, then everything is not so simple.

In this article we will look at the pros and cons of both building materials. And we decide that it is still more profitable: a house of timber or aerated concrete?

General characteristics

To make a final decision, you need to familiarize yourself with their characteristic features.

Timber

• the cheapest of wood materials;
• has low thermal conductivity, which allows you to keep warm well;
• environmentally friendly material, as the raw material for manufacturing is wood;
• builds strong and reliable buildings that have been repeatedly tested by time;
• It has a rectangular shape, corresponding in size to the wishes of the customer;
• the thickness of the product directly affects the strength and heat resistance of the house;

At relatively low cost, we get a warm, reliable, environmentally friendly and beautiful log house.

Gas concrete

• has standard rectangular dimensions;
• light and compact;
• easy to cut into the right parts;
• easy to operate.

Cheap and angry - this is exactly about this material. Little cost and effort, with some skills for laying bricks, you can lay out the structure of aerated concrete, even with your own hands.

Comparative analysis

As we can see, both materials are good in their own way. Now compare them. To do this, we consider several basic criteria.

Shrinkage

After completion of construction work, each material undergoes some shrinkage.

• The log of the log shrinkage is small and around the perimeter. Makes about 4-5%.
• Aerated concrete shrinks to 0.5%, which has virtually no effect on the building.

Aesthetics

Undoubtedly, a huge impact on the appearance. So.

• Due to the smooth flat surface of the timber, cashing is easily mounted in the house of such a material and walls are also easily finished from the inside. The downside is the obligation of such work, if the product is not glued and not profiled.

• In the building of aerated concrete lining is also carried out easily, thanks to a flat surface. If in the version with wood material there are ways to use already processed products, then gray blocks have an absolutely repulsive appearance. Therefore, a quality internal and external lining is necessary.

Environmental friendliness

The health of the tenants is the most important thing to keep the house safe.

And this, in turn, is greatly influenced by how environmentally friendly the material from which the building was erected.

• Wood is an absolutely environmentally friendly material.

• Ash, cement and sand are the raw materials for making gray blocks. They are also environmentally friendly. But aluminum powder is also added. And this has even served as a prohibition in some European countries to build aerated concrete houses in private sectors.

Fire hazard

• Wood is a material that easily ignites. To enhance safety, it is worthwhile to subject it to additional processing that reduces the risk of fire.
• Sand, concrete, ash, aluminum dust do not burn. Accordingly, the structure will be resistant to fire.
• When processing with antiseptics and good insulation, a wooden house from a bar will last more than a dozen years. But it should be remembered that the wood itself is subject to decay and moisture penetration.

Moisture resistance

Tip: take care to protect the wooden house from the destructive effects of moisture in advance.

• Aerated concrete does not rot, does not undergo mold and is quite durable. But over time, from the effects of the environment begins to crumble and lose its strength.
• The correct geometric shape and the same width of the wood product makes it easy to install in the right places. Some inconvenience causes only a lot of weight.

Easy operation

• Blocks also have a small weight, the correct form, easy to cut. This makes them extremely easy to use.

Heat preservation

• Wood has a poor thermal conductivity. Thus, after caulking the walls, such a house will be rather warm and cozy. Some disadvantage is that over time, cracks may appear on the walls, which will require a new finish.
• Aerated concrete has very poor insulation. Additional insulation is required.
• The house from a bar does not need the strong base that allows us to save considerably. Also comes out cheaper roof on such a building. But you need a front wall finish.
• Gray blocks have a very low cost. But they require a stronger foundation and additional costs for insulation. Installing a roof on a house of aerated concrete is also much more expensive.

Saving

As we can see, both materials have a lot of pros and cons. To arrive at a final conclusion, we will consider in more detail the pricing policy.

Construction, which house will be cheaper

So all the same: what is cheaper than a bar or aerated concrete? Or rather, which of the houses will ultimately be economically profitable? To do this, consider an approximate table on the example of Moscow prices. The cost can, of course, vary both by region and over time. We are important to see the ratio.

According to the results of the table, it turns out that, taking into account all the nuances, a house from a raw bar is almost two times cheaper than a house from aerated concrete. Such an instruction will always help to see a transparent picture of our expenses.

You should know: the cheapness of the building material is always offset by additional work.

Summarize

Aerated concrete block, of course, is a cheaper material than a wooden beam. But the additional costs of finishing, insulation and roofing make the final estimate much higher. It is also worth remembering the benefits that the tree provides for the health of future tenants. The video in this article will help you to find out more information.

Do not chase the cheap construction material. Try to look at the picture as a whole. And then your pocket will be fuller.