This article is for those who want to significantly save on the cost of building a house. We'll tell you how to choose the right inexpensive home project for permanent residence what you can save on family budget, and what you absolutely cannot save on.

Find out what the price depends on cheap house, and what materials are best suited for the idea of ​​building your dream home.

The desire to build a budget house

This desire drives the owners land plots save on a lot. On the one hand, it is understandable, because the idea is not a joke and requires a significant investment of money.

Insulation is carried out using a thick layer of high-quality insulation 100 - 300 mm. In cold regions with very frosty winters, it makes sense to lay load-bearing walls from aerated blocks, gas silicate, foam concrete with a density of 600 - 1200 kg/m³, since these materials retain heat quite well.

This will make it possible to insulate the walls with a smaller layer of insulation, but the thickness of the walls needs to be increased.

IN climatic zones With mild and short winters, cheap houses can be built from foam concrete or aerated concrete with walls in one layer. Log houses or timber, cannot provide good preservation heat in the room.

Therefore, such houses need insulation, and this, in turn, “kills” the whole idea of ​​environmental friendliness of wooden housing, and there can be no talk of any “breathing walls”.

It is most profitable to build such houses as a summer house, for seasonal use. But those who are willing to pay double or even triple for heating can afford a wooden house as a permanent residence.

What should you not save on when building a budget house?

Important! The capital value of a house depends on the thickness of the load-bearing walls. The higher it is, the more reliable the design.

Surely future owners of private houses were wondering, for how long should they build a house? So will it be enough to last them a lifetime or will it still go to their grandchildren?

There is a general service life of the building, and there is up to overhaul. Based on this, the house with a longer service life will cost more.

For capital buildings, materials are selected from for a long time services, and they are correspondingly more expensive. Also, building materials with high level frost resistance.

The use of wood also increases the cost of construction.

This article will be useful to those who are looking for the cheapest materials for building a house with their own hands. With the emergence of new technologies on the market, owners summer cottages appeared real opportunity installation of cheap houses with very good performance characteristics suitable for permanent residence.

Nowadays, there are plenty of methods for building economical and reliable housing.

We invite you to take a closer look at inexpensive materials used for building houses.

When deciding where the walls of the housing, its floors and roof will be erected, it is necessary to concentrate on the relevant features.

Place of residence. Climate. In areas with a cool climate, it is preferable to use materials that retain heat well in building a house.

In the southern regions, the choice is much wider, which means it is possible to use completely different innovative materials at an affordable price.

Features of the materials used. Of course, houses made of SIP panels either cost less than those made of timber or brick.

Regional market. In wooded areas, the most inexpensive material for a house is wood, in steppe areas - concrete.

Material Cost Analysis

Take a closer look at which one is suitable for building a house. Very economical and comfortable housing can be built using materials such as those described below.

timber

Result: approximately 2000 rubles per 1 sq. m, excluding work. It is important to remember that building a house from aerated blocks requires a lot of labor, so we take into account the payment of specialists, which is around 1300-1600 rubles.

Tree

House from wooden beam will cost:

• timber 200x200x6000 mm – 0.8 pcs. – 1416 rub.;
• mortar for plastering walls – 70 rubles.
• insulation (vapor barrier or mineral wool) - 0.1 cubic meters. m – 400 rub.;

Result: 1900 rubles, plus wages for workers 1700-1800 rubles.

Good for building small housing intended for holidays with family or friends, but not for permanent residence.

Calculation of materials for a frame house

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

Result: 875 rubles, plus wages for the construction crew of 1500-1700 rubles.

Conclusion

Having collected all the information about cheap materials for the home with your own hands, we make final conclusions based on cost.

Houses made of timber are the most expensive type of housing. Frame-type houses can be considered the most acceptable.

But there is one BUT! It's important not to forget. Thicker walls require a well-reinforced foundation. Therefore, the final cost of the houses will be approximately the same.

When starting the construction of a house, the future owner must resolve many issues, the main one of which is what material to use for construction. 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.

In the same way, future comfort and safety of living should be taken into account. This article discusses the features of various construction options country house.

Basic options for building a house

Along with the cost factor of construction, one should take into account the features of the building design, climatic conditions, appearance and the speed of construction work.

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 used in conditions of high humidity and temperature changes.

Houses made from such material will not last more than 15-20 years. But there is material from which houses will last 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 pore cells are evenly distributed and filled with gas or foam bubbles. Unlike foam blocks, aerated concrete is more likely to accumulate moisture.

Artificial stone blocks are easy to move and are not subject to rotting or rust.

Compared to brick material foam blocks can withstand smaller loads, so these materials are often used in combination - brick is used for load-bearing walls, and interior walls– foam blocks with high thermal insulation properties.

Advantages of foam concrete:

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

Such blocks are less durable, and in the cold season it is necessary to warm the house and provide protection from dampness.

Artificial stone must be covered with protective materials, and during the operation of the house, settlement 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 due to thick walls.

But if you live irregularly, additional heating costs will arise - heating a building with such walls is quite problematic.

Monolithic houses

Homes from monolithic concrete characterized by high strength. This material is used in the construction of higher-rise buildings. The advantages of such houses are:

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

At the same time construction monolithic houses higher, in winter period 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 common 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, various insulation materials are used, which are subsequently covered with finishing materials.

Since frame houses are quite light and elastic, 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, which are stuffed with special insulating materials. The outside of the house is finished with special façade-type tiles.

To significant disadvantages frame houses include:

• low sound insulation and vibration insulation;
• possible voids in which pests may appear;
• destruction of insulation, which harms 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, which 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 indoor air. However, this effect persists for several years until the wood dries out and loses these properties. And increased moisture absorption can lead to damage to the material.

When a decision is made to build a house from rounded logs or profiled timber, it is necessary to plan additional processing seams and joints after the wood dries and shrinks.

Wooden house needs constant care. It is necessary to permanently live in the building in order to heat it and dry it in a timely manner. Otherwise, the risk of rotting and mold and mildew increases. Therefore, the wood is treated with special antibacterial compounds, as well as fire-fighting solutions.

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

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

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

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

Photos of the best private house buildings

The first and main issue decided before the construction of a country house begins is the choice of material.

Not only the comfort of living, but also the level of energy saving depends on the correctness of its decision. Let's take a closer look at what materials are offered on the market today and how each of them fits into universal formula“price-environmental friendliness-energy saving”.

Brick house (brick, ceramic blocks)

Such a building has two advantages: strength and environmental friendliness. Indeed, in terms of its load-bearing capacity, a brick wall is not much inferior to a concrete one. At the same time, it does not contain granite crushed stone, which produces background radiation in buildings with a monolithic reinforced concrete frame and floor panels. However, in terms of energy saving, walls built entirely from solid clay or silicate bricks are seriously inferior to other materials.

In order to meet today's strict energy efficiency limits, the thickness brick wall should be at least 120 cm. It is clear that there is no point in building such a powerful “bunker”. Therefore, nowadays brick is losing its primacy and is most often used as decorative exterior cladding.

Attempts to improve the energy-saving qualities of brick have been going on for a long time. To do this, they make voids in it various shapes(point or slot). This modification provides a slight increase in the energy efficiency of the wall structure, but does not fundamentally solve the issue. If we add to this the labor intensity of building walls from small-sized standard clay bricks, it becomes clear that a replacement needs to be found.

A good solution to the question of what is best to build a house from is to buy, manufactured under different trademarks(Porotherm, Kerakam, Poroton, etc.)

This large-sized material (250x250x140 mm, 380x250x219mm, 510x250x219mm) replaces from 4 to 14 standard bricks (250x120x65mm). Thanks to this, the laying process becomes faster and simpler.

The thermal conductivity coefficient of such walls is 0.21 W/m °C, which is almost 3 times less than that of ordinary brick. In terms of strength, ceramic block is also not inferior to it (100 kg/cm2) and at the same time has good frost resistance (up to 50 freeze-thaw cycles) and vapor permeability.

The only drawback of porous ceramic blocks in the recent past was their high cost (more than 4,000 rubles per 1 m3). In 2016 average price for this material has decreased and ranges from 3,500 rubles per cubic meter.

House made of building blocks

Large size building blocks seriously displaced the standard clay brick. And the point here is not only that their installation requires less time and effort. Affordable price- this is an important factor determining the choice of a developer. Since the list of building blocks produced today is quite extensive, we will talk separately about each type.

Foam and gas blocks

These materials today enjoy well-deserved popularity in low-rise construction. The fundamental difference between foam and gas blocks lies in the manufacturing technology and internal structure.

Aerated concrete is produced by introducing a powder gas-forming agent into a mixture of cement, sand, lime and water, which creates a network of small through channels inside the material. A foaming agent is added to the raw material for foam concrete, which creates closed pores filled with air inside the block. This also significantly reduces the weight of the unit and improves its energy-saving characteristics.

Open channels serve as good conductors of moisture, so gas blocks need protection from getting wet. Foam block is more profitable in this regard because it absorbs less water. The thermal conductivity and frost resistance of these materials are almost the same.

Density ranges from 300 to 1200 kg/m3, which allows the developer to accurately select the block to suit his needs. Manufacturers produce heat-insulating (density from 300 to 500 kg/m3), structural-thermal-insulating (500-900 kg/m3) and structural (1000-1200 kg/m3) blocks in several thicknesses - 10, 15, 20 and 30 cm.

This allows without additional costs to lay insulation and protect it to make the wall warm. To do this, you need to lay a thinner layer in the outer row of masonry. thermal insulation block(15 cm), and the inner layer is made of denser structural and thermal insulating blocks 30 cm thick.

Thanks to its ideal geometry, a house made from blocks with your own hands can be built quickly without the involvement of professional masons and requires minimal finishing in the form of putty or decorative plaster.

The cost of these materials starts from 3000 rubles. for 1 m3. In their reviews, owners of houses made of light cellular blocks especially highlight the low cost of construction and minimum costs for heating.

Expanded clay blocks

Without giving up use solid brick, builders invented it in the last century. This composite material consists of expanded clay gravel (pellets of fired and porous clay) and a cement mortar that holds them together.

The material turned out to be quite warm (density from 500 kg/m3) and very durable (you can build houses up to 3 floors high).

For the price, the expanded clay concrete block looks attractive (from 2900 rubles/m3). The environmental friendliness of this building material also deserves attention. Lack of synthetic and polymer additives, good vapor transmission allow it to be fully used in residential construction.

Shell rock blocks

In the era of cheap freight transportation, shell rock was a serious competitor to expanded clay block. This “free” material, which only needed to be cut out of the marine sedimentary massif and loaded into wagons, has today become “biting”.

Judge for yourself, the price per cube with delivery to the central regions of Russia reaches 5,000 rubles. Coupled with the fragility and poor geometry of the stone, the developer can only rely on its excellent environmental friendliness.

Arbolite blocks

The main components of this material are wood chips and sawdust (4:1 ratio). They not only make the block warm and light, but also reinforce it, increasing strength and crack resistance.

The binder here, as in the case of expanded clay blocks, is cement mortar. Density ranges from 500 to 850 kg/m3. It is possible to build low-rise buildings from it without using a reinforced belt. This material is quite elastic, so it can withstand the load from floor slabs without cracking. The breathability of arbolite blocks is high and quite comparable to wood.

The good heat and sound insulating qualities of wood concrete are eloquently demonstrated by its low density. Impregnation with cement makes wood chips durable and resistant to rotting. Finishing walls made of wood concrete does not require the use of reinforced mesh, since the rough surface of the material holds the plaster well. The price of wood concrete blocks starts on average at 4,000 rubles per 1 m3.

Thermal Wall Blocks

The developer's dream is a masonry material that simultaneously contains a load-bearing part, insulation and external finishing found its embodiment in Teplosten blocks.

By its design, it is a three-layer “sandwich”. Its outer and inner layers are made of expanded clay concrete, and inside there is foam plastic. Dissimilar materials in the contact zone are protected from delamination by fiberglass rods installed inside the block.

On the outer edge of the three-layer block we see a textured pattern. Having built a new house from this material, the owner can only paint the walls in desired color without resorting to expensive decorative plaster.

Appearance of the Teplosten block

The main disadvantage of Teplosten blocks is obvious. This is foam plastic enclosed between layers of expanded clay concrete. It does not allow water vapor to pass through, so without forced ventilation the house will be damp. Manufacturers solve this problem by producing special blocks that contain vent with grate.

If the owner of the future house made of Teplosten blocks does not take care of the ventilation problem in time, then the foam plastic may present him with another unpleasant surprise. Let's consider the physics of the process of diffusion of water vapor through a wall. Having encountered an insurmountable obstacle in the form of foam plastic on its way, water vapor will condense in the inner layer of expanded clay. This will lead to wet walls with all the ensuing uncomfortable consequences for living.

The cost of Teplosten blocks starts from 7,000 rubles/m3. Despite the rather hefty price, let’s not forget that such a wall does not require insulation or rough finishing.

Cinder blocks

They were produced in the 80s of the last century as an inexpensive alternative to scarce brick. Today, cinder blocks are rarely used in residential construction. Heavy weight and the high thermal conductivity of cinder block walls require insulation with slabs of mineral or ecowool (10-15 cm) and high-quality finishing.

The cost of cinder blocks offered today to private developers is low and ranges from 2,300 to 3,000 rubles per 1 m3.

Houses made of logs, timber, wooden frame

At the same time, you should know that it is enough warm house for permanent residence, it can only be built from logs with a diameter of at least 40 centimeters. Today standard thickness The walls of the log house range from 24 to 32 cm, which does not meet the requirements of thermal engineering standards. Therefore, in order not to spend significant amounts on heating, wooden frame additional insulation is required.

The cost of 1 m3 of rounded logs prepared for laying in 2016 ranges from 7,000 to 10,000 rubles. The cost of dry profiled timber is even higher and starts from 10,000 rubles per cubic meter.

For glued profiled timber, which gives minimal shrinkage and is practically not subject to warping, sellers ask from 22 to 26 thousand rubles. Forecasts of market specialists indicate that in 2017 a price jump for this material is not expected.

Finishing short review materials for the construction of wooden houses, a few words should be said about frame technology.

It’s difficult to call it high-speed, since the degree of factory readiness here is practically “zero”. At the site, builders assemble a frame from individual beams and boards, spending no less time on this than masons laying blocks. But in terms of reliability and durability, a house built according to frame technology, not much inferior capital buildings made of wood.

There are also no problems with energy saving in such housing. The customer can choose any thickness of insulation without spending money on work on external insulation and finishing, as in the case of block or log construction.

Since no one prices the frame in cubes, we will have to compare the cost of 1 m2 frame wall with the cost of log and lumber.

The main elements of the frame are racks, boards, mineral wool, vapor barrier, wooden blockhouse or DSP plate(outside), drywall or lining (inside) are calculated quickly and simply, amounting to a total of 1,200 rubles / m2.

At the same time, the most cheap wall made from rounded logs 32 cm thick will cost you 2,500 rubles per 1 m2. Do not forget that you will still have to insulate it, spending from 250 to 300 rubles. Thus, in terms of the price of materials, the “frame” significantly outperforms the log house.

With the same thermal insulation ability wooden wall frame house it turns out cheaper than a block one (frame with 150 mm mineral wool versus 40 cm thick aerated concrete blocks + 5 cm mineral wool).

House made of SIP panels

This material cannot be called optimal in terms of environmental friendliness, although manufacturers of such buildings are trying to prove the opposite.

The main advantage is the high speed of construction. It is difficult to classify these designs as cheap.

The cost of 1m2 sandwich board, depending on the thickness of the insulation (10,15,20 cm) ranges from 900 to 1500 rubles. For comparison, the cost of 1 m2 of a wall made of aerated blocks 40 cm thick is about 1,200 rubles.

LSTK (light steel structures)

Undivided Dominance plasterboard technologies prompted engineers to create a more durable analogue for assembling the frame of low-rise buildings. This is how a new technology appeared. It was based on the lungs steel structures(LSTK).

Assembly of buildings from steel profile similar to the installation of wooden “frames”. At the same time, houses made from light steel composite materials surpass them in terms of durability, biostability and fire safety. The speed of construction of such housing is lower than when using SIP panels, but higher than that of block and log construction.

The high cost of metal is the main disadvantage of LSTK technology. The average cost of materials for the construction of 1 m2 of metal profile wall is about 2,400 rubles.

Concrete panels

Large expanded clay concrete panels are rarely used these days. main reason low demand – minimal choice of sizes and planning solutions.

Expanded clay concrete wall panel

However, they can be used to build a new house faster compared to using brick, timber or cellular blocks (the price of 1 m2 of a 34 cm thick panel does not exceed 1,300 rubles). To this price you need to add the cost of insulation (150-200 rubles per 1m2). Without it, the wall will not meet modern thermal standards.

To summarize our review, we will give brief practical recommendations.

1. The most popular budget options for low-rise construction include gas and foam blocks, expanded clay concrete blocks and wooden frame.

Ceramic blocks, which were included in the category of expensive materials, have fallen in price today in most regions of Russia. Therefore, we will also classify them as budget solutions for private construction. Excellent thermal insulation qualities, impeccable environmental friendliness, big choice standard sizes - all of these positive traits ceramic blocks deserve your attention.

2. Arbolite blocks occupy a higher price level. The house they make turns out to be warm and durable. It creates a comfortable microclimate and comfortable acoustics. The disadvantages of wood concrete include the dependence of quality on the production capabilities of a particular manufacturer. Not all companies producing this material use high-quality wood chips, adding a large amount of sawdust and substandard woodworking waste to the feedstock.

3. Teplosten and LSTK blocks are attractive at first glance. Houses from them are built quickly and inexpensively. At the same time, many developers have reasonable doubts about their reliability and environmental friendliness, which is not in the best possible way affects the popularity of these materials.

4. Installation of a house from SIP panels can rightfully be called the fastest and budget option. It is difficult to classify these designs into the category of popular solutions, since there are serious doubts about their environmental friendliness and reliability.

5. Logs and profiled beams, as a first approximation, look quite inexpensive. However, here you need to take into account the additional costs of insulation and regular antiseptic treatment of the walls. In addition, the quality of log houses greatly depends on the quality of the material used and the qualifications of the installers. The main advantages of rounded logs and profiled timber are environmental friendliness and aesthetics.

6. Glued laminated timber is an elite building material. From it they build beautiful and eco-friendly houses, which cannot be classified as budget. The absence of shrinkage and high assembly speed please developers who choose this option.

Concluding our review, we note that when searching optimal option To build a new house you need:

• Find out the availability and price of the material you like in your region.
• Study reviews of owners of houses built from it.
• Get as much information as possible about suppliers, manufacturers and contractors offering construction services from the material you are going to buy.
• Visit construction exhibitions in your region, production workshops and facilities under construction. Here you will receive valuable and objective information “first-hand”.

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

The growth of individual construction has led to the appearance on the market various materials, including some that no one had ever heard of before. The range of building materials is so large that even specialists are often lost, not knowing what is best to choose.

As a rule, individual developers focus on 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 costs of its installation largely depend on this; cost of finishing work; durability; frequency of current (overhaul) repairs and operating costs (mainly for heating).

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

What kind of house exactly do you need? Need to decide

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

To the first type refers to a residential building for permanent residence those who live in suburban areas, but work activity connected with the city and for those who want to run their own farm on their own plot of land.

These are, as a rule, permanent 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 maximum communal amenities, surpassing the comfort of a city apartment.

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

To the third type houses include dachas and garden houses- Houses For seasonal residence or short-term visits, where you can come to spend weekends during 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 (one brick), and engineering support is reduced to installing a stove, an outdoor toilet and a well, usually for several houses.

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

Before starting to build a cottage, you should remember that the box of the house - the foundation, walls and roof - sometimes takes up more than 60% of the cost of the house. And of these costs, about 50% are enclosing structures or walls.

If you decide to build your own house, 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. So let's start with the calculations.

• Decide on the size and volume of the house. Determine the exact footage you need for housing, distribute all the premises, rooms within this footage and choose their arrangement.
• Use the services of a specialist. You can study specialized forums or websites that provide statistical data on how much of each type of building material is needed for a certain size of building or room.
• If you could not find the necessary information online, go to the store and consult with the seller. Ask him which of the available materials is most suitable for you, which materials have the highest quality indicators, and how much of a particular product you need to fill the entire footage.
• Make the final choice between traditional and modern building materials. You evaluate not only the means, but also the manufacturability of construction and the duration of operation. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain material with higher “survivability” indicators, 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.
• Before going to the store, review your notes again. Make the adjustment, calculate the quantity and price of all goods. Be sure 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 look at three options for wall structures that are widely used in private housing construction.

Old and good tree

The traditional material for Russian house construction is wood. About 33% of our houses are built from it.

People wondering what is best to build from a private house, this is the material that often comes to mind. After all, a wooden house means health and comfort. Its walls not only “breathe”, but also make the air healing by trapping harmful substances. Walls made of wood are created indoors optimal humidity and smell nice.

The walls of a wooden house have good thermal insulation and keep the house warm in winter and cool in summer. The cost of heating 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 (plain or laminated veneer lumber).

Hand-cut log house

This method is the oldest, it was used by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. It's about about a log house made by hand. Tree trunk is cut to required length, and then locks and grooves are made on it. Next, the logs are connected, laying out the outline of the house. You definitely have to wait for the shrinkage - this is about a year, no less. Then they caulk the cracks and line the frames of the windows and doors.

Today this method of constructing a wooden house is not used. Anyone can build a house from rounded logs. This structure is assembled like a construction set, we’ll talk about this later.

Building a house from timber is easier and faster

Neat, smooth logs are processed in production conditions and labeled. Ready-made parts are delivered to the construction site from which the walls are assembled. The timber may have various sizes and cross-section (rectangular, square, D-shaped). If it is profiled, then it has protrusions and grooves for connection. An oblique cut helps drainage excess water. You can build a house from this material with your own hands.

There are several types of timber for building a house

Sawn timber made from logs with a moisture content of 50 to 70%. As soon as he is cut down, he immediately goes to the construction site. Because of this, the house is subject to shrinkage (up to 10 cm). And sometimes cracks appear on the walls.

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

Glued beam made of several layers of lamellas (special boards dried to 6 or 10% humidity). They are glued together under pressure, with the fibers of adjacent layers positioned 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 or crack. Therefore, many believe that laminated veneer lumber is best material for the walls of a wooden house.

The positive aspects of wooden houses are obvious - they are environmentally friendly, frost resistance, speed of construction, seismic and wind resistance. In addition, the wood does not require additional cladding, which promises good budget savings.

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

During the shrinkage process, the house may develop cracks, which are coated with special compounds. Minimal shrinkage is observed in houses made of laminated veneer lumber and ordinary dried timber. Such materials are almost immediately ready for finishing. However, insulating a house made of timber will require a lot of money.

Another disadvantage of wood is its 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 compounds 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.

Briefly - the advantages of wood materials

This is one of the most environmentally friendly materials. Building a wooden house is not as expensive as a brick one. In terms of thermal conductivity, wood is significantly superior to brick. A wooden house is usually very beautiful. Often it does not require finishing either inside or outside. The foundation required is light and inexpensive. For example, columnar. A house made of wood, especially one made by hand, lasts a very long time.

Briefly - the disadvantages of wood materials:

The tree burns, can rot and be “eaten up” by fungus. To prevent this, all parts must be processed special drugs. Shrinkage of a log house can take from 3 to 5 years. Planed timber and log houses can crack.

Brick - it 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 brick

Ceramic brick and silicate brick. What is the difference?

Two types of bricks are used in construction: silicate (white) and ceramic (red) bricks.

Ceramic brick has a red color. This material is not afraid of frost and does not allow water to pass through. It can be solid (no more than 13% voids) and hollow (up to 49% 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 crews prefer ceramic bricks. Available in seven brands ceramic bricks: from M75 to M300. The higher the numbers, the stronger the brick. You should also pay attention to frost resistance, designated by the letter F. The lowest quality is F15, the highest is F75.

Sand-lime brick consists of a mixture of quartz sand, water and air lime. It is quite durable, frost-resistant, and has good sound insulation. Sand-lime brick has White color. 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 sand-lime brick may interest the developer in its variety of colors. For the strength of a brick, it does not matter whether it is solid or has cavities inside.

Private and face brick and their purpose.

Both types of bricks have different purposes. Ordinary brick is also called construction brick - it is used for internal masonry of walls. For him, small cracks are not considered defective. It doesn’t matter if the corners or edges are slightly broken and there are notches in the corners.

The facing (facing) brick must have an impeccable appearance and be free from nicks and flaws.

About the strength of brick and resistance to frost

Strength determines the brand of 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 that a given brand can withstand per one 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 base or foundation is laid with M150 or M175 bricks.

When choosing which brick to build a house from, you should also take into account frost resistance (the ability to freeze and thaw without being damaged). To denote 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 for external walls F15 brand is enough, where it is colder - F25. The cladding is usually made with F50 brick.

The main advantages of brick are strength, fire resistance, wide variety and choice on the market, as well as reasonable price. Small brick house IC can sometimes cost less than wooden cottage. Brick holds temperature well and in this sense is ideal for houses where year-round living is planned. But at the same time, brick is seriously inferior to wood in terms of heat transfer.

Brick also has a lot of disadvantages. To build a brick house, you sometimes need to spend one and a half times more time than to build a wooden house. Brick is a heavy material, which complicates its logistics and storage. A brick building requires a strong and powerful foundation, and these are additional costs.

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

Briefly – the advantages of brick: Attractive view. Durability. The ability to bring anything to life complex project. Resistant to corrosion, mold and mildew. Non-flammability. Noise protection. Good heat retention.

Briefly - the disadvantages of brick: Heavy weight. High demands on professionalism in installation. 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 frame technology. In addition to the low cost of such a home, the speed of assembly 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, racks, trusses and other elements. Then insulation is laid, and the whole thing is sheathed on top with dense sheets of chipboard or OSB. The wall of such a house weighs 15 times less than a brick one.

Not much expensive wood is used for the frame - 5 or 10 times less than for a log house. Insulation is the main expense item. However, even the best one, the cost of a wall is 1.5 times cheaper than one made from timber, and compared to brick – 2.7 times cheaper.

Frame houses can be of two types:

Frame and panel house- assembled from ready-made shields. First they connect them, then they make partitions between the rooms. The final stage is building the roof.

Frame house- made on the basis of a “frame” - a frame made of beams and logs resting on a foundation. Next, they put up the rafters and make the sheathing. After making the roof, the frame is sheathed with insulation (mineral wool or PPS). Finally, the outer cladding is done.

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

Briefly – the advantages of a frame house: Extremely low price and quick installation. Good heat saving (if the heating is turned off in frosty conditions of minus 10 °C, the temperature will decrease by 2 °C per day). No interior finishing is required, 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 wooden frame, the most incredible designs become possible. A real flight of fancy is possible. A small, shallow foundation is sufficient for a frame house.

Briefly, the disadvantages of a frame house: a frame house is considered not very environmentally friendly due to large quantity insulation. Another problem with these houses is various insects and rodents. Like all wooden houses, they are flammable and not resistant to natural disasters. Another problem with frame houses is that they are stuffy, so you need supply and exhaust ventilation. A house on a frame will last less than a brick or wooden one

Instead of a conclusion

What do you need to know when choosing material for the walls of your home?

Wall materials and work on the construction of enclosing structures account for a third of all costs for building a house. And if you, like the piglets Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf, are careless about 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 constructing the walls of a house.

A) A question of price. Costs can be reduced if you use lightweight material for the walls. Then you won’t have to build a powerful and expensive foundation.

B) Thermal insulation. Cold walls will cost too much in winter. Therefore, before choosing a material, you need to make all the calculations, focusing on local climatic conditions. You can achieve the desired degree of thermal insulation by using insulation materials. If you take a material with good heat-insulating properties, then you don’t have to insulate the walls, but it all depends on the region of the building.

B) Labor costs. The cost of time and effort can be reduced if you build the walls from large blocks, rather than from small-piece materials. Such walls are erected 3-4 times faster and easier. The highest speed is when constructing frame panel walls.

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

To decide what is best 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 materials for building walls

№	Materials	Advantages	Flaws		Cost of materials and work $/M2
1	2	3	4		5
1	Brick (minimum thickness - 380 mm)	Reliability, durability, environmental friendliness.	The need for insulation, labor intensity, heavy walls, need a strong foundation		75
2	Ceramic block (thickness - 380 mm)	Reliability, durability, environmental friendliness, construction speed.	The fragility of the material A highly qualified specialist is needed.		82
3	Rounded timber (diameter - 200 mm)	Environmental friendliness, rapidity construction.	Wall shrinkage, great dependence on the quality of the material and specialists, flammability, rotting.		44
4	Glued laminated timber (200/230 mm)	Environmental friendliness, speed of construction, lightweight foundation.	Flammability, rotting.		111
5	Aerated concrete (thickness – 380)	Speed ​​of construction durability, reliability, environmental friendliness, thermal insulation.	A solid foundation is needed; low bending strength.		60
6	Wooden frame+ sandwich panels with insulation.	Speed ​​of construction good thermal insulation, lightweight foundation	The durability of a house depends on technology and quality of construction.		44

And one more piece of advice. When choosing material for building a house, you should not approach the upcoming construction “in a big way.” In fact, a person does not need so much space to be completely happy, especially outside the city. All the savings you achieve by reducing the cost of materials and construction technologies can be negated by the extra floors, rooms and spaces.

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

Text: Valery Bordyuzhenko -