Gas concrete blocks, also known as aerated concrete, are not really made of concrete but of steam-hardened cement mortar, lime cement mortar or lime mortar without additional aggregate aggregate. The advantages of this highly porous material lie in the relatively low dead weight and the sound-absorbing or heat-damaging effect. The best known representatives of this type of building material are the lever and Ytong brands, which are often used as synonyms for gas concrete. There are undisturbed and armed varieties: How to use them – and what do they cost?
Unstretched gas concrete blocks as masonry, U-shells and lintels
Gas concrete has a high pore content, the pores are generally evenly distributed. From a structural engineering point of view, the following advantages result:
- Also large-format stones can be used universally
- Low weight between 7 and 25 kg
- Good transportability
- Often also suitable for static boundary areas (high load bearing capacity despite low density)
- Available in different pressure strength classes, depending on the application
- High dimensional accuracy due to exact production
- Thin bedding possible in walls
- Narrow joints reduce heat bridges and increase compressive strength
- Also can be processed by laymen, handle aids as well as tongue and groove often integrated
- Very low thermal conductivity of 0.06 to 0.18 W / (m · K), good thermal insulation
This information can be found in the description
The designation of your gas concrete blocks, which consists of a combination of signs and numbers, gives a lot of information about the quality of the product :
As a rule, the DIN standard is referred to as ” Determination of masonry stones “, Part 4: DIN EN 771-4. This standard, formerly DIN V 4165, must correspond to aerated concrete blocks. This is followed by the PPW specification for »aerated concrete block thermally insulated«, the number behind it indicates the strength class from 2 to 8. This is followed by the bulk density class, which for aerated concrete is between 0.30 and 1.00 kg / dm³. At the end, the dimensions of each stone type are added, usually in the order length x width x height.
Often, the pallets of the gas concrete blocks are color-coded, so that the strength class can already be seen at first sight. The following colors are used for this purpose:
- Green: strength class 2
- Blue: strength class 4
- Red: strength class 6
- Black: strength class 8
Creative design with gas concrete
A special feature of the gas concrete is that it is surprisingly easy to machine manually , for example with the chisel, with files and abrasive paper. In this way, individually shaped objects are created, which can be inserted into the room or façade design as desired. From gas concrete it is even possible to shape artistic figures with skill and imagination, which can pass seamlessly into the corresponding masonry.
Reinforced gas concrete components absorb tensile forces
Concrete reinforced with reinforced concrete can also absorb relatively strong tensile forces, which is why it is suitable as a large-format prefabricated component. Wall, ceiling and roof panels made from this material offer the possibility to create a well-insulated building for private or commercial use in a relatively short time. The load-bearing walls consist of huge wall panels in storey heights.
The reinforced components have a great advantage over the unreinforced gas concrete blocks: they can be used to build a building or building part very quickly. Efficient assembly systems contribute to the reduction of construction times and thus cost-saving . Steel and wood constructions can support the individual gas concrete elements and enable an even more flexible application. These are the other advantages of gas concrete components:
- High fire resistance of fire walls F90 up to 6 hours with a wall thickness of only 1.75 cm
- F90 fire walls are also flexible in use: in front, behind and between the building supports
- Homogeneous solid material favors effective thermal insulation
- Both as interior and exterior walls
- Easy to handle and therefore versatile (also artistic)
However, the prefabricated components made of gas concrete also have disadvantages. They are easily absorbed by their porosity and have a relatively low sound-absorbing effect compared to other materials.
Prices for gas concrete
The pure material costs for gas concrete blocks depend on various factors. In addition to the material quality , the dimensions of the stones are of course included in the pricing. Many stones have an integrated tongue and groove system as well as a handle bag, this also affects the final costs, but only moderately. The correspondingly equipped stones can even be somewhat cheaper because they consist of less material. Here is a sample price list which is based on original prices of strength class 2:
- Planter 175 x 599 x 249 mm with tongue and groove: 2,80 Euro gross, about 107 Euro / sqm
- Planter 240 x 599 x 249 mm with groove, spring and handle: 3,60 gross, about 102 Euro per sqm
- Planstein 365 x 599 x 249 mm with groove, spring and handle: 5,50 Euro gross, about 102 Euro / sqm
- Planstein 50 x 599 x 249 mm without groove, spring or handle: 0,95 Euro gross, about 126 Euro / sqm
- Planstein 100 x 599 x 249 mm without groove, spring or handle: 1.60 Euro gross, about 108 Euro / sqm
- Planter 150 x 599 x 249 mm without groove, spring or handle: 2,40 Euro gross, about 107 Euro / sqm
Gas concrete blocks of strength class 2 with a bulk density between 0,40 and 0,50 kg / dm³, average masonry stones, ie cost between 100 and 130 Euro per sqm. U-shells of gas concrete generally correspond to strength class 4 and have a bulk density of about 0.60 kg / dm³: they are stronger and heavier, which also makes them more expensive. Each piece with a size of 175 x 499 x 249 mm is about 6 to 7 Euro gross, with the dimensions 240 x 499 x 249 mm it is then around 8 Euro gross. All prices are non-committal as always, they result from a general cost analysis, the result of which does not have to correspond exactly to the specific offer on site.
What are the costs of falls from gas concrete?
Even falls can consist of gas concrete, they support the wall at break-through points. We can also offer example prices for orientation:
- Camber 1290 x 249 x 200 mm: about 30 to 35 Euro gross
- Fall 1990 x 249 x 240 mm: about 60 to 65 euros gross
- Fall 2240 x 249 x 300 mm: about 85 to 90 Euro gross
- Fall 2240 x 249 x 365 mm: about 105 to 110 euros gross
Gas concrete blocks are delivered on pallets, so the price for the delivery is added. In the case of disposable pallets, this often also involves costs which are only a few euros per pallet.