Expanded clay concrete for screed: necessary proportions. Proportions for the preparation of concrete grades M100, M200, M300

Expanded clay concrete is a building material, the basis of which is expanded clay. Air granules are obtained as a result of heat treatment of clay. Due to its good thermal insulation characteristics and light weight, expanded clay concrete is used for floor screed.

Expanded clay concrete is a type of lightweight concrete designed for thermal insulation and construction of various structures.

This material has the following advantages:

• environmental friendliness;
• resistance to combustion and chemical attack;
• no corrosion;
• flowability, which allows you to equalize differences on horizontal planes;
• soundproofing;
• strength;
• durability.

The composition of expanded clay concrete

This building material in its composition has the following components: cement, sand, water, expanded clay.

Expanded clay concrete for screed can act as gravel, crushed stone or sand. The granules are oval in shape and medium in size. Crushed stone - multi-faceted pieces of large sizes with sharp corners. Expanded clay sand is obtained by splitting large pieces of material into small ones.

Gravel is used for floor screed made of expanded clay concrete. The proportions for the screed in the classic version are as follows:

• cement - 1 part;
• water - 1 part;
• sand - 3 parts;
• expanded clay - 2 parts.

After pouring the floor from expanded clay concrete, the surface will need to be treated with a finishing screed. This is necessary in order to level the floor.

The proportions for the floor screed of expanded clay concrete depend on the method of pouring: dry or wet. The ratio of various components allows you to get a solution of different grades.

To get expanded clay concrete grade M150, the proportions of cement, sand and expanded clay should be 1: 3.5: 5.7. The proportions of these elements for the M300 brand will be 1: 1.9: 3.7; for the M400 brand - 1: 1.2: 2.7.

For 1 sq.m of screed 3 cm thick, you will need 16 kg of cement and 50 kg of sand.

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Pouring floor screed from expanded clay concrete

According to the method of pouring, they distinguish: wet, semi-dry and dry screed.

For a wet floor screed, the following proportions of the components are required:

• 1 part cement;
• 3 parts sand;
• 4 parts of expanded clay.

This means that for 25 kg of expanded clay it is necessary to take 30 kg of sand cement. Expanded clay gravel is poured into a large container and a small amount of water is added. The granules must be under water for some time to absorb it.

Then cement and sand are added to this container, stirring constantly. It is necessary to interfere until the granules become the color of cement, and the solution itself acquires a viscous cream-like consistency. With a thick solution, you need to add a little water.

Before pouring the screed on the concrete, waterproofing must be laid, otherwise the expanded clay concrete will not gain the required strength. From above, the flooded floor must also be covered with a film for 2-3 days so that the moisture does not evaporate.

Then it is necessary to carry out a finishing screed to align all the tubercles. The result will be more effective if the floor is sanded before finishing pouring.

The final layer should be no more than 3 cm. For its preparation, a cement mortar is required, but without the addition of crushed stone. To achieve a flat surface, it is necessary to build new beacons from metal profiles, 27 mm high. Next, the finishing screed is poured, leveling with the rule.

It is possible to perform two layers of screed at the same time, which makes the structure more homogeneous. The method is as follows:

1. Expanded clay concrete is poured in a small area.
2. A guide profile is installed on the beacons.
3. A finishing screed is poured on top, aligning it with profile beacons.
4. Proceed to pouring the next section.

Thus, the area is filled with separate sections.

The next day after the finish pouring, the guide profiles are taken out, and the free grooves are filled with mortar. A laser level is used to check the level of the floor.

Due to its light weight, the expanded clay concrete floor can be installed even on the attic floor of wooden beams. In addition, expanded clay concrete is cheaper than cement, which makes it more affordable to use.

Expanded clay concrete is the same cement mortar that is used to fill the screed. But since not heavy crushed stone is used here as a large aggregate, but expanded clay granules, the floor turns out to be warmer. Expanded clay is quite fragile and is not suitable for the full leveling of actively exploited surfaces. Its main purpose is to create a light heat and sound insulating layer that does not seriously increase the load on the base.

To make expanded clay concrete with your own hands, you will need expanded granules with a particle size of 5-10 or 5-20 mm with a bulk density of 600-700 kg / m3. Fine sand is not as effective, but is used for thin pouring up to 30 mm. Large fractions are more often used for dry and semi-dry screeds. The final choice depends on the loads on the future floor:

1. The best results are shown by mixtures where all size classes from 5 to 40 mm are present in equal proportions. In this case, the screed is a little more dense and heavy, but strong enough. At the same time, the consumption of cement is reduced.

2. To reduce the load on the floors, expanded clay is chosen larger. A finished screed with a large thickness can shrink over time, but this is the only way to even out serious surface differences, reaching 10-15 cm.

3. With a small thickness of concrete and the need to get rid of shrinkage phenomena, only one option remains - fine expanded clay sand.

As for cement, it is impossible to save here, since it depends only on it how tightly the expanded clay granules adhere to each other. At a minimum, it should be a binder with brand strength M400, but you can also use the more expensive PC M500. The main thing is that Portland cement goes without replacing slag additives.

Fine-grained aggregates are also subject to increased requirements, since they are also capable of influencing the strength characteristics of expanded clay concrete. This is ordinary quarry sand, but certainly sifted and washed. To reduce the density of the screed and increase its thermal insulation properties, it is better to choose larger sand fractions.

Since the finished solution does not have sufficient mobility (its characteristics correspond to the lowest class P1), plasticizing additives are introduced into it to improve the workability of the mixture. You can use air-entraining modifiers such as SDO, which additionally porous the cement matrix. But it is cheaper and easier to independently pour liquid soap into the concrete mixer at the rate of 50-100 ml per bucket of PC.

Proportions for different brands

To determine the scope of work, you will need to measure the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room and calculate the height of the future layer of expanded clay concrete. The volume of pouring is the amount of clay filler in cubic meters, from which one should build on in further calculations. A “warm” monolith can be obtained in different densities - from 1000 to 1700 kg / m3 (although it is better to use the most durable coatings for the floor), in accordance with this, the proportions for the screed will also change.

With good moistening of expanded clay, 140-200 liters of water per cubic meter of solution will be enough for such proportions. If the soaking was not effective enough, the amount of liquid can be increased to 300 l / m3.

Traditionally, builders use a simplified ratio to obtain claydite concrete of brand strength M100 - optimal for the installation of a "warm" screed on their own. To do this, take 1 part of cement:

• 3 hours of sand;
• 4 hours of expanded expanded clay;
• 1 hour of water.

With such proportions, you can even purchase sand cement, where bulk materials just go in a ratio of 1: 3. If the screed is needed stronger, they simply choose a different cooking recipe for it:

When working with cement of a higher grade M500 and a screed device in domestic premises with operational loads not higher than average, it is recommended to use the following ratio of components per cube of expanded clay:

• 295 kg of cement;
• 1186 kg of coarse sand;
• 206 liters of water.

Light screeds are prepared from expanded clay with a density of 200-300 kg / m3 without the addition of sand. Here you need to make a solution with the following ratio:

• 720-1080 kg of expanded clay granules;
• 250-375 kg of cement;
• 100-225 liters of water.

Expanded clay is poured into the container first. Before this, the granules must be soaked in water so that they are saturated with moisture and then do not pull it out of the concrete. Having added a little more liquid, sand cement is poured into the trough or drum of the mixer, thoroughly mixing the solution. With correctly selected proportions of expanded clay concrete, all granules in the manufacturing process should become the same gray color - without brown spots.

If the mixture does not seem to be fluid enough, you can add a little more water to it. With an excess of moisture, dry components should not be added, as this will not allow them to be stirred until homogeneous and worsen the quality of expanded clay concrete, violating the cement ratio. In this case, it is better to let it brew a little, then mix again.

Cooking must be done quickly and without delay. As soon as the granules are completely covered with cement slurry, the composition must be immediately poured onto the base, leveling over the installed beacons. A solution with expanded clay filler sets faster than ordinary concrete, but after a week it will be possible to move freely on such a floor. The final set of strength occurs within 28 days.

Features of working with expanded clay concrete

Before pouring, it is imperative to lay waterproofing on the floor or coat it and the lower part of the walls with bituminous mastic. Otherwise, moisture will be absorbed into the base, preventing the cement from gaining the required strength. Such a fill will turn out to be non-monolithic and very fragile - it will spread under load and collect dust. Also, a damper tape must be fixed around the perimeter of the room to compensate for thermal expansion. Upon completion of the work, the expanded clay concrete screed will require additional protection against moisture evaporation. To do this, it is covered with a film on top, which can be removed after a couple of days.

The finished layer of "warm" concrete needs final leveling - preferably with preliminary grinding. From above, it is poured with a conventional sand cement mortar with a thickness of not more than 30 mm (without the addition of gravel). This is enough to hide the irregularities, but not worsen the thermal insulation characteristics of the rough base. Finishing pouring is carried out along the beacons, carefully leveling the mixture with the rule. Reiki is carefully removed the next day, and the remaining traces are sealed with a fresh composition.

A semi-dry screed is another option for insulating and leveling the floor with expanded clay, which allows you to process small areas one after another. In this case, dry granules of expanded clay are poured onto the prepared base with installed beacons - to such a height that 20 mm of the beacon profile remain uncovered. From above they are shed with a liquid cement mortar (milk) and tamped, gluing the expanded clay grains together. After a day or two, the surface is poured with a finishing screed - the preparation of concrete for it is no different from the already considered “wet” method.

So, in order, the information is confirmed by the test reports of the leading manufacturers of polystyrene concrete, I made a conclusion for myself and wrote at the end of the commentary. MOISTURE RESISTANCE and HYGROSCOPICITY This is the most important property of any building material, especially in areas with high humidity. The higher the moisture resistance of the material, the more durable, stable and warmer it is. Polystyrene concrete absorbs no more than 6% of moisture from the atmosphere, it can be in the open air for almost unlimited time. STRENGTH Due to the super-strong cement-polystyrene matrix, polystyrene concrete has unique strength characteristics. This material is so durable that a fall from the height of a five-story building will not cause significant damage to the block. FIRE RESISTANCE Polystyrene concrete does not burn, it is able to withstand the enormous temperatures caused by fire, due to its unique thermal conductivity coefficient, it does not allow heat to penetrate deep into the wall. Flammability class NG. Fire resistance class EI180. DURABILITY The service life of a house made of polystyrene concrete is at least 100 years. Over the years, the strength of polystyrene concrete only increases. FROST RESISTANCE Tests for frost resistance and the amplitude of temperature fluctuations from + 75°С to - 30°С were carried out on 150 freeze-thaw cycles without loss of integrity and heat-insulating ability. THERMAL INSULATION It has long been recognized that polystyrene (styrofoam) is the best heat insulator in the world, it is even warmer than wood! A house made of polystyrene concrete does not require insulation: it is cool in summer and warm in winter. NOISE INSULATION Polystyrene concrete provides the best noise absorption rate, 18-20 cm dampens sound from 70 decibels. Consequently, in a house made of polystyrene concrete, there is special comfort: noise from the street and inside from neighboring rooms and bathrooms does not disturb. ECONOMY The cost per square meter of a finished wall is cheaper than other materials. Due to the high level of heat retention, walls made of polystyrene concrete can be built 25% thinner than from alternative materials (aerated concrete and foam concrete) and 4 times thinner than brick. Savings on wall thickness lead to overall savings in the construction of the box (foundation, roof and walls) up to 50%. At the same time, the quality of the house will be even higher, and the house itself will be warmer. SEISMIC RESISTANCE Seismic resistance 9-12 points. Polystyrene concrete has not only compressive strength, but also the highest tensile and bending strength. Therefore, polystyrene concrete is considered the most reliable and earthquake-resistant material. LIGHTNESS A large-sized block 200x300x600 mm does not exceed a weight of 17 kg, which facilitates the work of a bricklayer and reduces the time for laying walls: it replaces 20 bricks in volume, and almost three times lighter in weight. ANTISEPTICITY The additive used in the manufacture of polystyrene concrete does not allow insects, rodents to start up in the walls, prevents the formation of mold and fungus that have a negative impact on health. VAPOR PERMEABILITY Polystyrene concrete walls “breathe” similarly to wood walls, and there is no danger from condensation and waterlogging for them. This provides a comfortable environment in houses made of polystyrene concrete. PLASTICITY Plasticity is the only material made of cellular concrete that makes it possible to produce window and door lintels, its bending strength is 50-60% of the compressive strength, for concrete this parameter is 9-11%. CRACK RESISTANCE Polystyrene concrete, due to its elasticity, is incredibly resistant to cracking. And this guarantees a long period of preservation of interior decoration and durability of the whole house. MANUFACTURING High speed of erection of wall structures due to the lightness and convenient geometry of the blocks. Easily sawn and chiseled, the ability to give the building material any geometric shape. ENVIRONMENTAL The International Building Code (IRC) classifies polystyrene as one of the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly insulation materials. Thus, polystyrene concrete has a lot of undeniable advantages over materials such as expanded clay concrete, autoclaved and non-autoclaved aerated concrete, foam concrete, wood concrete, etc. The disadvantages of polystyrene concrete appear only if its brand is chosen incorrectly and the masonry technology and preparation for interior decoration are violated. It can be said with absolute certainty that there is not a single significant advantage for materials such as aerated concrete and foam concrete over polystyrene concrete. At the same time, polystyrene concrete significantly surpasses them in key characteristics.

Widely used in domestic buildings, as well as in multi-storey construction, expanded clay concrete has gained its popularity due to a number of advantages. Many of the advantages of the material are acquired due to the properties of the clay that is part of expanded clay. This includes low specific gravity, resistance to biological influences, fire resistance, durability, high-quality hydro and thermal insulation. From here, a claydite concrete floor screed will provide a solid foundation for any floor covering.

But there are some negative points that complicate its independent use. For example, far from a quick period of time for work, since concrete requires additional grinding to create a smooth surface. There are several varieties of screed with expanded clay. It can be a classic fill, semi-dry or dry version. Each type is selected specifically for the construction object, the required load on the base, the amount of floor irregularities.

Recommended for rooms with irregularities, for floor insulation on the first floors of buildings. Equally well suited for indoor and outdoor work, to give the floor the necessary slope, when installing a system of underfloor heating. On sale there are options for ready-made building mixtures based on expanded clay. Their use is advisable for high floor differences, up to 30 cm. But such a solution can also be made on its own.

Proportions for screed

Depending on the nature of the surface, the necessary composition is selected. The ratio of materials depends on the fraction of the expanded clay concrete screed used and the expected loads on the base. In the classic version of the pouring, the so-called wet method, the following proportion of cement, water, sand, expanded clay is used - 1: 1: 3: 2. In terms of mass, with an expanded clay consumption of 0.5-0.7 m3, 1.3-1.5 tons of a mixture of sand and cement will be required.

Variations with the proportion of components allow the preparation of various grades of expanded clay concrete. Thus, for M150 the ratio of cement-sand-claydite is 1:3.5:5.7. Accordingly, the mixture recipe with the same components for the M300 looks like this: 1: 1.9: 3.7. And for a similar brand of concrete M400 - 1: 1.2: 2.7.

It is not at all difficult to make expanded clay concrete with your own hands. First of all, it is necessary to choose the right expanded clay. It is a fusible clay, thermally processed. The material is available in several forms:

• expanded clay gravel - elements of the correct round shape;
• expanded clay crushed stone - unformed fractions of large sizes;
• expanded clay sand is a finely crushed result of expanded clay processing.

For the preparation of expanded clay concrete for the floor, only gravel with a fraction of 5-20 is used. Larger ones are applied in a semi-dry or dry way. Expanded clay sand, on the other hand, makes thin types of screeds less than 3 cm thick more durable and heat-intensive. Expanded clay, according to the recommendations, must be soaked in water in advance, so that the particles do not float up. Due to the hydrophilic properties of the material, its porous structure will quickly absorb a sufficient amount of water. The result will be a mass of gravel without visible accumulations of moisture.

Next, the ratio of sand and cement is added in portions with constant stirring. This continues until the claydite granules become cement-colored. The whole process of preparing the screed is easiest to carry out using a concrete mixer. In the absence of the latter, any spacious metal container that can accommodate the entire volume of expanded clay concrete is quite suitable.

It is worth paying special attention to the choice of brand of cement for concrete. For reliable adhesion and high specific strength, it must be at least M400-M500. Quarry sand for the preparation of expanded clay concrete is used washed. Pre-sifted on their own. To achieve higher strength, acquire frost resistance and durability of the screed, many experts recommend the addition of plasticizers. The proportions of the additive are determined by the manufacturer of a particular composition and are indicated on the packaging. In addition to the ready-made purchased solution, the plasticizer can be made by yourself using liquid soap or washing powder.

Water is added to the ratio of the screed solution at the rate of 200-300 liters per 1 m3. The proportion varies depending on the moisture content of the materials. The main thing here is to achieve the desired consistency so that the mixture is confidently straightened by the rule. In the case of an excess amount of moisture, a rare composition will be obtained in which expanded clay will float and also prevent the formation of a flat surface.

Do-it-yourself mix

Consumption of expanded clay concrete depends on the required thickness of the layer and the size of the floor area under the coating. The minimum thickness of the expanded clay concrete screed is 3 cm, which is one of its significant drawbacks, especially in the presence of a small ceiling height.

Before applying the mixture, it is recommended to lay waterproofing material and damper tape. This is necessary to prevent premature loss of moisture in the base, otherwise the monolith will not have time to gain strength. The tape, in turn, serves as a protector against contact with the wall and prevents possible thermal deformation.

The solution is poured at the level between the beacons from the corner of the room. Large irregularities are straightened out by the rule. Due to the rapid setting of the composition, the process must be carried out continuously and in a short period of time. It should be noted that the setting time of expanded clay concrete screed is much shorter than that of concrete. After two days, you can walk on the hardened screed.

The surface of expanded clay concrete is far from being mirror-like, so it is recommended to sand the base a little before finishing. Further, for the final result, a layer of classic cement-sand screed is poured.

Some experts use a simpler and less time-consuming way to level the floor with expanded clay. There is no need to prepare a solution. The dry fraction of expanded clay gravel or crushed stone is poured directly between the lighthouses on the prepared base, leveled. Then you can immediately start pouring the concrete leveling layer. Sometimes expanded clay is additionally spilled with cement milk.

The rapid development of advanced technologies has led to the emergence of unique building materials, including expanded clay concrete. This type of concrete complies with all GOST 6133-99 standards and is an indispensable solution for the construction of all kinds of buildings. The proportions of expanded clay concrete for blocks imply the introduction of expanded clay, not crushed stone.

Description and characteristics

The material is characterized by low weight and excellent performance characteristics that are characteristic of concrete structures. Due to its low thermal conductivity, it can be used for arranging wall structures and ceilings.

The characteristics of expanded clay concrete blocks are as follows:

1. Strength - 35-150 kg per cubic centimeter.
2. Density - 700−1500 kg per cubic meter.
3. Thermal conductivity - 0.15−0.45 W / mGrad.
4. Frost resistance - 50−200 cycles.
5. Shrinkage - 0% mm/m.
6. Moisture absorption - 50%.

In the manufacture of expanded clay concrete with your own hands, the proportions are selected taking into account the required consistency and features of the building. To create blocks with different densities, it is necessary to calculate the correct ratio of the plasticizer, which gives the composition elastic properties, as well as other components that determine a number of key characteristics of expanded clay concrete.

Externally, expanded clay concrete is characterized by a cellular structure with different pore sizes (it is determined by the firing mode of the main aggregate). Depending on the porosity, three types of material can be distinguished: coarse-porous, porous, and also dense.

As for the performance properties and benefits, they directly depend on the homogeneity of the structure of the concrete mixture. Normative strength indicators are determined by the correctly chosen ratio of expanded clay gravel with fine and coarse fractions. If the material will be used as the basis for the construction of structures, it must be additionally equipped with reinforcement, which will increase strength.

In most cases, expanded clay concrete is used to form enclosing and heat-insulating layers in multilayer building forms. The characteristics and serviceability of the final composition depend on the selected proportions and the correct ratio of the components. It is important to understand that the recipe for expanded clay concrete for flooring and building blocks varies significantly.

When laying the screed, the type of surface must be taken into account, as it determines the composition of the mixture. The optimal proportion for the manufacture of a screed with a height of 30 mm per 1 m² is as follows: 40 kg of a mixture of sand concrete grade M300 and 35 kg of expanded clay gravel.

Advantages and disadvantages of the screed

Expanded clay concrete screeds guarantee high reliability of the floor base, as well as its resistance to moisture, air and negative temperatures. Among the key advantages of the design, the following points should be highlighted:

But, in addition to the advantages, the claydite-concrete screed also has disadvantages. First of all, this is a significant rise in the height of the floor, as well as the need to polish the floor surface after the composition dries.

Production technology

The technology for the production of expanded clay concrete blocks is particularly simple and affordable, which makes it particularly popular among a wide audience of builders. Such material can be used for the construction of a small residential or commercial building in a country house or a plot near the house, the construction of premises on insufficiently good soil, and many other household tasks.

The high popularity of the technology is due to the excellent properties of the material and the affordable cost of production. It can be made without any special difficulties directly on a private site, without using sophisticated equipment and the help of specialists.

Blocks of expanded clay concrete can be both hollow and full-bodied. At the same time, regardless of the form, they include the main filler - expanded clay gravel. Solid structures are in demand for arranging the foundation and cladding of external walls, while hollow structures play the role of soundproof and heat-insulating partitions between the internal and external walls of the building.

When using porous technology, it is possible to increase the bearing capacity of the foundation and wall structures of the room. At the same time, the main advantage of using such concrete is a significant reduction in the cost of construction work, a long service life of the product and a low weight of expanded clay concrete.

Composition and proportions

Without a doubt, claydite concrete is currently one of the most popular building materials. The composition per 1 m³ should include the following components:

1. cement mixture.
2. Sand.
3. Fine expanded clay, which is created on the basis of natural raw materials.
4. Water without all sorts of impurities and chemicals. It should be noted that in no case should water with an acidity below pH 4 be used to dilute the mixture. Sea water should also not be used, as it can lead to the appearance of a white coating.

Also, the composition of expanded clay concrete (proportions per 1 m³ are calculated in advance at the construction site) may include several additional additives, such as sawdust, wood ash and plasticizers.

In order for the future building mixture to meet all the requirements, You must adhere to the following guidelines and rules:

1. You can increase the elastic properties with the help of quartz sand.
2. To make the future block moisture resistant, expanded clay gravel (without sand) must be added to its composition.
3. Portland cement branded from M400 is characterized by excellent binding properties, so it is better to give preference to this particular model.
4. The cement mixture has a positive effect on the strength characteristics of the structure, however, in the presence of this component, the weight of the product increases significantly.
5. Provided that the future block will be subjected to heat treatment, it is better to use alite cement.

As for the density of raw materials, it directly depends on the components that are introduced into the composition of expanded clay concrete blocks. The proportions for a material with a normal density imply the introduction of large-fraction expanded clay. In most cases, such blocks are used to equip heat-insulating partitions.

If we are talking about the construction of load-bearing wall structures, it is advisable to use fine expanded clay. Too many small particles will make the block quite heavy, so experts recommend looking for a "golden mean" by mixing large and small "stones" for expanded clay concrete. The proportions per 1 m³ are determined by the type of work that is planned.

Before you start creating a mixture, you need to carefully study the recipe and pay attention to a few recommendations. This will avoid many difficulties at different stages of production, as well as get a high quality product with the best features:

It is not difficult to make sure that the mixture is ready: to do this, you need to scoop up a homogeneous mass with a shovel and see if it spreads or not. If the slide begins to spread over the shovel, this indicates that the expanded clay concrete is too liquid. If the consistency is stable and not loose, then the required ratio of components has been achieved.

Depending on the design features, different grades of concrete are used for the manufacture of expanded clay blocks:

1. M50 - suitable for the construction of partitions.
2. M75 - is an indispensable element for the construction of load-bearing walls for industrial and residential facilities.
3. M100 - used in the construction of premises with a small number of storeys, insulation of enclosing structures and the arrangement of monolithic floor slabs and screeds.
4. M150−200 - this brand of concrete is used for the construction of load-bearing structures and when creating wall blocks or panels. The material is distinguished by its ability to withstand strong temperature fluctuations and chemical attack.
5. M200 - is a popular composition for creating light blocks and floors. The advantage of the material is resistance to moisture and chemicals.

Mixes of expanded clay blocks

As mentioned above, the proportions and recipe of the expanded clay concrete mixture depend on the characteristics of the project for which they are intended. For example, if you need to make high-quality blocks, it is better to follow this recipe:

1. To begin with, one part of cement and 2-3 parts of sand are mixed.
2. After obtaining a homogeneous mass, 0.9-1 part of water is added to the consistency.
3. Then the composition is stirred again, and 5-6 parts of expanded clay are added to it.

If the filler is not moist enough, it is better to increase the volume of water. In the absence of good sand, you can use Peskobeton. In the manufacture of expanded clay concrete for the floor, one part of cement and one part of water, three parts of sand and two parts of expanded clay are mixed. For a wet CB screed, it is customary to use expanded clay gravel in the proportion of 0.5–0.6 m3 of expanded clay per 1.4–1.5 tons of sand-cement composition.

If the task is to prepare materials for wall structures, then the optimal proportions will look like this:

1. 1 part cement.
2. 1.5 parts of expanded clay sand with a fraction of up to 5 mm.
3. 1 part of fine expanded clay.

If you want to create expanded clay concrete for floors, it is better to use such a batch: 1 part of cement, 3 parts of sand, 1.5 parts of water, 4-5 parts of expanded clay.

Types of placeholders

A variety of components can be used as fillers for expanded clay concrete. In addition to expanded clay or expanded clay sand, quartz sand or a larger additive, including gravel, can be used. In this case, expanded clay will play the role of the base.

Among the main varieties of fillers are:

1. Gravel with an angular or rounded shape.
2. Crushed stone with an irregular angular shape and a rough surface.

Depending on the bulk weight, 12 grades of expanded clay are distinguished, and two types (A and B) are used in terms of strength. Preparing claydite concrete blocks at home is much easier than it might seem at first. The main thing is to follow the above recommendations, follow step-by-step instructions and not deviate from the established recipe. In this case, the final raw material will be of the highest quality, reliable and durable.