The cheapest technologies for building houses. What is the best material to build a permanent home from? What materials are cheaper to build a house from?

The question of which house to build is the cheapest is of concern to every private developer. The maximum benefit can be obtained if the land plot is already owned or it is possible to purchase it relatively inexpensively. Otherwise, you can refer to the recommendations discussed below.

Bypassing issues related to the purchase of land and the cost of building your own home the following factors influence:

• architectural and planning solutions. The developer must understand that even inexpensive housing must be modern, comfortable, and functional;
• constructive construction solutions. Here it is advisable to exclude architectural excesses; the design of the house should be as simple as possible;
• cost of materials and labor. Savings do not exclude high technological efficiency of work and quality of materials used. The construction project can be implemented independently or with the involvement of a team consisting of 2-3 people, which has a slight effect on the cost of work.

Any project taken on the Internet can be modernized by turning stone into frame and vice versa. However, such manipulations should become a nuisance for professionals - they don’t save money here

Building a house with your own hands - what to consider in the project

The cost of construction depends on the total area of ​​the future housing. It is optimal to lay down dimensions of 9 * 6 m, which can successfully accommodate 2-3 living rooms.

Example of architectural and planning solutions:

• the basic principle is the minimum ratio of total area to usable area, without loss of convenience for living. Simply put, it is necessary to build an inexpensive turnkey house so that it is comfortable to live in;
• an effective layout is the presence of two bedrooms with an area of ​​9-10 m², a combined bathroom - 3-4 m², an entrance hall combined with a vestibule - 3 m², a living room combined with a kitchen area - 25-26 m²;
• thus, the total housing area will be 52-54 m², with a usable area of ​​at least 50 m², which is 96%;
• There is no need to equip storage rooms in the house. A number of additional buildings can be erected on a personal plot, which will fill this gap;
• Similar projects can be found on the Internet and become familiar with them in more detail.

Which house is cheaper to build, one-story or two-story? Undoubtedly, the construction of a standard one-story building is less expensive. However, this solution is also less profitable. With a similar area, it is more expedient to build a two-story house (for example, 2 floors of 50 m² each than 1 floor of 100 m²).

Constructive decisions:

• the simplest designs make a tangible contribution to construction savings. If you set the width of the building to 6 m, this is quite enough for arranging floors, but does not require the construction of an additional load-bearing wall, which affects the design of the foundation and plinth;
• combining the living room and kitchen helps to save on the arrangement of partitions and doors;
• the optimal width of the walls is set to 30 cm. The thermal stability of the object is subsequently regulated by facade cladding and additional insulation, depending on the climatic conditions of construction;
• partitions can be made of plasterboard, which also does not require laying a foundation. Such structures are built using simplified technology;
• the cheapest roof is a gable roof, no frills.

With the modern mobile standard of living, the construction of brick houses is losing relevance day by day. Even for private purposes, it is impractical to build such buildings; many turn to cheaper technologies

Work and materials:

• the cost of work often takes up the lion's share of expenses. However, the use of modern high-tech materials allows you to bypass this cost item. Modern materials are designed for a simple home craftsman, that is, about 90% of the work can be done independently or with 2-3 assistants;
• For some types of work, it is impossible to do without the participation of a professional (here you should rely on your own strength). However, as was said, the costs for such services will not exceed 10%.

What building material will be cheaper?

When choosing materials for construction, brick, steel frame structures, natural wood, and concrete blocks are often considered.

Brick

This strong, durable but heavy material. Despite excellent sound insulation, environmental friendliness, and commercial availability, it cannot be used for economical construction. It will be necessary to lay a deep load-bearing foundation, the work itself is lengthy, and brick is difficult to process. Finished housing without additional measures will be characterized by insufficient energy savings.

Steel structures

This is a durable and affordable material that helps you build a reliable, comfortable and inexpensive house in the shortest possible time. Practice shows that a frame house is really affordable, easy to install, has a high load-bearing capacity despite its low mass, and is versatile—any project can be implemented if desired. The advantages include the possibility of arranging a unique exterior. However, additional sound and heat insulation and measures to enhance strength will be required.

Wood

Despite all the advantages of the material (strength, environmental friendliness, sound and heat insulation, external characteristics, etc.), it cannot be called economical. Good wood - timber, logs are available at a high cost and requires treatment against pests and rot.

If construction cannot be done by hand, the key to high efficiency without extra costs is the choice of one team responsible for the entire cycle of work

Cellular concrete, block concrete

This is a modern option that allows you to quickly and inexpensively build good, environmentally friendly housing with high load capacity, strength, and low weight. The material is easy to process, which simplifies external and internal finishing, but requires costs for the high-quality implementation of this stage of work.

Option for permanent residence

Choosing from a wide variety of materials, fits optimally on block concrete. Ready-made housing is suitable for living in almost any climatic zone of the country; construction technology is easy to master, which allows you to build with your own hands. No less effective are frame houses, designs, photos and prices of which are available in a wide variety on the Internet.

It is cheaper to implement a house project from foam blocks (or other block material) with the following characteristics:

• shallow monolithic reinforced concrete foundation;
• basement and concrete blind area. Implemented using brickwork of 1 brick, 250 mm;
• wall structures – gas silicate, aerated concrete, foam concrete, 300 mm;
• external cladding - lathing, insulation, vinyl siding;
• floors and roofing - wooden trusses, covering with metal profiles on the sheathing, steam and waterproofing, insulation, plasterboard;
• window structures – wood/metal-plastic + installation;
• interior decoration, partitions, door blocks - plasterboard with sound insulation, finishing with plastic panels, wallpaper;
• flooring – concrete preparation, ceramic tiles, carpet, laminate;
• sewerage, water supply - PVC pipes, plumbing equipment;
• heating system - double-circuit wall-mounted boiler, plastic pipes for hot water supply, heating, aluminum radiators;
• electrics corresponding to the house design.

You should not skimp on soil testing. Even with completely prosperous neighboring areas, your own may differ in other characteristics

So that all savings do not turn into collapse, you should Check out the tips below:

• when choosing a ready-made standard project, you should consider for what climatic conditions it was designed (wind/snow load, seasonal outdoor temperatures);
• it is necessary to link the load-bearing foundation to the soil conditions of the site. This will minimize the costs of its construction;
• if the project is selected, additional changes cannot be made to it, for example, changing the material of the walls and their design, the size of window and door openings, the installation of additional openings, replacing floors, etc.;
• You shouldn’t skimp too much on communications. High-quality engineering systems, sewerage, water supply, communications, ventilation, and entrances to the site ensure quality and comfort of living.

To summarize, it can be noted that a cheap house is not low-quality, cramped, uncomfortable housing. First of all, this is the owner’s reasonable and rational approach to the construction process and the choice of materials.

An original and unique project for a house made from waste materials is presented in the video:

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

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

Project selection: main criteria

The main goal is to build a home that the average resident of the country has enough money for. There is no point in planning a room with the possibility of subsequent expansion or extension - there is no need to waste years on a grueling series of reconstruction works. Significantly more rational from the start build more modestly but more efficiently, this is the only way to get maximum pleasure from living in your personal “apartment”.

Among low-rise housing, projects of one- and two-story buildings, sometimes with an attic floor, are very popular. The main criterion when choosing technology construction is the price per 1 m². Let's consider which house is cheaper to build? of the most common materials:

• brick;
• gas blocks;
• timber

Another popular method of constructing a building is frame. It should be noted that the material for the walls is not the main indicator influencing the final cost when construction.

When preparing an estimate taken into account:

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

When preparing an approximate estimate let's take these indicators as a fact:

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

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

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

Let us first clarify that the room is intended for year-round use what's special important for calculating the price per 1 sq. meter for frame or block construction. For all of the above materials from which walls are made, a pile-grillage foundation is ideal.

Brick walls

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

IN cost of 1 square meter of wall includes:

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

Total amount excluding work – 2330 rub.. If you plan to use labor of hired workers, then it is worth adding about 1000 rubles to the announced figure.

Walls made of aerated concrete blocks

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

In all respects, aerated concrete block D500 400 mm thick exactly the material what would be cheaper to build your house from?, which is confirmed by calculations:

• blocks – 7 pieces – 1076 rub.;
• masonry adhesive – 10.5 kg – 85 rub.;
• reinforced concrete anchor, mesh – 220 rubles;
• support belt for reinforced concrete mauerlat – 200 rubles;
• columns of a monolithic frame made of reinforced concrete – 120 rubles;
• plaster – 280 rub.

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

Walls made of timber

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

Exemplary cost of 1 square meter walls made of wooden beams:

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

Total amount – approx. 1900 rub.., when using hired labor workers will have to pay another 1700-1800 rubles.

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

Frame construction

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

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

Total amount - 875 RUR., for the work you should pay extra about 1500-1700 rubles.

Final review: which house is cheaper to build and why?

Judging by the results of the calculations made, wooden beam is the most expensive material. Most acceptable in price and time construction should be recognized frame structure. However, it is impossible to make a hasty conclusion that a dwelling made of timber will cost more than all the above options.

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

Where else can you save money?

Firstly before you think What is cheaper to build a country house from? for all-season living, you need to decide on sizes. Naturally, the smaller the dimensions of the room, the lower the costs will be.

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

Third – the simpler the cheaper. That is, complex roofs, bay windows, balconies - all this significantly increases the total cost of their implementation.

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

Home is what we leave behind, what connects generations. What this memory of us will be depends on us. True, the construction of a house greatly depends on the amount of our money and the climate of the area where it is located. And the variety of building materials today dazzles the eyes. Therefore, in order for the house to be strong, cozy and last a long time, it is necessary to take into account not only the advantages of this or that material, but also its disadvantages, so that our beauty does not decay and crumble in a few years.

Basic materials for building a house

Despite all the diversity and dissimilarity of houses, we build them from practically only two materials: wood and stone. To be fair, it is worth noting that they are specially processed and given the properties required in each specific case.

Let's look at the wood: rounded logs, plain and laminated timber, carriage. Everything seems to be made of the same material, but the characteristics of, for example, laminated veneer lumber and rounded logs differ like heaven and earth. But there are also frame houses, also consisting of wood and insulation.

By stone we generally mean not wild stone (it is mainly used for backfilling under the foundation or for decorative finishing), but artificially created one. Well, since it was created by the mind and hands of a person, then the properties of the stone were given such as the person needed. And no matter how frightening the abundance of brands and standards of such stone may be, it easily fits into the following classification:

Brick;

Blocks where the binding component is cement;

Building blocks made without the use of cement, based on lime or clay.

The greatest variety of manufacturing technologies (and therefore types) exists in the second group, that is, the group of building blocks made from cement.In house construction, lightweight concrete is most often used, which differ in the brand of cement, the composition of the filler, and the composition of the heat-insulating component. And depending on these characteristics, we can distinguish cellular concrete, where air or gas bubbles serve as thermal insulation, and blocks, where expanded clay, wood chips or foam balls play this role. However, first things first...

Brick: pros and cons

Yes, brick is durable, frost-resistant, not afraid of fungus and does not rot. It is not afraid of precipitation and does not burn; solar ultraviolet radiation does not have any effect on the brick. The brick is durable and also complies with all environmental and aesthetic standards. The strength of the house is explained both by the quality of the material and the method of laying - each subsequent row of bricks knits the previous one, that is, there are no vertical seams passing through at least two rows.

And one moment. The cost of producing bricks is no less than one and a half times more expensive than the production of other materials from which walls are built. Considering that brick is several times smaller than any other building block, the labor intensity of construction increases significantly. Together, price and labor intensity make a brick house quite expensive.

Properties of cellular concrete

Cellular concrete includes foam concrete and aerated concrete blocks. Inside the concrete in the first case there are cells with air, in the second - with hydrogen. In the first case, bubbles are formed as a result of foaming; the concrete hardens under normal conditions. In the second, aluminum powder or paste is added to the solution, which, when interacting with water, releases gas (hydrogen). The solution “grows” and is sent to an autoclave, where it hardens at a certain temperature and pressure. Let's look at the pros and cons of these materials separately.

Foam concrete we knew in the middle of the last century, but we started building with it recently, when everyone started talking about heat conservation. Of course, air is an excellent heat insulator. At the same time, almost no sounds pass through foam concrete. Since foam blocks are light and larger in size than bricks, masonry does not become a labor-intensive process. Yes, and it’s easy to ditch walls for communication systems. How easy it is to give the block different shapes, which means you can create bay windows, make an oval wall, etc. In addition, foam concrete does not burn and is easy to transport.

The disadvantages include fairly high moisture absorption (albeit to a shallow depth). The walls require annual settlement, and they must stand on stable slab foundations, otherwise significant cracks will appear on the blocks as a result of deformations.

Aerated concrete even lighter than foam concrete, perfectly processed (it can be cutwith an ordinary hacksaw, drill with ordinary drills, etc.). Thermal insulation and noise protection functions are also excellent. Lightness requires less labor, and good heat-shielding properties reduce the amount of material required. With all this, do not forget about high strength at a relatively low price.

Other lightweight concretes

These concretes are heavier than cellular ones: instead of gas or air, which changes the properties of the wall material, they contain heavier components. Therefore, these concretes are approximately 1.2 - 1.5 times heavier than water, while dry foam concrete and aerated concrete can float on the surface of the water. However, these components are not crushed stone, gravel, but wood, expanded clay, that is, compared to heavy concrete, this material has a significantly lower specific gravity.

Expanded clay concrete contains a relatively light component(foamed and baked clay). With the light weight of the blocks, this material is durable and versatile (not only load-bearing walls are laid from it, but also partitions, and also fill frames in monolithic housing construction). The material is an excellent sound insulator, it is more moisture resistant than concrete, it resists aggressive environments better, and in other respects it is not inferior to cellular concrete.

The porosity of expanded clay concrete, while improving its thermal and noise-proof qualities, reduces frost resistance due to moisture entering the pores. Porosity also affects strength: you always have to accurately calculate whether the lower blocks can withstand the load of the rest of the structure (does our private developer know the strength of materials?).

IN polystyrene concrete The role of heat and sound insulator is played by polystyrene beads evenly distributed in the concrete. It seems that everyone likes the material: it is warm and durable, it blocks noise well, it is light and not expensive, but it all cancels out one drawback. But what...When there is a fire, polystyrene begins to melt, releasing toxins.

Cinder concrete the name is more collective than specific. The point is that inThe filler in this building material can be either slag, coal, ash, an admixture of expanded clay with something, screenings, etc. Specifically, slag is used from waste from metallurgical production. To comply with environmental standards, it is kept outdoors for a year. Blocks with a coarse filler fraction are ideal for external walls, and fine ones for internal walls. Voids to improve thermal qualities are created using special molds for the production of this type of concrete. The material is strong, cheap, very durable. The high speed of construction of cinder block walls is important.

The disadvantages include low sound insulation. It is clear, denser material means higher sound conductivity. Also, the material is afraid of water, so it is advisable to cover it. But if you line a house made of cinder blocks with bricks, this will significantly increase the cost of construction. In addition, it is difficult to lay communications in cinder concrete, and if some kind of groove or hole is needed, it is better to provide them in advance and place a block in the cinder block blank in the right place.

The disadvantage of wood concrete is its increased moisture permeability, and therefore the relative humidity inside the room cannot exceed 75%, while the outside must be lined. The foundation must rise above the blind area by at least half a meter so that splashes do not fly onto the wood concrete blocks. The roof overhangs should extend beyond the walls by the same half a meter so that water is less likely to hit the wall.

Blocks without cement

When choosing a material for building walls, you may come acrossgas silicate . Attention! It should not be confused with aerated concrete. We already know that cement is needed to produce aerated concrete. In the production of gas silicate, lime acts as a binding element. The porous structure is acquired due to the gases released during the interaction of quicklime with aluminum particles. What is the difference between the qualities of gas silicate and aerated concrete? Aerated concrete, thanks to cement, is more durable, gas silicate, thanks to lime, reduces heat loss and better protects against noise. Despite all the high qualities of gas silicate blocks (lightness, insulating properties, low cost, etc.), in them, as in foam concrete, the formation of fungus is possible due to the porous structure.

Ceramic blocks also do not contain cement. In addition to clay, their composition may include sand and sawdust. The voids inside the blocks resemble honeycombs. The blocks have grooves and protrusions on the outside of their side faces. This allows masonry to be done without vertical seams. As a building material, ceramic blocks are durable and can be used to construct multi-story buildings. They are very lightgood noise protection and thermal insulation. A significant disadvantage of walls made of this material is the impossibility of perforating (and often simply drilling) and fixing anything on the walls, since the abundance of voids and the fragility of thin partitions do not allow even the installation of cork.

Owners of suburban areas have an excellent opportunity to assemble inexpensive houses with very good performance characteristics. There are several ways to construct an economical and reliable building these days. In this article we will talk about what is cheaper to build houses from.

What factors influence the cost

You can save money when building a country house:

• Having drawn up the project correctly. A compact house with a well-thought-out layout will cost less than a large “chaotic” building and will be no less comfortable.
• By choosing the right material for walls, roofing, ceilings and finishing.

It is the latter factor that often plays a decisive role in terms of project cost.

Materials for how to choose

When deciding what exactly the walls of the house, its floors and roof will be built from, you need to pay attention to the following factors:

• Climatic conditions. In cold regions, it is better to use materials that are not as durable, but definitely warm. Owners of plots located in the southern regions of the country have a much wider choice. In this case, you can use absolutely any modern inexpensive materials.
• Specific properties of materials. Of course, buildings made of SIP panels or foam concrete are much cheaper than brick or log houses.
• Features of the local market. For example, wood may be cheaper in forested regions, and concrete in steppe regions.

The most economical building materials

So, now let's see what is cheaper to build houses from. A very economical and convenient building can now be erected using:

• Timber and modern insulation. This is the most inexpensive type of building at the moment. At the same time, despite their low cost, panel houses have very good performance characteristics. In this case, inexpensive materials are also used as cladding. Most often this is plywood and siding.
• SIP panels. Such a building will cost more than a panel building, but it will also be erected faster.
• Foam blocks. Buildings constructed from them are also very inexpensive and are considered somewhat more reliable than panel buildings.

All these modern materials are very suitable for building a house and can last a long time. Next, let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Perhaps this will help someone make the best choice.

Advantages of frame buildings

Houses made of wood of this type, in addition to being cheap, also have such advantages as:

• Ease of construction. You can build a frame-panel house yourself, without the involvement of specialists. When constructing such a building, there is no need to use any expensive equipment. The most inexpensive foundation for a panel house can be poured - a columnar one (of course, only on reliable soil).
• Excellent heat-retaining qualities. Such houses are insulated from the cold using modern, inexpensive materials. Usually this is mineral wool or polystyrene foam. Even not too expensive non-profiled timber is used in this case in minimal quantities - only for the construction of the frame.
• Aesthetic If you use high-quality internal and external cladding, choosing this technology, you can actually get a very beautiful and at the same time comfortable building.
• No shrinkage. Unlike expensive cobblestone and log buildings, you can move into a house built using this technology immediately after its construction.

Disadvantages of panel buildings

Timber and modern insulation are simply an excellent answer to the question of what is cheaper to build houses from. But of course, like any other method, this building construction technology also has its drawbacks. The disadvantages of frame-panel houses include, first of all, a not very high degree of environmental safety. The fact is that mineral wool and expanded polystyrene are materials that, in certain situations, can emit. When building a house, this must be taken into account and the interior lining must be made as airtight as possible. Mineral wool emits toxic styrene and expanded polystyrene.

The disadvantages of panel structures also include a not very high degree of fire resistance. It is best to entrust the wiring in such a house to a specialist. Even though this will entail additional costs. You will also have to spend money on treating the wooden frame with antiseptic compounds that increase fire resistance, as well as insect repellents. As you know, only if these products are used, wooden houses can be quite durable.

Owners of remote summer cottages often refuse to erect such buildings due to the not very high mechanical strength of the walls. Thieves may not even need to pick the lock to break into such a home without security.

Advantages of buildings made from SIP panels

This type of building is structurally very similar to the previous one. In fact, this is just a type of panel house. The only difference is that the elements of a building of this type are assembled from panels supplied ready-made. Of course, when using such material the construction is more reliable and durable. Houses made from SIP panels are not too expensive. However, their cost, as already mentioned, is slightly higher than that of conventional panel boards.

SIP panels consist of two OSB boards, between which polystyrene foam is fixed. Despite their apparent fragility, due to their structural integrity they are able to withstand enormous loads and are actually simply ideal for buildings. You can also erect a building from this material yourself. There is no need to pour an overly thick foundation under SIP walls. The advantages of this material include a very low degree of thermal conductivity.

As in the case of a frame-panel house, the construction of such a building does not require the use of expensive equipment. The panels are processed simply - using a regular hacksaw. Therefore, houses made from SIP panels can have any layout and architecture.

Disadvantages of SIP buildings

The disadvantages of such houses are approximately the same as those of conventional frame-panel houses. That is, they are not fire safe and environmentally friendly. In addition to polystyrene foam, in this case OSB panels are also used, the safety of which is highly questionable. Some disadvantages of SIP panels include the fact that they can only be used to build houses of limited height (maximum 2 floors). Engineering communications in buildings of this type are quite difficult and expensive. This can also be attributed to the disadvantages of such buildings.

Advantages of houses made of foam blocks

This material is slightly more expensive than SIP panels. However, the cost of the foam block is still low, and the difference in price in this case is not critical. In addition, in comparison with SIP buildings and panel buildings, houses made of this material have many advantages. These include:

• The ability of walls to “breathe”. In this regard, buildings made of foam blocks are comparable to, for example, comfortable structures such as log houses. The microclimate in buildings constructed from this material is created almost the same.
• Fire resistance of walls. Concrete, as everyone knows, does not burn.
• Durability. By definition, such a building can last much longer than a wooden structure. Concrete does not rot and is not damaged by insects.

Disadvantages of houses made of foam concrete

The disadvantages of such buildings include, first of all, the need for careful waterproofing of the foundation and the use of materials that prevent moisture from penetrating into the walls. Inexpensive houses made of foam blocks should be protected as thoroughly as possible. The fact is that this porous material absorbs moisture very well. In this case, its heat-preserving qualities are lost. Moreover, wet blocks of this type crumble easily, which can even lead to the appearance of cracks in the walls.

Despite the fact that foam concrete is lightweight, the foundation for it should be sufficiently powerful and reliable. It's all about the fragility of this material. Foam concrete can crack even with small movements.

The disadvantages of this material, in comparison with SIP panels, include some difficulty in constructing houses when using them. To build, foam blocks need to be held together with special glue. In this case, the seams, unlike concrete ones, are very thin and do not allow cold to pass through. However, masonry using this method involves the use of blocks of ideal geometry. But despite existing standards, material with various types of defects is often sold on the domestic market.

From all of the above we can draw a simple conclusion. You should buy foam blocks only from large manufacturers who value their reputation and supply the market with fairly durable material with ideal geometry.

Cost of materials

For the construction of building walls, structural and thermal insulating foam blocks are usually used. Their price depends on the size, manufacturer and supplier. For a D500-D600 block, for example, you can pay from 47 to 185 rubles. The cost of a foam block with the most convenient dimensions of 20x30x60 mm is usually 135-150 rubles.

The price of SIP panels of different sizes can be found in the table below.

Thus, the price of a house made of SIP (or rather, only its walls) measuring 5x5 m with a ceiling height of 250 cm and a wall thickness of 12 mm will be 47,200 rubles, not counting the cost of consumables. Of course it's not too expensive. Foam blocks of the same size will cost about 55,000-60,000 rubles, which is also quite cheap.

What to make the floors and roof from

The use of SIP panels and foam blocks significantly reduces the cost of building houses. From various modern materials, such as metal tiles, ondulin or corrugated sheets, you can assemble a very inexpensive roof for a country building. The floor and ceiling in a budget house are usually sheathed with simple edged boards.

As for the frame of the floors and roof, there is, of course, not too much choice. Joists, beams and rafter systems are usually made of timber. And they use fairly thick material. After all, such structures are load-bearing and must withstand heavy loads. Therefore, of course, it is not worth saving on them. However, the price of ordinary non-profiled timber is not too high.

Thus, using the materials described above to build a house, you can save a lot of money and at the same time get reliable and environmentally friendly structures.

How to choose an edged board

When choosing this material, you should pay attention to two factors:

• Presence of knots. There should be as few of them as possible. Especially the dark ones. Such knots will inevitably fall out over time, and unsightly holes will form in the floor or ceiling.
• Geometry of the material. All selected boards must have the same thickness and be even in all planes.

Advantages and disadvantages of metal tiles

In addition to the low price, the advantages of this material, which is most often used to assemble inexpensive roofing, include:

• light weight,
• strength and durability,
• aesthetic appearance,
• ease of installation.

The disadvantages of metal tiles are:

• noisy when it rains,
• ability to rust and click in the sun if not installed correctly.

As you can see, the answer to the question of what is cheaper to build houses from is not too complicated. Choosing inexpensive materials for the construction of walls, floors and roofing of a building is very simple these days. Of course, when drawing up a project, everything should be carefully calculated and thought through. In this case, the house will be economical, reliable and comfortable.