autoclaved aerated concrete blocks for sale

Openings and odd angles are cut with a handsaw or bandsaw.

Walls are plumbed, leveled, and squared with a rubber mallet.

Blocks are stacked together with a thin-bed mortar in a running bond with a minimum of 6-inch overlap. Depending on the type of finish selected, they can be directly adhered or mechanically attached to the face of AAC. Manufacturers offer training seminars, and it’s usually adequate to have one or two knowledgeable installers on small projects. Panels are heavier due to their size and require the use of a crane for placement. Sometimes, carpenters get involved in installation.

Cored blocks available for creating vertical reinforced grout cells.ĭue to the similarity to traditional concrete masonry, autoclaved aerated concrete units (block) can be easily installed by concrete masons.

Tongue and groove blocks are available from some manufacturers, and these connect to adjacent units without mortar at vertical edges.

U-shaped bond beam or lintel blocks are available in thicknesses of 8, 10, and 12 inches.

A standard 8-by-8-by-24 inch unit weighs about 33 pounds.

Thickness: 6, 8, 10, or 12 inches (4 inches thick interiorīlocks are larger and lighter than traditional concrete masonry:.

Panels extend from floor to top of the wall: AAC averages about 37 pounds per cubic foot (pcf), so blocks can be placed by hand, but panels, because of their size, usually require a small crane or other piece of equipment. (Concave depressions along vertical edges can create a cylindrical core between 2 adjacent panels.) For usual applications, a vertical cell is placed at corners, on either side of openings, and at 6- to 8-foot spacings along a wall. For structural needs, grouted, reinforced cells and beams are placed within the wall section. Blocks are stacked similarly to conventional masonry, but with a thin-bed mortar, and panels are stood vertically, spanning full-story heights. It also requires a protective finish since the material is porous and would deteriorate if left exposed.īoth blocks and panels are available. Because it is lower strength than most concrete products or systems, in load-bearing applications, it must typically be reinforced. If it has to be shipped, its light weight is advantageous. It is not as widely available as most concrete products, though it can be shipped anywhere. That light weight also gives a high sound reduction for privacy, both from outside noises and from other rooms when used as interior partition walls.īut the material does have some limitations.

The light weight means that R-values for AAC are comparable to conventional frame walls, but they have higher thermal mass, provide air tightness, and as just noted, are not combustible.

And because it is noncombustible, it will not burn or give off toxic fumes. Fire resistance is excellent, with eight inch thick AAC achieving a four-hour rating (actual performance exceeds that and meets test requirements for up to eight hours).Units are precisely shaped and conform to tight tolerances. A cement-based material, AAC resists water, rot, mold, mildew, and insects. This gives it design and construction flexibility, and the ability to make easy adjustments in the field. Its light weight/cellular properties make it easy to cut, shave, and shape, accept nails and screws readily, and allow it to be routed to create chases for electrical conduits and smaller-diameter plumbing runs. Autoclaved aerated concrete combines insulation and structural capability in one material for walls, floors, and roofs.Key aspects of AAC, whether designing or building with it, are described below: Advantages In order to be durable, AAC requires some type of applied finish, such as a polymer-modified stucco, natural or manufactured stone, or siding. The lightweight material offers excellent sound and thermal insulation, and like all cement-based materials, is strong and fire resistant. Components can be used for walls, floors, and roofs. Cured blocks or panels of autoclaved aerated concrete are joined with thin bed mortar. In the factory where it is made, the material is molded and cut into precisely dimensioned units. In fact, this type of concrete contains 80 percent air. Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is made with fine aggregates, cement, and an expansion agent that causes the fresh mixture to rise like bread dough.

Autoclaved aerated concrete blocks for sale