Expanded Clay in Low-Rise Residential Construction

Building a cottage or a country house involves a variety of decisions, from selecting materials for walls, floors, and foundations to insulation and interior finishing. The choice of material ultimately affects not only the cost of the finished structure but also its strength, reliability, safety, durability, and appearance.
Key qualities of materials suitable for low-rise construction include:

• Environmental friendliness
• Fire resistance
• Moisture resistance
• Low thermal conductivity
• Breathability, and more.

All these characteristics are found in materials made from natural components, such as expanded clay concrete blocks, which are actively used in low-rise construction. These blocks are made up of 90% expanded clay, which provides lightweight properties, high insulation performance, and compliance with the qualities listed above. Their popularity in low-rise building is due to their low weight combined with high strength, durability, low thermal conductivity, environmental safety, and ease of installation. This type of material is ideal for building interior partitions. The blocks are convenient in construction and allow for rapid erection of complete buildings.
Properly installed thermal insulation creates a healthy indoor climate, ensuring comfort and warmth in a finished low-rise building. The quality of insulation directly impacts comfort, energy efficiency, and the cost of both construction and maintenance.
Expanded clay, as an insulation material, is one of the few options that is fully natural and highly versatile. It is produced by firing clay at high temperatures, causing it to expand. Its properties include:

• Excellent thermal and sound insulation
• Strength and durability
• Frost resistance
• Moisture resistance
• Fire resistance
• Lightweight nature
• Versatility — suitable for all types of construction.

Expanded clay can be used to insulate the foundation and the ground floor of a building in two main ways:

• Internally — the material fills inter-floor cavities, significantly improving the floor's insulation.
• Externally — expanded clay is used as backfill on the outer side of the foundation. This reduces the depth of frost penetration and prevents deformation of door and window openings. It is especially effective in areas with high groundwater levels.

Not everyone opts to install electric or water-based underfloor heating to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. However, it is not always necessary to heat the floor — it is more efficient to preserve the heat that is already inside. One of the most affordable methods of retaining heat in both construction and operation is through the use of expanded clay. There are several effective ways to insulate:

• For reinforced concrete floors — an expanded clay concrete mix is poured over the slab, followed by a sand-cement screed if needed.
• For wooden floors — expanded clay is poured over a vapor barrier layer up to the level of the floorboards, after which the boards are installed.

Expanded clay also acts as a barrier, preventing rodents from entering under the floor of a low-rise house.
Three-layer wall insulation typically includes:

• Load-bearing or self-supporting structures made of expanded clay concrete
• A mixture of expanded clay and cement slurry
• Exterior cladding made from wood or brick

Additionally, expanded clay has been widely used for many years for insulating roofs. Its durability allows it to be reused multiple times.