What material is best to build a country house from? How to build a house inexpensively - reasonable savings at every stage of construction. Hand-cut log house

The growth of individual construction has led to the appearance of various materials on the market, including some that no one had ever heard of before. The assortment is so large that even experienced people often get lost, not knowing what is best to choose. Let's try to figure out which modern materials are attractive not only from the point of view of cost, but also the feasibility of using them specifically in the construction of private houses.

As a rule, individual developers focus on the following indicators:

• price of materials (including facing);
• the ability to perform all operations with your own hands to the maximum;
• the total weight of the structure, since the type of foundation and the costs of its installation largely depend on this;
• cost of finishing work;
• durability;
• frequency of current (overhaul) repairs.

Considering some types of new materials, we will dwell only on their specific features.

Firstly, comprehensive information on each sample is not the topic of this article. Anyone interested in the details will be able to familiarize themselves with all the “pros” and “cons” on their own on our website in the “Building Materials” section, where almost all the popular ones are described in detail.

Secondly, many shortcomings are very relative, since the manifestation of defects is often caused not by the quality of the product, but by violations of the work technology and ignorance of basic things (on issues of waterproofing, thermal expansion, compatibility, and so on). So let's start the review:

Wood

Glued beam

Of all the materials in the “wood” category, professionals recommend giving preference to this particular product.

• Strict geometry greatly simplifies installation and caulking.
• Almost no finishing is needed.
• Great appearance of the house.
• Good microclimate.

Experts note the main disadvantage of laminated timber - additional insulation will be required, otherwise heating costs will be significant. Details about the timber.

Rounded log

Having the above advantages, this material will require somewhat higher construction costs. Most likely, you will have to involve specialists, at least at the stage of construction of the log house. Read about construction from rounded logs in.

Artificial stone

Aerated concrete

Good material in all respects. But it absorbs moisture quite intensively. Therefore, when using it, you will need high-quality waterproofing. And this entails the need to perform plastering, which limits the choice of type of cladding.

Foam concrete

The specificity of its use is that this artificial stone is quite fragile. And this causes difficulties when attaching attachments and furniture (cabinets, shelves, etc.). You can’t just hammer a nail into it and you can’t install a self-tapping screw (with a sleeve) - it won’t hold. Only anchor bolts, and this is not convenient everywhere.

Foam concrete can be used to build 1, maximum 2 floors, and then only with structural reinforcement. Comparison - perhaps you didn't know this yet.

Polystyrene concrete

Of all artificial stones it is considered the best. In terms of its properties (vapor permeability, environmental safety), it is in many ways reminiscent of wood. Its main advantage is almost zero thermal conductivity. This material itself is an excellent insulation material, and there is no need to carry out additional work in this regard.

Another difference from analogues is that polystyrene concrete will never develop fungus or mold. And given the low cost of production (approximately 1,000 rubles/m³), this particular stone can be recommended as one of the best building materials. By the way, “bricks” can be made on site, without spending money on renting transport to deliver the blocks to the site.

Frame technology

Construction from sandwich panels is beneficial in many ways. It’s always cozy in such a house, and heating costs will be low (about 26,500 rubles per year). But the service life of the products does not exceed 20 years (and this is the maximum). And repairing such a structure can cost a pretty penny. Having many advantages, such a house is not particularly durable. This is, rather, an option for a quick solution to the housing problem, but there is no need to say that many generations will live in it. Actually, this is what they talk about

It is believed that during his life a man must plant a tree, raise a son and build a house. Most likely, it is the third point that you will have to tinker with. In this article we will try to make a rating based on the quality and cost of construction, and make a calculation: what is the best material for building a house, how much will the required amount of materials for construction cost?

Types of residential buildings, their pros and cons

So, in order for what we are building to be that cozy nest, it is necessary to take care of such qualities as durability, moisture resistance, thermal conductivity, and sound insulation. It is also important to remember about eco-friendly materials and the energy efficiency of your home.
There are two main ways to build a residential building:

• Traditional - implying brickwork;
• Frame – designer of cottages divided into blocks. Both technologies are good, so here you need to figure out which material is better to build a house for permanent residence from. Let's consider the most popular consumables for building a country or country house.

Brick

Such houses are far from being an innovation, but rather true classics, durable and safe. Good brick is resistant to fire or rot, which means that you can be sure that even a large apartment building will truly last. But at the same time, energy-saving qualities leave much to be desired. As an alternative, ceramic blocks can be used. They have the strength of brick, but at the same time transmit less heat. However, a high-quality ceramic block will cost more than brick, and it is more difficult to find a mason who works with this raw material.

Advantages of brick:

• High strength;
• Aesthetic aspect: good appearance and the ability to create many architectural variations;
• Resistance to high and low temperatures;
• Fire safety;
• Environmentally friendly.

Disadvantages of brick:

• Limited possibilities for carrying out work in winter;
• Costs for a solid foundation;
• Involves the presence of interior finishing of buildings;
• High thermal inertia requires high heating costs;

Advantages of ceramic block:

• Good energy saving indicators;
• Sound absorption;
• Has a low degree of thermal conductivity;
• Fire safety;
• Resistance to damage from insects, fungus, mold;
• Environmentally friendly.

Disadvantages of ceramic block:

• Relatively expensive material.
• To work with the material, highly qualified specialists are required;

Foam blocks and aerated concrete

These types of blocks are similar, but there are differences. Aerated concrete is characterized by strong hygroscopicity, so it is necessary to ensure that it does not get wet during construction, since drying it is problematic, unlike foam blocks. But both of them retain heat and will succumb even to non-professionals who are building a house with their own hands. External finishing is reduced to putty and plaster, which has a positive effect on the cost of construction. It should be noted that due to their porosity, these blocks are less durable, and cracks are inevitable when bending.

Advantages of aerated concrete:

• Due to its light weight, it does not create transportation problems and does not place high demands on the foundation;
• Highest thermal insulation performance;
• Sound absorption;
• Can be used for any type of construction and finishing work, subject to a wide range of mechanical influences;
• Resistance to low temperatures (but lower than that of brick);
• Resistance to damage from insects, fungus, mold;
• Environmental friendliness;
• Relatively low cost of material.

Disadvantages of aerated concrete:

• Fragile structure and fairly low strength;
• High degree of thermal conductivity;
• Requires protection from groundwater and moisture penetration.

Pros of foam block:

• Due to its light weight, it does not create transportation problems and does not place high demands on the foundation;
• Fire safety;
• Sound absorption;
• Relatively low cost.

Disadvantages of foam block:

• Fragile structure, requiring special care during transportation;
• Quite low strength. Often additional strengthening of erected structures is required;
• The presence of chemical elements in the composition (there are no guarantees that there will be no negative impact on health);

This inexpensive and therefore profitable building material can be used during housing construction, but today the sale of cinder blocks has decreased significantly. The thermal conductivity of such walls is high, so insulation cannot be avoided. And together with its greater weight, this makes cinder block less popular than, for example, expanded clay concrete. The latter, at a low cost, has such pleasant characteristics as strength, low thermal conductivity, and environmental friendliness.

Pros of cinder block:

• Long service life of the finished building;
• Fire safety;
• Sound absorption;
• Does not require high qualifications to work with the material;
• Resistance to damage from insects, fungus, mold.

Disadvantages of cinder block:

• Fragile structure, requiring special care during transportation;
• Requires protection from groundwater and moisture penetration;
• The hollow type of cinder block will exhibit low levels of sound absorption;
• Implies the presence of external and internal finishing of buildings.

Advantages of expanded clay concrete:

• Due to the high level of vapor permeability, it naturally regulates the humidity in the room;
• Does not require high qualifications to work with the material;
• Relatively low time and labor costs for the construction process;
• Sound absorption;
• High degree of thermal conductivity;
• Fire safety;
• Relatively low cost;
• Resistance to damage from insects, fungus, mold;
• Environmentally friendly.

Disadvantages of expanded clay concrete:

• Requires additional thermal insulation;
• Weak resistance to low temperatures;
• Requires protection from groundwater and moisture penetration;
• Prone to the formation of cracks and irregularities during machining;
• Implies the presence of external and internal finishing of buildings.

Shell rock blocks

The fact that shell rock blocks are very safe materials means that the volume required will have a significant impact on the cost of construction, and the blocks themselves are very fragile. However, based on soundproofing properties and thermal conductivity, it still has a place to be. Some builders use shell rock as an additional layer to help retain heat between the brick wall and the lukewarm one.

Pros of shell rock:

• High strength;
• Long service life of the finished building;
• The ability to protect the air from harmful substances;
• High thermal insulation performance;
• Sound absorption;
• Due to the high level of vapor permeability, it naturally regulates the humidity in the room;
• Low thermal inertia reduces heating costs;
• Relatively low cost;
• Environmentally friendly.

Cons of shell rock:

• The need for additional reinforcement during the construction of buildings of 2 floors and above;
• Different sizes of individual blocks (requires additional time and labor, as well as an increased amount of solution);
• Possible high cost of delivery;
• Requires protection from groundwater and moisture penetration.

House made of stone (rubble)

When choosing these energy-efficient consumables, be prepared for high fuel consumption during the first “warm-up” in a long period. In other respects, a house made of stone is strong, warm, and solid.

Advantages of rubble stone:

• High strength;
• Long service life of the finished building;
• Does not require protection from groundwater and moisture penetration;
• Fire safety;
• Low temperature resistance;
• Environmentally friendly.

Disadvantages of rubble stone:

• The relative high cost of the material;
• Financially, time- and labor-intensive construction process;
• Difficulty in transportation due to heavy weight;
• Difficulties in masonry;
• The cost of a solid foundation.

Houses made of logs

Despite the advantages of building a country house from timber (low thermal conductivity and cost), it is necessary to remember that wood is prone to shrinkage, which means that even a one-story house made of laminated veneer lumber can change slightly depending on weather conditions. In addition, to build a house from timber or wood, there is a risk in the event of a fire or electrical wiring malfunction, which is eliminated by impregnation (which will increase safety by reducing the environmental friendliness of the wood); to ensure heat retention, the thickness of the wood must be at least 40 cm, with a standard thickness of only 25- 30 cm.

Advantages of timber:

• Does not require external or internal finishing of buildings;
• Environmentally friendly.

Disadvantages of timber:

• For fire safety purposes, it must be subjected to special treatment, which reduces environmental friendliness;
• Difficulties with drying;

Composite panels are the best option for those who care about how long it takes to build a residential building. However, you will need to pay well for such new, but not entirely environmentally friendly panels, and also think about sound insulation. The fire resistance of such a house is close to that of a wooden one. Therefore, you will have to choose high-quality composite panels so that such savings do not play a cruel joke on you.

Advantages of SIP panels:

• High strength;
• Low degree of thermal conductivity;
• Highest energy saving rates;
• Minimum costs of finance, time and labor for construction;
• Due to its light weight, it does not create transportation problems and does not place high demands on the foundation;

Disadvantages of SIP panels:

• Fire hazard;
• Low sound absorption level$
• Tendency to damage from insects, fungus, mold;
• Ambiguity in environmental issues.

Frame house

Our list is completed by panel houses for permanent residence - an innovative and convenient type of construction that requires very little time, at a convenient cost, even if the wall thickness of the frame house is impressive. Frame houses for permanent residence are less durable than brick ones, but with quality work they will last almost as long as a “heavy” one.

Advantages of frame houses:

• Minimum costs of finance, time and labor for construction;
• Low degree of thermal conductivity;
• Due to its light weight, it does not create transportation problems and does not place high demands on the foundation;
• Ease of interior finishing;
• Environmentally friendly.

Disadvantages of frame houses:

• Fire hazard;
• Low level of sound absorption;
• Tendency to damage from insects, fungus, mold.

Which house will be warmer?

Calculations and comparisons have shown that houses made from different “heavy” materials used, such as stone, take longer to warm up, but at the same time they have lower heat transfer. This means that such houses are more suitable for permanent residence. And “light” small houses, such as frame or wooden ones, warm up faster and give off heat, so they are better suited as a summer cottage option.

"Heavy" materials:

• High thermal inertia requires more time to heat the building (but also takes longer to cool down);
• There is no need for additional insulation;
• It's hot in summer;
• More suitable for permanent residence.

"Light" materials:

• Low thermal inertia (heats up quickly, cools down quickly);
• Requires insulation;
• Do not heat up in summer;
• More suitable for seasonal living (dachas, cottages).

What materials are environmentally friendly?

Choosing materials for building a house is a very responsible task. With proper operation and well-functioning ventilation, any home is not dangerous. However, if environmental friendliness is the most necessary or significant factor for you, it is necessary to refuse or significantly limit:

• Polymers;
• Reinforced concrete;
• Polyurethane foam;
• Some other harmful types of building materials.

And give preference to eco-materials that nature gave us.

What is cheaper to build a house from?

An important factor in construction is how much money will be needed for it. It is difficult to say what is the cheapest material for building a house.

Buildings made from any “light” materials, for example, wood, are cheaper, but if you want your timber dacha to last for a long time, you shouldn’t even skimp on “light” raw materials.

It turns out that it is more profitable to build an expensive modular house for permanent residence than a “heavy” brick one. Therefore, the general calculation of how much you will spend depends not only on natural materials, but also on the layout of the house, on the construction of the foundation of the house, the space available for development, your desires, and budget possibilities.

Comparison table 1

	Brick	Aerated concrete	Foam block	cinder block	Expanded clay concrete

Living in your own home has many more advantages than even the most luxurious apartment. A private home is a place where you are free to do whatever you want. Here you will not be disturbed by noisy neighbors who want to do repairs early in the morning or late at night. Here you do not run the risk of being flooded or experiencing the inconvenience that apartment residents face. Many people are accustomed to believing that buying a plot of land, much less building a house on it, costs fabulous money. However, with the development of modern technologies in construction, the cheapest technology for building a house has become several times more accessible. Now we will look at the main question: where to start, and most importantly, what to build the cheapest house from?

Preparatory stage

The first point that needs to be determined initially is the functionality of the house. What is it for?

If this is a country cottage for seasonal living, then only materials are needed,

if this is a full-fledged home for permanent residence, then completely different.

To decide what kind of house will be, you should thoroughly study the climate and weather conditions of the region where construction is planned. After all, the choice of building materials directly depends on the temperature conditions throughout the year. For regular living, a house must be constantly heated during the cold season, which entails certain financial costs. Therefore, when choosing a material for a building, you should be guided by thermophysical properties: thermal conductivity and heat capacity, as well as shrinkage.

Each climatic region has its own temperature regime, wind speed and protection class based on the level of heat-protective properties. Therefore, when choosing a material and calculating the thickness of the walls, you need to be guided by two main parameters: the coefficient of thermal resistance and thermal conductivity.

For each region, its own specially calculated thermal resistance index of the CTS is used. In order to obtain clarity about the upcoming heating costs, it is necessary to calculate the CTC of the future design. To do this, the width (δ) of the wall is divided by the thermal conductivity coefficient (λ), which is indicated in the technical characteristics of the building material R = δ / λ. The calculated value of heat transfer resistance must correspond to the standard value.

As an example, consider the use of cellular concrete, which has a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.12 W/m* ºС. Let's take a block 0.3 meters thick and calculate: R = 0.3/ 0.12 = 2.5 W/m2 * ºС. This figure is below the norm and is only suitable for construction in the southern regions of Russia. A block 0.4 meters wide gives a heat transfer resistance of 0.4/0.12 = 3.3 W/m2 * ºС, which is slightly higher than the standard value and can be used in the construction of buildings in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The calculation is relevant only when laying blocks on glue.

The wall thickness corresponding to the best generally accepted standards in terms of energy efficiency can be determined using the same formula, where it will be equal to the product of the heat transfer resistance value and the thermal conductivity coefficient δ = λ x R.

It follows from this that in order to obtain the standard value of resistance λ = 3.2, the thickness of a wall made of solid coniferous wood (pine, spruce) will be equal to 0.18 x 3.2 = 0.576 m, of brick 0.81 x 3.2 = 2.592 m, and from concrete 2.04 x 3.2 = 6.528 m. At the same time, mineral wool insulation with a thickness of 140-150 mm corresponds to the standard: 0.045 x 3.2 = 0.14 m.

Therefore, when choosing a material and determining the thickness of the structure, heat transfer resistance and thermal conductivity should be taken into account.

Coefficient of thermal conductivity,

specific heat

and the change in linear dimensions is different for each material.

In addition, when choosing materials for building an inexpensive house, you need to study the market for building materials typical for a given region. Delivery of materials, as a rule, takes up a significant share of their cost.

Now you need to decide on the size of your future home. For example, do you want to build a one-story house inexpensively or will the house have more floors? What will be the area of ​​the house in relation to the area of ​​your plot?
You can calculate the area of ​​your plot online.

Windows of standard sizes;

Practical layout without frills;

Simple roof;

Available building materials;

Flat small fireplace;

You should also take into account one important nuance: if you have a small plot of land, you can choose a simple project for a two-story house. This solution will be much cheaper than building a large one-story house.

The cost of a future home is determined by three components, on each of which you can save:

• the architectural layout is compact, maximum functionality and comfort and allows you to achieve 20% savings;
• a simple design solution should be rational and not contain any architectural excesses and will provide another 10% savings;
• modern materials make it possible to use the latest technologies in construction, allowing you to do the work yourself or with the involvement of a minimum amount of outside labor, which guarantees up to 40% savings in the final result.

The optimal solution for a family of 2-3 people is housing consisting of three rooms with a total area of ​​approximately 50 m2. A suitable option would be a 6x9 house, including: two bedrooms, a living room in the form of a studio with a kitchen, a combined bathroom and toilet and a small hallway.
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Layout: maximum functionality and comfort

The main principle of space planning is to extract maximum benefit from every square meter of space. In our case, this is the ratio of total and usable space. This house, consisting of three rooms with a total area of ​​54 m2, will fully satisfy your needs for modern housing. Moreover, the ratio of total and usable area (52 m2) is 96.3%.

But over time, you will want to increase its area. This structure is most suitable for transformation. It can be expanded in width and height.

Second option

Important! The construction of the second floor must be thought out in advance in order to lay the appropriate foundation.

Third option, first floor

Third option, second floor

Exterior view of the house, economy option

Exterior of the house after expansion

The key to savings: simplicity of design

Designs should also be approached as simply as possible, without additional frills. When building economically, there are a number of points that need to be taken into account:

• The selected house width of 6 m will allow you to install floor slabs without difficulty. The standard size will not require the construction of an additional load-bearing wall.
• Combining the dining room, kitchen and living room into a modern living room, according to European standards, will save on the absence of walls and doors.
• A sufficient width of the walls will be 30 cm, and heat resistance can be achieved due to the thickness of the layer of thermal insulation material when cladding the house. In this case, the width of the base is reduced to 25 cm.
• It is advisable to make the walls in the house from plasterboard; they do not require a foundation and are easy to install.
• The roof is made gable, without unnecessary frills - this is the most cost-effective design.

Building a cheap house with your own hands is the most economical option

Approximately half of the construction costs are fees for performing the work. When building a cheap house, it is more advisable to do the maximum amount of work with your own hands, without the involvement of hired workers.

Why do you need to purchase only modern material? Its installation technologies are designed for the average person, so construction will not require professional skills from you and will provide an opportunity to save money. One assistant can be recruited as labor. If you do not have free time to build a house with your own hands, hire a team of two people with appropriate qualifications, retaining control over the work.

Another option is to build according to standard designs. Here you do not need to participate in construction; it is enough to accept the finished house into operation, be sure to draw up an acceptance certificate for the work performed, specifying the developer’s warranty obligations.
This 6x9 house is a great version of a two story conversion.

Reviews and disputes: which cheap house is better?

To explain which cheap house is better, we suggest you read the comments we collected from various forums:

Alexander V.

I want to talk about building a cheap house. Moreover, I will touch upon not only the monetary side of the issue, but also the labor-intensive one. We buy modern materials, preferably from a construction hypermarket, where prices are much cheaper. We discard ideas about buildings made from scrap materials (clay, straw, wild stone) as untenable. In the 21st century, we can talk about clay walls and rubble foundations. We're talking about modern housing, not Grandpa Pumpkin's house. We won’t even consider the environmental friendliness of building materials. At the time of the developed world wide web, you can find the most conflicting opinions about any material.
We will not consider hired builders either. This multiplies the estimate by at least two times initially. We carry out the construction ourselves; anyone can do it. The question is the duration of the process.
And so the foundation. When building a house you cannot do without it. The most appropriate and cost-effective is a strip foundation on piles. The task is not difficult. Every 2m we drill piles, the length depends on the soil, and fill in the grillage.
Still, the cheapest construction will be a frame house insulated with mineral wool or expanded polystyrene. Building a house from brick or sides with cement mortar will increase the cost of the estimate, take a lot of time, and as a result we will get a cold structure that requires insulation.

Bogdan S.

I was going to build a 6x9 house. For two months now, I have been working on a personal project and drawing up a construction estimate. I read smart books, participate in forums on all topics of interest, and watch videos. Now I’ve read it and understand that I have everything as you said: a pile foundation, a frame house, a slate roof. Interior finishing: plasterboard, OSB boards and wallpaper. Of course, plus heating and lighting. One thing I can say is that I am not investing in 10 thousand conditional raccoons. A bit more.

Sergey Zh.

I developed a project for a 50 m2 house for a friend of mine. Nothing special, a budget option, but a home for year-round use. The foundation is solid. Wooden frame house insulated with mineral wool. There is a vapor barrier film on the outside, hardboard on the inside. The roof is slate. Quite a warm building, suitable for winter use. The appearance is not very good. Just covered with vapor barrier. You can subsequently cover it with siding. But the budget is the most modest. An acquaintance spent only 4 thousand USD. True, I built it myself, I didn’t even want to hear about any hired crew.

Looking at my house, I am increasingly convinced that it is unlikely that anything can be built cheaper than a frame house. I insulated the walls, rollers, and roof with 15 cm thick mineral wool. In addition, I built an attic floor. My roof is the simplest gable roof, covered with zerolin. The outside was finished with siding, and the inside was covered with OSB and wallpaper. It cost me the pleasure of $9500.

The frame is the cheapest and warmest, but this does not mean that it is free. Everything is relative. Some friends of mine built a house from sibit. They were happy until winter came. They were frozen through the winter, and now they are deciding how to insulate themselves and what it will cost.

Of course, the main costs are building materials, which we will talk about in more detail.

Modern building materials are the cheapest way to build a house

There is enormous competition in the modern building materials market. Therefore, having made a short walk around the main points of purchase, building materials such as a hypermarket, bazaar or warehouse, it will not be difficult to find the most reasonable price. But different materials differ significantly in price.

The author of the article does not pursue the goal of promoting this or that building material, since the site is not engaged in their sale. The main thing is that a person with a limited budget for construction can become the owner of a good and solid home.

Before reading the various house options, pay attention to Compared to other houses, it is cheap to build.

Cheap brick house?

1. Brick.

As many people know, brick is one of the most durable, but also the heaviest materials. Based on this, it has both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

1. high strength and durability;
2. excellent sound insulation;
3. availability;
4. environmental friendliness.

Flaws:

1. large mass - a solid foundation will be required;
2. insufficient energy saving;
3. difficult to process;
4. long process of building a building.

Modern brick allows you to build a house of any size and design.

Cheap steel structure house

1. Durable steel structures.

Today it is one of the most durable and affordable building materials, which allows you to build reliable structures, houses, etc. in the shortest possible time.

Advantages:

1. affordable price;
2. quick and easy installation;
3. versatility - you can build any structure;
4. Using modern finishing materials you can create a unique exterior.

Flaws:

1. low strength;
2. poor thermal insulation and sound insulation without additional insulating materials.

Durable steel structures today are becoming increasingly popular in the construction of private houses.

Cheap wooden house - is it true?

1. Log or timber

A modern, stylish house made of logs looks amazing, and its high environmental friendliness, strength and thermal insulation make this building material stand out from others.

Advantages:

1. high strength;
2. environmental friendliness;
3. excellent sound insulation;
4. quick and easy installation;
5. high thermal insulation;
6. easy to process;
7. relatively light weight;
8. amazing appearance.

Flaws:

1. price;
2. the need for additional treatment against pests;
3. fire hazard without special impregnations;
4. low hydraulic stability.

A modern house made of logs or beams is stylish, practical and comfortable.

Favorite: cheap house made of foam concrete

1. Foam concrete is the most profitable material for building a house.

A lightweight building material that surpasses others in its characteristics.

Advantages:

1. quick and easy installation;
2. high load capacity and low weight;
3. high strength over time;
4. excellent sound and heat insulation;
5. light weight;
6. reasonable cost;
7. easy to process;
8. environmental friendliness.

Disadvantages:

1. the first few years after manufacture it has low strength;
2. the porous structure of foam concrete will require additional finishing work;
3. hot in summer.

Foam concrete is the cheapest way to build a house.

We looked at some of the most affordable building materials that can be used to build an inexpensive house. Today they are also widely used: twin blocks, monolith, ceramic stone, etc.

For example, the cost of a one-story frame house with two rooms, a kitchen, a living room and a bathroom will cost 600-700 thousand rubles. Thus, the cheapest frame houses can be built for relatively little money.

We also recommend:

The purpose of this article is to help potential developers understand which modern building materials are attractive not only in terms of their price, but also in terms of the feasibility of their use in the construction of private houses.

The growth of individual construction has led to the appearance of various materials on the market, including some that no one had ever heard of before. The range of building materials is so large that even specialists are often lost, not knowing what is best to choose.

As a rule, individual developers focus on the following indicators: the price of materials (including facing materials); the ability to perform all operations with your own hands to the maximum; the total weight of the structure, since the type of foundation and the costs of its installation largely depend on this; cost of finishing work; durability; frequency of current (overhaul) repairs and operating costs (mainly for heating).

Firstly, comprehensive information on each sample is a topic for a separate review. Secondly, there are no ideal materials. Each material has its own pros and cons, which will be discussed. Thirdly, many of the shortcomings of materials are very relative, since the manifestation of their defects is caused mainly not by the quality of the product, but by the excessive self-confidence of the developer, elementary violations of the production technology of construction and installation work and the technical illiteracy of builders on issues of heat and waterproofing, thermal expansion of building materials , their compatibility, etc., etc.

What kind of house exactly do you need? Need to decide

There are three main types of houses built by private developers.

To the first type refers to a residential building for permanent residence those who live in the countryside, but their work activities are connected with the city, and for those who want to run their own farm on their own plot of land.

These are, as a rule, permanent buildings with a full range of additional premises, such as a boiler room, workshop, sauna, garage. Such houses are designed for year-round living, so their walls must have thermal insulation properties in accordance with the climate of the region.

The engineering equipment of houses for permanent residence should provide maximum communal amenities, surpassing the comfort of a city apartment.

To the second type considered a "second home" or a so-called cottage serving for temporary residence in a suburban area. Buildings of this type usually take into account the possibility of year-round living, so their walls are treated with the same attention as in houses for permanent residence.

To the third type houses include dachas and garden houses - houses for seasonal stay or short-term visits, where you can come to spend weekends during the warm season. Most often, such houses are operated at temperatures not lower than -5 degrees, so the thickness of the walls rarely exceeds 25 cm (one brick), and engineering support is reduced to installing a stove, an outdoor toilet and a well, usually for several houses.

All of these well-known wall designs have their pros and cons. Therefore, the developer needs to have at least a little idea not only about the total cost of building a house from this material, but also about for what advantages of the material he makes his choice in favor of this wall design, and what disadvantages he will therefore have to put up with in the future. further during the operation of the house.

Before starting to build a cottage, you should remember that the box of the house - the foundation, walls and roof - sometimes takes up more than 60% of the cost of the house. And of these costs, about 50% are enclosing structures or walls.

If you decide to build your own home, the first thing you will have to figure out is the amount of materials you will need to build it. The process of counting all the necessary things is quite capacious, tedious and time-consuming, but it is extremely necessary for a stable and successful construction. So let's start with the calculations.

• Decide on the size and volume of the house. Determine the exact footage you need for housing, distribute all the premises, rooms within this footage and choose their arrangement.
• Use the services of a specialist. You can study specialized forums or websites that provide statistical data on how much of each type of building material is needed for a certain size of building or room.
• If you could not find the necessary information online, go to the store and consult with the seller. Ask him which of the available materials suits you best, which materials have the highest quality indicators, and how much of a particular product you need to fill the entire footage.
• Make the final choice between traditional and modern building materials. You evaluate not only the means, but also the manufacturability of construction and the duration of operation. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain material with higher “survivability” indicators, and at the same time at a very reasonable price. The assembly process can be much easier and the end result looks neater and cleaner.
• Before going to the store, review your notes again. Make the adjustment, calculate the quantity and price of all goods. Be sure to order building materials with at least a five percent surplus for emergencies.

The strategic issue is the type of walls. To begin with, we will look at three options for wall structures that are widely used in private housing construction.

Old and good tree

The traditional material for Russian house construction is wood. About 33% of our houses are built from it.

People who think about what is best to build a private house from, often come to mind with this particular material. After all, a wooden house means health and comfort. Its walls not only “breathe”, but also make the air healing by trapping harmful substances. Wooden walls create optimal humidity in the room and smell pleasant.

The walls of a wooden house have good thermal insulation and keep the house warm in winter and cool in summer. The cost of heating a wooden house can be significantly lower compared to brick walls.

A wooden house can be built from logs (rounded or profiled) and/or from timber (plain or laminated veneer lumber).

Hand-cut log house

This method is the oldest, it was used by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. We are talking about a log house made by hand. The tree trunk is cut to the required length, and then locks and grooves are made on it. Next, the logs are connected, laying out the outline of the house. You definitely have to wait for the shrinkage - this is about a year, no less. Then they caulk the cracks and line the frames of the windows and doors.

Today this method of constructing a wooden house is not used. Anyone can build a house from rounded logs. This structure is assembled like a construction set, we’ll talk about this later.

Building a house from timber is easier and faster

Neat, smooth logs are processed in production conditions and labeled. Ready-made parts are delivered to the construction site from which the walls are assembled. The beam can have different sizes and cross-sections (rectangular, square, in the shape of the letter D). If it is profiled, then it has protrusions and grooves for connection. An oblique cut helps drain excess water. You can build a house from this material with your own hands.

There are several types of timber for building a house

Sawn timber made from logs with a moisture content of 50 to 70%. As soon as he is cut down, he immediately goes to the construction site. Because of this, the house is subject to shrinkage (up to 10 cm). And sometimes cracks appear on the walls.

Planed timber dried under production conditions. The humidity of the finished product is from 20 to 25%. After drying on a special machine, the products are planed. As a result, shrinkage of the house, although it exists, is very small.

Glued beam made of several layers of lamellas (special boards dried to 6 or 10% humidity). They are glued together under pressure, with the fibers of adjacent layers positioned perpendicular to each other. Finished products have a length of up to 12 m, and a thickness of 7.5 to 30 cm. They do not shrink, do not deform or crack. Therefore, many believe that laminated veneer lumber is the best material for the walls of a wooden house.

The positive aspects of wooden houses are obvious - they are environmentally friendly, frost resistance, speed of construction, seismic and wind resistance. In addition, the wood does not require additional cladding, which promises good budget savings.

There are also disadvantages, but they are relatively few. Firstly, wood is a capricious material. For example, wooden houses often shrink. House shrinkage is a natural process of changing the volume of walls due to the drying of the material from which they are made. The maximum shrinkage is about 10% and is observed in houses made of freshly cut logs. Such a building must stand without finishing for at least 8 months, and usually a year.

During the shrinkage process, the house may develop cracks, which are coated with special compounds. Minimal shrinkage is observed in houses made of laminated veneer lumber and ordinary dried timber. Such materials are almost immediately ready for finishing. However, insulating a house made of timber will require a lot of money.

Another disadvantage of wood is its flammability; a fire can destroy such a structure in a matter of minutes. Therefore, wooden houses are impregnated with special compounds that increase their fire resistance.

Special compounds are needed to protect against rotting and insects. Impregnation is a necessary measure, and the special means themselves are not always environmentally friendly. In addition, a house made of wood requires constant maintenance, especially if it is intended for seasonal living; it must be heated, as damp wood begins to rot.

In general, the durability of wooden houses built by specialists, in compliance with all technological nuances, ranges from 70 to 100 years.

Briefly - the advantages of wood materials

This is one of the most environmentally friendly materials. Building a wooden house is not as expensive as a brick one. In terms of thermal conductivity, wood is significantly superior to brick. A wooden house is usually very beautiful. Often it does not require finishing either inside or outside. The foundation required is light and inexpensive. For example, columnar. A house made of wood, especially one made by hand, lasts a very long time.

Briefly - the disadvantages of wood materials:

The tree burns, can rot and be “eaten up” by fungus. To prevent this, all parts must be treated with special preparations. Shrinkage of a log house can take from 3 to 5 years. Planed timber and log houses can crack.

Brick - it is a brick

Brick is considered one of the most popular materials on the market. More than 50% of houses in Russia are built of brick

Ceramic brick and silicate brick. What is the difference?

Two types of bricks are used in construction: silicate (white) and ceramic (red) bricks.

Ceramic brick has a red color. This material is not afraid of frost and does not allow water to pass through. It can be solid (no more than 13% voids) and hollow (up to 49% voids). The shape of the holes in the brick can be round, square, oval, horizontal or vertical. With an increase in their number, the thermal insulation properties improve.

For the construction of external fences, construction crews prefer ceramic bricks. Seven grades of ceramic bricks are produced: from M75 to M300. The higher the numbers, the stronger the brick. You should also pay attention to frost resistance, designated by the letter F. The lowest quality is F15, the highest is F75.

Sand-lime brick consists of a mixture of quartz sand, water and air lime. It is quite durable, frost-resistant, and has good sound insulation. Sand-lime brick is white. Its main components are lime, sand and a small proportion of additives.

This type of brick is also produced both solid and with cavities inside. The latter is lighter, and the walls made of it are much warmer (air is an excellent heat insulator). But solid sand-lime brick may interest the developer in its variety of colors. For the strength of a brick, it does not matter whether it is solid or has cavities inside.

Ordinary and facing bricks and their purpose.

Both types of bricks have different purposes. Ordinary brick is also called construction brick - it is used for internal masonry of walls. For him, small cracks are not considered defective. It doesn’t matter if the corners or edges are slightly broken and there are notches in the corners.

The facing (facing) brick must have an impeccable appearance and be free from nicks and flaws.

About the strength of brick and resistance to frost

Strength determines the brand of brick. There is a special marking for this indicator: the letter M and a number next to it (from 75 to 300). This number is the load that a given brand can withstand per square centimeter. The higher this number, the heavier the brick. For the walls of a two-story or three-story house, brands M100 and M125 are suitable. The base or foundation is laid with M150 or M175 bricks.

When choosing which brick to build a house from, you should also take into account frost resistance (the ability to freeze and thaw without being damaged). To denote this indicator, the letter F was chosen, next to which there is a number from 15 to 100. It means the number of freezing and defrosting cycles without damaging the material. In warmer areas, grade F15 is sufficient for external walls; where it is colder, grade F25 is sufficient. The cladding is usually made with F50 brick.

The main advantages of brick are strength, fire resistance, wide variety and choice on the market, as well as reasonable price. A small brick house can sometimes cost less than a wooden cottage. Brick maintains temperature well and in this sense is ideal for houses where year-round living is planned. But at the same time, brick is seriously inferior to wood in terms of heat transfer.

Brick also has a lot of disadvantages. To build a brick house, you sometimes need to spend one and a half times more time than to build a wooden house. Brick is a heavy material, which complicates its logistics and storage. A brick building requires a strong and powerful foundation, and these are additional costs.

A brick house can last 100 - 150 years. It will perfectly survive rains with hurricanes and hail, and severe frosts, and withering heat. Brick walls have been laid since ancient times, so the technology for their construction has been worked out to the smallest detail. But a good master is not easy to find.

Briefly – the advantages of brick: Attractive view. Durability. Ability to implement any complex project. Resistant to corrosion, mold and mildew. Non-flammability. Noise protection. Good heat retention.

Briefly - the disadvantages of brick: Heavy weight. High demands on professionalism in installation. The need for a solid foundation. The need to use a heat insulator

Inexpensive frame house

And from what cheaper build a house? For some, the answer to this question is most important. In this case, take a closer look at frame technology. In addition to the low cost of such a home, the speed of assembly is also impressive. Just a few weeks - and you can move into a house that will be warm and comfortable.

The basis of such buildings is a frame made of wood or metal. It includes rafters, racks, trusses and other elements. Then insulation is laid, and the whole thing is sheathed on top with dense sheets of chipboard or OSB. The wall of such a house weighs 15 times less than a brick one.

Not much expensive wood is used for the frame - 5 or 10 times less than for a log house. Insulation is the main expense item. However, even the best one, the cost of a wall is 1.5 times cheaper than one made from timber, and compared to brick – 2.7 times cheaper.

Frame houses can be of two types:

Frame and panel house- assembled from ready-made shields. First they connect them, then they make partitions between the rooms. The final stage is building the roof.

Frame house- made on the basis of a “frame” - a frame made of beams and logs resting on a foundation. Next, they put up the rafters and make the sheathing. After making the roof, the frame is sheathed with insulation (mineral wool or PPS). Finally, the outer cladding is done.

Since the main material in the construction of a frame house is insulation, if you carry out the correct calculations of the required quantity, the structure turns out to be quite warm, which will allow you to significantly save on heating.

Briefly – the advantages of a frame house: Extremely low price and quick installation. Good heat saving (if the heating is turned off in frosty conditions of minus 10 °C, the temperature will decrease by 2 °C per day). No interior finishing is required, which reduces costs. Communications can be hidden inside the walls, which saves space. No special skills are required to build a frame house cheaply and quickly. With a wooden frame, the most incredible designs become possible. A real flight of fancy is possible. A small, shallow foundation is sufficient for a frame house.

Briefly, the disadvantages of a frame house: a frame house is considered not very environmentally friendly due to the large amount of insulation. Another problem with these houses is various insects and rodents. Like all wooden houses, they are flammable and not resistant to natural disasters. Another problem with frame houses is that they are stuffy, so supply and exhaust ventilation is required. A house on a frame will last less than a brick or wooden one

Instead of a conclusion

What do you need to know when choosing material for the walls of your home?

Wall materials and work on the construction of enclosing structures account for a third of all costs for building a house. And if you, like the piglets Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf, are careless about this serious choice, you will inevitably incur serious expenses in the future.

Therefore, we will consider the most important criteria and factors that must be taken into account when choosing a material for constructing the walls of a house.

A) A question of price. Costs can be reduced if you use lightweight material for the walls. Then you won’t have to build a powerful and expensive foundation.

B) Thermal insulation. Cold walls will cost too much in winter. Therefore, before choosing a material, you need to make all the calculations, focusing on local climatic conditions. You can achieve the desired degree of thermal insulation by using insulation materials. If you take a material with good heat-insulating properties, then you don’t have to insulate the walls, but it all depends on the region of development.

B) Labor costs. The cost of time and effort can be reduced if you build the walls from large blocks, rather than from small-piece materials. Such walls are erected 3-4 times faster and easier. The highest speed is when constructing frame panel walls.

D) Subsequent finishing costs. Modern smooth and aesthetic materials do not require additional wall finishing - this allows you to save money.

To decide what is best to build the walls of a house from, it is necessary to consider the main types of suitable building materials, determine and compare their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

Comparison of different materials for building walls

№	Materials	Advantages	Flaws		Cost of materials and work $/M2
1	2	3	4		5
1	Brick (minimum thickness - 380 mm)	Reliability, durability, environmental friendliness.	The need for insulation, labor intensity, heavy walls, a strong foundation is needed		75
2	Ceramic block (thickness - 380 mm)	Reliability, durability, environmental friendliness, construction speed.	The fragility of the material A highly qualified specialist is needed.		82
3	Rounded timber (diameter - 200 mm)	Environmental friendliness, rapidity construction.	Wall shrinkage, great dependence on the quality of the material and specialists, flammability, rotting.		44
4	Glued laminated timber (200/230 mm)	Environmental friendliness, speed of construction, lightweight foundation.	Flammability, rotting.		111
5	Aerated concrete (thickness – 380)	Speed ​​of construction durability, reliability, environmental friendliness, thermal insulation.	A solid foundation is needed; low bending strength.		60
6	Wooden frame + sandwich panels with insulation.	Speed ​​of construction good thermal insulation, lightweight foundation	The durability of a house depends on technology and quality of construction.		44

And one more piece of advice. When choosing material for building a house, you should not approach the upcoming construction “in a big way.” In fact, a person does not need so much space to be completely happy, especially outside the city. All the savings you achieve by reducing the cost of materials and construction technologies can be negated by the extra floors, rooms and spaces.

We wish you success in finding and finding the only right solution!

Text: Valery Bordyuzhenko -

There is still no clear answer to the question of what material is best to make the walls of a residential building from. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Builders and designers cannot come to the same opinion regarding the choice of the most optimal product for making walls. The thing is that in each specific case the best material must be selected based on the purpose of the building, its configuration, the climatic conditions of the area and the financial capabilities of the owner. In our article we will look at the most common wall materials, describe their properties, pros and cons, and you yourself can choose the best one based on construction conditions.

Factors influencing choice

A quarter of all construction costs go towards the construction of walls. Since incorrectly selected material for wall construction can lead to even greater expenses in the future, when choosing it, it is worth considering the following factors:

1. If you want to save on arranging the foundation by making a shallow, lightweight version, then choose a lightweight material for the walls. Additional savings in the case of using lightweight elements for the walls of the house will be during transportation and installation, because it can be done with your own hands without the use of expensive lifting equipment.
2. Choose building materials with good thermal insulation characteristics. Otherwise, cold walls in winter will cost you dearly in heating costs.

Advice: it is best to perform a thermal engineering calculation taking into account the climatic conditions of the construction region. This is the only way to be sure that you have chosen the right material and wall design. Thus, in the northern regions of our country, even walls made of materials with high thermal insulation properties require insulation.

1. If you use piece materials, for example, brick, to build the walls of a house, then a significant share of the costs will be the cost of paying masons. Even if you do all the work yourself, take into account the time and physical costs. It is much more profitable and faster to build from large-sized elements. The highest speed of wall construction is found in houses built using frame-panel and frame-panel technology.
2. When choosing building materials for walls, it is worth considering how easily they can be finished and whether they need it at all. For example, the walls of a frame house made of OSB can not be finished at all, but simply painted, while a house made of logs needs thorough finishing outside and inside.

To understand what to build your house from, you need to understand the characteristics of building materials, so next we will describe the properties of each of them, list the advantages and disadvantages.

Brick

A house built of brick can last a century, or even a century and a half. There are many varieties of bricks, differing in important operational and technical characteristics.

Thus, silicate and ceramic types of bricks are used to build walls. Let's look at their features:

• Ceramic brick made from baked red clay. This is a durable, moisture-resistant, environmentally friendly material. There are solid and hollow bricks on sale. The more voids there are in a brick, the higher its thermal insulation performance.
• Sand-lime brick made on the basis of lime, sand and some additives. It can also be solid or hollow. The latter option is lightweight and has improved thermal insulation properties. Solid silicate products have good sound insulation properties, but high thermal conductivity.

This wall material is also divided into front and ordinary:

• It is better to build the walls of a house from ordinary brick. Products may have minor defects in the form of cracks and chips, but due to this their price is more reasonable. In addition, for interior wall masonry, the appearance of the product is not as important as for exterior masonry.
• Facing brick (facing)- This is the wall material used to decorate the facade. All products must have the correct geometric shape, smooth or textured surface, and be free from flaws and defects. The price of facing brick is higher than that of its ordinary counterpart.

The strength of this wall material is directly related to its grade, which can be from M 75 to M 300. The number indicates the load that one square centimeter of the product can withstand. The higher the brand, the greater the specific gravity of the product. To build a 2- or 3-story house, grade 100-125 brick is enough. To make the foundation and plinth, products with grade 150-175 are used.

Also, when choosing a brick, it is important to take into account its frost resistance, that is, the number of freezing and thawing cycles that the product can withstand without damage and reducing strength by no more than 20%. This indicator is marked with the letter F and a number from 15 and above. For warm regions, you can use products with a frost resistance grade of 15; in colder latitudes, bricks of the F25 grade are used. For facing work, a brick with a frost resistance of at least 50 is suitable.

Advantages and disadvantages of brick

Among the advantages of this wall material are the following:

• Impressive service life.
• Aesthetic appeal.
• Unlimited possibilities in terms of design and implementation of complex projects.
• The material is not susceptible to corrosion, damage by fungi and microorganisms.
• The product does not burn.
• High sound and heat insulation characteristics.

The disadvantages include the following:

• Due to their small size and high specific gravity, laying brick walls takes a long time and costs a lot.
• Under brick walls, it is necessary to build a solid, buried foundation, and this entails increased costs for materials and excavation work.
• In most cases, brick walls need to be additionally insulated.

Ceramic blocks

Ceramic block is a material made from a mixture of clay and sawdust, after which the element is fired in a kiln. This is a fairly durable product that allows you to quickly build the walls of a house. The strength of ceramic block is so high that it can be used to make a multi-story building. The inside of the material has a porous structure, and the outer surface is corrugated. For a hermetic connection, the ends of the material have grooves and ridges.

The height of the ceramic block is a multiple of the rows of brickwork, and other dimensions can be different. Thus, it is possible to build from ceramic block according to projects that are designed for brick. But the speed of construction is much higher, since one ceramic block measuring 238x248x500 mm, which weighs 25 kg, is equivalent to 15 bricks, each of which weighs 3.3 kg. In addition to increasing the speed of construction, the cost of mortar is reduced, because less of it will be needed.

Important: the width of the ceramic block can be 230, 240 and 250 mm, and the length can be in the range of 250-510 mm. Along the long side of the product there is a tongue-and-groove lock.

Walls with a thickness of 380 mm or more made of this material do not need insulation, since the thermal conductivity of the product is only 0.14-0.29 W/m²x°C. Marking of wide blocks is M 100. If you need to make thin but strong walls, you can take elements marked 150. The frost resistance of ceramic blocks is at least 50 cycles.

Pros and cons of ceramic blocks

The advantages include:

• Low specific gravity and high strength significantly expand the scope of use of this material.
• Installation of large-sized products is carried out quickly and without unnecessary labor costs.
• Saving mortar due to the size of the elements and the absence of the need to make vertical seams.
• The frost resistance of ordinary ceramic blocks is higher than that of ordinary bricks.
• Good fire resistance. The product is fire resistant for 4 hours.
• An optimal microclimate is created in a room made of ceramic blocks, since the walls can “breathe” and regulate air humidity.
• A house can last a century and a half without losing its thermal insulation characteristics.

This material also has disadvantages, among which the following are worth mentioning:

• The price of ceramic blocks is quite high.
• Since these products are relatively new on our market, it is difficult to find a good mason to do the masonry.
• This fragile material must be stored and transported very carefully.

Gas blocks

This material has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. In terms of thermal conductivity, a wall made of an aerated block with a width of 300-400 mm is not inferior to a multilayer brick structure. Walls made of aerated blocks maintain optimal temperature and humidity conditions indoors. The material is not susceptible to rot and has an impressive service life. The thermal insulation qualities of an aerated block are 3 times greater than those of a brick wall.

Aerated concrete is quite lightweight, so it is easy to transport and lay. It can be easily cut with a regular hacksaw to the desired size. The laying of elements is carried out using mortar or special glue, of which a little is required. The smooth, even surface of aerated concrete blocks is easy to finish. Aerated concrete is considered environmentally friendly and non-flammable. It has fairly high frost resistance.

Attention: density characteristics are important for aerated concrete. This figure can be in the range of 350-1200 kg/m³. For an ordinary residential building, it is enough to take elements marked 500-900.

Advantages and disadvantages of gas blocks

This wall product has many advantages:

• Laying walls from aerated blocks is 9 times faster than laying bricks.
• The low thermal conductivity of the product is a big plus in its favor.
• Aerated concrete has high fire resistance; even when burning, it does not emit harmful substances.
• The porous structure of the material contributes to high frost resistance.
• In terms of vapor permeability, aerated concrete is comparable only to wood.

Disadvantages of aerated concrete:

• Low bending strength.
• The material is susceptible to cracking.
• Hygroscopicity. After moisture is absorbed, the thermal insulation performance of aerated concrete decreases, so the facade needs a protective finish.
• Floor slabs and beams cannot be laid directly on gas blocks, so before laying them you will have to make a monolithic reinforced belt. This entails additional costs and time.

Tree

Many people who decide to build a house choose wood. This natural material is environmentally friendly. It creates a favorable microclimate in the house, maintains optimal humidity and saturates the air with healing phytoncides. A wooden house is warm in winter and not hot in summer, since wood has good thermal insulation characteristics.

A wooden house can be built from the following products:

1. The log can be natural or rounded. In the latter case, the material has the correct shape and smooth surface, but requires additional protective treatment, since the natural protective resin layer, which is located under the bark, is removed during the rounding process.
2. You can use glued (profiled) and sawn or planed timber. Better houses are made from laminated veneer lumber, which has special grooves and ridges for a tight fit of the elements. Sawn timber is more often used to make frame houses.
3. Frame-panel houses are made of OSB, chipboard, and moisture-resistant plywood, which are attached to the frame. Insulation is installed inside the wall.

The main advantages of wooden houses are their environmental friendliness, comfort and reasonable price. A lightweight foundation can be made for such a house. Disadvantages - fire hazard, shrinkage.