Aircrete Homes

What it is, Pros & Cons, and Uses

What It Is

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Aircrete is essentially a mix of water, foaming agent, and cement.  The foaming agent creates tiny air bubbles that, when evenly dispersed, provide many benefits (outlined in the website article).

Foaming & Air

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The target amount of foaming agent depends on the intended application for the aircrete.  As a rule of thumb, aircrete with more air bubbles offers greater insulation capacity but less compression strength.

Cheaper Costs

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Many builders tout aircrete as a low-cost option thanks to the relative cheapness of the materials used to make aircrete: water, foam, and cement. By this calculation, using aircrete to build a 1,000-square-foot building with 4-inch thick walls would cost under $8,000. (Read website article for details)

Greater Insulation

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The foam or air bubbles dispersed throughout the aircrete naturally provide insulation properties. Aircrete is also very air-tight, allowing for much better heat consistency than permeable concrete blocks. Thermal mass is another key to aircrete’s insulation success. (Thermal mass refers to a material’s ability to absorb and retain energy from heat.)

R-30 Walls

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By some estimations, aircrete could provide an insulation value of R-6 per inch.  For comparison, popular insulation material loose fill cellulose offers up to R-3.8 per inch. Taken at face value, if aircrete offers an R-value of 6 per inch, a house in warm climates could easily meet the recommended R-30 with 5-inch thick walls.

Easy Install

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Additionally, unlike concrete blocks, aircrete blocks can be cut with a handsaw and manipulated with other wood-working tools.  Whether you need to carve, drill, or penetrate the material, this quality offers flexibility in construction.

Fire Resistance

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The materials used to make aircrete – water, foam, and cement – aren’t typically known for catching on fire; this means that aircrete, like concrete, won’t catch fire even when exposed to extremely hot flames.  Aircrete’s fire-resistant quality also results from its porous nature and material makeup.

Moisture Resistant

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The foam or air bubbles within aircrete blocks protect the structure against moisture accumulation.  Thanks to reduced moisture accumulation, aircrete will not rot or deteriorate when exposed to water — even in cases of humidity.

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