What to build a house from?
The choice of wall material affects not only construction costs, but also thermal comfort, acoustics, and the long-term durability of a house. This article compares the most popular masonry technologies, outlining their key advantages, disadvantages, and best use cases.
Written by Marta Published Updated
What Should You Build a House With? A Complete Guide to Wall Materials
Building a house is a lifetime investment, and choosing the right material for load-bearing walls is one of the first and most important decisions. This choice will determine thermal comfort, interior sound insulation, as well as the final cost and construction speed. Masonry technologies have dominated the Polish market for years, but each offers completely different properties.
Below is a detailed comparison of the most popular wall materials available on the market to help you make an informed decision.
Comparison of Parameters and Costs
The table below presents the key parameters of each material along with approximate costs. The prices refer to 1 m² of a single-layer wall only (excluding labor, mortar, and insulation layers).
| Material | Estimated price (m²) | Thermal insulation (λ) | Acoustics | Strength (compression) | Construction speed |
| Aerated concrete | PLN 70–100 | Very good (0.09–0.17) | Poor | Low / Medium (2–4 MPa) | Very fast |
| Porous ceramic blocks | PLN 90–120 | Good (0.14–0.18) | Medium | Good (10–15 MPa) | Fast |
| Silicate blocks | PLN 100–130 | Poor (0.40–0.80) | Very good | Very high (15–25 MPa) | Moderate |
| Expanded clay concrete | PLN 120–160 | Good (0.16–0.25) | Good | Medium (5–10 MPa) | Very fast |
Detailed Characteristics of Materials
Aerated Concrete
This is an extremely popular material valued primarily for its excellent thermal performance and lightweight structure. Aerated concrete blocks are porous, trapping air inside — one of the best natural insulators.
Advantages: Easy cutting, the possibility of thin-joint masonry (reducing thermal bridges), and very fast wall construction.
Disadvantages: Poor acoustic insulation, meaning walls are less effective at blocking sounds from outside or neighboring rooms. The material is also prone to absorbing moisture during construction.
Porous Ceramic Blocks
This is a modern evolution of traditional brick. The blocks are made from clay mixed with sawdust or wood flour, which burns out during firing and leaves micropores improving thermal insulation.
Advantages: Excellent indoor microclimate (“breathing” walls), good thermal insulation, high durability, and excellent heat accumulation.
Disadvantages: Brittleness. Masonry work, especially cutting and channeling for installations, requires high precision and careful workmanship.
Silicate Blocks (Lime-Sand Blocks)
Lime-sand materials are dense and massive. In a building, they behave like a huge thermal battery — slowing overheating in summer and releasing accumulated heat for a long time during winter.
Advantages: Exceptional acoustic insulation (ideal for houses located near busy roads) and the highest compressive strength among all discussed materials.
Disadvantages: The heavy weight of the blocks makes masonry work more difficult and slower. Due to poor thermal insulation, silicate walls always require a thicker insulation layer (polystyrene or mineral wool).
Expanded Clay Concrete
A material made of fired clay pellets (expanded clay aggregate) bonded with cement. It combines the best features of ceramic and concrete technologies.
Advantages: Excellent resistance to moisture, fungi, and mold. Good dimensional stability and satisfactory acoustic performance.
Disadvantages: Relatively high price per m². This technology is often used in the form of prefabricated wall systems, which can shorten construction time to just a few days but requires a highly precise design in advance (without the possibility of making changes during construction).
Summary: Which Material Should You Choose?
There is no single perfect building material. The choice is always a matter of balancing priorities wisely.
If your main priority is quickly building a thermally efficient shell structure at a lower cost, aerated concrete will be the optimal choice. If you value a natural indoor microclimate and traditional solutions in a modern form, choose porous ceramics. For those seeking maximum silence and extremely durable construction, silicate blocks are unmatched. Investors focused on maximum installation speed and moisture resistance should take a closer look at expanded clay concrete.