How to lay expanded clay concrete blocks: rules and nuances. Simple instructions for self-laying expanded clay blocks Laying blocks of expanded clay concrete

Blocks from expanded clay concrete are made using the pressing method; it is not easy to make them with your own hands. For their production, components such as expanded clay, cement, sand and water are used without the use of chemicals. It is important that the size and shape of the products allow you to freely combine them during the working process with other materials.

The blocks are strong, dense, have a very low thermal conductivity, high frost resistance. But it is important to remember that due to the porous structure, they absorb moisture quite easily, without destruction the material can withstand no more than 25-30 freeze-thaw cycles. For a residential building, this is a normal indicator, but if you plan to build, for example, a bath, you need good thermal insulation of the walls. When fixing the fasteners, you need to be careful not to damage the unit and fix the groove or dowel well. When erecting walls, they must be reinforced.

Superintendent's advice: a good quality mortar must be soft and have good viscosity. When applied, it fits perfectly, does not smear and does not fall out of the seam.

Allows you to build structures of different formats. Despite the higher cost than other materials, in particular brick, it is more profitable to use it. And the point is not only in higher technical characteristics, but also in lower costs for mortar (for example, a 39 cm thick wall does not differ from the strength of a brick wall of 1.5 bricks). The technology of laying expanded clay concrete walls is not very different from the construction of a brick one. It can be done by hand, without the involvement of professional builders. It is even possible to work at sub-zero temperatures, but in this case, you need to use special solutions. If the facade contains a thick layer of insulation and is built using the thin block masonry technique, very dense reinforcement is required, because temperature fluctuations will destroy the structure.

Superintendent's advice: it is important to pay attention to the thickness of the seams (especially when laying with your own hands): horizontal should be equal to 12 mm, vertical - 8-15 mm. The error value cannot exceed 1 mm up or down.

Step-by-step instructions for masonry with expanded clay concrete blocks

The first question after purchasing the material is how to lay the expanded clay concrete blocks. Before starting laying, it is imperative to waterproof the foundation. First, a moisture-repellent solution of cement and sand is applied in a layer of 1-2 cm. Then a layer of waterproofing material is applied with an overlap of at least 150 mm. The finishing stage is an additional cement layer. Only then can you start laying the walls (it must be accompanied by reinforcement). The approximate algorithm of actions is as follows:

Before starting work, you need to make a markup of the places of walls, door, window, openings. To calculate the number of blocks, measurements are taken between the corners and door spans, expansion joints. It is important to check the position of all reinforcement pins for accurate alignment of cavities within the blocks.
The correct laying of the wall begins at the corners and ends. First, the sections of the wall are erected (it is advisable to start from the corner to maintain accuracy). Row height, squareness and level must be constantly checked. In order to prevent the formation of "cold bridges" from the end of the block, it is advised to separate it with a foam rectangle with a thickness of at least 5 cm.
After the corners and ends are ready, row by row, fill the gaps with blocks. At the same time, to maintain the level of the rows, a cord must be used, and to check the height of the row, a template for masonry work.
If necessary, during laying, a deformation (expansion) joint is formed, which will take on the load. It must be sealed using a special rod and an elastic seal.
To avoid cracks, the blocks must be reinforced. The reinforcement rod is installed in the center of the cavity of the blocks, they are stacked so as to form an even row, without debris and interruptions inside the wall. The minimum is the use of one reinforced seam per 1 m of the wall in height. The seams above the first and last row are reinforced in any case.
Each row of blocks must be filled with a layer of liquid solution (lift). Its level, if we are not talking about the last level, should not exceed a mark of about 38 mm below the upper horizontal seam to create a gap for future lifts.
After creating the section, the degree of solidification of the solution is checked and the embossing is carried out (first, the horizontal seams are processed, then the vertical ones in the direction from the corner). If you make facing masonry, including with your own hands, you need to reinforce every 3-4 horizontal seam.

Superintendent's advice: if the wall thickness exceeds 150 mm and the masonry contains air gaps, the craftsmen advise to reinforce each bed of the mixture.

Step-by-step instructions will help you understand how to lay expanded clay concrete blocks, even for a novice builder. The material has all the necessary properties for the construction of a warm and strong house, and the correct laying will ensure the reliability of its operation.

Video

The laying of expanded clay concrete blocks occupies a large segment in the types of wall fences of buildings and structures. The low cost of the material significantly reduces the cost of construction. The voids inside the blocks improve the thermal insulation properties of the walls and reduce the weight of the fences. Walls are often built with facing bricks. Due to the low bearing capacity, expanded clay walls are used in the construction of low-rise buildings. External wall fences of multi-storey buildings are laid from expanded clay concrete blocks with facing, when the bearing vertical structures are reinforced concrete columns.

What is expanded clay concrete block

Expanded clay concrete blocks from expanded clay concrete are made by pouring a liquid solution into special forms. The liquid mixture is prepared on the basis of expanded clay sand (granule fraction not more than 10 mm), cement (grades 400, 500), sand and water. Manufacturers add various additives to increase the plasticity of the solution. This is necessary for tighter packing of the mixture into the molds.

After laying the mixture, it is kept in molds for 7 to 10 days. The first 2 days of the form are kept in special drying chambers. Drying is then continued in the open air. At the factory, the solution is put into the formwork under pressure.

Standard block dimensions: length - 390 mm, width - 190 mm and height - 188 mm. Partitions are made from blocks with dimensions of 390x90x188 mm. Basically, the blocks are made hollow. Voids can be through and closed. For their formation, special chambers are lowered into the molds, and then the raw materials are laid.

The voids are made in different shapes. Cavities in products can be cylindrical, rectangular and slotted. They also make solid KB. Solid products are more durable, but inferior to hollow blocks in terms of thermal insulation qualities.

The bearing capacity of the M 50 keramblock is 50 kg per 1 cm 3.

Before you start laying the walls, you need to carry out a number of activities.

Preparatory activities

The procedure requires preparation. In particular, the following tools and materials are prepared:

measuring devices - tape measure, rail-level, laser level, plumb lines, cords;
trowel, trowels, shovels, rubber hammer;
concrete mixer or container for mixing mortar, buckets;
goats, forests;
grinder with cut-off wheel, saw;
expanded clay concrete blocks;
sand, cement or ready-made dry mix, water;
reinforcement with a diameter of 8-10 mm;
metal reinforcing mesh.

Masonry mortar

Prepare a solution for laying expanded clay concrete blocks in two versions: cement and sand, ready-made dry mix. The choice is influenced by the economic availability of materials.

Ready dry mix

The step-by-step instructions printed on the package of the mixture will tell you the correct actions when preparing the masonry mixture. Dry material can always be found at a hardware store.

The mixture is loaded into a concrete mixer and filled with water. Then turn on the mixing device. Step-by-step instructions indicate in what proportions the solution is prepared. The rotating drum works until the mixture takes the form of a homogeneous pasty mass.

Cement-sand mixture

Cement and sand are loaded into the mixer drum in a ratio of 1: 3. Water is gradually added while stirring. When the masonry mortar takes the required form, the mixing is finished. Experienced workers know exactly how much water needs to be poured and how long it will take to prepare the solution.

In the absence of a concrete mixer, suitable containers are used: an old bath, a trough, and so on. Stir the mixture with a mixer or shovel.

Walling

Do-it-yourself laying of expanded clay concrete blocks is available to everyone who has even a little experience in this matter. Better to start doing this with an experienced bricklayer.

Setting corners

They begin to lay out KB from the corners of the structure. Corner fragments of fences are arranged from 2 - 3 rows of KB. They serve as a kind of beacons for the construction of walls.

Expanded clay concrete blocks are placed on a layer of mortar laid on the waterproofing of the basement or foundation. The mortar layer should not be thicker than 30 mm.

The verticality of the masonry and the correct position of the wall in the plan of the building are controlled with the help of geodetic instruments, plumb lines and control twine. They also use a water level - a hose filled with water with two transparent tubes at its ends.

First row masonry

A string is pulled between the corner beacons around the perimeter of the house. The string allows you to control the evenness of the vertical plane of the first row of masonry. As the wall space is filled, the corners are increased, and the string is fixed at a new height.If the walls are erected using a special adhesive, then the first row of KB is laid on a cement-sand mixture.

As far as the laying of the first row will be performed correctly, the process of erecting walls from the 2nd row and higher will be performed qualitatively.

Masonry technology of expanded clay concrete blocks

Masonry includes several ways of forming walls, depending on their thickness. The main methods of forming the thickness of fences from design bureaus:

half a block;
block;
two rows in half a block with a gap for laying insulation;
two rows in a half-block or block with a space between them of insulation.

Half block

The wall thickness is equal to the block width - 190 mm. Such laying of walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks is usually done when building country houses, ancillary facilities, slipways and garages.

KB is laid with its long side along the axis of the wall. Laying is done with bandaging and reinforcement of the rows. A reinforcing layer of masonry made of expanded clay concrete blocks is laid every 3 to 5 rows. As a reinforcement, a metal mesh or periodic steel reinforcement with a diameter of 8-10 mm is used.

Block

Walls are erected by laying blocks with a long part perpendicular to the axis of the wall. The wall thickness will be 390 mm. The dressing is carried out by alternating the spoon (the position of the block with the long side along the axis) and butt rows (the long side is perpendicular to the axis of the wall). The walls are insulated from the outside with polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene or mineral wool slabs.

The thickness of the insulation must be at least 50 mm. The reinforcement mesh is laid in the same way as in the previous case.

Laying in two rows

The wall is erected in two parallel rows of KB half a block thick. The gap between the walls is left with a width of 50 - 100 mm. Insulation made of foam plastic, mineral wool or expanded polystyrene sheets is placed between the walls. In some cases, the cavities are filled with granular expanded clay or blast-furnace slag. This method of wall insulation is much cheaper than laying sheet material.

Every 3 - 5 rows make a dressing of the parallel walls. At the same time, you need to lay out the reinforcing belt.

This method of masonry makes it possible to save masonry material in comparison with the construction of a wall of the same thickness and a block width.

Masonry with facing bricks

The method of erecting this type of masonry is similar to the above method. Only in this case, the role of the external wall is played by masonry with facing bricks.

Finishing with facing bricks solves the issue of the external finishing of the wall. The outer wall should be laid out with a thickness of half a brick. The ligation of fences made of different materials is carried out by laying a reinforcing mesh or reinforcing bars of a periodic profile.

Solution consumption

Before starting construction, you need to know the need for certain materials. Mortar consumption significantly affects the costs associated with the purchase of cement and sand. With a large volume of construction, water delivery will also cost a certain amount of money.

The amount of mortar for laying walls from KB depends on the thickness of the vertical and horizontal joints between the blocks and the width of the walls. Standard seam thicknesses range from 6 to 8 mm. Laying KB on adhesives allows you to make seams 3 mm thinner.

Having calculated the total area of laying the mortar, multiply it by the average thickness of the seam. The total consumption of the binder mixture is obtained. Taking into account the involuntary losses of the binder mixture, the amount of solution consumption is increased by 7 - 10%.

Knowing the specific gravity and proportions of the components, they determine the total need for cement, sand, water or ready-made adhesive mixture.

Installation of a reinforced belt

Whatever the type of masonry from the KB, a reinforced concrete belt must be erected along the entire top of the walls of each floor, which takes the load from the roof structures and interfloor ceilings.

Reinforced concrete belt is made with a height of 200 to 400 mm. The formwork is held by through fastenings between its sides. The reinforcement frame is made of 4 longitudinal rods of a periodic profile with a diameter of 8-10 mm. Longitudinal reinforcement is a box-type structure, connected by a wire.

The reinforced belt along the entire perimeter of the building significantly increases the bearing capacity of the wall railing.

A house built from expanded clay concrete blocks will cost less than a building built from bricks or precast concrete. Due to their thermal insulation properties, expanded clay fences contribute to the efficient retention of heat inside the building.

Comments:

They have been used in the construction process for over 50 years. Laying walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks is not a difficult process, even a novice master can perform it. An additional advantage is the availability of bricklaying skills. You will definitely need to take into account the peculiarities of expanded clay concrete and observe the masonry technology.

Expanded clay concrete blocks are used for the construction of houses, garages, baths and other structures.

Similar elements are produced by pressing from a mixture of expanded clay, sand, cement and water. In this regard, expanded clay concrete is an environmentally friendly material. It contains expanded clay, so the material is porous, lightweight and has excellent thermal insulation properties.

The sizes and shapes of blocks can be different, everything will depend on the manufacturer and the equipment that is used in the pressing process. In most cases, rectangular blocks are produced. For the walls, it is recommended to use material with dimensions 39x30x18.8 cm and 39x19x18.8 cm.If you plan to erect a partition, then 39x19x9 cm blocks are suitable.

The material can be solid or hollow. In hollow bodies, cavities of various sizes and shapes can be provided: in the form of a cylinder, rectangle, with a large or small gap. In the latter, cavities can be located along or across.

The most durable are solid blocks, but they are inferior to hollow ones in terms of thermal insulation characteristics. They can provide grooves for reinforcing bars.

DIY wall masonry from expanded clay concrete blocks

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Required materials and tools

Before you start laying a wall from expanded clay concrete blocks, you will need to prepare all the necessary tools and materials. Elements that will be needed to complete all work:

Types of expanded clay concrete blocks.

Rubber hammer. It will be used to shrink the material during the laying process.
Roulette. Used to take all measurements.
Level. The device will be needed in order to control the masonry in all planes.
A trowel with a rectangular area.
The cord is of small thickness.
Square. Will be used to mark up blocks.
Grinder with a circle for cutting with a diameter of at least 22 cm.
Shovels.
A container in which the mixture can be prepared.
Bucket.
Forests.
Blocks.
Sand.
Cement.
Water.
Insulation material.
Reinforcing rods with a diameter of 8-10 mm. You can also use a special mesh.

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How to prepare a solution for laying wall blocks from expanded clay concrete?

It is possible to lay out expanded clay concrete blocks using a solution of sand and cement or ready-made adhesives.

If you plan to prepare the solution yourself, then the proportions will be as follows:

1 part cement;
3 pieces of sand;
0.7 parts of water.

The cement must be M400 or higher. The amount of water can be adjusted, everything will depend on the moisture content of the sand. As a result, you need to get a plastic solution so that you can easily seat the blocks. The mixture should not flow. To increase the elasticity of the mixture, part of the ordinary sand from the quarry must be replaced with river sand. To increase plasticity, substances called plasticizers must be added to the mixture.

It is recommended to prepare the mortar in a small concrete mixer. At one time, you need to prepare such an amount of the mixture that can be consumed in a few hours. The solution must be continuously stirred so that it cannot separate.

You can also use a ready-made dry mixture, which you just need to mix with water in accordance with the instructions on the package. Such a mixture is very flexible, with its help you can easily reduce the thickness of the seams. However, you should know that it costs more than a composition of sand and cement.

Ready mixes are made using a construction mixer or a special attachment for an electric drill in a container of appropriate dimensions.

In most cases, at least 40 kg of such a mixture is consumed per 1 m³ of block masonry. The final consumption of any mixture will depend on the thickness of the joints, which can range from 3 to 9 mm.

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Existing methods of laying ceramite concrete walls

The walls can be laid out in various ways. Everything will depend on the required thickness and the materials used for insulation and cladding. The main masonry methods are as follows:

in a block with facing with bricks and laying insulation material between them;
several parallel walls in half a block with an insulation material located between them;
in half a block;
block wide, performing dressing and alternating spoon and butt rows;
60 cm wide, tying the elements and leaving voids between them.

The first method is to lay the walls, the thickness of which corresponds to the width of the block. In most cases, walls of a similar thickness are erected for country houses or garages. With this method, the material should be laid in a long part along the wall line in a row, tying and reinforcing the masonry with reinforcing rods with a diameter of 10-11 mm every 4-5 rows. In the upper part of the wall, you need to arrange an armored belt made of concrete 15-20 cm high.If necessary, the masonry can be insulated from the outside with mineral wool or foam plastic 8-10 cm thick.

In the second method, blocks are placed in the form of several parallel walls in a half block. They are connected to each other with metal rods. Insulation material 8-10 cm thick is located between the blocks. This method is able to provide excellent thermal insulation of the building rooms.

The next method differs only in that bricks are laid out instead of one of the walls.

Mortar for wall clamps is prepared from cement, sand and water in a ratio of 1: 3: 0.7

The fourth method is to lay walls 39 cm wide. The laying is carried out with the bandaging of the elements. Reinforcement is done after 4-5 rows using reinforcing rods or mesh. Such masonry is used for the construction of the walls of country houses. To ensure maximum thermal insulation, such walls should be insulated from the outside with an insulating material with a thickness of at least 5 cm. In this case, you can use mineral wool or extruded polystyrene foam.

The next method is done with bandaging the elements and preserving voids between them, which in the future need to be filled with insulation material.

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Construction of walls from expanded clay blocks: sequence of actions

When laying blocks by any method, you will need to follow the basic rules for working with this material.

The structure of the walls is made of expanded clay concrete with insulation and finishing.

First of all, you need to prepare the foundation. The surface of the foundation, on which the blocks of the first row will be laid out, must be leveled. It is necessary to lay the waterproofing material horizontally on it in several layers. In this case, you can use roofing material or any other material.

Claydite-concrete blocks should be started from the corners of the structure. A layer of mortar with a thickness of less than 3 cm must be applied to the waterproofing material, after which the corner blocks must be laid. The block can be seated by pressing it and tapping it with a rubber hammer. The location of the corner elements must be additionally monitored using a water level. Only in this way it will be possible to perform even laying. Instead of a similar level, you can use a level. The correct location of the corner blocks must also be controlled using a plumb line, which is mounted in the corners and lifted during the laying of the walls.

You will need to pull a thin cord between the corner elements, and then lay out the entire row on it. The masonry of the initial row should be done exclusively using a mortar of sand and cement. After laying out the initial row, it will be possible to lay the next one. In the process, you need to bandage the blocks and control the horizontality and verticality of the masonry. All subsequent rows can be laid using adhesives.

It is gaining more and more popularity. And this is not surprising, because expanded clay concrete blocks have a huge list of advantages. These include - a small indicator of thermal conductivity, resistance to humidity and low temperatures, environmental friendliness, ease of installation and the ability to produce this material with your own hands. Moreover, the products are of low cost.

The laying of walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks is possible using several technologies, all of which are used in different situations. Differences are given by the type of future structure, soil properties, temperature regime of the environment and many other nuances. However, if there is a step-by-step instruction for the construction of a building, then you can not be afraid of anything. In the article, we will analyze in detail how to lay expanded clay concrete blocks.

Masonry methods

Claydite concrete products can be laid using several methods. In order to determine the choice of the method, you need to know the thickness of the future walls and what materials are supposed to be used for finishing work. There are the following technologies for masonry of expanded clay concrete block:

Installation of a box with a thickness the same size as the width of the block. In this case, the inside is treated with a plaster mixture, and the part that is outside is finished with insulating materials. Often, foam or mineral wool is used as insulation. This method is ideal if you are going to install a garage or warehouses.
Installation of a box with a thickness the same size as the length of the block. Wall processing is done in the same way as in the previous method. The only difference is the insulating material, its thickness may be less. A good method for installing small buildings such as saunas.
Installation, carried out with the simultaneous dressing of construction products and the passage of an air gap between them. The thickness of the box with this installation method will be 60 centimeters. The part of the wall that is inside is treated with plaster mortar, but the insulating material is placed in the air spaces between the products. This method is used during the construction of summer cottages or suburban buildings.
Installation, in which two walls are installed with a small free space between them, however, they must be strictly parallel. The walls must be fixed with reinforcing rods, and insulating material must be placed in the void between them. This masonry technology is the most complex, however, the building erected in this way will be much stronger and more durable. What is also important, with this method, the expanded clay concrete block is distinguished by a much higher level of thermal insulation.

Fundamental rules

When laying with these blocks, everything must be done correctly. And although installation with such material is not much different from brick, there are still some rules:

It is worth remembering that these products do not have an ideal shape, therefore, when doing masonry with your own hands, you constantly need to check everything using a building level.

Masonry technology

We can say that laying claydite concrete products with your own hands is not particularly different from a similar procedure with bricks. And due to the larger volume of products, it is easier and faster, you just need to follow the correct technology.

Preparation of tools and materials

You cannot be proud of your masonry until at least a list of everything necessary for the installation of the building has been prepared. It is worth taking care in advance that everything required is at hand. During installation, you may need the following components:

Preparation of the solution

It is possible to lay expanded clay concrete materials using a cement-sand mixture or a ready-made adhesive solution. In the case of self-mixing the solution, it is important to observe the exact dosage of the components:

1 share of cement;
3 shares of sand;
1 part water.

The class of the cement used must be at least M400. The volume of water can be varied, because its dosage is influenced by the presence of moisture in the sand. The finished solution must have sufficient plasticity so that the block can be easily put into the desired position. The solution should never be too liquid. If it is necessary to increase it, then the quarry sand in the composition can be replaced with river sand. Plasticizers in the composition are used to impart greater plasticity.

If the amount of solution is small, then you can manually knead in a special container. In the case of a large amount, it is rational to use a concrete mixer. The solution must be mixed only in the amount that will be used immediately. If you do not follow this nuance, and also do not mix everything constantly, then it will delaminate.

It is allowed to use dry glue when laying with your own hands, it only needs to be diluted with water, according to the instructions. This adhesive has the necessary flexibility for making fine seams. But it has one drawback, it is a higher cost than cement. The solution is mixed using an industrial mixer or a drill, but with a special nozzle.

They are used in the construction of external walls, soundproof partitions, filling in frames in reinforced concrete housing construction, the construction of agricultural buildings and utility rooms, in the field of creating decorative elements. Expanded clay concrete masonry is an excellent base for further finishing. It has good thermal insulation, frost resistance and is easy to process.

For work you will need:

building level;
rubber hammer up to 1 kg in weight;
roulette;
square;
jointing;
ordering with marks every 200 mm;
mooring cord;
grinding machine with a circle of 230 mm in diameter;
a trowel with a rectangular platform;
reinforcement or reinforced mesh;
container for stirring the solution.

A solution or special glue can be used as a binder. When laying expanded clay concrete blocks, the consumption of mortar is much less than when laying bricks, since one block replaces 7 ceramic bricks.

If an ordinary cement slurry is made, then 1 part of the cement is mixed with 3 parts of quarry sand. River sand makes the solution too elastic. You can increase the plasticity of the mixture using a special plasticizer. To prevent the sand from settling on the bottom, the mixture must be stirred periodically.

If cement glue is used, 1 cubic meter. m is consumed about 40 kg of dry mix. It is diluted with water according to the instructions.

Before starting laying, the surface is leveled. For a waterproofing device, two layers of roofing material are laid on the base. A layer of mortar with the addition of lime is placed on top of the insulation, no more than 30 mm. The adhesive can only be applied from the second row.

Do-it-yourself masonry

Laying expanded clay concrete blocks is somewhat similar to how children assemble a LEGO-type construction set. Since the size of the blocks is much larger than that of bricks, and the weight is significantly less, the laying process does not take much time and effort.

How to properly lay expanded clay blocks

The construction of the wall starts from the corner. First, the first row is completely built. In this case, the internal partitions are made simultaneously with the external ones. So that cold bridges do not appear at the end of the block entering the outer wall, it is separated by a foam rectangle 50 mm thick. After completing the first row, you need to make sure with a level that the surface is flat.

How to lay corners from expanded clay blocks, the video will tell:

The block stacking technology is as follows:

using a new block, the solution is smoothed out to get an even layer;
the block is poked to the edge of the adjacent block, leaving a gap of 5 cm;
the block is applied to the place on which it should lie, so that a little glue or cement mortar is formed in the vertical seam;
the block is fixed with a rubber mallet.

The seam thickness should not be more than 6-7 mm. If special glue is added to the mortar, a joint thickness of about 3 mm is allowed. If seams are too thick, the masonry will lose its strength. At the same time, if the mortar layer is too thin, the blocks will not be fastened securely enough.

The correct seam must be done before the mortar hardens.

There are such types of seams:

undercut;
wasted;
embroidered convex;
embroidered concave.

If the wall is subsequently plastered, the blocks are laid "in a washer". This means that at the edges the seams are not filled by 5-8 mm. If the wall is front, the seams are usually made "undercut", completely filling them.

In addition, to increase the heat capacity of a building, blocks can be stacked in two rows. Thanks to this, the thickness of the wall increases, and after the house is insulated from the outside, it will not be afraid of any frosts. The only drawback of this installation is the increased consumption of blocks and the total cost of work.

In the video - do-it-yourself wall masonry from expanded clay concrete blocks

Reinforcement of masonry

To prevent the walls from collapsing under the weight of the roof, you need to fill in the armopoyas. Reinforcement is done using reinforcement about 10 mm in diameter or reinforced (masonry) mesh. It should be done every 2-3 rows. The mesh or reinforcement is placed on the top row in the grooves, the solution is applied on top and the next row of blocks is made.

Longitudinal reinforcement makes it possible to increase the safety of the structure to the required level. Do not forget about the need to bandage the spoon and butt rows. Window and door openings are reinforced with U-shaped blocks of concrete and reinforcement.

Mounting the Mauerlat to the blocks

Wall masonry is completed with U-shaped blocks, which are used to create a reinforced concrete belt. This belt is used to attach the Mauerlat to expanded clay concrete. Mauerlat is a wooden beam that is attached to the walls in order to evenly distribute the load from the roof material, snow and wind.

In the upper blocks, threaded rods are installed every 1.6-2 m. Their height should exceed the cross-section of the bar by 4-6 cm. Holes for the studs are made in the bars and the Mauerlat is attached, pulling it to the walls with nuts and washers.

Wall insulation and decoration

It is necessary to insulate the wall right after laying. For this purpose, sheathing with siding or oilcloth is used. Another option is to embed insulation material between the blocks during the construction process.

Expanded clay concrete masonry does not provide sufficient ventilation. Its arrangement should be taken care of in advance.

You can decorate the walls of expanded clay concrete using a variety of materials. They lend themselves well to plastering, facing with bricks or tiles. Since the blocks have the correct shape, there is no need to level them with plaster.

To reduce heat loss, a ventilated façade can be made. From the inside, the surface can be finished "dry" or "wet", what exactly to plaster the walls of expanded clay blocks - you need to decide depending on the purpose of the building and your financial capabilities.

Block stacking methods

How to do this or that masonry depends on the type of material. For example, if masonry is made from insulated blocks, there is no need to carry out additional thermal insulation. These blocks usually have a decorative side to facilitate the finishing process.

Laying blocks of expanded clay concrete can be carried out in different ways. The choice of a specific method is determined by the thickness of the walls, the purpose of the room and the material that is used for decoration.

When building a warehouse, garage or other utility room. The wall is laid with the thickness of the block width (approx. 200 mm). From the inside, the wall is plastered, and from the outside it is insulated with a layer of mineral wool, expanded polystyrene or polystyrene foam 100 mm thick.
When building a bathhouse or other small structure. The wall is erected with the thickness of the width of the block, the binding of the blocks is done. Finishing from the inside and outside is carried out in the same way as in the first version, but the insulation layer is about 50 mm.
During the construction of a country cottage. The walls are made with block binding, with voids between them. Masonry thickness - 600 mm. Insulation is placed in the voids, and the wall is plastered from the inside.
When constructing buildings in areas with cold climates. To make the outer wall, two thin partitions are made parallel to each other. They are connected using reinforcement. The gap between the partitions is filled with insulation material. Both sides of the wall are plastered. This option is the most difficult, but it has the highest level of thermal protection.

Advantages of making masonry from expanded clay blocks

How much does the expanded clay block masonry cost?

Standard wall blocks have parameters 390 * 190 * 188 mm, blocks for partition walls - 390 * 190 * 90 mm.

For masonry 1 cub. m walls are used 65 standard blocks. Consumption of materials for 1 cubic meter m. masonry is 0.075 cubic meters. m, including:

cement - about 15 kg;
sand - about 45 kg;
water - 10-15 liters.

To calculate the number of blocks per masonry, you can use the online building materials calculators.

The average cost of masonry from expanded clay blocks is about 2300 rubles. for 1 cubic meter m. To build a wall of a similar area of bricks, you will have to spend from 5 to 6 thousand rubles. Laying foam concrete will also cost a little more - about 2700 rubles. for 1 cubic meter m.

Thus, expanded clay concrete is a material that is affordable and easy to install. Among its advantages are low concrete consumption, low weight (blocks are two times lighter than bricks), ease of installation (one block is equal in area to seven bricks). It is easy to store and transport. Therefore, it is becoming more common.