Regarding ceramic blocks, or as they are also called - warm ceramics, there is a lot of controversy on the sidelines of construction. Some extol its virtues to the skies, while others bring us back to earth with their pessimistic moods.
In this article we will try to impartially evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages of this material, and also, using the video in this article for clarity, we will tell you how walls are built from ceramic blocks with brick cladding.
The main goal pursued by the creators of new structural wall materials is to increase the thermal efficiency of walls. A material that allows them to be erected quickly, without increasing their thickness too much and with minimal labor intensity is simply a godsend for any developer. And if at the same time it practically does not need insulation, then it simply has no price!
This is exactly how everything will be arranged with a relatively new look wall block, made from clay, and therefore rightfully called ceramic.
What is the peculiarity of the material?
Everyone knows that ceramics are cold material. How did it happen that the thermal conductivity coefficient of a ceramic block is almost equal to that of cellular structural concrete?
- The thing is that its structure is also maximally saturated with air - and not only due to the cracks in the body of the block, but also large quantity pores in the ceramics itself.
- To achieve a porous structure, sawdust is added to the clay during the production process. When fired, they burn out, leaving air cavities in their place. That is why such ceramics are called porous.
- However, not all ceramic products have such heat preservation abilities. In one of the photos presented above, you can clearly see the stages of evolution that wall ceramics have gone through from simple solid bricks to the so-called super-porous thermoblock.
- In the process of improving technology, solid brick first became slotted, then its format increased to 2.1NF, which corresponds to double size(with standard length and width, height 138 mm).
- On next stage appeared large format block– including the maximum format 14.5NF with dimensions 510*253*219 mm, which at first was simply slotted.
- Porosization with the help of sawdust began to be used only later - they created that very warm ceramics, the thermal conductivity of which was reduced first to 0.12, and then, due to superporization, to 0.107 W/m*C.
Note: The thermal conductivity of the superporous block is equal to that of expanded clay and foam glass - and they are known to be full-fledged thermal insulation materials. In terms of thermal engineering, such walls are not inferior to wood, but at the same time they are much stronger and will last longer.
As for the strength of blocks made of porous ceramics, which skeptics doubt, nodding at the relative fragility of the material, we will always have something to answer them.
Opinion: Glass is also a fragile material, but not only internal partitions and stairs are made from it, but they also manage to completely glaze the facades of houses. Ceramic, like glass, does not like impact, but can be drilled perfectly - despite the thin partitions inside the blocks. And if you don’t hit the walls of the house with a sledgehammer, they certainly won’t be in any danger.
What to choose for construction
Today, all of the above types of wall ceramics are on sale, including finishing ones. Which ones to buy for building a house, you need to be guided by local climatic conditions. It is on them that the thickness of the walls depends, as well as the need for their insulation.
- Manufacturers mainly offer three full-size formats and one or two additional ones. You can see the dimensions in the table above.
- They are standardized, and if they vary between different manufacturers, then only slightly. For example, one brand has a block length of 375 mm, while another has 380 mm. By the way, this size (380*250*219 mm) is the only one with which walls need to be insulated.
- Larger stones, 440 or 510 mm long, in additional insulation dont need. Such walls are simply lined with decorative bricks closely during the laying process, without a ventilation gap.
... turns into two additional ones
- For ease of masonry, when you need to get, for example, the distance from a corner to an opening, you often need half a block, since a whole stone does not fit. However, this is not a solid brick, and if you try to cut it, it can simply be damaged.
- The additions are made like this: in appearance they appear as a solid stone of full size, but along its axis it is visually divided into two halves, which are fastened to each other by thin ceramic bridges.
- It is enough for the mason to lightly hit them with a pick, and the block itself will split into two parts, the side edges of which are also equipped with grooves and ridges, like full-fledged blocks.
- To eliminate cold bridges, masonry is carried out not with ordinary mortar, but with heat-insulating mixtures, the filler for which is not quartz, but perlite sand.
- They are sold in bags of 17-25 kg and are simply diluted with water before use. Facing brick put on regular cement-sand mortar.
Also, for the convenience of installing jumpers, you can purchase U-shaped blocks, which are shown in the picture above.
The main nuances of constructing walls with cladding
The thickness of the walls of the house is calculated based on what building materials are chosen for it. If this is a block measuring 380*250*219 mm, which, as already mentioned, must be insulated, then the total thickness of the pie for an area with an average winter temperature of -32 degrees will be about 640 mm.
Of them:
- 380 mm porous block brand M100;
- 100 mm insulation (2 layers of 50 mm each);
- 40 mm ventilated gap;
- 120 mm facing brick.
Note: The gap inside the wall pie is in this case necessary for ventilation of the insulation. Its presence will not only save the walls from freezing in winter, but will also prevent them from overheating in summer. That is why insulated ventilated facades are the most the best option for residential buildings.
In order for the air to internal space multilayer wall did not stagnate, and it could be ventilated; air was left in the brickwork. These are either quarter-brick windows at the bottom of the wall, or vertical seams unfilled with mortar (every fifth). To prevent insects or rodents from getting into the vents, they are covered with a plastic mesh.
When masonry of ceramic blocks is carried out without insulation - that is, if the brick fits tightly to the ceramic block, they are used to bind them steel mesh. To connect them at a distance (if there is insulation and a ventilation gap), use fiberglass rods with sand tips, which are embedded in the masonry joints.
By the way, in ceramic block masonry there are only horizontal seams - the vertical edges of the stones are connected through the tight interlocking of the groove and the ridge.
Many people face the problem of heat loss in their home. During construction it is necessary to pay Special attention To eliminate this problem, heat loss occurs not only through walls, but also through windows, roof, basement
First of all, you should decide on the material for construction, and then select the appropriate correct design to conserve heat in accordance with energy saving standards.
The question often arises when using hollow porous ceramic blocks - is it necessary to insulate the walls when using such blocks? To get the correct answer, you should find out how wide the blocks are and how they were built.
During construction, hollow walls are divided into two types: single-layer (consisting of the same blocks) and multi-layer. The latter, in turn, are divided into two-layer (block and insulation) and three-layer (block, insulation and facing brick). For the construction of single-layer walls, blocks with a width of 38, 44, 50 cm are most often used. Regarding insulation, we can say that it is not advisable to insulate such walls, since the material has a sufficient coefficient of resistance to heat transfer. Of course, if the construction is not of the economy class, and the climate zone is not favorable, then why not insulate it.
Sometimes walls of ceramic porous blocks 25 and 30 cm wide are erected. This mainly happens when construction works are already underway, and wall material not yet selected. It is better to insulate walls made of ceramic blocks with slabs of mineral wool, which have good vapor permeability. The insulation is attached to the wall with glue or dowels so that it fits tightly to the wall surface. Further decoration of the walls is done at your discretion, for example, external decorative plaster, clinker bricks, siding, wood. As for the thickness of the insulation, for a block 25 cm wide it is 100 mm, for a block 30 cm wide it is 60 mm.
Another important point What needs to be taken into account when insulating a house is the use of “light” (“warm”) masonry mortar when laying blocks. This solution also contains cement, which acts as a binder. As thermal insulation material– the filler used is perlite or expanded clay sand. If you replace the cement-sand mortar with a “light” one, the thermal characteristics of the wall will improve by 17% due to the large difference in the thermal conductivity of these solutions. “Light” masonry mortars include dry hydrophobized mortar, consisting of mineral binders and mineral fillers, including perlite. When mixed with water, it forms a homogeneous gray mass. This solution is intended for laying and joining walls made of blocks with high thermal insulation properties. It is recommended to apply masonry mortar to the ceramic block in a layer 8 to 15 mm thick.
Walls made of ceramic blocks have increased heat-saving properties. Are they sufficient? - or is it more expedient, more economical, to add another layer of insulation... If you need to insulate porous ceramics, then what is the best way to do this?
How warm are porous ceramic walls?
The thermal conductivity coefficient of porous ceramic blocks at operating humidity is approximately 0.16–0.18 W/mC. Typical Width warm walls 380 mm (length of one block), 440 mm or 510 mm. The base can be recessed, but the overhanging part of the porous ceramics cannot be more than 20% of the width, and 30% with special. strengthening measures provided for in the project. Thus, the heat transfer resistance of a 51 cm wall, excluding seams, will be about 3.0 m2K/W. This almost meets the standard requirements for the cold-temperate climate zone.
But you need to take into account that a 51 cm wall is expensive and its feasibility in terms of heat conservation compared to 440 mm has not been proven. Those. we insulate too much expensive material– porous ceramics. Walls with a thickness of 440 mm remain feasible in the temperate zone, although they are not sufficient in terms of thermal insulation if the standards are strictly followed. And in southern regions and in the south of Ukraine 380 mm is also acceptable.
The lack of resistance to heat transfer of walls is compensated by increased thermal insulation measures of the attic-roof complex and floors, as well as windows and doors, so the buildings generally meet...
But this is “no seams”. And taking into account heat leaks through the seams between the blocks, as well as through heavy elements within the walls...
Design options, single-layer and double-layer walls
When deciding on wall insulation, you need to take into account the advantages of single-layer walls compared to two-layer ones - load-bearing layer + insulation.
- The service life of ceramics, and therefore a single-layer wall, is at least 100 years. Some manufacturers give a maximum of 50 years for mineral wool insulation, more often 35 - a two-layer wall needs to be repaired.
- In a two-layer wall, during construction or operation, violations are possible, in which moisture accumulates inside the structure; with a single layer, this is almost impossible.
- It is easier to break a two-layer wall with loss of thermal insulation - soak the insulating layer. With one layer of ceramics this is impossible.
- The construction of a two-layer wall is more expensive and takes longer; specialists in the use of insulation are required.
Therefore, insulation with porous ceramics when increasing the thickness from 25–32 cm to 38 cm is a cost-effective solution.
In terms of strength indicators, a width of 250 - 300 mm is usually sufficient for these walls, according to the projects.
The role of seams in a wall made of ceramic blocks, how to insulate local areas
Ceramic blocks can be ground, precise, with height errors of up to 1 mm. They can be laid on a thin (1 - 3 mm) layer of glue. Vertical seams are not filled. Then the seams have virtually no effect on the heat transfer resistance of the entire wall.
Another option is to lay imprecise blocks on a heat-saving lightweight mortar. In this case, too, no special changes can be expected.
But, if, instead of a lightweight one, a regular heavy mortar is used in horizontal joints with a thickness of more than 10 mm, then the heat transfer resistance of a typical 51 cm wall will decrease from approximately 3.1 to 2.4 m2K/W, which is not acceptable.
All inclusions in the wall of heavy structures - beams above openings, joints with ceilings, the Mauerlat area - are insulated from the outside with a layer of mineral wool 5 - 10 cm thick, which is covered with an insert made from trimming blocks.
Vertical seams are filled only between edged additional blocks. The projects provide for a whole number of blocks in the masonry, the number of edged ones is reduced to a minimum.
What type of block wall decoration
Walls with unfilled vertical joints will be too breathable, so they must be plastered inside and out. On the inside, only heavy plasters with a minimum of vapor permeability are used, possibly cement-based, in a layer of 1 cm.
On the outside, only lightweight, vapor-permeable plaster should be used. It is possible to use insulating plaster in a layer of 2–3 cm, followed by covering with thin façade vapor-permeable putty.
Another finishing option is lining with porous facade bricks, if the width of the plinth allows, increasing the total wall thickness to 52 cm, for example...
Another option is rough lightweight plaster and canopy panels - creating a ventilated facade...
Options for insulating walls made of ceramic blocks
But in cold regions, the thermal insulation qualities of walls 38–51 cm are clearly insufficient; it is more profitable to build a narrow load-bearing frame and use effective insulation. Then the special meaning of using porous ceramics is completely lost - its heat-saving properties are covered by a much cheaper thin layer effective insulation, which still applies...
If there is still a need to insulate such a wall, then this should be done with materials with high vapor permeability. – mineral wool, ecowool, aerated concrete of the lowest density. On such a wall, which can easily accumulate moisture inside, it is better to make insulation using a ventilated facade system, in which the drainage of the base is most effective.
Large format ceramic blocks are gaining popularity. They are distinguished by high reliability and durability, the ability to build in temperate climate and to the south a wall 38–51 cm thick in one layer. A single-layer wall is reliable, durable and economical. The wall is plastered or covered with brick, increasing its heat-saving properties. The blocks are placed across the wall (the length of the block determines the width of the wall), they are joined together by a relief tongue-and-groove surface of the sidewalls.
How to lay large-format blocks
The block is pressed against the already installed one, then lowered vertically down onto the solution, after which it is leveled by tapping with a mallet and its position is checked with a level. Vertical joints between blocks with a tongue-and-groove side surface are not filled with mortar. But for additional blocks with a smooth side surface and for bricks, filling the vertical seam is mandatory.
It's better to take advantage finished project under a house made of ceramic blocks. In it, all dimensions are set for an integer number of blocks, so the number of different small elements with filling of vertical seams between them is reduced to a minimum. This simplifies construction and makes the wall warmer.
It is recommended to use a heat-saving solution, with which the heat transfer resistance of the finished masonry made of ceramic blocks increases by 17 - 20% compared to conventional cement mortar. Its use makes it possible to build walls from ceramic blocks in temperate climates. The heat transfer resistance of 51 cm thick masonry made from modern ceramic blocks with warm mortar reaches 3.15 m2*K/W, which meets the heat saving requirements for the Moscow region.
Sanded blocks of increased manufacturing precision (1 mm error in vertical dimension) are placed on thin layer glue for blocks or special adhesive foam. At the same time, the thermal insulation of the wall increases in the same way as in the case of using a heat-saving solution.
Wall chipping
In external and internal load-bearing walls ah, grooves are made for laying communications. The grooves should not reduce the strength of the wall below acceptable values. The depth of horizontal and vertical grooves crossing the wall over its entire length (height) should not be more than 3 cm. Vertical short grooves located in the lower third of the wall can be made up to 8 cm deep.
It is unacceptable to make long grooves great depth in load-bearing walls, for example, for laying pipelines, without confirmation by strength calculations.
Grooves made of porous ceramics in external walls are sealed with heat-saving mortar.
Foundation for a wall made of blocks
Walls made of ceramic blocks should be erected on a strip reinforced concrete foundation, which is designed for minimal movements acceptable for fragile ceramics. Its design and layout are determined by the project and confirmed by calculations. For example,
Since the width of walls made of porous ceramics is significant, usually 44 - 65 cm (including brick lining), in order to save money, the base is usually made narrower. Its width can be 20% less than that of the wall, and when confirmed by strength calculations in the project - up to 30%.
For normal protection of a wall made of porous ceramics from splashes and snow, the elevation of the base above the blind area should be at least 30 cm.
The surface of the base is carefully leveled horizontally and covered with two layers of rolled waterproofing.
The first row of ceramic blocks is placed on a thick leveling layer of mortar, the position of the blocks of the first row is carefully checked horizontally and vertically.
How to build a house from large-format blocks, watch the video:
Connections, openings
Walls made of porous ceramics can be supported interfloor ceilings. Weight of floors, span sizes, maximum loads and the design of the junction points is determined by the project.
The floors must rest on a reinforced concrete solid frame, constructed at floor level as a solid structure. It evenly redistributes the load on all load-bearing walls, external and internal.
Reinforced concrete frame with outside The walls are covered with additional blocks made of porous ceramics and a layer of mineral wool insulation.
The prefabricated floor beams rest on a reinforced concrete frame on top, and its height must be at least 10 cm and its width at least 15 cm.
For wooden lungs instead of a reinforced concrete belt, you can lay the floors with solid ceramic bricks in at least 3 rows.
Above the door and window openings special reinforced concrete lintels (crossbars) are installed for wide walls. It's better to take advantage finished product, but jumpers for non-standard openings can be done in formwork. Reinforced concrete lintels above the windows are fenced from the outside with a heat-insulating layer at least 100 mm thick.
Window and door frames are installed in the middle part of the masonry along its thickness or closer to the internal warm zone, this reduces heat loss through window openings, as well as the likelihood of dew falling on the glass.
Roof
The junction of the roof to the walls made of ceramic blocks necessarily includes a reinforced concrete frame above all load-bearing walls. A Mauerlat is attached to this belt, the loads from which are evenly redistributed through the frame over all load-bearing walls. The dimensions of the reinforced concrete belt will depend on the dimensions of other elements of the house and are determined by the project.
From the street side, the reinforced concrete frame is fenced with additional blocks and a layer of insulation.
Joining load-bearing walls
Load-bearing walls are located on the foundation and absorb loads from overlying floors, floors, and roofs. All load-bearing walls, both internal and external, are tied together with masonry.
All load-bearing walls are erected simultaneously on the foundation.
To tie up the load-bearing walls, the blocks of the inner wall are inserted into the masonry of the outer wall to a depth of 10 - 20 cm. The end of the inserted blocks from the street side is covered with an additional block and a layer of insulation 10 cm thick. This insertion is done through a row of masonry. Blocks of other rows are adjacent to external wall without winding.
Partitions in a house made of ceramics and internal heat capacity
Internal partitions usually rest on concrete bases floors on the ground, or on solid floors, or on auxiliary foundations. In some projects, heavy brick partitions are built reinforced concrete beams, resting on the foundation (basement).
A gap of 2-3 cm is always left between the ceiling and the partition so that pressure is not exerted on the partition from above. This gap is filled with insulation.
Internal partitions are fixed to external and internal load-bearing walls using anchor plates made of of stainless steel(galvanized). The plates are inserted into the masonry of load-bearing walls at the junction of the partitions in an amount of at least 3 pieces. distributed by height.
In houses with external walls made of porous ceramics interior walls and partitions are recommended to be made of heavier materials to increase heat capacity and sound insulation between rooms. Internal partition half a brick thick from a solid ceramic bricks As a rule, it has sufficient sound insulation.
Also, to increase the internal heat capacity, it is recommended to make a heavy heated floor screed (warm floor).
The thickness of the partitions between living rooms Usually they choose half a brick, and for cold non-residential premises - 25 cm of porous ceramics. If increased sound insulation is required, then the partition is covered with dense mineral wool and plasterboard, or double masonry is made in half a brick with a gap of 50 mm, which is filled with mineral wool.
Read about the construction of a solid brick partition
Plaster, wall decoration from ceramic blocks
From the inside of the room, masonry made of porous ceramics is leveled with gypsum or cement-sand mortar.
If in a masonry made of ceramic blocks the vertical joints between the blocks are not filled with mortar, then it must be plastered on both sides.
The outside of such a wall is plastered with waterproof cement-based mixtures. It is popular to finish a wall made of ceramic blocks using facade bricks, without leaving a gap between the blocks and the brickwork. Thus, in addition to facade finishing, increase the thickness of the wall and increase thermal insulation, the most durable materials are used.
Insulation
In areas colder than the Moscow region, masonry made of large-format ceramic blocks with warm mortar requires additional insulation. The thickness of the insulation layer in cold areas is selected in accordance with the calculation. At the same time, in order to save money, the load-bearing wall itself is made thinner - 25 cm. The insulation layer should be more vapor-permeable than the masonry itself, therefore, to insulate ceramic blocks, high-strength rigid mineral wool slabs are often used, glued to the masonry and plastered with a layer with high vapor permeability.
IN Lately Instead of mineral wool, more durable low-density aerated concrete is increasingly used - 100 -200 kg m3. Now it already meets the requirements for strength and thermal insulation.
It is also possible to use a complete vapor barrier - foam glass, which is exceptionally durable, although it poses the risk of the wall becoming wet during cold periods, since it is not always possible to completely stop the movement of steam through the wall to the outside...
A house made of ceramic blocks can be built quite easily and quickly and, moreover, it has excellent thermal insulation qualities and is quite durable and environmentally friendly. The walls of such a house, one ceramic block thick, have thermal insulation properties that are not inferior to a brick house if it had walls - about 1 m! You can learn about the masonry features of such a house from this article.
Features, advantages and disadvantages of a house made of ceramic blocks
A house made from ceramic blocks or porous ceramics is built three times faster than from ordinary bricks. The walls of a house built from blocks of this type breathe naturally - large cracks and micropores improve the diffusion properties of ceramics.
A house made of this material, in addition, allows you to reduce the load that the walls have on the foundation of the house, since the specific gravity of ceramic block masonry is half that of brick. Due to the large format of the blocks, the consumption of mortar when building a house from it is three to four times less than with brickwork, while three to four times less time is spent on laying 1 m2 of wall.
The cost of porous ceramics is comparable to the cost of aerated concrete, while ceramic blocks have several times lower water absorption than aerated concrete, and load bearing capacity and their frost resistance is much higher. This determines the greater durability of a house built from such blocks compared, for example, to a house made of aerated concrete.
When building a house from this material, it is possible to combine them with other building materials. For example, on the first floor the walls are built from ceramic blocks, and on the second - from gas blocks or other material. In this case, it is desirable that the strength grade of the material on the first floor be greater than or equal to the strength grade of the wall infill on the second floor.
But it is undesirable to mix other ceramic blocks in the same masonry. Construction Materials, because different types materials differ in strength, thermal insulation properties and water absorption, which can negatively affect the strength and durability of the wall itself.
Convenient material for building a house
Ceramic blocks are very comfortable material for laying walls. Ease of installation is initially inherent in the shape of the product and its production technology.
Firstly, such blocks are porous ceramics and are made on the equipment of European manufacturers, where the manufacturing process is controlled by a computer, the human factor is practically eliminated, so the finished ceramic blocks have precise geometric dimensions.
Secondly, they have a tongue-and-groove vertical joining system. On those faces of the block that are inside during laying, there are longitudinal ridges and grooves of a trapezoidal profile - their number is from two to eight, depending on the size of the block.
When building a house from such blocks, the tongues and grooves fit tightly into the wall, without the need for additional fastening with mortar. The absence of mortar in vertical joints does not in any way affect the thermal conductivity of walls made of porous ceramics, which is confirmed both during multiple tests and during the operation of already built houses.
For the convenience of plastering the walls of a house made of ceramic blocks, the edges of the blocks that form outer surface, have shallow longitudinal grooves.
Types of blocks
Ceramic blocks of various sizes are used to build houses, but their height is always a multiple of the height brickwork, which allows you to adapt projects brick houses to this relatively new building material.
The width of porous ceramic blocks is usually 230-250 mm, and the length is 250-510 mm. It is the length of the blocks that determines the width of the wall, since they are laid with the long side across the wall.
For load-bearing walls, ceramic blocks with a length of 300 - 510 mm are used, and for internal load-bearing walls and partitions, blocks with a length of 250 mm are used.
Small ceramic blocks with a length of 80 - 110 mm are also produced, which are used for the device interior partitions, cladding monolithic belts and as additional elements.
.There are also half-section and corner blocks.
Masonry solutions
When building a house, for laying blocks of porous ceramics, it is advisable to use not an ordinary cement-sand mortar, but a “warm” or light composition. The binder in it is usually cement, and the filler can be pumice, perlite or expanded clay sand. Warm masonry mortar used for the construction of external walls, and for internal walls and partitions you can use ordinary mortar.
The solution is prepared directly at the construction site. When using ready-made dry mixtures, simply add water and stir.
The thermal conductivity of a warm solution is several times less than that of a conventional solution, so such a wall turns out to be thermally homogeneous. This makes a house built from ceramic block more energy efficient and durable.
The thermal conductivity of walls made of porous ceramics is affected not only by the composition of the solution, but also by its consistency and method of application. The solution, whether warm or ordinary, cement-sand, should not be liquid and should not fall into the pores of the block and fill them. It should be quite thick, but also, at the same time, plastic.
Laying on adhesive perlite mortar made of ready-made mixtures prevents errors in its preparation, since the instructions on the bags always indicate required amount water to obtain a high-quality solution.
The thickness of the seam should not be more than 10 mm. In this case thermal insulation properties walls are raised by 15-18%.
Parameters of a single-layer wall made of porous blocks in comparison with an insulated brick wall.
Adhesive masonry
Interesting option mortar for ceramic blocks is used in Germany. Using special equipment, their specialists evenly apply a special adhesive composition, thickness 3-4 mm. The glue lies in the form of a dense tape, covering the entire upper edge, but does not fall into the voids. Such a seam on finished wall practically invisible.
Laying ceramic blocks on polyurethane foam
In Poland, polyurethane foam is often used instead of mortar. Using a dispenser, it is applied in two strips about 5-7 cm wide, retreating 40 mm from the edges of the wall.
After applying the mounting foam, the ceramic block is tightly installed in the grooves of the previous ceramic block and, using a rubber “mallet,” is seated on the applied foam strips until it stops.
After setting, the polyurethane foam forms a thin, durable and warm seam.
With this method of laying, it is necessary to ensure that the mounting foam does not fall on the outer surface of the blocks. If this happens for any reason, uncured foam can be immediately removed using a solvent for nitro paints or acetone.
DIY masonry
Before starting to lay blocks concrete screed the base is provided with reliable horizontal waterproofing. The solution is applied in an even layer, without voids, over the entire thickness of the wall.
Masonry begins from the corners, using whole blocks and controlling the horizontality of the masonry.
Masonry mortar is used only in horizontal joints. The vertical edges are joined “dry” using the tongue and groove system. Laying ceramic blocks is carried out using a special rubber mallet. With its help, each block fits tightly to the neighboring one.
During breaks in the wall construction process, the upper rows of masonry must be covered to prevent precipitation from getting inside the blocks.
If the masonry is carried out using mortars or adhesive mixtures that are diluted with water, then it is advisable to build a house from ceramic block at an air temperature of at least +5 o C. Masonry on polyurethane foam can be produced at lower temperatures.
Wall design options
A house made of ceramic blocks can have a single-layer wall structure, or two- and three-layer ones.
A single-layer wall consists of only ceramic blocks with exterior decoration, for which vapor-permeable “warm” (with perlite additives) or ordinary improved plaster is used.
A two-layer wall is obtained when insulating the walls of a house various insulation materials. In this case, the first layer is a ceramic block, the second insulation with applied facade plaster. Bonded thermal insulation systems can be used as insulation. In this case, the second layer is multi-component: glue mixture, insulation, waterproofing mixture, reinforced mesh, a layer of glue and finishing plaster.
Also, the wall turns out to be two-layer when facing ceramic, clinker or other types of bricks are used as cladding.
Three-layer walls of houses made of ceramic blocks are arranged with rigid or bulk insulation, placing it between load-bearing wall made of porous blocks and lined outer wall(usually made of facing or clinker bricks).
Is insulation necessary for walls made of porous ceramics?
The need to insulate external walls made from these blocks depends primarily on their thickness.
Walls built from blocks 300 mm thick or less must be insulated. The thickness of the insulation is calculated when calculating the house design and depends on the temperature zone of construction.
The insulation must have a vapor permeability no less than that of ceramic blocks, otherwise moisture may accumulate in the wall.
Options for insulating walls made of ceramic blocks 250 mm thick
