Despite the fact that ceramic blocks in the field of housing construction have appeared recently, during their existence they managed to acquire the status of a high-tech and promising material. Products have low thermal conductivity, which is ensured by their hollowness. Such constructions were given the name "warm ceramics". However, like all wall materials, such products require laying on the mortar. As a last resort, it is better to use a special warm mixture.
The main features of the warm composition for masonry and its composition
Due to the fact that ceramic blocks act as a heat-saving material, when laying them, a warm mortar must be used to obtain a wall with low thermal conductivity. Porous aggregates act as a mandatory additive to the ingredients, among them:
- perlite;
- pumice;
- vermiculite.
As for the main ingredients, among them should be highlighted:
- portland cement;
- polymer additives;
- porous fillers.
Cement acts as a binder, but polymer additives are necessary to accelerate the hardening of the mixture and increase its plasticity, water resistance and frost resistance. Warm solutions have a fairly wide range of uses.
In addition to the composition for laying ceramic blocks, the mortar is used in the construction of houses from large-format products based on cellular concrete and aerated concrete blocks. By using the described mortar, you will make the advantages of the wall materials mentioned above more pronounced.
Good Features
If the masonry is done with high quality, then cold bridges will be excluded, which will increase the resistance to the heat transfer process by 30%. Lightweight fillers reduce the pressure exerted by the materials at the base of the walls on the foundation. Savings can also be achieved by reducing the volume of mortar during masonry. It has excellent water retention characteristics, so it can be used in fine stitch technology.
Warm mortar can be laid in joints that have high thermal conductivity, which reduces heat flows through the masonry to the outside. In addition, the described composition is also vapor-permeable, so ideal humidity conditions for a person will be maintained in the house. Condensation will not form on the walls. All this eliminates the appearance of mold cultures and fungus on the surfaces.
If the walls were built with warm mortar, then the owners have a great opportunitysave on home heating and maintenance. The consumption of the composition in the case of using ceramic blocks is reduced by 1.75 times compared to a conventional cement-sand mixture. This is due to the slight density of the first.
Cooking tips
The commonly described mortar is used when laying exterior walls. But in the case of internal walls, an analog is used in the form of a sand-cement mixture. Warm masonry mortar can be prepared manually or with a concrete mixer if the volume is impressive. In this case, the relevant equipment is rented, which allows you to increase the speed of work.
The building mix can be made from a ready-made dry composition, you only need to add water to it and mix well. If you purchased a standard 35 kg bag, then you will be able to get 1 liter of the finished mixture from it. When the ingredients are planned to be purchased separately, the dry ingredients should be mixed first, to which water is then added.
Expert Tips
Warm mortar for ceramic blocks must be prepared in a certain proportion. It involves the use of 1 part of cement and 5 parts of expanded clay or perlite sand. But if you use a dry mix, then 4 parts will need part of the water. Water must be taken from the water supply, because mineral impurities in it must be absent. These can sometimes be found in pond water. liquid with suchcomposition may adversely affect the balance of the ingredients of the solution.
Warm mortar for ceramic blocks should have a medium consistency. If the solution turns out to be extremely liquid, then it will fill the voids of the products, which will reduce their thermal insulation characteristics. Before use, the composition must be left for 5 minutes, during which time the corresponding chemical processes will occur. If the mortar becomes very thick, it will lose its ability to securely fasten, and the ceramic blocks will absorb a lot of moisture, while the mortar will dry out before it has time to gain strength.
Speaking of the above, it can be noted: having prepared a liquid solution, you will encounter an increase in its consumption, while losses will also increase due to the presence of voids in the blocks. When craftsmen use pre-mixed mixes, this allows them to eliminate the need to moisten the products, because the solution has the ability to retain moisture for a long time.
Conditions for preparing the solution
You now know the proportions of the warm mortar, but it is also important to know when it is better to lay ceramic blocks. The best time for this is a warm time, because lower temperatures can cause the mortar to set prematurely. Ultimately, this will contribute to a decrease in the quality of the masonry. If work is carried out at temperatures below -5 ° C, then antifreeze additives should be added to the solution, however, masonry may not turn out sodurable.
Additional information about ingredients
Due to the fact that perlite acts as one of the common binders in thermal insulation materials, the preparation of the mixture may be accompanied by its replacement with sand. However, experts say that it is not worth mixing such a mixture in a concrete mixer for too long, because perlite will begin to granulate and form into dense lumps.
In order to get a homogeneous mass as a result, mixing must be stopped. If you are laying the walls of a private house, then you can add color to the solution, this will increase the decorativeness of the masonry, and this ingredient will not have a negative effect.
Features and composition of the mortar for screed
If you want to use a solution for floor heating screed, which would have the properties of the composition described above, then you can use a mixture of "PERLITKA ST1". It is an environmentally friendly, frost-resistant, non-combustible material that eliminates the appearance of ants, cockroaches and rodents.
Composition perfectly adheres to different types of mineral surfaces. If you have to carry out work of a large volume, then with the help of this mixture it is possible to reduce the load on the foundation. The composition has excellent sound and heat insulation qualities. Application requires no special skills.
Such a solution for a warm water floor has among the ingredients:
- perlite sand;
- cement;
- fiber;
- modifying additives.
The bulk density of the material is 420 kg/m³. The compressive strength is 20 kg/cm². The shelf life of the solution after its preparation reaches 1 hour. Material consumption per square meter is equivalent to 4.2 kg. The thermal conductivity of the solution is not more than 0.11 W/m°K. Adhesion is 0.65 MPa, this value, however, may be higher. The moisture-holding capacity of the mixture is 96%. The composition can be applied at a temperature not lower than +0 °C.
Recommendations for the use of "PERLITKA ST1"
The solution described above should be applied to a previously prepared surface. The substrate must be dry and sound and free from oils, dirt, dust, paint and wax residues. Exfoliated layers are removed. If the surface absorbs moisture well, then it must be treated with a primer emulsion and kept for 4 hours.
The solution is prepared by pouring the composition into a container and pouring clean water at room temperature. For 1 kg of the mixture, approximately 0.85 liters of liquid will be needed. The composition is mixed with a mixer until it is possible to achieve a homogeneous consistency without clots and lumps. The solution is kept for 5 minutes, and then mixed again. It can then be used for styling.
Conclusion
Some believe that using a high insulating mortar is a waste of money when a regular cement-sand mixture can be used. However, experts do not recommend compromising and not looking for mixtures among cheap analogues.
If you want to achieve savings when using a traditional mortar, then it must be made thicker, and the ceramic blocks should be soaked in water before laying. Only this approach allows you to get a reliable and strong wall. At the same time, the consumption will decrease, and the amount of moisture that is absorbed by the ceramic blocks will also become smaller.