Construction has always been an integral part of human life. We all want to have a beautiful and secure home. But without certain knowledge and skills, we will never be able to comprehend the art of construction. It is known that skills without knowledge are nothing. Therefore, in this article we will talk about houses made of silicate bricks. An important point in the article is a description of the advantages and disadvantages of bricks.
General information
A sand-lime brick house is one of the most practical and economical building options. Practical, because silicate brick has good technical characteristics, namely: soundproofing qualities, long service life, a wide choice of colors. And this is despite its low cost, since it costs about 25% cheaper than ordinary bricks.
Silicate brick has been used in construction for more than a decade. Its assortment is constantly expanding - new brands of bricks and masonry appear. When building houses fromsilicate brick, it is necessary to comply with certain technical conditions and technologies, however, the reliability and durability of such a house more than compensates for all the efforts expended. Next, let's talk in detail about the silicate brick.
Description of sand-lime brick
Silicate brick consists of 90% quartz sand, and the remaining 10% is lime and other additives. In order for the mixture to take the form of a brick, it must be pressed and subjected to steam at an average temperature of 185 °. A brick made in accordance with all requirements must be without chips on the edges. The size of white silicate brick, like the standard red one, is 250 x 120 x 65 mm. Full-bodied, it weighs about 4.9 kg, and hollow - 4 kg. Hollow bricks are called with voids (through and non-through).
Scope of application
Scope of silicate bricks is extensive. It is used for the construction of various buildings. Soundproof properties allow it to be used in the construction of partitions. Often used in facade cladding. It is forbidden to use it in the construction of the basement of the building and when pouring the foundation. It is also strictly forbidden to use silicate brick in the construction of baths, fireplaces and laundries. Silicate brick is not intended for buildings with high temperature conditions, as it can explode and burst under such conditions. It also strongly absorbs moisture, which is why it is not recommended to build walls of a house made of silicate bricks in rooms with high humidity (for example,in the bathrooms).
Production Features
For the manufacture of silicate bricks, special equipment is needed, so it is almost impossible to fake such material. Nowadays, various plasticizers and other elements can be added to its composition, which will increase the moisture resistance of the brick, as well as increase its strength.
Production technology includes the following processes:
- Preparation of a mixture of sand, limestone, water and various additives.
- Pressing and molding. The blanks retain their proportions, as they are left in the forms until the final stage.
- Autoclaving. This process involves the so-called "steaming". Its temperature reaches 100°.
- Blanks are ready for sale.
Advantages of sand-lime brick
Before talking about the disadvantages of a sand-lime brick house, it is necessary to describe its advantages:
- Strength and density. This is the material, the strength of which only grows over the years. Solid silicate brick will perfectly cope with heavy loads.
- Soundproofing. Due to good sound insulation, many experts recommend lining the walls of the house with silicate brick so that the noise of the outside world does not reach the living quarters. And this advantage is important in the construction of residential buildings, since the comfort of residents is a priority factor.
- Appearance and a wide range of colors. It is silicate brick that will help to create a bright and beautiful facade. Has a smooth surface andalso smooth edges.
- Price. The cost is lower compared to conventional brick. Cheap raw materials and low cost - these factors make sand-lime brick a profitable material.
- Protection against the formation of fungus and mold. White sand-lime brick is known to contain lime, and lime is the best material for protection against various types of mold.
- Construction technology. The standard size of white sand-lime brick makes it easy to work with this building material.
Flaws
- Low water resistance. Silicate bricks must not be used in the construction of rooms with high humidity (for example, in bathrooms or baths). This type of brick absorbs moisture well, and this is a significant drawback when building a house from silicate brick. Therefore, it is not suitable for the foundation and plinth.
- Slight heat resistance. And you should not think about building chimneys, stoves and other house structures from silicate bricks, which will be exposed to high temperatures during operation.
- Low frost resistance. Moisture accumulation entails the destruction of the brick structure during thawing.
Silicate brick for building a house is gaining popularity every year. Knowing its advantages and disadvantages, it is possible to use silicate bricks in construction with benefit.
Marking
Mistakes are unacceptable in construction, so you need to know exactly how much silicate brick is needed per house. ATmarking will help us with this. Average density, brand and frost resistance - these parameters determine the key physical properties of the brick. The cost per unit of silicate brick is determined precisely by these parameters. Let's describe each of them in more detail:
- Mark (M). A parameter that can be used to determine the compressive strength of a brick. For example, for the construction of buildings with two floors, silicate brick M100 is used, and M175 is used for industrial buildings.
- Medium density. This parameter affects the mass of the brick and the coefficient of thermal conductivity. Hollow will conduct heat better. Hollow (light) silicate bricks, which include expanded clay sand, have a density of 1450 kg / m3 to 1650 kg / m3, and the density of full-bodied reaches 1650 kg / m3 and higher.
- Frostproof (F). A parameter that characterizes the number of freeze-thaws. This indicator should not be lower than F25 when it comes to facing bricks.
Stages and construction technology
Creating a sand-lime brick home project is the first step to start building. The construction plan, the amount of materials, design, location of the facility, project documentation - all these nuances are negotiated by the customer with the construction company. The requirements for the foundation of a house made of silicate bricks are low. After its erection, they begin to build walls of silicate bricks. This is something worth talking about in more detail.
Technologically, laying walls is simple evenfor beginners in the construction industry. Patience, attentiveness and diligence - that's what you need in any job. For the construction of walls, a cement-sand mortar (cement, water and sand) is required. You can apply and clay composition. Due to the increased mass of the blocks, it is necessary to make the solution thick. The necessary tools in this craft are a trowel, a plumb line with a horizontal level and a hammer. The horizontal and vertical alignment must be checked for each row. Features of the technology of building walls of silicate bricks are as follows:
- You can combine the use of silicate and ceramic bricks. Silicate brick is used for the construction of load-bearing wall panels and partitions indoors, and ceramic brick is used for building cladding. The combination will significantly reduce the cost of construction, as well as increase the strength of the building. It is impossible to save on construction, so the materials must be of the highest quality.
- It is necessary to moisten the sand-lime brick before laying, because otherwise it can draw water out of the mortar. Durability guarantees laying by the "press" method. It is necessary to apply the mixture on the brick with a layer of 10 mm.
- The thickness of the wall is determined by the number of storeys of the object under construction and the requirements of insulation. One and a half bricks - standard masonry for low-rise buildings. A double layer is necessary in case of construction of multi-storey buildings. Laying can be done in two and a half bricks. In this case, it is better to apply better insulation.
- The strength of the building under construction will provide additional reinforcement. For this, in eachthe third row can be wired.
Warming the house from the outside
It is important to insulate the house of silicate bricks with high quality. In modern construction, there are many materials that will cope with this task. The external method used for cladding has many advantages:
- Finishing the building outside will not reduce the usable area inside the building.
- Silicate brick has reduced vapor permeability, thanks to which the insulation can be chosen from various materials, which cannot be said about other building materials.
If the construction site is located in a warm climate zone, then you can apply a light version of insulation. For a cold climate, a good insulation can block the low thermal conductivity of silicate brick. For reference: if you are bored with the appearance of the house, and there is no time and money to build a new one, then you can overlay the house with silicate brick.
Opinion of tenants
Different reviews of sand-lime brick houses are left by people. They note that the advantages include low cost, excellent sound insulation and a beautiful appearance of the home. And among the shortcomings, the residents of such houses point out that increased moisture and silicate brick are enemies. Also, people say that such a brick is severely destroyed under the influence of high temperatures.
Mostly people say that for indoor partitions, this material will be the ideal choice. But for underground wells and bathroomsit is better not to use it.
Conclusion
Summing up, we can say that with proper use, sand-lime brick will be a worthy choice for a construction site. Mostly professionals use it to build the walls of the house. Also, often the partitions inside the building are made of silicate bricks. However, it is not recommended to use it in the construction of rooms in which there is a high level of humidity. With proper maintenance, a sand-lime brick house will last for decades.
