Every year there is an increase in the popularity of such a technique as laying a cinder block. The material used belongs to the budget category, but at the same time it has decent technical properties, which makes it possible to build both auxiliary facilities and residential buildings. There is no need to hire a team of workers, as the installation process is quite simple, so you can save the family budget and try your hand at construction.
Description
The name of the material was given by the previously used basis for manufacturing - ash, slag and other products of combustion. But today, fillers such as sawdust, broken brick, expanded clay, crushed stone with a fine fraction are mainly used, due to the fact that slag-based blocks have insufficient strength and a significant degree of water absorption. It is also often practiced to build a house from a cinder block, which is madeon your own on your own. But its use is more rational for the creation of outbuildings due to the fact that materials for residential facilities have established environmental safety rules, which the cinder block does not comply with.
Production
Slag and cement are used to form products, followed by pressing and drying. They have gained wide distribution precisely due to the available technology and budget materials, in the end a cinder block is obtained, the price per piece of which becomes minimal.
The manufacturing process consists of three stages - mixing ingredients, filling in pre-prepared forms and curing. As noted above, the basis is combustion waste, water and a binder component. To increase the performance, crushed stone, expanded clay, gravel are added, they can also completely replace slag.
Cinder block, the price of which starts from 40 rubles per piece, should have standard dimensions, despite the wide range of characteristics that the fillers used add.
Classification
The material is divided into several types depending on the presence or absence of voids. Monolithic are blocks of solid construction that do not have internal empty spaces. They are distinguished by a high degree of strength, but at the same time insufficient thermal insulation properties and high weight. The most popular are products that have a void index within 30%. They have medium strengthand thermal performance.
With an increase in voidage up to 40%, an increase in heat capacity is noted with a simultaneous decrease in strength, compared with other types.
Cinder block masonry: advantages and disadvantages
The small price is the main advantage of the building material. It is also worth noting the possibility of independent production and installation technology, which everyone can handle. Despite this, there are a lot of negative sides. Blocks do not tolerate the influence of environmental factors - temperature changes and precipitation, have low strength and degree of sound insulation, insufficient resistance to frost.
As noted above, this material is not the best option for building a residential building due to low environmental properties. Before laying the cinder block with your own hands, you need to decide on the type of product, depending on the required characteristics.
What to look out for
Many are puzzled by the question of wall thickness. It is primarily influenced by the climatic conditions of the construction site and the purpose of the future building.
It is necessary to prepare tools in advance, among which there should be a device for mixing mortar, a circular saw, a hammer, a plumb line and a level. The materials will also require a mesh for reinforcement or metal rods, sand and cement.
The cinder block laying is similar to the installation of the usualbrick and most often performed in 2, 1, 5 and 1 block. When choosing a technique, it is worth remembering that the building becomes warmer with an increase in the thickness of wall structures, as this increases the thermal insulation characteristics. But at the same time, the foundation has more load and additional expenses appear. The optimal wall thickness for a building with one floor is 1 block.
Foundation
Establishing a quality base is the first step in creating a reliable masonry. As with any other construction, its choice depends on the depth of the groundwater and the general type of soil at the selected site. Reinforced concrete monolithic base is optimally suited for heaving complex soil.
A cinder block strip foundation is an excellent option for stable ground where groundwater is low. It is distinguished by the possibility of self-arrangement, without the use of expensive tools and the rental of special equipment. It should be borne in mind that the width of future walls should be slightly less than the width of the base. A composition of sand, cement and crushed stone can also be used for pouring.
Protection of the material from moisture is achieved by installing a waterproofing coating mounted on a concrete base after final solidification, roofing material can act as it.
Solution
You can make a mortar for laying a cinder block yourself or purchase a ready-made version in a specialized store. In view of the highthe cost of dry formulations, many prefer the first option. The basis of the masonry mass is sand and cement. By adding plasticizing compounds, it is possible to increase the resistance to frost and plasticity. The finished solution, when properly prepared, should have a viscous structure and a small degree of spreading during work.
Progress of work
Do-it-yourself cinder block laying, like other building materials, starts from the corners. Special care is required here, since the reliability of wall structures directly depends on the competent setting of all corners. First, a little mass is placed on them, which is leveled with a trowel. Next, two blocks are mounted in compliance with a right angle, then another one, while you need to remember about dressing the seams.
Similar actions occur with other angles. Do not forget to systematically check the vertical and horizontal level with a plumb line and a special measuring device.
When selecting any detail from the overall design, it is corrected by light tapping with a trowel. As a guideline for the installation of the main row, there is a cord stretched on nails that are driven into the seam between the lower and upper element. After the completion of the first row, the subsequent laying of the cinder block begins in compliance with the previous conditions.
Mounting joints should be as small as possible, as the room loses heat through them. The optimal size of the seams should not exceed 15 cm. At the same time, there is a tendency todecrease in strength with a width of less than 10 cm.
Masonry reinforcement improves its reliability and ensures uniform distribution of loads throughout the structure. For reinforcement, a reinforcing mesh or steel rods is used. This procedure is most important for the first row.
