Due to the upward trend in utility bills in the housing sector, many of our fellow citizens are thinking about arranging their own private dwellings on earth. Naturally, many people have a question about how it is more economical for their own budget to build this very house so that it is comfortable, convenient, affordable, and, moreover, there is no need to get into hopeless bank loans.
The most affordable building material is cinder blocks. Is it possible to make cinder blocks at home? Of course! All that is necessary for this, as a rule, is accessible to many: cement, water, filler.
So what do we mean by filler? It includes slag, expanded clay, gypsum, crushed stone, gravel screenings, gravel, sawdust, brick waste (otherwise referred to as “chamotte”), perlite, ash and so on.
The biggest mistake of many who take on the manufacture of cinder blocks with their own hands is that in order to save time, quickly formwork is poured from the boards, the solution is poured there, and when the lower layer hardens, they go higher. With such a filling, there are no voids inside the walls, which, as we know, are necessary for better thermal insulation. As a result, in winter such houses, garages or any other buildings freeze.
So, if we love our loved ones or our "iron horses", and we will save heat energy inside the built rooms, then let's take it as a rule: the production of cinder blocks should be carried out with voids. Firstly, it will be warmer; secondly, the solution itself will be needed less than the same size, but without voids. Solid blocks are suitable only for laying the foundation. I think it sounds convincing.
You can buy an inexpensive machine such as Vibromaster, or you can make a form for the blocks yourself. Making slag blocks with voids is simple: you can use ordinary bottles, of which a huge amount is thrown into landfills. Forms should be without bottoms, inside upholstered either with metal plates or plastic. A blank former is produced that is equal to the perimeter of the mold without bottoms.
The next important step is the preparation of the mixture. You can build in a scientific way. And you can by eye. The best option for the ratio of cement: 1 to 8 or 1 to 9. Water is needed so much that the solution is hard.
First, put the empty, then put the form on top, which is then filled with a solution. Well tamped. Turn over. The block is ready.
We were all children, and we remember well how we played in the sandbox. Also filled the forms with raw sand, and then turned over. The mold was neatly cleaned, and the sand mold repeated the selected plastic figure. The production of cinder blocks is carried out according to the same principle. A lot of water - it will not work out - will corrode, a little - will fall apart, we’ll ram poorly - the solution will not completely repeat the form.
And finally. Do not forget that cement finally hardens only after 28-30 days. When manufacturing at home, it is desirable to add a plasticizer in an amount of 5 mg per block to the mixture. This will give plasticity to the entire mortar. Do not forget that when laying such blocks, you need to stack them with voids down.