Plinfa is a building material, which in ancient times was almost basic for the construction of stone houses and other structures. When and in which countries was it used? And is it used in modern construction?
Plinfa is ...
The term comes from the Greek word plinthos, which is translated into Russian as “brick” or “stove”. Plinfa is the building material that was most popular during the 9th-13th centuries. Especially in the vast Byzantium and Kievan Rus. Temples, houses, defensive and engineering structures were erected from it. Sometimes plinfa was used as a roofing material.
So, what is plinf? This is a flat and wide burnt brick, which in its shape is close to a square. Plinfa is much thinner than the modern standard brick and much larger than its width. Thanks to this form, it was possible to significantly increase the seismic stability of the bearing walls of ancient buildings.
Plinfa in the history of architecture
Plinfa in Ancient Russia is the main building material. It can be seen in the monuments of ancient Russian architecture that have survived to this day. Among the most striking examples of such structures, the following stand out:
- Golden Gate (Kiev).
- Hagia Sophia (Kiev).
- Church of the Tithes, foundation (Kiev).
- Pyatnitskaya church (Chernihiv).
- Church of St. John the Baptist (Kerch).
In Byzantium and in Russia, a plinth 300 x 350 x 25 mm in size was most often used. It was made of clay. At first, the preforms were dried for about two weeks in dry wooden forms, and then fired in special ovens. When constructing walls from plinths, a thick layer of cementitious mortar was used, which was often equal to the thickness of the building material itself. Thus, the wall being built became “striped”.
An analysis of ancient architectural monuments showed that kaolin clay was most often taken for plinths. Bricks made of it turned pink, fawn or pale yellow. Around the middle of the 12th century, the plinth began to cede its dominant position in Old Russian architecture to white stone. And by the end of the 15th century, molded brick completely replaced it.
Plinfa in architecture and construction
You may be surprised, but in modern construction business, a plinth is also used. True, far from as wide as a millennium ago. Plates of modern plinths, as a rule, have the same dimensions: 30 x 35 x 2.5 centimeters. Most often they are made on the basis of ordinary sand and cement (in a ratio of 1: 5). However, the use of reinforcement is not welcome. Iron rods over time can rust and damage the “body” of the plinth itself.
How is the installation of plinths carried out? One edge of this building material is slightly flattened. This is done so that moisture and water from the outside do not fall under the plinth. With this beveled edge, the material should be laid out, forming a slightly protruding visor.
Plinths are laid “dry” or with the help of additional tightening elements. In this capacity, a metal stud or a special, especially strong wire can act. During installation of blocks, plinths do not recommend the use of silicone-based sealants.