When erecting walls, ceilings made of brick, stone, concrete, ceramic and foam blocks, you can not do without masonry mortars. You can cook them yourself. But increasingly, professional builders and amateurs use dry installation and masonry mixtures.
What affects the strength of the masonry? Mixtures of which manufacturers will provide durable, high-quality and smooth surfaces without cracks?
What affects the quality of the masonry
The main components that make up any solution are sand, cement, gravel and water. The secret to durable masonry is to maintain the proportions of these materials.
The quality of the solution and the final result of the work are affected by the environment and the material that is laid with the solution. So, a brick draws water out of it, and if its quantity is insufficient, the solution will begin to crumble after drying.
Masonry work must be performed at such a temperature that the mixture has time to harden and dry.
Composition
Masonry mixtures have different purposes, so their composition is different. They can be for porous and smooth bricks, furnaces, colored - decorative. And although their basis is traditional - sand cleaned and washed, the masonry mixes are distinguished by the presence of various additives.
All of them are divided into two categories:
- General construction. They are used in the construction of walls. The most common are M150 and M200. On their basis, each of the companies that produce dry mixes, produces its own version, introducing some additives. As a result, the final product differs in a number of characteristics.
- Special They are used for the construction of furnaces, pools, pipes.
For example, mixtures for stoves contain refractory clay, which will allow the wall to withstand temperatures up to 1700 degrees.
Solution preparation
It is very easy, quick and convenient to prepare a solution from dry mixes. It is enough to pour in the amount of water provided in the instructions, pour in the powder (or part thereof) and mix thoroughly. You can do this several times to make the mass homogeneous. Stir manually or using power tools.
The prepared solution is not left on the second day. Its shelf life is a couple of hours.
Solution characteristics
- One of the main characteristics of the solution is a set of strength. The speed of the process depends on the ambient temperature and the quality of the material from which the masonry is made. Strength is gained faster when laying porous bricks, slower when working with stone or smooth clinker bricks.
- Plastic. If it is high, then the solution can be laid in a thinner layer. This is not only economical, but also helps to avoid the formation of cold bridges.
- The ability to resist separation, shear.
Material consumption
The flow rate of the mixture depends both on the wall thickness and on the thickness of the applied layer, which can be from 6 mm to 40 mm. On average, no more than 45 kg of solution is consumed per square meter.
Surface preparation
Before laying brick or other materials, you need to prepare the base. The place where the solution will fit should be clean from grease, dust, paint. It must be strong and solid, not crumble.
Repair of concrete walls
First prepare the surface, then fill all cracks and cracks with the solution. Do this with a spatula or sprinkle with a trowel. To do this, the wall is first wetted with water, if it is very smooth, then make notches on it. The solution is applied in thin layers. After applying each layer of the mixture, it is leveled. Wait until it dries, and only then apply the next.
The mixture is poured with water, mixed thoroughly and used for 2 hours.
BROZEX mixes
BROZEX masonry mixes, in addition to ordinary sand and cement, include polymer and mineral additives. They increase the plasticity and strength of the solution, it becomes moisture resistant.
The solution is used at a temperature of 10 to 25 degrees Celsius per day of masonry. Two days after completion of work should not be frost.
Those who used the mixtures claim that preparing the solution is very easy. Dry masonry mix dissolves with the amount of water indicated in the recommendations on the packaging, mixes thoroughly. Wait ten minutes for all components to get wet and swell. After this period, the mixture is ready for use.
BROZEX masonry mixes qualitatively fill all joints, regardless of whether they are vertical or horizontal - this will be confirmed by customers. The compounds are moisture resistant, durable. The brand has many different mixtures in order to be able to produce masonry of various kinds.
Color mixes
They are used for laying bricks on the facades of buildings. Buying a facing brick, which can be of different colors, a color mix is selected to match it. A house built using such mixtures will look beautiful and stylish.
PEREL color mixes are of high quality. Many buyers note a wide selection of colors - there are 14 shades. There are winter and summer options. Summer can use up to 30 degrees of heat, winter - from -5 to +10 degrees.
Composition:
- fractional sand;
- cement without additives;
- mineral pigments;
- polymer additives.
Different grades of these mixtures are selected depending on the type of brick, its water absorption. They are divided into three types with indicators up to 5, 12 and 15 percent. The first is intended for clinker bricks, the second - for high-quality imported, the third - for most domestic species. Those who used these mixtures note their high reliability.
"PEREL" is sold packed in special bags, packaged in 50 kg. Each has instructions for use.
Mixture De Luxe M-200
Assembly and masonry mix is used with;
- masonry;
- concreting floors and stairs;
- processing masonry joints.
Laying is carried out at a temperature not lower than 5 degrees of heat. Humidity should not exceed 80%.
The surface is cleaned of various layers, remove traces of paint, oil stains. The porous part is treated with a primer. She must have time to dry before starting work. The specialist is warned that in order for the masonry to turn out to be of high quality, it is necessary that the base does not deform.
Masonry mixes for stoves and fireplaces
Special knowledge and skills require the construction of structures that will come in contact with fire.
The solution that will be masonry:
- plastic;
- not very greasy so that it does not crack after drying and does not get enough sleep.
It should be borne in mind that the refractory brick from which the stoves are laid expands upon contact with fire. In order for the mortar not to crumble, the masonry mixture for bricks must have good elasticity. It is achieved by introducing a plasticizer into the mixture. This is a substance that reduces the required amount of material by 1/6. Plasticizers can be made on melamine resins and based on carboxylates.
There are more effective means - superplasticizers. In our market they are exclusively imported. These are Mapeplast, Pozolit, Mareplast and the most popular C-3 naphthalene lignosulfonate. Specialists recommend using such mixtures, because their introduction into the solution increases its plasticity and mobility.
When working with plasticizers, you need to consider that they are harmful to health, because they contain phenols.
Masonry mixes for fireplaces and stoves expand to the same extent as the brick from which they are built. Therefore, when heated, the wall will not crack.
The laying of the furnace must not be done in frosty weather. Water must be taken with tap water in order to avoid accidental ingress of mineral additives from untreated. Combine water and the mixture, stirring several times, so that it becomes homogeneous. The warm masonry mixture turns out to be quite liquid and is squeezed out after laying the brick with light pressure. It must be borne in mind that it freezes very quickly. But five days after masonry, the room should have a plus temperature. And completely seizes and dries all in three weeks.
The mixture is sold in bags of 25 kg. One will be enough for laying 35 pieces of bricks.
Mix PLITONIT "SuperFireplace"
With this mixture, stoves and fireplaces are built and repaired. High heat resistance, strength, adhesion, resistance to moisture and cracking are qualities that distinguish PLITONIT SuperKamin mixtures from ordinary ones. It is these properties of the composition that buyers say. The plasticity of the solution makes it possible to make masonry quickly and efficiently, having spent a minimum amount of material.
Brick laying in winter
With a decrease in temperature, brick laying is usually stopped. But there are substances and technologies that allow it to be performed in the winter.
The method of freezing masonry is that the brick is laid using a heated solution. Immediately after installation, it freezes at the seams and hardens a bit, so it does not collapse. And in the spring, when the freezing process occurs on its own, it begins to harden. But it may not be in time, since a building constructed in this way may collapse from overload. Indeed, almost all the masonry will be damp.
Therefore, in this way you cannot build houses above 15 m in height. Yes, and the building is being tightly controlled lower.
The second way of winter masonry is to add reagents to the solution that do not allow the water to freeze. As a result, the solution hardens at lower temperatures.
The advantage of masonry mixtures
- No need to search for ingredients in various places. This is especially true for sand, which can often be bought only in large volumes. The assembly and masonry mix is on sale in any hardware stores.
- You can prepare only the right amount of solution. For this, not all packaging is dissolved. If it is not enough, you can quickly stir more.