The question of how to put foam blocks is of interest to many. It is relevant, since this material has long gained well-deserved popularity in individual construction. The combination of efficiency, high strength and good thermal insulation properties with ease of use - these are the components of the success of foam blocks. But, as you know, even from the best material you can fold an unfit wall. Therefore, the question should be posed as follows: "How to put foam blocks correctly?"
In size, each such block is able to replace eighteen single bricks or thirteen one and a half. And this despite the fact that it weighs less than a single brick. This greatly simplifies and at the same time speeds up the process of erecting a structure from foam blocks. Nevertheless, one should not deceive oneself: having no strength and patience, the builder, even knowing how to put foam blocks, will not achieve at least close to the ideal result.
According to the manufacturing technology, these blocks are divided into cast and cut. The first is cast by filling the molds with a foamy mixture; the second is dried in an industrial furnace, after which the resulting monolithic piece of string saws is cut into blocks. But they differ not only in this.
When cutting foam blocks, the tolerance is in the range of 1-2 mm; when casting, it is somewhat larger. But these millimeters play a big role in how to put foam blocks. Cast products are fastened with a cement-sand mortar, while cut products are fastened with a special adhesive mixture, which will require much less than cement and sand. The adhesive mixture, like the foam block, is a heat insulator, which means that the notorious "cold bridges" are excluded. (Incidentally, in the absence of the required composition, it is possible to use the low-temperature-resistant adhesive used for laying tiles.) In addition, the upcoming work on the external and internal decoration of the wall, which has excellent geometry due to the cut material, will be greatly facilitated.
However, the use of cement-sand mortar has no alternative when laying on the foundation of the very first row of foam blocks. Here it is really indispensable. Its first layer on the foundation is covered with waterproofing material. Then the solution is put again, and already on it - the blocks.
If you look at how to put foam blocks, you can notice another unshakable rule: no voids in the seams! To guaranteed to avoid them, the blocks of the upper row are rubbed with their bases to the lower one until a small amount of the adhesive mixture is squeezed out on the sides of the masonry. After that, it is applied to the side of an already installed block, and the newly laid out one is pressed against it. At the end of the row laying, all glue excesses are carefully removed.
Often, along with the question of how to lay a wall of foam blocks, they ask the following: "Do I need to reinforce it?" Of course. This will increase the stability of the wall and further protect it from cracks. Since it is not possible to reinforce using masonry with a welded mesh, they get out of position by cutting grooves (strobes) directly in the foam blocks. For such work, a grinder or circular saw is suitable.
The operation is simple, since the ease of processing of foam blocks is well known. Fittings fit into grooves. Reinforcement is performed every 3-4 rows.
At the end of the laying of foam blocks, a special reinforced belt with a height of 15-20 cm is poured onto its last row with concrete. Its function is to evenly distribute the loads from the floor slab placed on top.
Having studied all of the above, you can build a wall of foam blocks yourself without hiring expensive specialists to perform the work.