Aerated concrete today is one of the most inexpensive building materials. Blocks are made of it, which have an impressive size and low weight. These qualities provide ease of installation, which made aerated concrete so popular among individual developers and professionals. If you also decided to use aerated concrete, then you should first familiarize yourself with its masonry technology. Only in this case you will be able to achieve high quality work.
Masonry recommendations
The laying of walls from the gas block by specialists is carried out only after the products are further processed. For this, a special planer is used. This recommendation is due to the fact that the specifics of the production of the described material requires a dimensional tolerance on the edges. In general, specialists use different tools for laying a gas block, you will learn about this by reading the article.
Specialist advice
It is important to remember that aerated concrete is a porous material. Despite the fact that it is homogeneous and dense, the surface absorbs moisture well. This indicates the need for arrangement of shut-off waterproofing. Some inexperienced builders do not attach much importance to this issue. If this step is bypassed, then moisture will penetrate from below, moving along the wall and rising to the level of the third floor. For this, a cheap and widespread material is usually used - roofing material.
However, it is necessary to take into account the period of its operation. Even under the most favorable conditions, it is 5 years. Therefore, the best option is a water-repellent film. Do-it-yourself gas-block laying is best done using products whose sides have recesses in the form of spikes and grooves. Such blocks can be adjusted to each other tightly enough to ensure structural strength.
Preparation before masonry
After the foundation has solidified and concrete has gained strength on its surface, it is necessary to perform a leveling screed. The solution for it is prepared from cement and sand. With this composition, it will be possible to eliminate the discrepancy in height, which could cause uneven walls.
The horizontal position of all parts of the tape should be controlled by the building level. The waterproofing material is laid on top. Previously, it should be cut into strips, the width of which will be slightly larger compared to the foundation. On each side, the material should hang 10 cm.
Styling recommendations
The gas block is laid using special adhesives, which are presented for sale in the form of dry mixes. But some masters prefer to use a traditional mortar, shut in a ratio of 1 to 3.
In favor of purchased products, it should be said that with its use, the seam thickness can be as little as 2 mm. This indicates that there will be no cold bridges in the wall. In addition, this method of fastening blocks reduces installation time. For dilution of glue additional space is not required. But for the solution it will be necessary to bring cement and sand, not to mention the formation of dirt and dust in the area.
It is necessary to start laying the gas block from the corners. As soon as the end blocks are installed and aligned, it is necessary to stretch a rope between them, according to which the master will be guided when laying the remaining products. In order for it not to sag, you should use a nylon cord or fishing line. For a more reliable coupling between the bricks, the side faces, spikes and grooves are treated with glue.
When laying the first row, it is important to control the location of the upper cut in the horizon plane. If necessary, for this you can carry out the processing of blocks using a planer. The second level is being built on the same principle. However, it is important to consider that the joints in adjacent vertical rows should not coincide. In this regard, the first corner block should be cut in half. Half the block will be located across the level, while in the next row - the whole product.
The laying of the gas block must be carried out at intervals of 2 hours between the rows. So the adhesive will grip well. Therefore, it is necessary to breed it with the calculation of one level. Under windows and doors you need to leave empty spaces. Before mounting blocks of the next row in terms of level, these places are further strengthened. Over the openings for this are installed jumpers from reinforcement rods. They should be in sawn grooves. They should be placed on the wall 20 cm on each side of the opening.
Features of the masonry of the first row
The accuracy of the geometry of the entire building depends on whether the first row is correctly laid. If you did everything correctly, then the subsequent rows will be able to build much faster. The laying of the gas block in the first row should be carried out on a cement-sand mortar. This will smooth out the level differences. A water-retaining substance should be added to the solution, while the application of the composition is carried out with a trowel. The additive will eliminate the rapid absorption of moisture by the material, because it is known that for gaining strength, the solution should not quickly lose moisture.
Start laying the first row is necessary from the highest point of the foundation. If you purchased blocks with grooves and ridges, then the products should be positioned so that the ridges are directed outward. This will facilitate the finishing work. As practice shows, grinding the tongues is much easier than filling them with a stucco mixture. As soon as the aerated concrete block can be installed, check its level and adjust if necessary with a rubber hammer. Normal can not be used, as it will damage the surface.
Technology Description
Align the outer corners of the first row with a building level. The position can be checked using the level. Between the installed external corners, stretch the cord and fill the row with blocks. The berth will facilitate the control of the masonry.
After filling the row and setting the cement slurry, reinforce the first row. There is an opinion that this stage can be circumvented, because the blocks are laid on the foundation. Some people do just that, it saves money, but as a result, cracks appear on the bearing walls.
Features of the work
Studying the features of the masonry of the first row of the gas block, you can understand that it is impossible to achieve perfect alignment of products in the corners of the building. However, it is important to ensure that the height difference of the individual corners does not exceed 3 cm.
Blocks are stacked so that they protrude slightly above the base. This parameter should force 50 mm. The zone that acts as the reference should not seem lower than the calculated one. This zone is the perimeter of the block, which is in contact with the foundation. For laying the subsequent first rows, experts recommend using glue “Ceresit ST-21”. This recommendation is due to the fact that the composition contains water-retaining additives. It does not freeze for an entire hour. Such a mixture is quite expensive, but justifies the high price. During the time mentioned above, the wizard will have the opportunity to correct the flaws made during installation.
Buying cheap glue, you can not guarantee a successful outcome. When pulling the cord, it should be fixed between the lighthouse blocks. If the distance between them is quite large, then another intermediate product should be installed in the center, which will eliminate the sagging of the cord. Not only the stability and reliability of the building, but also the consumption of the adhesive composition depends on the evenness of the first row of the laying of the gas block. It is important to be guided by the standard, which states that about 1.2 bags of dry mix should go per cubic meter of block. If a gas block with a groove and a comb is used in the process, then one bag of glue will be needed for the mentioned volume of material. To smooth the resulting layer, use a grater.
Conclusion
Home masters who do not have experience in carrying out the work described in the article quite often ask themselves how much the laying of a gas block costs. To pay for a cubic meter of masonry gas block with tongue-and-groove system will have 1100 rubles. minimum. The maximum price reaches 2700 rubles. If you plan to use a flat gas block in your work, then the minimum price per cubic meter of masonry will be 1200 rubles, while the maximum - 2800 rubles.