Every year there is an increase in the popularity of such a technique as cinder block laying. The material used belongs to the budget category, but at the same time has decent technical properties, which provides the opportunity to construct both ancillary facilities and residential buildings. There is no need to hire a team of workers, since the installation process is quite simple, thanks to which you can save your family budget and try your hand at construction.
Description
The material was given its name by the previously used base for manufacturing - ash, slag and other combustion products. But today fillers such as sawdust, broken brick, expanded clay, crushed stone with a fine fraction, due to the fact that slag-based blocks have insufficient strength and a significant degree of water absorption. Construction is also often practiced, which is made independently on a personal plot. But its use is more rational for creating outbuildings due to the fact that materials for residential buildings have established rules environmental safety, which cinder block does not correspond to.
Manufacturing
Slag and cement are used to form products, followed by pressing and drying. They became widespread precisely due to available technology And budget materials, the end result is a cinder block, the price per piece of which becomes minimal.
The manufacturing process consists of three stages - mixing the ingredients, filling pre-prepared forms and hardening. As noted above, the basis is combustion waste, water and astringent components. For increase performance characteristics crushed stone, expanded clay, gravel are added, and they can also completely replace slag.
Cinder blocks, the price per piece of which starts from 40 rubles, must have standard dimensions, despite the wide range of characteristics that the fillers used add.
Classification
The material is divided into several types depending on the presence or absence of voids. Monolithic blocks are of one-piece construction that do not have internal empty spaces. They differ high degree strength, but at the same time insufficient thermal insulation properties and high weight. The most popular products are those with a void ratio of within 30%. They have average strength and thermal conductivity characteristics.
With an increase in voids to 40%, there is an increase in heat capacity with a simultaneous decrease in strength, compared to other types.
Laying cinder block: advantages and disadvantages
Low price is the main advantage of the building material. It is also worth noting the possibility of independent production and installation technology that anyone can handle. Despite this, negative aspects enough. Blocks do not tolerate the influence of factors environment- temperature changes and precipitation, have low strength and degree of sound insulation, and insufficient resistance to frost.
As noted above, this material is not the most the best option for the construction of a residential building due to low environmental properties. Before laying is carried out, you need to decide on the type of products, depending on the required characteristics.
What to pay attention to
Many are puzzled by the question She is primarily influenced climatic conditions construction sites and purpose of future construction.
It is necessary to prepare tools in advance, among which there should be a device for mixing the solution, a circular saw, hammer, plumb line and level. The materials you will also need are mesh for reinforcement or metal rods, sand and cement.
Laying cinder blocks is similar to installing conventional bricks and is most often done in 2, 1.5 and 1 blocks. When choosing a technique, it is worth remembering that the building becomes warmer with increasing thickness of the wall structures, as this increases thermal insulation characteristics. But at the same time, more load is placed on the foundation and additional expenses arise. Optimal thickness walls for a building with one floor is 1 block.
Foundation
Arrangement of a high-quality foundation is the first step in creating reliable masonry. As with any other construction, its choice depends on the depth of location groundwater And general view soil at the selected site. A reinforced concrete monolithic base is optimally suited for heaving, complex soil.
A strip foundation made of cinder blocks is excellent option for stable soil, subject to low groundwater. It is distinguished by the possibility of independent arrangement, without the use of expensive tools and rental of special equipment. It must be taken into account that the width of future walls should be slightly less than the width of the base. A composition of sand, cement and crushed stone can also be used for pouring.
Protection of the material from moisture is achieved by installation waterproofing coating, mounted on a concrete base after final hardening, it can be roofing felt.
Solution
You can make the mortar for laying cinder blocks yourself or purchase ready-made option in a specialty store. Due to the high cost of dry compounds, many prefer the first option. The basis of the masonry mass is sand and cement. By adding plasticizing compounds, it is possible to increase frost resistance and plasticity. The finished solution, when properly prepared, should have a viscous structure and a small degree of spreading during work.
Work progress
Laying cinder blocks with your own hands, as well as other building materials, starts from the corners. Special care is required here, since the reliability of wall structures directly depends on the correct alignment of all angles. First, a little mass is placed on them, which is leveled using a trowel. Next, two blocks are mounted in compliance with right angle, then another one, while you need to remember about dressing the seams.
Similar actions occur with other angles. Do not forget about systematically checking the vertical and horizontal levels using a plumb line and a special measuring device.
When selecting any part from the overall structure, it is adjusted by lightly tapping it with a trowel. As a guide when installing the main row, there is a cord stretched on nails that are driven into the seam between the lower and upper elements. After completing the first row, the subsequent laying of the cinder block begins, observing the same conditions.
Installation seams must have a minimum width, since the room loses heat through them. Optimal size seams should not exceed 15 cm. At the same time, there is a tendency to reduce strength with a width of less than 10 cm.
Reinforcement of masonry allows you to increase its reliability and ensure uniform distribution of loads throughout the structure. For strengthening, either steel rods are used. This procedure is most important for the first row.
Cinder blocks are one of the current building materials. They are popular because affordable price, ease of laying and good technical characteristics. You can build walls from it yourself without the help of professional craftsmen. But before that, you definitely need to study masonry technology and learn about its pitfalls.
Features of choosing cinder blocks and building walls
Cinder blocks are made from cement, sand, water and fillers: blast furnace slag, perlite, expanded clay chips, etc. The strength, frost resistance, and porosity of the material depend on the composition and quantity of the latter. Before purchasing, you need to check the availability of a quality certificate to exclude the presence of dangerous concentrations of toxic substances. It is risky to purchase products created in artisanal conditions, although they cost a little less than factory ones. But without professional equipment and knowledge the right technology production, it is impossible to create a product that meets the technical characteristics of GOST.
Algorithm for laying cinder blocks
In addition to its positive properties, cinder block has some negative features. First of all, you need to remember about its high hygroscopicity (ability to absorb moisture) and protect it from dampness. In addition, the blocks will not be able to withstand a very heavy load with a reinforced concrete floor; in this case, a monolithic one is required reinforced belt. But putting them with your own hands without outside help or hired workers is quite possible.
After applying a leveling cement layer to the foundation, it must be well protected from water using waterproofing material, for example, roofing felt. Its ends are connected with an overlap of no less than 150 mm.
The construction of walls is done as follows:
- The first step is laying the corners. The blocks in the first row are placed on cement mortar with a plasticizing additive 10-15 mm thick. It is applied to the entire surface of the product. If it is vertical, then the upward movement of the trowel should be done without leaving the block. The level of the product is controlled using a level, and the position is controlled using a building level. The weight of a cinder block, depending on its size and structure (monolithic, hollow), ranges from 10 to 28 kg.
- A cord is pulled between the corner blocks and the construction of walls begins. If the distance between them exceeds 10 m in the center of the row, you need to place an additional block and fasten the cord to it so that it does not sag.
- After laying the first row, you need to wait 1-2 hours and only then begin further work. The next rows of outer corners are laid with mandatory bandaging (depth of at least 10 cm). It is also used for load-bearing bundles interior walls from the outside. There is no need to fill the cavity of the product with a solution when laying cinder blocks; this will only worsen the thermal insulation properties of the material.
- After every 3-4 rows, reinforcement must be carried out. For this purpose, iron rods and mesh are used. All stages of masonry can be done with your own hands.
- In places where there will be a partition, a flexible steel anchor is inserted into the seam. One end is mounted in load-bearing wall, and the second - into the seam of the septum. They need to be fixed on every second row of the load-bearing wall.
Many people, at the stage of choosing building materials for their home, doubt which is better: foam blocks or cinder blocks? Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, they have different prices, and different technical characteristics. You need to focus on the type and purpose of the room, the requirements for it, and the design of the walls.
The inner surface of the walls must be properly waterproofed vapor-tight plaster, insulate (with foil, polystyrene foam), and then install drywall, glue wallpaper, paint, etc. For exterior finishing fits facing brick, plaster followed by painting, siding. Air gap must be filled with insulation: polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, mineral wool.
The strength of do-it-yourself masonry depends not only on compliance with its technology, but also on the technical characteristics of the cinder block and the quality of the solution. If you follow all the rules, a cinder block house will serve the owner for many years.
Laying cinder blocks: how to lay a cinder block correctly (video)
Laying cinder blocks can be done with your own hands without the help of craftsmen. Compliance with technology, correct finishing will create strong walls and retain heat in the room
How to lay cinder blocks yourself - step by step instructions
Cinder block like construction material is gaining more and more popularity. This is due to several factors. First of all, it is cheap, which can be further reduced by making the blocks yourself. The second reason for its popularity is that cinder block laying can be done with your own hands.
Cinder block is an artificial stone based on compressed cemented slag concrete. Slag, granite crushed stone, granite screenings, gravel, broken glass, sand, and dried pieces of cement are used as filler. Cinder block dimensions according to standards: 400x200x200 or 390x190x190. In the second case, 10 mm is left for the mortar joint.
There are two types of cinder block:
- solid is used for laying the foundation, ground floor, load-bearing structures;
- hollow acts as a building material that can be used to line walls and partitions.
Its properties also depend on the type of block. The higher the hollowness, the lower the thermal conductivity, which means that the heat of the rooms will be retained. However, the strength of the material decreases as a result. The masonry scheme remains virtually unchanged.
What should you consider before starting work?
If you do the masonry yourself, the cost of construction can be significantly reduced. All you need to do is select high-quality cinder blocks and learn how to lay them correctly.
1. Choosing a installation method.
The laying pattern is influenced by the cinder block used, which depends on the type of material and the nature of the future construction. You can place blocks in one, one and a half, two and half stones (spoon method). It is worth considering the fact that the thicker the wall is, the warmer the building will be.
2. Preparation of mortar for masonry.
The manufacturing technology is the same, but the proportions depend on the nature of the future building. You can now buy it in stores ready-made mixtures, to which it is enough to add a certain amount of water. However, this will significantly increase the cost of masonry. Therefore, the solution is usually prepared independently. The standard proportions are as follows:
The amount of water is adjusted for each specific case. The result should be a viscous, non-spreadable solution. If so, then you did everything right. At the end of cooking, it is necessary to add a plasticizer, which is used to increase frost resistance and increase density. A composition that has the following parameters is considered to be of high quality:
- adhesion;
- plastic;
- uniformity;
- frost resistance;
- self-sealing;
- strength;
- waterproof.
The main rule is that the solution must withstand the upcoming loads of the building. If the block manufacturing technology is strictly followed, then the product will ultimately be of high quality.
3. Preparation necessary tools.
If you don't know where to start laying cinder block, start by choosing the necessary tools. You will need:
- Manual Circular Saw, can be replaced with a hacksaw, since the cinder block is quite easy to saw.
- Respirator. You should not neglect safety measures and still use the specified device during the sawing process (it cannot be avoided). And the price should not be a reason to refuse a purchase.
- Construction level, laser or bubble, your choice. You must be absolutely sure of the quality, so it is recommended to check it.
- Hammer or mallet.
- A trowel that you can make yourself, which will further reduce the cost of construction.
- Plumb. Its role is performed by any weight on a fishing line or cord.
- Order. This instrument is usually made of wood and is a river with a cross-section (50x50 or 70x50 mm), length - about two meters. The goal is to mark the rows of masonry, fix the marks of the top and bottom of the openings.
After preparatory work You can start laying the cinder block directly.
Step-by-step instructions for laying
1. The beginning of laying cinder blocks is pouring the foundation, the width of which should slightly exceed the width of the blocks. The surface must be perfectly flat, without flaws in the form of bulges and holes.
2. Setting the corners. For this purpose, rows are used that are attached to each corner. It is necessary to select a tool taking into account the thickness of the blocks, as well as the thickness of the two seams. A thread or cord is stretched between the row marks of each row, which indicates the level of the row.
3. Directly laying the cinder block. The most important is the first layer, so this process is given Special attention. First, you need to spread the adhesive mixture in an even layer using a trowel, on which you want to place the cinder block. After 3 blocks have been laid, the installation must be checked by level and plumb. Then repeat this procedure as often as possible, as required by the instructions. This will avoid re-laying, which means the price for the work will be lower. The following layers are laid in a similar way with level control. It is not recommended to make the seam thickness more than 1.5 cm. The gaps are also filled cement composition. If you are laying hollow cinder blocks, then in no case should you fill the voids inside the blocks with a solution, as this will lead to loss thermal insulation properties.
4. Completion of the work consists of facing the wall or “joining it” (using cement between blocks with outside pass the cut hollow pipe with an oblique cut).
If the wall will not be covered, then you can add soot to the cement mortar. This will allow you to decorate the structure, but you need to be careful not to stain the blocks.
Other builder tips
There are little tricks that will help make your work a little easier, since laying walls with your own hands can be difficult for an inexperienced builder.
1. Specialists, as a rule, lay cinder blocks without using any additional devices. If you are doing this yourself for the first time, then you can use a template, the size of which depends on the dimensions of the blocks (you will have to make it yourself).
2. Red clay is used as a plasticizer, especially since it is affordable.
3. You also need to take care in advance of making a special platform, which will be needed so that you can lay out the top layers. A stepladder is not suitable for this purpose, because you can’t take a bucket with you, and you have to constantly move it, and it’s easy to fall.
4. It is necessary to monitor the thickness of the seam. It should be no more than 1.5 cm, otherwise heat will escape from the building to the outside.
Do-it-yourself cinder block laying: step-by-step instructions, tools, tips
How to prepare high-quality mortar for laying blocks yourself? Useful tips for inexperienced builders.
Cinder block: DIY installation
Do-it-yourself cinder block laying is gaining more and more popularity every year. The fake diamond is one of the cheapest building materials. At the same time, he has excellent technical characteristics and allows the construction of not only commercial buildings, but also full-fledged residential buildings. Installing a cinder block is not particularly difficult, so all the work can be completed without involving a construction team, which allows you to increase your professionalism and save a considerable amount.
Technical characteristics of cinder block
Cinder blocks got their name thanks to the filler that was previously used in their production process: slag, ash and other combustion products solid fuel. However, such blocks were characterized by high moisture absorption and insufficient strength. Therefore, today fine crushed stone, expanded clay, broken brick, sawdust and so on.
All cinder blocks available on the domestic market can be divided into three types:
- corpulent - high-strength building material, the weight of which is about 26-28 kg;
- hollow - has low thermal conductivity and is perfect for laying walls;
- semi-block - used for constructing interior partitions.
Each type has a certain voidness, the value of which determines the main characteristics of the product (strength and thermal conductivity). It is precisely the voidness that you need to focus on first when choosing blocks for building walls (Fig. 1).
When conducting construction work With their own hands, many are interested in the question: what should be the thickness of cinder block walls? It all depends on the purpose of the building being constructed and climate zone in which it was built. Standard sizes of this material are as follows: width - 390 mm, height - 188 mm, thickness - 190 mm.
Laying cinder blocks, like ordinary bricks, can be done according to the following schemes:
When considering how to correctly lay a cinder block, you need to know that as the thickness of the walls increases, their thermal conductivity decreases, that is, the house becomes warmer and more comfortable. At the same time, excessive thickness leads to additional financial waste and increased load on the foundation. For the construction of one storey building The recommended thickness of cinder block walls is 380 mm (laying in 1 block).
Preparatory work
Before laying a cinder block with your own hands, you need to prepare the following tools and materials:
- circular saw;
- electric drill with a nozzle for mixing mortar;
- building level;
- plumb line;
- trowel;
- hammer;
- container for masonry mixture;
- cord;
- cement, sand;
- steel rods or reinforcing mesh.
High-quality masonry for any wall material starts with creating a solid foundation. Its type depends on the condition of the soil at summer cottage and depth of groundwater. So, for heaving soils, the best option is a monolithic reinforced concrete foundation.
For stable, deep soils groundwater A strip base is a good choice, which you can make yourself, without the use of special construction equipment and expensive equipment. Its width should be equal to or greater than the thickness of the future walls. To fill the foundation, a solution of cement, sand and crushed stone is prepared in a ratio of 1:2:4.
Strip base diagram
After complete hardening of the mounting mixture on top concrete base A waterproofing material is laid to protect the blocks from moisture. It is recommended to use roofing felt as waterproofing.
Laying cinder block walls is carried out using cement mortar, which can be purchased at any hardware store or do it yourself. Ready-made dry mixtures are relatively expensive, so many choose the second option. Masonry mortar prepared from cement and sand in a ratio of 1:3. To give the mixture plasticity and increase its frost resistance, a plasticizer is added to it. The finished masonry mass should be viscous and spread slightly under the weight of the cinder block.
Laying cinder blocks with your own hands
Laying of brick, cinder block or any other building material begins from the corners of the future house. In this case, you need to be very careful, since the evenness and reliability of all walls will depend on the correct alignment of the corners. First, apply a little mortar to the corners of the foundation and level it with a trowel. Then two blocks are placed on top of it at right angles, after which another block is mounted on them, observing the ligation of the seams.
The remaining corners of the house are driven out in the same way. The masonry must be constantly checked for horizontal and vertical evenness using a building level and plumb line.
If any element does not fit into the overall picture, it is corrected by lightly tapping it with a trowel. Nails are driven into the resulting seam between the upper and lower blocks and a cord is pulled, which will serve as a guide when laying the first row. After installing the first row along the entire perimeter of the foundation, they begin laying the second row and so on.
Installation joints in the walls are cold bridges through which heat escapes from the house, so their width should be minimal. For cinder blocks, the recommended joint width is about 10-15 mm. With smaller sizes, the masonry will have low strength.
To evenly distribute the load along the entire perimeter of the walls and increase the reliability of the masonry, it is reinforced. For this purpose, metal rods are used, which are mounted in the grooves of the blocks, or reinforcing mesh. The first row of blocks is necessarily reinforced, after which this procedure performed every 3-4 rows.
Properly constructed cinder block walls will last for many years, reliably protecting residents from bad weather conditions and bringing warmth and comfort into the house.
Do-it-yourself cinder block laying: instructions
Do-it-yourself cinder block laying is gaining more and more popularity every year. This artificial stone is one of the cheapest building materials.
Master class on proper cinder block laying
The question of how to lay a cinder block is asked when building the walls of a garage, outbuilding or fence.
For construction residential buildings this material is no longer used; it has been replaced by foam and gas blocks.
The main advantages of cinder block:
- the composition includes ordinary sand and cement, as well as gypsum, lime and slag;
- excellent strength, exemplary resistance to moisture and mechanical stress;
- lightweight and easy to use;
- low cost.
The only negative is low thermal conductivity. In cold weather, a house made of cinder blocks quickly loses heat through the walls. However, the demand for this construction raw material is not falling.
This drawback helps to eliminate the huge selection of insulation materials. So, after consultation on how to lay a cinder block correctly, get down to business without any doubts.
There is no need to hire a construction team; there is nothing overly complicated about laying cinder blocks with your own hands.
First, prepare your tools:
- hacksaw or circular saw;
- building level;
- cord or fishing line;
- hammer;
- water level;
- trowel;
- order.
Preliminary work
The foundation on which the masonry is performed should be slightly wider than the width of the cinder block (at least 4 cm).
The construction platform is made with waterproofing, since the components of the cinder block - lime and sand - do not tolerate contact with water.
The foundation, in order to prevent curvature of the future building, cannot be uneven.
Before starting DIY work, find scaffolding, on which you will stand. They will come in handy if the calculated height of the masonry is higher than your chest level.
Reaching the masonry in your hands with a cinder block will become a fair amount of pain, because you have to take into account how much this material weighs. It is larger and heavier than brick.
A simple stepladder will not help in this case; there is no space on it to place a bucket of solution.
The consistency of the solution is important.
The correct solution is plastic, but not spreading, thick, like sour cream.
According to the rules, the solution for laying cinder blocks is prepared from equal amounts of sand and cement and one third of red clay. The components are thoroughly mixed with the addition of water.
How much and in what proportions to mix these 4 components is described in detail in the video.
You can prepare cinder blocks with your own hands. 2 boards two meters long with cross boards are connected to each other.
The outer boards are fastened to the longitudinal ones. Using a chisel, a 14-centimeter cut is made in the longitudinal boards.
Then cells are cut out in the prepared material, which then need to be painted. oil paint. After these steps, a mixture of concrete and ash is poured into it.
Then holes are cut out in the prepared material and painted with oil paint. The cinder block must have voids to provide additional heat.
When the solution in the mold has hardened, you can tap it with a hammer and pull out the finished block. It is recommended to wait a day and only then start styling.
Corners and first row
The first blocks are laid in the corners of the building. This must be approached conscientiously and diligently: how straight the masonry is in the corners, so even it will be on the walls.
Therefore, you need to actively use the order (rectangular corner), checking each step.
An even layer of mortar is spread onto the foundation on both sides of the corner using a steel spatula (trowel), on which two cinder blocks are placed at an angle of 90 degrees. Their upper side again covered with solution.
At this stage of masonry, the level checks the uniformity of the horizontal line, and the plumb line checks the vertical line.
If there are distortions, this can be easily corrected with a hammer, carefully tapping the blocks on the desired side. The same method must be used when laying the remaining corners.
Then a nail is driven into the joints between all the lower and upper blocks to stretch a thick fishing line over them.
Along this conditional line, they continue to lay the first row of cinder blocks, not forgetting to use the building level.
If suddenly the last element of the perimeter masonry does not fit into its place due to bigger size, then it can be reduced with a regular hacksaw. Cinder blocks can be sawed without problems.
You just need to wear a respirator and safety glasses when adjusting the size of the block using a saw - a lot of dust and slag grains fly during sawing.
Second and subsequent rows
Mortar is poured onto all masonry joints, removing excess with a spatula. Then lay the other rows. Cinder blocks are not laid according to the principle of brickwork, erecting one wall and then another.
It is placed along the perimeter of the building.
The new row also begins to be laid from the corner. Place a second cinder block on the block in the bottom row, and a third on top of it, covering the seams. The entire second row is placed with cinder blocks, following the example of the first.
At the same time, periodically check the correct installation in horizontal and vertical positions.
The trimmed parts should be located in the masonry as far as possible from each other, for example, in opposite corners.
The condition of the masonry of the two starting rows is very important. Therefore, there is no need to start construction in a hurry. Subsequently, the progress of construction will accelerate.
If you have practical experience behind you, then you can check the horizontals after 3-6 blocks, and the verticals after 4 completed rows.
The edges between the cinder blocks should be kept at the size of one or one and a half cm. If you make the seams very narrow, the masonry will be less reliable; large seams will lead to heat leakage from the house.
It is not recommended to apply the solution to the voids inside the blocks.
The opinion that this will add strength is erroneous. Rather, this will disrupt the thermal insulation properties of the wall and increase the consumption of solution components.
Laying technologies
Laying cinder blocks is usually done in one of two ways.
Method No. 1 is spoon, that is, half a stone. It occurs most often.
Method No. 2 - bonded, otherwise, in one stone. The technology of laying 2 or one and a half stones is possible only when constructing houses for permanent residence, where the walls are 75-80 centimeters thick.
This construction technology coincides with the brick laying method.
There is no point in covering cinder block walls with plaster; it will not stick, since the material has poor adhesion.
It is strongly recommended to decorate each wall of a cinder block building with decorative stone.
If you are planning to build a structure using cinder block, do not lose sight of the fact that cinder block may contain harmful volatile compounds.
Therefore, you can leave it in for a while open place or in a ventilated building.
If the laying of the cinder block is carried out according to all the rules, then taking into account the special nuances, then you will build an impeccable cinder block room with your own hands.
Excess cinder block is usually left for the porch or foundation.
It is appropriate to make a porch from cinder block if there is a significant difference between the level of the yard and the house.
A cinder block foundation is placed only where the soil is dry, for a house with a light load.
Groundwater must pass below the layer of frozen soil.
You also need to consider how many floors the building will have. If there is more than one, it is better to change your mind and build a concrete base.
Don’t ignore the fact that cinder block has pores, which is why it needs to be well insulated and lined.
The question of how to lay a cinder block is asked when building the walls of a garage, outbuilding or fence. This material is no longer used for residential buildings.
Such popular materials as gas blocks and foam blocks have long been used in the construction market. But cinder block remains a fairly popular material. It is rarely used for building a house, but in the construction of small buildings and garages it is simply irreplaceable.
This can be explained by the fact that the block itself is not very expensive, and if you know the masonry technology, it will not be difficult to build structures from it. Then you won’t have to spend money on specialists whose services cost a lot of money.
Preparatory work before laying cinder block
According to the advice of experts, it is better to lay cinder blocks on a foundation whose width is 40-50 centimeters larger, or the minimum should correspond to the width of the block. Since the cinder block contains compounds that do not tolerate contact with moisture well, the foundation base must be insulated and leveled.
If your structure will be higher than your breasts, then you need to take care of the availability scaffolding, because the block is not only larger than bricks, but also heavier. IN in this case Without scaffolding, it will be difficult for you to lift the blocks and build a wall from them.
As in any construction, you cannot do without properly selected high-quality tools; you will need the following:
- Construction, preferably laser or water level;
- Saw, both circular and hacksaw;
- Hammer;
- Order, trowel.
The solution plays an important role; it is very important that it is mixed correctly. To lay a cinder block, it must consist of 4 parts: sand, cement, red clay, water. All components must be mixed in equal parts, it must be plastic and not crack.
How to lay a cinder block on a foundation yourself
The laying begins from the corners, it needs to be done as efficiently as possible, it is how well the coals are kicked out that will determine the further laying of the cinder block. To do this, you need to use an order, a flat metal rectangular corner, or a wooden corner can also be used if the first one is not available.
At first, the work is no different from brickwork; mortar is applied to the corner on both sides with a trowel, slightly leveled, and two blocks are placed on top at right angles. Then the mortar is placed on top of the cinder blocks, the third block is laid, and so on, adhering to the rules for bandaging the seams. After this, you need to check the evenness of the walls with a level, as well as with a vertical plumb line. In case of unevenness, you can slightly tap the uneven places with a trowel until the solution has cooled down, then there will be no difficulty in leveling them. The remaining coals must be removed using the same method.
How to lay the first row of cinder blocks on the foundation video
Nails are driven into the seam of the lower and upper cinder blocks, then a fishing line is stretched between them. This guide serves for laying the first row of blocks around the entire perimeter; the plane of each block must be checked building level. All blocks must be laid out in the same plane.
Very often the last block in the plane is larger than needed, so it needs to be sawed down. To do this, you can use a regular saw, cinder blocks are very easy to cut, but you need to use a respirator, because a cinder block releases a lot of saw when cutting.
After filling the seams of the blocks with mortar, removing all excess with a trowel, you need to begin forcing the next row, as shown in the photo above.
At a right angle to the cinder block placed in the first row, lay the second row, then the third using the dressing rules. Based on the resulting sample of the first row, the second is laid, while controlling the correctness of the laying of the blocks both in the vertical and horizontal planes. The cut blocks in the masonry should be at the maximum distance from each other, for maximum binding, it will be very good if they are in different angles the buildings.
When laying cinder blocks, it is the first two rows that play the main role in construction, so there is no need to rush with them.
Reliable and beautiful masonry cinder block consists of approximately 10% theory and 90% practice, but despite this ratio, without 10% theory it is difficult to master practical skills and begin to apply them on a construction site.
In the image: illustration of the three basic rules for laying blocks (bricks), 1 - the direction of the load force on the wall, 2 - the direction of the destructive forces when laying wedge-shaped stones, 3 - the distribution of the load over the surface of the wall.
1. Cinder block and any other stone, both natural and artificial, tolerate compression well and do not easily break or bend. This is where the first rule of reliable masonry arises - the overlying stone must rest with its entire surface on the underlying masonry. To achieve this, when laying cinder blocks, apply the solution to the entire surface of the underlying block, and not just along the edges.
2. The side edges of the stones should be located only at right angles to the horizon. If this rule is not followed, the stones begin to act as wedges, which, under load, push the masonry apart, destroying it.
3. Each next row of blocks should be shifted relative to the bottom one by a quarter or half of the block, that is, the vertical seams of adjacent rows should not be allowed to coincide. If the seams do not match (correct masonry), then the vertical load spreads across the entire wall, and if the seams match (wrong masonry), then the load spreads along the column, sharply increasing the likelihood of destruction of part of the wall.
And a few tips: when working in hot or windy weather, it is advisable to moisten the blocks, this increases the adhesion between the solution and the cinder block; if a break is expected during the laying process, then the mortar should not be spread on the top row; Every 3 - 4 rows it is necessary to check the horizontality and verticality of the rows.
In the image: cinder block elements: 1 - upper bed, 2 - large side edge - spoon, 3 - small side edge - poke.
To make it easier to understand what kind of cinder block masonry can be used when building a wall, you need to remember that the block has 6 faces: 2 opposite ones on which the block is laid - the upper and lower beds; large side faces - spoons; small side edges are pokes. The masonry is carried out in horizontal rows and cinder blocks are laid on beds.
The height of each horizontal row is formed from the height of the stone and the thickness of the horizontal mortar joint, which is usually 10 - 12 mm.
In the image: 1 - masonry in half a cinder block, 2 - masonry in a cinder block, 3 - one and a half cinder blocks.
The width of the masonry, which ultimately is the thickness of the wall, should be a multiple of 1/2 of the cinder block.
Factors affecting the reliability of a wall made of cinder block or any other stone
The strength of the masonry is determined by the quality of the cinder block and the properties of the solution. The maximum strength of masonry made from blocks is equal to 40 - 50% of the tensile strength of the blocks themselves. This situation is explained as follows: during laying, the mortar is laid on the blocks in an uneven layer, microscopic kinks and voids appear, this leads to the formation of different pressure on the cinder block depending on the different areas walls, bending stress arises in the block, and the cinder block does not withstand just such a load.
In the image: stages of destruction of masonry, 1 - appearance of cracks, 2 - formation of individual columns, 3 - complete destruction of the wall.
If a wall experiences excessive load, it first becomes covered with vertical cracks, which are most often located along vertical seams. Over time, the cracks expand and monolithic wall turns into a set of columns that can move out of the plane of the wall and eventually the masonry collapses.
The reliability of the masonry largely depends on the quality of the mortar; the plasticity of the mortar is especially important. The plastic solution lies evenly on the stone, as a result, the bending stress decreases and the reliability of the wall increases.
When mixing the solution, strictly observe the proportions, taking into account the quality of sand and cement, do not prepare for future use.
The strength of the masonry also depends on the thickness of the seam; the thicker the layer of mortar, the harder it is to evenly place it on the cinder block and the likelihood of fracture stress increases. For this reason, each type of masonry is made with a certain thickness of the seam (for a cinder block this is approximately 1 cm), and it is not possible to increase this thickness without the risk of reducing the strength of the structure.
Cinder Block Laying Tools
In the image: tools necessary for laying a stone wall, 1 - trowel (trowel), 2 - mortar shovel, 3 - jointing for convex and concave seams, 4 - pick hammer, 5 - plumb line, 6 - square, 7 - building level, 8 - tape measure , 9 - level, 10 - folding meter, 11 - duralumin rule, 12 - order.
1. A trowel is a steel shovel with wooden handle, with the help of which the mortar is leveled, the seams are filled, and excess mortar is trimmed.
2. The mortar shovel is designed to mix the mortar without allowing it to separate, apply it to the wall and spread it.
3. Joints with which the seams can be given a convex, concave, triangular, rectangular recessed shape.
4. A pick hammer is used when chopping and hewing bricks or blocks.
5. A plumb line, with its help the mason controls the verticality of the wall, piers, corners, and so on. This tool, depending on whether the verticality of the masonry is checked within one or several floors, has a different weight. For the first case it is 200 - 400 g, for the second 600 - 1000 g.
6. The square is used to check angles.
7. Construction level, which is designed to control the horizontal and vertical plane. Available in lengths of 300, 500 and 700 mm. Structurally, it is aluminium case with two glass ampoules filled with non-freezing liquid, in which an air bubble remains. The principle of operation of the device is simple: place it on the surface of the wall and look at the position of the bubble. If it measures in the middle between the divisions of the ampoule, then the surface is horizontal; if it is shifted in any direction, then there is a deviation.
8. Tape measures and folding meter are designed for measuring short distances.
9. Rules-level - this tool is made from trimmed wooden (section 30 × 80 mm, length 1.5 - 2 meters) or duralumin slats with a special profile. With its help, the front surface of the laid wall is controlled.
10. Order - represents wooden slats(section 50 × 50 or 70 × 50, length 1.8 - 2 meters) with divisions every 77 mm, which is equal to the thickness of one row with mortar (65 mm + 12 mm). The order can also be made from a metal corner, on the edges of which divisions with a depth of 3 mm and a pitch of 77 mm are cut.
Sequence of work when constructing cinder block walls
In the image: 1 - laying the outer spoon verst, 2 - inner spoon verst, 3 - butting row.
One of the first questions that arises before starting to build walls is how thick should they be? The best answer to this question is to get it from project documentation, but many people build houses without plans, in this case you can rely on these numbers. When constructing a 1-storey building and at an air temperature in winter of 20 C, the wall thickness is 350 - 400 mm; temperature - 30 C thickness 450 - 500 mm; temperature - 40 C thickness 550 - 650 mm.
The cinder block laying is carried out by a master and an assistant. The latter stands in front and, moving along the course of the masonry, delivers the blocks onto the wall, laying them out in steps equal to the length of the block being laid and at a distance from the wall equal to two lengths of the stone. With this arrangement, it will be convenient for the master to spread the mortar and lay the blocks on the wall. The assistant’s responsibilities also include supplying the solution.
Cinder block is a “fast” building material that speeds up the work of a mason.
The master lays the mortar with a shovel on the upper surface of the wall, the width of the strip is several centimeters narrower than the width of the block. The cinder block is laid on fresh mortar and pressed close to the laid block, after which it is pushed down with both hands and, if necessary, with a hammer. The protruding mortar is cut off with a trowel and the vertical seams are filled. If the cinder block does not have a recess on the bonded surface, then a solution must be applied to this face before laying the block on the wall.
Additional articles with useful information
Whether or not to use cinder block as the main building material when building a house can be decided only after taking into account the positive and negative aspects of this artificial stone.
Many developers can be helped out frame walls, especially if you take into account their features during construction and operation, since they can be built without special equipment and they are much cheaper.
How to build a house from cinder blocks?
To build a house from cinder blocks, you don’t have to turn to professional builders; you can study the cinder block construction method and do everything yourself. First, develop a project, calculate how much material you will need, and you can get to work.
Advantages and disadvantages
Before you start creating a project and building a house, you need to learn about the pros and cons of buildings made from cinder blocks.
Advantages of cinder block houses:
- Saving money. This material is much cheaper than brick and wood, especially if you produce it yourself.
- A cinder block house does not require a massive foundation.
- The material does not impose any special requirements for storage and transportation.
- The construction is reliable and does not differ in quality from houses built from other materials.
But there is also two significant drawbacks:
- The material is afraid of water, so you can build a house only in dry weather, and then plaster the walls well.
- To ensure the required level of noise and heat insulation, it is necessary to responsibly select materials. If this stage of construction is not done correctly, moisture will seep into the cinder block.
Foundation for a cinder block house
Main requirements for the foundation: it must be high to protect the house from moisture, which cinder block is so afraid of, and well insulated. If the house is one-story and without reinforced concrete floors, then the foundation does not have to be super strong.
To build the foundation For cinder block house you will need: crushed stone, cement, gravel, reinforcement, sand, concrete mixer, cinder blocks, opata, level, hydro- and vapor barrier material.
This process is carried out in several stages:
- Dig a trench and make a bed of sand and gravel about 50cm high.
- Install the formwork and make a reinforced frame.
- Prepare concrete mortar: mix 3 parts sand and crushed stone and 1 part cement. Fill the prepared structure with it.
Construction of the base, if provided, can begin after 7 days, and the construction of walls can only be done after complete drying (after approximately 1 month).
Walling
First, the corners are set so that the walls are perfectly even. One cinder block is placed in each corner, then it is leveled with a building level. Stretch the twine along which you will lay out the walls. Before starting work, prepare:
- a mallet for hammering cinder blocks;
- trowel for removing excess mortar on seams;
- plasticizer (this material is added to the solution to increase its strength and ductility);
- circular saw or hacksaw for cutting cinder blocks;
- orders, plumb lines and spatulas.
Cinder block is laid using one of the traditional methods:
- tychkovy (one stone);
- spoon (half a stone);
- one and a half stones;
- two stones.
Important to remember, that laying cinder blocks can only be done at temperatures above 15 degrees. After the preparatory work, build the first row of blocks. The height of the seam should not be more than 1.5 cm, otherwise it will lead to a deterioration in the thermal insulation properties. Do not fill cinder block voids with cement!
When erecting the first three rows, check the wall with a level as often as possible; it must be strictly vertical. Cinder blocks are laid offset by ½ block.
To avoid cracks and make the structure stronger, builders advise using reinforcement. To do this you will need fittings and electric cutters or wall chasers. Using electric milling machines, recesses are made in cinder blocks, reinforcement is inserted into them and cement mortar is poured. This procedure is repeated every fourth row.
Video of building a house from cinder blocks, masonry.
Once the walls are erected, you can begin building the roof. This process cannot be delayed for a long time, so as not to expose cinder blocks to harmful effects. atmospheric precipitation. The same applies to external and internal finishing works.
How to insulate a house?
To make your home comfortable in cold weather, you need take care of the insulation of buildings And. Experts say that it is better to insulate a building from the outside, as this guarantees 70% of the effect; sometimes internal insulation is not even required.
Before internal insulation, a vapor barrier layer is installed on the walls and ceiling of the building, after which you can use mineral wool or polystyrene foam. Vapor barrier is not needed for finishing external walls.
If you want to save on insulation, then use polystyrene foam. This is the most cheap material, later it is plastered and painted. You can also buy expanded polystyrene, which has a low level of water absorption, so there is no need to install a vapor barrier layer.
Insulation of walls with foam plastic and decorative works carried out in 5 stages:
- The walls are being plastered.
- Styrofoam is attached.
- Reinforced mesh is being installed.
- Work is underway to level and finishing walls
- The building is being painted.
For painting, it is better to choose acrylic or silicone plaster. And if you are not limited in finances, then for insulation it is better to purchase polyurethane foam - modern material, which is applied to walls by pouring or spraying. The result is a coating without seams; it does not allow cold air and moisture to pass through.
How to calculate the number of cinder blocks per house?
If you are building a house from cinder blocks, then first you need to calculate the amount of material. Those who produce the building material themselves can make the missing amount at any time, it is only important to remember that the blocks will take time to become strong.
To calculate the number of cinder blocks you need to know the thickness of the wall. It may differ depending on the climatic conditions of the region where the house is being built. In the middle zone, a thickness of 20-40 cm is enough, and for the house to retain heat in harsh winters, the size must be at least 60 cm.
When calculating remember the basics construction terms : half a stone (20 cm), a stone (40 cm), one and a half stones (60 cm), two stones (80 cm).
Let's carry out calculations based on the most common parameters that are used when building a house from cinder blocks. For example, you need to build a 9x7 building, the height of the walls is 3 meters. The area of one cinder block is 0.08 m (0.4x0.2).
The first thing to do is calculate the number of blocks per 1 meter of wall. For this, 1/0.08 sq.m., it turns out 12.5 pieces. The wall will be built from two rows, so 12.5x2=25 cinder blocks. Now let’s calculate the area of the house: (9+9+7+7)x3=96 sq.m. 9 and 7 are the length of the walls, and 3 is the height. For each square meter 25 cinder blocks are needed, which means for the construction of the entire house: 25x96 = 2400 pieces.
The calculations do not take into account openings, but this is not necessary. Cinder block is a fragile material, so you need to take it with a reserve.
House construction price
How much does it cost to build a cinder block house? You can build a house from cinder blocks with your own hands, but do not forget about developing the project. You can do this yourself or entrust it to professionals. The main thing is to take into account climatic conditions and soil characteristics, as well as the stability of the building.
The average cost of one cinder block is 35 rubles. For a 9x7 house you will need 2400 pieces, that is, this material will cost 84 thousand rubles. But this is only the construction of walls; we should also not forget about the construction of the foundation, roofing, sound and heat insulation, and finishing work.
Is it worth building?
Many of them are satisfied with the construction process, because the house can be built during the holidays. Save on the material itself and mortar, which costs half as much as brickwork. Houses made from this material look original, are warm in winter and cool in summer.
Cinder block houses- These are reliable and durable buildings. Their construction will not require a lot of time and financial expenses, especially if you produce cinder blocks yourself. But in order for the building to last a long time, and to live in it comfortably, you need to choose the right materials for insulation and finishing.
