Facing a house made of aerated concrete with brick: design and execution of work

Brick facing may make a huge difference in a home built with aerated concrete, both in terms of appearance and longevity. Because of its lightweight and insulating qualities, aerated concrete makes a sturdy base for brick facades, which improve aesthetics while also providing extra structural advantages. This article examines the planning and implementation process for brick veneering an aerated concrete house.

First of all, it’s important to comprehend how brick and aerated concrete work together. Because of its fire resistance and thermal insulation, aerated concrete is frequently utilized as a foundation for brick facing applications. Brick, known for its classic appearance and timeless appeal, gives the structure strength and a timeless appearance. The combination of these materials strengthens the house’s overall resistance to weather and wear in addition to improving its aesthetic appeal.

Careful planning is required during facade design to ensure that brick and aerated concrete blend in harmony. Typically, structural requirements, the desired aesthetic result, and the house’s architectural style are taken into account by architects and designers. Creating intricate drawings or digital models to see how the brick facing will mix in with the current aerated concrete walls is a common step in this process.

Brick facing requires a number of sequential steps to be completed. The aerated concrete surface must first be thoroughly cleaned and cleared of any particles or other impurities that might impair adhesion. Before starting the brickwork, a moisture barrier or insulating layer may be applied, depending on the particular project and local building codes. For the aerated concrete substrate and the brick veneer to have a strong and long-lasting bond, this preparation stage is essential.

The process of installing the brick facade usually starts with the bricks being laid using mortar that is meant to stick to aerated concrete. To create a consistent and aesthetically beautiful finish, great care is taken with the bricks’ alignment, levelness, and spacing. To preserve structural integrity and visual coherence, specialized techniques may be used for corners, openings such as windows and doors, and other architectural features.

Ultimately, the brick facing’s resilience to weathering is improved by applying protective coatings, sealing, and pointing—a process that involves using mortar to fill in spaces between bricks. These actions guarantee the house’s visual appeal while also extending its lifespan and simplifying maintenance.

In summary, brick facing an aerated concrete home is a laborious process that needs careful planning, expert execution, and close attention to detail. When done well, it can greatly improve the home’s overall value, structural integrity, and aesthetic appeal, making it a worthwhile investment in both form and function.

Why is cladding needed

Aerated silicate blocks and concrete are great building materials because they are inexpensive per cubic meter of masonry and have good thermal insulation qualities and low mass. The technology used to produce them is straightforward: after preparing a mixture of lime, sand, and a unique additive that promotes the formation of pores, the products (blocks) are formed and autoclave-hardened.

• But it has one drawback: the pores accumulate water, so frost resistance is low. Walls made of it can get wet through and let moisture into the room, especially during prolonged slanting rains. Let"s make a reservation, aerated concrete is often confused with foam concrete.
• These are slightly different materials, but their characteristics are almost similar – however, foam concrete has closed pores, so it absorbs a little less moisture. We will not take this nuance into account, and in our review we will consider them as one type of lightweight silicate blocks.
• Many people don’t like the exterior of buildings made of aerated concrete, even if they are painted. Therefore, the house is faced with aerated concrete. There are many materials for its implementation – lining, siding, block house, ceramic or natural stone slabs, in the end they use conventional plastering.

But when asked what to veneer a house made of aerated concrete with, the majority of owners say without a doubt: bricks.

The following are some benefits of using this material:

• Durability — brickwork lasts not tens, but hundreds of years;
• Excellent frost resistance;
• Mechanical strength;
• Appearance. To improve the appearance of the house, in addition to the usual facing stone, you can choose glazed or hand-molded brick.

Facing can be done for houses that are already occupied or in tandem with wall construction, as seen in the video in this article. In the second scenario, thermal rehabilitation of the building is an additional option in addition to the fact that the facades of homes constructed of aerated concrete look better and are shielded from the effects of frost and precipitation. The building’s service life is extended by the completed cladding.

It takes careful planning and attention to detail to design and build an aerated concrete with brick facing for a home. This article examines the use of brick to improve the exterior of aerated concrete homes, going over useful factors like construction methods, aesthetic preferences, and structural compatibility. Homeowners and builders can create a robust and aesthetically pleasing facade that blends in perfectly with the house’s overall design by understanding the synergy between these materials.

Types of cladding

Four varieties of cladding exist:

1. facing without a gap;
2. facing with an air-ventilated gap without insulation;
3. facing with filling the gap with heat-insulating material and ventilation;
4. facing with a heat-insulating layer without ventilation.

Another could be identified—with an air gap without ventilation—but it is not advised because the buildup of moisture vapor quickly degrades aerated concrete. In the event that we are discussing an unheated building, where this process is not feasible, the question "Why enhance the wall’s thermal insulation properties with an air gap?" emerges.

The advantages of one type over another have long been the focus of contentious discussion on various construction forums. Let’s examine the features and functional attributes of the four types of lined aerated concrete wall construction.

Facing without a gap

There is no discernible improvement in the structure’s durability or thermal insulation qualities with this kind of construction. Aerated concrete may occasionally lose its usability even more quickly than the option without cladding (for the same reasons as a wall with a gap without ventilation).

In any case, the article’s second photo provides an illustration of this kind of devastation. This type is only appropriate if you want to elevate the appearance of an unheated space. The benefits include reduced metal consumption for communications and a marginally lower cost of cladding because there are no expenses associated with thermal insulation material.

Even with all its flaws, the design may occasionally be used as a stopgap to finish the walls of an existing structure if its base extends past the walls’ edge sufficiently to support the brickwork.

Facing with a ventilated gap without insulation

Although it is the most suggested choice, this is not the best one. In this instance, there is space left between the brick and the aerated concrete wall.

To remove moisture, the facing has ventilation holes. Advantage: Compared to other materials, air is the best heat insulator.

However, there are drawbacks as well:

• In order to ensure high-quality thermal protection, it is necessary to accurately calculate the thickness of the air gap and the location of the ventilation openings. With excessive air exchange, the cold air that enters will reduce the efficiency of thermal insulation to zero.
• Such walls are thicker than those that use special thermal insulation material, therefore, they require more material for the base and connections.
• The void between aerated concrete and brick is populated by rodents and insects. Therefore, fine-mesh nets must be installed in the vents, which will protect against unwanted neighbors.
• The walls are thicker than when choosing other design options.

With ventilation and filling the gap with thermal insulation material

Among the greatest choices. In addition to providing ventilation for the space, the thermal insulation material is placed in the opening.

Generally speaking, this kind of design is applied when selecting vapor-permeable mats, glass blocks, mineral wool, or other comparable materials for insulation. The walls have a thinner thickness. Because the price of the insulation and the installation costs are included, the total cost is somewhat higher.

Counseling! Liquid polystyrene foam should not be used as insulation. Even though the material is less expensive, the costs will nearly double compared to using simple sheets because formwork is required to create an air gap and special equipment is needed for pouring.

Non-ventilated gap with insulation

You can cover a house made of aerated concrete with this type of construction if a material that is opaque to vapors is used as wall insulation, most often expanded polystyrene (foam plastic). The characteristics of the walls are no worse than the previous option, in addition, the heat engineering calculation is simplified.

Though this isn’t totally accurate, one of the design’s drawbacks is that foam plastic can catch fire. Because construction polystyrene foam does not support flame due to the introduction of special additives into its composition, the fire hazard of walls using this insulation is not increased.

Furthermore, it is nearly impossible for a fire to start because it is concealed by two layers of completely incombustible material. Even if it does, there is hardly any air in the enclosed area to sustain combustion.

Aerated concrete homes require careful planning and execution to achieve both structural integrity and visual appeal when choosing to face them with bricks. This material combination is a favorite of both builders and homeowners because it combines contemporary efficiency with classic charm.

It is imperative to take into account the compatibility of aerated concrete and bricks before starting such a project. Because of its exceptional thermal insulation qualities and light weight, aerated concrete offers a sturdy foundation on which brick facades can be attached. The bricks give the building strength and resistance to weathering in addition to improving its appearance.

The success of using this dual material approach for facing a house is largely dependent on the design phase. The arrangement of the bricks must be carefully planned by architects and designers, taking into account things like load distribution, anchoring techniques, and aesthetic preferences. This careful planning guarantees a seamless integration of brick and aerated concrete and reduces the possibility of problems during the execution stage.

Skilled builders and craftsmen are necessary to complete the task. To achieve a seamless finish and make sure the facade endures the test of time and environmental conditions, proper installation techniques are essential. To achieve both functional and aesthetic harmony, careful attention to detail in bricklaying, appropriate mortar use, and integration of necessary insulation measures are essential.

In the end, brick facing an aerated concrete home gives homeowners the chance to personalize their external design while taking advantage of the benefits of both materials. This option offers improved structural performance, energy efficiency, and aesthetic appeal while fusing innovation and tradition. This combination can produce a home that not only stands out in the neighborhood but also offers long-lasting comfort and durability with careful planning and expert execution.

Video on the topic

A HOUSE FROM AERATED CONCRETE WITH BRICK FACING IN A WEEK / HOUSE FROM AERATED BLOCK #shots

Brick cladding at home from aerated concrete / venturezor between gas block and brick #shorts

Facing with a stone of aerated concrete house led to moisture -watering, destruction of facades and walls of the house