How to properly reinforce aerated concrete blocks with your own hands: materials, armored belt

Although strengthening aerated concrete blocks may seem like a task best left to experts, you can accomplish it on your own with the correct tools and some careful preparation. To guarantee the longevity and structural integrity of your construction, proper reinforcing is essential. Whether you’re building an addition to your house or a modest garden wall, knowing how to reinforce these lightweight blocks can make a big impact.

Aerated concrete blocks are a popular option for many do-it-yourself builders because of their superior insulation qualities and simplicity of use. To manage loads and stresses, they do, however, require additional support in some areas due to their light weight. Reinforcement is used in this situation. You can improve your construction’s strength and stability and increase its durability and safety by adding the appropriate reinforcements.

We’ll walk you through the supplies needed to reinforce aerated concrete blocks in this guide. We’ll also go over the significance of an armored belt, which is essential for adding more stability and support. You’ll discover how to effectively reinforce your blocks with step-by-step instructions, guaranteeing the durability of your structure.

Whether you are an experienced do-it-yourselfer or a novice, this guide attempts to simplify and simplify the process. You can approach your project with confidence if you use these strategies and pointers because you’ll know that your reinforced aerated concrete blocks will give you a strong base upon which to build.

Topic	Details
Materials Needed	Reinforcing steel bars, wire mesh, concrete mix, binding wire, tools (saw, trowel, drill)
Steps to Reinforce	1. Cut channels in the blocks 2. Place steel bars or mesh in the channels 3. Secure with binding wire 4. Fill channels with concrete mix
Armored Belt Importance	Increases structural strength, distributes loads evenly, prevents cracking

Aerated concrete: pros and cons of the material

These days, the material is pretty widely used. And before you give up on it because you don’t want to pay for more labor and reinforce an aerated concrete house, think about the advantages of building with blocks.

• Low weight, allowing you to save on the foundation and significantly simplifying the process of transportation, construction of the building
• Low heat transfer coefficient – it will be much more economical to heat the house
• High strength – the ability to build multi-story buildings without arranging a complex expensive foundation
• The ability to refuse a cement mixture – a special adhesive composition minimizes the negative effect of cold bridges, reducing heat loss from 25% to 7-10%
• Durability – according to laboratory tests, the blocks can last at least 100 years with full preservation of the original appearance of operational properties
• Sufficient level of air and vapor permeability – corresponds to the indicators of wooden structures and guarantees natural air circulation in the room, which creates an optimal microclimate, normalizes the humidity level
• Resistance to changes in humidity and temperature, open fire, microorganisms (fungus, mold)
• Ease and simplicity in installation, processing – even a beginner can lay walls from neat, even blocks
• Large sizes and high precision – walls can be erected with minimal deviations, saving money on external finishing, avoiding cracks in the masonry due to the use of blocks with grooves, spending less time on driving out the walls
• Safety – the material is environmentally friendly, not afraid of fire, resistant to damage by rodents, insects
• Frost resistance – blocks withstand frost down to -50C, survive about 50 freeze/thaw cycles

• The need to make the wall of sufficient thickness (about 65 centimeters) subject to the presence of cold bridges, heat resistance, the need to strengthen the canvas and lintels of window and door openings
• High hygroscopicity – in the total mass the volume of moisture reaches 35%, which destroys the material, reduces thermal insulation properties, but is solved by treatment with water-repellent impregnations (carried out at least once every 2 years)
• Increased cost of interior decoration due to the need to use reinforcing mesh and certain types of plaster
• Poor tensile and bending performance – under high compression and other loads, the material quickly collapses, but this problem is solved by strengthening with metal rods or mesh

How to increase the resistance of aerated concrete structures to bending

Reinforcement of aerated concrete is done to prevent cracks in walls and partitions caused by external forces or soil subsidence. The reason behind this is that metal rods will withstand tensile loads and shield the structure from cracks and damage, so there is no need to question whether or not this is necessary.

During the design phase, you must decide on the kind of strengthening and where to put it. The most hazardous parts of the building have metal rods and nets installed around the outside of the walls. Prior to beginning work, it is essential to learn the correct techniques for reinforcing, as well as which materials to use and when to apply them.

In situations where having a reinforcing element is required:

• The first row of aerated concrete blocks laid on the foundation – create monolithic reinforced concrete belts
• In walls whose length exceeds 6 meters, where it is important to compensate for the wind load – make a horizontal laying in each subsequent fourth row
• Window and door openings – are reinforced with reinforcing rods with a diameter of 8-12 millimeters in the longitudinal grooves of the upper floor blocks, under the lintels, at the bottom of the window openings along the width with an overlap of 90 centimeters on both sides of it

• Places of adjoining wall structures of rafters and ceilings – you will need a reinforced belt with laying rods in U-shaped blocks
• Potential areas of heavy load
• Zones that are subject to roof load are reinforced with metal rods with a diameter of 10-14 millimeters, creating a single reinforcing system
• Stair elements and floors often require reinforcement

The following considerations are taken into account by the designer when determining whether to reinforce aerated concrete walls every fourth row: design elements, wall length, wind rose and strength, seismic zone, soil features, foundation type, and aerated concrete block strength. In order to accurately prevent the building from being destroyed, experts advise against saving money and instead to reinforce the walls.

The strength and longevity of your home’s structures can be significantly increased by reinforcing aerated concrete blocks. You’ll need the appropriate tools and methods, such as steel bars and an armored belt, to accomplish this successfully. This tutorial will take you step-by-step through the procedure to make sure your do-it-yourself project is successful and safe. Regardless of your level of building experience, following these instructions will enable you to produce results that are on par with those of a professional.

Execution

There are two ways to reinforce masonry made of aerated concrete blocks: one is to install a monolithic belt, and the other is to reinforce the rows of laid blocks with mesh or reinforcement. The expanded clay concrete block’s strength and bearing capacity are unaffected by either option; rather, they are required to strengthen the canvas’ resistance to deformation.

First row

Steel rods with a diameter of roughly 8 millimeters are used to reinforce the structure; grade A III steel is typically used. One rod in the center of the row will suffice for a wall that is 20 centimeters thick; if the walls are thicker, you can place two or three rods in parallel. Using a wall chaser, longitudinal grooves are created in which the rods are laid. There should be a minimum of 6 centimeters between the inner and outer edges of the wall and the grooves. The grooves are radius-rounded at the corners.

After creating the grooves, dust is blown out of them, glue is added (the adhesive joint’s thickness should ensure that any excess does not leak onto the canvas), reinforcement is added, and any extra adhesive is scraped away with a spatula. Since the rods are rounded and repeat the groove’s radius, the reinforcement at the corners shouldn’t be broken. The middle of the wall has an overlap that is secured with knitting wire.

Reinforcement under the window opening

The technology states that the bookmark is made in the final row of blocks in front of the opening. The rods are chosen to be 50–90 centimeters larger than this figure after the length is measured and marked on the block opening’s surface. Using a manual chaser, create two grooves in the masonry row that have a minimum cross-section of 2.5 by 2.5 centimeters, six centimeters from the inner and outer sides of the walls.

Dust and crumbs should be removed from the grooves. The grooves should then be moistened with water, filled halfway with mortar, reinforced with at least 6 millimeters of diameter laid out. Finally, mortar should be added and the seam leveled with a trowel. You can install the next row of masonry as soon as the window sill section has been strengthened.

Vertical reinforcement of walls

When thinking about the right way to reinforce aerated concrete masonry, the vertical method is a good place to start. They very seldom use it and only in certain situations, such as reinforcing walls with significant lateral loads, low-quality, minimally dense aerated concrete, locations where heavy objects affect the structure, tiny piers, and openings. Additionally, vertical reinforcement is important when building a column out of blocks or utilizing large-sized wall panels.

Work can be carried out using only metal, fiberglass reinforcement will not achieve the required rigidity here. Usually take rods with a thickness of at least 14 millimeters, make a frame from reinforcement by tying them together, welding can damage the crystal lattice due to overheating.

When putting together a wall, create a little indentation inside. The walls are typically made of multiple blocks; therefore, in one of the rows, the bricks must be moved to create a space between them. After lowering a frame supported by rods into it, concrete is poured into the empty space.

Materials used

Galvanized metal mesh

50 x 50 millimeter wire cells with a diameter of 3-5 millimeters are sufficient for masonry. After spreading the mesh across the surface, a solution two to three millimeters thick is poured on top. A mesh consisting of 4 millimeter wire and having a cell size of approximately 70 millimeters reinforces the contour. Fearful of rust, builds a chilly bridge.

Basalt mesh

Made from perpendicularly welded basalt rods. The rods in the corners of the butt are secured with wire, clamps, or specialty glue. The mesh is lightweight, simple to work with, resistant to corrosion, and has a low thermal conductivity. It can also withstand a tensile load of roughly 50 kN/m. If it weren’t for the expensive cost of the basalt mesh, which has a significant impact on the estimate computation, the question of how to reinforce aerated concrete masonry could have an unambiguous answer.

Metal perforated mounting tape

Provided as a steel strip with holes all the way through it. It is possible to reinforce without chasing by using self-tapping screws for fastening. Strips are less expensive to chase and deliver when used in pairs and secured with steel wire. However, they are not very strong when bent.

Fiberglass reinforcement

Provided as a fiberglass cord that has been threaded in a spiral pattern. The benefits are clear: low weight, low heat conductivity, simple installation, and extended service life. The inability to support heavy loads when they break, the inability to bend, and the requirement to use special sleeves to connect the rods among themselves are the drawbacks.

Reinforcement with rods

Class A reinforcement with a diameter of 8 millimeters is most frequently used, though steel rods with a diameter of 8 to 14 millimeters (depending on the loads) are also utilized. Installed in grooves and then filled with cement mortar, they let you reinforce angles, foundations, and masonry openings. are characterized by their strength and oxidation resistance, but they also conduct heat.

A survey in the places of connection of the walls of the partitions

The transverse and longitudinal gas block walls in the BSTO are connected by Ma- and T-shaped anchors (also used strip steel linings or metal brackets). Every three to four rows of masonry, ties are placed in the seams according to the calculation of a minimum of two elements per floor.

Reinforcement of aerated concrete masonry video

Building a reinforcing belt

A monolithic belt is installed using wooden formwork or extra blocks that are 5 and 10 centimeters thick. When it comes to speed, simplicity, and cost, the first option is frequently selected.

Phases of the project:

• Additional concrete blocks 10 centimeters thick are installed on the end part of the wall with any side facing outward and securely glued, a block 5 centimeters thick is glued on the inner side.
• A panel of extruded polystyrene foam, adjusted in height, is glued on the inner surface of a thin block – this is thermal insulation.
• Reinforcement rods are laid inside the formwork at a distance of 5 centimeters from the walls on special mushroom-shaped stands. Vertical lintels of such a height are welded to them with a step of 30 centimeters so that the upper contour of the frame is 5 centimeters from the outer edge of the belt. Connecting horizontal rods are welded to the lintels – the longitudinal upper chord of the framework is fixed to them.
• The entire void between the blocks is filled with M200 or M300 grade concrete.
• The walls can be raised further only after 1-2 weeks (so that the concrete becomes strong enough).
• When installing a monolithic floor belt, it is necessary to concrete studs into it for fastening the beam.

Aerated concrete block reinforcement is an essential step in guaranteeing the longevity and stability of your building project. Even if you’re doing the work yourself, you can greatly improve the structural integrity of your building with the appropriate supplies and methods. You can build a sturdy framework that supports your walls and evenly distributes weights by following the instructions and using the right materials, such as mesh and steel rebar.

The use of an armored belt is one of the best ways to reinforce aerated concrete blocks. This concrete belt that is steel-reinforced runs along the top of the wall and aids in weight distribution, lowering the possibility of cracks and structural failures. Although building this belt involves meticulous planning and execution, the results are well worth the work.

When working on your project, don’t forget to focus on the little things, like where to put the reinforcement bars and how to fasten them, or how to mix and pour the concrete for the armored belt correctly. Despite their apparent simplicity, these actions have a big impact on the overall durability and strength of your structure. It will save you trouble later on if you take the time to do it correctly.

Essentially, using an armored belt to reinforce aerated concrete blocks requires more than just following directions—it also requires comprehending the underlying ideas of each stage. Your building will be strong and resilient if you use high-quality materials and meticulous construction. Whether you’re an experienced builder or a do-it-yourselfer, following these guidelines will enable you to produce a dependable and long-lasting structure.

Video on the topic

Monolithic reinforced concrete belt made of U-blocks. Pouring the reinforced concrete belt, tying the reinforcement.

How NOT to pour the REINFORCED BELT. Now I will only make concrete myself, and not order a mixer.

How to properly make a reinforced concrete belt on walls made of aerated concrete.

Reinforced concrete belt #Monolith #Concrete #Belt