Masonry of walls from aerated concrete blocks: modern technologies

Aerated concrete block masonry walls are becoming more and more common in contemporary architecture. These blocks are a great option for builders who want to strike a balance between quality and efficiency because they are lightweight, easy to handle, and provide excellent thermal insulation.

The adaptability of aerated concrete blocks is one of its main benefits. They are suitable for use in both commercial and residential building construction. Their consistent size and shape speed up and improve the accuracy of the building process, cutting down on waste and saving time.

The qualities of aerated concrete blocks have been further enhanced by contemporary technologies. Modern manufacturing processes guarantee improved durability and constant quality. These blocks are now an essential part of modern construction methods since they can be combined with other building materials and systems.

It’s important to know the most recent masonry techniques if you’re thinking about using aerated concrete blocks. The longevity and structural integrity of the walls will be guaranteed by careful handling and installation. This essay will examine these cutting-edge innovations and offer helpful advice on using aerated concrete blocks in construction.

Technology Description
Thin-bed Mortar This method uses a thin layer of special adhesive to bond blocks, reducing thermal bridges and improving insulation.
Reinforced Masonry Incorporates steel reinforcement within the blocks to enhance structural strength and resistance to stress.
Prefabricated Elements Utilizes pre-cut or pre-shaped blocks to simplify construction and ensure uniformity and precision.
Dry Stacking Blocks are stacked without mortar, relying on precision cutting and interlocking designs for stability.

Preparatory work

Prior to beginning work, it is required that:

  • Prepare mechanisms, equipment, tools and other auxiliary equipment:
  • Tools. First of all, you will need: a mixer for the preparation of a solution, a cellmar or a carriage for glue, a brush for cleaning the unit and grooves in it, rubber hammer-thistle, coarse-grained sandpaper, grater, half at rest, manual strooboresis, hacksaw, square, aerated concrete gang
  • An electric generator, in the absence of a central power supply on the construction site
  • Lifting mechanisms for building materials
  • Protection tools for the safety of work: gloves, respirators, glasses, helmets, etc.

  • Deliver the necessary building materials to the construction site, and store them in pre-prepared places:
  1. The products themselves and lintels
  2. Adhesive mixture
  3. Roll waterproofing
  4. Reinforcement

Note: It is advised to complete masonry work at times of the year when the ambient temperature stays within the ideal range of +5 to +35°C.

  • Prepare the work area:
  1. Remove garbage and other foreign objects.
  2. If work is expected in the dark, arrange lighting for the construction site.
  3. To carry out the procedure for erecting a building from aerated concrete blocks on the upper tiers of masonry, it is necessary to assemble scaffolding.

Note: There are tiers up to 1.2 meters high in the floor’s masonry. While the lower tier is being constructed, work is done from the floor. Scaffolding, either made of metal or wood, is used to arrange the following rows.

  • Using a level, check the horizontality of the foundation for the masonry: if the foundation surface is not level (which happens in most cases), it is necessary to level it with a strong cement-sand mortar so that the height difference is less than 3 cm
  • The wall made of gas block must be separated from the foundation by a layer of waterproofing, to avoid capillary recharge with water from the ground.

On the foundation’s leveling layer, rolled waterproofing is applied with at least 150 mm of overlap. On top, another layer of mortar is used to level the surface, serving as the general starting point for construction.

  • Make markings according to the construction plan, and also mark window and door openings
  • Bring the necessary building materials and tools to the work area in an amount that ensures 2-4 hours of continuous work

Technology for performing work

Adhesive mixture

It is advised to use a specific masonry adhesive mixture when constructing a building with this kind of product to prevent cold bridge formation and a reduction in thermal insulation capacity. After alignment, the seam should have a thickness of 1-3 milliliters.

You don’t need extra thermal insulation when building on thin-joint glue thanks to technological advancements in construction. Winter construction calls for the use of a mixture enhanced with specific anti-freeze ingredients.

Note: Dust and debris should be removed from the blocks before laying.

The instructions call for diluting the mortar adhesive with a mixer. After that, it is applied with a serrated-edged tool, such as a notched trowel with 8×8 mm protrusions. The block’s load-bearing and vertical joints need to be fully covered in glue. Only the edges of the tongue-and-groove type interblock joints are filled with mixture; the remaining portion is left unfilled.

Note: It is preferable to avoid using materials that are severely chipped or broken when building exterior walls. They can be used to finish the rows later.

If cement mortar is used, which is technically possible but highly undesirable, the seam thickness will be between 6 and 10 mm. Additionally, because cement has a far higher thermal conductivity than aerated concrete blocks, condensation will form on the interior surface, raising interior humidity and ultimately leading to the growth of mold.

However, when dealing with subpar materials that have significant size errors, the only option available to you is to utilize cement mortar, as its thickness enables you to even out these irregularities.

Beginning of masonry

Starting from the highest corner of the base—which is identified by the leveling method—installation of the first product begins. If there is more than two to three centimeters between corners, it will only be feasible to align horizontally with the mortar’s thickness.

At the highest point of the corner, the first product is leveled and placed on the thinnest layer of cement mixture. Blocks after it are precisely adjusted.

Note: To guard against moisture after precipitation, external walls should be arranged with at least a 50 mm overhang above the foundation.

If the highest point in the foundation cannot be found, you will need to slightly cut the blocks from below once you’ve reached the "hump" in order to preserve strict horizontality. Since the first layer’s thickness can reach up to 3 cm and allows for greater alignment flexibility, it is only applied on cement mortar.

It’s important to approach the first row’s laying meticulously because the more precisely it is laid out, the easier and faster the remaining work will proceed. In the "Erection of structures from aerated concrete" video, every step of the process is demonstrated in greater detail.

Precise horizontal adjustment to the level of the facade masonry blocks should also precede the adjoining of the first row of interior partitions. Using a level, check the blocks’ vertical and horizontal positions. If needed, adjust them with light taps with a mallet, or rubber hammer, until the desired position is reached.

Note: In order to give the glue time to set, it is best to align the block as soon as possible within 15 minutes.

Construction of the second and subsequent rows

After working on the first row, you must wait for the cement mixture to set and acquire the required strength for at least one to two hours before beginning to arrange the next. This is done to prevent the mortar from sagging and upsetting the entire horizontality when the weight of the upper blocks presses on it.

Make sure the previous row is level before building the next one. If there are any irregularities in the blocks, use a grater, plane, or grinder to align them, and then use a dry brush to clean the area. Failure to do so may result in the development of small fissures in certain areas of the level.

Note: A fresh solution of the mixture can be wiped off with a simple damp cloth, but frozen drips and splashes of masonry adhesive can only be removed mechanically.

Installation of rack-order and cord-mooring

It is essential to set up "beacons" for every row of masonry in order to guarantee the accuracy of the work. Using a rail with height notches that is positioned and fastened vertically at distinctive angles that denote the end is a convenient way to accomplish this.

The height of the cord, which is stretched between the slats precisely matches the new level of the structure being built, can also be used to mark the location of the window or door opening. Often, a "mason’s corner" is utilized in place of a batten.

Note: For ease of building a new row, the mooring cord is tightened after work on one is completed.

Pokes, spoons, dies and dressings

The second row and every one after that should be spaced apart (bandaged) by 10–12 cm, or at least 0.4 of the gas block’s height.

See the table below for options for adjoining walls and various masonry types:

It’s also advised to arrange support rows with headers.

The image displays:

The signs in the image denote:

X: extra block

Note: Both dies and headers can be used to shift the seams when building the main walls, which have a thickness of two rows.

The stretcher rows of the internal partitions emerge with headers on the exterior wall when they adjoin.

Note: All support rows with a thickness of two blocks (under a window opening, for instance, or the top row beneath floor slabs) should be headers.

The so-called corner "beacon" is formed by building from two sides, beginning at the outer corners. The remaining space in the row is then arranged, and a mooring cord is fastened to them. A similar "beacon" is placed in the center of the row if the wall is lengthy.

Typically, the final gas block in a row is not a standard one, but rather a sawn piece that has been leveled with a half-trowel and is the necessary size, preferably at least 11.5 cm long.

Reinforcement

It is advised to place the first layer of the strapping reinforcement belt in the first row. It is then advised to perform steel tie reinforcement every four rows.

It is also feasible to reinforce corner sections locally and in nearby locations. It is also required to have a strapping belt in the upper support row beneath the ceiling.

Note: Two rows of grooves are arranged in blocks wider than 200 mm, and one row is arranged in blocks narrower than 200 mm. Steel rods with a diameter of 8 mm are typically used to reinforce the masonry.

Note: Without computation in accordance with SNiP, hand-made reinforcing solely serves to lower the likelihood of cracking and has no effect on the structure’s ability to support more weight when using aerated concrete blocks.

Prefabricated grooves are used to insert the reinforcement. A wall chaser is used to create them, and a brush is used to clean the area afterwards. Doing this along a rigid guide, like a board, is more convenient.

To ensure that the rod does not protrude in any way, it is crucial to create a depth that allows it to be completely submerged. The grooves are first filled with glue, a rod is inserted, and any excess mortar that squeezes out is scraped away with a trowel. You can better grasp the nuances by viewing the video included in this article.

U-shaped blocks can be used to arrange all of the surrounding reinforcement (every 4 rows) if desired, but this method is not cost-effective or efficient.

Lintels for window and door openings

There are a few different ways to create openings when building aerated concrete walls, but these are the three most popular ones:

  1. With reinforced timber lintels. They are laid on an adhesive mixture, while the edges should be brought onto the support row by at least 250 mm, if the opening is in a load-bearing wall, and at least 100 mm for non-load-bearing.

  1. U-shaped tray blocks. They are laid with an overlap on the supporting wall of at least 250 mm, on pre-prepared formwork. A reinforcement frame is placed in the recess, raised slightly on supports (to provide a protective layer of concrete under it) and everything is filled with heavy concrete, which must be compacted (by bayoneting).

Remark: in the event that the U-shaped block’s walls differ in thickness, the wall with the lesser width ought to be on the interior of the future room.

  1. Using metal support inserts. Many people make lintels using rolled metal, such as steel angles. For these, grooves are cut in gas blocks and then simply “put” on top of the rolled metal. This method is suitable for forming interior openings of non-load-bearing walls.

Floor

For interfloor floors, it is advised to install monolithic strapping belts composed of U-shaped blocks as a support row.

The options for building floors are displayed in the table below:

2- A slab of reinforced concrete

4-More blocks

2-Roofing felt covered the section.

3. The floor beam

4-More blocks

Important: When using aerated concrete blocks, it is not permitted to install the walls of the following floor without first installing an interfloor ceiling.

Calculation of aerated concrete blocks and glue

ROOM PARAMETERS:PARTITIONS:

The technique of creating masonry with aerated concrete blocks has greatly improved thanks to modern technologies. Construction is now quicker, more cost-effective, and more efficient thanks to these developments. Today’s builders can improve a building’s insulating qualities and structural integrity with the help of materials and construction methods.

Blocks of aerated concrete are robust and lightweight, offering superior sound and heat insulation. The seamless fit of the blocks is guaranteed by the precision of the manufacturing process, which minimizes the need for extra finishing work. This lowers the overall cost of construction while also saving time.

Aerated concrete blocks can be used to create high-quality masonry by workers who receive the right training and follow advised procedures. Novelties like specific adhesives and cutting instruments simplify the building procedure even more, facilitating the construction of robust and energy-efficient constructions.

By utilizing these cutting-edge technologies in masonry, structures that satisfy today’s criteria for comfort and sustainability can be built. As these methods develop further, they open the door to even more breakthroughs in the building sector and more environmentally responsible and efficient building solutions.

Modern technologies are used in the masonry of walls made of aerated concrete blocks to improve thermal insulation, structural integrity, and construction efficiency. These lightweight, manageable blocks are a popular option for both residential and commercial projects because they simplify the building process. To guarantee a tight fit and cut down on waste, modern methods include sophisticated bonding techniques and precision cutting tools. This method produces long-lasting, energy-efficient buildings while also accelerating the construction process.

Video on the topic

AERATED CONCRETE MASONRY. CORRECT BANDING OF JOINTS AND SHORT ADDITIONAL BLOCKS

A HOUSE OF AERATED CONCRETE 1.5. Laying and dressing of blocks in masonry. "Build and Live".

20) How to properly perform aerated concrete masonry? Why cracks appear in the masonry?

Start of aerated concrete masonry – important points

Which aspect of concrete application are you most interested in?
Share to friends
Anna Vasilieva

Journalist with a technical education, specializing in construction topics. I can explain complex technical topics in simple and accessible language.

Rate author
StroyComfort1.com
Add a comment