Reinforcement of aerated concrete walls. Reinforcement of aerated concrete blocks with mesh or reinforcement

In order to protect walls and partitions from the appearance of cracks caused by subsidence of the sole soil or temperature changes, in some cases reinforcement of aerated concrete blocks is used. Metal rods take on tensile loads and protect aerated concrete blocks from cracking. Reinforcement with reinforcement does not increase its bearing capacity, but minimizes the consequences of brittle fracture of aerated concrete elements.

Approximate scheme. Reinforcement sections for a particular structure are determined by the designer.

Climatic, seismic and wind regions directly affect the need for wall reinforcement. More at the design stage, it becomes clear the need to strengthen the walls with reinforcement, and also indicates the type of reinforcement used and its location.

The laying of reinforcement around the entire perimeter of each wall row is not required. It will be enough to place the metal reinforcement in the most dangerous elements of the wall structure.

Places of mandatory reinforcement of aerated concrete walls:

1. First row of blocks laid on the foundation;
2. With a wall length exceeding 6 meters, an additional horizontal laying of reinforcement is made in every fourth masonry row to compensate for the wind load;
3. Adjoining ceilings and rafters to wall structures. In this case, ) is performed, where the reinforcing bars are laid in ;
4. Holes in the walls: the supporting part under the lintels, as well as the lower part of the window opening for the entire width with the addition of an overlap of 0.9 meters on each side of it;
5. Vertical reinforcement is laid in gas silicate columns;
6. Places of potential load occurrence exceeding the standard.

Developers often have questions and disputes about whether it is necessary to reinforce the walls in every fourth row of blocks. The need is determined by the designer, based on the design features and length of the walls of the future building, the seismic zone of the area, the strength and rose of the winds in the area, the characteristics of the soil in the building area and the type of foundation, as well as the characteristics of the wall material. Here it turns out whether the strength of the gas silicate used in construction is enough to withstand the resulting loads and not give microcracks.

If you save on the project, then make the calculations yourself. Either reinforce and sleep peacefully, as it definitely won’t be worse, but bear the cost of buying reinforcement and glue.

If the ends of individual reinforcing bars are not tied into one loop, then they must be bent at a right angle and deepened into grooves to ensure reliable anchoring in the building wall.

Execution

First row

Reinforcement of the first row of masonry, as well as every fourth, if necessary, is carried out as follows.

The structure is reinforced with steel bars with a diameter of 8 mm grade A III. For a wall with a thickness of 200 mm, it is enough to lay one bar of reinforcement exactly in the middle of the row.

For thicker walls use 2 bars. They are laid parallel to each other. To do this, make 2 parallel strobes using a strobe cutter. The distance from the inner and outer edges of the wall to the strobe must be at least 6 cm. In the corners of the building, the strobes are rounded along the radius.

Dust is swept out of the finished grooves with a brush, filled with adhesive, reinforcement is laid and excess glue is removed with a spatula.

Reinforcement must not be interrupted at corners. It is rounded so that it repeats the radius of the strobe.

Therefore, overlap the reinforcement approximately in the middle of the wall, fixing it with a tie wire.

Reinforcement under the window opening

Laying reinforcement in aerated concrete blocks is necessary under the window opening. The bookmark is made in the last row of blocks in front of the window being constructed. To do this, its planned length is measured and marked on the surface of the masonry (the reinforcement bars must be 0.5 meters longer than the length of the window). Further, in the masonry row at a distance of 60 mm from the outer and inner sides of the wall, aerated concrete is chased using a manual wall chaser. Namely, 2 grooves are cut out, the minimum section of each is 2.5x2.5 cm.

To ensure the evenness of the strobe, you can nail a wooden board onto the desired row of blocks, which will act as a rule when cutting a recess.

From the grooves with a brush, it is necessary to remove dust and crumbs of aerated concrete formed during their cutting. Before laying the reinforcing bars and embedding with mortar, the cut-out strobes are moistened with water. This is done for the best bonding of the adhesive solution with reinforced aerated concrete.

At the next stage, the groove is half-height filled with a mortar for thin-seam block masonry, then profiled steel reinforcement with a diameter of at least 6 millimeters is laid. The groove is completely filled with mortar, if necessary, removing all its excess and leveling the seam with a trowel.

The next masonry row can be mounted immediately after strengthening the window sill.

Vertical reinforcement of walls

This type is rarely used in the following cases:

1. Reinforcement of the wall, on which a strong effect of lateral loads is possible. In this case, it is necessary to carry out horizontal reinforcement.
2. When using low quality aerated concrete with a minimum density index.
3. In places of support on the wall structure of heavy elements (metal beams, etc.).
4. Corner bonding of adjacent walls.
5. Strengthening of small piers and door and window openings.
6. The construction of a column of aerated concrete blocks.
7. When using large-sized wall panels.

Materials used

In addition to the classic option (using reinforcement), other materials can be used to reinforce block masonry:

Metal galvanized mesh

It consists of steel rods welded in a mutually perpendicular position.

Of all the types of mesh used, metal is the most durable. But she has one big minus: a special adhesive composition for connecting wall blocks contributes to the development of corrosion, which leads to a fairly rapid loss of all the positive properties of such reinforcement. Also transverse rods act as cold bridges in winter. I do not recommend this type of reinforcement.

Basalt grid

It is made of basalt fiber rods, which are arranged perpendicular to each other. In butt joints, the rods are fixed with wire, clamps or specialized glue. This fastening ensures the correct and even geometric shape of the cells.

The basalt mesh can withstand strong breaking loads of about 50 kN/m. Its weight is several times less than that of a metal mesh, which ensures the simplicity of reinforcement work.

Grids based on basalt are resistant to the negative effects of corrosion, do not respond to changes in temperature conditions. They have very low thermal conductivity, which ensures that there is no cold bridge that occurs when reinforcing with a steel mesh.

The basalt mesh costs a lot, so this solution is the most expensive of the proposed ones.

Metal mounting perforated tape

This is a galvanized steel strip with holes made along its entire length.

It is enough to purchase a tape with dimensions of 16x1 mm. Reinforcement of masonry is carried out without chasing aerated concrete by fixing it to self-tapping screws. Otherwise, the principle is the same as when using reinforcement. To increase the strength, it is possible to pair the strips with steel wire. It has lower bending strength compared to profiled reinforcement.

Attention!

In chain building stores and markets, perforated tape with a thickness of 0.5-0.6 mm is common. It is not suitable for reinforcement. Look for 1 mm perforated tape in specialized stores or order online in advance. Unfortunately, it is not so easy to buy on the regular construction market.

The advantages of using this material compared to traditional reinforcement, I see the following:

• savings on delivery due to the compactness of the tape;
• no need to make strobes (savings in labor and mounting glue).

fiberglass reinforcement

The main reinforcement material is fiberglass, on which a thread is wound in a spiral to ensure better adhesion to concrete.

Significantly lighter in weight than the metal counterpart. Low thermal conductivity will avoid a cold bridge in aerated concrete masonry. Ease of installation is ensured by a minimum number of joints, as such fittings are sold in coils.

Attention!

Fiberglass reinforcement has a significant disadvantage - it does not withstand large fracture loads, and this is the main task of reinforcing masonry from aerated concrete blocks with an increased bending effect.

It is impossible to build a rigid frame from this material, so this reinforcement is not recommended in seismically hazardous construction areas. Our verdict is don't use it.

The benefits of reinforcing wall structures are obvious. Therefore, it is worth sacrificing small additional cash costs and time during installation, so that the building being erected will serve you faithfully for many years.

Useful video

The video plot clearly and in detail shows the reinforcement of the first row. Namely, chasing blocks, laying reinforcement with bending in the corners, filling with glue.

Gas silicate blocks have become widespread in the construction of private buildings and industrial facilities. The builders were convinced of the high performance characteristics of the popular material. Consumers are attracted by the affordable price and reliability that gas silicate has. However, there is a difficulty - the material is susceptible to the effects of stretching.

You can fix the problem by reinforcing the gas silicate blocks. This allows you to increase the strength of the structure, strengthen the walls, corners, openings of the building, prevent the appearance of cracks, ensuring a long service life of the building.

Reinforcement of masonry from gas silicate blocks is necessary, since the walls are subject to volumetric deformations associated with shrinkage, soil reaction and temperature factors. Openings, thresholds, as well as walls, on which cracks appear under the influence of tensile forces, are especially susceptible to loads.

In a relatively short period of time, gas-liquid brick or aerated concrete has gained great popularity among builders.

Let us consider in detail how the popular gas silicate is reinforced, we will dwell on individual sections of the building, the technology for performing work that can be done independently.

Material Properties

Gas silicate has many positive characteristics:

• the correct geometry, which allows laying with glue, which eliminates cold bridges and saves heat;
• a high level of strength, allowing the use of material for the construction of main walls;
• reducing the load on the foundation of the building, which is associated with a small mass of products;
• reduced coefficient of thermal conductivity, contributing to a comfortable temperature regime of the room;
• light weight with increased volume, which facilitates transportation and speeds up the work related to masonry;
• no negative impact of blocks on the health of others;
• ease of processing, allowing you to change the size and configuration of products.

Processing in the production process gives high strength to the buildings being erected

One of the indisputable advantages of gas silicate is its low price, due to which the material is widely used by private developers. However, products need reinforcement.

On the need for amplification

Along with a complex of positive aspects, the material has negative aspects. Walls are prone to volumetric deformations caused by the following factors:

• The susceptibility of blocks to the effects of tensile forces.
• The hygroscopicity of the material, which, absorbing moisture, swells.
• Temperature differences, as a result of which the massif narrows and expands.
• Insufficient rigidity of the foundation, causing shrinkage of the structure.
• Heaving of problematic soils, characterized by closely spaced aquifers.

To avoid the negative impact of negative factors, it is possible to reinforce the walls from gas silicate blocks, which prevent cracking, increase the strength and service life of the building under construction.

Let us consider in detail which problem areas of the building under construction should be strengthened.

Areas to be strengthened

When using gas silicate, to increase the strength characteristics of the object under construction, reinforce gas silicate blocks in problem areas.

The construction of aerated concrete walls must be accompanied by the obligatory laying of a reinforcing frame

The following areas are subject to reinforcement:

• the area between the base of the building and the lower row of masonry, which perceives the mass of walls, ceilings and roofs. They provide the strength of the base with reinforcement or steel mesh, which contributes to the proportional distribution of forces on the foundation and increases the bearing characteristics of the first row of blocks;
• supporting surfaces of the masonry being erected at intervals of every 4 levels of installed blocks. Masonry mesh, along with steel reinforcement, allows you to perform reliable reinforcement of these areas;
• wall surfaces of increased length, as well as the side surfaces of the building, perceiving increased loads. An additional reinforcement circuit is provided by the masonry mesh. This allows you to increase strength, compensate for wind loads and achieve thermal insulation of the building perimeter;
• the upper level of the walls, perceiving the load of the truss system and the roof of the building. The use of steel reinforcement makes it possible to form a monolithic reinforcement contour around the entire perimeter of the walls, which evens out point loads and evenly distributes the forces transmitted by the truss system to the masonry surface;
• areas located in the openings. Using steel reinforcement located in the prepared grooves, they strengthen the sections above the lintels, which perceive significant loads from the mass of the masonry located above them.

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Consider the materials that allow you to perform the reinforcement of gas silicate blocks.

Based on the possible loads, several types and approaches are used in laying reinforcing elements.

How are products enhanced?

Reinforce masonry from gas silicate blocks using the following materials:

Let us dwell on the features of the implementation of individual stages in the most problematic areas.

Features of masonry reinforcement

Reinforce masonry from gas silicate blocks in the following sequence:

• mark the surfaces by drawing two parallel lines, each of which is 6 cm from the side surface;
• according to the marking, make grooves using a wall chaser or grinder;
• clean the grooves from dust, moisten the surface;
• cut the rebar to the required length and place it in the cavity;
• connect the fittings into a solid circuit by welding or knitting wire;
• fill the grooves with the bars with mortar, ensuring an equal layer thickness for laying the next row.

If the masonry is reinforced correctly, then the house will never crack and will always be strong enough.

Using the grid

Wanting to provide strength, they also reinforce with the help of a mesh. It is possible to purchase a commercially manufactured mesh or make it at home. The mesh can be immersed in the grooves or placed in the solution. Gas silicate is reinforced with masonry meshes made of various materials:

• Galvanized wire, which has increased strength, but is prone to corrosion.
• Fiberglass, having insufficient strength, used only for reinforcing walls.
• Basalt fiber, not prone to corrosion, the strength characteristics of which are close to metal structures.

The use of mesh to strengthen gas silicate walls allows you to strengthen buildings and create a favorable microclimate.

Reinforcement of openings

Reinforcement of walls from gas silicate blocks in the areas of openings is carried out by two methods:

• the use of steel rods with a diameter of 4-5 mm located in the gas silicate, repeating the configuration of the corners and the supporting part of the jumper. Install the bars in pre-made grooves;

Often during the repair process it is required to install partitions, and more and more often aerated concrete (gas silicate) is used for this. It is lightweight - it weighs several times less than a brick, the walls fold quickly. Therefore, aerated concrete partitions are installed in apartments and houses, regardless of what the load-bearing walls are made of.

Thickness of aerated concrete partitions

For the construction of partitions inside the premises, special gas silicate blocks are produced, which have a smaller thickness. The standard thickness of partition blocks is 100-150 mm. You can find non-standard in 75 mm and 175 mm. The width and height remain the same:

• width 600 mm and 625 mm;
• height 200 mm, 250 mm, 300 mm.

The brand of aerated concrete blocks must be at least D 400. This is the minimum density that can be used to build partitions up to 3 meters high. Optimal - D500. You can also take denser ones - grades D 600, but their cost will be higher, but they have a better bearing capacity: it will be possible to hang objects on the wall using special anchors.

Without experience, it is almost impossible to determine the brand of aerated concrete. You can "by eye" see the difference between the heat-insulating blocks density. D300 and wall D600, but between 500 and 600 it is difficult to catch.

The lower the density, the larger the "bubbles"

The only available control method is weighing. Data on the size, volume and weight of aerated concrete partition blocks are given in the table.

The thickness of aerated concrete partitions is selected according to several factors. The first is whether it is a load-bearing wall or not. If the wall is bearing, in a good way, a calculation of the bearing capacity is required. In real life, they are made the same width as the outer load-bearing walls. Basically - from wall blocks 200 mm wide with reinforcement through 3-4 rows, like for external walls. If the partition is not load-bearing, use the second parameter: height.

• With a height of up to 3 meters, blocks of 100 mm wide are used;
• from 3 m to 5 m - the thickness of the block is already taken 200 mm.

More precisely, you can choose the thickness of the block according to the table. It takes into account factors such as the presence of an interface with the upper floor and the length of the partition.

Device and features

If aerated concrete partitions are installed in the process of repairing and or houses, you must first apply markings. The line is upholstered around the entire perimeter: on the floor, ceiling, walls. The easiest way to do this is with a laser plane builder. If it doesn't exist, it's better to start with a stream:

• A line is marked on the ceiling (two points on opposite walls). Between them, a masking cord is pulled, dyed with blue or some other coloring dry substance. With his help beat off the line.
• The lines on the ceiling are transferred to the floor with a plumb line.
• Then the lines on the floor and ceiling are connected, drawing verticals along the walls. If everything is done correctly, they should be strictly vertical.

The next step in the construction of aerated concrete partitions is the waterproofing of the base. The floor is cleaned of debris and dust, waterproofing roll material is laid (any: film, roofing material, waterproofing, etc.) or coated with bituminous mastics.

Vibration damping strips

To reduce the possibility of crack formation and improve soundproofing characteristics, a vibration damping strip is spread on top. These are materials with many small air bubbles:

• hard mineral wool - mineral wool cardboard;
• polystyrene foam of high density, but small thickness;
• soft fiberboard.

On short spans - up to 3 meters - reinforcement is not done at all. On longer ones, a reinforcing polymer mesh, a perforated metal strip, as in the photo, etc. are laid.

Wall connection

To ensure communication with adjacent walls at the stage of laying, flexible connections are laid in the seams - these are thin metal perforated plates or T-shaped anchors. They are installed in every 3rd row.

If a gas silicate partition is placed in a building where such connections are not provided, they can be fixed on the wall by bending in the form of the letter “G”, leading one part into the seam.

When using anchors, the connection with the wall is rigid, which in this case is not very good: a rigid rod from vibrations (wind, for example) can destroy the adjacent adhesive and the body of the block. As a result, the junction strength will be zero. When using flexible links, all these phenomena will not affect the blocks so much. As a result, the bond strength will be higher.

To prevent the formation of cracks in the corners, between the wall and the partition, a damper seam is made. It can be thin foam, mineral wool, special damper tape, which is used when laying underfloor heating and other materials. To exclude the "suction" of moisture through these seams, they are treated with steam after laying. not permeable sealant.

Openings in gas silicate partitions

Since the partitions are not load-bearing, the load will not be transferred to them. Therefore, there is no need to lay standard reinforced concrete beams above the doors or make a full-fledged jumper, as in load-bearing walls. For a standard doorway of 60-80 cm, two corners can be laid, which will serve as a support for the overlying blocks. Another thing is that the corner should protrude beyond the opening by 30-50 cm. If the opening is wider, a channel may be required.

In the photo, to reinforce the opening of a standard door, two metal corners were used (on the right), in the opening on the left, a channel was walled up, under which the grooves in the blocks were selected.

If the opening is not wide, and there are only two blocks in it, it is advisable to pick them up so that the seam is almost in the middle of the opening. So you get a more stable opening. Although, when laying on corners or a channel, this is not a table that matters: the bearing capacity is more than enough.

So that the metal does not bend while the glue dries, the openings are reinforced. In narrow openings, it is enough to nail boards; in wide openings, a supporting structure resting on the floor may be required (fold a column of blocks under the middle of the opening).

Another option on how to reinforce a doorway into aerated concrete partitions is to make a reinforced tape from reinforcement and glue / mortar. A flat board is stuffed strictly horizontally into the opening, nailing it to the walls with nails. Sidewalls are nailed / screwed on the sides, which will hold the solution.

A mortar is laid on top of the board, three bars of class A-III reinforcement with a diameter of 12 mm are placed in it. Partition blocks are placed on top, as usual, following the displacement of the seams. The formwork is removed after 3-4 days, when the cement "grabs".

Last row - adjoining the ceiling

Since the floor slabs can sag under loads, the height of the partition is calculated so that it does not reach the ceiling by 20 mm. If necessary, the blocks of the upper row are sawn. The resulting expansion gap can be sealed with damping material: the same mineral wool cardboard, for example. With this option, sounds from the upper floor will be less heard. An easier option is to moisten the seam with water and fill it with mounting foam.

Sound insulation of aerated concrete

Although the sellers of gas silicate blocks talk about high rates of sound insulation, they greatly exaggerate. Even a standard block with a thickness of 200 mm conducts sounds and noises well, and even thinner partition blocks even more so.

According to the norms, the sound resistance of partitions should not be lower than 43 dB, but it is better if it is higher than 50 dB. This will give you silence.

To have an idea of ​​how "noisy" the gas silicate blocks are, we present a table with standard indicators of the sound resistance of blocks of different density and different thicknesses.

As you can see at the block, 100 mm thick, it falls short of the lowest requirement. Therefore, at , it is possible to increase the thickness of the finishing layer in order to “hold out” to the standard. If normal sound insulation is required, the walls are additionally sheathed with mineral wool. This material is not soundproofing, but reduces noise by about 50%. As a result, sounds are almost inaudible. The best indicators have specialized soundproof materials, but when choosing them, you need to look at the vapor permeability characteristics so as not to lock moisture inside the gas silicate.

If you need absolutely "quiet" walls, experts advise installing two thin partitions with a distance of 60-90 mm, which is filled with sound-absorbing material.

Reinforcement of walls made of aerated concrete blocks is a prerequisite. This rule is dictated by certain performance characteristics of aerated concrete. If the walls of this material are not reinforced, the service life of the building is significantly reduced.

Despite the fact that aerated concrete has a high degree of compressive strength, it has a low resistance to tension and bending. The house after construction is exposed to a number of negative factors, such as shrinkage of the building and temperature changes. These factors lead to the risk of shrinkage and thermal deformations.

When a building shrinks, horizontal stress can lead to cracks and gaps in the wall that are incompatible with its further operation. Such violations are called shrinkage deformations. In addition, thermal deformations take place. Almost all materials tend to shrink when the temperature drops and expand when it rises. Such fluctuations can lead to a violation of the structural integrity of the walls.

It is to prevent this kind of problems that the reinforcement of walls made of aerated concrete blocks is carried out. Reinforced rows protect the entire structure from horizontal loads caused by temperature changes or building shrinkage. We are talking about protection against horizontal deformations because vertical loads are damped by gravity. However, it also creates additional stress in the opening area, so that protection against vertical loads is also provided.

Separately, it is worth noting that reinforcement does not increase the bearing capacity of the walls.

Reinforcement materials

Reinforcement of aerated concrete masonry can be carried out in different ways and using different materials. The following materials can be distinguished for strengthening the walls:

1. Fittings. The classic method of reinforcing aerated concrete masonry. For it, reinforcing bars with a diameter of 0.8 to 1.4 centimeters are used. The technology of their application involves the formation of gutters in the masonry, corresponding in size to the diameter of the reinforcement and taking into account the fact that mortar will also be poured into them. As a rule, with a standard thickness of aerated concrete block, two parallel gutters are formed. When reinforcing the corners, the gutters are made in the form of an arc.

Reinforcing bars

In the classic case, metal rods are used as reinforcement. However, there is also a more advanced material - this is fiberglass reinforcement. It is devoid of a number of disadvantages inherent in steel. The following advantages of fiberglass fiber can be distinguished:

• This composite material has a high chemical resistance and, unlike metal, does not corrode.
• It bends quite simply, which greatly simplifies the reinforcement of corners.
• The tensile strength of fiberglass is many times greater than that of metal. With an identical load level, the allowable thickness of composite reinforcement is less than that of metal reinforcement. Thanks to this, you can make smaller gutters for laying it and save mortar.
• Fiberglass, unlike metal, practically does not expand with increasing temperature. This helps to reduce the mechanical impact on the walls from the inside.
• Composite reinforcement has low thermal conductivity and does not conduct electricity.

However, this material also has a number of disadvantages, these include the impossibility of fastening its pieces using electric welding. This problem is solved by placing metal tips at the ends of the reinforcing bars, which are subsequently welded. This improvement is made in the factory. In addition, due to its high bending ability, its use in reinforcing floors is not recommended.

1. 1. metal network. The reinforcement of the masonry with an iron net is carried out by applying it to a number of aerated concrete blocks without pre-treatment of the latter. After that, the network is covered with a solution. The reinforcing mesh, as a rule, has the following characteristics: the side of the square of the cell is 5 centimeters, the thickness of the wire is from 0.3 to 0.5 centimeters. Slightly higher requirements are imposed on the mesh for reinforcing openings and the first row of masonry: the mesh size is 7 by 7 centimeters, and the wire thickness is from 0.4 centimeters.

1. Mounting perforated tape. Another option for reinforcing the laying of aerated concrete blocks. The tape is a long strip of galvanized metal dotted with holes, hence the name perforated. Reinforcement with this material is carried out similarly to the method using reinforcement. The difference is that gutters are not made in the masonry. The tape is fastened with self-tapping screws directly to the gas blocks.

Mounting perforated tape for reinforcement of gas blocks

This option is applicable for buildings, the design load on which is relatively low. Since the section of the tape is much lower than that of the reinforcement, its laying should be carried out in a greater number of parallel rows than the laying of metal rods. The advantages of using this material include ease of transportation and saving the solution, due to the absence of gutters in the masonry.

Hardware stores sell tape in different sizes. Not every one of them is suitable for reinforcing masonry. Tape must be at least 1.6 cm wide and at least 0.1 cm thick.

Masonry reinforcement principles

The strengthening of the walls, necessary in the case of using aerated concrete, will have the desired effect only if all the principles and technologies of proper reinforcement are observed.

Reinforcement of the upper and lower rows

When reinforcing masonry, there is no need to strengthen each of its rows. As a rule, the laying of reinforcement, tape or mesh is carried out with a certain step, for example, every third row. However, there are a number of elements that are always strengthened without fail. These include the extreme upper and lower rows of the wall.

The upper level of the wall is the basis for the roof structure, which is the reason for the impact of additional loads on it. The total mass of the roof presses unevenly on the top row, so its individual parts are loaded more than others. The difference between these pressures can cause a violation of the integrity of the wall. For this reason, special attention is paid to the reinforcement of the uppermost row. When strengthening masonry from aerated concrete, even partitions are reinforced in the upper row.

The bottom row of masonry is subject to the greatest loads, because the weight of the entire structure presses on it. Therefore, it is more prone to the risk of shrinkage deformations than others. Reinforcement of the first row is recommended even for small buildings.

Types of wall reinforcement

Applying a division based on the purpose of strengthening the walls, the following types of masonry reinforcement can be distinguished:

• For strengthening areas with increased load. These areas include door and window openings provided for by the building design.
• To prevent the occurrence of cracks and ruptures due to temperature and shrinkage deformations.
• To protect against destructive natural factors. This type of amplification is relevant for regions where seismic activity or frequent hurricane winds are observed. Unlike previous methods, in this case, vertical reinforcement of the walls is used. This procedure is widely used not only for aerated concrete walls, but also for brickwork. This is a fundamentally different method of strengthening buildings, deserving a separate article.

Reinforcement of openings

The presence of structural openings in the wall plane creates an additional load in the area of ​​their location. To counteract this load, it is necessary to strengthen the row under the window opening. In this case, there is no need to lay reinforcement or other material around the entire perimeter of the row, it is enough to lay them under the window opening and 90 centimeters to each side of it.

Thus, the reinforcement of aerated concrete is not just a common occurrence, but a prerequisite. It allows you to achieve the necessary structural strength for its safe and durable operation. True, it is not enough just to reinforce the masonry from aerated concrete blocks. It is necessary to perform this procedure taking into account all the requirements for production technology.

Reinforcement of aerated concrete is a necessary construction procedure, which is due to the fact that aerated concrete material, although it is resistant to compressive loads, but with this feature, it is not able to stretch. The slightest bend leads to the appearance of cracks on the surface if the load that affects a particular installation site exceeds the strength of the block. Reinforcement of aerated concrete blocks is carried out in two different ways - by reinforcing rows of masonry with reinforcement (mesh) or by installing a monolithic belt. Two methods increase the deformation resistance of the masonry, but they do not affect the bearing capacity of the partitions.

Problem areas requiring mandatory wall reinforcement:

Developers often ask the question: is it necessary to reinforce the masonry in every 4 rows of gas blocks. This is determined based on the design features and the length of the walls of the future building, the characteristics of the soil at the building site and the type of foundation. Aerated concrete houses located in climatic, seismic and wind regions need reinforced wall reinforcement.

If the ends of individual reinforcing bars were not tied into one loop, they should be bent at an angle of 90 degrees and deepened into strobes - this will ensure reliable anchoring in the partition of the house.

Technology

First, the method of mounting a reinforced concrete structure designed to strengthen the walls of a building from various loads will be described. Such an armored belt is made of dense blocks 100 and 50 mm thick or a wooden formwork is installed. The first technology is easier and faster to implement.

Order of execution

1. A 100 mm block is mounted from the front part of the wall and placed on the adhesive solution to the main masonry.
2. On the inside, blocks with a thickness of 50 mm are laid.
3. Thermal insulation. Extruded polystyrene foam panels adjusted to the height are glued to the wall with five centimeter gas blocks.
4. Reinforcement is laid inside the formwork at a distance of 5 cm from the partitions. It is recommended to weld YTONG vertical reinforced aerated concrete lintels to the longitudinal reinforcement every 30 cm, the height of which is selected so that the upper part of the frame is located at a distance of five centimeters from the outer contour of the monolithic belt. Horizontal connecting rods are welded to the vertical lintels, on which the upper longitudinal belt of the structure must be fixed.
5. The space between the blocks should be filled with concrete mortar, the M200 or M300 brand is suitable for this.

Reinforcement with reinforcement between rows does not require special skills. To work, you will need a manual or electric wall chaser. In blocks, 2 strobes are made at a distance of 6 cm from the edge. The depth and width must correspond to the size of the reinforcement used.

After deepening, it should be cleaned of dust and filled with adhesive mortar for laying gas blocks, after which parts of the reinforcement should be laid. Remove excess glue with a spatula. In the corner zones of the partitions, L-shaped rods are used. The fittings are interconnected by welding.

When a mesh is used to reinforce aerated concrete blocks, building materials with 5x5 cm cells made of wire 3-4 mm thick should be used. At the same time, it is not necessary to do strobing; during installation work, glue is applied to the surface of the gas blocks, the approximate thickness is 2.3 mm. After that, a reinforcement mesh is laid, the edges of which should be 5 cm away from the end of the block. Next, a second layer of glue is applied.

Reinforcement of aerated concrete during masonry

When carrying out work, you should know how to properly reinforce and through how many rows to lay the bars. Reinforcement of the first row of masonry must be carried out without fail, and if necessary, every fourth (whether it is necessary - this becomes clear from the individual characteristics of the building). The process is carried out as follows:

• Strengthening of the structure is carried out with steel bars with a diameter of 8 mm grade A3. Reinforcement of partitions with a thickness of 20 cm, the laying method allows the use of one bar of reinforcement exactly in the middle of the row. In special cases, it is permissible to use reinforcement with a diameter of 6 mm.
• For thick walls, use 2 bars laid parallel to each other. To do this, with the help of a wall chaser, two parallel recesses are made. The distance from the inner and outer edges of the partition is at least 6 cm. In the corners of the building, the gates must be rounded.
• The overlap of the reinforcement is done in the middle of the wall, fixing is done with a knitting wire.

It is not necessary to lay reinforcement around the entire perimeter of each wall row. It will be enough to place the metal reinforcement in the most dangerous parts of the partition structure .

The vertical reinforcement of the walls is a connection between the foundation of the building and the interfloor or roofing monolithic armored belt located above it. This technology is different in that all loads are taken not by wall masonry, but by a reinforcing cage. The walls serve as thermal insulation.

Door and window openings

When reinforcing jumpers, U-shaped blocks are used, which also need to be reinforced by at least 90 cm on both sides of the opening. First, a wooden structure is made in the openings, on which the U-shaped block will rest. Such blocks are installed with the thickened side out. It is also recommended to insulate the grooves with a 3-5 cm styrofoam board to close the side walls of the outer surface of the blocks. After that, a reinforced structure is laid, which is poured with concrete. When the concrete has completely hardened, the structure is dismantled.

To prevent the wall laying process from slowing down, U-shaped blocks should be laid together with ordinary ones. After the strobes are filled with reinforcement and concreted. In this case, it is recommended not to forget about the heater.

Reinforcement under window openings requires laying reinforcement in the last row of blocks in front of the window being constructed. To do this, it will be necessary to mark the planned length on the masonry surface, while the reinforcement bars should be half a meter longer than the window.