How to lay a wall of foam blocks. Guide for self-laying foam concrete blocks

Unlike brick, the foam block is distinguished by its low strength, which is why it must be supported during masonry. In order to properly carry out this construction process, it is necessary to use and install a special reinforcing mesh, which can be purchased at any hardware store. In order to better understand the styling using this material, readers are provided with a video lesson that details all the subtleties and nuances when working with this material.

To make the correct laying of the first row, it is necessary to make a special cement-sand mortar. It is applied to the surface with a thickness of 1-2 centimeters, after which waterproofing is installed. It can be roofing material, hydroisol or rubemast, it all depends on your finances and preferences.

If the foam concrete block has the correct shape and there are no chips on it, then it can be put on glue. Before embarking on this process, you should familiarize yourself with its advantages:

Wall homogeneity and absence of cold bridges are ensured;
The glue is used slower than the solution, in addition, laying foam blocks with your own hands on the glue is faster;
After completion of laying, a smooth wall surface is obtained, in contrast to the consequences of laying on mortar.

Knowing all the advantages of working with glue, you need to proceed to the next step - to decide which glue for laying foam blocks is more suitable. There is no clear answer here, because such a building material is produced by many companies. If it is not possible to buy it, you can use a special tile adhesive that is resistant to frost.

The first thing to remember is that you can not leave voids in the seams. To apply building adhesive, a spatula-ladle with a notched coating is used. If the question is how to lay the foam blocks on the foundation in two rows, then the inter-row surface must also be covered with glue. Laying is carried out carefully and slowly.

Before making a partition from this building material, it is necessary to reinforce the walls.

Every 3-4 rows should be reinforced with special welded masonry tiles. It is laid directly into fresh seams. If you start correctly and make laying out of foam blocks, you can eliminate the appearance of cracks and increase the stability of the wall.

The instruction in the video will help you figure out how to properly lay the foam block with a reinforcing mesh. Such a mesh is made of wire with a width of about 3-5 mm, that is, it will be difficult to do the laying with your own hands using glue. To solve this problem, it is necessary to perform reinforcement with the help of reinforcement, which is included in the grooves made on the foam block. You can clearly see how to put the foam blocks in the video. Among other things, the viewer will be told about the correct laying of floor slabs. They cannot be laid directly on the foam blocks, as there is a possibility of creating a point load. Therefore, before laying, it is necessary to install a concrete armored belt. The disadvantage of this belt is that it violates thermal insulation. In order to later be able to calmly fix the tiles on the erected wall, the belt will need to be insulated.

The video will help you understand the basic techniques for laying foam blocks with your own hands. A sufficient width of a wall made of this material for mid-latitudes is considered to be 40 cm. You can learn from specialists how to carry out similar construction work in other areas.

In the video How to make masonry from foam blocks with your own hands, the main advantages of this method are explained. For those who decide to start the described process and do not know how to lay the foam block masonry correctly, everything is described in detail here. Therefore, in order to do everything competently and efficiently, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the above video.

One of the most common material for the construction of walls in the construction of buildings is the foam block. This building material allows you to quickly and efficiently build walls and internal partitions, and also provides good thermal insulation.

Proper laying of the foam block is a responsible job that requires careful isolation from moisture. To do this, it is necessary to prepare a foundation for laying. The best solution would be to level the foundation with a solution using liquid glass. After that, using the level, you can start laying the foam blocks, after cleaning the chips. Start laying from the corner and then continue along the entire perimeter of the foundation. The choice of angle can be arbitrary if the foundation is poured perfectly evenly. Otherwise, you need to start from the highest angle.

It is worth considering a few recommendations necessary for further, proper laying of foam blocks. When buying the right amount of foam blocks, it is worth purchasing both a special tool for high-quality masonry and a building dry mix of thin-layer concrete. Using a low speed perforator, dissolve the mixture package with water, following the manufacturer's instructions. The finished mortar is evenly applied to a number of blocks and using a notched trowel that automatically adjusts the required height of the mortar layer, level the surface.

It is necessary to position the first block as accurately as possible, which is the main and important element for further, even masonry. The most preferred in our climatic conditions is the laying of foam blocks in two rows. With subsequent brick cladding, the wall thickness will be 55 centimeters. This is quite enough for reliable thermal insulation.

When installing, pay attention to filling the joints with mortar. The formation of voids will lead to weakening of the masonry and the penetration of moisture. Also carefully remove the remains of the solution on the outer surfaces of the walls. For maximum reliability, use a reinforcing mesh that is laid every three rows (rebar can be used).

In many ways, the methods of laying foam blocks depend on the method of their manufacture. If the foam block is made using the bulk method, in which the foamed mixture is poured into the mold, a sand-cement mortar is sufficient for its installation. This method will make it possible to even out small differences in dimensions that occur during the poured method of manufacturing blocks.

Another way to manufacture foam blocks allows you to achieve high dimensional accuracy, since a large piece is cut into blocks according to templates. If the foam blocks are the same size, a special adhesive mixture can be used for installation, which is superior in its characteristics to an ordinary sand-cement mixture. Its use will reduce consumption and achieve a perfectly flat surface of the walls. This advantage allows you to significantly save on the finishing of the premises.

The choice of adhesive mixtures is quite large. They are produced by both domestic and foreign manufacturers. In addition to the above tips for installing foam concrete blocks, in order to achieve good thermal insulation and a beautiful appearance of the building, it is necessary to carefully consider the external cladding of the building, since, having a high porosity, foam blocks need reliable protection from moisture.

How to lay foam blocks? Video

Laying foam blocks with your own hands is not such a complicated process, and most importantly, it is fast. After all, it has a large volume and the space fills up quickly. We will consider how to lay foam blocks today.

Everything has its own technology and blocks are no exception. On the video in this article you can see the whole process of doing the work. Instructions will also be offered and you will not miss anything.

Foam block masonry technology

Laying the foam block with your own hands is done on the mortar, and you also need to pick it up. It should be noted right away that if there is no external finish of the plane, then it is best to use a cement-based mixture. It is most well tolerated by temperature extremes and high humidity.

Applied solutions

Foam blocks are laid in two rows or one, it does not matter.

You immediately need to decide on the solution:

Cement-sand classic mortar	It is prepared in the following ratio: 1 part of cement and 4 parts of sand, water, depending on the consistency of the solution. Additional additives can be introduced into such solutions to improve the basic technical characteristics of the mixture. The price of this material is not high, it can be used for laying not very high-quality blocks. But there is also a drawback due to the wide seams obtained by using such a solution, the thermal conductivity of the entire structure increases.
Lime composition	This solution is used quite often: The solution is light, it is evenly distributed over the plane and fills the seam; There is also a drawback, it should not be left open, it is better to use it when you are doing another plane facing.
Special glue	It is sold in dry form and before use, water is added to the dry mixture until the desired density of the solution is obtained. The thickness of the seams after using a special solution may lie in the range of 2-3 mm. Pros: the possibility of obtaining such seams, ease of preparation, good masonry strength, reduced heat loss. Cons: it is desirable to use high-quality compounds, masonry should be trusted to professionals who know how to lay foam blocks.
tile adhesive	Ordinary frost-resistant tile adhesive. Tile adhesives are designed not only for laying tiles, but they can be used for laying foam blocks, especially since they can also be used for outdoor work. The technology of laying foam blocks involves the use of reinforcement, which is made using a metal mesh or reinforcement that fits into pre-cut grooves on the surface of the foam blocks.

Laying foam blocks on cement mortars

Fundamentally, laying on other compositions is no different. The working principle is the same.

We prepare tools and materials

A tool for laying foam blocks is needed, as well as for laying bricks.

And the list is as follows:

A container for kneading, it is better if it does not have stiffeners. Then you can make a quality batch;
Hacksaw or grinder with a disk, there should be a small tooth. Then the cut will be even;
You will need a trowel;
Spade for mixing mortar.
Unnecessary buckets, because after the cement mortar it is unlikely that they can be used anywhere.
Building level.
Lacing.
Rubber mallet.
Trowel (trowel).
River sand or mountain.
Cement brand M400.
Soapy water.

Attention: It is also necessary to properly prepare the place for masonry. You must move freely. Work will not work on the ladder. It is best to purchase or rent scaffolding.

Solution preparation

Since all the tools and consumables are already in place, you can safely start mixing the solution:

Dry ingredients are poured into the container, such as sand and cement at the rate of 1 part cement and 3 parts sand.
First you need to take a shovel and mix the dry ingredients, after which water is added to the mixture in small portions so as not to “smear” with the density of the solution. at this stage, soapy water or plasticizers should be added to the solution.
In the case of a concrete mixer, the sequence of actions is somewhat different: first, 1 bucket of water is poured into the concrete mixer, then 1 bucket of cement is poured into the same place. At the same time, the concrete mixer must constantly work. After the cement and water are well mixed, 3 buckets of sand are added to them. The output should be a solution of the required density. If this does not work out, you can add a little water or a couple of shovels of sand to the mixture. This will not affect the quality of the solution.
During operation, the solution should be stirred regularly so that it does not settle, and the mass is constantly homogeneous. In order to make the work not seem very hard, you can offer a few tips:
At elevated air temperatures, the masonry can be constantly sprinkled with water, and at the end of work, it is advisable to cover the masonry with a film so as not to force the drying process.

masonry technique

When purchasing foam blocks, you need, first of all, to pay attention to the quality, evidence of which will be their appearance.

Attention: You should not take foam blocks made using the forming technology if it is planned to build not an outbuilding, but a responsible building. On such foam blocks there are traces of lubricant that reduce the adhesion of materials. For this, blocks produced using cutting technology are better suited. They are distinguished by regular geometric shapes and a clean surface.

The first row of blocks must be laid on the solution, no matter what compositions will be used later. This is necessary in order to lay out the first row very well, since the thickness of the seam will allow each block to be adjusted.
Subsequent layers are laid out according to the method of ordinary brickwork, with mandatory dressing of the seams. This means that the vertical seam of each previous layer must be at least 20 cm from the edge of the next block. In other words, the blocks are laid out in a checkerboard pattern, making sure that the seams are 100% filled, otherwise the desired quality, based on the characteristics of the material, will not work.
For greater structural strength, do not forget about reinforcement. This also applies to the construction of lintels over door and window openings. They are poured with concrete mortar, having equipped the formwork before that and placing a metal frame for reinforcement inside the formwork.

An armored belt is being built using the same technology: formwork is installed, a metal frame is laid around the entire perimeter and poured with concrete. The height of the armored belt can range from 10 to 20 cm, depending on the area of the foam block building.
Laying the foam block in two rows or one is done taking into account the dressing. The seam should never match in order.
During the laying process, special attention should be paid to filling the joints. They must be filled as much as possible, otherwise there will be significant losses.
Mandatory reinforcement is made every 3-5 rows.
To evenly distribute the load on the foam block structure, a continuous armored belt is formed on top of the foam concrete masonry, based on concrete pouring.
Before starting masonry, do not forget about the waterproofing layer. It can be arranged by putting a couple of layers of roofing material.

They start laying from the corners, carefully exposing the foam blocks using the building level. Then, between the corners, a rope is pulled, which will serve as a beacon, when laying the wall.

Laying foam blocks on glue

If the foam concrete blocks are of acceptable quality, then adhesives can be used to lay them.

In this case, the procedure is as follows:

Blocks with geometric errors of no more than 1 mm are suitable for laying on glue. This is very important, since the thickness of the seams can be no more than 2-3 mm.
As mentioned above, the first row is laid on a cement-sand mortar, while each block is carefully monitored. From how much the first row will be laid out, the wall will turn out so evenly. During the laying process, you can use a rubber hammer to put the foam block in its place.
The subsequent rows are laid out on glue. The adhesive is applied to the surface of the blocks with a notched trowel. The layer thickness is no more than 5 mm, which will decrease to 2-3 mm when installing the block. During application, it should be controlled that the adhesive is evenly distributed over the entire surface.
In the process of masonry, it is imperative to control the evenness of the masonry using the building level and plumb line.
Door and window lintels are formed in the same way as in the previous case, using concrete pouring with mandatory reinforcement. In the same way, the armo-belt is formed.
Reinforcement reinforcement is laid every 3-5 rows, while special attention should be paid to reinforcing the corners. Given the fact that the thickness of the seams when using glue is minimal, then after laying out the 3rd or 5th row around the entire perimeter, a groove is cut out in the center of the masonry, into which the reinforcement is laid and filled with glue. The reinforcement should not be higher than the level of the blocks.

And in conclusion, I would like to say that foam block structures should not be heavily loaded, and therefore it is better to mount light, wooden roofs using light roofing materials. This will increase the durability of the foam block building.

The technology of laying foam blocks is not at all complicated. The main thing is to do everything carefully and slowly. Doing the work yourself will be a guarantee of quality; before starting, you should look at the photo and draw up a construction plan. After that, you can start.

For foam blocks, the solution can be made from different components. Today we will look at how to put foam blocks on the mortar, what is needed for this and what you should pay attention to.

Here there is a difference in contrast to the brick. After all, this material quickly absorbs moisture, so the approach here will be different. Also on the video in this article you can see additional information on this issue.

Rules for laying foam blocks

We immediately decide what solution is needed for laying foam blocks, it all depends on what you are building. If this is not a large structure, then it is quite possible to get by with glue. If this is the construction of a house, then it is better to use a cement composition, its price will be much lower.

We prepare the solution

The proportions of the mortar for laying foam blocks are determined depending on the type of masonry.

Let's look at how to prepare a mortar for laying foam blocks:

If it is a house, then it is better to do it on a cement composition. And you don’t even have to think whether it is possible to put foam blocks on cement mortar, but you need to do it. Moreover, for external walls it is better to add more cement to the solution in relation to sand. For M300, it is worth applying the ratio of sand and cement 3/1
If this is a simple partition in the house, then the proportions of the mortar for laying foam blocks 4/1 can also be applied.
The blocks have the correct geometry, so a thin layer of mortar can also be applied here. Before cooking, it is worth sifting sand and cement. Then you will separate the debris and there will be no lumps.
You can also make a warm solution for foam blocks, lime is simply added here and the composition will be more elastic

Attention: The proportions of the mortar for laying foam blocks are selected depending on which brand of mortar you need. The more cement, the higher the brand will be.

Treasure of the first row

Now let's look at how to properly put the solution on the foam blocks and what to provide for. The initial row of laying a foam block wall is always performed with a sand-cement mortar.

The technology is simple:

One to two centimeters of the solution is applied on top of the base. A waterproofing layer is placed on the mixture.
Previously, roofing material was taken for these purposes, since there was not much choice. At the present time, it is best to purchase rolled material from a series of soft roofs - hydroisol, rubemast, and so on.
For insulation, the first row of foam blocks is laid.

What is better to use for foam blocks - glue or mortar

Foam blocks that have excellent geometry with a slight geometric deviation in size, which will not be more than a couple of millimeters, can be laid on glue.

This option has the following advantages:

There is no so-called cold bridge. The uniformity of the thermal insulation characteristics of the wall is the main advantage of such masonry;
Small labor intensity. The amount of glue to be mixed is a couple of times less than the volume of the solution;
Further finishing does not cause difficulties. When a wall of blocks is put on glue, it should come out absolutely even (otherwise, the bricklayer can be kicked out), so finishing such a wall will cost several times less. There is no need for a huge amount of dry mortar, which is used to plaster and level the walls. The consumption of putties for these works will be minimal.
Glue for masonry walls can be both domestic and foreign. If you cannot find the required composition in your region, foam blocks can be laid on frost-resistant tile adhesive.

Attention: The main rule when carrying out such work is that there should be no voids in the seams. Usually, a notched trowel-ladle is taken to lay out the glue. The solution must completely fill not only vertical, but also horizontal seams.

If the masonry is carried out in a couple of rows (for example, in blocks of 200x300x600 millimeters per edge with a wall thickness of four hundred millimeters), then the gaps between the rows must also be filled.
When the laying of the material is carried out on the solution, then before that the blocks are best moistened with water. We adhere to the usual proportions, that is, cement - one part, sand - four. Here, of course, there may be an option with the addition of special plasticizers.
The consumption of cement mortar for laying the foam block will depend on the volume of masonry, but it will be 4 times less than brick laying.

Reinforcing block walls

Any masonry, including from foam concrete blocks, must be reinforced. For these purposes, every three to four rows, a welded mesh is laid in the seams.

Attention: Reinforcement performs several functions: additional protection against cracking and increased structural stability. For example, during the construction of long interior partitions in monolithic houses, the masonry is reinforced due to stability.

Due to the fact that the masonry mesh is made of wire four to five millimeters in diameter (with ligaments welded across, which increases the height of the mesh several times), its use during laying on the adhesive mixture will cause difficulties. There is one solution: we reinforce the masonry with reinforcement, cutting out small grooves for it. Foam concrete can be processed without problems, so there should not be any difficulties. In order to cut grooves in the masonry, you can use a wall chaser, but if it is not there, then a circular saw or grinder is quite suitable.
Floor slabs should not be laid on the foam block itself, because this creates a point load that can exceed the allowable tensile strength of foam concrete. To evenly distribute the load, we cast a concrete armored belt about twenty centimeters high on top of the wall. If the lining is made of brick, then the height of the belt should be equal to the height of two rows of brickwork. Due to the fact that the concrete belt leads to a violation of the thermal insulation characteristics of the wall, it must be additionally insulated.

Attention: In the middle latitudes of our country, the usual thickness, for sufficient thermal insulation, is considered to be forty centimeters.

In this case, we cast a belt of reinforcement of 30 cm (this is quite enough for piraniya floor slabs), and the remaining 10 cm are covered with insulation. It is placed outside and covered with facing material. In some cases, the belt that is installed on top of the blocks can be replaced with cheaper brickwork. This option is considered acceptable in the case when they plan to overlap on wooden beams.
The technology of laying walls from blocks implies the overlapping of door and window openings with U-shaped blocks. Their width should be the same as the wall thickness. Take for example a wall of forty centimeters. The U-block, or rather its walls, are 5 cm thick, resulting in an empty space of 30 cm. To block a window opening one hundred and thirty centimeters wide, it will be enough to pour a 20 cm jumper with concrete, and the rest will be used for insulation. To finish a wider opening, you may need a special calculation of the jumper and a different version of the insulation.

What you need to know if you do the work yourself:

Do not prepare a large amount of solution at once. If you use special glue, then it should be borne in mind that it must be used up within fifteen minutes;
The optimum temperature at which it is worth laying blocks is five to twenty-five degrees. If it is higher, then the material should be constantly sprayed with water;
Cement or glue is best applied with a notched comb or trowel - as a result, the seams will be smoother and thinner. We apply the adhesive solution on the side and horizontal surfaces of the block;
After the foam block is installed, it is well pressed. Then we put a level on it and align it horizontally and vertically, tapping it with a rubber mallet. Excess solution is removed with a simple spatula;
After laying every third row, you need to check the vertical deviation of the plumb lines, and the corners - with a level;
Also, do not forget about reinforcement. We lay the reinforcement in the grooves on the mixture, apply the solution on top and lay the next row;
Before laying the next row of blocks, the surface of the previous one is carefully cleaned, we remove all irregularities with a construction grater, sweep the dust with a brush or use a vacuum cleaner for this purpose;
If the block does not fit completely, it is sawn with a simple hacksaw, after which we carefully clean the cut;
The laying of foam concrete blocks should be carried out with dressing. Each next row is shifted relative to the other by at least 10 cm, ideally by half.

What mistakes can be made while working

There are mistakes that are made most often:

Incorrect laying of the starting row. Mistakes that were made during laying can lead to serious problems while working with the following. As a result, the walls of the building will have deviations;
Laying foam blocks in high humidity or rain, at a temperature of - 10;
Poor-quality filling of seams and careless application of the mixture. Blocks during laying absorb moisture from the solution, which provides stronger adhesion. If the adhesive was applied incorrectly, this may affect the thermal insulation properties and strength of the wall;
Neglect of such a stage as dusting. Dirt interferes with the normal connection of the blocks. Over time, flaws may form in these places;
If you forgive the moment of reinforcement, then this can weaken the structure. When the soil shrinks, cracks will begin to form on the walls. Do not forget that the opening of windows and doors must be reinforced without fail;

The construction of partitions

For laying this element indoors, blocks with a thickness of fifty to one hundred and fifty millimeters are used.

Masonry is done in the same way as for external walls. On the ceiling, walls and floor with a coloring thread, he applies lines of future partitions. This process must be approached very seriously, because even a slight deviation from the vertical can affect the stability and strength of the entire structure. You can make guides, pull a rope, or make a frame from a drywall profile.
We clean the adjoining surface, treat it with a primer. Apply a solution to the marking line on the floor and lay out the initial row.
We check the quality with a level and correct inaccuracies with a rubber mallet. The next row starts with half
To strengthen the strength of the entire structure, anchors can be inserted into the load-bearing walls in advance or every third row of internal partitions can be fixed to the load-bearing wall with anchors.
The space between the ceiling and the last row is blown with foam along the perimeter of the masonry forty-eight hours after the construction of the partition.

We cover the foam block walls

In our country, brick houses are extremely popular, so this material is most often used for cladding.

In this case, the laying of foam blocks and cladding is carried out in parallel. Every two to three rows must be connected to the facing, or to make the release of the masonry wall. A variant with fiberglass ties of a pin type is also being considered.
In the latter version, they should be located along the perimeter of the row in increments of forty centimeters. The air space between the foam blocks and the cladding is not required. The use of such material for the construction of country cottages opens up endless possibilities for wall decoration.
A sufficiently strong surface of the block makes it possible to use any type of facade putty and plaster, siding, wild stone, clinker tiles, and so on. In this case, the choice of material is limited only by the financial capabilities and imagination of the customer himself.

On which solution the foam blocks are placed, you now know, and how it is done. Now you can make the necessary calculations and start buying components. The instructions will not let you make mistakes.

Foam block masonry has certain specifics associated with the characteristics of the material. Its low strength involves the reinforcement of the rows and the arrangement of the armored belt under the floors. Foam concrete blocks are used for the construction of structures for various purposes. Of these, load-bearing walls and partitions are quickly erected, receiving, moreover, good thermal insulation. But for this you need to know how to put the foam block, otherwise the expected effect will not work.

Differences in foam block manufacturing technology

When purchasing foam concrete blocks for the further construction of walls, it is recommended to find out by what technology they were produced. This directly depends on the installation option.

Foam concrete is a type of lightweight cellular concrete. In the production of blocks, a foaming agent is added to the mixture of cement, sand and water, which contributes to the appearance of closed-type air cells in concrete. As a result of hardening, a material with very attractive properties is obtained:

small specific weight;
low thermal conductivity;
low indicator of hygroscopicity;
democratic price;
environmental cleanliness;
long service life.

Among the shortcomings of the foam block, it should be noted the lack of high-strength characteristics, as a result of which walls should be built from it using reinforcement, which will increase the reliability of the structure as a whole.

There are two ways to make foam blocks:

casting (or bulk) - the foamed mixture is fed into prepared forms, where, after drying, a ready-to-use building material is obtained;
cutting (or cutting) - a large foam concrete monolith dried in an industrial oven is cut into blocks of standard sizes using string saws.

In the first case, the foam blocks are laid on a cement-sand mortar, thus leveling the allowable deviations in size. In the second case, the blocks have a clearer geometry, so the installation is carried out using adhesive mixtures.

Starting from the foundation

The reliability of masonry and the durability of walls made of foam blocks are possible only if there is a strong and high-quality foundation at their base. It is poured as a solid monolith, or mounted from concrete blocks with the obligatory device of a reinforced concrete strapping belt.

Although the foam blocks have a low hygroscopicity, due to the closed structure of the air cells, they react negatively to the appearance of moisture, absorbing and accumulating it. Therefore, even when designing, it is necessary to provide for measures to protect the walls from a possible capillary rise of water. At the foundation construction stage, both horizontal and vertical external waterproofing is performed, and the level of the basement above the blind area is raised by at least half a meter.

a layer of cement-sand mortar 1-2 cm thick is laid out on the foundation;
waterproofing is arranged;
a layer of cement mortar is laid.

Only after that you can start building walls.

Rules for laying a block of foam concrete

Every bricklayer knows that foam block walls are built much faster than brick walls. This is due to the significantly larger block size with less weight, even compared to one and a half bricks (the ratio is 1:13). Thanks to this, the process of laying foam blocks is much easier and simpler.

In addition, foam concrete lends itself perfectly to processing, which is very important when erecting complex structures. And by what technology the walls will be erected and how to put the foam block - largely depends on the method of its manufacture.

Laying should start from any angle, observing maximum accuracy when laying the foundation block.
There should be no voids between the seams.
To increase the strength of the walls, masonry is reinforced.
Before installation of the ceiling, a reinforced concrete belt is laid.
The first row of foam blocks, regardless of the technology of their manufacture, is laid out on a cement mortar.
When laying, it is necessary to perform dressing at least 0.4 of the height of the foam block.

The initial series must be checked by the level and, if necessary, adjusted. We should not forget that the shape of the future building depends on its evenness.

Cast foam block

The masonry material made by injection molding does not differ in the clarity of lines, so the blocks must be prepared before starting work:

clean sharp corners and too large burrs;
cut significant irregularities;
remove chips.

Cast foam blocks are laid on a cement-sand mortar, which is applied with a notched trowel or trowel to automatically control the height of the applied layer. Vertical joints, as a rule, should be 8-15mm, and horizontal - from 10 to 15mm.

cut foam block

The laying of blocks made by cutting technology is carried out on the adhesive mixture. The wall is smooth, which facilitates its subsequent finishing.

Benefits of using glue:

the minimum size of the seams (1-2mm) - a small consumption of the mixture;
the absence of so-called "cold bridges", which has a positive effect on thermal insulation;
the possibility of choosing a mixture according to the characteristics and manufacturer.

Wall reinforcement

The laying of foam blocks must be reinforced without fail. To do this, after three or four rows, the seams are reinforced with a welded wire mesh (diameter 4-5 mm), which performs the function of additional protection against cracking, increases the stability and strength of the walls. Reinforcement is also produced in the area where the jumpers are supported.

It should be noted that it will be somewhat problematic to reinforce masonry from cut foam blocks. The use of an adhesive composition implies a low seam height, therefore, in order to be able to lay a reinforcing mesh, grooves are cut out in the blocks using a wall chaser or a grinder.

A monolithic armo-belt, arranged under the floor slabs, helps to distribute the point load more evenly. It is performed with a height of 10-20 cm and is additionally insulated.

Finishing houses from foam blocks

Foam concrete walls have an unpresentable appearance, so they should be faced. The strength of the surface allows the use of various materials for finishing. Their choice depends only on the imagination and financial capabilities of the owner.

Foam concrete is a material that is produced on the basis of cement mortar and foaming additives. The composition of the material may also include ready-made foam made on the basis of foam concentrates. The laying of foam blocks is not accompanied by too many difficulties due to the low weight of the products. The work will be completed in a shorter time when compared with ordinary brick, due to the impressive size of lightweight concrete.

The structure of the foam block is porous and therefore it absorbs moisture like a sponge.

Features of laying foam blocks

Foam concrete is chosen not only because it is quite easy to work with, but also because of its outstanding characteristics. So, the walls of this material have excellent heat-saving and sound-proofing qualities. The material has a closed cell structure that prevents moisture from penetrating inside. The walls have the ability to withstand significant temperatures and fire, which is important in the construction of residential buildings. After construction is completed, you can not be afraid that the walls will deteriorate or rot.

Types of foam blocks depending on the content.

In the process of masonry, it is necessary to adjust the dimensions of the products, the blocks are easy to process by drilling, planing and sawing. So, it is possible to equip geometrically complex components of the structure, as well as to carry out construction taking into account any angle of inclination of the roof.

Masonry technology involves taking into account insufficiently high material strength indicators. That is why it is necessary to supplement the structure with a reinforced concrete frame of strength, which will increase the reliability of the building. Floor panels will be based on this system.

Some believe that it is possible to clad a house built of foam concrete blocks only with bricks. However, this belief is erroneous. You can use siding, tiles, stone in natural or artificial manifestation as cladding, vapor-permeable plaster is also suitable.

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Technology of work with foam blocks

The masonry process is most conveniently carried out with blocks whose dimensions are 200x300x600 mm. If it is planned to build walls from this material, then a strip monolithic foundation, equipped on a sand cushion, can be used as the basis for the house. This is due to the fact that the blocks do not have significant weight, which could subject the base to a significant load.

In the process of laying foam blocks in the basement area, it is recommended to use products with a more impressive density, which is 700 kg / m 2. After that, it is necessary to make waterproofing and lay insulation.

For laying blocks, you should use a special glue, which is a dry mixture of cement, fillers and additives that increase water resistance, strength, frost resistance and plasticity. This adhesive composition is convenient to use, easy to close and apply. On the other hand, there is an opinion that in order to carry out work using such glue, the master must have certain skills, so it is recommended to contact professional masons.

Foam concrete blocks in the first row must be laid on a waterproofing layer, which can be roofing material.

If the base has irregularities, it should be leveled with mortar. It is necessary to start working from an angle, the technology implies the need for constant alignment of the position of products horizontally and vertically. To do this, use a plumb line and level.

The laying of the foam block in the second row must be done by forming the correct seam; for this, the mixture should be laid with a layer of 2-3 mm, while the width of the strip should be equal to the equivalent indicator of the block. First, the mixture must be applied to the vertical side of the previous foam block, which will allow the formation of a butt joint, only after the glue is applied to the horizontal surface. All rows should be laid with dressing, as with ordinary bricks. This guarantees a higher strength of the wall.

Leveling the surface must be carried out with a construction grater. It is necessary to ensure that there are no level differences between the products. Otherwise, cracks will form. You can connect load-bearing walls with anchors or ligation.

When arranging partitions, a slightly different method of work should be used. In contrast to the process of erecting load-bearing walls, the products here must be laid not on the base, but on the surface of the gasket, which will reduce the transmission of noise to the partition.

The peculiarity of the technology for laying blocks in the first row is that it is not glue that should be used, but cement mortar, while the layer should also be equal to a thickness of 2-3 cm. You can use an ordinary mortar when building a wall if the base has slight deviations. This also applies to the blocks themselves, which could be made not in a factory, but on their own construction site.

If the laying of foam blocks is carried out on glue, then this will eliminate the occurrence of cold bridges, while using a solution such an effect is difficult to achieve. That is why it is recommended to level the foundation before carrying out work. The absence of cold bridges is achieved due to the uniformity of the wall, which has seams of insignificant thickness. In addition, the process using glue will take much less time than in the case of a solution.

The laying of foam blocks is carried out in such a way that there are no voids in the seams. This can be achieved if the adhesive is distributed with a notched trowel.

If the foam block is laid using cement mortar, then the products must first be moistened. When preparing such a mixture, it is necessary to use cement and sand in a ratio of 1: 4.

If you decide that you can’t cope with this kind of work, then you need to resort to the help of professional developers. The cost of laying work in this case will not be excessively high and will be limited to 1000-2000 rubles. for 1 m 3.

To carry out the work it is necessary to prepare:

notched trowel;
glue;
construction grater;
reinforcing mesh;
waterproofing;
plumb;
level.

Foam blocks are an almost ideal option for building a house, a country house, a garage or any other structure. This option is chosen by those who have a desire to build a very warm building on a lightweight foundation, saving on building materials.

Significant dimensions of foam concrete allow you to reduce the time of work, to perform high-quality masonry with your own hands.

Since the foam blocks do not differ in ideal sizes, it is recommended to lay them not on glue, but on a cement-sand mortar. The same solution will subsequently cover all the cracks and irregularities on the walls. Below we will analyze how to put the foam blocks on the solution.

What tools and building materials should be prepared

From the materials we need:

Foam concrete blocks.
Screened sand.
Water.
Cement.
Ruberoid or some other waterproofing material.

Before you start laying, you need to stock up on some tools:

Container for preparing the solution.
Shovel for mixing the mixture.
Buckets for carrying the finished solution.
Construction level, as a rule.
Saw for cutting foam concrete. It is better to take an ordinary hacksaw for wood.
Trowel, trowel.
Cord.
Rubber mallet.
Metal or fiberglass mesh for reinforcing rows.
Grater, which will need to rub and level the masonry.

Preparatory work

How to start laying foam concrete? With the right preparatory work. Then the walls will be laid out as quickly and reliably as possible. At this stage it is necessary:

Below we will consider how to prepare a mortar with your own hands, and how to lay foam blocks for the construction of main walls and additional partitions.

How to prepare masonry mortar

You can buy a ready-made solution for work, but it is better to prepare it yourself, because it is not difficult at all. In this case, you will be sure of the correct proportions of the mixture. The solution is mixed in the following sequence:

One part of high-quality cement and 3 parts of sand are poured into the prepared container.
The mixture is thoroughly mixed.
Water is added to the container, and the solution is brought to the desired density.
In the process of mixing, plasticizers can be added to the container.

Ready-made supplements are on sale, but you can use simple means. For example, add PVA glue or slaked lime to the container. The composition with plasticizers will retain water better, and after solidification it will be less saturated with moisture.

Tip: it is recommended to add dry lime powder to the solution, as it mixes easily with the rest of the components, and the cost of lime is low compared to other fillers. Calculating the amount of lime is very easy. For 4 parts of cement, you need to take 1 part of lime.

Proper laying of foam blocks

Consider how to properly lay foam blocks on cement mortar so that the masonry has a minimum of cold bridges. It is also necessary to lay the foam blocks with your own hands so that the walls do not subsequently become covered with cracks and do not collapse.

It is necessary to lay foam blocks in the following sequence:

Tip: it is necessary to make the mortar more liquid than for ordinary brick laying. Since foam blocks have a porous structure, they significantly absorb water. It is not easy to prepare a liquid mixture, but also to wet the surface of the blocks with water.

Tip: in the process of masonry work, you need to control that each seam is completely filled. It is necessary to fill the seams forcibly, on both sides of the masonry.

Attention! The mesh is laid only if the foam concrete walls are laid out on cement mortar. If glue is used as a building mixture, then reinforcement is made of reinforcement, laying it in the grooves cut from above. Reinforcement with metal reinforcement when laying on cement is also allowed.

When the walls are laid out to the required height, a reinforcing concrete belt must be poured on top of the last row of blocks. It will distribute the load from the floor slabs evenly on all walls. If there is no concrete belt, the overlap will press on individual blocks more strongly than on others. The result of this pressure will be the gradual destruction of fragile foam blocks. The thickness of the concrete belt should be 10–20 cm.

The walls are aligned inside and out.
Quality control of work is carried out. Attention must be paid to ensure that each seam is filled with cement composition.

We figured out how to lay foam blocks correctly on a cement-sand mortar. Experienced builders can confirm that even an unprepared person can do such work with their own hands, subject to a certain laying technology.

One of the most profitable, therefore popular types of masonry materials are blocks of cellular concrete. Laying a foam block, which has a low density (weight), regular rectangular geometry and impressive dimensions, is done quickly and does not present great difficulties. How to properly lay walls with foam blocks, what additional materials and tools will be needed - you will learn about this by reading the article.

About foam concrete blocks

If you decide to build walls with foam blocks, you need to choose the right building material. Building structural units made of porous concrete in most cases have dimensions of 60x30x20 cm (length, width, thickness, respectively), although other dimensions are possible. When choosing a building material, you should pay attention to the uniformity of the structure, the correctness of geometric shapes, the presence of chips, broken corners, and other damage. Quality building blocks should be devoid of visible defects.

The standard blocks are produced with a solid structure and a flat surface on all sides. More dimensional foam blocks may have technological voids, side pockets for easy gripping by hands, docking locks of the groove / comb type. These elements make the building material lighter and make it easier to work with it with your own hands.

In addition to the main masonry blocks, special U-shaped foam blocks will be needed for the construction of a reinforcing reinforced belt, the total length of which should slightly exceed the perimeter of the building during one-story construction and two perimeters during the construction of two floors (the first reinforcement of the structure under the interfloor ceiling, the second - under the roof structure).

Additional materials

High-quality laying of foam blocks involves the use of the following materials:

masonry mortar;
reinforcing mesh;
reinforcing steel bar;
waterproofing agents.

Mortars for masonry

Above the first row, for laying foam concrete, a polymer-cement ready-mix is used, which is sold in paper bags with 25 kg packaging. To prepare a working solution (assembly adhesive), it is enough to mix the mixture with water in the proportions indicated on the package with a manual construction mixer.

Important. For laying foam blocks, it is necessary to use only special glue designed for this purpose. It is wrong to use polymer-cement mixtures for other purposes (for installing tiles, polystyrene plates, basalt insulation mats, etc.).

To lay the first row of foam concrete, you will need a classic cement-sand mortar in a ratio of 1: 3. Often, a lime version of the solution is used for this, when a third part (by volume) of slaked lime (paste) is added to the cement-sand mixture.

Reinforcing materials

Foam concrete has good compressive strength, but the fracture and tensile strength characteristics require additional reinforcement. For this, reinforcing masonry meshes and reinforcing steel bars are used. They are not mounted flush. The fiberglass mesh must be laid between the blocks in 3-4 rows, and steel reinforcement (rods with a diameter of 8-10 mm are used) in places of greatest load (corners, openings). If it is necessary to build a reinforcing belt, additional steel reinforcement and knitting wire will be needed to create a continuous reinforcing structure.

Waterproofing

Waterproofing materials are needed to create a moisture barrier between the foundation (basement) and the first row of foam concrete. Given the porosity of the wall building material and the ability to actively absorb moisture, in this case there are increased requirements for waterproofing. Usually double protection is used - first a layer of bituminous mastic on the surface of the basement, then 2-3 layers of rolled waterproofing (roofing material, waterproofing, etc.)

Tools and fixtures for laying concrete walls

Given the peculiarity of laying foam concrete blocks, you will need an appropriate set of special and general construction tools. The first ones include:

specific plastic trowels with a comb (can be replaced with a conventional notched trowel);
wall chaser for making longitudinal recesses on the surface of foam concrete;
hand saw for cutting and fitting blocks;
flat sanding boards for removing large and small bumps and protrusions;
square to facilitate accurate cutting of cellular building materials;
hammer with a rubber working part;
small paint spatula.

General construction tools that are useful when laying a foam block with your own hands include:

bubble level;
laser level (water level);
strong thread or fishing line;
a construction mixer or a drill (perforator) with an appropriate nozzle for preparing mounting adhesive.

For laying the first row, you will need an ordinary trowel, a container for preparing a cement-sand mortar and a handy tool. If there is a concrete mixer, the solution is prepared in it.

Technology of laying foam concrete blocks

By the time the walls are erected from foam concrete, the foundation should be built. The first mandatory measure should be the creation of a hydro-barrier between the base of the building and the future wall. To do this, the contact surface of the foundation is abundantly covered with a coating containing bitumen, after which several layers of roofing material are laid. Only after the creation of a reliable waterproofing barrier is the laying of walls made of foam blocks, which includes several technological processes.

First row

The foundation surface is rarely perfect, differing in horizontal projection by 1-3 cm, and sometimes more. The task of the foam blocks laid in the first row is to create the most horizontally aligned surface, which allows for the subsequent laying of building materials with a minimum seam on polymer cement glue.

Before installing the corner blocks, it is necessary to determine the degree of deviation of the foundation surface from the horizontal, for which a water level or a laser level is used. A cement-sand mortar is being prepared, which can be used to adjust the thickness of the seam. The greater the difference between the various sections relative to the horizontal plane, the thicker the solution becomes.

The first block is laid at the highest corner of the foundation, thus forming the smallest possible masonry joint. Applying horizontal level control, the remaining corner elements of the masonry are laid further. As a result, the surface of the foam blocks laid in the corners should correspond as much as possible to one horizontal line, while the blocks themselves must be aligned in all projections.

On a note. The formation of the corners of the first row is a very important task, on the result of which further work depends, so you should not rush, and if errors are found, it is better to redo it.

After making sure that the corners are located correctly, cords are stretched between them, which serve as a guide when laying the order. Vertical seams, even when forming the first row, are closed with glue, so it is necessary that the master has both solutions and the appropriate tool at hand.

Second and subsequent rows

In the future, during the construction, only mounting glue is used. For better adhesion (gluing) of foam concrete surfaces, they must be cleaned of dust as much as possible and smeared with a thin layer of mortar. Only after that glue is applied, a uniform layer is formed with a comb and the masonry elements are pressed. Masonry adhesive is very plastic, so excessive effort is not welcome. Blocks gradually shrink to the required level with light taps of a rubber mallet.

Another feature of the adhesive mounting solution is a long initial setting time (1-3 hours depending on the moisture content of the material, the consistency of the adhesive and the air temperature), so the blocks are stacked in one row around the perimeter. The next row of blocks is placed after the glue has set in the previous seam.

During the formation of seams, part of the glue comes to the surface. The solution should be removed immediately with a spatula. If the glue is not cleaned very carefully, by the time the next row is laid, the mortar dries up and forms irregularities on the masonry surface, which prevent the formation of a thin horizontal seam. To remove the bumps of glue, a special board with an attached abrasive should be at hand.

If necessary, cut off a fragment of the block using a special hacksaw and a square. The latter allows you to create a cut surface geometry similar to the factory one. If there are problems with the evenness of the cut, it is more expedient to direct the cut edge towards the openings (here, small irregularities are not terrible, besides, they can always be trimmed upon completion of the masonry).

Masonry reinforcement

It is believed that the reinforcing mesh embedded in every 3-4 masonry seam sufficiently strengthens the wall structure erected with foam concrete. It is not recommended to lay a reinforcing fiberglass mesh less often, more often it is possible, but it is not advisable in terms of overexpenditure of the reinforcing material and slowing down work. The reinforcing mesh is laid like this.

The surface of the previous row is cleaned, the resulting dust is removed.
The surface is smeared with a thin layer of glue, on top of which the mesh is laid.
Glue is applied to the reinforcing fabric and a uniform layer is formed.
The next row of blocks is laid.

When laying in this way, the reinforcing mesh is in the thickness of the seam, reinforcing both adjacent rows of foam blocks.

For large-scale construction, it is recommended to use steel bars instead of a mesh with the same laying pattern. In order to lay the bars in the previous row of foam blocks, strobes (grooves) are made in their surface with a special chasing cutter. The depth of the longitudinal recesses should be sufficient so that the bars do not protrude above the masonry surface. Two gates are made with an indent from the edge of the blocks of 5-6 cm. Before laying the reinforcement, the recesses are cleaned and filled with glue.

Before installing floor slabs or basic roof elements, it is necessary to create a reinforcing reinforced belt. For this, it is convenient to use U-blocks, which are ready-made formwork, into which a reinforcing structure is laid and poured with concrete. In the absence of U-shaped masonry elements, a low (12-20 cm) vertical formwork from boards is created along the top of the masonry.

The information on how to do the laying of foam blocks with your own hands, set out in the article, will certainly help in practice to build walls of porous concrete. Watching this video will help consolidate the knowledge gained.

The question of how to lay foam blocks is of interest to many. It is relevant, since this material has long gained well-deserved popularity in individual construction. The combination of economy, high strength and good thermal insulation properties with ease of use - these are the components of the success of foam blocks. But, as you know, even from the best material you can put together an unusable wall. Therefore, the question should be put like this: "How to lay foam blocks correctly?"

In terms of size, each such block is capable of replacing eighteen single bricks or thirteen one and a half bricks. And despite the fact that it weighs less than a single brick. This greatly simplifies and at the same time speeds up the process of building a structure from foam blocks. And yet, you should not delude yourself: without the strength and patience, the builder, even knowing how to lay foam blocks, will not achieve at least a close to ideal result.

According to the manufacturing technology, these blocks are divided into cast and cut. The former are cast by filling molds with a foam mixture; the second is dried in an industrial oven, after which the resulting monolithic piece is cut into blocks by string saws. But they differ not only in this.

When cutting foam blocks, the tolerance is in the range of 1-2 mm; when cast, it is slightly larger. But these millimeters play a big role in how to lay foam blocks. Cast products are fastened with cement-sand mortar, while cut products are fastened with a special adhesive mixture, which will require much less than cement and sand. The adhesive mixture, like the foam block, is a heat insulator, which means that the notorious ones are excluded. (By the way, in the absence of the right composition, you can easily use low-temperature-resistant glue used when laying tiles.) In addition, the upcoming work on the exterior and interior decoration of the wall, which has excellent geometry thanks to the cut material, will be greatly facilitated.

However, the application has no alternative when laying out the very first row of foam blocks on the foundation. Here he is truly indispensable. Its first layer on the foundation is covered. Then the mortar is placed again, and already blocks are placed on it.

If you look at how to lay foam blocks, you can notice another unshakable rule: no voids in the seams! To ensure that they are avoided, the blocks of the upper row are rubbed with their bases to the lower one until a small amount of adhesive mixture is squeezed out on the sides of the masonry. After that, it is applied to the side of the already installed block, and the newly laid one is pressed against it. At the end of the laying of the row, all adhesive excess is carefully removed.

Often, along with the question of how to lay a wall of foam blocks, they also ask this: "Does it need to be reinforced?" Of course. This will increase the stability of the wall and additionally protect it from cracks. Since it will not be possible to reinforce when using masonry glue, they get out of the situation by cutting grooves (strobes) directly in the foam blocks. For such work, a grinder or a circular saw is suitable.

The operation is simple, since the ease of processing foam blocks is well known. Reinforcement is placed in the grooves. Reinforcement is performed every 3-4 rows.

Upon completion, a special reinforced belt 15-20 cm high is poured with concrete on its last row. Its function is to evenly distribute the loads from the floor slab laid on top.

Having studied all of the above, you will be able to build a wall of foam blocks yourself without hiring expensive specialists to perform the work.

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