How to veneer ceramic blocks. Insulation of walls made of porous (ceramic) blocks Is it necessary to insulate warm ceramics

A house made of ceramic blocks can be built quite easily and quickly and, moreover, it has excellent thermal insulation qualities and is quite durable and environmentally friendly. The walls of such a house, one ceramic block thick, have thermal insulation properties that are not inferior to a brick house if it had walls - about 1 m! You can learn about the masonry features of such a house from this article.

Features, advantages and disadvantages of a house made of ceramic blocks

A house made from ceramic blocks or porous ceramics is built three times faster than from ordinary bricks. The walls of a house built from blocks of this type breathe naturally - large cracks and micropores improve the diffusion properties of ceramics.

A house made of this material, in addition, allows you to reduce the load that the walls have on the foundation of the house, since the specific gravity of ceramic block masonry is half that of brick. Due to the large format of the blocks, the consumption of mortar when building a house from it is three to four times less than when brickwork, while it takes three to four times less time to lay 1 m2 of wall.

The cost of porous ceramics is comparable to the cost of aerated concrete, while ceramic blocks have several times lower water absorption than aerated blocks, and their load-bearing capacity and frost resistance are much higher. This determines the greater durability of a house built from such blocks compared, for example, to a house made of aerated concrete.

When building a house from this material, it is possible to combine them with other building materials. For example, on the first floor the walls are built from ceramic blocks, and on the second - from gas blocks or other material. In this case, it is desirable that the strength grade of the material on the first floor be greater than or equal to the strength grade of the wall infill on the second floor.

But it is undesirable to mix other ceramic blocks in the same masonry. Construction Materials, because different types materials are durable, thermal insulation properties and water absorption, which can negatively affect the strength and durability of the wall itself.

Convenient material for building a house

Ceramic blocks are a very convenient material for laying walls. Ease of installation is initially inherent in the shape of the product and its production technology.

Firstly, such blocks are porous ceramics and are made on the equipment of European manufacturers, where the manufacturing process is controlled by a computer, the human factor is practically eliminated, so the finished ceramic blocks have precise geometric dimensions.

Secondly, they have a tongue-and-groove vertical joining system. On those faces of the block that are inside during laying, there are longitudinal ridges and grooves of a trapezoidal profile - their number is from two to eight, depending on the size of the block.

When building a house from such blocks, the tongues and grooves fit tightly into the wall, without the need for additional fastening with mortar. The absence of mortar in vertical joints does not in any way affect the thermal conductivity of walls made of porous ceramics, which is confirmed both during multiple tests and during the operation of already built houses.

For the convenience of plastering the walls of a house made of ceramic blocks, the edges of the blocks that form the outer surface have shallow longitudinal grooves.

Types of blocks

Ceramic blocks of various sizes are used to build houses, but their height is always a multiple of the height of the brickwork, which allows you to adapt projects brick houses to this relatively new building material.

The width of porous ceramic blocks is usually 230-250 mm, and the length is 250-510 mm. It is the length of the blocks that determines the width of the wall, since they are laid with the long side across the wall.

For load-bearing walls Ceramic blocks with a length of 300–510 mm are used, and for internal load-bearing walls and partitions blocks with a length of 250 mm are used.

Small ceramic blocks with a length of 80 - 110 mm are also produced, which are used for the device interior partitions, cladding monolithic belts and as additional elements.
.There are also half-section and corner blocks.

Masonry solutions

When building a house, for laying blocks of porous ceramics, it is advisable to use not an ordinary cement-sand mortar, but a “warm” or light composition. The binder in it is usually cement, and the filler can be pumice, perlite or expanded clay sand. Warm masonry mortar is used for the construction of external walls, and regular mortar can be used for internal walls and partitions.

The solution is prepared directly at the construction site. When using ready-made dry mixtures, simply add water and stir.

The thermal conductivity of a warm solution is several times less than that of a conventional solution, so such a wall turns out to be thermally homogeneous. This makes a house built from ceramic block more energy efficient and durable.

The thermal conductivity of walls made of porous ceramics is affected not only by the composition of the solution, but also by its consistency and method of application. The solution, whether warm or ordinary, cement-sand, should not be liquid and should not fall into the pores of the block and fill them. It should be quite thick, but also, at the same time, plastic.

Laying on an adhesive perlite solution from ready-made mixtures prevents errors in its preparation, since the instructions on the bags always indicate required amount water to obtain a high-quality solution.

The thickness of the seam should not be more than 10 mm. In this case, the thermal insulation properties of the wall increase by 15-18%.

Parameters of a single-layer wall made of porous blocks in comparison with an insulated brick wall.

Adhesive masonry

Interesting option mortar for ceramic blocks is used in Germany. Using special equipment, their specialists evenly apply a special adhesive composition, thickness 3-4 mm. The glue lies in the form of a dense tape, covering the entire upper edge, but does not fall into the voids. Such a seam is practically invisible on the finished wall.

Laying ceramic blocks on polyurethane foam

In Poland, polyurethane foam is often used instead of mortar. Using a dispenser, it is applied in two strips about 5-7 cm wide, retreating 40 mm from the edges of the wall.

After applying the mounting foam, the ceramic block is tightly installed in the grooves of the previous ceramic block and, using a rubber “mallet,” is seated on the applied foam strips until it stops.

After setting, the polyurethane foam forms a thin, durable and warm seam.

With this method of laying, it is necessary to ensure that the mounting foam does not fall on the outer surface of the blocks. If this happens for any reason, the uncured foam can be immediately removed using a solvent for nitro paints or acetone.

DIY masonry

Before starting to lay blocks concrete screed the plinth arranges a reliable horizontal waterproofing. The solution is applied in an even layer, without voids, over the entire thickness of the wall.

Masonry begins from the corners, using whole blocks and controlling the horizontality of the masonry.

Masonry mortar is used only in horizontal joints. The vertical edges are joined “dry” using the tongue and groove system. Laying ceramic blocks is carried out using a special rubber mallet. With its help, each block fits tightly to the neighboring one.

During breaks in the wall construction process, the upper rows of masonry must be covered to prevent precipitation from getting inside the blocks.

If the masonry is carried out using mortars or adhesive mixtures that are diluted with water, then it is advisable to build a house from ceramic block at an air temperature of at least +5 o C. Masonry on polyurethane foam can be produced at lower temperatures.

Wall design options

A house made of ceramic blocks can have a single-layer wall structure, or two- and three-layer ones.

A single-layer wall consists of only ceramic blocks with exterior decoration, for which vapor-permeable “warm” (with perlite additives) or conventional improved plaster is used.

A two-layer wall is obtained by insulating the walls of a house with various insulation materials. In this case, the first layer is a ceramic block, the second insulation with applied facade plaster. Bonded thermal insulation systems can be used as insulation. In this case, the second layer is multi-component: adhesive mixture, insulation, waterproofing mixture, reinforced mesh, a layer of glue and finishing plaster.

Also, the wall turns out to be two-layer when facing ceramic, clinker or other types of bricks are used as cladding.

Three-layer walls of houses made of ceramic blocks are arranged with rigid or bulk insulation, placing it between load-bearing wall made of porous blocks and lined outer wall(usually made of facing or clinker bricks).

Is insulation necessary for walls made of porous ceramics?

The need to insulate external walls made from these blocks depends primarily on their thickness.
Walls built from blocks 300 mm thick or less must be insulated. The thickness of the insulation is calculated when calculating the house design and depends on the temperature zone of construction.

The insulation must have a vapor permeability no less than that of ceramic blocks, otherwise moisture may accumulate in the wall.

Options for insulating walls made of ceramic blocks 250 mm thick

Walls made of ceramic blocks have increased heat-saving properties. Are they enough? - or is it more expedient, more economical, to add another layer of insulation... If you need to insulate porous ceramics, then what is the best way to do this?

How warm are porous ceramic walls?

The thermal conductivity coefficient of porous ceramic blocks at operating humidity is approximately 0.16–0.18 W/mC. Typical Width warm walls 380 mm (length of one block), 440 mm or 510 mm. The base can be recessed, but the overhanging part of the porous ceramics cannot be more than 20% of the width, and 30% with special. strengthening measures provided for in the project. Thus, the heat transfer resistance of a 51 cm wall, excluding seams, will be about 3.0 m2K/W. This almost meets the standard requirements for the cold-temperate climate zone.

But you need to take into account that a 51 cm wall is expensive and its feasibility in terms of heat conservation compared to 440 mm has not been proven. Those. We insulate with too expensive material - porous ceramics. Walls with a thickness of 440 mm remain feasible in the temperate zone, although they are not sufficient in terms of thermal insulation if the standards are strictly followed. And in the southern regions and southern Ukraine, 380 mm is also acceptable.

The lack of resistance to heat transfer of walls is compensated by increased thermal insulation measures of the attic-roof complex and floors, as well as windows and doors, so the buildings generally meet…

But this is “no seams”. And taking into account heat leaks through the seams between the blocks, as well as through heavy elements in the walls...

Design options, single-layer and double-layer walls

When deciding on wall insulation, you need to take into account the advantages of single-layer walls compared to two-layer ones - load-bearing layer + insulation.

The service life of ceramics, and therefore a single-layer wall, is at least 100 years. Some manufacturers give a maximum of 50 years for mineral wool insulation, more often 35 - a two-layer wall needs to be repaired.
In a two-layer wall, during construction or operation, violations are possible, in which moisture accumulates inside the structure; with a single layer, this is almost impossible.
It is easier to break a two-layer wall with loss of thermal insulation - soak the insulating layer. With one layer of ceramics this is impossible.
The construction of a two-layer wall is more expensive and takes longer; specialists in the use of insulation are required.

Therefore, insulation with porous ceramics when increasing the thickness from 25–32 cm to 38 cm is a cost-effective solution.

In terms of strength indicators, a width of 250 - 300 mm is usually sufficient for these walls, according to the projects.

The role of seams in a wall made of ceramic blocks, how to insulate local areas

Ceramic blocks can be ground, precise, with height errors of up to 1 mm. They can be laid on a thin (1 - 3 mm) layer of glue. Vertical seams are not filled. Then the seams have virtually no effect on the heat transfer resistance of the entire wall.

Another option is to lay imprecise blocks on a heat-saving lightweight mortar. In this case, too, no special changes can be expected.

But, if, instead of a lightweight one, a regular heavy mortar is used in horizontal joints with a thickness of more than 10 mm, then the heat transfer resistance of a typical 51 cm wall will decrease from approximately 3.1 to 2.4 m2K/W, which is not acceptable.

All inclusions in the wall of heavy structures - beams above openings, joints with ceilings, the Mauerlat area - are insulated from the outside with a layer mineral wool 5 - 10 cm thick, which is covered with an insert made from trimming blocks.

Vertical seams are filled only between edged additional blocks. The projects provide for a whole number of blocks in the masonry, the number of edged ones is reduced to a minimum.

What type of block wall decoration

Walls with unfilled vertical joints will be too breathable, so they must be plastered inside and out. On the inside, only heavy plasters with a minimum of vapor permeability are used, possibly cement-based, in a layer of 1 cm.

On the outside, only lightweight, vapor-permeable plaster should be used. It is possible to use insulating plaster in a layer of 2–3 cm, followed by covering with thin façade vapor-permeable putty.

Another finishing option is lining with porous facade bricks, if the width of the plinth allows, increasing the total wall thickness to 52 cm, for example...

Another option is rough lightweight plaster and canopy panels - creating a ventilated facade...

Options for insulating walls made of ceramic blocks

But in cold regions, the thermal insulation qualities of walls 38–51 cm are clearly insufficient; it is more profitable to build a narrow load-bearing frame and use effective insulation. Then the special meaning of using porous ceramics is completely lost - its heat-saving properties are covered by a much cheaper thin layer of effective insulation, which is still used...

If there is still a need to insulate such a wall, then this should be done with materials with high vapor permeability. – mineral wool, ecowool, aerated concrete of the lowest density. On such a wall, which can easily accumulate moisture inside, it is better to make insulation using a ventilated facade system, in which the drainage of the base is most effective.

Time is the most impartial judge, and it clearly shows that the outer walls of buildings, finished ceramic materials, are practically not subject to destruction and retain their original appearance for many decades. Therefore, today manufacturers offer us not only traditional tiles and bricks.

One of the new products that recently appeared on the building materials market is a porous ceramic block with cladding. What is this material, what are its advantages and disadvantages?

You will learn about this and much more by reading the information we offer, as well as by watching the video in this article.

If ceramic facing materials try to somehow classify, then two main categories can be distinguished. The first is materials mounted on finished walls: tiles for adhesive cladding (see Cladding with ceramic tiles: a job that anyone can handle), panels for arranging ventilated facades (see Cladding a house with external panels: choosing).

The second category includes materials that are both finishing and structural. This different kinds ceramic bricks and ceramic blocks on the cladding, which will be discussed now.

It is possible to finish walls with such materials only during the masonry process, otherwise it would be necessary to top up the old one or build a new foundation. The reason for this is the significant weight and large format of the cladding elements - and this can equally be both a disadvantage and an advantage.

Advantages of structural ceramics

We cannot deny the advantages of clay brick, which has been used for centuries to build walls and has long become a classic in construction. But this method has one significant drawback - it takes a lot of time, and this cannot but affect the cost of objects.

So:

In this regard, facing ceramic blocks have a huge advantage over brick. A full-size block has an average format of 380*250*219 mm, which is double more sizes bricks Accordingly, the speed of construction of enclosing structures also doubles - and this is at least.
It is very convenient to work with such material, especially since where the wall thickness should be 1.5 bricks, it is enough to lay one block. For those who are going to build a house with their own hands, this is a great advantage: the geometry of the masonry is ideal even for those who do not have mason qualifications and are taking on such work for the first time.

Ceramic blocks are called porous not only because there are voids in the structure of the products. It's all about the technology of their manufacture. The raw material for the production of blocks consists not only of sand and clay, it also contains filler in the form of small sawdust. During the firing process, the wood filler burns out, forming pores in the material itself. And what about the voids and corrugated sides finished goods obtained by passing through vacuum presses.
The presence of closed cavities, which we see in the photo, significantly reduces the thermal conductivity of the material, and this indicator for porous blocks is many times higher than for traditional bricks. For this reason, they are also called warm ceramics. It is clear that this is a godsend for housing construction, since walls built from such blocks do not require insulation.
Moreover, the presence of pores and voids does not in any way reduce the compressive strength of the material - let alone sound insulation! Everyone knows that the porous structure of materials provides excellent sound absorption. The undoubted advantages of warm ceramics include hundreds of freeze-thaw cycles, as well as low water absorption (within 6-12%) and high fire resistance.

The price of a ceramic block is on average 110 rubles. a piece. The cost of a brick, even an ordinary one, is at least 15 rubles; facing brick costs 18-21 rubles. But in one cubic meter there are only 40 pieces of blocks, while there are 510 pieces of single bricks in a cube - the mathematics is simple, and everyone can calculate which is more profitable.

Well, the instructions in the next chapter will tell you about the technical side of building walls from ceramic blocks.

Features of masonry work

Thanks to the large format of the ceramic blocks, the joints between them occupy only five percent of the wall area. Compared to brickwork, this is not much, but this may be quite enough for the wall to lose a significant part of the heat. For this reason, ordinary cement-sand mortar is not used for the installation of porous ones.

Masonry mortar

To install porous blocks - and not only ceramic, but also cellular concrete - it is necessary to use mixtures that contain a heat-insulating filler. These are natural raw materials: perlite and vermiculite, which have excellent thermal insulation qualities.

In addition, included warm solutions there is fiber fiber (reinforcing additive) and plasticizers that make the hardened seam impermeable to moisture.

As for reinforcing additives, their use does not allow the freshly applied mixture to settle into the cavity of the blocks, and the seams that have gained strength become more resistant to deformation. Modifying additives make the solution more plastic and significantly reduce its consumption.

Preparation of a solution from a dry mixture consists of only two operations: adding water (about 10 liters per bag) and mixing with a mixer or concrete mixer. The viability of the solution lasts approximately 2 hours, so it makes no sense to make a large volume at once.
When the viscosity of the solution used increases, it is strictly forbidden to add water to it - just mix it in a container. The mixtures are sold dry, in 20 kg bags. From this amount, approximately 30 liters of ready-made mortar is obtained, and, taking into account the thickness of the seam of 12 mm, it is enough for 1 m2 of masonry.

The bag is warm masonry mixture about 300 rubles, and this, of course, is a considerable expense. To reduce mortar consumption, as well as for reinforcing horizontal rows, many manufacturers recommend laying blocks on a fine-mesh fiberglass mesh.

It keeps the mixture from falling into the voids of the underlying blocks. There is one more important nuance: the solution entering the voids of the blocks displaces air from them, which reduces the resistance of the masonry to heat transfer. Therefore, a grid is needed, no matter how you look at it.

The feasibility of using ceramic stone

Ceramic blocks, or, as their name standard indicates: ceramic stones - like bricks, can be either ordinary or facing. Ordinary ones are used for the construction of walls, and front ones, respectively, for their parallel cladding.

This division does not mean at all that the strength of the front blocks is lower than that of ordinary ones - they can be used for the main masonry in the same way. Just due to the improved front surface, their cost is slightly higher.

So:

In principle, both of these materials are produced according to the same standards, and the calculation of wall thickness depends on the maximum winter temperatures in the region. Let’s say in the south, where the average winter temperature is -10 degrees, the thickness of the walls should be at least 380 mm, that is, one and a half brick lengths.
If walls are erected from ceramic blocks, then use blocks measuring 380*250*219 mm and lay them in one row. The largest standard size is 510*250*219 mm, it can also be mounted in one row, but in regions with winter temperatures of -20 degrees. In this case, blocks with a front finish are used.

But in the northern regions, where winter temperatures often exceed -40 degrees, the thickness of the brickwork should be 770 mm (three bricks + joints). There are no blocks of this size, and if necessary, the masonry is made up of ordinary blocks 510 mm long and facing blocks 250 mm long.
If such a wall is laid out of brick, a lot of material is wasted, and the load on the foundation is incredibly large. This leads to overspending not only wall materials, but also those that are used for the construction of the zero cycle of the building.

Note! In order to obtain at least some savings when constructing brick walls, well masonry methods are used, laying insulation in the resulting cavities, and widening the seams. But even all these methods together are unable to make masonry more than two bricks thick economically feasible.

That is why brick houses are very rare in the Far North. With the advent of ceramic porous blocks, the situation has changed radically, and now northerners can also build prefabricated and warm houses from ceramics.
What simplifies masonry work most of all is the tongue-and-groove system for connecting blocks. This joining limits the displacement trajectory of the masonry elements relative to each other, therefore the curvature of the masonry, which differs brick walls, is basically impossible here.

Another huge advantage is that vertical joints do not need to be filled with mortar. Since it is the side edges that are connected by a ridge into a groove, there are no cold bridges in the masonry, which are always seams.

In the struggle for buyers, many manufacturers offer not only standard full-size blocks, but also additional elements, corners, door and window lintels made of ceramics, as well as blocks for the construction of internal enclosing structures. All this is coordinated by standard sizes and ideally assembled into a single complex.

Such important nuances

Despite the fact that porous blocks have a front surface, they still, like any structural material, need finishing. Or rather, not so much in finishing, but in protection from the effects of precipitation.

For this purpose, decorative bricks, clinker tiles or natural stone. In general, adhesive finishes are an excellent option for porous block masonry.

There is no need to insulate such walls; in extreme cases, you can use warm plaster (see Warm plaster Knauf Grünband), which, by analogy with masonry mortar, contains perlite. But if you really want to, you can insulate it and even finish it frame method. You just need to take into account one very important nuance.

To attach lathing to a ceramic wall, as well as hang cabinets on it, you cannot use the usual dowel-nails, since the thin partitions inside the block may not withstand the load. For this, there are special long expansion anchors, as well as chemical dowels, which you see in the picture. Use them and you won't have any problems with fasteners!

The construction company "Authority" uses ceramic blocks in the construction of buildings. This is a material with many voids and pores, which helps accumulate and retain heat in rooms. However, walls made of warm ceramics sometimes need insulation.

When should ceramic block walls be insulated?

When building walls from ceramic blocks, the walls of a house are equipped with one, two (module + thermal insulation material) or three layers (cladding brick + insulation + ceramic module). Single-layer walls are built from hollow blocks with parameters of 50, 44 or 38 cm. Insulating the walls in this case does not make sense, because such ceramics have a heat transfer resistance coefficient at a sufficient level. Financial expenses, intended for the purchase of insulation, it is more expedient to use it for decorating the outside of the house or for installing energy-saving double-glazed windows.

If construction is carried out from narrower ceramic blocks, the width of which reaches 30 or 25 cm, and the thermal conductivity coefficient is below the required level, insulation will have to be done. Porous ceramic blocks of this size are intended for the construction of internal partitions, but are sometimes used for the construction of external main walls.

Insulating the walls in this case will not be enough; it is necessary to simultaneously insulate the roof and install double-glazed windows in the window openings with a heat transfer resistance coefficient of at least 0.5 m °C/W. This will help maintain a comfortable microclimate in a house made of warm ceramics.

Choice of insulation

Thermal insulation of walls made of ceramic porous modules is carried out using mineral wool slabs, characterized good performance vapor permeability, which cannot be said about polystyrene foam. Layers of insulation are attached to the walls using adhesive mixtures or using dowels. This ensures a tight fit of the heat-insulating material to the surface. Optimal thickness mineral wool for a block whose width is 25 cm is 10 cm, and for a block whose width is 30 cm - 6 cm. Finishing work on insulated walls is carried out at the discretion of the homeowner.

Masonry mortar

When insulating a building, it is important to pay attention to what kind of masonry mortar is used. It is better if it is a warm (light) mixture rather than a sand-cement mortar. The warm mixture also contains cement, which acts as a binding component. As an alternative, use a material with thermal insulation properties - expanded clay sand or perlite.

Thermal conductivity coefficient sand-cement mortar is 0.9 W/m·°C, while for a warm mixture this figure is 3 times less and equal to 0.3 W/m·°C. Due to this difference, thermal performance indicators ceramic wall, it is possible to improve by 17%, since the area of all seams, the standard thickness of which is 12 mm, is 4% of total area wall surface.

Exterior wall decoration

After completing the insulation process, all that remains is to carry out Finishing work using finishing decorative materials. Most experts are inclined to use clinker bricks for these purposes, wooden elements or decorative plaster mixtures. If the choice falls on clinker brick, then according to the technology between the insulation layer and finishing material It is necessary to leave a gap of 3-4 cm.

The main nuances of constructing walls with cladding

The thickness of the walls of the house is calculated based on what building materials are chosen for it. If this is a block measuring 380*250*219 mm, which, as already mentioned, must be insulated, then the total thickness of the pie for an area with an average winter temperature of -32 degrees will be about 640 mm.

Of them:

380 mm porous block brand M100;
100 mm insulation (2 layers of 50 mm each);
40 mm ventilated gap;
120 mm facing brick.

Note: The gap inside the wall pie in this case is necessary for ventilation of the insulation. Its presence will not only save the walls from freezing in winter, but will also prevent them from overheating in summer. That is why insulated ventilated facades are the most the best option for residential buildings.

To ensure that the air in the internal space of a multi-layer wall does not stagnate and it can be ventilated, vents are left in the brickwork. These are either quarter-brick windows at the bottom of the wall, or vertical seams unfilled with mortar (every fifth). To prevent insects or rodents from getting into the vents, they are covered with a plastic mesh.

When masonry of ceramic blocks is carried out without insulation - that is, if the brick fits tightly to the ceramic block, they are used to bind them steel mesh. To connect them at a distance (if there is insulation and a ventilation gap), use fiberglass rods with sand tips, which are embedded in the masonry joints.

By the way, in ceramic block masonry there are only horizontal seams - the vertical edges of the stones are connected through the tight interlocking of the groove and the ridge.

How to veneer ceramic blocks. Insulation of walls made of porous (ceramic) blocks Is it necessary to insulate warm ceramics

Features, advantages and disadvantages of a house made of ceramic blocks

Convenient material for building a house

Types of blocks

Masonry solutions

Adhesive masonry

Laying ceramic blocks on polyurethane foam

DIY masonry

Wall design options

Is insulation necessary for walls made of porous ceramics?

How warm are porous ceramic walls?

Design options, single-layer and double-layer walls

The role of seams in a wall made of ceramic blocks, how to insulate local areas

What type of block wall decoration

Options for insulating walls made of ceramic blocks

Advantages of structural ceramics

Features of masonry work

Masonry mortar

The feasibility of using ceramic stone

Such important nuances

When should ceramic block walls be insulated?

Choice of insulation

Masonry mortar

Exterior wall decoration

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The main nuances of constructing walls with cladding