May 20 2022

The size of the silicate brick, its features and laying

Brick is one of the most popular types of building materials, which is actively used all over the world. It is reliable, durable, easy to manufacture and install, and also relatively inexpensive. There are a large number of varieties of bricks, but it is the silicate brick that has been most popular lately. The size of the silicate brick and its other characteristics are of great importance, so we will consider them in detail below.

Construction of a wall made of solid silicate bricks

What is the silicate brick used for, the size of the silicate brick

Any brick consists of 90% quartz sand, and the rest of the mass is lime and various additives. All this is pressed by the dry method, fired, as a result, briquettes of the correct geometric shape are obtained. The dimensions of the silicate block, like any other, are universal and amount to 250 ×120 ×65 mm. There is also a so-called one-and-a-half brick, the thickness of which is 88 mm.

Silicate bricks differ from other types in that they are manufactured using a special technology, which implies autoclave treatment with hot steam under high pressure. The steam temperature can be up to 200 degrees, and the pressure is 12 atmospheres. As a result of this treatment, the lime and sand molecules firmly adhere to each other, which is why the silicate brick is characterized by increased strength characteristics.

The house is made of silicate white brick

The dimensions of a one-and-a-half silicate brick, as well as a conventional one, allow it to be used for a wide range of tasks. So, it is used in the construction of low-rise buildings, facade decoration, the construction of interior partitions. But silicate bricks are not suitable for the construction of high-rise buildings.

Useful advice! It is not necessary to use silicate bricks for the construction of structures that are planned to be exposed to high temperatures, for example, fireplaces and stoves. Under the influence of temperatures above 200 degrees, a brick can burst or explode.

The performance characteristics of silicate bricks make it an excellent material for facing facades. It can be white or painted in almost any color, which opens up a wide scope for design imagination.

Hollow brick is used in the construction of lightweight structures

Advantages and disadvantages of silicate bricks

Each brand of silicate brick differs from the other in strength. But, in addition, any brick has the following advantages:

easy to lay – to lay a wall or other structure from this material is as simple as from any other type of brick, you do not need to have specialized engineering skills or tools. The only difference is the greater weight of silicate bricks 250×120×88 compared to other one–and-a-half bricks;
increased strength of the material – compared to ceramic, the strength characteristics of silicate bricks are one and a half times higher. This has a positive effect on the quality and reliability of the constructed structure;
high sound insulation performance – silicate brick is an excellent sound-proofing material and will reliably protect the room from external noise. This makes it a good choice for the construction of partitions in apartment buildings;

The scheme of insulation of the silicate brick wall

affordable price – if you ask yourself how much silicate bricks cost, then the answer will please even the most skeptical buyer. The price is usually lower than that of ceramic by 20-30%. This is due to the fact that its manufacture requires much less time and energy;
presentable appearance – colored silicate bricks are perfect for exterior finishing work. In addition, they can boast a smooth surface and an even shape, so the facade of silicate bricks does not need additional processing, for example, plastering;
environmental safety – according to GOST, silicate bricks are made of environmentally friendly materials, and mold or fungus does not form on its surface.

Thus, it can be seen that silicate brick is a very good choice for your construction. Photos of silicate bricks demonstrate its presentable appearance, and expert reviews confirm excellent performance characteristics. This material has been used on construction sites all over the world for more than a year, and its popularity is constantly growing, which indicates high quality and reliability.

Silicate brick is considered to be a strong enough material

Useful advice! The answer to the question of how many silicate bricks in 1 m2 depends on whether they are one-and-a-half or ordinary blocks. Therefore, when asking such a question to the seller, be sure to specify the dimensions of the product.

Silicate brick is a building material, not devoid of disadvantages. He also has a number of weaknesses that it is important to know about:

low frost resistance indicators – if you are building a house made of silicate bricks, then keep in mind that it will have to be additionally insulated. Whatever size of silicate brick you choose, its structure is very susceptible to low temperatures, and can also suffer in the cold season due to moisture absorption;
relatively low thermal insulation – silicate brick copes well with sound insulation, but it does not delay heat much. Therefore, regardless of how many silicate bricks there are in 1 m3 of masonry, you will still have to additionally insulate the walls of the house from this material;

The exterior walls of the building are constructed of solid silicate bricks

a large weight is both a plus and a minus of the material at the same time. The weight of one-and-a-half silicate bricks, as well as ordinary ones, has a positive effect on the strength characteristics of the structure, but creates a number of inconveniences during transportation and laying of the material;
unsuitability for the construction of certain types of structures – it is not recommended to build multi-storey buildings from silicate bricks, as well as stoves, fireplaces and chimneys, that is, structures that can be exposed to high temperatures.

The controversial point is the moisture absorption of the material. According to GOST, moisture absorption of up to 6% is allowed. At the same time, the rate of moisture absorption of a silicate product is lower than that of a ceramic one. Therefore, no matter how many silicate bricks there are in 1 m3 of masonry, it will resist moisture better than the same masonry made of ceramic bricks.

With all these disadvantages, the positive sides, for example, the prices per piece of silicate bricks, outweigh them. That is why this material is so popular in many countries of the world.

Silicate brick for building cladding

Types and weight of silicate bricks

Before erecting a structure from a material, it is worth determining its type. It has already been said that silicate bricks can be standard or one and a half. Its weight, respectively, will be lower or higher. In addition, there are the following types:

porous brick;
brick with a chipped texture;
structural brick – is subject to mandatory cladding;
slag and ash;
colored brick;
face brick – combines the properties of structural and facing.

In addition, there are hollow and full-bodied bricks. Blocks of the first type, as the name suggests, have voids. This reduces the weight of the unit and affects its parameters such as thermal conductivity and sound insulation. A full-bodied brick weighs more, but also boasts greater strength.

Silicate brick is often used in industrial and private construction

Each of these types of material is designed for specific construction work. Regardless of how many bricks are in a pack of silicate bricks, each of the types has its own characteristics, so you should choose based on the specifics of your construction. The size of the silicate brick is also of great importance.

For example, if you are building a low-rise building, then it is better to use a one-and-a-half or even a double block for these purposes. This will reduce the financial costs of the material, while improving the appearance of the object. It is logical that facades should be faced with smooth and colored bricks. The latter is also well suited for the construction of exterior walls.

The size of the white silicate brick, the characteristics and features of the laying. Types of bricks, performance characteristics. Nuances of finishing. Advantages and disadvantages of the material.

The exterior cladding of the structure with smooth silicate bricks of various types is good because you will not need additional finishing. This will help save not only time for construction, but also your finances.

Nuances of laying silicate bricks

As already mentioned, you will not need any special construction skills or specialized tools to lay bricks. You will need only the usual construction level, a tape measure, a trowel, a plumb line, a shovel for feeding mortar, a hammer for shearing and leveling blocks, as well as a container for cement mortar.

Modern technologies allow the production of silicate bricks of various colors

Useful advice! Before laying a silicate brick, it is desirable to soak it in water so that it does not absorb moisture from the solution later.

First, it is necessary to determine how many silicate bricks are in the pallet. Then you need to start laying. It is best to do this from the corners of the building, between which you need to pull the cord. It is under this cord that the entire brick row will subsequently fit, so this moment should be given special attention. Longitudinal, transverse and vertical seams are necessarily tied with steel wire every 2-3 rows.

There are two main methods of laying silicate bricks. The first one is “vprizhim”, that is, using a hard solution and completely filling all the seams with it. This method takes longer, but guarantees high strength and reliability of the building. The main thing at the same time is not to forget about stitching seams.

The “end-to-end” method implies partial filling of the seams using a plastic solution. This method is faster, but less qualitative, so it is recommended that the resulting structure be additionally reinforced with plaster. The seams must be treated so that cracks do not form.

Example of a wall using a face silicate brick

Laying silicate bricks is done fairly quickly if you already have certain skills in this matter. Numerous video and photo instructions on the Internet will help you get the necessary knowledge in an easy and accessible form. There you can also find out how much silicate bricks of one type or another weigh, which of them is better to use for specific work, which composition of the solution is better suited for laying and other important information.

General tips for working with silicate bricks

There are a number of common points that you need to know for the effective use of such a building material as silicate brick:

there can be no question of using the material for the construction of the foundation and the basement of the building. The main obstacle to this is increased moisture absorption;
the walls of the material, regardless of the size of a standard or one-and-a-half silicate brick, will have to be additionally insulated. An alternative option is to make thicker walls, but insulation is easier and more economical;
the optimal construction option is a combination of ordinary and silicate bricks. In some moments, it is quite possible to do with cheaper types of building materials;

Laying bricks on a pre-prepared wall

silicate brick is best suited for the construction of internal partitions and walls. The dimensions of one and a half silicate bricks are also well suited for exterior cladding of facades;
you need to choose the color, size and type of silicate brick only after you have decided exactly where the material will be used. If you are not well versed in the issue, it is better to seek help from an experienced specialist.

Useful advice! Silicate brick is not much different from the usual one when it comes to laying it. Therefore, you can safely use the same tools and technologies, taking into account the above features of the material.

As a result, we can say that a silicate brick house is a very profitable and reasonable solution. However, you should not thoughtlessly use the material to build absolutely all elements and structures, you should carefully weigh everything for and forgive, learn the recommendations for choosing, working and laying. With a competent approach to construction, a silicate brick house will stand for many years, and its repair and reconstruction will be needed very soon.

Share if you liked it