Grid for aerated concrete: masonry reinforcement with ETIZ masonry tape

Aerated concrete and foam block are warm, lightweight and geometrically accurate materials, but aerated concrete has low tensile and bending strength. With the shrinkage of the house, seasonal soil movements, uneven settlement of the foundation or temperature deformations in the masonry, stresses arise that lead to cracks. To make the wall work as a whole, the masonry joints are reinforced. Composite aerated concrete mesh ETIZ solves this problem without the disadvantages of steel reinforcement: it does not corrode inside a thin adhesive seam and does not become a bridge of cold.

What is masonry mesh for aerated concrete

Masonry mesh is a narrow composite tape of fiberglass or basalt yarns bonded into a durable mesh structure. Unlike reinforcement mesh for screeds and floors, it is specially designed for laying in a horizontal seam between rows of blocks. The width of the tape is selected for the thickness of the masonry: 0.36 m, 0.5 m and 1 m. The mesh is supplied in convenient rolls of 50 meters — they are easy to carry, unwind along the row and cut with scissors or grinder along the desired length. The tensile strength reaches 50/50 kN/m in both directions, which is sufficient for reinforcing bearing and self-supporting walls made of aerated concrete.

The material is produced according to GOST 31938-2012 for composite polymer reinforcement and mesh, that is, it is not a decorative paint serpyanka, but a full-fledged structural reinforcing element.

Why composite mesh is better than metal mesh

The classic version of reinforcement is steel welded mesh or laying the bar in grooved grooves. In aerated concrete, this creates several problems at once, which the composite removes:

• Does not rust or corrode. Aerated concrete is vapor-permeable and accumulates moisture; steel in such a seam rusts over time, bursts the masonry and leaves red streams. The composite is inert to moisture and alkalis.
• It does not form cold bridges. The metal conducts heat and "stitches" the wall through, cooling the seam. Composite mesh is a heat insulator, the thermal contour of the wall remains solid.
• Dielectric The grid does not conduct electric current and does not affect radio waves — it is important where the wiring passes in the walls.
• Thin — does not thicken the seam. The tape almost does not protrude above the thin adhesive layer of the gas block, so the rows lie flat, and the glue consumption does not increase.
• Lightweight and flexible. The roll weighs several times less than a metal mesh of the same meter, is easily rewound, cut and laid by one person.
• Long lasting. The composite serves the entire life of the wall without loss of strength from corrosion.

It is important to remember: the composite can not be cooked — you need to connect and cut the tape mechanically (overlap, cutting with scissors or a grinder). This is not a limitation, but a feature of the material.

Types and characteristics of masonry mesh

The width of the tape is selected for different wall thicknesses and the type of block. The main parameters are summarized in a table.

You can choose the desired width and calculate the footage for your project in the section composite masonry and reinforcing meshes ETIZ.

Where aerated concrete mesh is used

The masonry tape reinforces the most loaded and vulnerable zones of the aerated concrete wall:

• the first (supporting) row of masonry on the foundation or plinth;
• each several rows along the height of the wall for the redistribution of loads;
• rows under and above window openings where stresses are concentrated;
• zones of support of jumpers, floor slabs and mauerlat;
• long and high walls, walls of extended outbuildings and partitions made of foam concrete block.

The same material is applicable for masonry made of brick and expanded clay block — the principle of reinforcement of the joint is the same.

How to lay masonry mesh

Installation does not require special tools and fits into the usual rhythm of masonry on the glue:

1. Apply a layer of masonry glue or mortar to the top plane of the row of blocks.
2. Roll the tape along the row, drowning it in fresh glue closer to the middle of the seam; overlap at the corners and joints.
3. Smooth and, if necessary, press the mesh with a serrated spatula, removing excess glue.
4. Lay the next row of blocks over the reinforced seam as usual.
5. Cut excessively with scissors or a grinder right on the spot — welding and heating are not needed.

The frequency of reinforcement along the height of the wall and in the openings is determined by the project. The general logic is to reinforce the first row, zones of openings and repeat laying through several rows along the height.

Replacement of metal mesh without corrosion

Composite masonry tape is a direct replacement of steel welded mesh and netting mesh in masonry joints. It gives the same tensile reinforcement, but removes corrosion, weight and cold bridges. For the builder, this is less weight on the site and simple cutting, for the customer — a wall without rusty flows and cracks in the armor for decades to come. Assortment of width and footage, as well as selection for the type of block — in eTHYZ Composite Mesh Catalogue; check the price upon request from the manager.

FAQs

After how many rows should the mesh be placed in aerated concrete?

The frequency is set by the project, but the general practice is as follows: the first (support) row is necessarily reinforced on the foundation, the rows under and above the window and door openings, the zones of support of lintels and ceilings, and the mesh is repeated along the height of the wall through several rows of masonry. On long and high partitions reinforce more often. It is better to coordinate the exact scheme for load-bearing walls with the designer.

Will the composite mesh be cooler than the metal mesh?

On the contrary, the metal mesh conducts heat and creates a cold bridge in the seam, cooling the wall. Composite masonry tape ETIZ is a heat insulator, it does not conduct heat and keeps the thermal contour of the aerated concrete wall solid. Plus, the composite does not rust in a moist vapor-permeable seam, so the reinforcement serves the entire life of the masonry without corrosion and red flows.

What grid width should I choose for the gas block?

The width is selected for the thickness of the masonry. The ETIZ masonry tape has available formats of 0.36 m, 0.5 m and 1 m, rolls of 50 meters each. For standard wall gas blocks, it is usual to take a tape laid along the middle line of the seam with an indentation from the edges. The exact size and footage for your project will help you calculate in the grid catalog or from the plant manager.

The mesh can be cut and how to connect it?

Yes. Composite masonry tape is cut with ordinary metal scissors or grinder directly on the site — it is flexible and lightweight. The tapes are connected overlapping at the corners and joints, laying in one adhesive seam. The only restriction: the composite cannot be boiled and heated like a steel mesh. All connections are made mechanically, which even simplifies and speeds up installation.

Does the mesh comply with GOST and what is its strength?

ETIZ masonry composite mesh is produced in accordance with GOST 31938-2012 for composite polymer reinforcement and mesh — this is a structural reinforcing material, and not a decorative paint serpyanka. The tensile strength reaches 50/50 kN/m in two directions, which is enough to reinforce the joints of load-bearing and self-supporting walls made of aerated concrete and foam concrete block. The price is specified upon request.