Materials for Masonry Walls

Walls are a critical structure segment that encases or separates a structure and structures the outskirts of a room. A wall underpins the heaviness of the roof as well as slab and the floor and gives cover from outside upheavals. It comprises the vast majority of the structure mass also. The fashioner chooses the kind of walling framework for a structure dependent on the structure's expense and the whole life-cycle cost of the undertaking.

Masonry walls

It additionally builds the general imperviousness to fire of the structure. Notwithstanding walls of the structure, masonry walls are built as obstructions or limits of the plot.

Masonry Walling Materials

Regular stone

For example, somewhat cut bits of stones are widely utilized for local flowed or semi-flowed masonry, while correctly cut blocks of stones are utilized to make ashlars stonework. Rock, basalt, limestone, marble, and slate are the sorts of as often as possible utilized structure stones.

1. Stone is a meddling volcanic stone having solid and non-permeable attributes. It is utilized in the development of stream walls, dams, connect wharfs, and its cleaned structure is utilized for cladding in sections and walls.

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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
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Types of lime and its applications

Several types of lime are found in construction which range from Quick Lime, Slaked Lime, Fat Lime and Hydraulic Lime. The natural limestone is calcinated at 900 degree celsius temperature to produce lime. Every type lime is different in nature and is utilized in environmental, construction, chemical and metallurgical industries.

The following types of lime is frequently utilized in construction :

1. Quick Lime
2. Slaked Lime
3. Fat Lime
4. Hydraulic Lime

1. Quick Lime: Quick lime is also known as caustic lime ( Calcium Oxide). It is formed by burning clean limestone ( Calcination process). It is the most inexpensive form of lime that which is extremely amorphous and caustic. Quick lime can be easily combined with moisture.

Quick lime is considered as one of the major elements in producing cement. It is also a vital element that can be applied for the treatment of drinking water.

2. Slaked Lime: Slaked lime is formed by the method of slaking under which quick lime is mixed with water. Slaked lime is also called as hydrate of lime. It is found as pure lime in the type of a white powder.

When Slaked lime is uncovered to the atmosphere, it soaks up carbonic acid in the existence of water content. It is also known as calcium hydroxide or calcium hydrate or lime hydrate.

If Slaked lime is produced by adding quick lime and water, a slurry material is made. It is very effective for mortar applications. It is also applied in plastering works and in cement as a binder.

3. Fat Lime: In fat lime, calcium oxide is used in huge amount. It is also known as white lime or rich lime or high calcium lime or pure lime. It slakes intensely while adding water to it. Due to slaking, its volume is raised by two to two and a half times more than that of quick lime.

Fat lime is suitable for pointing in masonry works, foundation, with surkhi to solidify the masonry walls etc.

4. Hydraulic Lime: Hydraulic lime is also known as water lime. It comprises of 30 percent of silica and 5 percent of alumina together with iron oxide. After adding water, this lime sets quickly.

Applications of Lime in Construction.

Major uses of lime are enlisted below:

1. Lime is utilized in the manufacturing of steel to take off the impurities.
2. Make soil stable for construction of roads, airfields and building foundation by mixing lime in huge quantity.
3. Lime slurry is utilized as mortar for masonry work and for plastering.
4. Lime is applied as an additive in asphalt to enhance the property of cohesion. Lime also makes the resistance strength of asphalt better towards stripping and aging.

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

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Foundation problems & causes of cracks

Foundation problems are great concerns for majority of houses. The foundation problems occur due to several reasons like concrete shrinking, settling of soil, construction flaws, irregular soil, ground pressures, water pressure and lots other.

When the foundation problem is extreme, the structure will be significantly damaged. The following factors are the indication of foundation problem :-

Cracks in wall, floor and ceiling
Irregular or sloping floors
Bowed walls or floors
Doors and windows are not opened or closes perfectly
Doors, windows and garage doors getting detached from the adjacent walls
Spaces among walls and ceilings
Spaces among walls and floors
Leaks and cracks in and around the fireplace
Tilting Chimneys

Types of cracks in foundation

Vertical cracks

Vertical cracks in masonry among two structures occur due to differential settlement or thermal settlement.

Vertical cracks in masonry walls or mortar joints occur because of shrinkage or thermal movement. When the cracks remain uniform in width, irregular or straight there is less risk since these cracks are easily repairable with a professional grade crack repair kit.

Vertical cracks in poured concrete happen owing to shrinkage or thermal movement. If the cracks are uniform in width, irregular or straight there is less risk since these cracks are easily repairable with a professional grade crack repair kit.

Cracks in brick either straight or stepped specifically adjacent to the ends of wall, frequently occur because of expansion or thermal movement. When the bond courses in wall are shattered, there is possibility for collapsing of the building.

In wall, larger at bottom rather more at top – settlement under building, these cracks in masonry block wall are less harmful as compared to horizontal cracks. But these cracks are great concern when discovered in a brick wall specifically when bond courses are broken and there is possibility for collapsing.

Diagonal cracks

Diagonal cracks occur because of various reasons like frost heaves, frost lensing, shallow footing, water problems, insufficient backfill, foundation settlement, extensive clay soil, damage by a shrub/tree adjacent to the foundation wall. Most of the time, the diagonal cracks are repaired with a professional-grade crack repair (poured foundations). If there is a series of small diagonal cracks which can be extended abruptly, they can create more serious issue like sink holes, imperfect loading/header defect.

Horizontal Cracks

The horizontal cracks occur because of the following reasons :-

When the crack is situated high on the foundation wall, it is mainly occurred for cold climates or vehicle loading.

When the crack is situated mid-wall on the foundation, it is occurred because of probable vehicle loading, backfill damage or earth loading.

When the crack is situated low on the foundation wall, it is happened because of earth loading.

Most hairline cracks resulting from shrinkage on a poured foundation wall, can be resolved with a crack repair. Other cracks like large cracks or cracks in brick foundations should be repaired with the help of a professional.

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

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Advantages of Plinth beam and proper height of plinth in residential buildings

Plinth beam belongs to a RCC member. The purpose of plinth beam is to detach the superstructure and the substructure and it functions similar to a tie beam to retain columns, walls etc.

Superstructure is located over ground level that comprises of columns, beams, slabs, masonry walls etc. Substructure is located underneath the ground level that comprises of foundation.

Advantages Of Plinth Beam In House Construction :-
1. To sustain the masonry load at ground floor level
2. The objective of plinth beams is to bear the dead weight of the masonry wall (brick/block wall over it) on ground floor level

Maintain Backfilled soil: Houses are normally built up 150-300 mm over the adjoining road level(s). Plinth functions as a retaining structure for the compacted soil that is applied to fill the empty space from foundation level to top of plinth

To check/circumvent differential settlement

Foundations are exposed to differential settlement when the soil underneath is not compacted perfectly. A differential settlement leads to cracks in the masonry walls. Plinth beam belongs to an integrated structural member and it facilitates minimizing the differential settlement in the structure.

To function as a Tie-beam: Load bearing strength of columns is based on slenderness ratio. Slenderness ratio is obtained from unsupported length of column to cross sectional area of column. If the length of column is increased, the slenderness ratio is also raised to reduce the load bearing strength of the building. In order to reduce the effective length of column, tie beams are arranged and in such a situation if foundation is very deep then RCC plinth beam should be arranged. For foundations below or equivalent to 6 feet, plinth also functions as a tie beam.

Suitable Height Of Plinth:

Plinth level should remain over the adjoining road level to stop the penetration of your house in the rainy season.

Sometimes, local municipalities re-carpet the existing roads devoid of extracting old road strata at the time of repairing or building up the roads. Under such situation, nearby properties may set out under ground level and it is not recommended for practical purposes and for vastu.

To stop penetration of water or storm water into the house from outside, plinth is built up in such a manner that the top of the plinth remains adequately over road level.

If the plinth is built up too high over the road level, then the adjoining parking area level will also be raised and problems will arise.

With proper height only 3-4 stairs are necessary to get to plinth level and the bikes can be easily driven, cars can be easily parked and throughout rainfall it will safeguard property from storm and drainage water.

Because of these problems, plinth height should retain very cautiously neither too high nor too low.

The perfect plinth height should be 1.5ft to 2ft high as compared to road level.



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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
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