Brick well laying method. Insulating a well for the winter with your own hands: a review of the best materials and methods of insulation Insulation for walls, well masonry

Freezing of a well is a very unpleasant event for residents of country houses who use well water for water supply all year round. It’s quite simple to avoid this - insulate the well yourself. And for a positive result, you need to know the specifics of thermal insulation and understand the materials. Do you agree?

We will tell you how to choose the right insulation for thermal insulation of a well shaft. Here you will learn everything about the methods and nuances of carrying out work. Taking into account our recommendations, you can ideally protect your water source from exposure to low temperatures.

Will the well freeze in winter? This can be predicted with a high degree of probability.

Firstly, if natural wood was used to construct the well, then it will not freeze even with prolonged exposure to sub-zero temperatures. Our ancestors took advantage of this property by constructing wells from wood.

Modern wells are built using reinforced concrete rings, and given that this material has high thermal conductivity, the well will freeze in the same way as the surrounding soil.

Secondly, you need to pay attention to the water level: if it does not exceed 1.1-2.2 m, then the risk of freezing is very high. If the well is deep and the water in it is below the freezing level of the soil, then the water does not freeze.

The third factor that must be taken into account is the depth of soil freezing in the region. In the southern regions, the freezing depth rarely exceeds 0.5 m, in temperate regions - 1-1.5 m, in the northern regions - below 1.5 m.

Thus, the question of how to properly insulate a well for the winter faces owners of reinforced concrete wells located in temperate and northern climates. For residents of the southern regions it is less relevant. There are enough minimal measures - the construction of an insulated cover, and the well itself does not need thermal insulation.

Freezing of a well made of reinforced concrete rings can be prevented by making high-quality insulation, allowing uninterrupted use of water from it all year round

Why is freezing of wells dangerous?

It is a mistake to think that well insulation is only necessary when it is used year-round. Many summer residents and seasonal residents of country houses sincerely do not understand why insulate a well that no one uses in winter anyway. Meanwhile, these also need effective thermal insulation!

Otherwise, a variety of problems may arise that make the operation of the well difficult or completely impossible:

• the formation of an ice plug in the water supply system;
• displacement of the rings resulting from the expansion of frozen water in the surrounding soils;
• failure of the ice plug and damage to pumping equipment;
• divergence of the joints of reinforced concrete rings when water gets between the seams.

Wells that are not protected from low temperatures require repair work much more often. And in terms of financial costs, repair measures are often more significant than carrying out one-time insulation work.

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Insulation #1 – polystyrene foam

Foam plastic is a synthetic polymer thermal insulation used for insulation of reinforced concrete wells, both under construction and already in operation.

The advantages of polystyrene foam include:

• high thermal conductivity;
• low degree of water absorption;
• resistance to deformation;
• ease of use;
• low cost in comparison with other insulation materials.

One of the main advantages of polystyrene foam is that it is produced in the form of round and semicircular elements, ready for installation of an insulation system, the diameter of which exactly corresponds to the dimensions of reinforced concrete well rings.

This greatly simplifies the insulation process, which is produced using the following technology:

1. Preparing the walls of the well for attaching insulation. Preparation involves cleaning the surface from debris, soil and other contaminants.
2. Installation of thermal insulation (rings, half-rings or individual insulation boards) using glue applied to them for facade work.
3. Strengthening the fastening of foam rings with special dowel nails for concrete. Performed when necessary.
4. Installation of a vapor barrier layer. Any vapor barrier material is suitable here.
5. Filling the trench around the well with soil, compacting it and compacting it.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in the technology of insulation work using polystyrene foam. However, it is worth noting that in addition to the advantages, the described thermal insulation also has some disadvantages.

Good afternoon.

Let's consider what options there are for insulating your multi-layer wall. You are absolutely correct in naming the possible types of insulation: polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam (EPS), wool (mineral and fiberglass). All these insulation materials can be used. Let me explain what the fundamental difference is. Cotton insulation is a vapor-permeable material, while foam and eps are vapor-impermeable. If there is at least one vapor-impermeable layer in the wall, then the vapor permeability of the entire wall is practically zero. Such a layer can be: vapor barrier films, or vapor-impermeable insulation (EPS, polystyrene foam), vapor-impermeable plasters, vapor-impermeable wallpaper. Therefore, it turns out that when insulating with Eps and polystyrene foam, we end up with a vapor-impermeable wall (not breathable), and when insulating with cotton wool insulation, we get a vapor-permeable wall (breathable). How to relate to this “breathing”/“not breathing”, what is good and what is bad. Look, if the wall is designed and constructed as “non-breathable,” then the room needs high-quality forced ventilation. That's the whole difference :-). With “breathing” walls, the room is ventilated naturally, and with “non-breathing” walls, it is forced. With properly selected and installed insulation, there is warmth both in “breathing” walls and in “non-breathing” ones. They build this way and that way. It’s comfortable (if everything is done correctly) in both options.

As for your concerns that “cotton wool absorbs moisture.” Indeed, a multilayer wall with cotton insulation has time to get wet and dry at different times of the year and even at different times of the day. The fact is that not that much moisture (water) condenses in the insulation (a few grams), and the wall has time to dry completely. Such a multilayer wall, insulated with cotton wool, resembles (in principle of operation) an ordinary single-layer wall (made of brick, for example). The outer section of the wall gets wet and dries in the same way, even within one day. So you can also insulate a multilayer wall with cotton wool.

Now I will give the required insulation thicknesses:

• eps - thickness 60mm (30mm+30mm)
• polystyrene foam - thickness 60mm (30mm+30mm)
• mineral wool - 100mm, density 45-60kgm3, slab positions.

I hope we have answered your question.

Onisko Valeria, editor

www.builderclub.com

Well brickwork and some features

Brick houses have been built for centuries. Until recently, the walls were laid using 3-3.5 bricks. In some areas with a particularly harsh climate, the thickness of the walls was increased to a meter, and bricklaying turned into a very labor-intensive and expensive process. A house with brick walls 750 mm thick (3 bricks) on a strong foundation, and even requiring exterior finishing, is a very expensive pleasure, not everyone can afford it.

Masonry with insulation is an innovative technology that has significantly reduced the consumption of bricks and cement, and reduced the load on the foundation, that is, costs have also decreased here.

Now the brick walls serve as a frame that provides the necessary strength to the structure. There is no need to make reinforced bricklaying - thermal insulation will provide insulation.

Well masonry brick walls are two parallel walls, rigidly connected to each other and resting on one foundation. In this case, the inner wall is load-bearing, and the outer wall is finishing. Therefore, as a rule, red hollow brick is used for the load-bearing wall, and facing ceramic or clinker brick is used for the outer wall. The laying begins in the same way, the usual solid brick from the outer corners.

On the inner sides of the well masonry there are longitudinal walls at a distance of 15-50 cm from one another and transverse walls at a distance of 60-120 cm. The minimum possible well is 15x60 cm.

Key points and nuances

Well masonry has many options. A lightweight option - the transverse walls are laid in 1-3 rows. The thickness of the walls in this case is half a brick. The following options - the thickness of the internal walls increases and the transverse walls (ligations) are arranged more often. The walls of the well masonry are fastened using flexible reinforcement joints made of durable steel or plastics. And the toughest option is to make the dressing from lightweight concrete, and from the inside of the frame walls, part of the brick is released as a cantilever in a checkerboard pattern after 2-3 rows.

The insulation is placed in each well upon completion of its forcing. The fastening of insulation for each type is selected in accordance with the project.

The main advantages of well luggage are:

1. Significantly smaller overall wall thickness and, accordingly, weight.
2. No additional decorative cladding is required, since the facing brick of the outer wall is already quite decorative.
3. Laying walls can be done regardless of the time of year.
4. Absolute fire resistance of the structure.
5. Inhomogeneous thermal conductivity of materials.

Disadvantages include the complexity of installation work and a large volume of hidden operations. The main thing is that it is impossible to control the condition of the insulation and, as a result, repair it.

Sometimes, instead of insulation, air gaps are left in the well masonry walls. The width of such a gap should not exceed 6-7 cm. The effectiveness of this method of insulation is much lower, but in some cases it is advisable.

Insulation for walls: characteristics

You need to select insulation taking into account, firstly, its thermal conductivity: the higher the thermal conductivity, the better the insulation. Secondly, vapor permeability. When there is a difference in temperature, steam penetrates through the load-bearing wall, insulation and facing wall to the street.

Each subsequent stage must have a higher vapor permeability than the previous one, otherwise steam will be retained in the insulation and condensation will form inside the structure, which will reduce the thermal insulation properties of the insulation by an order of magnitude, which cannot be repaired. Insulation made from glass wool, mineral wool or basalt wool has a vapor permeability higher than brick, and they are ideal for performing their functions. Insulation made from foam styrene is much higher and cannot be used to insulate brick walls.

Thirdly, the insulation must be moisture resistant, because it is impossible to completely eliminate the ingress of moisture. Therefore, when laying walls, it is necessary to provide outlet pipes.

Mounted into the walls in such a way as not to create cold bridges, they will cope quite well with removing steam from the system.

And lastly, the insulation must be non-flammable. Insulation made from glass wool and all mineral wools fully meet this requirement - they not only do not burn, but are also able to protect adjacent elements of the entire structure from fire.

In addition to sheet insulation, ready-to-use insulation materials are available for sale.

These are various brands of thermal insulation slabs made of basalt stone wool. These slabs are produced specifically for insulating brick walls and have certain specified parameters and dimensions. The insulation brands Concrete Element Butts have proven themselves - rigid thermal insulation slabs, Kaviti Butts - lightweight thermal insulating slabs.

In addition to ready-made slab and roll thermal insulation materials, bulk materials can be used as insulation materials. This can be lightweight concrete based on sawdust, slag, expanded clay, mineral wool granules. The insulation is filled in stages into each well and thoroughly compacted. And in order to completely prevent shrinkage of the material in the wells, horizontal diaphragms are installed. They are made from reinforced cement-sand mortars or simply made bricks inside the walls, in every 2-3 rows.

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Well masonry - disadvantages and advantages of its use in the construction of modern residential buildings

Well masonry- This is a structure of three layers, in which the wall is laid out from a pair of separate walls having a thickness of no more than half a brick.

These walls are connected to each other by vertical and horizontal brick bridges, which form closed wells.

The inner layer is most often made of bricks or blocks, and the outer layer is made of ceramic stone, various types of bricks, silicate, as well as concrete and expanded clay concrete blocks.

Well masonry: Pros and Cons

Advantages of well masonry:

• Reduction in brick consumption by about 18% in relation to its continuous laying;
• Relatively small thickness and weight of the floor, which leads to both savings on wall materials and mitigation of demands on the bearing capacity of the foundation;
• Correct calculations eliminate the risk of moisture condensation inside parts of the wall;
• It is not important to use “warm” masonry mortars;
• Economical ceramic and clinker bricks of the American format are acceptable as a constituent material used for the facing layer of walls;
• Fire resistance;
• An aesthetically pleasing, finished building façade that does not require separate work or costs.

Disadvantages of well masonry:

• Helps reduce the strength of the building and disrupts uniformity.
• Promotes the formation of condensation on the walls of the home, especially in winter.
• It is extremely unstable to temperature changes and can lead to rapid destruction of insulation.

As you can see, there are no clear arguments in favor of choosing or not using this material, so you will have to make your own decision, but you already know what to expect from covering with well masonry.

Well masonry - disadvantages that cannot be ignored

Of course, well masonry has a number of advantages, the main one of which is cost-effectiveness.

But when constructing a large-scale project for a serious customer, before deciding to insulate a building with this particular masonry, you must take into account all the possible risks of using it.

Therefore, we will list the main disadvantages of well masonry so that you understand what you may encounter during construction:

Lightweight well masonry

Lightweight well masonry is made of a pair of walls half a brick wide, between which insulating raw materials are located.

At intervals of 2-5 rows of masonry, the walls are connected with bonded rows. The thickness of the internal load-bearing walls reaches 25 cm. Partitions are placed in half a brick or a quarter. If the partition has a length of more than 1.5 m, then it is necessary to reinforce the masonry, for example with steel wire.

The voids formed between the masonry are filled with concrete, thus creating a durable structure that does not contain insulation.

This is an ideal option for non-residential premises that do not require thermal insulation. The filling between the blocks is standard and is carried out in stages as the solution is filled and hardened.

Using universal waterproofing, you can achieve the desired heat concentration inside the structure. This will allow maximum insulation of the walls without increasing the mass of the slab. Lightweight masonry can be used in high-rise buildings, it is safe and quite easy to implement.

Well masonry with insulation

The issue of using insulation materials for well masonry deserves special attention.

The very idea of ​​using an insulating layer in the middle of a wall structure originated in the mid-twentieth century - at that time various sawdust, moss and peat were used as a means of insulation between brick walls.

Currently, well masonry with insulation allows the use of almost any type of thermal insulation materials, however, when choosing it, it is necessary to take into account the impossibility of repair and restoration work.

Therefore, the main requirements for insulating materials are resistance to deformation and humidity. These requirements are fully met, and, as a rule, materials such as glass wool, mineral wool and polystyrene foam are often used.

It is also possible to use expanded clay and sawdust.

Should well masonry be used in construction?

We have voiced all the main characteristics of the use of well masonry in the construction of various buildings, and after studying the disadvantages and advantages, a conclusion emerges - this material is certainly easy to use and affordable in price, but the risks are too great and often unforeseen expenses, after discovering inaccuracies in the work, exceed the expected benefit.

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What is well masonry?

This technology assumes that the brickwork of external walls is made in a “lightweight” version with the formation of internal “wells” filled with insulation. Thanks to this method, the thermal insulation characteristics of walls, brick pediments, and internal partitions are significantly increased. A variety of materials are used as insulation materials - loose materials (sawdust, slag), slab materials (foam plastic, mineral wool), “light” types of concrete (polystyrene concrete, expanded clay concrete and others). To ensure the required level of strength, parallel walls are fastened together by horizontal and vertical jumpers in brick walls.

The cost-effectiveness of this method determines its popularity. But, following well technology, it is necessary to take into account some nuances. For example, when performing this kind of brickwork in winter conditions, in conditions of high humidity, you may encounter a decrease in the level of thermal insulation of the wall. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a ventilation gap of at least 10 mm thick between the thermal insulation layer and the brickwork.

Advantages and disadvantages

The construction of brick walls using the well method has its advantages, including the following:

• reduction in thermal conductivity when constructing thinner brick walls;
• no need for additional wall insulation;
• less load on the building foundation while reducing the total mass of the partitions;
• more economical use of materials, cheaper construction costs;
• reduction of construction time.

However, this technology also has its disadvantages, including:

• reduction in the degree of structural strength due to the heterogeneity of the wall;
• the risk of condensation occurring inside the insulation material in winter due to the temperature difference between the outside and inside the room.

To eliminate these risks, it will be necessary to calculate and install horizontal and vertical diaphragms, as well as cover the internal surfaces of the “wells” with a vapor barrier material.

Types of well-type masonry

Existing well types of brickwork differ in the following indicators:

• total wall thickness;
• thickness of external partitions;
• dimensions of “wells” (distance between walls);
• type of insulation material;
• material and method of installation of diaphragms.

The following standards are known in construction practice:

• total wall thickness - 33-62 cm (depending on the design, dimensions of the “well” and the thickness of both walls);
• wall thickness options - a quarter of a brick, half a brick (only for spoon rows), 1 full brick (when combining bonded rows with spoon rows);
• options for the width of the “wells” - half a brick, three quarters of a brick, 1 whole brick, one and a half bricks.

It should be noted here that most often both the outer and inner walls are laid out in half a brick. Sometimes exceptions to this rule are allowed: for example, the outer wall is built with half a brick, and the inner wall with a whole brick.

Execution technology

The specified installation technology is more complex than the standard version of brickwork. However, it is not so difficult that anyone can’t master it. The main thing that needs to be ensured is an accurate calculation of the volume of bricks and the selection of lintels.

1. Well installation begins with the arrangement of the base of the wall. It, in particular, includes 2 solid brick rows. The stones are laid with a bandage for horizontal waterproofing of the foundation.
2. After installing the base, they begin to lay out two parallel walls, as well as vertical diaphragms (partitions that connect the parallel walls). In some cases, instead of diaphragms, special pins made of metal reinforcement (6-8 mm in diameter) are installed. In this case, the corners can be laid out in various configurations - parallel walls of equal thickness, with a thicker outer wall, with continuous laying.
3. After laying 5-6 brick rows, the “wells” created in this way are filled with insulating material. If slab insulation is used (mineral wool, expanded polystyrene), it is fixed with mounting adhesive (foam); if bulk material is used, it must be compacted well.
4. Next comes the turn of horizontal brick diaphragms. Diaphragms are 1-3 horizontal rows of bricks thick. With a diaphragm one brick thick, a greater degree of thermal insulation is provided; with a thickness of three bricks, the thermal insulation is less, but the degree of strength is higher. To provide reinforcement to the brickwork, sometimes a reinforcing metal mesh is placed at the bottom of the horizontal diaphragms. In some cases, vertically located brick diaphragms do not completely cover the “well” space, but only half. In this case, the reinforcement of brick walls suffers somewhat, but the thermal insulation coefficient increases.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that the brickwork near the openings is continuous. Under the windows, horizontal diaphragms are made at least two bricks thick.

Instead of a conclusion

The technology of brickwork in the form of a well requires the contractor to accurately count building materials and scrupulously follow the installation rules. If all the requirements for such masonry are met, the walls of the building will not only be warm, but will also be much cheaper.

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Characteristic

Advantages

Before starting construction work, it is necessary to select the right building materials to avoid damaging the thermal insulation of the room.

The well masonry is erected in such a way that the half-brick opening between the two parts of the wall is filled with thermal insulation material. Brick structures are connected to each other by reinforcing pins with curved ends. Using masonry with insulation has the following advantages:

• saving bricks up to 18% compared to conventional masonry;
• reduction in weight and volume of the structure;
• absence of condensate in the well cavity;
• the ability to use economical material such as sand-lime or ceramic brick on the front side of the wall;
• fire resistance;
• aesthetic appearance.

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Flaws

Well brickwork has many advantages, but if you do not take into account some of the nuances, you can get the following undesirable effects:

• Reduced uniformity and strength of the structure. To prevent this drawback, it is necessary to calculate where and in what quantity to place horizontal and vertical diaphragms, which will ensure strengthening of the structure.
• Formation of condensation inside the well in winter. To avoid this effect, the inside of the well must be covered with a vapor barrier layer. In this case, ventilation gaps of at least 10 cm in size are made. In the area of ​​​​the upper and lower rows, the vertical seams are cleaned, which ensures air convection for the structure.
• Destruction of insulation when exposed to high temperatures in summer. The use of special heat-resistant insulation materials will prevent damage to the thermal insulation.

Well masonry is a structural combination of three rows, in which the wall of the building is lined with a pair of separately located partitions having a thickness of no more than half a brick. These partitions, connected to each other by vertical and horizontal brick bridges, form closed wells. In this case, most often the inner layer is built from ordinary bricks or blocks, and the outer wall is made from ceramic stone or another type of brick (including silicate), expanded clay concrete or concrete block. Let's consider why such a structure is needed when building houses, what its pros and cons are, as well as how well brickwork is erected.

General information

It has been proven that such masonry (another name is English) can save brick consumption by an average of 15-20%. In addition, the use of well, or well, brick laying in the construction of residential buildings can significantly reduce the thermal conductivity coefficient of walls.

The essence of this design, or rather, construction manipulation, is that only the inner and outer parts of the wall are built from brick to a specific thickness, and the builders lay heat-insulating material into the recess (well) thus formed between them. The filler in this design can be various types of lightweight concrete, expanded clay, sawdust or slag, insulated polystyrene foam boards or mineral wool.

In order to achieve the required strength of the masonry, builders connect parallel partitions, as a rule, with transverse jumpers or diaphragms. They are made half a brick wide at a distance of up to 4 bricks from each other. Moreover, every 5-6 rows the masonry of the vertical lintel is reinforced. At the lowest level of the ceiling under the window diaphragms (in 2 rows), it is necessary to install horizontal stiffening ribs from the same reinforcing mesh inserted into the outer and inner surfaces of the walls, and protect it all with a layer of cement concrete mortar.

Sometimes transverse jumpers are made from reinforcement rods with a diameter of 5-10 mm with curved ends. This manipulation helps prevent the appearance of cold bridges inside the well masonry, which, in turn, can significantly reduce the thermal insulation efficiency.

Pros and cons of well masonry

Like any building structure, well brickwork has its pros and cons. Therefore, when choosing a method for installing a brick structure, you should carefully weigh everything and choose your own construction technique for a specific case.

The positive aspects of well masonry include:

1. Reducing the load on the foundation of housing, i.e. When constructing such masonry, the total weight of the building is significantly reduced.
2. A noticeable reduction in the overall cost of construction and savings in building materials (including bricks).
3. Increasing the speed of installation of a brick structure.
4. The possibility of installing a building with an acceptable size of the main walls in full compliance with SNiP, that is, it is possible to build brick walls of a smaller thickness while maintaining thermal conductivity indicators or even reducing them. Acceptable heat loss parameters are provided for wall thicknesses of no more than 65 cm.
5. Possibility of not insulating partitions.

The negative aspects of well masonry include:

1. Heterogeneity of the structure, as a result of which its capital density, that is, the strength of the building, decreases.
2. The likelihood of increased infiltration of air masses through air cavities. In other words, installation is extremely vulnerable in terms of the formation of condensation on the walls of the building, especially in the cold season.
3. Instability to temperature changes, which can lead to rapid breaking of the insulation.
4. Difficulty in diagnosing the condition of insulation during operation.

The disadvantages of such masonry can be eliminated or reduced by observing the following rules:

1. Properly calculate and arrange both horizontal and vertical diaphragms.
2. Install a vapor barrier layer inside the “well”, because the insulation laid in it can absorb condensation, and also leave a filter-ventilation gap of at least 10 mm, or use insulation that will not be affected by condensation.
3. Use a material with a high degree of heat resistance as insulation.

well laying diagram

Technology of installation or arrangement of well masonry

General information about the method of arranging well masonry is as follows:

1. On the waterproofing layer of the base of the building in the transverse direction, it is necessary to lay 2 rows of well masonry bricks without gaps, close to each other.
2. Form 2 separately located well brick walls, separated by a distance of 130-140 mm. In this case, the cavity must be exactly the size needed to fill it with insulation.
3. Every 60-120 cm in the partitions of the building it is necessary to install transverse jumpers, preferably with their best location directly under the supports of the floor beams.
4. Use wire ties to connect the brickwork of adjacent walls into one system.
5. When installing lintels, the distance between the bricks of the well masonry, which is approximately 25 mm, is later recommended to be filled with bulk insulation. The exception in this case is window and door openings, where the installation of bricks must be carried out “continuously”.
6. Upon completion of the installation of lightweight masonry in 3 layers, the bricks must be laid again tightly to each other. For the best adhesion of the structure, a reinforcing coating is made of metal mesh.
7. On the last layer of brickwork, beams are mounted, which will serve as supports for the lower purlins of the roof rafters and floor beams.
8. Installation of roll waterproofing completes the installation of well masonry.

Backfilling of the walls of a building is usually carried out after installing 5-6 tiers of bricks. This height is sufficient for subsequent filling of the mortar bridge. In this case, the well masonry, if it is filled with bulk materials, in order to avoid subsidence, must be tightly compacted through each layer of 300-500 mm and filled with mortar.

Well masonry of brick walls can significantly reduce the thermal conductivity of the walls, due to which the energy efficiency of the building significantly increases. The peculiarity of this installation method is that it consists of three layers: the outer and inner layers are made of blocks and bricks, and the gap between them (the well) is filled with a heat insulator. The fact is that, in accordance with modern building codes, even in mid-latitudes, sufficient thermal insulation in winter conditions can be achieved with a thickness of a solid brick structure of about two meters.

a) - e) Different masonry options.
1. Brick walls of openings. 2. A layer of insulation that fills the openings. 3. Vertical diaphragms (liners between wells).

Kolodtsevaya (well), in contrast to ordinary brick masonry walls, belongs to the category of modern progressive construction technologies. It should be borne in mind that this bricklaying technology, like any other, has both advantages and disadvantages. Its advantages include the following factors:

• the ability to build a building with an acceptable thickness of main walls, but fully complying with thermal conductivity to building codes;
• reducing the time and cost of building construction plus saving bricks;
• reducing the load on the foundation by reducing the weight of the structure.

At the same time, brickwork of walls using the well method with insulation also has its weaknesses:

• the homogeneity and, as a consequence, the strength of the structure decreases;
• at low outside temperatures, condensation may form in the heat-insulating layer;
• Strong heating of brick walls during the hot season can lead to damage to the insulation.

Types of well laying

Features of the options for well-laying brick walls are determined by their following parameters:

• overall thickness of the structure;
• thickness of the outer wall;
• the length and width of the openings formed in the space between the brick walls;
• the type of insulation used;
• the features of the device and the material from which horizontal and vertical lintels in brick walls are made, reinforcing the latter.

The total thickness of brick walls when laid in a well can vary from 33 to 62 cm. The thickness of the outer walls can be a quarter of a brick (brick on an edge), half a brick (spoon rows), 1 brick (alternating butt and spoon rows). The most often chosen thickness of both external walls is half a brick, but it can be different.

The width of the openings (the distance between the outer walls) can have one of the following values: half a brick, three quarters, 1 brick or one and a half bricks. The length of these openings should not be more than 1.17 m. Some variants of schemes according to which well brickwork can be carried out are shown in Fig. 1.

Digital symbols on these diagrams:

1. Brick walls of openings.
2. A layer of insulation that fills the openings.
3. Vertical diaphragms (liners between wells).

Descriptions shown in Fig. 1 installation schemes:

• a structure with a total thickness of 33 cm, with outer walls a quarter brick thick (Fig. 1a);
• a wall with a total thickness of 51 cm, with outer walls half a brick thick and an opening width of 1 brick (Fig. 1b);
• a structure with different thicknesses of outer walls and the width of half-brick openings (Fig. 1c);
• the same configuration of the outer walls with an opening width of 1 brick (Fig. 1d);
• through wells with vertical partitions up to the middle part of the masonry (Fig. 1e).

Filling made of bulk materials (sawdust, slag, expanded clay), polystyrene foam boards, basalt mineral wool, and concrete-based fills can be used as insulation. You can calculate the cost of labor and materials to perform such work using the GESN 08-02-014 table.

a)-c) Sequence of laying rows.
1. External and internal walls of the well. 2. An opening filled with insulation. 3. Vertical jumpers (diaphragms). 4.

Sequence of masonry

If you have at least minimal experience, bricklaying external walls should not cause serious difficulties. Requires competent calculation, accuracy and strict order of execution of the technological process:

1. First, the first two continuous rows of bricks are laid on the foundation on top of the waterproofing. The first row is often made with stitching. This will be the base of the well.
2. Vertical jumpers are laid out at the required distance from each other.
3. The selection of lintels is carried out so that the floor beams are located above them. Vertical jumpers should be installed every 0.5-1.17 m.
4. Adjacent walls must be connected with wire ties.
5. The laying of window and door openings, as well as the last few rows, should be continuous.
6. Waterproofing is laid on top of the last layer.

For low-rise construction, well masonry is an ideal option. In this case, the optimal selection of a combination of material consumption, labor intensity and quality of thermal insulation is ensured. Its main disadvantage is that after construction is completed it is almost impossible to replace the insulation.

It is worth noting that in well installation with mineral wool, additional insulation is possible. To do this, ecowool, perlite or similar insulation materials are blown into the openings through small holes in the wall. But with proper calculation and correct selection of materials, such an operation is not required.

Technology and implementation features

a)-c) Three options for laying the corner of a building
1. External and internal walls of the well. 2. An opening filled with insulation. 3. Vertical jumpers (diaphragms).
Horizontal lintel (reinforcing mesh or reinforcement).

As already noted, the complexity of well masonry is somewhat higher than usual, but it is not difficult to master it if you have experience as a mason. With little work experience, it is advisable to arm yourself with a detailed order drawing. This is especially important at the initial stage. An example of fragments of such a drawing is shown in Fig. 2.

Here in Fig. 2a shows a diagram of odd ones, and Fig. 2b - even rows of masonry. To ensure reliable connection between the walls, a horizontal jumper is laid after every sixth row. For this purpose, reinforcing mesh is usually used (see Fig. 2c).

In the same figure, indicated by numbers:

1. External and internal walls of the well.
2. An opening filled with insulation.
3. Vertical jumpers (diaphragms).
4. Horizontal lintel (reinforcing mesh or reinforcement).

The laying of vertical lintels must be securely tied to the longitudinal walls. Their thickness can be 1-3 horizontal rows. The greater the thickness of the lintels, the stronger the structure, but the thermal insulation deteriorates. Instead of brick ones, it is possible to select lintels from reinforcing pins 6-8 mm thick. For reliability, their ends are bent.

The layout of the corners can also be done differently. The structure of several of its variants is shown in Fig. 3. The digital designations here are the same as in Fig. 2. Brief characteristics of these options:

• the option that provides only two parallel walls (a) is the most economical, but also the least durable;
• option with thickening of the outer walls (b) requires more building materials, but the strength of the masonry increases;
• the option with a continuous laying of the corner (c) is the most durable, but also the least economical.

At least two rows of bricks under window openings must be continuous. In addition, in these cases, it is desirable to strengthen the brick walls with reinforcing mesh. When the laying of the external walls is completed, a reinforced concrete reinforcing belt is usually poured over the last row. This is especially important when it is planned to build a brick pediment.

As already noted, for all its advantages, the well structure is not its most durable option. Therefore, in order to support a fairly heavy brick pediment, the presence of a reinforcing belt is highly desirable.

And one more important note. Like any brickwork in winter conditions, the well should be done with doubling the number of reinforced joints, ensuring the strengthening of the brickwork, and using the appropriate mortar. The backfill inside the wells must be absolutely dry and free of frozen inclusions. It is also advisable to use additional liners made of dry cinder blocks.

Of course, ring masonry is an option that is convenient to perform and use, quite affordable in price, but requires care and precision in work.

Well brick masonry is the most common type of construction, which involves the construction of an external wall structure in three layers. Naturally, this kind of work dictates its own adjustments, for example, it is carried out to complete a longitudinal row. Moreover, transverse jumpers serve as the connecting element, resulting in wells. Thanks to the use of well masonry, you can significantly save on the main building material - brick - by more than 15%, if you compare it with conventional brickwork. Although different types of well masonry have their own differences and features, which affect the solidity and stability of the outer wall surface and its thickness.

Types of well masonry

There are a huge number of different types of well masonry, which will differ in thickness (strength) and method of constructing the outer wall. So, the most common options:

1. Well masonry will allow you to make a wall thickness of half a brick, and dressing - through one in three rows.
2. Laying one and a half bricks involves performing the dressing in a continuous row, forming a wall of greater thickness - 1.5 bricks.
3. Brickwork at 2 or 2.5 is the most reliable. Indeed, in this case, the thickness of the outer wall significantly increases, and the bandaging is carried out completely.
4. Modified well masonry is considered the most modern. In this case, the dressing is replaced with lightweight concrete, which acts as additional insulation. In this case, after one or three rows, brick pokes must be released from the walls. They will allow you to connect the resulting newly built structure, acting as anchors.

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How to fill the well masonry?

Important! When choosing a filler for well masonry, you should pay attention to ensure that the material is not too bulky.

After all, it is necessary to eliminate pressure on the foundation and lighten the burden of the new structure as much as possible. And in order to reduce thermal insulation, it is necessary to use raw materials that have low thermal conductivity.

Those building materials that are not at risk of biological destruction are used only as dry backfill. And organic matter, for example, wood sawdust, is like lightweight concrete with the addition of cementitious, limestone, gypsum and clay elements.

• slag;
• expanded clay;
• crushed stone;
• sand preferably rocks;
• sawdust of various tree species;
• foam concrete crumbs;
• ecowool;
• granulated polystyrene foam;
• vermiculite;
• a variety of insulating materials made from slabs will definitely come in handy as filler for well masonry.

When using aggregates other than lightweight concrete, you may encounter general shrinkage of the foundation. To avoid such a situation, it is worth producing horizontal diaphragms, which are made using reinforced cement-sand compounds or bonded rows. The latter should be done every 50 cm in height.

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Standard well masonry is made by creating two brick walls at a distance of no more than 34 cm, the connection of which is made by bandaging. In this case, the dressing has a thickness of 1/4 brick.

To begin with, it is necessary to lay brickwork in two rows in the transverse direction on the surface of the waterproofing foundation.

A distinctive feature of this type of masonry is that it is recommended to lay each brick extremely close to the next one in order to eliminate the possibility of cracks forming.

Important! Wire-based ties are often used as a masonry connector.

To create a longitudinal wall, it is worth using spoon rows. They are appropriate in the process of laying the second row of both external and internal versts. Transverse rows are characterized by the use of pokes. And to connect the longitudinal and transverse rows, it is appropriate to use a dressing through one row. As for backfilling the well with insulating material, it should be done only after finishing the laying of the fifth row, and not earlier.

Since the main disadvantage of brickwork is considered to be the low strength of the outer wall, it is necessary to smooth out the overall impression a little. To do this, it is advisable to lay the corners with three rows of diaphragms. Indeed, in this case the wall is made entirely in the corner area.

In the process of filling insulation, it is worth paying attention to the fact that it must be carefully compacted to obtain a thickness of no more than 15 cm. In this case, a special solution is poured every 50 cm to avoid the negative impact of the external aggressive environment on the insulation layer. Although at the same time it is possible to increase the strength characteristics of the external brick wall being built.

Increasing the level of strength indicators can be achieved by placing horizontal diaphragms at the level of future doors and windows.

If construction takes place in autumn and winter, then the relative humidity of the environment is at a high level, and therefore the brick is very saturated with it. As a result, its thermal resistance drops significantly.

Moreover, even the method of construction (building walls) will not help change the situation. Therefore, in the process of making well masonry, it is worth making a special ventilation opening, which is located between the facing brickwork and the insulation. Thanks to this, the brick can dry out faster and release moisture. The final point regarding the organized movement of air masses through ventilation openings is the creation of vertical seams.

To further attach the heat-insulating boards to the load-bearing wall, you can use special dowels and mounting adhesive. To ensure that the glue sets as firmly as possible, experts recommend pre-treating the entire surface with a primer.

And finally, it is necessary to apply roll insulation and aging.