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Rubble masonry with their own hands. Butovaya masonry. Technology of laying rubble stone. How to make a gabion fence

Rubble masonry is called masonry made of natural stones that have an irregular shape, with two approximately parallel surfaces, the so-called beds.

Natural stones suitable for masonry include:

- limestone;

- sandstone;

- shell rock;

- granite;

- cobblestone.

Cobblestone, as a rule, is used in the construction of foundations for buildings up to two floors high.

During construction, rubble stones weighing up to 30-35 kg are usually used. It is this weight that is more convenient for use, so larger stones are first split into small stones. This process among experts is called plinting. Simultaneously with the plinth, the stones are pinned, this is the so-called chipping of the sharp corners of the stones, adjusting them to the shape of a parallelepiped.

For plinting stones, a rectangular sledgehammer weighing about 6 kg is used, and for processing (pinning) stones, a special hammer-cam weighing about 2.4 kg is used, with which the sharp corners of stones are chipped (example in Fig. 77). He also upsets and splits rubble stones during laying. In addition to the tools shown in the figure below, the same tools are used in rubble masonry as in brickwork.

Rice. 77. Tools for rubble masonry:

a - metal rammer; b - hammer-cam

There are 3 main types of rubble masonry:

- under the shoulder blade;

- under the bracket;

- under the bay (example in Fig. 78).

Rice. 78. Types of rubble masonry:

a - under the shoulder blade; b - under the bracket

Rice. 78 (continued). Types of rubble masonry:

in - in the formwork

Laying under the shoulder blade is carried out in horizontal rows 25-30 cm thick with the selection and pinning of stones, filling voids and dressing masonry joints. The very first (lower) row is laid on a prepared base, laid out of large stones. Stones are selected and packed tightly to the maximum, and for a better fit they are settled by tamping. Then the resulting voids are covered with fine gravel and filled with a liquid solution.

Each next row begins with laying miles. In the places of erection of the inner and outer versts, at the corners and intersections, beacon stones are laid, along which mooring cords are stretched from both sides of the masonry.

To begin with, the verst rows are laid out with dry stones. This is necessary in order to be able to choose the most suitable position for the stones in the entire masonry.

Then, one by one, the stones are lifted, a layer of mortar about 4 cm thick is laid, and finally set in place. After the inner and outer versts are laid, you can start filling the backfill.

Processing of natural stone for construction


The mortar for filling is prepared a little less often than usual, it fills the filling with a little excess, so that when laying the stones it is squeezed out and fills the vertical seams between the stones. To fill the backdrop, you can use stones of any size and shape (within reason, of course).

Also make sure that the stones do not touch each other, that is, the seam between the stones must be at least 0.5-1.0 cm, as this significantly reduces the strength characteristics of the masonry.

After laying the backfill, the masonry is split, placing crushed crushed stone and small stones into the solution. The surface of the laid row of masonry is leveled and the mortar is added to the recesses between the stones.

Subsequent rows of masonry are carried out in the same sequence. The masonry under the bracket is made of calibrated stones, that is, stones of the same height selected according to the template.

Masonry with pinning of the outer surface is a type of masonry under the shoulder blade. When performing this masonry, all irregularities on the front surface of the stones laid in the outer or inner versts are first dug in. As a rule, this method of masonry is used in the construction of pillars or basement walls.

Masonry under the bay is usually made of torn rubble or cobblestones. At the same time, careful selection of stones and laying of verst rows are not carried out. Masonry is carried out in formwork, which is pre-installed in trenches upon completion of earthworks. If the soil is dense in the construction area, then with a trench depth of up to 1.30 meters, the masonry is carried out without formwork, at odds with the walls of the trench.

The first layer of rubble stone with a height of about 30 cm is laid on a dry base against the walls of the formwork or the walls of the trench and compacted by tamping. The first layer can be laid with or without mortar.

After that, all the formed voids between the stones are filled with rubble. Next, the laid layer of stones is poured with a liquid solution so that all voids are filled with a solution.

Further laying is carried out in horizontal rows about 30 cm high, after which each row is poured with mortar.

Rubble masonry "under the bay" is usually used in the construction of foundations for buildings up to 8 meters high.

Masonry with the use of vibration compaction provides the strength of the erected structure by 35–45%, erected by the method under the shoulder blade.

This masonry is carried out in the following sequence: the first row is laid dry, then the voids between the stones are filled with fine gravel, then the mortar is spread with a layer of 45–55 cm and after that the masonry is compacted until the mortar stops filling the voids in the masonry. Next, the next row of stones is laid by laying under the shoulder blade, after which the layer is covered with a solution and again well compacted. This masonry is carried out in the formwork or in trenches against the walls.

Rubble stone walls

Rubble stone is called irregularly shaped large pieces:

  • limestone
  • tuff,
  • dolomite,
  • shell rock,
  • sandstone,
  • granite.

The length of the stones varies from 150 mm to 500 mm. A variety of rubble stone (buta) is cobblestone (boulders, the length of the edges of which is up to 300 mm).

According to the degree of strength, rubble stone is divided into the following varieties:

  • high-strength (strength more than 50 MN / m 2),
  • medium strength (from 15 MN/m2 to 40 MN/m2),
  • low strength (from 2.5 MN/m2 to 10 MN/m2).

Depending on the conditions of future operation, various requirements for frost resistance are imposed on buta (from 15 to 300 freezing cycles).

Rubble stone has long been widely used for masonry:

  • sewer channels,
  • building foundations,
  • ancillary walls,
  • hydraulic structures,
  • retaining walls, etc.




To perform rubble masonry, stones of natural origin with an irregular shape are used. The convenience of using this material lies in the fact that in conditions of a shortage of bricks or in its absence, local materials can be used to build the walls of the basements of buildings, as well as foundations.

Masonry is carried out from non-column or near-column stones in layers of 30 cm in formwork and with brick cladding. Before being used, rubble stone is thoroughly cleaned, and too large stones are split with a sledgehammer.

As a rule, the weight of stones is about 30 kg. The process of splitting stones is called plinting. At the same time, pointed corners are cut off from the resulting smaller stones, trying to give the correct geometric shape.

During the rubble laying, the rubble is sunk into the solution with a hammer-cam. The rest of the tools that are required for rubble masonry are the same as for brick masonry.


Since the stones have an irregular shape and different sizes, it is quite difficult to bandage the sutures. In this regard, it is necessary to pick up stones with a short side - a poke, and with a long side - a spoon.

They are placed alternately in the backfill, first with a row of poke stones, then with spoon ones (like a chain dressing of brickwork). At the intersections of the walls, the same rule is observed.

Types of masonry from buta

Several types of masonry from buta (rubble stone) have been developed:

  • masonry "under the shoulder blade",
  • masonry "under the bay",
  • masonry with vibration compaction.

Laying "under the shoulder blade"

This type of masonry is carried out in horizontal rows, the thickness of which is no more than 25 cm. First, the stone is pinned. The voids are filled with a solution with crushed stone (the so-called crushed stone), the ligation of the seams is performed.

The thickness of the seams along the entire length of the row should be the same and not more than 15 mm. However, the rows themselves may have different thicknesses.

The bottom row is performed dry, without mortar. The stones at the same time use large and directed bed down. In the second and subsequent rows, the stone is placed in a freshly laid mortar, upsetting it with a rammer.


The voids between the buta are filled with small gravel, which are then poured with mortar - this allows you to completely fill all the voids in the masonry. Using a plastic solution, they continue to lay the masonry in order with dressing the seams.

Technology of laying buta "under the shoulder blade"

First, milestone stones are laid. Even before the construction of the outer and inner mile (inner and outer surface of the masonry), beacon stones are mounted at the intersections, as well as every 4 m - 5 m of straight walls.

Then moorings are stretched along them from 2 sides of the masonry - through them, in the course of lifting the masonry, straightness is checked from the outside of the wall or foundation. To find out the stability of the buta of the first row, the stones are first laid dry.

Then, when the final position of the stone inside the masonry is determined, a layer of mortar is poured (the stone is first lifted). Then the stone on the solution is lightly tapped with a hammer, as a result of which it settles a little.

After laying versts, they begin to fill the backfill (middle of the foundation). The solution is placed in the backfill with a shovel. The solution should be enough in excess and during the laying of stones it should seep into the vertical and horizontal seams between the buta.


The requirements for filling are low: you can use stones of different sizes and shapes, but be sure to observe the dressing of the seams (change the pokes with spoons).

In order for the stones to be pressed one to one tightly, they must be besieged with a rammer, a hammer. During the laying process, the bricklayer must also ensure that the rubble does not come into contact with each other without mortar, because. this will reduce its strength.

After finishing work with the backfill, they begin to split the masonry. At the same time, they lightly tap with a hammer, and the crushed stone with the solution fills all the voids. Each of the stacked rows is leveled, adding the missing mortar, as well as filling the voids. This sequence of actions is observed when laying all subsequent rows.

One of the varieties of masonry "under the shoulder blade" is the masonry "under the bracket". It is used in the construction of piers, pillars. Here it is necessary to select stones of the same height and apply a template.

Another type of masonry "under the shoulder blade" is masonry with pinned front surfaces. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that on the front surface of the stone, all the irregularities are chipped in advance before being laid in the inner or outer verst. This type of masonry is used in the arrangement of basement walls, pillars.

In the case of laying “under the shoulder blade” in the formwork, smooth surfaces can be obtained even if the stones do not have a normal bedding and flatness of surfaces for laying. With this method of laying, there is no need to perform verst rows and corners.


Masonry "under the bay"

To perform masonry "under the bay" use stones with torn surfaces, without a certain selection, as well as masonry verst rows. The depth of the trench with dense soil reaches 1.25 m. at odds with the walls of the trench.


This type of masonry is used for non-sagging soil. Basically, such masonry is used in the construction of buildings no higher than two floors. The walls in the prepared trench are made sheer. The base of the trench is well leveled, after which a layer of rubble stone is laid dry over a layer of rubble (about 10 cm thick), the thickness of which is about 30 cm.

The stones are tightly stacked, then, as in the first version, they are split. Then the liquid solution is poured so that its thickness is 10 cm above the layer of stones. Then a layer of stones is laid again.

Masonry with vibration compaction

Vibrocompaction endows rubble masonry with strength exceeding the strength of “under the shoulder” masonry by 25%-40%.

Perform this masonry as follows. The first row is laid out dry, all the voids between the stones are filled with rubble, then a solution of 4 cm - 6 cm is laid.

After that, a vibrator is installed, designed to compact the masonry. Vibration is continued until the process of soaking the solution into the masonry is completed.

The next row is performed in the “under the shoulder blade” method. Cover it with a solution, vibrate again.

Masonry using vibration compaction is carried out in non-sagging soils against the walls of the trench or in the formwork.

Often it is required to make a decorative surface, i.e. "cyclopean" masonry. To perform this type of masonry, rounded stones are used. They are placed in milestones, giving the surface an indefinite pattern. At the same time, convex seams are performed, the width of which is from 2 cm to 4 cm, then they are embroidered.

The size of rubble stones varies in a relatively wide range of lengths - from 15 centimeters to half a meter. The name of rubble stone is most often understood as stones from the following natural materials:

  1. granite;
  2. basalt;
  3. dolomite;
  4. limestone;
  5. sandstone;
  6. shell rock.

Cobblestone, which can be considered a kind of rubble stone, also corresponds to this definition. As you can see, the composition of buta can vary greatly, so physical parameters are often used for its characteristics, for example, its strength.

According to the property of strength, they are divided into three classes:

  • a) high-strength (ultimate compressive strength over 50 MN/m2);
  • b) stone of medium strength (approximately 15-40 Mn/m2);
  • c) low-strength stone (2.5-10 Mn/m2).

For building rubble, requirements are imposed on resistance to hypothermia. The minimum requirements here are from 15 freeze-thaw cycles.

Since ancient times, natural stone has been used in construction. The foundations of buildings, water-bearing structures like aqueducts and canals - rubble stone was used everywhere.

Construction of walls from buta

Due to the cheapness of this material and its prevalence, it can serve as an effective replacement for brickwork. Especially basements and foundations.

Ordinary untreated natural stone is cobblestones of various irregular shapes and must be treated accordingly for construction. Large stones are split as far as possible with the formation of rectangular faces. The edges of the middle stones are chipped off to give them the correct shape. Plinting or splitting stones to give them a more regular geometry suitable for masonry is usually done with a sledgehammer.

The masonry is done by hand, so the maximum size of the processed but should not noticeably exceed 30 kilograms.

A solution is poured into the formwork and stones are laid at the rate of creating a layer of about 30 centimeters. Stones are additionally tamped into a fresh solution with special hammers-cams. Another feature that distinguishes this process from conventional brick laying is the irregular shape of the starting material. For more convenient dressing of masonry seams, stones of the same type are laid in one layer, and a different type is laid in the next, by analogy with chain dressing of brickwork. This rule must also be observed.

Varieties of masonry from rubble stone

Basically, the following three types of masonry are used:

  1. "under the shoulder blade". Already partially described earlier. It is based on the selection by size and shape with the placement of stones of the same type in one row;
  2. "under the bay" The selection of stones is not carried out and they are laid without observing the rows and seams. It is considered an irrational method, it is used only with an abundance of irregularly shaped stones;
  3. vibration masonry.

"Under the shoulder blade"

Masonry using this technology is done in rows. For each horizontal row, a stone is pre-treated to achieve the dimensions of the row thickness and a shape close to rectangular, that is, they form a semblance of bricks from a cobblestone.

The thickness of the seam between the stones should be approximately the same throughout the row and be no more than one and a half centimeters.

The bottom row is formed from the most massive stones, it is made without the use of a connecting solution. For the next rows, laying comes with a solution, and the stones themselves are rammed into it. Inevitably arising large voids are filled first with crushed stone, and then with mortar, which no longer leaves room for significant voids.

"Under the Gulf"

This type of masonry is used only when building on non-sagging soil. Not recommended for buildings higher than two-story.

If for the previous version of masonry, rubble stone is specially processed to achieve a shape close to brick, then here the shape of the stone does not matter much.

The first layer of stone up to 30 centimeters high is laid in trenches without mortar. It is rammed, and the voids are filled with rubble. If the soil is sufficiently dense, capable of holding the solution, then it is possible not to use the formwork, the need for which in this case is no longer necessary. This layer is poured with a solution that completely covers the stone. A new layer of rubble is laid on this fresh solution, the voids are filled with crushed stone, and the solution is on top with an excess for the next layer of stone. So cyclically until the last layer.

Vibratory compacted masonry

It is believed that vibration compaction increases the strength of the "under the shoulder" masonry by about a third.

The technology is based on vibration, which makes it possible to more closely fit stones and gravel to each other, as well as to better distribute the solution between them, displacing all voids.

As usual, the first layer is laid dry, the voids are first filled with gravel, then filled with mortar. Then an areal vibrator is placed on the solution, which compacts and rams the masonry. All subsequent layers of rubble stone are laid using the “under the shovel” technology, with the only difference being that after filling each layer with a solution, a compacting vibrator is placed on it.

Rubble stone today is quite often used in construction and finishing works, perfectly combining excellent strength characteristics and artistic appearance.

What is rubble stone

It cannot be said that rubble stone is any particular breed. Using the terminology of writers, we can say that this is a collective image, since the buta includes dolomite, limestone, and sandstone, united only by the maximum size, which should correspond to 500 mm and weight and should not exceed 50 kg.

Thus, rubble stone is fragments of rocks with a certain size and a certain weight, which are obtained as a result of the production of crushed stone by separating it into various fractions.

Buta quality requirements strictly limit impurities to 2% of the total mass, do not allow clay or marl to be present in its composition, and also exclude delamination and any cracks.

Application area

Rubble stone is used for the construction and decoration of the following objects:

  1. structures that can be classified as monumental.
  2. Engineering structures. These include retaining walls and various enclosing structures in unheated structures.
  3. Waterworks such as canals, wells, sumps, etc.
  4. Low height railings.
  5. Paving of roads and sidewalks in elite areas of settlements.
  6. Landscape and decorative elements.
  7. Finishing of socles and facades of buildings and finishing of fences.

Strip foundations made of rubble attract the attention of builders because they do not require reinforcement, the role of which is played by the stone plates themselves.

For hydraulic structures, the dimensions of the rubble stone are required somewhat less than those indicated above. The weight should not exceed 30 kg, and the size should be limited to 300 - 350 mm.

Alpine slides made of this material, decorative pools, fountains, frames for flower beds and lawns look especially impressive.

Specifications and classification

  1. The main characteristic of rubble stone is its resistance to compression. It is this parameter that determines the grade of the material, which ranges from 100 to 1200. In other words, rubble stone can withstand a compressive load from 100 kg/cm2 to 1200 kg/cm2.
  2. The frost resistance of buta must be at least 15 cycles. That is, the material is subjected to freezing and thawing at least fifteen times and this did not affect its bearing capacity. Rubble stone grades according to this indicator can be from F15 to F300.
  3. Flakiness is a very important characteristic of buta. The concept of flakiness makes it possible to determine the ratio of acicular and flat grains in a stone. According to this indicator, but is divided into five groups from group V (35-50%) to group I (less than 10%).
  4. The radioactivity of the material is divided into two classes:
    • I class (up to 370 Bq/kg) for the use of buta in residential areas and settlements;
    • Class II (over 370 Bq/kg) for the use of stone in industrial construction.

There is another absolutely individual indicator, which is characterized by the tonality of the sound emitted by the stone after being hit by a hammer. The more loudly and evenly the sound occurs, the less various impurities in the stone, the more homogeneous its structure.

Types of rubble stones

  1. Industrial bottle. It is a rock stone, which was obtained by the explosive method and was processed in crushing machines located at crushed stone production enterprises. Most often, this type of buta is mined in quarries by overburden. After blasting, an "aggregate" stone is obtained, which is taken out of the quarry for further fractionation. The most suitable rocks for producing industrial rubble are limestone and sandstone, which, in terms of their physical and chemical properties, fully satisfy the needs of builders. Such critical structures as dams, dams, bridge supports, foundations of industrial facilities are being built from industrial rubble.
  2. Decorative rubble is a rubble stone that has been processed for finishing work and has the following distinctive features:
    • Its dimensions range from 150 to 300 mm.
    • The configuration of each stone should resemble a disk, which will allow for a slight increase in the thickness of the wall or fence during finishing work.
    • Increased requirements for the purity of each stone, suggesting its cleaning before laying.
    • Requires additional edging to fit when laying or to create a specific pattern.

    A decorative bottle is mined exclusively by hand, since only a careful attitude to its surface allows us to preserve its originality and artistic value. Especially in great demand are decorative stones, which over the course of centuries have received prints of grasses, moss branches on their surface, and have inclusions of other geological rocks in their body. This imprint of time gives them the charm of antiquity. Nowadays, there are technologies that make it possible to artificially age a stone. All these factors significantly increase the cost of decorative buta.

  3. Rounded boot- this is a stone that was mined from reservoirs or subjected to special processing, as a result, all edges acquired rounded outlines. Very often, such stones are found in areas where tectonic shifts occurred during the ice age, which, rolling stones, gave their surface irregular outlines with rounded sides. They are colloquially called "cobblestones". You can download that it is the rounded but one of the most ancient stone materials that was used both in ancient Egypt and in Rome. Most often they are used for:
    • Paving roads and squares.
    • Construction of fountains and decorative pools with artificial grottoes.
    • Framing flower beds and lawns.
    • Creation of decorative retaining walls.
    • Creation of exclusive landscape elements.
  4. Bedded but It has the shape of a parallelepiped and can be fully called the prototype of modern brick. It got its name from the name of the upper and lower faces of the stone, which masons call "beds". The thickness of the slabs for producing bedded rubble is at least 70 mm. Fences are erected from it, decorative borders are created, and the plinths of buildings are trimmed.

Basic rules for working with boot

  • Firstly, before starting any work with a rubble stone, it is necessary to sort and sort it according to the following criteria:
    • In size, which will allow you to properly lay stones when performing masonry or finishing work, ensuring maximum strength characteristics of the structure.
    • By color. This is especially important if rubble stone will serve as a finishing material. This will allow you to choose the color scheme that matches the design intent for the decoration of structures.
  • Secondly, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the surface of the stones from soil, construction debris and inclusions of organic materials (branches, leaves, etc.) that can disrupt the uniformity of the masonry, reduce strength characteristics or spoil the appearance.
  • Thirdly, it must be taken into account that rubble masonry is not a craft, it is an art akin to the art of a sculptor, so there is no need to set temporary records that can spoil the whole idea. Thoughtful distribution of stones in the masonry of the wall or on its surface during finishing will turn the building into a work of art.

Rubble masonry technology

After sorting and cleaning the rubble stone, you can start stone work:

  1. Immediately before the start of masonry, the rubble must be thoroughly soaked in water, since it can, upon contact with the solution, remove water from it and thereby weaken the grade of the solution.
  2. The first row of stones must be laid directly on the fresh concrete of the foundation (or plinth) of the building approximately four hours after the concrete has been laid. This will result in a high-quality adhesion of the foundation structure and the wall structure.
  3. To ensure a flat plane of the wall, pull the cord from corner to corner of the building. If the dimensions of the building are large enough, then the entire length of the wall must be divided into sections of 5 - 6 meters.
  4. After the concrete has set, the wall can be laid using the traditional “classic” method.
  5. After a row or two has been laid out, after the initial setting of the mortar on which the stones are laid, it is necessary to joint the joints, which will give the wall a neater and more artistic look. When grouting the seams, it must be remembered that no holes or depressions should form between the stones, in which water can accumulate or snow can accumulate. This can lead to the destruction of the wall and the formation of cracks.


Solution

For rubble stone made of granite or diabase, the ratio of the components of the solution should be no more than two parts of sand per one part of cement. If the rubble stone is made of limestone or sandstone, then the ratio for one part of cement is three parts of sand. The solution must be plastic and completely fill all the holes and gaps between the stones.

Tool

For rubble masonry, the same tool is used as for regular masonry:

  • Shovel shovel and bayonet.
  • Master OK.
  • Cam hammer.
  • Metal hand rammer.
  • Buckets for preparing a solution.
  • Cord brace.
  • Level 2 meters.


rubble stone cost

The cost of a buta ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles per cubic meter, if it is an ordinary stone. If the stone is decorative and has artistic distinctive features, then its cost ranges from 10,000 to 17,000 rubles. The cost of delivery and market demand in the region of sale significantly affects the cost.

For those wishing to gain elementary building skills, the easiest way to start is by mastering the laying of rubble stone using the example of a stone fence in a country house or in a private house. Valuable experience and skills will be useful for arranging the courtyard - the construction of decorative fences, outbuildings and partitions in landscape design.

Masonry - the simplest fence or wall made of natural or partially processed stone. Different-sized stone, folded in several rows or levels, is fastened with cement mortar, special glue for facing stone or other building mix binder. Suitable pieces of cobblestone and large stone blocks of the desired size and shape are sometimes laid out in 2-3 rows and without fastening.

The masonry has several varieties:

  • from bricks of various types;
  • from stone sides;
  • mixed type of masonry;
  • laying of wild stone - hewn and unhewn.

Looking at a pile of irregularly shaped rubble, it is not clear to a beginner how a beautiful laying of natural stone can be obtained from this material. However, it was from it that people built the first fortifications, fences, houses and temples in ancient times. Today it is the cheapest building material that can be collected locally. Natural stone is used for construction or improvement:

  • building foundations;
  • fences and barriers;
  • cellars and cellars;
  • outbuildings;
  • auxiliary walls and partitions;
  • hydraulic structures;
  • support walls;
  • communications (sewer and hydrotechnical);
  • garden buildings and fences;
  • barbecue base.

With any installation method, a stone fence or other neatly laid out stone fence looks quite attractive.

In order to use illustrative material and explanations, it is important to master several terms used by masons:

  • bed (wide base);
  • spoon (sidewall);
  • poke (butt);
  • outer and inner versts;
  • backfill;
  • facade;
  • seams horizontal and vertical;
  • spoon (chain) and tychkovy row (short side) - see the drawing of the masonry.

Preparing stone for laying

Assembled or delivered to the construction site, the stone is sorted by size and shape. It is preferable to make masonry from stone of the same mass, but natural material up to 30 kg is usually suitable. The stone, which has a shape close to a parallelogram, is deposited separately - the material at the corners. Larger blocks - on the lower rows and on the formation of the dressing.

Rubble stone differs in terms of strength. By "rubble" is meant a natural stone of arbitrary shape, chipped pieces of rock layers are also suitable. A small butt is suitable for laying, within 100 - 500 mm, or which can be carried. Larger cobblestone is crushed into pieces up to 300 mm. Suitable for masonry:

  • granite;
  • sandstone;
  • limestone;
  • dolomite;
  • shell rock (shell rock of different density, chopped and rifled).

Stones are selected with the expectation that they can be laid in rows. The combination of the shape and size of the material is no less important for laying stone with your own hands - they must be in harmony and create an aesthetic pattern. The formation of masonry is done according to certain principles in order to obtain a strong foundation of the vertical plane, and not a chaotic heap. Proper laying of rubble stone - with upper faces horizontal or with a slope to the middle of the wall being built, which is important for proper load distribution.

Layers of large and smaller stones should alternate, and voids filled with smaller material so that there are no cracks in the masonry. To fill the voids, small stones are selected, the rest is filled with "putty". This is a composition of clay and small chipped stone, it is prepared in advance for work.

Before laying, the stone is cleaned of small crumbs and moistened for better adhesion. When a suitable stone does not fit in the right position, small triangular pebbles are placed under it as supports, so they should be at hand. Each layer starts from the corner stones towards, the reinforcement with a rod is done between the rows. The last row is leveled especially carefully and poured with a binder mixture.

The best material for masonry is hewn or chipped, of a suitable shape, which will give a relatively flat front surface. Very large building material is split in different ways. Excess points are removed to obtain a suitable geometric shape. Masonry of hollow stones is done in a similar way, but without additional refinement.

For rubble masonry you will need a tool:

  • hammer;
  • sledgehammer;
  • Master OK;
  • metal tamper and wood.

Several ways to crush stone for laying

Attention: When chopping stone, be sure to protect your hands with work gloves, goggles on your face, use a household respirator, tight overalls, high boots, you can wear a mask for welding. There should not be a number of casual spectators. Just in case, keep a first aid kit handy, because the material is very strong, you will have to make an effort. Make sure that the tool does not jump off!

  • Booth is broken with a chisel and a sledgehammer. A small recess is hollowed out in the ground for a stone - in order to avoid rebound. With a sharp and strong movement, they strike with a sledgehammer in the center. If there is no result, the blows are repeated at the same point. A strong block can be turned over and repeated attempts. Sharp fragments, after splitting the stone, should be beaten with a hammer.
  • Booth is broken with a hammer. If there is no suitable tool, a regular heavy hammer with a short handle will do. The chisel is selected with a carbide tip that can withstand the load. The whole scheme of action is the same as described above, but the chisel can also be moved in a circle until the first crack forms. Usually 5-10 sharp blows are enough, but it all depends on the density of the stone.
  • A large cobblestone is the most difficult to split, but the process is similar to the previous ones - a stone in a recess is split with a chisel. Blows are applied with a hammer until the first signs of a split.
  • You can try to work with a power tool, but it is important to calculate the possible load and choose a reliable nozzle. After breaking with wedges in different places, a grinder with a diamond disc is used.

Tip: When using a sledgehammer, it is not the strength of the blow that is more important, but the accuracy and proper holding of the tool. Keep close to the end of the handle, and this will give more power to the blow than holding on to a heavy headstock.

  • The last way is to break a large cobblestone with dynamite, but this requires experience, equipment and distance from the settlement. These works are entrusted to professionals.

"Dry" and "wet" masonry

Builders practice "wet" and "dry" masonry, using a mortar based on:

  • building glue;
  • sand-cement mixture;
  • clay mix.

Hewn stone of the same size is better to lay out on 2-3 levels without any mortar with careful adjustment of each block, according to the shape of the adjacent material.

Garden hedges with dry stone laying look very natural, especially if the back side is covered with earth to resemble natural terraces. The stone is gradually overgrown with overgrowth and a picturesque landscape is obtained, reminiscent of the ruins of an ancient fortress or castle.

In the "dry" masonry, there is only a large stone of arbitrary shape, close to cubic. It is more important not only to fit each stone to each other, but also to calibrate the building material so that a wall is formed in width and height. If a stone fence is made under backfilling with earth from the back, then it is important to level only the front surface - using a plumb line. In the same way, you can make a low laying of ceramic stone.

The largest stones are laid on the lower level, but the rows are necessarily observed, as in wet laying. Such work is somewhat reminiscent of a puzzle connection of fragments, and dry masonry is no different. Voids or seams between rubble or stone blocks can be filled with compacted soil if it is a low masonry in the form of a garden border or fence for a flower bed. The lower row of stones is sometimes partially dug into the ground, like a foundation.

For buildings with a height of more than half a meter, only wet masonry is used, based on one of the varieties of the binder solution. If natural stone is used for low hedges in agricultural buildings of a mixed type, for example, as the basis of adobe masonry, then it can also be fastened with a clay mixture with the addition of dry cement. This guarantees the masonry durability and stability.

Important: It is not recommended to knead sea sand into mortar for laying stone. Preference is given to well-sifted river sand - it has the best characteristics for adhesion and stirring, does not emit salt.

Laying methods

The general appearance of the masonry and the strength of the structure depend on the method of laying the long, short and end sides of the building or finishing material. The main task is to shift the vertical seams to avoid cracks in the masonry:

  • rubble concrete;
  • large-block and small-block;
  • lightweight;
  • decorative, etc.

However, with any method of work, masonry must meet the basic requirements:

  • stability;
  • durability;
  • reliability;
  • solidity;
  • aesthetics;
  • resistance to mechanical stress.

The simplest laying of artificial stone and brick - the blocks are placed on top of each other with wide edges (beds). The brick is laid out in spoon and poke rows, depending on which side it lies on the front side of the wall. This is important for the strength of the ligation of the rows.

Traditionally, laying from spoon rows is done by dressing - where there was a vertical seam of the previous row, a gray brick, block or stone is placed above. Other types of rows are often used:

1. English dressing, where the brick of the poke row alternates with the spoon rows - photo.

2. American dressing, where the tying row alternates 4-7 spoon rows so that the seams mix.

3. Flemish dressing, where through the row there is an alternation of bonder and spoon-type brick laying.

However, natural stone usually has unequal sizes and arbitrary shapes, so it is not so easy to follow the types of dressing similar to brickwork. Experienced masons skillfully combine the principles of different types of laying, picking up a butt with a poke (short side) and a long one (spoon). In the backfill (rubble masonry), it is still important to observe the row and alternation of vertical seams, so that it looks like a chain dressing. The corners are laid out so that the long side of the stone alternately goes into one wall, then into another wall.

The easiest way to observe rows and alternation of vertical seams is when laying cut stone, for example, from shell rock or sandstone. This is a natural material with a high content of calcium, which arose by underwater pressing of a relic shell, it is environmentally friendly, has low thermal conductivity. It is cut into blocks, like a brick, so it is convenient to lay the shell rock. And in rubble masonry, there is a lower tensile strength, since irregularly shaped stones touch each other at several points, and not flat. Here much depends on the quality of the adhesive solution and the skill of the stacker.

Masonry is of varying complexity, where it is assumed:

  • curly protrusions and volumetric bulges;
  • belts (several protruding horizontal rows);
  • trimmings (on the facade there is a smaller thickness of the masonry);
  • overlaps (a fragment of masonry with a protruding side from the common wall);
  • ledges (the front fragment of the wall goes the other way);
  • fines (masonry temporarily breaks, vertical or "runaway");
  • niches (half the thickness of the masonry or more).

Thus, a special decorative effect is achieved, and not just a solid stone wall. Often, a forged metal grate is mounted in fines with a gradual decrease in rounded shape - a very effective fence of the estate is obtained.

Rubble masonry technology

Rubble masonry is also laid "under the bay" and "under the shoulder blade".

1. The first row is often dug a little and laid dry, compacted with gravel, then all this is poured with a liquid solution until all the voids are filled. Next, the rows are fastened with a thick solution to fill the voids, while maintaining the dressing. Be sure to make an intermediate horizontal seam. Each stone must fit snugly against neighboring blocks, and the vertical seam must be covered with a stone from the top row. If a sufficiently large void forms in the seams and aisles, it can be filled with supporting stones or simply filling. Bearing walls and pillars are laid out only in this way, observing the row, dressing and splitting.

2. Sometimes masonry is made with vibration compaction, adding strength - without mortar, lay out the 1st row, clogging voids with crushed stone. Next, the mortar is poured and a building vibrator is installed to compact the masonry until all the mortar enters the masonry. Next comes the usual masonry “under the shoulder blade”, and again everything is compacted. This is possible where dense soils do not subside, and the base of the wall is laid in a trench, formwork can be used.

3. Bay laying is suitable for natural stone with ragged surface without sorting, starting from laying in a trench, like a foundation. This is done without formwork to obtain even sheer walls. Under the densely laid stone, crushed stone is made and poured with a liquid solution, which covers the stones with excess from above, and then a new layer of stones is laid.

4. "Cyclopean" masonry looks more decorative, thanks to the chipped stone, which gives a peculiar pattern in the wall. The masonry is made out with convex seams within 5 cm with embroidery - photo.

Tip: For any type of masonry, check its verticality with a level, especially in the corners. It is desirable to reinforce the wall between the rows. Check the horizontality of the masonry by the cord stretched between the stakes, and if semicircular masonry is needed, it is marked with stakes along the radial markings from one point.