Partitions.
Frame or masonry.
Part 3. Professionalism of work performance.
The right choice and the acquisition of high-quality building materials for arranging partitions are only half the success.
Skillful hands and a professional approach are still needed, which will ensure the high-quality assembly of the finished structure from individual structural elements. It should be noted that only careful implementation of all stages of partition construction can become a guarantee of its quality, provide the required parameters for sound insulation, and also significantly simplify its subsequent aesthetic finish.
When building a masonry partition, you must adhere to some rules:
- The stone partition must be built on a level ground over a layer of laid construction film and masonry mortar. The building film is a kind of “floating” layer that allows the partition to move slightly relative to the floor slab (base). Otherwise, the loads arising in the building structure can create stresses in the partition, which in turn will contribute to the appearance of cracks in it. The masonry mortar in this case serves only to level the unevenness of the base.
- Stone partitions with load-bearing walls can be connected in several ways. If the partitions are wide enough, then it is enough to connect them with a layer of mortar. In addition, it is possible to make fines in the load-bearing wall and insert every second row of masonry into them. It is recommended that partitions with a thickness of less than 9 cm be erected with a connection to the load-bearing wall using special anchors (at least 3 pieces per height) or with ligation with the load-bearing wall using the method of its longitudinal cutting.
- If the partition has a thickness of 6.5 cm, then it must be additionally reinforced with reinforcing rods, which should be laid in every third seam. If the thickness of the partition is 12 cm or more, reinforcement of horizontal joints is not necessary. • If the used wall elements have a tongue-and-groove connection on the end surface, then the vertical seams may not be filled with masonry mortar, but the soundproofing properties of the partition will deteriorate significantly.
- If the partition is connected to the wooden studs of the roof structure, then it should be separated from it with a strip of building foil. This will not only prevent the wood from absorbing moisture from the masonry joints, but also ensure the independent “work” of both structural elements.
- We pay special attention to the fact that the elements of a wooden truss structure (crossbars, rafters, etc.) should in no case rest on partitions. In places of contact with the partition, it is necessary to ensure their free deflection, for which the upper edge of the partition must be made 2-3 cm below their level. If it is necessary to close the rafters and crossbars with masonry, but at the same time leave them visible inside the room, then a gap must be left at the place of their contact, which must later be filled with mineral wool or elastic polyurethane foam.
- When constructing partitions, special attention must be paid to ensure that they do not come into contact with the ceilings of the upper floors. It is necessary to erect partitions of such a height that it is 2-3 cm below the load-bearing walls, so that the ceiling laid on them can freely “work” for bending, while not touching and not transferring the load to the floor.
- The construction schedule must be planned in such a way that the construction team involved in the construction of load-bearing walls has the opportunity to carry out the laying of partitions at the same time without unnecessary downtime and delays. Naturally, in no case should partitions be erected on floors that have not acquired the required strength, but at the same time, absolutely nothing prevents them from being erected on the first floor of a building. We pay special attention to the fact that the builders do not curtail their work even before the completion of their construction, as it will be very difficult to find a team only for the construction of some partitions.
- When erecting planned openings, such as windows or doors, the masonry must be supported from below until the masonry mortar has gained strength. Since the partition, as a rule, does not carry significant loads, metal reinforcement is often used as lintels, which are laid under the first or second row of masonry. As reinforcement, strip steel or ribbed rod with a diameter of 8 mm can be used. If the partition has a large thickness, then it is recommended to lay a finished shaped element or a steel beam over such openings as a jumper. When performing frame partitions, special attention must be paid to several points, namely:
- Due to the fact that frame partitions are performed without the use of “wet” processes (sheets and profiles are fixed on self-tapping screws), they are erected quickly enough and without any problems, its installation can be easily done even on your own.
- Installation of the frame partition begins with screwing the horizontal metal UD profiles to the base. Moreover, the lower part of the profile must be glued with a soundproof tape, which can effectively limit the transmission of impact noise. The upper harness is made in the same way. In the prepared upper and lower trim, CD-profile racks are inserted and fastened. In no case should the racks “support” the upper profile, that is, contact with its bottom, since possible floor deflections can cause their deformation. When mounting the top racks, special wooden liners should be used to help maintain optimal clearance.
- When arranging the attic, partitions can be connected to its slopes in two ways: leaving the edges of the partition free or connecting it rigidly to the slope using V-profiles. In the first case, the rigidity of the structure is ensured by the UD profile, which is fixed as high as possible, and the place where the sheets adjoin the attic slope must be filled with an acrylic sealant that is highly resistant to cracking.
- The high soundproofing performance of a partition depends to a large extent on the correct laying of the filler (mineral wool). In this case, the thickness of the mineral wool slabs should not be too large, since over time the wool may bulge, thereby deforming the facing material and the entire partition structure will have to be dismantled. The thickness of the filler used should in no case be equal to the width of the space available between the wall and the sheathing sheets. At the same time, mineral wool slabs should have such a width that would allow filling all the available space between the uprights sufficiently densely.
- When installing planned openings in frame partitions, they should be made in the form of a frame assembled from steel profiles. It is not necessary to leave only sheathing from sheets in the planned opening. The frame must be securely fastened. As a rule, side slopes are made in the form of vertical posts made of CD profiles, and horizontal lintels are made of UD profiles.
If the planned opening has a width of more than 90 cm or a height of more than 260 cm, then it must necessarily be made of profiles that provide a more rigid structure, such as UA profiles. Distribution of engineering systems. The presence of various engineering systems in partitions is inevitable, since they serve to connect heating appliances, plumbing, electricity, etc. In frame-type partitions, all communications can be hidden without much effort in the wall structure, that is, under a layer of sheathing, making it easy problems are solved regarding a slight change in the location of communications in the process of repair work. In addition, communication elements can be easily isolated by wrapping them with a layer of mineral wool, which, in turn, is the filler of the partition.
When planning the thickness of partitions, it is imperative to take into account the presence of communications in it, so in the case of thick pipes, the thickness of the partition must be increased, which ensures not only its free placement, but also take into account the thickness of the insulation layer. The arrangement of communications in masonry partitions requires more time and effort. In most cases, for the laying of engineering networks, it is necessary to cut grooves in the wall. In addition, it is much more difficult to properly soundproof pipes in a stone partition, since in this case you will either have to cut a deep and wide groove in order to place the pipe along with the insulation layer in it (but in a narrow partition this can disrupt its stability), or around the pipes equip a protective box and sheathe it with gypsum fiber or plasterboard sheets. Stubs are quite easy to cut in cellular concrete or concrete block partitions, as they are quite soft and easy to process. It is rather difficult to make chisels in partitions built from hollow building materials, since they are highly brittle, they will have uneven edges when chiseling, which, when embedded, will have to be carefully filled with mortar.
We wish you successful construction.