Clay vent blocks are used in walls where light and air movement is highly required. They are laid in stairwells, laundry rooms, kitchen stores, verandas and balconies. The blocks are mostly eight sided polygons or circular in shape. They are laid in window openings instead of using the ordinary frame and glass. Clay vent blocks should not carry any loads. The opening should be erected first including the beam above. These blocks should be well burned and dry before they are used in the wall.
Clay vent blocks are laid upright. The polygon or circular sides are used to sit on one another. The opening for the blocks should be modular in size. This is to enable full pieces of blocks to be laid. If a block width size is ten inches, then including the thickness and joints a window opening should be divisible by twelve inches. Clay vent blocks can also be painted if the brick red color is not appealing. Mostly the brick red colored oxide is used to match the jointing mortar.
When laying the clay vent blocks, prepare the window opening. Measure the internal width and check if its divisible by twelve inches. Use a straight edge and mark the points at which the polygon or circular shape will touch the opening. Cement mortar is then mixed with the red oxide for coloring. A string is nailed on both ends of the opening. The blocks are then laid on the mortar till the end of the first course. Allowance should be made at the ends for adjustments. This is to ensure that the blocks are not very tightly jointed.
The clay vent block joints are then filled with mortar. The next up to the last course is repeated by laying on top of each block on the course. A pattern is then weaved out of the laying the blocks. All joints are laid and filled inside and outside. After one hour after laying, a wet soft brush is used to clean off the excess mortar. The brick red emulsion can be painted on the vents or they can be left in their natural color. A gauze wire can be added in case the area is prone to flying or crawling insects. This is fixed on the inside to cover the holes.
Andrew Karundu Is A Building Economist, Providing Home Based Solutions To Fixing, Repairing, Remodeling And Redesigning Homes. He Uses Simple Tried And Tested Methods To Improve Family Lifestyles.Visit His Site Here For Adequate Information On Most HOME IMPROVEMENT SOLUTIONS .
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
tweet this!