12 reasons to choose clay:

• Clay heals.
• Regulates air humidity (keeps a healthy microclimate).
• Has antiseptic properties.
• Absorbs odors.
• Attenuates high frequency radiation.
• Preserves and protects the wooden structures of buildings.
• Accumulates thermal energy(excellent material for low temperature wall heating).
• Clay is pleasant to the touch and in its natural form gives a feeling of warmth.
• Clay materials (compared to other materials) have better soundproofing properties.
• Clay is easy to work with, hypoallergenic and 100% recyclable.
• Clay plasters, thanks to various natural additives, can have different interesting designs.
• Housewives note that in houses with clay plasters, windows do not “sweat” and mold does not form on the walls.

Clay plasters

Where do we use clay plasters?

Plasters can be applied to almost any hard and rigid surface (walls and ceiling):
- walls insulated with straw blocks or reeds;
- concrete, fired and unfired brick, foam block, silicate brick, gypsum;
- board, OSB, shingles, timber (with a base of reeds).

Plasters are most often applied to interior walls, because slanting rains can damage clay outside. However, there are exceptions when the house is well planned. Clay plasters will organically look in private houses, apartments, office buildings, restaurants, etc.

What is in clay plaster?

We use plasters that contain clay and sand, as well as sometimes finely chopped straw and mineral pigments. Burlap or serpyanka are suitable as reinforcement.
In decorative plasters (for example, AURO firms) there are materials of natural origin.

For clay plasters, you can use clay (after testing for viscosity and foreign particles content), which you get, for example, by digging a well or a trench under the foundation of a new house. This clay must be properly prepared and mixed with other necessary natural materials(sand, straw, etc.). In this way, you can independently achieve almost minimal material costs. Most likely the clay will have brown shade, therefore, if you want to change the color of the finishing layer of plaster (walls or ceiling), then you can look for clay near the river, purchase from a brick factory or from some clay flour sellers. To date, clay is sold in ready-made powder form and in different colors.

You can achieve lighter shades of clay plaster by painting it with lime or casein paints. The main thing is not to use classic paints that leave the surface of the clay plaster closed to the penetration of steam. The advantage of unfired clay is that its surface can not be completely painted over: if you leave some parts in their natural color, then the sensations from touching the clay material are much more pleasant.

For design, you can use various shades of clay, as well as natural additives (grass, sand, small gravel, pebbles, shells, etc.), which will change the surface relief and add a pleasant smell.

It is easy to protect the surface from abrasion with a breathable casein primer, while the color of the plaster does not change.

We most often work with ready-made dry powdered clay, since the extraction and processing of local clay requires a lot of time and labor, which not everyone can afford.

How thick is clay plaster?
Regulates the humidity in the room (that is, maintains a healthy microclimate) a layer of plaster with a thickness of at least 1.5–2 cm. Decorative plasters are applied in a layer of 2 to 5 mm.

Clay partitions

Clay partitions in apartments and offices

In order to improve the microclimate (in particular humidity regulation), we recommend building non-load-bearing partitions in apartments, as well as inside reinforced concrete and brick buildings, from unbaked bricks (raw) or from rammed clay. These partitions are a kind of thick plaster and take any, even a curved shape. Thanks to this interesting aesthetic element, the image of the company can be favorably emphasized.

Clay partitions in frame houses and log cabins

In modern frame houses and log cabins, there is not enough heavy mass that could accumulate thermal energy (heat-cold). Previously, a massive Russian stove was installed in log cabins, which also served as a heat accumulator. Today, instead of it, partitions made of heavy adobe (rammed clay) or unbaked bricks (it can be facing or laid out under the finishing plaster) can serve as the necessary mass. As a result of slight temperature fluctuations in the room, thermal comfort increases. Such partitions can be heated due to radiators, wall heating, radiation from brick ovens, as well as from direct sunlight falling directly on the wall.

In addition, clay partitions are a good option if you want to complement the monotonous walls of your log house with some other material. Firstly, clay takes moisture from the air just as well as wood, but gives it back faster. For example, if moisture is adsorbed into wood in bathrooms, it can become too saturated over time. Therefore, we advise planning clay elements in log houses, which not only look great with wood, but also give it additional protection. Secondly, many housewives note that in houses with clay plasters, windows practically do not “sweat” and mold does not form on the walls.

Answers to frequently asked questions

The plaster does not fall off and does not chip off?

Clay plaster will not fall off when applied to a secure hard surface by an experienced craftsman. But, as experience shows, it can chip off, like any other plaster (cement, gypsum). The possibility of chipping corners is reduced when they are rounded, by the way, now this is a very popular element of decoration.

How can dust be removed from the surface of the plaster? Can plaster be wiped off?

The plaster surface (natural, primed with casein primer or painted with casein paint) is cleaned in the same way as wallpaper or wall surfaces with standard paints, most often with a broom or a vacuum cleaner with a soft nozzle. Where it is necessary to wipe or wash the surface of the plaster (bathrooms, toilets, kitchens), we recommend choosing Tadelakt Moroccan plaster.

Does plaster crack after drying?

Clay plaster itself does not crack. For complete confidence, we use fittings: linen or jute burlap. Cracks can occur if, for example, an apartment building has not yet fully shrunk (which happens within a few years after the house is built).

How is chipped or cracked plaster repaired?

Chipped or cracked plaster is easy to repair after wetting the wall with a felt trowel.

Is it an expensive pleasure - clay plaster?

The cost of applying clay plaster for painting together with materials is approximately the same as gypsum plaster with putty for painting.

I was on a digger, I was on a topan, I was on a circle, I was on a fire, I was on a fire. When he was young, he fed people, but when he became old, he began to swaddle.

Everyone could guess this riddle in the old days. The hero of the riddle is an ordinary oven pot. Using his example, one can trace the entire path that clay goes through before becoming a ceramic product. Village potters called a pit or quarry where clay was mined "Kopants". From the digger, the clay fell on the "topanets" - a flat place in the yard or hut, where it was trampled underfoot, carefully kneading and picking out the pebbles that got into it. After such processing, the clay came to the "circle", that is, to the potter's wheel, where it took the form of a pot or some other vessel. When the pot finally dried up, it was sent to the “fire”, or rather, to the furnace, where after firing it became hard as a stone. But in order for the pot not to absorb moisture, it had to be “on the burn”. To do this, it was dipped in hot form into leavened thick or liquid flour mash.

The second part of the riddle figuratively and briefly shows the further fate of the finished pottery. It is hardly worth specifically explaining how the stove pot "fed people", but that's why in old age he "began to swaddle", modern man hardly understandable. The fact is that in the past, housewives were in no hurry to throw away old cracked pots. They were wrapped around with narrow steamed birch bark ribbons, as if they were swaddling. Pots and other earthenware entwined with birch bark could serve for many more years.

living clay

"Living clay" potters called the clay, which is in nature in its natural state.

The clay found in nature is so diverse in composition that in the bowels of the earth you can actually find a ready-made clay mixture suitable for making any type of ceramics - from sparkling white earthenware to red oven bricks. Of course, large deposits of valuable types of clay are rare, so factories and plants for the production of ceramics appear near such natural pantries, such as, for example, in Gzhel near Moscow, where white clay was once discovered. Every self-respecting village potter also had, although small, but his treasured deposits, or, more simply, digging pits, where he mined clay suitable for work. Sometimes it was necessary to travel many miles for the required clay, extracting it from deep pits with incredible difficulties. Moreover, one deposit was not always enough, since for different products required a different composition of clay. So, for example, greasy ferruginous clay is best suited for black-polished ceramics. It is highly plastic, perfectly molded on the potter's wheel, and after drying it can be ironed to a mirror finish. The ware from such clay does not pass moisture and differs in high durability. One problem: greasy clay cracks easily during drying and subsequent firing. Products made of lean clay containing a significant amount of sand have a rough surface, and besides, they strongly absorb moisture. But when drying and firing, lean clay cracks very rarely. For good clay, the golden mean is preferred when it has an average fat content.

Oily clay is considered to contain less than 5% sand, while lean clay includes up to 30% sand. Medium fat clay contains 15% sand.

Where to find modeling clay

You can find suitable clay for modeling and pottery almost everywhere, there would be a desire. Besides a small amount of clays can always be "corrected" by elutriation and other methods. Clay can occur immediately under the soil layer at a shallow depth. In garden plots, it can be found during various land works. Layers of clay quite often come to the surface along the banks of rivers and lakes, in the slopes and slopes of ravines. There are areas in the Non-Chernozem region where clay is literally underfoot and in wet weather on country roads it turns into a continuous mess, causing indignation of passers-by. Even from such “dirt” collected on the road, you can sculpt and then burn small decorative items. But, of course, this should not be done. Even where there is clay soil all around, you need to dig at least a shallow ditch to get to cleaner and more uniform layers.

Clay suitable for modeling can be successfully prepared even in a big city. After all, builders are always digging pits for a new house somewhere nearby, or a water or gas pipeline is being repaired. At the same time, clay layers, lying at great depths, are on the surface.

Determining the suitability of clay for modeling can be done in a fairly simple way. From a small lump of moistened clay taken for a test, roll a tourniquet about the size of your index finger between your palms. Then slowly bend it in half. If at the same time no cracks form at the bend or there are very few of them, then the clay is quite suitable for work and, in all likelihood, it contains 10-15% sand.

clay color

Each type of clay at a certain stage of modeling, drying and firing changes its color. Dried clay differs from raw clay only more light tone, but when fired, most clays dramatically change their color. The only exception is white clay, which, when moistened, acquires only a slight gray tint, and after firing it remains the same white. The color of "living clay", usually in a wet state, is most often deceptive. After firing, it can suddenly change dramatically: green will turn pink, brown - red, and blue and black - white. As you know, craftswomen from the village of Filimonovo, Tula Region, sculpt their toys from black and blue clay. Only after being dried in a kiln, the toys become white with a slightly creamy tint. The miraculous transformation that happened to clay can be explained very simply: under the influence of high temperature organic particles burned out, which gave the clay a black color before firing. By the way, similar particles are found in the black soil, where they also determine the color of this soil. The color of clay, both in the raw and in the fired state, is also affected by various mineral impurities and metal salts contained in it.

If, for example, clay contains iron oxides, then after firing it becomes red, orange or purple. According to the color that the clay acquires after firing, white-burning clay is distinguished ( White color), light-burning (light gray, light yellow, light pink), dark-burning (red, red-brown, brown, brown-violet). To determine what kind of clay you have to deal with, mold a plate from a small piece or roll a ball, which, after thorough drying, fire in an oven. Put the prepared clay in a wooden box and fill it with water so that its individual lumps protrude slightly above the surface. It is advisable to immediately prepare as much clay as possible. With an abundance of clay, only a small part of it is consumed, and the rest will be constantly aged.

The more wet the clay is, the better. Previously, potters kept clay in the open air in the so-called clay pit - a special pit, the walls of which were made of logs, planks or thick boards. The clay had to lie in the clay pit for at least three months, but sometimes it was in open storage for several years. In spring and summer, it was burned by the sun's rays, in autumn the winds blew and rained, in winter it froze in the cold and thawed during the thaw, then melt water penetrated into it. But all this was only beneficial for the clay, since it was loosened from numerous microcracks, while harmful organic impurities were oxidized and soluble salts were washed out.

The centuries-old practice of folk masters has shown that the longer the clay is aged, the better its quality.

We continue to move into the cosmic unknown. The world is looking more and more like futuristic fiction. Therefore, the essentially unnatural return to simple, natural materials seems so natural.

Another source of the modern desire for naturalness is the permanent fear of ecological collapse. Environmentally friendly design is in demand today more than ever. It is today that clay is beginning to be associated with value, despite the stable, directly opposite historical connotations. Modern design willingly takes clay into circulation, enthusiastically discovering its incredible decorative and practical potential.

Clay in construction

Clay as a material in a modern interior has a very wide application due to its plasticity. What other material can be equally used both in bulky construction and in the manufacture of the finest handicrafts?

Clay, different in composition and properties, can be used almost everywhere today. So, along with the traditional clay one! - brick, adobe blocks are very popular as a building material. Consisting of clay, sand and organic fillers, they have both extremely low cost and excellent technical characteristics.

Though modern technology the production of adobe blocks and differs from the traditional one: instead of straw, as a rule, sawdust is used, and the blocks themselves are not made manually, but mechanically - nevertheless, this material continues to retain the charm of ancient times.

Adobe blocks are actively used in construction today, and houses made from them show themselves in the best way both technically and aesthetically.

What you need to know to use clay

It is useful to know that in order to use clay independently, as a building or decorative material, to obtain a satisfactory, high-quality result, it is extremely important to be able to select the composition of the clay. This becomes more obvious if you know, for example, that the building mixtures themselves sometimes contain several types of clay at once, which tells them their qualities.

The amazing possibilities of clay

Clay as a material has a truly inexhaustible application possibilities. known to man from the earliest times of its formation, it still remains relevant. Like thousands of years ago, clay serves our most diverse needs, albeit in a different form than before: instead of unfired dishes, today we have at our disposal both universal faience and the finest porcelain; instead of adobe floors - a myriad of slabs and tiles - and so on.

Today, clay-based plasters for walls, building mixtures, roofing and cladding materials, stucco, sculptures, dishes, decorative items and much more are made. Despite the spread of innovative materials, clay firmly holds its traditional positions, and even penetrates into the camp of a competitor, constantly discovering new opportunities for its actualization.

Walls

Clay plasters are gaining more and more popularity today. The living surface of walls plastered with this material is not only very attractive, but also has many useful properties due to its naturalness and environmental friendliness.
Clay plaster is a hypoallergenic material that acts like a filter. It is able to absorb excess moisture, which contributes to the regulation of the microclimate inside the house. It is more than affordable. It is easy to apply. It has excellent protective characteristics and is resistant to microcracks, which prevents its destruction.

Floor

To date, there are a number of technologically different ways of arranging clay. At the same time, the composition and basic properties of these floors are almost identical.

The clay floor is poured or lined with a mixture of clay, sand, straw, gravel or other additives. As a result, the floor acquires a smooth, wear-resistant surface that is unique in its properties and appearance. Such floors have antiseptic and antistatic properties. They help maintain an optimal moisture balance, are able to restrain and even neutralize unpleasant odors. In addition, they have the ability to retain heat: heating up during the day, they gradually release it at night.

It is also important that the surface of the clay floor does not require special maintenance and is easily repaired if necessary.

Facing

Facing exterior walls with clay is not an easy task: clay absorbs and releases water well when wet and heated, which results in cracking. This requires the use of special technologies in the processing of the finished coating and the production of facing materials. As such, clay can be used in the form of ceramic outdoor tiles and plaster mixes.

Walls made of adobe are also not very moisture resistant, so they need additional plastering. Lime is traditionally used for this purpose, compensating for the natural lack of clay blocks and imparting a special charm to the building.

Roof

Traditional ceramic tiles are made by simply firing clay. Despite simple technology, which has not changed since ancient times, such tiles can serve for many decades, sometimes without even needing repair. Manufacturers, as a rule, give a guarantee for their products up to 30 years.

Such tiles are not afraid of temperature changes, overdrying from direct sunlight, and even open fire and acid rain. The clay roof cools and heats up very slowly, which provides a special comfortable climate inside.

When choosing a tile, it is recommended to pay attention to the fact that the pores on its surface must be closed: the more “porous” the tile, the higher its ability to retain and absorb moisture, which can eventually lead to its destruction. In addition, the tendency to absorb a large amount of moisture significantly reduces the frost resistance of clay tiles.

Pottery

Despite the huge number of newfangled materials for making dishes, clay does not lose its position. Products made of ceramics, porcelain, terracotta and faience are still common and in demand.

Ceramic cookware does not emit harmful substances when heated. There is no scale in it. It is chemically inert - in a word, ceramics is almost an ideal version of dishes used in our everyday life. Terracotta is made from special red varieties of clay. After firing, it acquires a characteristic texture, while it can be both coarse-grained and fine. The color of terracotta varies from red-brown to creamy flesh.

Today, terracotta is used to make dishes, which was not done before: there was an idea that terracotta did not like water. The development of terracotta production technology has changed the situation, and now many manufacturers have turned to this material in search of new interesting solutions.

home spa

Clay has a very unusual use in modern life. Since the same ancient times, clay has established itself not only as a building or decorative material, but also as a cosmetic product.

Clay well tones, disinfects, whitens the skin. Great for making hair masks, as it contains a large amount of silicon, which promotes the growth and strengthening of the hair follicle.

Although today clay, by a strange coincidence, as a building or decorative material is perceived by us with a slight touch of exoticism or even social disorder, nevertheless, the global craze is changing this state of affairs more and more actively.

Every year projects and ways of using clay become bolder and more interesting. So it is quite possible to expect that after some time the appearance of our dwellings and cities can change significantly, including thanks to clay.

Clay is the smallest particles of rocks that were formed during the destruction of rocks and stones under the influence of rain, snow, temperature changes and other natural phenomena. Depending on what rock this stone crumb-dust was formed from, that is, what rock the clay was formed from, it acquires the appropriate color. But, regardless of color, all types of clay have silicon in their composition and have a healing effect, but, here, the strength of the healing effect of clay depends on its type.

White clay (kaolin)
The main property of white clay is cleansing and drying of the skin. It absorbs excess sebum and sweat gland secretions, eliminates impurities that are on the skin. Clay enhances the bactericidal effect of certain substances, so it is added to anti-inflammatory ointments and masks. This type is also used in decorative cosmetics as part of powders and dry deodorants. Kaolin is especially good for women with oily skin. White clay By itself, it can be used as a mask at home. But for dry skin pure form she is no good.

Application

Mask for the face: dilute the clay with warm water or chamomile decoction (1: 1) in a non-metallic bowl to the consistency of thick sour cream. Apply the mass in a thin layer on clean skin, lightly rub into the skin with wet fingers for 2-3 minutes, after 15 minutes rinse with warm water and apply a nourishing cream.

Hair Mask: strengthens weak hair, prevents hair loss.

Dilute 50g of white clay with water by adding 1 tbsp. spoon apple cider vinegar and colorless henna. Apply the mixture on your head, gently rubbing it into the skin. Put on a plastic cap and wrap it with a towel on top, after warming it up on a radiator (under the action of heat, the useful substances of the mask are activated and penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin). Hold the mask for about 20 minutes, rinse your hair with warm water, dry without using a hair dryer.

pink clay
Pink clay contains a large amount of pure silicon. Thanks to the balanced mineralogical and chemical composition(silicon, iron, magnesium, calcium), clay restores and stabilizes the work of skin cells, enriches them with trace elements necessary for normal functioning. Pink clay is one of the strongest natural remedies in the fight against skin irritations, brittle nails and hair. Recommended for delicate skin care, disinfects and smoothes it. Included in shampoos for normal hair.

Baths with application pink clay work very well on skin covering, have a tonic effect on the entire body, remove toxins and heal the circulatory system.

Mask for dry irritated skin: 3 teaspoons with a slide of pink clay, 3 tbsp. spoons of milk and a teaspoon of honey gently mix. Apply the resulting mass in a thick layer on well-cleansed skin. After 20 minutes, wash off the mask with cool water and apply a nourishing cream on your face.

green clay
The cosmetic properties of green clay are due to its rich microelement composition (especially high silver content), which ensures the normal course of metabolic processes in the cell, prevents its aging, strengthens the epithelium, hair and nails. In addition to silver, the composition of green clay includes: magnesium, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, copper, cobalt, molybdenum. It has been used for masks and baths mixed with aromatic oils, herbal decoctions, olive oil since the time of Cleopatra. Gives the skin a special softness and velvety, acts as a gentle peeling, preserves the beauty and attractiveness of the skin for many years.

Green clay is designed for oily and combination skin face and head, promotes narrowing of pores, improves the function of the sebaceous glands and has a tonic property.

Mask for dry skin gently cleanses the pores, makes it smooth and elastic, saturates it with nutrients.

Mix 50 g of green clay with a decoction of chamomile. Add 1 teaspoon unrefined olive oil first pressing. Mix thoroughly. Apply a thick layer on the face (except for the area around the eyes and lips), neck and décolleté for 10-15 minutes. The mask must be washed off before it dries. After the procedure, be sure to lubricate the skin with a nourishing cream.

Blue (blue) clay
This clay is different a large number salts of cadmium and cobalt and other useful substances, has cleansing properties, disinfects the skin. It activates blood circulation and enhances the process of metabolism in skin cells. Blue clay- an effective anti-inflammatory agent. It cleanses and tones the skin, fights acne, whitens, and has an anti-cellulite effect. Used in traditional medicine to fight hair loss.

mask for oily skin Tightens pores and prevents breakouts 2 tbsp. dilute spoons of blue clay with mineral water or tea leaves to the consistency of thick sour cream. You can add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Mix thoroughly so that there are no lumps. Apply the resulting mass in a thick layer on a cleansed face, while avoiding the area around the eyes. Keep the mask on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water and apply your favorite moisturizer.

black clay
It occupies a special place among other healing clays, the biologically active substances contained in it correct the function of the sebaceous glands, normalizing fat metabolism in cells. Mud treatment with black clay improves blood circulation and metabolic processes, regenerative processes in the body.

Wraps promote fat burning:

Dilute 500 g of black clay with mineral water to the consistency of sour cream. Take a shower and massage problem areas (for example, with a massage mitt). Dry off with a towel. Warm up the clay a little, apply it in a thick layer on the problem areas, wrap it with plastic wrap and a woolen scarf on top, wrap yourself in a blanket. After 20-30 minutes, wash off the clay with warm water and pat your skin dry with a towel. After that, rub anti-cellulite cream into problem areas. To achieve the effect, it is necessary to carry out at least 10-12 procedures (every other day).

Cosmetic clay is a unique, natural source and ally of the beauty and youth of your skin and hair!

In the old days, children went to school without mobile phones, and builders did without roofing material. pyramid builders ancient egypt they were not very worried about the waterproofing of structures (with the exception of underground granaries), although they were built to last. When the peoples of cold and humid Central and Northern Europe adopted Roman engineering techniques in construction, they had to seriously think about protecting the underground parts of structures from moisture. In some Holland, which is entirely a swamp, there is no way without it. Construction practice has shown that the best (and the only one at that level of technology development) type of insulation is clay. Fortunately, suitable clay for waterproofing is often found in low-lying areas with damp soils.

Until the middle of the 19th century, a traditional and reliable technology was used in the construction of basements on moist soils: a foundation made of brick or rubble on lime mortar was covered with a layer of clay 8-10 cm thick, which was then covered with natural matting. From below, a layer of brick rubble was poured as drainage, with significant soil moisture, drainage pipes were laid. This is how many European cities are built in regions with wet soil. In Russia bright examples- St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad (Kenigsberg), many basements in them are located below the groundwater level and at the same time remain dry. Systems of underground drainage and clay insulation were found by archaeologists during excavations of structures dating back to the 14th century in Novgorod. Leaks in the basements of ancient buildings occur when, when laying communications, today's builders break the old clay waterproofing and try to restore it with modern, familiar means.

Very high quality oily clay ideal for waterproofing

The adobe floors, which are still found in old village houses, remain completely dry even in humid climates until water is poured on them from above. In rich old houses and churches, the floors were made on a brick pavement, arranging a clay layer 10–15 cm thick on top. The floor thus made was faced with stone or ceramic tiles, again using clay mortars as glue.

Clay is suitable not only for making dishes, it is the most valuable building material.

In the 19th century, bitumen and tar were introduced into construction as waterproofing materials, gradually replacing traditional methods. In modern construction, mainly highly industrial modern materials are used - waterproofing materials based on petroleum bitumen, cement and polymers. However, it is too early to write off clay in this capacity. Waterproofing of structures with a clay castle is used quite widely to this day, and not only in the Russian outback, but also in rich and advanced countries from a construction point of view.

Underground structures and foundations of houses in old St. Petersburg, built practically on a swamp, stand on wooden piles and are waterproofed using a clay castle and asphalt-coal coatings

Scope of clay insulation in our time

As in the old days, clay is used to protect basements and building foundations from moisture. The ideal option is the combined use of modern and traditional methods. Surface insulation can be made with bituminous materials (roll or coating) or a polymer-cement composition. Build a clay castle outside. Such a solution will greatly increase the reliability of waterproofing.

Very often, builders make mistakes when building buildings in clay soils. They dig a pit, build a basement, and backfill, as is customary, with a sand and gravel mixture to neutralize the heaving effect of clay on the foundation. Builders want the best, but it turns out "as always." Clay soil retains water, and sandy, like a sponge, perfectly absorbs. After the rain, all the water goes into the sand, where it stays. Backfill around the building is saturated with water for a significant part of the year, regardless of the level of groundwater.

One of the options for building a dry basement. If the basement walls are concrete, the brick cladding can be replaced with coating or gluing insulation.

If there is even the slightest hole in the surface insulation of the basement, water will surely find its way into the house. This trouble is eliminated by the device of a clay castle or expensive underground drainage. When building on clay soils, it is better not to use sand bedding at all. It is better to place a layer of rubble under the foundation pillow, pour the clay taken out of the pit back and compact it. This recommendation does not apply to shallow foundations erected in heaving soils.

Clay is the most popular waterproofing material in the construction of ponds and reservoirs. Perfectly retains water without any additional measures. However, the use of a film will only improve the properties of the pond, preventing the erosion of the clay layer.

The property of clay to retain water is used in the construction of ponds.

The industry produces high-tech waterproofing materials containing clay components. The products of the American company "Akzo Nobel Geosynthetics" are quite well known in the West - three-layer waterproofing mats "NaBento", made on the basis of bentonite clay in a geotextile sheath. Mats expand after backfilling the sinuses of the pit, tightly “packing” possible gaps, they are used to isolate critical underground structures in difficult conditions. Clay-based mats are produced by a number of enterprises in the USA, Canada, European countries and China.

The device of a clay castle when building a village well for drinking water is mandatory. Otherwise, dirty surface water will seep in along the walls.

The clay castle and the blind area of ​​​​the well should have an outward slope

Clay castle properties

• Clay has no shelf life, does not deteriorate. Clay insulation does not fail, does not need to be repaired.
• Clay is a finely dispersed and plastic mineral. Cracks cannot appear in a clay castle, it will not be washed away by groundwater. From storm drains from the roof, the clay castle should be protected.
• Clay does not let water through, but not moisture. A foundation without surface insulation will not get wet, but it will slightly moisten. The best solution- combined use of surface insulation and clay castle.
• Clay tends to expand significantly when frozen. If the clay castle is made in sandy or sandy loamy soil, it does not matter. If the soil at the construction site is clayey, the foundations of the structure should have a smooth surface, the outer profile of the foundation should not expand upwards so that it is not squeezed out by the forces of frost heaving.
• Very often, clay rolls underfoot and is worthless. Nice bonus.

The best way to make a castle is to tamp it in layers in the formwork, which does not have to be even

How to choose the right clay

The fatter the clay, the better. Oily clay is considered to contain from 5 to 15% sand. Color does not matter. At worst, you can use loam, but its effectiveness is slightly lower. The quality of clay is determined manually: take it in the palm of your hand and crush it.

Any type of clay with a low sand content will work for insulation.

Clay of natural moisture is used to make the castle. If it is taken out of the ground for storage, it should be soaked by watering and covered from above. Clay is ready to use when you can mold something from it: it does not crumble and does not slip between the fingers when it is crushed. It will not be superfluous to add 10-20% lime to the composition of the clay, especially with a high content of sand in it.

If the clay holds its shape: it does not crumble or spread, it is ready for use

The best result is obtained by carefully compacting the clay in the formwork. You can install wooden panels, ensuring the thickness of the castle is 15-20 cm. If the pit is not wide, and there is enough material, the walls of the pit themselves can serve as formwork. The clay is rammed in layers 20-30 cm high. Placing a geotextile fabric outside the lock will prevent its gradual erosion by groundwater. While there is no blind area, it is also worth laying a strip of geotextile along the perimeter of the house, making backfill with a slope from the building. The blind area can be made from a mixture of crushed stone and crumpled clay, paved on top.

If the pit is not wide, the formwork can be omitted

The clay castle of the well is made like a blind area. It should be wide, at least a meter, and not necessarily deep, from half a meter. Better, of course, wider and deeper. If a water pipe goes from the well to the house, it must also be insulated with a lock, regardless of the depth of its laying. Clay can be covered with geotextile on top and paving slabs or cobblestones can be laid on it.

The clay castle of the pond is made 8-12 cm thick in three layers. The clay is kneaded to a soft dough, applied to a horizontal or inclined surface, compacted and allowed to dry a little. The surface should become similar in hardness to plasticine, then the next layer can be applied. During drying, including at the end of work, the clay must not be allowed to dry out in order to avoid the appearance of cracks. It needs to be covered with a film, you can hay. The pond will turn out perfect if you spread a film for ponds on top of the clay.

The clay blind area should be protected from above with geotextiles or paved

So, clay is not only a traditional, but also a promising material for waterproofing buildings from ground moisture. It literally lies underfoot, the work does not require qualifications and a complex tool from the performer, although it is quite laborious. European and American technologists continue to successfully develop the latest insulating materials based on clays, their appearance in Russia should be expected in the near future.