Thin-jointed Aircrete a first time hit

Builders first experience of Celcon's Thin-Joint system, using Celfix, Celcon's with thin-layer mortar has convinced him that this is the method of construction for the future.

His first experience of Celcon's Thin-Joint system, using Celfix, Celcon's with thin-layer mortar has convinced Alan Chlopas of Specialist Building Services in Essex that this is the method of construction for the future.

Alan had found that with increasingly stringent Building Regulations he was having to use thicker and heavier aggregate blocks, and cavities were becoming wider and wider.

The thicker aggregate blocks were more expensive, the wider cavity meant wider, more expensive, lintels and there were other knock-on effects, such as health and safety problems handling heavier blocks and smaller room sizes due to increased wall thickness.

He realised this was unsustainable in the longer term and decided to trial Celcon's Thin-Joint system, a recognised modern method of construction.

He was immediately impressed by the quality and accuracy of H+H Celcon's Jumbo Plus blocks and the time-saving benefits of using Celfix Celcon's quick-setting thin-layer mortar.

Assistance from a Celcon demonstrator ensured that Alan's blocklayers on site quickly and easily adapted to the new system.

The first project at Leigh-on-Sea was so successful that he is now using Celcon blocks with Celfix quick-setting mortar on all his other developments".

The key points for me are aircrete's excellent insulation properties and the ease of use of Thin-Joint mortar," says Alan.

"In addition you don't need large volumes of sand and cement; there's less waste, it's tidier, more modern and the build quality is better".

Celfix mortar also enabled him to complete the inner skin of Celcon blocks very quickly.

Follow-on trades were therefore able to start work in a weather-tight envelope while the facing brickwork was still going up.

This saved three weeks time per house.

Alan's first aircrete project is a development of six luxury homes at Rayleigh Avenue, Leigh-on-Sea in Essex.

They are a mix of 5-bed and 7-bed homes in a variety of classical styles, designed to blend in with the 400 years old Eastwood Lodge nearby.

Some are brick faced others are rendered.

The rendered walls have a double skin of thin-jointed 100mm Jumbo Plus blocks.

With a 65mm full Dritherm filled cavity, render on the outside and 12.5mm dot and dab plasterboard on the inside an exceptional U-value of 0.29W/m2K was achieved.

All the houses on the development are substantial homes with hall, reception area, lounge, dining room family room, conservatory, at least two bedrooms with en-suite facilities plus family bathroom.

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