Ytong is the brand name of the Xella company for steam-hardened aerated concrete and is also used in common parlance as a synonym for all building materials made from aerated concrete. Due to the light weight of the stones, an individual can build a wall made of Ytong without much effort. Thick layers of mortar are also unnecessary, which is why even inexperienced people can build a structure made of this material.
Is Ytong suitable for building a garden wall?
A garden wall made of Ytong is only recommended to a limited extent, as the material absorbs water and can crumble in winter. Winterizing a Ytong wall requires additional steps such as waterproof plastering and nano-sealing.
Is Ytong suitable for building a garden wall?
Unfortunately only to a very limited extent, because aerated concrete absorbs water due to the numerous air bubbles that make the material so light. The liquid would freeze in winter and expand, causing the stones to crumble.
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Aerated concrete can, however, be plastered with sealing slurry for outdoor use and sealed in this way. An additional nano-sealing is recommended, which ensures absolute frost resistance.
How is the wall made of aerated concrete built?
If you want the wall to remain stable for many years, you should proceed as follows:
- Build a concrete foundation that is at least fifty centimeters deep across the entire width of the wall.
- The bricks must not have direct contact with the ground at any point.
- Create a base of waterproof and frost-proof concrete blocks.
- Only the second row of stones may be made of Ytong.
- Connect the aerated concrete elements with cement or two-component adhesive.
- Then it is plastered waterproof.
How to seal against moisture penetration?
Use a trowel to apply the sealing slurry to the entire surface. Use a squeegee to remove excess material to create a smooth surface. This procedure closes the pores of the aerated concrete blocks and no more water can penetrate.
If you want to be absolutely sure, nanotechnology (€29.00 at Amazon) is a good option. You can get corresponding coatings made of liquid plastic from hardware stores. They can be applied with a brush or a conventional paint roller. It is important that you work precisely and apply the material very evenly in all areas.
Tip
It is possible to make aerated concrete waterproof, but the process is quite complex and not cheap. That's why it makes more sense to build a garden wall from other materials such as bricks, natural stones or wood.
