Recommendation points
In this article, we will consider the use of an alternative option for the construction of walls – from junk, waste material. You will learn how to build walls from empty glass and plastic bottles. The article provides detailed instructions with recipes for the solution and video materials.
While the vast majority are pondering the dubious prospect of living in a bottle house, a few enthusiasts are bringing this idea to life. The idea of using bottles instead of stone in the masonry of the wall is quite fair, given the abundance of waste building materials and the number of potential suppliers.
Bottles. Blocks
The use of glass containers in wall material is an unusual and dubious occupation at first glance. However, if we “rethink” an ordinary empty bottle, we will see air enclosed in a fairly strong shell. As you know, it is air with its low thermal conductivity that is an effective thermal barrier. The effect of voids in wall material has been successfully implemented in a traditional cinder block.
In order to make a bottle block, you need a primitive block shaker. We will look at the assembly instructions in the next article. If you use bottles, its structure will be simplified to a steel box without a bottom and a top with a vibration motor. And you also need a manual press, which can be made from scrap material..
Blocks for walls from bottles, video
There is no “zest” in the process of producing blocks itself – it is simple and straightforward: add the mixture, put the bottles, again the mixture and again the bottles. There is only one rule – the glass should not come into contact with the glass and the walls of the box..
Bottles. Masonry
Bottles are laid in the same way as stone, the height of the bottle is the thickness of the wall. When assessing the durability of such a structure, doubts arise about the reliability of the adhesion of the solution to smooth glass. It is practically zero. Therefore, the load should be distributed more efficiently. For example, lay a polymer mesh every 3-4 rows.
By choosing the material by color, you can create walls with patterns and unpretentious panels in the form of stripes, flowers and geometric shapes. Advantages of glass in outdoor decoration – smooth, non-porous surface does not accumulate dirt and dust and is easy to clean. In addition, the room will always have natural lighting..
Bottle house video
Thanks to the development of the glass-blowing industry, it became possible to use bottles of rectangular cross-section, which, in addition, have a relief surface that improves adhesion to the solution..
Foreign enthusiasts do not lag behind ours. Of course, not out of excess funds, but out of economy, they build walls from plastic bottles filled with earth..
House made of plastic bottles, video
In short, the bottle house is a reality. The only requirement for the constructive is that the solution completely encloses the glass surface and the walls do not touch. This will provide optimal distribution of the load for the device of a complete rafter system and openings of sufficient size.
Solution for bottle masonry and blocks
Depending on the number of storeys and roof design, the mortar for blocks and masonry should be selected in different ways. We will consider the main cases of variable composition of the solution in the “bottle” design at different levels.
Foundation, underground part, lower part of the walls (60 mm). These items must not contain potentially fragile items. There are only a few bottle houses and they were built within the last 15 years, so the design has not been studied in a laboratory way. In addition, the bottle does not have the status of a building material. Responsible areas should be made of traditionally reliable materials – concrete, brick, factory wall block.
The walls of the first floor. Slag can be added to the masonry mortar for insulation. There is also the option of replacing sand with slag. The composition of the mortar for bottle masonry and blocks of the bearing walls of the 1st floor:
- Regular masonry – 1 part cement, 3 parts sand.
- Insulated masonry – 1 part cement, 1 part sand, 2 parts slag.
- Slag-based mortar – 1 part cement, 3 parts slag.
- Sawdust mortar – 1 part cement, 2 parts sawdust, 1 part sand or slag.
Particular attention should be paid to the thickness of the mortar layer. When laying blocks, it is standard – 10–20 mm; when laying bottles, it is better to change it. Apply a 40-50 mm layer on the bottom of the walls, gradually reducing it to 20-30 mm at the top. This will strengthen the masonry from below, while lightening it from above..
Reinforcement is a guarantee of wall stability, so be sure to use a masonry or polymer mesh every 2-4 rows. It is better to use thick-walled champagne bottles as a material..
Any alternative material always raises doubts, especially when it is not considered building material. Empty bottles can be used to make not only walls, but also other elements of a home-made exterior – awnings, greenhouses, visors (plastic) or simply translucent filling of windows – instead of expensive glass blocks. The main thing here is decisiveness, accuracy and adherence to the rules..
Is constructing a house with empty bottles a viable DIY project? Would it be structurally sound and environmentally friendly? How would one go about building it and what are the potential challenges and limitations?