Masonry and plastering are critical sub-items for the main structure completion and pre-decoration phase. Hollowing, cracking, unstraight interior and exterior corners, and wall verticality deviation are common quality defects in projects, and are also key inspection contents for completion acceptance. Many projects experience wall cracking and tile falling in later stages, with the root causes mostly concentrated in inadequate tie bar installation during the masonry phase and non-standard plastering base treatment. Proper process control in the early stage can significantly reduce later maintenance costs.
During masonry construction, control the moisture content of blocks upon arrival and prohibit dry bricks from being directly installed on walls. Strictly install tie bars according to drawings, ensure proper structural connections at the junctions between walls and concrete beams and columns, lay bricks with staggered joints, control uniform and full mortar joints, and seal slanted bricks at the top after the settlement of lower masonry stabilizes to avoid wall settlement cracks. For fortress slopes and retaining wall masonry, focus on controlling mortar strength, stone interlocking, and drainage hole installation to ensure structural stability.
Plastering construction follows the standard process of base treatment, mesh installation, slurry throwing, and layered plastering. At junctions between walls of different materials, alkali-resistant fiberglass mesh cloth must be applied to prevent cracking caused by different material shrinkage coefficients. Clean floating dust and oil stains from the base layer, moisten with water in advance, and strictly prohibit single thick-layer plastering. Interior and exterior wall plastering should be constructed in layers, with each layer thickness controlled within the specification range, and proper moisture curing should be performed after completion. Interior and exterior corners should be formed using special straightedges and corner beads to ensure straightness and aesthetic appearance.
The skill level of workers in labor teams has a significant impact on plastering and masonry quality, which is also a key focus for general contractors when selecting labor teams. Teams that are certified, long-term stable, and systematically trained are familiar with process standards and have stronger awareness of common defect prevention. As owners and supervisors continue to raise requirements for appearance quality, masonry and plastering are no longer just simple infilling and leveling—wall flatness, compactness, and crack resistance directly determine the construction results of decorative surface layers. Stable masonry and plastering labor teams, coordinating with electrical conduit cutting and repair work simultaneously, can ensure smooth progress of project decoration processes.
FAQ
How to prevent wall cracking and tile detachment in later stages during masonry phase?
Control moisture content of incoming masonry blocks to avoid direct installation of dry bricks; install tie bars in full quantity according to drawings, and ensure proper structural connections at wall-concrete beam/column interfaces. Masonry should follow staggered bonding with uniform and full mortar joints; top sloped bricks should be installed only after settlement stabilization of lower masonry to reduce settlement cracks.
What are the key control points in plastering construction to reduce hollowing, cracking and appearance issues?
Construction should be organized according to the process of substrate preparation, mesh installation, slurry spattering, and layered plastering. Floating dust and oil stains on the substrate must be cleaned and pre-moistened in advance. Alkali-resistant fiberglass mesh cloth must be applied at junctions of different materials to reduce the risk of cracks caused by differential shrinkage. Thick single-layer plastering is strictly prohibited. Both interior and exterior walls should be layered with controlled thickness and cured with moisture retention. Inside and outside corners should be ensured straight using straightedges and corner beads.
What capabilities should general contractors focus on when selecting masonry and plastering labor teams?
Focus on certification status, personnel stability, and systematic training records to ensure consistent understanding of process standards and defect prevention. The team's execution capability in details such as mesh installation, layering, curing, and corner forming directly affects flatness, compactness, and crack prevention. Also evaluate their coordination experience with intersecting processes such as MEP chasing and patching to avoid rework caused by repeated repairs during the decoration stage.