Masonry construction is the process of building with brick, stone or concrete block. These materials are bonded together with mortar to create walls, partitions, archways and sewers.
Masonry offers many benefits to homeowners and commercial building owners alike. These materials are long-lasting, visually appealing and add value to your home or business.
Brick
Bricks are a very durable material that can be used in many applications, from building walls to creating walkways. They are very strong and can withstand almost any type of weather conditions. They also provide excellent insulation, which can reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home. Additionally, bricks are non-flammable and do not produce toxic smoke. Bricks are made from clay and sand, which are heated in a kiln to form them. They are then shaped into various sizes and shapes.
The most common use of brick is in residential construction, but they are also used in commercial buildings and retaining walls. These walls are designed to keep soil from eroding and can help to make your property look more attractive. Bricks are also a good choice for patios and sidewalks, because they can withstand heavy traffic.
Brick masonry can be quite time-consuming to construct, as the bricks are stacked one by one. However, the result is a very strong and beautiful structure that will add value to your home.
Concrete block masonry is similar to brick masonry, except that the blocks are larger. This allows them to be laid more quickly, as the masons do not have to stack each individual unit. Concrete blocks also have a lower water absorption rate than brick, so they are more resistant to corrosion.
Stone
Masonry uses stones, bricks, blocks, or concrete slabs to create a structure. It is extremely durable and requires little maintenance, making it a great choice for residential and commercial applications. It is also non-combustible, which translates into lower insurance rates and greater protection against fires, break-ins, and other damage. It is resistant to rot, mold, and insects, and it is easy to clean. It is long-lasting and adds a sense of class to any home.
The oldest masonry structures were constructed from local stones such as limestone, sandstone, alabaster, and granite quarried along the Nile River in Egypt. Later, builders used marble, travertine, and porphyry for temples and other monumental structures. Today, stone masonry is more commonly found in retaining walls and in gardens and courtyards where it can add beauty and functionality.
Stone masonry is extremely strong and durable, and it can be shaped to fit any design. However, it is heavy, which can decrease floor space. It also has a high self-weight and low tensile strength, so it is susceptible to cracking under load. In olden times, builders overcame this problem by using arches above door and window openings. Because they act in compression, these arches transfer wall and floor loads around the arch rather than through it. A similar structural form is a barrel vault, which acts entirely in compression.
Concrete Block
Concrete blocks, sometimes known as cinder block or breezeblocks, are an essential building material for the masonry construction method. They’re available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and are commonly used to build foundations, steps, pavement, non-load bearing walls, and walls that protect against natural elements like high winds.
There are two primary types of concrete blocks: solid and hollow. Hollow concrete blocks are manufactured with holes, or knockouts, throughout the block that allow electrical conduit and pipes to be run in a wall without chasing them through drywall. They also weigh less than standard concrete blocks, so they require less mortar for a given thickness of wall.
Standard concrete blocks have a smooth face and are typically gray in color. However, they can be textured, raked, or scored to have a wavy appearance that mimics the look of weathered brick. They can also be sandblasted to expose the aggregate within, a technique that creates a rugged look.
Structural masonry is an excellent choice for commercial buildings because it allows for the integration of mechanical systems into the structure. This results in a more optimized construction, saving resources and money while allowing architects to explore new perspectives in design. For example, the Half-Slope House / Denis Joelsons + Gabriela Barauna Uchida uses structural masonry planes to create interesting architectural form and ensure technical support.
Mortar
Masonry construction involves the use of a variety of materials. These are usually combined with mortar of varying strength. Masonry walls are generally non-combustible, which is especially important in areas that experience frequent fires. Masonry also provides a high level of thermal mass, which reduces the temperature changes within buildings.
A great source of information regarding masonry construction is the US Army Concrete and Masonry Field Manual, which is a 323 page reference with plenty of figures and basic explanations. This is a very valuable resource to help get beginners started in the industry.
While there are mortar systems that are produced offsite and delivered to the job site (Ready-Mix Mortars), most mortar gets mixed in the field. It is therefore very important that the Masonry Contractor mixes the mortar properly, as improper mixing can lead to poor results. It’s a good idea for the Construction Supervisor to pay close attention to how the Masonry Contractor mixes the mortar, and to notice whether the ingredients are consistent from batch to batch.
Brick masonry walls typically utilize first-class burnt clay bricks for their structural cores, which offer good compressive strength, but only limited tensile strength. Various techniques can be used to increase the tensile strength of brick masonry walls by filling some or all of the hollow space inside of the blocks with steel reinforcing (typically rebar). Concrete block structures may have hollow cores that are filled with concrete, or they may be made up entirely of cinder concrete.