Masonry construction uses brick, stone, and concrete blocks to build walls. They are durable materials that will last a long time. They also offer more insulation than wood walls, so you can save money on energy costs.
Pros: It offers good compressive strength and can be manufactured on the site (no transportation and taxes). Easy chiseling for electrical and plumbing installation.
Brick
Brick is an important construction material that comes in a rectangular shape and usually has red or brown colors. It’s often used to build walls, pavements and other architectural elements. Brick masonry can be combined with other materials such as stone, concrete and blocks to achieve a wide range of architectural designs.
Bricks are typically made from clay and sand. They can be fired in kilns to make them durable and then shaped into various shapes. They can also be sun-dried to create a more natural look, although this type of brick is less durable than fired brick.
Masonry contractors may use a variety of brick shapes, depending on the requirements of the project and aesthetic preferences. It’s important to understand the differences between the different types of bricks in order to select the best ones for a particular project.
There are four different types of bricks used in masonry construction – unfired, fired, chemically set and compressed earth blocks. Each one is produced differently and has a unique application.
Unfired bricks, also known as mud bricks, are made up of silt, clay and sand with tempers and binding agents such as chopped straw, grasses or tree bark. Mud bricks can be baked using heat from the Sun, so they’re very low in embodied energy and carbon footprint.
Fired bricks are a popular choice for masonry because they are stronger and more durable than mud bricks. They are also more resistant to damage from water and fire than other materials.
Modern bricks are typically molded by table-molding and then burnt in large kilns to give them their characteristic strength and durability. The kiln-fired bricks have a standard shape, sharp edges and smooth surfaces that offer better water resistance. They are also easy to chisel for services like electrical and plumbing.
Stone
Stone is used in masonry to add beauty and elegance to a structure. It is often used in conjunction with brick to create retaining walls and patios. It can also be used to build fireplaces and water fountains. It is typically made from sedimentary rocks that contain calcite or aragonite. The type of rock determines its color and texture. Limestone and sandstone are common types of stones used in masonry.
Masonry uses different stones that are arranged in horizontal layers, called courses. The stones are matched for their size, shape and texture. Stones may be arranged randomly, with varying lengths, or they can be patterned to give a particular effect. Patterns can be achieved by using different colors or combining different types of stones.
There are several types of stones that are used in masonry construction, including marble and granite. Other types of stones include travertine, onyx and slate. Some masonry is done with veneers, which are flat stones no more than one inch thick. These can be bonded to the surface of a structure with epoxy resin or modern cement. A mason can use a variety of fittings to attach these stones, such as dowels or crimps.
Rubble masonry is a type of masonry that uses rubble instead of regular concrete. It requires great care to ensure that the stones are positioned correctly. This type of masonry can be more expensive than other types of masonry.
Hollow block masonry is another popular type of masonry. It has a high compressive strength of 5 – 8 MPa and is light in weight, making it ideal for low-rise construction. It can also be produced at the site for economical production (no transportation and taxes). The blocks are easy to chisel for services and are good for building structures with large open spaces.
Concrete Block
Concrete block, also known as cinder block in North American English or breeze block in British English, is a building material with an array of different types for use in Masonry construction. It’s used in a variety of ways depending on the needs of the project, including as structural elements and for its fire-resistant, thermal insulation and strength properties. Block manufacturers offer a wide range of architectural styles to complement various design themes and aesthetics.
Unlike brick, most concrete block is manufactured with a standard mix of cement and aggregate. Most commonly, this mix contains limestone aggregates, but other crushed rock and even recycled materials are often incorporated to reduce the block’s overall weight. Concrete block may be made to a variety of specifications, but the most common is ASTM C90, which specifies loadbearing concrete masonry units (CMU).
When it comes to construction, a key difference between cinder blocks and other types of concrete blocks is that they are manufactured to be hollow, with a space inside that can be filled with concrete later in the construction process. This reduces the block’s overall weight and improves its insulation properties. It’s important to understand these differences, or to consult a professional, when choosing a particular type of masonry unit for a specific task.
Some concrete block manufacturers make specialized blocks to help solve specific building problems, for example, blocks that resist water leakage through exterior walls by incorporating special admixtures and a beveled upper edge to shed the leakage away from the mortar joint. In addition, a wide variety of surface textures and colors are available for architectural variation.
Many masonry contractors use a “strip footing” method of foundation construction, wherein the contractor places a layer of concrete block over the strip footing and then backfills it with soil. This provides the foundation with adequate support, while allowing the block wall to be built without requiring much space for staging on constricted construction sites or between other buildings.