Masonry structures last for centuries with minimal maintenance. This longevity is due to their inherent strength, resistance to fire and water damage, and lack of susceptibility to pests.
A mason builds masonry using individual bricks or blocks of stone or concrete, binding them together with mortar. Masonry walls also offer greater insulation, helping you to cut down on heating costs. Contact Serrano’s Masonry now!
Masonry has a rich aesthetic, with bricks and stones able to be cut and shaped in a variety of ways. This creates a wide range of designs for architects and builders to choose from, resulting in uniquely attractive buildings. Its durability and long life cycle also make it a sustainable building material, with a lower energy consumption than many other materials.
While masonry is traditionally thought of as an art form, it can be used in a number of other applications. For example, it can be used to create decorative elements or acoustic barriers in a room. Its use can enhance the mood of a space, as well as reduce noise from outside.
Aesthetics is the philosophical study of beauty and taste. It has a long history, with roots in Greek philosophy and Roman law. Today, it is studied in a variety of fields, including literature, music, visual arts, and design. It has become increasingly important to the modern world, as we seek to find meaning and pleasure in our everyday lives.
Throughout history, the masonry industry has contributed to significant cultural developments. Ancient Egyptian stone constructions exemplify this legacy, as do the Great Pyramids and other iconic structures. Gothic architecture, which originated in the 12th century, also utilized advances in masonry construction. These included the pointed arch and ribbed vault, allowing Gothic cathedrals to be built higher and more elaborate than previously possible. The Notre Dame cathedral, with its stone walls and flying buttresses, is one of the most beautiful examples of this architecture.
More recently, masonry has been employed in modern architecture, with works such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and Louis Kahn’s National Assembly Building showcasing its use. Brick and concrete block masonry are popular with modern designers because they can be left exposed to show the “truth” of the material, a principle favored by modernist architects.
As a result, masonry is an integral part of modern life. It can be found in schools, libraries, and other public spaces. However, it is important to note that the aesthetics of masonry are not universally positive. Negative aspects of the medium include squalid urban areas, deafening noise, and cluttered billboards with gaudy images and words. These aspects can have negative effects on mental health and can be a source of pain and frustration for some people.
Strength
Masonry is an extremely durable material, making it a great choice for construction in hurricane-prone areas. Its strength also makes it an excellent material to use for seismic applications, as well as for foundations and walls. In addition, it is fireproof and has superior thermal and acoustic properties, reducing the energy costs of a building. Its low tensile strength, however, means that it is not a good material to use in compression loads.
In unreinforced masonry, the strength is provided by the blocks and the mortar. The blocks are strong enough to resist compression, but the mortar is much weaker and is only able to withstand a very small amount of tensile stress. As a result, masonry has very little overall tensile strength and is only suitable for compression loads.
Various studies have been conducted to investigate the structural behaviour of masonry. Simple models based on the linear theory of elasticity are applicable at load levels up to the serviceability limit state, but when load levels approach the failure state nonlinear modelling is generally required. Geometrical and material nonlinearity are considered, with the application of either a general elastic-plastic or rigid-perfectly plastic material model.
The current edition of TMS 602-13/ACI 530.1-13/ASCE 6-13 specifies that the specified compressive strength (f’m) for masonry structures must not exceed 2000 net psi. The f’m value is the specified compressive strength of the assemblage of masonry units, mortar, and grout. The f’m can be verified by testing prisms at the jobsite or by using the Unit Strength Method. While these methods may require a bit more coordination in project management, testing of prisms offers the most accurate verification of f’m.
It is commonly recognized that masonry exhibits pronounced strength orthotropy, and this phenomenon can be explained by its block form (void area), the inherent weakness planes along bed and head joints, and the type of masonry bond. These influences can lead to a significant increase in the masonry strength when load is applied to the corners or edges of a wall, as opposed to the mid-height face-shells. This phenomenon is referred to as the corner-edge effect or the ‘f’m effect.
Durability
Masonry is a durable construction method that can stand up to natural disasters. Its strength gives it resistance to projectiles like flying debris from tornadoes or hurricanes and its innate fire resistance makes masonry walls safer in case of an emergency fire. In addition, a masonry structure can provide sound insulation and help regulate temperature inside buildings.
Masonry structures are also less prone to moisture damage and require significantly less maintenance than other building materials. However, regular inspections and preventative maintenance are still important for extending the life of your masonry structures. This maintenance typically includes cleaning, repointing (replacing deteriorated mortar), and ensuring proper drainage for the site.
Aesthetically, masonry is incredibly versatile and offers unlimited possibilities for designers and builders to create unique architectural styles. Different colors, patterns, and textures of bricks and stones can be used to achieve various designs.
Additionally, masonry can be utilized as either a structural or decorative element in a structure. A masonry structure’s decorative features can include but are not limited to the thickness and color of the bricks, the type of joint, and the texture and finish of the mortar.
While masonry is a durable construction material, its rigidity and brittleness can make it susceptible to damage from seismic forces. However, this can be mitigated through modern engineering and construction practices. Reinforced masonry, in which steel reinforcement is embedded within the walls, helps improve its capacity to withstand lateral seismic forces. Seismic design principles, such as ensuring that the wall’s mass and stiffness are distributed evenly throughout the structure, can also help minimize potential damage.
Due to its durability and low maintenance costs, masonry is often seen as an attractive option for homeowners and business owners looking to add value to their properties. In addition, masonry is non-combustible and has a lower insurance rate than many other types of construction.
With new technological advancements, masonry is expected to continue its rise in popularity and use. For example, self-healing concrete forms and advancing digital fabrication technologies will enhance its functionality and energy efficiency while expanding the range of its design possibilities.
Insulation
Masonry provides excellent thermal insulation, but it is important to consider the details of how the material is installed to maximize its efficiency. Insulation must be incorporated in a well-designed masonry wall system that addresses moisture management, air tightness and vapor control.
The most common interior retrofit for masonry buildings is to install a layer of rigid foam board insulation over the existing masonry wall. This approach can be very successful, but it requires careful detailing to ensure that the foam is in direct contact with the masonry (without any gaps) and that a vapor control layer such as paint, kraft facings or polyethylene sheet is used to protect the insulation from moisture.
Alternatively, a continuous insulation layer such as ci can be built behind the stud framing in cavity walls or behind the lath in adhered masonry wall construction to meet energy codes and improve occupant comfort. The use of ci minimizes thermal bridging and increases the R value of the wall significantly. ci also possesses the ability to reduce the transmission of airborne sound through a wall.
A more recent development is the installation of insulation inside concrete masonry block. This innovation has been a great success in meeting new energy codes while preserving the beauty and character of traditional masonry. These blocks are poured with an integral insulation core, which is placed within the block during manufacturing to save on labor and jobsite time.
Insulated concrete masonry units offer the same durability, long-term performance, aesthetics and fire resistance as standard masonry units. They also have a higher R value than conventional framed walls. These advantages make them an ideal choice for high-performance applications that require a strong and durable building enclosure.
The most critical aspect of a concrete masonry wall is the ability to shed surface rain water and prevent its penetration into the wall. This can be accomplished through careful attention to drainage details at the base of the wall and a good system of exterior rain screen protection.
In addition, a well-designed masonry wall should include a continuous layer of vapor permeable insulation such as spray foam or cellulose to prevent the potential for condensation wetting of the masonry. If a highly vapor permeable insulation is not used, and indoor relative humidity rises above about 40% RH during cold weather, this can result in moisture damage to the masonry wall.
