Workability of Concrete With Mixing Procedure in Detail https://youtu.be/pVRoh4tOdNs
Masonry walls are built by stacking individual units of materials, such as bricks, concrete blocks, or stone, on top of each other and bonding them together with mortar. Mortar is a mixture of sand and a binding material, such as cement, lime, or soil.
Here are some
tips for constructing masonry walls:
- Ensure the wall is uniform and
built according to the design.
- Remove mortar from all joints as
the work progresses.
- Keep cavity trays and wall ties
free of debris and droppings.
- Remove mortar droppings.
- If cavity insulation is used,
remove mortar droppings from the top edge.
- Ensure the external leaf is a
consistent thickness.
- Install cavity barriers as the
work progresses.
Masonry is one
of the oldest techniques used for building structures. Masonry walls have
several benefits, including:
- Fire protection: Masonry materials are
incombustible
Masonry wall
systems are building systems that use masonry materials such as brick, stone,
or concrete blocks to construct walls. These materials are typically stacked on
top of each other and held together with mortar.
Masonry is the
oldest technique used for constructing buildings or structures. Masonry
buildings are specifically stone masonry, which provides strength, and
durability to the structure and also controls indoor and outdoor temperatures.
Even reinforced masonry also resists hurricane and seismic forces.
Masonry has
been used as the construction material for several thousand years and still,
and it’s popular. All remarkable and historic buildings all over the world are
constructed using reinforced concrete (Masonry). So, what exactly is masonry
and what are the different types of these structures? Let’s find out!
What are Masonry Walls?
Masonry refers
to the use of brick, concrete blocks, structural clay tiles, and stone in
building construction. These materials are held together with mortar. Mortar
for masonry isn’t cement mix. The mortar mix contains lime, sand, and gypsum,
each in the proper proportions. On the other hand, cement mix has stones in the
sand and doesn’t contain lime.
Among all types
of buildings or structures, masonry wall systems are the most durable. Masonry
is the term used to describe construction utilizing mortar to join blocks,
stones, marbles, rocks, solid squares, tiles, and so on. In a mortar,
restricting material is mixed with sand. Besides concrete, lime, soil, or any
other constructing material, restricting materials can also be concrete.
Masonry units
(brick, stone, or concrete blocks) are used for various purposes. There are
some workers who work on building constructions, while some make barriers to
separate property lines, and others build house walls for structural purposes.
What Is The Purpose of Adding Masonry?
There are
several advantages of masonry units. Here are the followings:
- Masonry is non-combustible. It
improves fire protection for the building and its residents. Fireplaces
are commonly made of masonry.
- Masonry has high resistance
against rotting, pests, weather, and natural disasters such as hurricanes
and tornadoes.
- Depending on the materials used
and the expertise of the workers, masonry structures can provide an
attractive rustic or elegant look to a home or building.
- Despite its durability and
resistance, Masonry can withstand heavy compressive loads.
- Buildings with masonry units have
a higher thermal mass.
- No building type has a longer
lifespan than a masonry building.
- Construction using masonry
increases its resale value.
- A masonry structure won’t rot or
be destroyed by insects such as ants or termites.
- The masonry construction method is
cost-effective in terms of labor and materials in comparison to wood.
Hence, there is
no doubt to say that reinforced brick walls are a great option to add beauty
and value to any construction. Are you planning to build a masonry building?
LUX Construction is here to assist you. We have a team of general contractors
who help in achieving your plans.
So, if you need
help with this, reach out to us today!
Types of Masonry Walls
Well, there are
different types of masonry walls, depending on the motor mix materials,
function, and thickness. Take a look at the following!
- Based on
Functions
In terms of
functions, masonry wall systems are either load-bearing or non-load-bearing
walls. Load-bearing walls support the structure of the building. Non-load
bearing walls are merely partitions that divide a building’s rooms. As we
discussed above, reinforced brick walls add strength and lastingness, maintain
temperature, and protect buildings from the outside world.
Load Bearing
Masonry Walls
From 1700 to
the mid-1990s, load-bearing masonry construction was the most widely used
option for large buildings. This construction works on the principle that every
wall carries the load. In this structure, thick, heavy masonry walls made of
brick, stone, or reinforced concrete support both the horizontal floor slabs
and the entire structure. The weight of the walls holds the building together
and stabilizes it against external forces such as earthquakes and wind.
Because reinforced
brick wall construction doesn’t perform well in earthquakes, load-bearing
construction rarely is used. Additionally, it’s extremely labor- and
material-intensive. You can’t make holes in the wall to connect rooms.
Otherwise, it would damage the structure.
Non-Load
Bearing Masonry Walls
Nowadays, most
frame structures aren’t non-load bearing. But, these types of buildings have
very thin and light internal and external walls and support floor slabs.
Modern
multi-story buildings are constructed with non-load-bearing walls. And, you can
do customization, major alteration, and renovation in a non-load bearing
structure without affecting the parent structure. Additionally, it performs
very well in earthquakes, is low labor & material intensive, plus very flexible
in terms of internal floor layout.
Based on Bonding Material
Masonry walls
can be constructed using age-old materials such as burnt clay bricks to the
latest masonry materials such as Autoclave Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks. In
addition, to fly ash bricks and solid/hollow concrete blocks, cellular
lightweight blocks can also be used. It’s important to choose a brick/block for
concrete wall systems carefully as each has its pros and cons.
Solid Block
Masonry
Pros: Solid block masonry has a compressive
strength of 5 – 8 Mpa. The blocks can be manufactured at the site for
economical production and do not need to be transported or taxed. Among their
class, they have the lowest water absorption.
Cons: Solid concrete blocks have a very high
density of 2100 to 2200 kg/cum due to which the dead load on the structure is
high and the reinforcement consumption increases. It is difficult to handle
these blocks. The dimensions of these blocks vary quite a bit. Installation of
electrical and plumbing systems is labor-intensive and time-consuming. The
typical sizes of such masonry are 390 x 190 x 190mm, 390 x 190 x 140mm, and 390
x 190 x 90mm.
This concrete
wall system is best for low-rise construction!Hollow Concrete Block Masonry
Pros: Hollow block masonry has a good compressive
strength of 5 – 8 Mpa. These aren’t only light-weight with a density of 1250 to
1400 kg/cum but the dead load on structure is also less. These blocks can be
manufactured at the site for economical production (no transportation or
taxes).
Cons: The installation of services requires
concrete filling after chiseling. These blocks have a high level of waste. The
typical sizes are 390 x 190 x 190mm, 390 x 190 x 140mm, and 390 x 190 x 90mm.
This reinforced
brick wall is best for low-rise construction!
Lightweight
Aerated Concrete (AAC) Block Masonry
Pros: AAC blocks are lightweight with a
density of 600 – 700 kg/cum. Thus, they become easy to handle and reduce the
dead load on the structures. For service installation (electrical and
plumbing), it is also easy to chisel. These blocks have better thermal and
acoustic properties, very high dimension accuracy, and consumption of plaster
is low in comparison to other block masonries.
Cons: Its compressive strength is 3 – 4mpa,
which is low in comparison to other substitutes. These blocks can’t be
manufactured at the site because better quality control is required during
production. These blocks are prone to breakages/wastage, that’s why they need
to be handled properly. These blocks are expensive per unit. And, the typical
sizes are 600 x 200 x 200 mm, 600 x 200 x 150mm, 600 x 200 x 100 mm.
This masonry is
best for high-rise construction!
Cellular Lightweight Concrete (CLC) Block Masonry
Pros: These blocks are lightweight and have
a density of 550 to 650 kg/cum. In addition, they have high dimension accuracy,
less dead load on structures, ease in chiseling for electrical and plumbing
installation, low-time consumption, and better thermal and acoustic properties.
It can be manufactured at the site (no transportation or taxes) for economical
production.
Cons: These blocks have a compressive
strength of 3 – 4MPa, which is low in comparison to other substitutes. Due to
low breakages/wastages, they require better quality control during production.
The typical sizes are 600 x 200 x 200 mm 600 x 200 x 150mm, and 600 x 200
x 100 mm.
This masonry is
best for high-rise construction!
·
- Fly Ash
Brick Masonry
Pros: Its compressive strength lies between
3.5 – 5mpa as good as its substitutes. These blocks/bricks can be manufactured
at the site (no transportation and taxes). These bricks are easy to chisel for
services, such as electrical and plumbing.
Cons: Fly Ash bricks have a very high
density i.e. 2100 to 2200 kg/cum. It increases the dead load of the structure.
Dimensional variability and plaster consumption are high for these bricks. The
typical sizes are 230 x 150 x 80 mm, 230 x 150 x 100
mm, and 230 x 100 x 100 mm.
This masonry is
best for both low and high-rise construction!
Burnt Clay
Brick Masonry
Pros: These blocks have moderate unit
weight, density is 1700 to 1800 kg/cum, compressive strength is 3.5 – 5MPa,
better thermal properties, ease in chiseling for services (Electrical and
Plumbing) installation, less labor intensive, and low time-consuming. These
blocks/bricks are manufactured at the site (no transportation and taxes).
Cons: It has high dimension variations,
can’t be manufactured at the site, highest water absorption among its
substitutes, and is prone to efflorescence. You might observe under-burnt and
over-burnt clay bricks. The availability of good quality bricks is a major
concern. The typical sizes are 230 x 190 x 100 mm, and 230 x 100 x 75 mm.
This masonry is
best for both low and high-rise construction!
Based on
Thickness
Always remember
that the thickness of stone/block walls is different based on their size. The
most popular wall thicknesses in block construction are 100 mm, 150 mm, and 200
mm. For dressed stone, the minimum thickness would be 23 cm (230 mm) and for
undressed stone, 35 cm (350 mm).
One Brick
Masonry
It’s sometimes
referred to as a 9 inches/23 cm wall. Buildings use one brick masonry as both
exterior and interior walls.
Half Brick
Masonry
The half-brick
wall is sometimes referred to as a 4 inches/13 cm wall. Buildings generally use
half-brick masonry for internal walls. Load-bearing structures are rarely used
due to their inability to support the load.
One and Half
Brick Masonry
A
one-and-a-half brick wall is also known as a 14-inch/35-centimeter wall. For
buildings with more than four stories, one-and-a-half brick masonry is used for
the foundation as well as the lower floors.
There has been
evidence that these brick wall types have lasted for hundreds or even thousands
of years. Over 70% of the construction in the world is made of masonry. Across
the globe, masonry is growing in popularity. There are a number of the world’s
essential monuments that were constructed with different forms of masonry.
Architects and contractors choose masonry due to its high durability, beauty,
and versatility.
Do you want to
know how to retrofit masonry buildings? Read in our post “Retrofitting
of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings”.
What is The Typical Size of Masonry Walls?
In a load-bearing
masonry structure, bricks are typically 225mm (9′′) thick.
The outer walls
of a Framed Structure are usually 200mm (8′′) thick and the inner walls are
150mm (6′′) thick. In the absence of concealed electrical and plumbing
provisions, 4″ thick walls can also be used for internal partitions.
The residential
wall thickness is always calculated without the plaster thickness. So, if a
wall has plaster on both sides, its actual thickness will be 25 to 35mm greater
than what is shown in an architectural drawing.
How Do You Choose Between Masonry Types?
When choosing
between masonry types, there are several factors to consider such as cost,
durability, aesthetics, and location.
Cost
Cost is an
important consideration, as some masonry types can be quite expensive. Brick
and stone, for example, are generally more expensive than concrete blocks.
Durability
Durability is
another important factor. Brick and stone are both very durable and
long-lasting materials, while concrete block is also durable but may not last
as long.
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is
another consideration. Brick and stone can give a more traditional, timeless
look to a building, while the concrete block can have a more modern, industrial
look.
Location
Location is
also a factor. In areas with high humidity or freeze-thaw cycles, brick and
stone may not be the best choice as they can be more prone to cracking and
deterioration.
Type
Ultimately, the
decision of which masonry type to use will depend on a combination of these
factors and the specific requirements of the project.
If you are unsure about a particular masonry style, speak with a
contractor. In this way, you’ll be able to understand how each type of masonry
will affect your project as a whole. Additionally, they can explain the
difference between unreinforced masonry walls sand
reinforced masonry. The best means of making this decision is to have a
professional contractor
https://engineersindiasolution.com/ https://engineersindiasolutions.blogspot.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@EngineersIndiaSolution
Construction of masonry walls
