MASONRY DESIGN
Articles
Parapet – What good is a Parapetto?
The parapet is where the masonry wall transitions from being an insulated masonry wall to an uninsulated masonry wall. Additionally, the wall is subject to moisture penetration on both sides now, typically, unless this is a veneer and with no heat from the structure it protects.
Why Are Masonry Control Joint Locations Significant?
By Forse Consulting
When designing concrete masonry walls, one aspect that needs to be considered is the location of control joints. Control joints are continuous vertical mortar joints where a bond breaker is placed between the mortar and the units on one side.
In stair design, there are rules to follow to build comfortable stairs. The sum of the rise and the run should total 18”. If the total of the rise and run approaches 17” or 19”, your stair will be less comfortable for a person to climb or descend.
By Gary Porter
In Chicago today many mason contractors are devoting more of their expertise in repointing (tuckpointing) existing masonry structures than constructing new masonry. A question that is asked quite often at the Masonry Advisory Council is…What is the correct way to repoint masonry?
As we move into February it is hard to believe that during the month of January 2017 Chicago experienced less than 1” of snow? The typical snow fall for Chicago in January is 10”! Along with the lack of snow, we have also experienced mild temperatures, bringing idle masonry projects back to life.
Self-Supporting Brick Without Shelf Angles
Cavity walls have been successfully used in mid-rise and high-rise construction. Buildings in excess of 40 stories have utilized cavity walls with a structural reinforced concrete frame. There are two methods of support for cavity walls cladded to con- crete frame structures. One is by means of shelf angles; the other is to bear the total wall directly on the outer slab edge. Each system has advantages and disadvantages.
10 List of Brick Veneer on Wood Frame
Learn more about the issues of installing brick veneer on wood frame such as; flashing, weep holes, anchor spacing, air space, and mortar recommendations.
Adhered Veneer – The 2 Most Common Uses
There are two types of veneers predominantly used in today’s built environment. The most prominent is anchored veneer, which is constructed with brick veneer anchored to wood stud, metal stud, or concrete masonry backup systems. The other type of veneer that has become increasingly popular in the last 15 years is called adhered veneer. It’s different from an anchored veneer!
Wall Cavities Design vs. Construction
No masonry standards specifically regulate how much and which types of variation from design are allowed within a cavity wall. But recognizing which variations are acceptable is the key to providing a cavity that functions properly.
Cavity Walls Design Guide
Masonry Design Guide for Tall Efficient Cavity Walls, Connections for bearing and non-bearing, flashing, movement joints, and shelf angle design included.
Design Guide for Low Rise Urban Masonry Structures
Load bearing low rise block structures have become very common. This document covers bearing details, flashing details, and other common architectural and contractor issues for a quality, leak free design. Contains 13 3 dimensional photorealistic details for clarity.
Extensive testing has established a relationship between the fire resistance and the equivalent solid thickness for concrete masonry walls. This Viewpoint addresses the effects that density has on the phys-ical, aesthetic, engineering and economic characteristics of concrete masonry walls.
Design Examples of Multi-Family Housing
Precast Hollow Core Floor Slabs and Masonry Walls for Low-Rise Multifamily Residential Construction.
Building Construction & Design Viewpoint
Read a case story supporting two-hour masonry design and concrete tenant separations and how it provides non-combustibility and compartmentation, increasing safety to life and reducing property damage loss, and will result in increased long-term profits through reduced insurance premiums.
Find illustrations and drawing explainig tall, slender structural single wythe walls for commercial applications, gymnasiums, institutional facilities & mulit-family structures.
Masonry Flashing… Do it Right the First Time
I like to watch DIY home shows like This Old House and Holmes on Homes. I like Mike Holmes motto: “If you’re going to do something, do it right the first time”. I like this thought and it is so true when looking at masonry flashing and how it is installed because to fix this is usually a laborious task, costing lots of dollars. When reviewing technical calls to the Masonry Advisory Council in the past year, masonry flashing installation questions are the most visited topic.
Are you ready for the paradigm shift to load-bearing masonry? Simple foundations provide the dual function of supporting uniform gravity loads while resisting lateral loads. With the price of steel spiraling, delayed availability and the threat of a potential iron-ore strike looming, count on load-bearing masonry to go up quickly and cost effectively with a myriad of additional benefits.
Re-inforced Masonry for Warehouse Construction
The goal for an economical building system is that it will look good, perform well, and stand the test of time. The best choice for a building system is one that satisfies all of the desired characteristics at the lowest cost. Reinforced concrete masonry walls provide all of the desired characteristics with one simple and cost-effective load-bearing wall, thus providing the greatest effect with the least effort.
We should be maximizing our energy efficiency to reduce our limited operating budgets considering the escalating costs for energy. Before you create your masonry design, view an illustration of a suggested masonry wall section for your next energy-efficient school or hospital.
Single wythe concrete masonry construction is a durable, cost-effective and aesthetically versatile form of masonry construction that is used successfully all over the world. Single wythe walls, unlike cavity walls and veneered walls, require additional special attention regarding moisture penetration prevention.
Steel Price Hikes – Consider Load Bearing Masonry
Steel Price Hikes and Availability affect Construction Industry –Load Bearing Masonry Offers Solution. The construction industry searches for solutions to steel price hikes. These sharp increases in steel prices are affecting architects, contractors, and builders in North America who are looking for solutions that involve using less steel.
Find out how you can benefit from a masonry cavity wall on a structural steel framing system.
Being a mason contractor and having respect for all the effort that goes into constructing a building today, one can appreciate the history of how things were built in the past. From a time when there were no cranes, forklifts, even the wheel was not invented yet!
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