Masonry Construction on Your Home ? Home Improvemt Articles

A masonry veneer wall consists of masonry units, usually clay-based bricks, installed on one or both sides of a structurally independent wall usually constructed of wood or masonry. In this context the brick masonry is primarily decorative, not structural. The brick veneer is generally connected to the structural wall by brick ties (metal strips that are attached to the structural wall, as well as the mortar joints of the brick veneer). There is typically an air gap between the brick veneer and the structural wall. As clay-based brick is usually not completely waterproof, the structural wall will often have a water-resistant surface (usually tar paper) and weep holes can be left at the base of the brick veneer to drain moisture that accumulates inside the air gap. Concrete blocks, real and cultured stones, and veneer adobe are sometimes used in a very similar veneer fashion.

The first mortars were made of mud and clay. Because of a lack of stone and an abundance of clay, Babylonian constructions were of baked brick, using lime or pitch for mortar. According to Roman Ghirshman, the first evidence of humans using a form of mortar was at the ziggurat of Sialk in Iran, built of sun-dried bricks in 2900 BC.[2] The Chogha Zanbil Temple in Iran was built in about 1250 BC with kiln-fired bricks and a strong mortar of bitumen.

Polymer cement mortars (PCM) are the materials which are made by partially replacing the cement hydrate binders of conventional cement mortar with polymers. The polymeric admixtures include latexes or emulsions, redispersible polymer powders, water-soluble polymers, liquid resins and monomers. It has low permeability, and it reduces the incidence of drying shrinkage cracking, mainly designed for repairing concrete structures.

Lime mortar is considered breathable in that it will allow moisture to freely move through it and evaporate from its surface. In old buildings with walls that shift over time, there are often cracks which allow rain water into the structure. The lime mortar allows this moisture to escape through evaporation and keeps the wall dry. Repointing or rendering an old wall with cement mortar stops this evaporation and can cause problems associated with moisture behind the cement.

Some concrete blocks are colored. Some employ a split face, which is a technique that results in two blocks manufactured as one unit and then split in two. This gives the blocks a rough face that replicates the appearance of natural, quarried stone, such as brownstone. There have been many issues with split-face concrete blocks absorbing moisture and causing major water penetration and moisture intrusion problems. A CMU wall can be reinforced by filling the open voids inside the block unit with concrete, with or without steel rebar. Steel reinforcement gives a CMU wall much greater lateral and tensile strength than unreinforced walls.

Masonry deterioration may happen by spalling, which is mechanical weathering that can be caused by freezing, thawing, thermal expansion and contraction, and salt deposition. Direct spraying of water onto masonry can cause mechanical damage and spalling. Spalling can be described as crumbling or flaking at the masonry?s surface.

Freeze-thaw cycles can cause damage by moisture freezing inside cracks in the masonry. Upon freezing, its volume expands, causing large forces that crack and spall off the outer surface. As this cycle repeats, the outer surface undergoes spalling and can result in major damage. The severity of the damage is related to the amount of moisture absorbed, the porosity or permeability of the brick, and the number of freeze-thaw cycles.

Part of the exterior inspection of homes by Professional Home Inspectors includes looking for cracks in the masonry exterior wall covering. Cracks in the individual masonry units are easier to see than cracks in the mortar joints. Cracks in the mortar joints are usually found where the mortar connects with the masonry unit, which is difficult to see. The Barrie Home Inspector has the training and experience to identify and offer solutions to these common problems with masonry and brick structures.

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Source: http://articles.dowdrestoration.com/home-improvement/stone-brick/masonry-construction-on-your-home

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