Understanding Different Types of Masonry Services and Their Applications
Masonry is a popular construction technique that uses stone, brick, concrete and other materials. It is a skilled trade that requires years of apprenticeship and on-the-job training.
Masons build and repair walls, floors, partitions and fireplaces. They also install lintels for support around doors, windows and other building openings that must bear weight.
Reinforced Concrete
Concrete is a popular construction material that’s easy to work with, adaptable, affordable and durable. It’s often used for building foundations, floors, roof slabs and columns in residential and commercial buildings.
Concrete can also be reinforced with steel to withstand tensile and shear stresses. This helps it withstand forces like those caused by earthquakes, vibrations or wind. A concrete slab would easily crack and fail without reinforcement due to these stresses.
Masonry Seattle workers specializing in concrete will use a mold to create the desired shape. The mix of silica sand, cement and water will vary based on the final objective of the concrete structure. Some companies will add fibers to the mixture to increase its strength and durability. This will help reduce cracking and improve its load-bearing capacity. It will also protect the steel supports used in large-scale projects from corrosion over time. This is especially important in outdoor structures like parking garages.
Reinforced Masonry
Masonry walls are one of the most durable and sturdy elements. They give strength and lastingness to a structure, help regulate indoor and outdoor temperatures, and keep the building safe from the outside world.
The main material of masonry construction is bricks, stones, marble, granites and concrete blocks bound together by mortar. Mortar is a mixture of binding materials such as cement and sand, enhancing the strength and durability of masonry construction.
In reinforced masonry, steel reinforcing bars are placed inside the wall cells to increase their resistance against the forces that produce shear and tensile stresses. The reinforcement is sized according to the allowable stress design method and the nominal yield strength of steel.
There are several types of masonry walls, such as Hollow and Solid, Composite, and Shear. Composite walls are load-bearing walls consisting of multiple wythes of concrete and masonry units that act as a single structural member. There are specific requirements for connecting these wythes to achieve the desired structural performance.
Structural Masonry
Masonry is a construction technique that utilizes mortar as a coupling material for singular units of bricks, stones, marbles, rocks, solid squares and tiles. Masonry is used for building and chimney constructions, walls, and other structural elements. These structures are very durable and can last years, saving you on repair costs. Masonry is also non-combustible and improves fire safety for building occupants.
Masons are highly skilled at their craft and use mallets, hammers and chisels to manipulate their work materials like a sculptor molds a piece of clay. They can achieve intricate designs that are unique and attractive.
Masonry buildings are highly resistant to rot, weather and pests and can withstand hurricane and seismic forces. They are also more energy efficient than other construction materials. This is because masonry has greater thermal mass. They also provide an elegant look to a structure and increase its resale value.
Decorative Masonry
Masonry is often a decorative feature in buildings and can be used to enhance the look of stairs, fireplaces, exterior walls and more. Masonry contractors can use brick, blocks, pavers, stone and other materials to build and repair outdoor areas like fire pits, patios and driveways and indoor features such as fireplaces, chimneys and foundations.
Stone masonry is an ancient building material that can be used dressed or undressed. Dressed stone is cut to shape and often polished, while the undressed stone is left with its natural grain. Stone masonry can be reinforced with concrete or steel, or it may be constructed without any reinforcement at all.
Stucco is a type of decorative masonry that can be mixed onsite or applied in premade coats. It consists of sand, Portland cement, hydrated lime and water and takes a long time to dry. It’s resistant to fire, sound, wind and water.