Hardscapes - Masonry Materials
About Masonry Materials
Introduction
We all know that masonry is something that is constructed of significant materials laid and bound together by mortar. The common masonry materials are brick, natural stone such as marble, granite, travertine, limestone; the more recently invented concrete block, glass block and tile. A highly durable form of construction, the materials used, the quality of mortar and workmanship, and the pattern of units that are laid, strongly affects the stability of the overall masonry construction.
Commonly Used Masonry Materials
Masonry materials are commonly used for walls of buildings, houses, retaining walls and monuments.
Brick
Brick is the most common type of masonry material, may be either weight bearing or a veneer. Brick is made of two or more layers of brick with the units running horizontally called “stretcher" that are bound together with bricks running transverse to the wall called “header” bricks. Each row of brick is called “course.” Originated from Colorado’s own clay, brick is locally made and environmental friendly. It does not expel any toxic substances or volatile organic compounds into the air. Bricks are made from clay, shale, soft slate, calcium silicate, concrete, or shaped from quarried stone. Clay is the most common material of bricks that are formed in one of the three processes - soft mud, dry press, or wire cut.
Natural Stone
Natural Stone is the most recommended masonry material because of its durability and endurance to BC weather, natural stone is a one-time investment that will last a lifetime. Natural stones are granite, marble, limestone, sandstone, slate, and travertine. Concrete Block
Block of cinder concrete, ordinary concrete or hollow tile are known as Concrete Masonry Units. Concrete blocks are larger than ordinary bricks and much faster to lay for a wall of a given size. This masonry material has low water absorption than bricks and is often used as the structural core for veneered brick masonry or is used alone for the walls of factories, garages, and other industrial buildings where appearance is desirable. A surface-bonding cement, which contains synthetic fibers for reinforcement, is used in this application to give extra strength to a block wall. Compared to smaller clay-based brick, concrete block wall can be reinforced by filling the block voids with concrete with or without steel rebar. Some concrete blocks employ a split face and are colored. This is a result of a two blocks being manufactured as one unit and later split into two. This gives the blocks a rough face that replicates the appearance of natural, quarried stone, such as brown stone.
Glass Block
Glass Blocks are a glassy material that is cast as cubes, rectangular blocks and rectangular plates and is used as a decorative covering for masonry walls. This multifunctional masonry material transcends any vogue, proves itself as a universal tool of beauty and light.
Tile
Tiles are a piece of hard wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal or even glass that are manufactured and are generally used for covering roofs, floors, and walls or other objects such as tabletops. A masonry material, tiles are often used to form and floor covering and ranges from simple square tiles to complex mosaics. It is made from ceramic with a hard glaze finish.
