TABLE OF CONTENTS Residential masonry construction involves the laying of brick, concrete block, or stone in beds of mortar, the installation of accessory items, and sometimes reinforcement. One of the most important operations is mixing mortar batches that are correctly and consistently proportioned to produce mortar with adequate strength and durability. The functional and financial success of a project, however, are often determined before construction begins based on proper planning and estimating.
The design of buildings with masonry foundations, basements, and veneers must take into consideration the size of the units involved. The length and height of walls as well as the location of openings and intersections will greatly affect both the speed and cost of construction as well as the appearance of the finished masonry. The use of a common module in determining dimensions can reduce the amount of field cutting required to fit the masonry units together and to coordinate the integration of masonry elements with the size and dimensions of other systems such as concrete slabs or foundations and wood framing.
Brick and concrete block walls are typically laid out based on a 4-in. or 8-in. module, respectively. The nominal length of one modular brick plus one mortar joint is 8 in. Three bricks laid one on top of the other with three mortar joints is also equal to 8 in. If the height and length of brick veneer walls are multiples of 4 in. and doors and windows are located and sized on...
