TABLE OF CONTENTS Aveneer is a nonstructural facing used as a decorative or protective covering. Masonry veneers are among the most popular applications of masonry in the United States and Canada. Most of the masonry used in residential construction is used as a veneer attached to wood or sometimes to metal stud backing walls. Brick, concrete block, and stone are all used as masonry veneers, but brick veneer is by far the most common. Unlike masonry foundation and basement walls, masonry veneers are not designed to support the weight of the structure itself, but must resist lateral wind and earthquake loads and, in most cases, support their own weight. Masonry veneers must be carefully designed and constructed to accommodate moisture penetration through the facing without causing damage to the structure or leakage to the interior.
There are two basic methods of attaching masonry veneer. Adhered veneer is secured by adhering the veneer with mortar to a solid backing wall. This method of attachment is usually reserved for thin veneers that are not capable of supporting their own weight. In residential construction, adhered veneer is not common but might be used to attach thin stones to an exposed concrete or masonry foundation wall. Anchored veneer is secured by metal anchors attached to either a solid backing wall or a stud wall. An anchored masonry veneer supports its own weight, resting directly on the slab or foundation wall. Building codes regulate the design of masonry veneers by prescriptive requirements...
