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Brick Masonry Definition, Types, and Construction

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Contents:

• Brick Masonry Definition
• Types of Brick Masonry Work
  • 1. Brick Work in Mud
  • 2. Brick Work in Cement
• Types of Bricks
• Brick Masonry Construction
  • Materials and Equipment Used in Brick Masonry Construction 
  • Brick Masonry Construction Preparations
  • Brick Masonry Construction Procedure
  • Points Considered in Supervising Brick Masonry Constructions

Brick Masonry Definition

Brick masonry is a highly durable form of construction. It is built by placing bricks in mortar in a systematic manner to construct solid mass that withstand exerted loads. There are several types of bricks and number of mortars which  can be used to construct brick masonry.
The bond in brick masonry, which adheres bricks together, is produced by filling joints between bricks with suitable mortar. Special cautions shall be practiced while mortar is mixed and placed since it greatly affect the performance and durability of masonry structure.

Types of Brick Masonry Work

1. Brick Work in Mud

• The mud is used to fill up various joints brick masonry work.
• Thickness of the mortar joint is 12 mm.
• it is the cheapest type of brick masonry
• employed for construction of walls with maximum height of 4 m.

Fig. 1: Brick work in mud

2. Brick Work in Cement

This type of brick masonry is construction by laying bricks in cement mortar rather than mud which is used in brick work in mud. There are three major classes of brick work in cement which are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1 Different classes of brick work in cement and their descriptions

Classes	Descriptions
First Class	Cement of lime mortar is used, The surface and edges of bricks are sharp, And the thickness of mortar joints doesn’t exceed 10mm
Second Class	Ground moulded bricks are used, Bricks are rough and shape is slightly irregular, The thickness of mortar joint is 12 mm.
Third Class	Bricks are not hard ,rough surface with distorted shape, Used for temporary structures, Used in places where rainfall is not heavy.

Fig. 2: Brick work in cement

Types of Bricks

There are different types of brick used in the construction of brick masonry which include:

1. Common Burnt Clay Bricks
2. Concrete Bricks
3. Sand Lime Bricks (Calcium Silicate Bricks)
4. Fly ash Clay Bricks
5. Engineering Bricks
6. Other Brick Types include bullnose, channel, coping, cownose and hollow bricks.

Fig. 3: Types of masonry bricks

Brick Masonry Construction

Materials and Equipment Used in Brick Masonry Construction 

1. Mortar Mix or Mason Mix Bricks
2. Tape measure
3.  hammer
4. Hose, level, or theodolite
5. Trowel Level
6. Wheelbarrow
7. Goggles
8. Jointer
9.  And other equipment according to project ans personal preferences

Brick Masonry Construction Preparations

1. Check the level of the ground using level, theodolite or transparent hose level.
2. Set the layout of the structure.

   Fig. 4: Setting out layout of masonry structure

3. Trace of building axis and wall alignment using gypsum powder, chalk, or similar, marking the trenches for foundation.
4. After that,install foundation wall, cure foundation for minimum two days before beginning of brick masonry construction.
5. Distribute bricks in several stacks along project site to cut time and effort later.
6. Wet bricks few hours prior to the work. Not only does this avoid absorbing too much water from mortar but also improve adherence of bricks and mortar.

Brick Masonry Construction Procedure

1. Initially, mix the mortar with water and blend it until a smooth and plastic mortar is produced.

   Fig. 5: Mortar Preparation

2. After that, place the mortar on foundation line evenly using trowel (25mm thickness and one brick wide is recommended for laid mortar).
3. Then, lay the first course of stretcher bricks in the mortar. Start with second brick, apply mortar to the head joint end of each brick, After that shove the bricks into place firmly so that the mortar is squeezed out of all side of the joints.

   Fig. 6: laying bricks

4. Utilize a level to examine the course for correct height. ensure that bricks are plumb and level.

   Fig. 7: Plumb line of brick masonry

   Fig. 8: Checking level of brick masonry

5. Place another mortar line alongside the first course, then begin laying the second course.
6. Use the two half bricks to begin the second to ensure that the first two courses are staggered for structural purposes.
7. To finish the second course of the lead, lay three header bricks and make sure that they are plumb and level.
8. The third and fifth courses consists of stretchers similar to the first course. The fourth course begins with single header, followed by stretchers. Use the level to make sure that the lead is true on each course. Lastly, this pattern of brick laying is used till the target height is reached.

Points Considered in Supervising Brick Masonry Constructions

The following points should be observed in the construction of brick masonry:

• Use good quality bricks.
• Ensure that brick courses are perfectly horizontal.
• Verticality of the wall should be ensured by frequently checking with plumb-bob.
• Whenever work is stopped brick masonry should be left with toothed end.
• Use of brick bats should be avoided.
• Raising walls by more than 1.5 m in one day shall be prevented.
• Raise face joints to a depth of 12 to 20mm so as to be used as a key for plastering or pointing.
• Brick masonry should be regularly cured for 2 weeks.
• The thickness of mortar joints shall be 10 mm both horizontally and vertically.

Fig. 9: Brick bat

Read more:
Tolerances and Workmanship for Reinforced Masonry Construction as per ACIChecklist for Masonry Wall Construction

What is Masonry Wall? 5 Types of Masonry Wall

Raqifa Rahman Chowdhury

The work of Constructing Buildings is one kind of art. Thus, there is a linear relationship between construction and building materials. Today’s modern housing associations, architectures, and engineers are concerned about ‘masonry walls’.

Masonry together with wood is considered one of the most important building materials in the History of humankind. It has been used as the construction material for several thousand years and still it is used. In the last decades, other materials like steel and concrete have been used frequently and thus replacing masonry as a structural material. This situation is present and particularly remarkable all over the countries, where almost all new buildings are constructed using reinforced concrete.

Masonry has been mostly used as a non-structural material, as an infill of reinforced concrete and steel frames. Therefore, a question must arise in our mind – what is it? How does it work or what to do with is this? Let us dig into this explanation:

The Masonry Basics

Masonry is a term used to indicate the part of the construction that uses brick, concrete blocks, structural clay tile, and stone. These materials are held together with mortar. Mortar for masonry is not cement mix, the material used for sidewalks, patios, or driveways. The mortar mix contains lime, sand, and gypsum, each in the proper proportions. Cement mix, on the other hand, has stones in the sand and does not contain lime.

What are Masonry Walls?

Masonry walls are the most durable part of any building or structure. Masonry is the word utilized for development with mortar as a coupling material with singular units of blocks, stones, marbles, rocks, solid squares, tiles, and so forth. Mortar is a blend of restricting material with sand. Restricting materials can be concrete, lime, soil, or any other constructing materials.

Professionals do the Masonry projects and the unit works for various purposes. Some works for building constructions, some makes barriers for boundaries to separate property line and some make house wall for structural used.

Types of Masonry Wall

Masonry walls render strengths, lastingness to the structure, and help to maintain indoor and outdoor temperature as well as keeps protect the buildings from the outside world. Depending on the motor mix materials, there are various types of Masonry Walls used in building constructions.

Types or Categories:

1. Load-bearing masonry wall
2. Reinforced masonry wall
3. Hollow/Cavity masonry wall
4. Composite masonry wall
5. Post-tensioned masonry wall

Brief descriptions of these masonry wall types are given below.

1. Load-bearing Masonry Wall

Based on load-bearing walls could be Load Bearing and Non-load Bearing walls.

A load-bearing wall is a wall that bears a load reposing upon it, which depends on weight construction and the work of foundation structure. Usually, this type of wall is used for large buildings. e.g. housing or tall buildings construction work. It is mainly made with brick, concrete blocks, or stone. The load-bearing wall helps to transfer weight from the root to the foundation. This type of wall depends on the types of buildings and their number of stories that are assessed to a suitable thickness to bear the weight above them. Without this wall, there is a chance for instability in walls’ foundation works. Another, this type of wall can also be exterior and interior. Load-bearing walls are flexible because it is easy to spend a little amount of money than other types of walls, as it is the traditional framed structure of constructing buildings. The load-bearing walls can be reinforced or unreinforced masonry walls.

Non-load bearing walls that are only intended to support themselves and the weight of the cladding or sheathings attached. This kind of walls provides no structural support and maybe interior or exterior walls

2. Reinforced Masonry Wall

A reinforced masonry wall is made with any type of brick, concrete, or other types of masonry materials that strengthened the use of other building’s materials to increase resistance to deterioration due to weight-bearing or other forms of stress. This type of wall could be non-load-bearing or load-bearing. One of the common examples of masonry involves exterior walls that are created using concrete blocks or clay bricks. Along with these materials, steel rods are works into the structure, often using some type of vertical framework that allows bearing the weight of connecting walls and floors within the building. The use of this type of wall helps it to resist pressure forces and heavy compression loads. During an earthquake or failure under heavy compression loads, the unreinforced walls could be crack horizontally. The purpose of this type of wall protects the walls from cracks and makes the strength to fight against unexpected earthquakes or other kinds of natural disasters. To defeat these problems, reinforced walls are used; and their quantity and spacing are based on walls and structure conditions. Reinforcement can be used both in horizontal and vertical order at a required layoff.

Depending on which materials are used, and how they are located, reinforced masonry (RM) walls can be divided into the following categories:

• Confined Masonry
• Reinforced Cavity Masonry
• Reinforced solid Masonry
• Reinforced hollow unit Masonry
• Reinforced grouted Masonry
• Reinforced pocket type Walls

3.

Hollow/Cavity Masonry Wall

Hollow masonry walls are made with cement blocks. This type of masonry wall is used to stop dampness from getting inside the building. It creates a hollow area between the outside and inside of masonry walls. Cavity walls will also assist with climate control. Modern masonry walls are constructed from hollow masonry units or combined hollow and solid masonry units.

Solid walls are systematically certified by metal ties, masonry investments, or collective reinforcement.

4. Composite Masonry Walls

Composite Masonry walls are made with the combination of two or more building materials; stones and bricks or hollow bricks and bricks. The purpose of this type of wall construction is –reduce the overall cost of construction and make the structure durable by providing materials of better quality and good workmanship in the faces. Composite masonry walls work to improve the appearance of a structure by covering up the inferior works by the use of superior quality material in the desired positions. This type of wall is better because it is cost-effective and optically appealing.

Types of Composite Masonry walls:

• Brick Backed Ashlar
• Brick facing with Rubble or Concrete Backing
• Stone facing with Brick, Rubble, or concrete Backing

5. Post-tensioned Masonry Wall

Post-tensioning provides an additional axial load to masonry structures and thus increases resistance to lateral force. This type of wall has over their conventionally reinforced equivalents, such as increased in-plane strength and the absence of residual post-earthquake wall displacements. Post-tensioning now is used extensively in bridges, elevated slabs (parking structures and residential or commercial buildings), residential foundations, walls, and columns. Designers commonly take advantage of this method to produce buildings and structures with clear open spaces allowing more architectural freedom.

Brick Calculator with Mortar

Created by Mateusz Mucha and Kenneth Alambra

Reviewed by Bogna Szyk and Jack Bowater

Last updated: Jun 20, 2022

Table of contents:

• How many bricks do I need for my brick wall?
• How do I use the brick calculator?
• Using the brick mortar calculator feature
• Other considerations
• FAQ

If you are going to start construction work and you want to optimize your costs, this brick calculator is your new best friend. This brick wall calculator will help you estimate how many bricks you need to cover a particular wall surface. Together with this tool is the brick mortar calculator, which will also enable you to order the other materials you will need, like cement and sand for your mortar.

Keep on reading to learn how the brick calculator works and how you can use it to accurately estimate how many bricks and how much mortar you will need for your project.

How many bricks do I need for my brick wall?

If you are wondering how many bricks you do need, it’s always better to calculate it than to guess it. Otherwise, in all probability, you’ll either run out of them, or you’ll have too many left.

The first step you can do to determine the number of bricks you will use is to consider the surface you want to cover with them. To do it by yourself, you have to calculate:

• The area that a single brick covers;
• The size of the mortar joint; and
• The area of the wall.

You can work out how many bricks you need using this simple equation:

bricks needed = (L * H) / ((l + t) * (h + t)),

where:

• L – Length of the wall;
• H – Height of the wall;
• l – Length of a brick;
• t – Thickness of mortar joint; and
• h – Height of a brick.

Our brick calculator will help you estimate how many bricks you need. There is also a function that counts the wastage, which means the percentage of the bricks that can be destroyed or written-off. As a result, the brick calculator provides you with two numbers. The first one tells how many bricks you will need to build a wall of particular dimensions, while the second one shows how many bricks you need when considering the inevitable wastage.

How do I use the brick calculator?

Using our brick calculator is very easy. All you have to do is key in the values needed, and our brick wall calculator will display the results right away. Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Enter the dimensions of the brick you wish to use.
2. Input your desired mortar joint thickness.
3. Type in the brick wall’s length and height or its total area.
4. Select the wall type you plan to build – either a brick wall with a single stack or a stack. Double-wall is what you want if you plan to build a brick wall sandwich with insulation in between the layers.
5. With the above measurements, you will already know how many bricks you need. Enter a wastage percentage to know how many bricks to order.

Using the brick mortar calculator feature

The brick wall calculator is a useful tool for every builder, no matter their level of experience. This tool makes it easy to estimate how many bricks and mortar materials you need to finish a particular job. With the brick mortar calculator feature, you can avoid buying too much or too little of the materials you need, saving your time and money.

Imagine the effort you’ll save if you avoid paying for excess and having to deal with the delay and hassle that comes with needing to reorder. There are, of course, many different ways to estimate the number you need, but the more accurate the estimation is, the better it is for you.

Here are the steps on how to expand this tool to become a brick mortar calculator:

1. Answer Yes to the question: Want to see the materials for your mortar?.
2. If you have already worked out the number of bricks needed, you will instantly see the volume of the mortar needed. Enter your probable wastage percentage to find out how much dry volume of materials you need.
3. Choose your desired mortar mix ratio. Select one that best suits your needs.
4. You will then see thequantities of cement and sand you need.
5. Input the size of an available cement bag on the market to find out how many bags you have to buy.

Other considerations

If you’re involved in interior decorating and need to know how many tiles you need to cover a wall or room, you’ll be better off using our dedicated tile calculator that works together with our grout calculator. You can also estimate the usage of other building materials; if you want to plan how much cement you will need to buy when redoing your garden, check out our concrete calculator.

FAQ

How many bricks per square foot of brick wall?

A brick wall needs approximately 5 bricks per square foot with the standard 7.5″ x 3.5″ bricks. We also need the same number of bricks per square foot with the standard size of 9.5″ x 2.75″ bricks. The larger the bricks are, the fewer bricks we need to cover a square foot.

How do I calculate the bricks I need?

1. Decide on the mortar thickness you want to use and add it to the length of your brick.
2. Add the mortar thickness to the height of your brick.
3. Multiply these sums together to get the area of a brick with mortar on one side and its bottom.
4. Divide your wall area by the product you got from step 3 to find your needed brick quantity.

How do I build a brick wall?

1. After obtaining the needed materials, make sure you have a level surface to begin with.
2. Apply a “Toblerone”-shaped mortar to the leveled surface for the entire length of the wall.
3. Start laying bricks from one corner while applying mortar between two adjacent bricks.
4. Once you finished the entire length of the wall, repeat step two, considering the top surface of the first layer as the new leveled surface.

How many bricks will I need to build a wall?

You will need approximately 38 bricks per foot length for an 8-foot wall if the bricks are the standard 7.5″ x 3.5″ bricks or 9.5″ x 2.75″ bricks with ²/₅” thick mortar joints. However, larger bricks take up a larger area, and means fewer bricks overall.

How much cement do I need for 1000 bricks?

You need approximately 120 kg (263 lbs) of cement for 1000 pieces of standard 9.5″ x 2.75″ bricks. Additionally, you will need around 0.4 cubic meters (0.54 cubic yards) of sand to mix with your cement to make a 1:5 mortar mix for your brick wall.

Mateusz Mucha and Kenneth Alambra

Wall details

Brick length (l)

Brick height (h)

Brick width (w)

Mortar joint thickness (t)

Wall length (L)

Wall height (H)

Wall area

Type of wall

You can also check our concrete column calculator if you also plan to build concrete columns as framing for your wall. 🙂

Bricks required

Bricks needed

1

Brick wastage

Total bricks needed

2

Want to see the materials for your mortar?

Cost of materials

Price per brick

$

Cost of bricks

$

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Masonry Construction: Advantages and Disadvantages

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• Masonry Construction: Advantages and Disadvantages

Masonry consists of building structures from single units that are laid and bound together with mortar. Brick, stone and concrete blocks are the most common materials used in masonry construction.

Masonry is a popular construction technique around the world, due to its many advantages. However, like with any construction method, there are also limitations. This article summarizes the pros and cons of masonry construction.

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Reduce material and labor costs with professional design and project management services.

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Advantages of Masonry Construction

These general advantages apply for all types of masonry units (brick, stone or concrete blocks):

• Masonry is non-combustible, so improves fire protection for the building and its occupants. Fireplaces are commonly made of masonry for the same reason.
• Masonry offers a high resistance against rotting, pests, weather, and natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
• Masonry structures provide an attractive rustic or elegant look for a home or building, depending on the material used and the workers’ expertise.
• Being durable and resistant, mansory can withstand large amounts of compressive weight loads.
• Masonry units increase the thermal mass of a building.
• Masonry buildings have longer lifespans than any other building type.
• Using masonry in your construction improves its resale value.
• Masonry doesn’t rot, and insects such as ants and termites can’t destroy its structure.
• Using this method in construction costs less in terms of labor and materials as compared to using wood.

 

Masonry is arguably the best way to add grandeur and beauty to any construction. Additionally, there are various projects to do, which will provide an excellent upgrade to your home and then make you wonder: ‘are there masons near me?’ Whether you’re planning to use stone, brick, or concrete masonry, ensure that you choose a team carefully to achieve your plans.

Limitations of Masonry Construction

• Masonry construction involves heavy materials such as bricks, stone and concrete blocks. These cannot be transported in conventional vehicles, and in some cases they must be ordered from special catalogs, especially stones.
• The stability of masonry structures depends completely on their foundation. If any settling of the foundation occurs, cracks are likely and they must be repaired to prevent moisture infiltration and damage.
• Masonry activities cannot be done during heavy rain or freezing conditions, since mortar will be severely affected.
• Masonry construction requires a good amount of time and adequate project planning. Depending on the type or masonry, specialized manpower may be necessary.

Now that the general advantages and disadvantages of masonry have been established, let’s discuss the pros and cons of the most commonly used materials: brick, stone and concrete blocks.

Brick Masonry

Pros: Brick masonry does not require highly skilled labor, since the shape and size of the masonry units is uniform. Bricks are also lightweight (lower dead loads), easy to handle and transport, and cheaper that stones and concrete blocks. Brick walls are thinner, and units can be adhered with different types of mortar, depending on structural requirements. Openings for doors and windows are easily made with bricks, and costs are also reduced because the joints are thinner.

Cons: Bricks have a low resistance against tension and torsion loads, making them more susceptible to seismic damage. Compared with stone and concrete blocks, bricks are also less strong and durable, and limited in sizes and colors. Plasterwork is required as finishing, which raises construction costs.

Stone Masonry

Pros: Stone masonry is the most durable, strong and weather resistant, thanks to the natural durability of the material. Stone is recommended for buildings with high foot traffic, since it does not bend or dent. One of the main advantages of stone is its aesthetic look, with a variety of colors, sizes and textures – the design possibilities are endless. Finally, stone masonry requires little maintenance and repairs, thanks to its durability.

Cons: Stone walls are thick and heavy, reducing floor space. It also has a high self-weight, combined with low flexural strength, tensile strength and seismic resistance. Stone masonry is time-consuming and it requires skilled workers, since it cannot be altered, repaired or relocate easily. When using stone masonry, a careful installation will make the final structure safer for occupants.

Concrete Block Masonry

Pros: Concrete blocks are resistant against weather, pests, mold, and fire. Transporting concrete blocks can be quite expensive, but this material can be found locally in most cases. Concrete blocks are available in many sizes, finishes and colors. These units can also be manufactured to meet any set project requirements, and some concrete blocks are made using recycled materials. In addition, concrete blocks have good insulating properties against heat, sound and moisture.

Cons: Large concrete blocks are heavy and difficult to handle, requiring more manpower. Concrete blocks also increase the amount of steel required in reinforced cement concrete structures. The price of concrete blocks can vary depending on the region, cement costs and availability. Plumbing issues are harder to solve when they occur in a concrete masonry structure, since they can cause internal flooding. Concrete blocks must be cut open in this case, leading to material waste and expensive reparations. An effective drainage system is very important when dealing with concrete block masonry.

Final Thoughts-

The construction industry has introduced numerous methods of building construction. These techniques have undergone several improvements, which have paved the way for enhanced durability and minimized maintenance efforts. One of the most popular methods of construction used in building homes and high-rise and heavy buildings is masonry.

Masonry has its pros and cons as discussed above. In this method, you’ll need a professional team that’s committed to achieving your plans. Masonry work involves time, complete planning, and discussion. While it has its own share of disadvantages, it’s still considered the most reliable and durable method of construction.

Nearby EngineersNew York Engineers has a MEP design track record of 1,000+ projects. Contact us via email ([email protected]) or phone (646-877-0767212-575-5300), and make sure your building systems meet codes.

 

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Masonry Wall Systems | WBDG

Introduction

Within This Page

• Introduction
• Description
• Fundamentals
• Applications
• Details
• Emerging Issues
• Relevant Codes and Standards
• Additional Resources

Masonry has been used in building construction for thousands of years in construction. It can be used to form a durable cladding system and to achieve various aesthetic effects. The masonry units can be oriented in different positions to create different patterns on the exterior wall. In addition to forming the exterior cladding, masonry walls can serve as a portion of the structural framing for the building. Masonry walls also typically increase the fire resistance of the wall system or structural elements.

Masonry walls can be single or multi-wythe. A wythe of masonry refers to a thickness of wall equal to the thickness of the individual units.

Description

Masonry is typically site constructed (laid) using manufactured masonry units and site mixed mortar. The units are laid in mortar to various heights, with the strength of the assembly being achieved during curing of the mortar. Masonry can form structural elements (typically bearing walls, columns, or pilasters) and/or the finished cladding system.

Masonry Units

Several different types of masonry units are commonly used. Common masonry unit types include clay and concrete units, which may be solid or hollow, and glazed or unglazed. Other masonry unit types include cast stone and calcium silicate units.

Clay Units

Clay brick units are typically used in brick masonry construction. Depending on the clay used and the method of forming the units during manufacturing, clay units have various colors, sizes and textures. Other types of units include glazed brick (both clay and concrete) units, concrete brick, calcium silicate brick, and hollow clay tile (typically used in older masonry buildings).

Clay masonry units are typically formed of soft clay extruded into the required shape in the manufacturing plant. Several different finishes can be formed on the exterior surface of the brick such as wire cut or sand finished, depending on the method used to form the brick into the desired shape. Brick units are then heated in a kiln (fired) to a temperature of 1100 to 1200 Fahrenheit degrees in order create the structural properties of the units.

The units can be hollow (cores occupy greater than 25% of unit) or solid. Units categorized as solid typically contain cores for handling and to allow more uniform firing. For most exterior walls, units categorized as solid are used.

The standard for clay masonry units is ASTM C216 (Standard Specification for Facing Brick (Solid Masonry Units Made from Clay or Shale). In this standard, and in building specifications, clay units are categorized by grade (NW, MW or SW) and type (FBA, FBS and FBX). The masonry grade depends on the required durability of the units. Typically, Grade SW (severe weathering) is recommended in most areas of the US. These units are much more resistant to freeze-thaw cycling. MW (moderate weathering) units should only used in areas where freezing cycles are not anticipated. NW (negligible weathering) units should only be used in interior conditions where the interior air is conditioned and there is no exposure to moisture.

The type of unit depends on the required dimensional tolerances. Typically Type FBS is specified unless unusually tight tolerances are required. Where tight tolerances are required, Type FBX should be specified. Type FBA units are typically used to create a rustic appearance with a high dimensional tolerance.

Glazed clay masonry units should meet the requirements of ASTM C126 (Standard Specification for Ceramic Glazed Structural Clay Facing Tile, Facing Brick, and Solid Masonry Units).

Concrete Masonry Units (CMU)

Concrete masonry units (CMU) are made from a mixture of portland cement and aggregates under controlled conditions. The units can be made to various dimensions, but typically have face dimensions of 8 inches high by 16 inches wide (nominal). Concrete masonry units are typically made in forms to the desired shape and then pressure-cured in the manufacturing plant. The units are often used when masonry is to form a load-bearing wall or an interior partition between spaces within a building. Concrete masonry units can be manufactured in different sizes and with a variety of face textures.

Concrete masonry units should meet the requirements of ASTM C90. The units are categorized based on the weight (lightweight, normal weight and heavyweight). Structural masonry units are either normal weight or heavyweight. Lightweight units are used for non-load-bearing conditions or as veneers.

Since these units are typically larger than brick units, the construction time required for laying the units is typically less than that for brick. The units can be solid or hollow (two or three cores) and can have solid or flanged ends. The cores provide continuous vertical voids that are often reinforced. Steel bars are placed in the cores with grout installed surrounding the bars. In this fashion, the wall acts similar to a reinforced concrete element.

Mortar

Mortar is typically composed of cement, lime and sand, although lime mortars can also be composed in which no cement is used. Components and proportions of mortars vary depending on the desired mortar properties. Mortars consisting of portland cement and lime as well as sand are most common. Premixed mortars must be carefully reviewed to determine the actual components of the mix.

There are different mortar types depending on the required strength. Mortars for new construction are typically Types N, S, or M. For repairs to existing buildings, some other types such as Type O, or even softer mortars, may be required to replicate the original mortar properties. The most common masonry types and uses in new construction are as follows:

• Type N—Used in general masonry walls above grade. This is the most common masonry mortar used in non-structural applications in new construction. This has good bond qualities and good resistance to water penetration.
• Type S—Typically used in structural masonry applications. Has a higher proportion of cement and subsequently can have increased shrinkage of the mortar.
• Type M—Typically used only in below grade applications.

Mortar proportions and mixing requirements are outlined in ASTM C270 and in the appropriate Technical Notes published by the Brick Institute of America (BIA). Generally, mortars are mixed on site with water to achieve a wet fluid mix, with sufficient water for workability. The mortar is retempered (additional water added to the mix) periodically to maintain workability. After two hours, the bond of fresh unused mortar to new units is significantly reduced. Therefore, mortar that is unused within two hours should be discarded.

Fundamentals

Installation

Masonry must be installed on a solid, rigid base. This is typically a concrete foundation or structural steel or concrete beam system. Most building codes do not allow the weight of the masonry to be supported be wood framing, due to the strength loss of the wood member when exposed to moisture. The support system must be designed for small deflections (typically 1/600th of the span) to avoid cracking of the masonry.

The masonry units are laid in a bed of mortar. The horizontal joints between units are called bed joints while the vertical joints are called head joints. Clay brick masonry should include solid (full) head and bed joints. In concrete masonry it is common to lay the units with mortar only on the face shells (face shell bedding). This is due to the size of the cores and the difficulty in installing mortar in the webs between cores without allowing significant amounts of mortar to fill the cores. Full bedding of concrete masonry units is typically only performed where a portion of the cells will be filled with grout. Where grouting is performed, mortar should be kept from falling into the cells since this will form a weak plane in the grout.

Coursing

Masonry units can also be different sizes and shapes to accommodate specific project needs. The units can also be oriented in various ways to form varying aesthetic effects. Common coursing patterns are as follows:

• Stretchers—units are oriented horizontally with the full face exposed (most common)
• Headers—units are oriented perpendicular to the face of the wall with the end exposed (can be true or false headers)
• Soldiers—units are oriented vertically with the full face exposed
• Rowlock—units are oriented perpendicular to the face of the wall with the end and face exposed (often used at sills and at tops of walls)

Expansion and Shrinkage of Units

Following manufacture, clay masonry units expand when exposed to moisture. This volumetric change in the unit results in an accumulated growth of the wall system that is irreversible. Concrete masonry units typically shrink following manufacturing. These movements, if not accommodated in the design of the masonry elements, can cause cracking, spalling, and displacements in the masonry. For this reason, expansion joints are required in clay masonry construction, particularly in areas exposed to the exterior in where the units will become wet. Expansion joints are typically required at corners, offsets, and other changes in wall plane; changes in wall construction; and at regular spacings (typically 20 to 30 feet on center maximum, depending on the units). Guidelines for expansion joint design/layout are provided in Brick Industry Association (BIA) Tech Note 18A.

Concrete masonry walls are typically reinforced with joint reinforcement for shrinkage control. Depending on the size and spacing of the reinforcement, the spacing of control joints will vary. However, control joints are required in all concrete masonry walls. Guidelines for control joint placement are provided in National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) Tek Note 10-A.

Both clay and concrete masonry also undergo cyclic thermal movements. These materials expand in warm temperatures and contract in cold temperatures. The movement joints must also accommodate these movements.

Wall Systems

Masonry walls can be of several different types:

• Veneer (wall system provides cladding and only resists transfers wind loads to a structural backup)
• Structural/Load Bearing Wall (can be cladding but also provides load bearing system)

Water penetration through exterior masonry elements exposed to rain should be anticipated. Water typically flows through separations between the mortar and the units. This can be due to bond separations, voids, and cracks. Water penetration can also occur, although typically to a lesser degree, due to absorption through the units and mortar. Systems must be provided in exterior masonry construction to address water penetration into the wall system.

Masonry Veneer

Masonry veneer consists of an exterior wythe of masonry that forms a cladding material only. Lateral support for the masonry veneer is required. This is typically provided by an interior wall. Common interior walls (backup walls) are cold-formed steel framed walls with water-resistant sheathing and concrete masonry.

Critical components in masonry veneers exposed to moisture include:

• Drainage cavity behind veneer wythe
• Flashing system at base of veneer
• Seals for the cavity at fenestrations (window, door, louver frames, etc.)
• Lateral tie system to anchor veneer to the structural back-up
• Vertical support system to support weight of veneer
• Provisions for expansion/contraction of the wall system

Veneer walls are designed as “drainage walls” in respect to their resistance to water penetration. An air space/drainage cavity should be installed behind the masonry veneer to allow water that penetrates the masonry to flow down to the base of the wall, where it can be directed to the exterior. This drainage cavity should remain open to allow water to freely drain. Where restrictions in the cavity exist, flashings are recommended to collect water and drain it to the exterior. This is required at openings in the masonry such as at windows, supports, etc. At the base of the drainage cavity, a flashing system should be installed that consists of a three-sided pan, typically formed by metal and/or membrane materials, to collect water that penetrates into the drainage cavity and direct it to the exterior via drains or weeps. These flashings must be designed to be watertight, particularly at corners, laps, and terminations of the masonry. End dams are required at terminations to prevent water from flowing laterally off the flashing and into the adjacent construction. Common flashing materials are stainless steel, copper, and lead-coated copper. These metal flashings are durable, can be sealed, and include soldered corners and end dams. Membrane materials such as rubberized asphalt and EPDM can also be used in conjunction with metal flashings to seal the top of the metal flashing to the backup construction.

It is critical that a moisture barrier be present on the interior face of the drainage cavity (on the surface of the backup) to prevent the passage of water into the backup construction. The recommended cavity width behind the masonry veneer is 2 inches minimum.

In summer months, the air space behind the brick veneer will typically contain air that is hot and humid relative to the interior. This air can achieve a relatively high vapor pressure relative to the interior. In winter months, this is air space can be filled with relatively cold air in relation to the interior. This is particularly true in northern climates. If this air contacts the interior portion of window frames or interior finishes, condensation can result. For this reason, cavity seals are typically recommended at windows, doors, and other openings to prevent the passage of cavity air (and moisture) to the door/window frames.

Vertical support for the masonry veneer is typically provided at each floor line. For a brick masonry veneer, provisions must be made at each of the vertical supports to accommodate vertical expansion of masonry. This is accomplished by omitting the mortar between the top course of masonry and the underside of the support. This joint should be designed to accommodate the vertical expansion of the masonry, as well as structural deflections of the support. In concrete structures, creep of the concrete frame should also be accommodated.

Metal ties are required to provide the lateral attachment of the veneer to the backup wall. These are typically spaced at 16 inches on center in each direction.

Structural Masonry Walls

Structural masonry walls are typically constructed using concrete masonry. The concrete masonry can be reinforced both vertically and horizontally to achieve the required flexural resistance. Vertical reinforcement that is installed within the cells of the concrete masonry is generally grouted solid. Horizontal reinforcement is typically installed using prefabricated welded wires that are embedded in the bed joints. Although this horizontal reinforcement improves the strength of the masonry, particularly for horizontal spans, but also serves to control shrinkage cracking.

If structural masonry walls are to serve as the exterior walls, a second wythe of masonry is typically recommended. In this construction, the masonry can be built as a composite wall (both wythes act as a unit to resist loads) or as a non-composite wall (individual wythes act independently to support loads). Since water penetration through the exterior wythe of masonry is to be expected, the reliance on a single wythe of masonry as the exterior wall system is typically not recommended. If single wythe exterior walls are to be installed, a barrier should be provided on the exterior surface, such as a fluid-applied, breathable masonry coating or over-cladding (EIFS, metal panels, stucco and similar) to prevent water penetration into the masonry. Admixtures can be used in the fabrication of concrete masonry units to reduce water penetration due to absorption into units themselves. However, the admixture must also be mixed into the mortar in order to achieve proper bond. These systems can be effective in reducing the amount of water penetration into the masonry; however, they should not be relied upon to eliminate water penetration.

Thermal Performance

Masonry is typically a large thermal mass that can be heated and cooled by it’s exposure to the sun and the exterior temperatures. Masonry exposed to sunlight can achieve temperatures well in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The masonry absorbs heat and will radiate the heat to the surrounding components of the wall system. During cold temperatures, masonry will be cool, particularly in shaded exposures. In design, the thermal performance characteristics of the masonry are typically based primarily on the insulation placed in the wall cavity or within the backup wall. The masonry is typically assumed to provide little insulating value.

Fire Safety

Masonry provides a significant improvement in fire safety for building walls. Concrete masonry is typically used for firewall construction. The fire resistive characteristics are based on the thickness of the masonry.

Acoustics

Because of the mass, masonry wall systems can provide better sound insulation than lighter wall systems such as metal panels. To improve acoustical performance, concrete masonry is typically filled with insulation to eliminate the voids in the cores.

Maintenance

When properly constructed, masonry wall systems require relatively little maintenance as compared to other wall systems. The service life of the masonry can be 100 years or more, depending on the detailing and maintenance. The most frequent maintenance is the regular replacement of sealant in expansion joints, perimeter of openings (windows, doors, etc.) and at through wall flashings. The time frame for sealant replacement depends on the sealant used but usually ranges from every 7 to 20 years.

Repointing of the mortar joints in exterior masonry is typically required between 20 to 30 years after installation, depending on the type and quality of the original masonry installation.

Applications

See Appendices for climate-specific guidance regarding building enclosure design.

Details

The following details can be downloaded in DWG format or viewed online in DWF™ (Design Web Format™) or Adobe Acrobat PDF by clicking on the appropriate format to the right of the drawing title.

The details associated with this section of the BEDG on the WBDG were developed by committee and are intended solely as a means to illustrate general design and construction concepts only. Appropriate use and application of the concepts illustrated in these details will vary based on performance considerations and environmental conditions unique to each project and, therefore, do not represent the final opinion or recommendation of the author of each section or the committee members responsible for the development of the WBDG.

Clay Brick Inside Corner   PDF

Clay Brick Outside Corner   PDF

Clay Brick Through-Wall Flashing   PDF

Emerging Issues

New developments in masonry wall design include the use of pre-stressed masonry. This consists of building a concrete masonry wall with cables within the cells, similar to a pre-stressed concrete element. After the wall is built, the cables are tensioned and anchored to the masonry. This can greatly increase the resistance of the masonry wall to flexural loads and bending.

The necessity to make building envelopes blast-resistant has forced consideration of reinforced masonry façade design options with respect to water integrity and thermal performance.

Relevant Codes and Standards

• American Concrete Institute ACI 530—Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures & Specifications for Masonry Structures
• American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE-7Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures
• Brick Institute of America Technical Notes on Brick Construction
• National Concrete Masonry Association—NCMA “Tek” Notes
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
• ASTM International

Additional Resources

WBDG

Design Objectives

Functional / Operational—Ensure Appropriate Product/Systems Integration

Products and Systems

See appropriate sections under applicable guide specifications: Unified Facility Guide Specifications (UFGS), VA Guide Specifications (UFGS), DRAFT Federal Guide for Green Construction Specifications, MasterSpec®

Publications

Organizations

• Brick Industry Association (BIA)
• National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA)
• Masonry Institute of America (MIA)
• International Masonry Institute (IMI)
• Masonry Advisory Council (MAC)
• Masonry Contractors Association of America (MCAA)
• The Council for Masonry Research (CMR)
• The Masonry Society (TMS)

What Is a Masonry Wall? Different Types & Benefits

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A masonry wall is a wall made from materials which have traditionally been cemented together with the use of mortar. Masonry walls can be used as structural walls in buildings, and they can also be utilized to create barriers between property lines or different areas on a property. People have been working with masonry in construction for thousands of years, as ample examples of surviving masonry walls from all over the world illustrate. Properly maintained, masonry can also last a very long time; masonry walls from the medieval era, for example, are still in use in parts of Europe, and the Great Wall of China is a particularly notable example of a masonry wall.

Brick, stone, tile, ceramic blocks, adobe, and glass blocks can all be used in the construction of a masonry wall. In dry set masonry, no mortar at all is used, with the pieces of the wall being carefully fitted together to create a stable wall with excellent drainage. Dry setting is often used for the creation of livestock walls. Solid masonry, made with mortar, can also be reinforced with a backbone of steel or a similarly strong material.

Masonry walls can have a wide variety of shapes, looks, and feels. Some are low and broad, while others are thin and tall, and they can include varying sizes of material for more visual interest, or uniformly shaped and sized material for a more regular look. When designing masonry walls, people need to think about how the wall will be used, the level of reinforcement which may be necessary, and the desired aesthetic look of the wall and surrounding environment.

There are a number of advantages to building with masonry. In areas with ample rock deposits or deposits of materials which can be used to make substances like glass and brick, masonry can be a cheap construction method. It also creates increased thermal mass, contributing to efficiency, and it can bear a great deal of weight when it is well designed. A masonry wall also confers fire protection, as it will take some time for a fire to break through such a wall.

One of the main disadvantages to working with masonry is that it is very heavy, and it can add to production costs for a building in addition to being dangerous in an earthquake if it is not properly supported. It’s important to use a masonry contractor with experience and familiarity with regional building codes to ensure that a masonry wall is built to the appropriate standards.

What Are the Different Types of Masonry Wall?

There are several different types of masonry walls, each of which has its own job in the construction process.

Load-Bearing Walls

A load-bearing masonry wall is most common in large buildings, such as large houses or tall commercial buildings. Usually created with bricks, stones, or concrete blocks, load-bearing walls transfer the weight from the building’s foundation to ensure even distribution and create a safe structure. Without load-bearing walls to support the weight of the building, the foundation can become unstable. Load-bearing walls are necessary on both the exterior and interior of buildings.

Cavity or Hollow Walls

Cavity walls are made with cement blocks and are essential for protecting the inside of a building from excess dampness. Hollow walls create space between the exterior and interior walls to protect the inside from the elements. Modern versions combine the hollow and solid masonry units.

Composite Walls

Composite walls are created with at least two different building materials, such as hollow and solid bricks or stones and bricks. Composite walls reduce the cost of construction without compromising the integrity of the structure. The materials are still very high-quality and create safe walls that maintain a beautiful look as well. These types of walls typically have bricks or other aesthetically appealing materials in the visual area and the concrete or rubble backing where the naked eye can’t see it.

Post-Tensioned Wall

A post-tension wall creates an additional axial load for structures, increasing their abilities to resist lateral forces. Post-tensioned walls typically have increased in-plan strength and do not see any wall displacements post-earthquake. They are common in parking structures, elevated residential and commercial buildings, and bridges. They also help architects to have more freedom with their work by creating more open spaces within a structure.

Reinforced Walls

Like load-bearing walls, reinforced walls are made with brick, concrete, or other strong materials. These types of masonry walls create more resistance for weight-bearing walls so that they fight back against deterioration. Typically, reinforced walls are exterior walls that have steel rods worked into their bricks or concrete. Reinforced walls are common in buildings that could see heavy compression loads and in buildings where an earthquake is a possibility. Reinforced walls are less likely to crack and can be divided into several subcategories.

• Confined Masonry
• Reinforced Cavity Masonry
• Reinforced Grouted Masonry
• Reinforced Hollow Unit Masonry
• Reinforced Pocket-Type Walls
• Reinforced Solid Masonry

The Benefits of Masonry Walls

Cost-effectiveness is one of the biggest benefits of masonry walls. Some research shows that buildings of up to 10 stories tall see significant savings when building with reinforced masonry techniques because it eliminates the need for formwork and the cost for the associated labor. Masonry is also low-maintenance and durable, which means building owners spend fewer dollars on repairs over the years.

Saving money isn’t the only benefit of using masonry walls. They are also energy-efficient. Concrete masonry is especially beneficial, as it protects the interior of a building from the heat or cold outside in a feature known as the “thermal mass effect.” This means the interior of the building stays at a more comfortable temperature without the need for additional insulation or higher energy bills.

Other benefits of masonry walls include being fire-resistant, durable, and acting as a sound barrier. Insurance providers love masonry because they are less likely to need to pay out benefits due to a fire, and the durable structure is also helpful for insurance bills when other natural disasters are commonplace in an area. Finally, masonry is common in buildings that sit near airports or along freeways because they prevent the sound of the traffic outside from entering the building through the walls.

Choosing a Company To Build Your Masonry Walls

Before you hire someone to complete your masonry wall work, research your project and the materials you’ll need. Knowing what materials you want for your project, the scope of the skills your masonry company will need, and the average price of other masonry jobs in the neighborhood will help you determine what you need of a company and ensure you aren’t overcharged.

Once you have an idea of what your project might cost, start looking at companies in your city. Read their ratings and reviews, looking for specific information about how well the company communicates, whether the project manager is always on-site for a job, and how the company handled problems that arose on past jobs. Narrow your search down to about three different companies and contact them for full bids.

Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the
exciting challenge of being a HomeQuestionsAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and
spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the
exciting challenge of being a HomeQuestionsAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and
spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Recommended

How to make a fashionable brick wall with your own hands?

Brickwork in the interior is one of the most fashionable trends of recent times. This element of decor is especially relevant when decorating a room in a loft style. There are several ways to create a “brick wall” in a room. Each of them is good in its own way, but the choice should take into account the existing disadvantages.

Use of natural brick wall

The wall is cleaned of the remnants of old plaster, polished with a grinder with a petal disc, the inter-brick seams are corrected with a plaster mixture. To protect the wall from damage and shedding, its surface is coated with acrylic varnish or wax.

Pros:

Minuses:

Wall decoration with natural bricks

A redundant natural brickwork is made along the wall, and then a varnish or wax coating is used to protect the surface from external influences.

Pros:

Minuses:

• The complexity of the process;

• Loss of floor space;

• Additional load on interfloor floors.

In order to minimize the disadvantages, you can replace natural brick with clinker tiles: it is much thinner and lighter, while retaining the properties of natural brick.

The tile can have a different shape, texture and color, which greatly expands the design possibilities when using this material.

Using tiles with a brick-like texture

Currently, it is not a problem to choose a tile on the market that imitates various types of brickwork. This option is ideal for the kitchen or bathroom.

Pros:

• Aesthetic appearance;

• Variety of finishes;

• No need for additional surface treatment;

• Surface resistance to mechanical damage and pollution;

• Ease of care.

Minuses:

Brick wallpaper

You can choose both the simplest wallpaper with a masonry pattern, as well as more expensive vinyl options that imitate the relief of a brick wall.

Pros:

Minuses:

Styrofoam tiles

To imitate brickwork, “bricks” made of polystyrene foam are glued to a plastered, pre-primed surface, and then painted.

Pros:

Minuses:

• The work is painstaking, lengthy, requires accuracy;

• The coating is subject to mechanical damage, fragile.

Imitation of masonry with plaster

The surface of the wall is plastered and given the appearance of a brick wall using special techniques.

Pros:

• Maximum realism coverage;

• Improving the heat and sound insulation properties of the surface;

• Easy installation;

• Low price;

• No need for pretreatment of the wall.

Minuses:

5 ways to apply plaster “under the brick”

To create a “brick wall” with plaster, you can use the following compositions: tile adhesive mixed with gypsum plaster in a 1: 1 ratio; gypsum or shaped plaster; thick paint. There are several ways to create an imitation of brickwork using plastering:

• The plaster solution is applied to the primed wall with a layer of 10-20 mm. Rectangular deep form in the form of a brick on the plastered surface imprinted relief bricks. The form must first be moistened. With a wet paint brush, the edges of the resulting relief are slightly smoothed, as a result, the surface acquires a characteristic “stone” texture. After the solution has completely dried, it is sanded and painted in the desired color. The work is quite painstaking, but the result is extremely realistic.

• Narrow strips of masking tape are applied to a white-painted wall, recreating the masonry pattern. The wall is painted in a darker tone, after which the tape is immediately removed. This option is the easiest to implement and does not create the need to remove construction debris after completion of work. To make the “masonry” more realistic, you can use decorative plaster instead of paint. It is applied in a thin layer (about 3 mm), the tape is removed after some drying of the composition.

• A stencil is applied to the wall, after which it is covered with tinted liquid textured plaster using a trowel or spatula. After 10 minutes, fine sand is applied to the dried solution using an airbrush. For strong adhesion of the sand layer to the surface, it is rolled with a rubber roller. After that, the stencil is removed.

• A mixture of gypsum plaster and tile adhesive is applied to the wall with a stencil glued to it from construction tape. You can do this with a spatula or with your hands – this way the surface will acquire a more pronounced texture. The tape is removed immediately. After the layer dries, sharp corners are smoothed with sandpaper, the wall is primed and painted. With this method of finishing, a spectacular surface is obtained that imitates old brickwork.

Brick Wall Design Tips

In order for brickwork to transform the space as much as possible, and not create the illusion of an uncomfortable room, it is worth observing the following principles of its integration into the interior:

• For uneven walls, it is recommended to choose more textured options – this will eliminate the need for careful leveling of surfaces.

• Do not decorate all the walls in the room in this way. The “brick” wall acts as an accent wall, attracts attention, therefore, as a rule, a similar coating is created in the room on one of the walls or on its part (in the wall between the windows, in a niche).

• The combination of brickwork with alternative finishes on the plane of one wall looks spectacular. Masonry can be arranged in the form of fragments of irregular shape, combined with a surface covered with decorative plaster, pasted over with wallpaper, tile or decorated with wooden panels.

• Mirrors placed on a brick wall will help harmonize the space by reflecting the surface of another, non-brick wall.

• The cosiness of a room with a brick wall will be given by open wooden shelves installed on it. Here it is better to arrange objects that are uniform in color and texture.

what is the material, what is bricklaying, requirements of GOST and SNiP, layers of the pie, dimensions, construction technology

Since ancient times, brick has been the main building material from which buildings and their individual elements were erected.

This is confirmed by the complex designs of arches that have been preserved since the times of Ancient Rome and Mesopotamia.

Since then, brick manufacturing techniques have improved many times, but its laying has remained practically unchanged. And yet she is often preferred in the construction of houses.

We will tell about the construction of brick walls in the article.

Contents

• 1 What is the material brick?
  • 1.1 What is brickwork?
• 2 GOST and SNiP requirements for wall structures
• 3 Pie layers
  • 3.1 Dimensions
• 4 Which brick is suitable for construction?
• 5 How to calculate quantity and price?
• 6 Types of masonry
• 7 Construction technology
  • 7.1 Partitions inside a private house
  • 7.2 External walls of the building
  • 7.3 Costrils
  • 7.4 In the apartment
  • 7.5 for the basement
  • 7. 6 in the bath
  • 7.7 for garage
  • 8 Main rules for the formation floors
  • 12 How to tie brick walls together?
  • 13 Repair of defects
  • 14 Dismantling
  • 15 Conclusion

  What is brick material?

  The main purpose of brick is the construction of buildings and various structures where strength is needed. Therefore, the material is made from various mineral raw materials, which, when combined and processed, provide a sufficient strength of the building element in the future.

  The resulting artificial stone may differ from each other:

  1. Production material . Basically, silicate and ceramic bricks are used in construction. There is also hyper-pressed and unfired raw.
  2. Form. As a rule, the elements have a rectangular appearance with right angles and clear edges. But there are also square as well as triangular bricks. And even round.
  3. Size. They mostly focus either on Europe or on the post-Soviet space. The usual European brick is slightly smaller in width. But there are specialized elements that have special dimensions.
  4. Durability. This figure is higher for building bricks, from which load-bearing walls are being built. Whereas a facing type does not need a very large fortress.
  5. Water absorption. The higher the ability of the material to absorb water, the lower its frost resistance.
  6. Thermal conductivity. For residential buildings, a low value is appreciated, since such walls are able to retain heat longer.

  Standard brick 25 cm long. Its width is 12 cm, and its thickness is 6.5.

  The part with dimensions of 250×120 mm, with which the brick lays on the base of the masonry, is called the bed, because the cement mortar is laid on it. The side that has parameters of 250 × 65 mm is called a spoon. And the shorter name “log” explains that it is elongated.

  and the smallest surface is called a poke , due to the fact that adjacent elements stick to each other.

  What is brickwork?

  The invention of the brick is attributed to the Chinese. They also invented the first ways of bandaging building elements, making the wall strong and durable.

  If artificial stones are laid on the base in a certain order and cemented together, this will be brickwork. And the displacement of building elements in each new row ensures the dressing of the seams.

  GOST and SNiP requirements for wall structures

  The strength of the masonry depends on the parameters of the brick used and the composition of the joint mixture. All requirements for artificial stone walls are specified in GOST and SNiP. If they are not fulfilled, then not a single selection committee will allow the constructed building to be used.

  The main provisions of the requirements:

  1. There should be no cavities and holes in the brickwork that are not provided for by the project.
  2. The method of dressing is approved in advance, and the masonry is done manually.
  3. Vertical and horizontal joints must be of constant thickness. In the first case, it is 10 mm. In the second – 12. Thickening is possible only if there is reinforcement with reinforcement.
  4. When bonded masonry is used, only whole blocks are selected for it.
  5. Halves may only be used for lightly loaded walls. Or for backing masonry.

  An important condition for high-quality masonry is the obligatory dressing of the seams. Otherwise, the wall will simply fall apart in a short time.

  Pie layers

  To comply with some of the SNiP norms, brick walls up to three meters thick will need to be built. This is unacceptable for many reasons. Therefore, in order to save materials and usable space, they came up with a wall design that resembles a layer cake.

  Basic layers of in a brick wall:

  1. Porous stone masonry.
  2. Steel mesh for binding cake layers.
  3. Insulation.
  4. Facing masonry.
  5. Plaster.

  This is one of the most commonly used options. But depending on specific conditions or specific requirements, the number of layers may vary. Like the composition of the materials in the cake. Various brands of bricks can be used, as well as completely different heaters. From filling with construction debris to the use of foam and mineral wool.

  Brick wall cake in section:

  Dimensions

  Brick has two drawbacks that affect the thermal insulation properties of walls. It’s high hygroscopicity and high thermal conductivity . Previously, this was fought by increasing the thickness of the walls. They were brought up to 64 cm, and in some areas of the north this figure even exceeded one meter.

  Under modern conditions, such waste of material and labor is not justified in any way. And problems with thermal insulation are solved with a suitable heater.

  Therefore, for many private houses, it is enough to make walls one brick thick. That is, 25 cm. But to build two partitions with a void between them. The second acts as a lining. This is the so-called well masonry.

  The air cushion between the walls is filled with:

  • expanded clay or slag;
  • organic;
  • light cement mortar;
  • Styrofoam.

  This design reduces the pressure on the foundation and perfectly improves all the insulating properties of the wall. In this case, the wall thickness is on average 50 cm.

  Standards for the thickness and other parameters of a brick wall are presented in this article.

  Which brick is suitable for construction?

  For the construction of walls of houses, as a rule, choose one of two types of bricks – hollow or solid .

  The latter is characterized by high strength and frost resistance. And the first option is well suited when you need to add insulating properties to partitions.

  Brick is considered the best, in the production of which shavings were added to the mixture. When fired, it burns out, leaving the smallest voids. Porous material has excellent heat retention properties .

  Which bricks are better to use for building a house, this publication will tell you.

  How to calculate quantity and price?

  Since builders do not write scripts for online calculators, it is better to calculate the required material manually.

  To do this, take into account:

  • type of brick with exact dimensions;
  • masonry thickness, according to its type;
  • type of solution.

  If a standard cement mixture is used, the thickness of the joint is obtained in the range of 10-15 mm. Modern technologies offer to lay silicate brick on a special glue. In this case, the dimensions of the seam can be neglected, since its thickness is very small.

  Considering all the parameters, the average number of bricks per square meter is calculated. Then the construction project data is used, which specifies the dimensions of the walls and their thickness.

  The total area of ​​the partitions is calculated, and then the result is multiplied by the previously found number of bricks per square meter. Just in case, the amount received is rounded up.

  It remains only to multiply the result by the price of one brick. Then add the cost of the solution and the payment to the master masons.

  How to calculate the number of bricks per wall, read this article.

  Types of masonry

  There are many options for placing bricks in the wall. A good master knows them all and uses them to increase attractiveness. The pattern is created by shifting the position of material or by alternating spoon and poke.

  The most common types of masonry:

  1. Spoon half-brick . In this case, the log looks out, and in each new row, the brick moves to the side by half its length.
  2. In a quarter . The shift is only one-fourth.
  3. Diagonal. In the next row, the brick is shifted to one side by exactly a quarter, creating a smooth pattern line.
  4. Tychkova. Only a poke looks outside.
  5. Chaotic. Spoon alternates with poke randomly.
  6. Cross. Rows with a spoon and a poke go in turn. But the latter is located above the log exactly in the middle.
  7. Chain. Poke follows two spoons.

  Read about the types of brick walls here.

  Construction technology

  Step by step, the whole process is as follows:

  1. A cement screed is applied to the surface of the foundation, which aligns the structure horizontally.
  2. Provide waterproofing of the future wall by laying two layers of roofing material on the base.
  3. Bonded masonry is used for the first row. That is, they place bricks across.
  4. The initial chain of stones is laid without cement mortar on the base. Bricks are fastened only to each other.
  5. Laying starts from the corner, and the horizontality of the row is controlled with a stretched thread. Therefore, the first bricks are laid in the corners using the building level. Then the ends of the thread are fixed on their surface.
  6. Filling the row, the bricklayer is guided by the stretched twine. If the surface of the brick does not reach the thread, it adds the thickness of the mortar. And when it exceeds in height, it removes the excess.
  7. A plumb bob is used to control the verticality of the corners.
  8. All other rows are stacked in the same way.

  In addition to differences in type, each masonry also has features from its location.

  Read more here.

  Partition inside a private house

  If the wall inside the room is not load-bearing, then a small thickness of the partition can be dispensed with. To do this, use on edge. That is, in this case, the bed looks out, and the spoon is placed on the base.

  It is not recommended to immediately expel the entire wall in height. Due to the small area of ​​​​support, the brick can float. Lay out half of the wall, give the mortar time to harden, and then finish the job.

  Read about the laying of brick partitions in this article.

  External walls of the building

  As already mentioned, for the construction of external walls , well masonry is used. Most often, the outer partition in it is made decorative. To do this, choose the type of masonry you like, and the work is done with facing bricks.

  Clinker types of artificial stone are best suited for decorative finishes. Due to the special production technology, their frost resistance and strength parameters are increased, and water absorption is reduced. In addition, the material has a very attractive appearance.

  When it is planned to sheathe the building with other decorative materials, sand-lime brick is used. It is cheaper than ceramic, since only pressing technology is used for its production. But it is not uncommon to find houses in which it is also used for decoration. A white wall with dark seams looks great.

  This article will tell you how the brickwork of the outer walls is carried out.

  Bearing

  Partitions, on which the floor slabs will be based, are made in three versions:

  1. Half-brick laying. Usually a wall thickness of 12 cm is enough for the load.
  2. In one brick. This option is enhanced.
  3. Laying in one and a half bricks is done in industrial premises.

  For such walls choose bricks marked M100 and above. How to determine, correctly lay out and insulate a load-bearing wall in a brick house, you can find out here.

  In the apartment

  If you need to make an additional partition in the apartment and brick was chosen for this purpose, then you can stop on the masonry on the edge . This will be more than enough to divide the room and build a solid wall.

  But if you need to create a partition for decoration, then you should use half-brick masonry. This wall looks great when decorating a loft-style room. And the spoon masonry acts as a leading accent in this design.

  How to erect, dismantle and insulate a brick wall in an apartment, read here.

  Basement

  The plinth belt must be secure and stable. Therefore, the brick for the basement is selected with the highest grade of strength.

  But since the room is characterized by increased vulnerability to the manifestation of the environment, then it is not recommended to use porous types of artificial stone . They absorb moisture very strongly and quickly fail.

  Sand-lime brick is completely unsuitable for partitions in the basement. The water accumulated in it freezes and the stone is severely destroyed.

  The best option is the use of solid ceramic bricks. But it is necessary to apply a brand not lower than M250. Clay in it is more plastic, and proper firing increases resistance to moisture. You can find out about laying brick walls for a cellar or basement here.

  In a sauna

  The characteristics of the room are such that the humidity in it rises to 100% . In addition, the temperature can rise above 100°C.

  But since the sauna is very rarely used every day, the walls can even freeze during off-hours (in winter). Therefore, a brick is needed that can withstand large temperature changes and absorb moisture to a minimum.

  Suitable for a partition in a bath:

  • clinker, also known as stove;
  • full-bodied facade;
  • soapstone.

  Porous types are absolutely not suitable. Therefore, using refractory fireclay bricks would be a mistake.

  Read more here.

  For the garage

  The capital building for long-term storage of equipment must be built of durable material. For these purposes, both silicate brick and ceramic types of stone are suitable. Also, the choice of the owner remains the decision on a full-bodied form or a hollow one. If you need a warm room, it is recommended to use porous types of bricks.

  More information in this article.

  Basic rules for creating openings

  Some difficulties can be encountered when creating an opening in a brick wall. When working, some points should be taken into account:

  • obligatory adherence to SNiP, as well as GOST;
  • if a hole is made in the central part of the wall and its width does not exceed 0.9 meters, then it does not need to be strengthened;
  • in all other cases, it is necessary to place a channel in the upper part of the opening.

  The steel structure, leaving its ends along the wall, will take on a significant part of the load and will not allow the opening to collapse.

  Read about openings in a brick wall in this section.

  Insulation

  The most popular heat insulators are Styrofoam or mineral wool.

  If the walls are covered with materials inside, then only decorative finishing is required. On the outer walls, the insulation will have to be protected from water.

  The best solution to keep the heat in the room is to build walls with well masonry. In this case, the insulation material will be located inside the wall and will be invulnerable to the external environment. Read more about how to insulate a brick wall here.

  Waterproofing

  Since the accumulation of water slowly destroys the brick, think in advance about ways to waterproof the wall. The most common method is to apply a protective layer of to the surface. First, the plane is primed to fill all the pores, and then covered with liquid rubber.

  Features and types of waterproofing of a brick wall from the inside and outside are discussed in this article.

  Installation of floors

  It is also necessary to follow the rules of SNiP when installing floor panels on brick walls. At the same time, you need to know that the end of the slab should only go to the load-bearing wall and to a distance of at least 10 cm if the wall height is higher than 2 meters and 20 centimeters.

  When the partitions are below this figure, it is allowed to insert the panel only 8 cm.

  Varieties and rules for mounting floor slabs on a brick wall are discussed in this article.

  How to tie brick walls together?

  When an additional partition is created in an already built house, it must be tied to the main wall. Otherwise, the newly built one will be unreliable. The easiest way is to fasten to the reinforcement.

  To do this, holes for pins are drilled in the main wall. The inserted reinforcement is fixed with cement mortar. Its other ends are laid on the laid out row of a new wall, and then they are closed from above with the next masonry.

  The operation is performed every 5-6 rows. How to fix brick partitions to walls, read in this article, about strengthening brick structures – in this one.

  Repair of defects

  It happens that on a brick wall various defects appear:

  • cracks;
  • detachment of the plaster layer;
  • rust spots due to corrosion of embedded elements.

  The plaster is renewed, but all damaged plaster is removed first. Stains are cleaned either with special solutions, or with a simple metal brush moistened with water. After that, it is better to paint over the wall with a composition that prevents the occurrence of corrosion.

  Small cracks simply filled with grout . When their width has already exceeded one centimeter, it is better to use construction foam. It will help to get rid of vertical defects.

  For large horizontal cracks, it is necessary to place anchors in them along the entire length, tie them together, and only then fix them with mortar. And in some cases, only a partial re-laying of the wall will help.

  Read about screeding brick walls here, about repairing brick structures here.

  Dismantling

  For dismantling, use the electric tool . The easiest way to demolish the wall is with a jackhammer. You need to start from the top rows, gradually going down.

  But it is possible to dismantle part of the partition without affecting the neighboring sections. To do this, a piece of the wall is sawn out by a grinder using a diamond cutter.

  How and what is the price of dismantling a brick wall per m2, you can find out here.

  Conclusion

  Brickwork can provide the building not only beauty, but also the necessary strength. With a well-manufactured process the building will stand for more than one century and will still be attractive. This is confirmed by many cultural monuments that have survived to this day.

  In order for the built house to be not afraid of time and cataclysms, certain conditions must be observed. Use only high-quality bricks, and observe the necessary technologies during the construction of the masonry. And then the building will please the eye for a long time, both its owner and his descendants.

  GOST thickness. brickwork. The nuances of building walls from hollow bricks Laying walls from hollow bricks

  Home > Insulation > Brick wall: thickness according to GOST. brickwork. The nuances of building walls from hollow bricks Laying walls from hollow bricks

  Another name for hollow bricks
  
  
  – slotted
  
  , perforated
  
  and efficient
  
  . He received such names due to the presence of slots in his body – voids, it is by them that it is quite easy to distinguish a hollow brick from an ordinary building brick. This feature is not a decorative element or an unreasonable desire of the builders. Voids have a special, moreover, very important function, so it is worth understanding this in more detail.

  Significant temperature fluctuations quite often occur throughout the year in almost the entire territory of our vast country. In winter, we have a blizzard and terrible frosts, and in summer we sometimes do not know where to go from the exhausting heat. But, of course, everyone wants their house to be protected from any external discomfort, so builders are forced to thicken the walls in order to at least achieve better thermal insulation of houses. Well, if the wall should be thicker, then, accordingly, more bricks should go, and this negatively affects the total cost of the object being built.

  The use of hollow bricks

  In addition, it has already been proven by practice that the thicker the walls, the more they put pressure on the foundation structure, which can have a very detrimental effect on the results of construction, and often simply dangerous. However, solving this problem was not so difficult. Today, for the laying of load-bearing walls and partitions, not ordinary ceramic bricks are used, but hollow bricks
  
  .

  Differences between hollow and ceramic bricks

  Main differences between hollow and ceramic bricks
  
  
  building analogue are reduced thermal conductivity and lighter weight. That is, the walls of such bricks are much thinner and lighter, which does not negatively affect its basic properties to absorb heat and sounds. Also, hollow brick walls, when compared with a full-bodied ceramic version, practically do not lose their strength over time.

  Advantages of hollow brick

  In addition to the ease of use of hollow bricks for construction work, a number of other advantages can be distinguished
  
  
  . When building walls from it, much less material is spent, costs are also reduced, because the need for material and fuel is reduced, and the likelihood that there will be a shortage of hollow bricks is reduced to almost zero, which cannot be said about solid bricks, because its production time is much less.

  Hollow brick features

  The material from which hollow bricks are made is fusible clay. In order to distinguish a hollow brick from a solid brick, you do not need to have special knowledge. After all, the main difference is the presence of slots in the slotted brick. Slots come in various shapes – from a circle to a square, but the most common brick with narrow rectangular slots. Narrow slots ensure that the masonry mortar cannot clog in them, therefore, the useful properties of the brick will remain the same. On average, slots in the total volume of hollow bricks are 36%, the minimum figure is 13%, the maximum is 1/2. The average indicator is considered the most favorable for maintaining the basic performance properties of hollow bricks, but the larger the volume of slots, the lower the strength of the brick.

  Strength of hollow brick

  In terms of strength, hollow brick is quite suitable for laying walls
  
  
  and interior partitions. What cannot be said about the possibility of laying foundation elements or load-bearing walls from it – it cannot be used here. For such purposes, a solid brick is better suited, which has the ability to withstand heavy loads. Well, in general, hollow brick is an environmentally friendly and inexpensive building material, it has excellent performance characteristics and is almost universal.

  Despite the intensive development of building technologies and the emergence of new building materials, brick is still the most popular and in demand. The explanation is simple: it has unsurpassed performance and durability. A brick wall erected in accordance with all the rules, the thickness of which is calculated taking into account the type and purpose of the building, can last for tens or even hundreds of years.

  Advantages of brick

  First of all, brick is a very reliable material. If it has the right thickness and is made in compliance with the technologies, it can easily withstand significant loads from floors and roof structures. In addition, this building material has such qualities as low thermal conductivity, good sound insulation, high resistance to deformation and bending.

  Brickwork designed according to established standards does not require a massive foundation and will have excellent load-bearing capacity.

  Standard indicators of brick wall thickness

  The thickness of the walls of the building can vary in a fairly significant range – from 12 to 64 cm. In addition, such walls can guarantee maximum strength even for residential buildings up to 5 floors high. The thickness of brick walls, according to GOST, for buildings within this number of storeys located in temperate climate zones, is at least 51 cm, and this is a two-brick laying.

  Choosing the type of masonry

  When choosing the thickness of the masonry, the following factors must be taken into account:

  . In addition to the number of storeys of the building, the functional significance of the masonry plays an important role, that is, it is necessary to decide whether it will be an external brick wall, or internal load-bearing or non-bearing walls.

• Climate conditions
  . During the construction of any building, a prerequisite is its ability to provide the necessary temperature indicators. In other words, when a brick wall is erected, its thickness should be such that it does not freeze and retain heat in the room during the cold season without the use of heaters.
• Strict compliance with standards
  . The calculation of a brick wall must be carried out in strict accordance with the current state standards, so that the structure is completely safe during operation.
• Aesthetics
  . Different types of masonry look different. Thin masonry looks the most elegant.

Types and functional purpose of various masonry

• Internal load-bearing brick walls must be at least 25 cm thick. This corresponds to the length of one brick.
• Partitions that serve to divide the room into zones, according to established standards, can have a thickness of 12 cm (half-brick masonry). Additional rigidity is given to such structures by reinforcing the seams with ordinary wire.
• In regions with cold winters, keeping the heat in the living quarters is a priority. In such cases, the optimal thickness of the brick wall is 64 cm. It should be noted that the total mass of the building increases, so the foundation must be more powerful.
• When building structures in the southern regions, a masonry scheme of 1.5 bricks is quite applicable.
• For the construction of sheds and other utility rooms, a sufficient thickness of the masonry is one brick.

Brick dimensions

The modern building materials market offers different types of bricks:

• Single. Dimensions: length – 25 cm, width – 12 cm and height – 6.5 cm.
• One and a half – 25 x 12 x 0.88 cm.0026

From an economic point of view, one and a half and double bricks are the most efficient options. Their dimensions allow the construction of load-bearing walls or the plinth of buildings of great thickness using less mortar than is required for the construction of similar structures from single bricks. It is advisable to build internal non-bearing partitions from half or single bricks. According to current standards, the minimum thickness of internal brick walls should be 1/20-1/25 of the height of one floor. For example, with a floor height of 3 meters, the internal walls must be at least 15 cm thick.

Parameters depending on the correct calculation of the thickness of brick walls

• Strength, stability and reliability of the structure
  . It should be noted that when a load-bearing internal or load-bearing brick wall is being built, its thickness must be sufficient to ensure the stability of the house. At the same time, the walls must withstand not only the weight of all floors and ceilings, but also the negative external influence of natural phenomena, such as rain, snow and wind.
• Building durability.
  This parameter is provided by many factors, including the correct selection of materials, compliance with construction technologies, taking into account the characteristics of the soil and climate, etc. However, the thickness and strength of the walls come first in this list.
• Thermal and sound insulation.
  When a brick wall is erected, its thickness must be calculated in such a way that it can optimally provide insulation from external sounds and cold. Thus, the thicker the walls, the more effectively they protect against these factors. However, taking into account the cost of building materials, it is simply not rational to build walls thicker than the standards for certain climatic zones provide.

Types of bricks

According to their structure, bricks are divided into hollow and solid.

Hollow brick has air pockets. Less material is used for its manufacture, so the cost of such products is lower. At the same time, the strength of a hollow brick is not worse than that of a solid one, and the heat-saving properties are even higher due to the presence of air voids.

Solid brick is a more expensive option than hollow brick. It is characterized by high strength characteristics and low thermal conductivity.

Selection of the optimal masonry thickness

It would seem that it is enough to make the walls thicker, and the issues of sound insulation and heat preservation in the future house will be resolved. However, it should be noted that in addition to external brick walls in buildings of a large area, internal load-bearing walls, as well as non-bearing walls, must also be erected. The thickness of these structures must be in a certain ratio with the parameters of the external load-bearing walls. Thus, the calculation of the thickness of all planned walls should be made at the design stage of the house, and not during the construction process.

When choosing the optimal thickness of external walls, the following factors are taken into account:

• features of the climatic zone;
• characteristics of the location of the future building;
• size and layout of the house;
• construction budget.

It should be understood that the thickness of the outer walls cannot be less than 38 cm, which corresponds to a laying of one and a half bricks. In cold climates, the recommended masonry thickness is 51-64 cm.

Ways to reduce the thickness of load-bearing walls while improving thermal insulation

Any person planning to build their own home is concerned about the cost of the issue. The natural desire is to reduce the cost of this process, but to do it in such a way that the savings do not affect the durability, reliability and thermal insulation properties of the building.

There is such a way. This technology is called well-shaped masonry. Its principle lies in the construction of load-bearing walls in two rows, between which there is an empty space of 25 cm, which is then filled with a certain porous material. As such a placeholder use:

• lightweight concrete;
• slag;
• organic insulation;
• expanded clay;
• Styrofoam.

This design of load-bearing walls reduces the amount of bricks required, reduces the total weight of the building, and increases the level of sound and heat insulation. The walls are thick, strong and reliable.

Additional thermal insulation

To create an insurmountable barrier to the cold, it is recommended to build a ventilated facade using special thermal insulation panels, various cladding materials or plaster.

When finishing the outer wall with facing bricks, it must be insulated from the inside. This operation is performed according to the following scheme:

• The inner surfaces of the load-bearing outer walls are sheathed with insulation.
• A vapor barrier film is mounted on the insulation layer.
• The resulting structure is covered with a reinforcing metal mesh and plastered (plasterboard can be used as an excellent alternative to plaster).
• The final stage is the decorative finishing of the interior walls. The choice of finishing materials is determined only by the taste preferences of the owners of the house.

This technology provides the house with high performance while reducing construction costs. Using the well-shaped masonry of the external load-bearing walls, followed by additional insulation, it is possible to reduce the initial cost of the object by an average of 20%.

Brick
is a durable, strong material with high fire resistance. Brick is the most common building material with a size of 250x120x65 mm, excluding tolerances of 3-5 mm. Bricks are laid with a long side (25 cm) along the facade (along the wall) and are called spoons or short – across the wall and are called pokes. The gaps between bricks filled with mortar are called seams. The normal thickness of the horizontal seam (between rows) is 2 mm, vertical (between bricks) is 10 mm. The use of much thicker joints is extremely undesirable, because this reduces the heat-shielding qualities and strength of the wall and violates the modularity of dimensions.

In cottage construction, solid bricks are used, ordinary or clay red, burnt, with a volume weight of 1700-1900 kg / m3 and less expensive silicate or white (bulk weight – 1800-2000 kg / m3). For the convenience of work, the weight of one (solid) brick is from 3.2 to 4 kg. The thickness of homogeneous (solid) brick walls is always a multiple of half a brick and is built in 1/2; one; l/2; 2; 2/2 bricks, etc. Given the thickness of the vertical joints of 10 mm, brick walls have a thickness of 120, 250, 380, 510, 640 mm or more.
Brick is inferior to many materials in terms of its heat-shielding qualities, for example, at an estimated outdoor temperature of -30 ° C (central part of Russia), external walls made of solid brick of continuous masonry should have a thickness of 640 mm (2/2 bricks), which is 2.5 -3 times more than wooden ones.
Domestic industry produces mainly six types of bricks.
Ordinary solid brick, usually red, has frost resistance, porosity from 6-8% to 20%.
The porosity of a brick determines the strength of its adhesion to the masonry mortar, the thermal conductivity of the walls and the absorption of moisture when the weather changes.
Ordinary brick usually has an unattractive rough surface, as a result of which the internal and external walls built from it must subsequently be plastered.
Hollow brick
– for the construction of external walls with increased heat-insulating ability. Colour:
pale red, dark red, brown, yellow.
Hollow brick is used to reduce wall thickness. The presence of voids in brick reduces the need for raw materials, transport costs, facilitates firing, and increases frost resistance. In order to reduce the consumption of bricks, reduce the mass of walls and the load on the foundation, external walls can sometimes be completely laid out from hollow bricks.
Hollow brick
is made with through and non-through round, slit-like, oval or square voids. Due to the fact that the diameter of the through voids does not exceed 16 mm, and the slot width is 12 mm, during the masonry process, the mortar slightly fills the voids, and the masonry has a reduced thermal conductivity. A brick can be of plastic or semi-dry pressing: with plastic pressing, a brick is made with through voids, and with semi-dry – with non-through ones (it is also called five-walled and laid with voids down).
Facing brick – for almost all types of outdoor work. The color, depending on the raw material, ranges from light yellow to dark red. Withstands water and frost.
Some types of facing bricks used for exterior decoration of stoves, fireplaces, have beautiful ornaments imprinted on the outer surface, giving them an additional decorative effect.
With the use of facing bricks, the cost of walls increases, but the difference is approximately equal to the cost of plastering the facade.
Facing bricks of light colors, yellow and cream, from light-burning clays are beautiful, the color of already fired bricks is largely influenced by the content of various compounds in the clay, and above all iron oxide.
A peculiar aesthetic effect is achieved by using profile face bricks. In the old days, profile bricks were obtained by hewing ordinary bricks or in special forms.
Figured brick – mainly for exterior decoration. Color – red-brown, has high frost and moisture resistance.
Figured brick is usually used for exterior decoration of the house.
Foreign firms offer a wide range of figured bricks of various shapes and colors.
Glazed brick – for facing internal and external walls. Color is a range of colors.
Glazed brick refers to facing bricks and is intended mainly for original cladding. Glazed bricks are obtained by adding various chemical solutions to the clay mass, which form a colored vitreous layer during the firing of raw materials. Moreover, the decorative layer has good adhesion to the bulk and has increased frost resistance.
In terms of its main properties, glazed bricks are similar to clinker ceramics, however, compared to other types of facing bricks, they are the most fragile, which greatly limits their scope. It is interesting to use it for various kinds of panels and mosaic paintings both on the facades of houses and indoors.
Ceramic clinker modular brick used for exterior wall cladding. Color: white, gray, light black, red, low moisture absorption, heat-resistant, frost-resistant.
Features of ceramic clinker brick are its frost resistance (withstands at least 50 heating-cooling cycles), heat resistance, low moisture absorption (0.2%). This is achieved both by the choice of raw materials and by a special firing technology (at a temperature of 1800°).
Brick has smooth end walls, like ceramic tiles, and a non-standard size – larger than ordinary facing bricks (in this regard, it is called “modular”). Therefore, due to the smaller number of required bricks in the wall being built, it is possible to reduce the laying time.
To reduce the consumption of bricks, reduce the mass of walls and the load on the foundation, the outer walls are laid out from hollow brick or solid, but with the formation of voids, wells, the use of heaters, warm mortars, etc. masonry with the formation of closed air gaps 5-7 cm wide. At the same time, brick consumption is reduced by 15-20%, but external plaster is required. The air gaps are filled with mineral felt, polystyrene foam. It is also effective to use warm masonry mortars based on aggregates from slag, expanded clay, tuff, etc.
The most common economical construction of external masonry brick walls, in which the wall is actually laid out from two independent walls half a brick thick, interconnected by vertical and horizontal brick bridges to form closed wells. Wells in the course of masonry are filled with slag, expanded clay or lightweight concrete. This solution protects the insulation well from external influences, although it somewhat weakens the structural strength of the wall.
With solid masonry, it is economical to install brick walls with external or internal insulation. In this case, the thickness of the brick wall can be minimal, based only on strength requirements, that is, it can be equal to 25 cm in all climatic regions, and thermal protection is provided by the thickness and quality of the insulation. When the insulating layer is located from the inside, it is protected from water vapor by vapor barrier, when it is located outside, it is protected from atmospheric influences by a screen or plaster.
Brick walls have a large thermal inertia: they warm up slowly and also cool down slowly. Moreover, this inertia is the greater, the thicker the wall and the greater its mass. In brick houses, the temperature inside the premises has slight daily fluctuations, and this is the advantage of brick walls. At the same time, in houses of periodic residence (dachas, garden houses), such a feature of brick walls in the cold season is not always desirable. A large mass of cooled walls requires a significant fuel consumption each time for its heating, and sharp changes in temperature inside the premises lead to moisture condensation on the inner surfaces of brick walls. In such houses, it is better to sheathe the walls from the inside with boards.
Internal load-bearing walls are usually laid out of solid (clay or silicate) bricks. The minimum thickness of the internal load-bearing walls is 25 cm, the section of the pillars is at least 38×38 cm, the section of the walls is at least 25×51 cm. Under heavy loads, the load-bearing pillars and walls are reinforced with a metal mesh made of wire with a diameter of 3-6 mm in three to five rows in height .
Partitions are laid out with a thickness of 12 cm (in half a brick) and 6.5 cm (brick “on edge”). With a length of partitions laid out “on edge”, more than 1.5 m, they are also reinforced with wire through two or three rows in height.
Facades are best faced with facing ceramic bricks. In appearance, texture and tolerances in size, it is of the highest quality.
Brick walls are usually laid out on cement-sand, cement-lime or cement-clay mortars. Cement-sand mortar with any brand of cement turns out to be unnecessarily strong and rigid, therefore it is better if lime or clay dough is added to it. The solution from such an additive will become plastic and conveniently stackable, and the consumption of cement will decrease by 1.5-2 times.
Lime dough, used as an additive to cement-sand mortar, is prepared from slaked lime. If there is quicklime in the form of separate pieces (boiler) or powder (fluff), it must be extinguished with water in a creative pit lined with boards and kept in this state for at least two weeks. The longer the exposure time, the better. The uniformity of the composition and the strength of the lime paste increase with prolonged exposure.
Clay dough for masonry mortars is also advisable to prepare in advance. Pieces of clay are soaked in water and kept in this form until they are completely spread for three to five days. Then water is added, mixed, filtered, after settling, excess water is drained and used.
Clay dough has an unlimited shelf life.
The strength of the wall is ensured by bandaging the seams. There are two suture dressing systems – single-row chain and multi-row, multi-row mixed dressing is also possible.
With single-row knitting, the bonded rows also alternate.
Two-, three-, six-row masonry dressing systems are more common.
The strength of brickwork, made with bandaging of vertical joints in each row or after three to six rows, is almost the same. It increases significantly if, regardless of the masonry system, in horizontal joints, through three to five rows, a reinforcing mesh with cells 6–12 cm wide is laid from wire with a diameter of 3–6 mm.
Masonry with three-row diaphragms and, of course, mixed masonry were widely used in individual construction.
Facade cladding, as already mentioned, is made with ceramic bricks (stone), but this can also be successfully done with thickened bricks with voids and, finally, with concrete stone.
Of undoubted interest is lightweight masonry with horizontal diaphragms.
This masonry consists of two parallel walls 1/2 brick thick, connected every five rows of masonry by horizontal bond rows. The latter are sometimes replaced with bars of reinforcement 6 mm thick, which are laid every 50 cm of the wall length. The ends of the bars are bent at a right angle. The total length of the bars should be such that they are in the masonry at a depth of 8-10 cm.
When erecting such walls, first lay out two walls at a height of five rows. Then the space between them is covered with dry fillers or poured with “warm” concrete (adobe) in layers of 15 cm thick and everything is thoroughly compacted. The last layer is leveled at the masonry level.
If the diaphragms are brick, then whole bricks are placed on the mortar from the bottom and top sides, ensuring their strong bonding. In order to protect the rods used from rusting, in the backfill against the places where they are laid, furrows with a depth and width of 3-4 cm are chosen with a trowel. The same furrow width and length of 5-6 cm is chosen near the walls. Both those and others are filled with a solution (preferably cement, composition 1:4 or 1:5) to such a height that the reinforcement to be laid is recessed in it either by half its thickness, or completely. After removing the first row, the bars are covered from above with a layer of mortar of the same thickness. Then five more rows are laid, the filler is poured or the mortar is poured, bars are laid, etc. In the course of laying, every two rows, the voids are filled with “warm” concrete on light aggregates. by 25-30% and reduces the need for bricks.Lightweight masonry is acceptable when building houses no higher than two floors.
For a three- to four-story mansion, brick-and-concrete anchor masonry is recommended.
It consists of two parallel brick walls, in the space between which lightweight concrete is laid. Bonded bricks protrude inside the masonry into concrete and are a kind of anchors connecting concrete and brick into a single structure. The blind parts of the walls can be connected every 2-3 m with continuous vertical diaphragms 1/2 brick thick.
The list of masonry types should be supplemented with the most durable – English – dressing, in which the spoon and poke rows alternate through the row. That is, the bricks of two rows adjacent in height lie crosswise with respect to each other.
With Flemish binding, spoon and bond bricks alternate in one row.

Depending on the building material used, the walls of the house are divided into brick, concrete, frame, wood, stone and others. The most common in Russia are
brick walls
.

Types of brick walls

There are two types of brick walls: and
– choose a subtitle or read about.

Solid brick walls, thickness

It is better to start laying from the corners, raising them by 7-8 rows, and then laying walls between them. It is necessary all the time to ensure that the rows are laid exactly horizontally, as well as the correct dressing. Before laying the brick, it is advisable to moisten its surface with water, this will provide better adhesion to the mortar. If in the future it is planned to plaster the wall, then the laying is carried out in such a way that the seams are not filled with mortar near the wall surface by about 1 cm.

Lintels are made using wooden blocks having a thickness of 10 to 15 cm. To do this, the ends of the bar are covered with a layer of roofing material or bitumen and deepened into the wall by about 20-25 cm.

It is also possible to make reinforced concrete lintels. To do this, you need to make a formwork corresponding to the thickness of the brick walls, and the length is 50 cm more than the width of the window or door opening. Further, a reinforcing mesh is placed in the formwork, raised on small hills. The solution with which the grid is poured must have a thickness of 7 cm with an opening having a width of less than 120 cm, with a larger width – 14 cm.

Brick hollow walls, thickness

Brick hollow walls
have the form of two walls half a brick thick, which are fastened with vertical tabs having the same thickness every 70-100 cm. The space between the walls is filled with slag or other materials used for insulation.

At the level, as well as at the bottom of the openings and at the top, horizontal brick lintels are made. Hollow brick walls have a thickness

at least 40 cm
, at frosts down to -15, if the air temperature drops to -20, then about 50 cm, and at lower rates, for example, -30, the thickness of the brick wall should be no less than 60 cm
.

The voids are filled with filler in layers measuring approximately 15 cm, each layer should be compacted, and after 3 layers pour cement mortar.

Brick walls are fire resistant, bio-resistant, strong and durable
. The construction of brick walls is justified.

If properly laid, the service life exceeds 100 years.

For 1-2-story houses, brick walls are usually preferred either with the use of effective perforated bricks, or solid bricks with insulation.

Solid brick application
for the outer walls of low-rise buildings made of solid brick with a thickness of more than 38 cm is not economically feasible and is only allowed for damp rooms (bathroom, laundry, bathhouse) with an air humidity of more than 75%.)

Internal load-bearing walls and partitions of 1-2-storey houses are laid out from solid
(clay or silicate) bricks of almost any brand produced by the factory, brick colors are not important

The thickness of the internal load-bearing walls is at least 25 cm
(one brick), section of pillars and walls not less than 25×38 cm.

Clay (red) brick without cracks and chips is used for laying ventilation and smoke ducts.

Brick partitions are laid out with a thickness of 12 cm (1/2 brick) and 6.5 cm (brick “on edge”)
. With a length of partitions laid out of brick “on edge”, more than 1.5 m, they are reinforced with wire with a diameter of 2-4 mm in 2-3 rows in height.

A special tool is needed to successfully lay brick walls:
trowel or plaster spatula for laying and leveling the mortar, a pick hammer for chopping and tee bricks, jointing for processing joints between bricks, ordering with divisions through 75 mm (with a joint thickness of 10 mm) or 100 mm (when concluding a “one and a half” brick height 88 mm and joint thickness 12 mm) to control the rows of masonry in height, a mooring cord that is pulled along the beacons between rows to maintain the strict horizontality of rows of brickwork, and a slope (weight) to check the verticality of the walls.

Walls are erected after foundations and plinth have been laid. If the base is brick, then the brickwork begins with it.

In all cases, the first rows of bricks are laid on the surface
, aligned vertically and horizontally with grout.

Fig. 1. The beginning of the brickwork of the outer walls with a protruding (a) and sinking (b) plinth: 1 – masonry, 2-waterproofing, 3 – plinth, 4 – galvanized steel drain.


If the brickwork starts above the level of the planning mark of the ground, then between it and the base (the upper edge of the foundation, basement or growth-work) waterproofing is laid from 1-2 layers of roofing felt or roofing material or from cement mortar 1: 2 2 cm thick.

With a protruding plinth around the perimeter of the house, a drain from galvanized roofing steel is arranged. Its top is covered with brickwork.

With a sinking plinth, there is no need to drain, but in this case the first overhanging row of bricks is laid “on the poke”.

For strength, the brickwork is carried out with bandaging of the seams, using not only the whole brick, but also its parts (3/4, 1/2, 1/4).

If necessary, to strengthen the bearing walls and pillars, the brickwork is reinforced with a mesh of wire 3-6 mm in diameter with cells of 5-10 cm in 4-6 rows.

If the brick wall for finishing is to be plastered on both sides, it is necessary to try to bandage the joints in each row in the longitudinal and transverse directions. No role for the interior

When laying grouted walls
dressing of face bricks is subject to the accepted pattern of brickwork, however, in this case, the facing row of bricks must be tied to the wall at least every five rows.

Various masonry schemes are used in construction.


One of the old patterns is chain laying with bandaging of seams in each row. This masonry requires a large number of 3/4 bricks and a highly skilled mason.

Much simpler brickwork with continuous bandaging of all joints in 4, 5 or 6 rows.

Fig. 2. Solid brickwork of external walls with a thickness of 250, 380, 510 and 640 mm with the formation of a right angle and quarters of window and door openings with chain dressing of seams.


As practice shows, under normal operating conditions, the strength of both masonry schemes is almost the same.

In cases where increased wall strength is required, the greatest effect is provided by horizontal reinforcement of the brickwork with wire mesh. For pillars with a section of 380 × 380 mm, a “basket” masonry option is possible with filling the middle part with mortar bricks.

If a vertical metal rod made from scraps of old pipes is placed inside, the strength of the post will increase significantly.

In low-rise construction, the walls are usually laid out with continuous masonry of effective (lightweight) bricks (perforated, slit-like, etc.). With insufficient frost resistance of such products, it is recommended to combine them with external facing masonry made of ordinary bricks or with wall cladding with facade tiles.

Fig. 3. The facades of brick walls during laying affect the design: a – chain b – with four-row dressing of seams c – with external cladding.


Air gap walls
are characterized by higher heat-shielding properties compared to solid masonry (by 15-20%) and are made using both solid and efficient bricks. With this type of masonry, the front (spoon) rows are tied with the main wall due to the laying of bricks in 4-6 rows of a bonder row or the installation of metal ties.

To prevent increased infiltration of outside air into the air gap of the wall, the facade of the building, as a rule, is plastered or jointed with external seams, strictly controlling the quality of work.

Fig. Fig. 4. Walls with air gaps made of ordinary and effective bricks: a – with metal ties; b – with brick ties.


The optimum structural wall thickness with a 50 mm air gap is 420 mm. The greatest thermal and economic effect is achieved when a solid brick wall is lined from the inside with heat-insulating boards made, for example, on the basis of wood waste (fiberboard, wood concrete, sawdust concrete), or light concrete slabs with a volume weight of up to 1000 kg / m3.

Fig. 5. Walls of well masonry: a – masonry of a deaf section of the wall, b – vertical section along the well; c – the angle of the outer walls: 1 – insulation, 2 – transverse walls 3 – longitudinal walls (versts).


Slabs of organic materials are installed along the beacons along the slope, inorganic insulation is attached to the wall directly on the mortar or inorganic adhesives.

With effective insulation, the thickness of the outer walls is chosen based on their bearing capacity. For 1-2-storey houses, it is 25 cm.

In order to save brick, the outer walls of 1-2-storey houses are sometimes made lightweight.

The most common type of lightweight masonry is the so-called “well” masonry with thin (1/2 bricks) vertical longitudinal and transverse walls. They often talk about it in my address

Wells formed by masonry are usually covered with slag
, expanded clay or other inorganic insulation.

Compared to solid masonry, lightweight masonry allows you to reduce brick consumption by 1. 5-2 times, but it is inferior to all other types of masonry in terms of strength and can be used in walls and piers, they do not experience such a heavy load as the main walls.

Physical and mechanical characteristics of bricks and their scope


Brick	Size, mm	Bulk density, kg/m3	Conditions of use
Clay ordinary plastic pressing	250x120x65	1700-1900	Unlimited
	250x120x65	1600-1800	Except external walls, bathroom without additional protection
Clay hollow plastic pressing		1200-1400	Unlimited
Same, semi-dry pressing		1100-1300	Excluding external bathroom walls without additional protection.
Construction light (triple)	250x120x65	900-1100	With cladding
Silicate	250x120x65 250x120x88	1600-1800	Except external bathroom walls without additional protection

Where is 1 brick wall thickness applied?

Table of contents:

• Why are brick buildings good?
• Wall thickness calculation
• How should brickwork be done?
• Masonry tools
• Advantages and disadvantages of brick walls
• How to build interior brick walls?

Brick is a popular building material with good strength. It has an excellent bearing capacity: a wall made of 1 brick (according to construction terminology) absolutely calmly withstands significant loads. On such a structure, you can fearlessly support ceilings made of concrete, reinforced concrete, wood, and install several floors on it.

Brick walls are one of the most reliable and durable.

Thicker walls, for example, 2 bricks, are usually constructed in order to increase the thermal insulation characteristics of the building or in order to improve the insulation qualities. This may be justified if the building is located near factories, highways, airports that produce a lot of noise, as well as under not the best climatic conditions in certain regions.

The good thermal conductivity of this building material allows the use of various options to improve the insulating qualities of the building. This is convenient in that you can determine the optimal load that will be placed on the foundation. Materials that can be used for additional thermal insulation of brick walls vary in weight. Due to the installation of materials for insulation, the load on the base increases. This means that the foundation will require an increase in strength, which will increase the construction budget. For most buildings, the construction of the foundation costs a third of the budget.

Table of characteristics of bricks for masonry and mortar proportions.

Brick has many advantages over other materials used for building walls. Among their advantages, as mentioned above, low thermal conductivity and good strength. But these excellent qualities are lost if the wall does not have an optimal thickness for operating conditions.

The thickness of the building wall is an important indicator that affects the quality factor of the built structure, its bearing capacity, and other characteristics of the structure, such as functionality, thermal insulation and vibration isolation, and the ability to protect against noise.

If necessary, you can use small calculations to determine what thickness should be chosen for the brick wall. According to the standards adopted in construction, the thickness of a wall made of ordinary brick is obtained corresponding to half of the product. The walls and the name are, depending on this parameter, half a brick, 1 brick, 2 bricks.

Of these, a half-brick wall has a thickness of 12 cm, 1 brick 25 cm, one and a half 38 cm, and the so-called wall of 2 bricks turns out to be 51 cm thick. concrete can be placed.

Table of characteristics of building bricks.

Usually, all the walls of the building located outside, as well as the bearing ones, are built in one and a half bricks or more. Partitions are built in half a brick or even a quarter, a construction of 2 bricks will not work.

The most economically advantageous is the implementation of a wall of 1 brick. But far from everywhere it is possible to build in this way due to seasonal temperature fluctuations, which can be quite sharp. It is possible in such cases to make another masonry, arrange an additional layer of thermal insulation, an air cushion. It is customary to carry out load-bearing walls with a greater thickness, and in some cases create additional reinforcement through reinforcement.

It is also possible to erect walls, the thickness of which will vary. When constructing a high-rise building, after laying out the walls of 5-6 floors, the width of the subsequent ones is often “cut off” by half a brick. This is done in order to reduce the load that the building exerts on the foundation and lower floors.

Wall thickness calculation

If you want to calculate the thickness for a future brick wall, the dimensions of a standard product are taken into account:

• width 120 mm,
• length 250 mm,
• thickness 65 mm.

Recommended thickness of solid masonry brick walls for residential buildings.

The weight of one cubic meter of brick is approximately 1800 kg. When making calculations, it is necessary to take into account the climatic features of the area where the construction is being carried out. For example, if in winter the temperature reaches -25 ° C, the width of the outer walls should be calculated as 51 cm (in 2 bricks) or 64 cm.

With this feature of building materials, it is easy to perform calculations and find out the estimated consumption of bricks for building a house. For example, construction is planned to be carried out in an area where severe frosts are common. At the same time, the building is planned to be erected without the installation of an insulating layer. In this case, the thickness of the walls should be 51 cm. This means that the masonry should be made 2 bricks thick.

Knowing the length and height of the structural element of the building, it is easy to calculate the area for each separately. Next, we find out the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe brick and calculate the amount of material that will be required to build a wall with specific parameters. The amount calculated for one of them, multiply by the weight of one brick, you get the weight of the wall.

1 m³ of brick has a weight of 1800 kg. If we take the weight of the wall as X, we can calculate the required amount of building material (Y): X / 1800 = Y (m³). If you find out the price of bricks, and it can be different depending on the suppliers, then you can very simply calculate the total amount that the construction of the building will cost.

How should brickwork be done?

Brick is a unified building material that has been used in construction for many years. The most popular single, with dimensions of 250X120X65 mm. When building, thickened modular bricks are also used, their dimensions are slightly different and amount to 250X120X88 mm. Indicators such as length and width are the same for different types of bricks. The base size is considered to be a length of 250 mm. In order to calculate the thickness of the masonry, it is necessary to build on it.

Brickwork techniques.

Masonry, which the builders call 1 brick, has a thickness of 250 mm. Bricks in such a masonry will not fit one next to the other. With this method of laying, the wall will not be stable. Individual elements in it will be held only by the solution, whose binding power may not be enough. Laying is carried out in accordance with certain rules. Among them is ensuring the correct dressing for connecting sutures that are placed vertically. It is necessary to ensure that the bricks of the upper row overlap the vertical connecting seams between the bricks in the lower row. When dressing, not only the strength of the walls increases, but the loads are distributed more evenly.

When laying in 1 brick, both the butt and spoon sides of the bricks can be turned outward. Compared to half-brick or quarter-brick walls, they won’t be as strong. The construction is not particularly economical, more material will be used up, and a lot of mortar will be used.

Basically, such masonry is used for load-bearing walls. For others, you can choose one and a half or two bricks. From the point of view of heat conservation, buildings made in this way have a greater inertia.

Masonry tools

For work you will need:

• bricks,
• building level,
• plumb,
• binding solution,
• Nylon cord, the length of which must exceed the length of the wall being erected by 40 cm,
• trowel,
• brick cutter,
• ordering,
• stitching.

Tools for masonry.

For masonry, you can use different types of dressings:

• ligation of the transverse joints prevents the bricks from moving along the wall,
• ligation of vertical sutures,
• ligation of the transverse seams will prevent the wall from delaminating vertically. And the load along the length of the wall is more uniform.

Wall laying in 1 brick is carried out according to a single-row or multi-row system.

When choosing a single-row system, one row of bricks is laid out so that the spoon surface “looks” outward. The next row is laid out with the bonding part of the bricks. Transverse seams should be shifted by ¼ bricks, longitudinal by 1/2.

With a multi-row dressing system, the alternation of rows laid with the spoon part outward with those laid with the butt part outward will go through not one, but several spoon ones. For such a system, there are certain rules of alternation. For single-type bricks, masonry is used in 6 uniform rows, which are tied with a bond row.

With thickened products, the number of spoon rows changes to 5, then there is a row of bonded arrangement. The system, called single-row, can be used when the thickness of the walls is less than the length of the brick. Multi-row is used for walls at least one brick thick. With such a connection, it is possible to ensure the strength of the wall and evenly distribute the load inside it.

Advantages and disadvantages of brick walls

Options for dressing brickwork.

A wall folded into 1 brick is capable of withstanding quite significant loads, provided that they are evenly distributed over the surface.

Like other building materials, bricks have both advantages and disadvantages. For example, heat-shielding qualities in comparison with wooden walls are not particularly good. A 16-20 cm thick wall built of wooden building materials is able to maintain the same temperature in the building as 64 cm brick walls.

It turns out that in order to ensure a normal temperature regime in the building, the walls must be laid out as thick as possible. But when they are made with a thickness of more than 1 brick, the consumption of expensive building materials is very large. An example would be a 2 brick masonry. Therefore, to reduce costs, builders resort to various tricks: for example, they use hollow bricks. Another option is to make two masonry in 1 brick and arrange an air cushion between them, where the insulating material will be placed. At the same time, the walls are supposed to be plastered with a special composition based on concrete, the so-called warm plaster. That is, a thick brick wall will be economically unprofitable only if it is solid.

When laying bricks, it is necessary to monitor the thickness of the joints, the maximum thickness of which should not exceed 15 mm.

When thickening the walls and the foundation, you will need a stronger one, which will lead to additional costs. Therefore, when building a house, they try to turn to the manufacture of air cushions. The space between the masonry should be at least 5 cm. With such a wall arrangement, even with its small width, heat is well preserved inside the house, and material consumption becomes 15-25% less.

Another way to reduce the width of brickwork is to insulate it using felt. At the same time, the efficiency of the walls in terms of retaining heat will be increased by 30%. If the felt is replaced with foam, the efficiency can be increased by a factor of 2 or more. In order to keep warm, other materials can be used: sawdust, tuff, mortar with filler in the form of slag. The use of such materials will help increase the heat-shielding characteristics of the building by 15%.

The most economical of the wall structures is masonry, made in the form of a well. It consists of 2 half-brick walls, which are located at a short distance from each other and are interconnected in a special way. The connections are made as horizontal and vertical brick bridges that form closed wells. They will need to be filled. Expanded clay, slag, lightweight concrete are suitable for this.

When choosing what the thickness of a brick wall should be, it should be borne in mind that this material has a high degree of thermal inertia.

That is, a wall made of ordinary material will slowly heat up, but it will also cool very slowly. Temperature fluctuations in houses built of such bricks per day will be insignificant. But with a large wall thickness (for example, 2 bricks), it will take a lot of fuel to warm it up, especially if the building has been without heating for a long time in cold weather, as happens with country houses.

How to build interior brick walls?

The scheme of insulation of a brick wall from the inside.

Usually the internal walls are laid out from solid bricks. If the width of the walls is 25 cm, for the support you will need to make columns with a side length of 38 cm. When constructing piers, the wall thickness is the same, and the pillars should have a side 51 cm long. If the load on the piers in the piers is large, it is better to reinforce. Reinforcement is carried out by installing steel reinforcement with a diameter of 3-6 mm.

With a small length of partitions (up to 1.5 m), you can lay them out in half a brick. It is necessary to lay bricks on a layer of mortar. The gaps filled with mortar between bricks are called “seams”. Their thickness should be less than 12 mm. The joints can be filled with mortar completely, that is, up to the outer edge of the masonry. You may or may not fill them all the way. In order to improve the appearance of the filled joints, they are most often given a concave or convex shape.

For masonry, a mortar is used, prepared from cement and sand, cement and lime, and sometimes from cement with clay. For interior walls, a cement-sand mortar is not the best choice, because when it hardens it turns out to be too strong, regardless of the brand of cement chosen. It is better to choose clay or lime for the additive. The solution is more plastic, in addition, it is more economical in spending.

With the correct implementation of all stages of work, a strong house is obtained that will last for many years. Many developers prefer brick as a building material for building houses. The structure turns out to be reliable, warm, the price is not particularly expensive, and there are plenty of good craftsmen who can perform high-quality masonry.

Brickwork – technology, features of different types

The strength and durability of a brick building are equally dependent on the quality of the material and the quality of the masonry. Consider the main features of the technology of building brick houses.

Brickwork: for strength and beauty

Brickwork can be building and facing.

Construction masonry is the construction of foundations, walls, partitions, supports and other structural parts of buildings and structures. There are no aesthetic requirements for this type of masonry. Everything must be strong and reliable. Therefore, it is made of ordinary building (working) bricks. Its lateral faces have a rather rough surface, they can be smooth, corrugated, often even with various small defects.

Facing masonry, on the contrary, performs primarily decorative functions. A special facing (front) brick is used here. Its faces necessarily have the correct geometry, various relief finishes and colors.

When constructing functional structures, only masonry is used. Cladding is used to decorate the facades of residential buildings, administrative and cultural buildings. As a rule, it is combined with masonry in multi-layer structures. A variant is possible when, with continuous masonry, the outer row is laid out of facing bricks.

Brick for every laying

When designing a house, choosing and buying materials, it is important to choose the brick that best suits your needs.

Ordinary building bricks can be solid (solid or with small technological voids) or hollow (slotted).

To ensure the reliability and durability of the structure, it necessarily has a high density – M150, M200 and M300 (M125 is acceptable for low-rise buildings) – and frost resistance (F50, F100). The size of the working brick can be standard (single or 1 NF, 250×120×65 mm). There is also one and a half (1.4 NF, 250 × 120 × 88 mm) and double (2.1 NF, 250 × 120 × 138 mm). For the convenience of masonry, all dimensions are multiples of the standard and can be combined depending on the parameters of the building.

The cladding brick is always outside and absorbs all atmospheric influences. Therefore, high demands are placed on him not only in terms of external beauty, but also in terms of physical parameters. It should have low water absorption (8–12%) and high frost resistance (F50, F75, F100). The cladding does not carry a high load, so the facing brick is always made hollow, and its density can be M150, M175, M200. The sizes also differ: in addition to the standard and one and a half, there is a “euro” format – 250x65x85 mm.

Brick wall options

When building walls, the following masonry options are possible:

• Solid – the wall is a solid array. This is the usual building masonry from working bricks;

• Multi-layer – the wall consists of two parallel walls: internal and external. The inner wall is made using the continuous masonry method and carries the main structural load. The outer wall performs the functions of decorative design and additional insulation. It is built from facing bricks. A small gap is left between the walls, where the heat-insulating material is placed;

• Facing – plays the role of decorative design and additional insulation. It is carried out as an external solid wall of facing bricks.

Masonry thickness

One of the main parameters of a brick wall is the masonry thickness. It largely determines the strength and thermal conductivity of the structure. The thickness is measured along the long and end faces of the brick.

Masonry of a solid wall of one and a half, two and even two and a half bricks is used in the construction of load-bearing walls, supports and other durable structures.

In one brick (250 mm, long edge or spoons), partitions and load-bearing walls of small low-rise buildings are laid.

Half-brick, that is 125 mm (end face of a brick or poke) – this is the thickness of non-bearing walls, interior partitions and facing masonry. Even a quarter thickness (65 mm) is acceptable here, when the brick is placed vertically on the edge (spoons). In order for the masonry to retain the necessary strength, a reinforcing mesh is laid every few rows or flexible connections are arranged.

Bonding of rows

Regardless of the thickness of the masonry, individual bricks are placed on the mortar. It ensures their connection into a single whole. But this does not provide the necessary strength of the wall.

Joints between bricks are the weakest point of any wall. If you just lay the bricks on top of each other, then very soon the upper rows will begin to diverge in different directions. In order to ensure the solidity of the entire structure, the laying is carried out with a bandaging of the rows, that is, with the displacement of the bricks relative to each other. In this way, the displacement of the seams is also achieved, and the load is distributed over large areas and more evenly.

When dressing, alternate rows of spoon (the brick lies with a long edge (spoon) to the front side of the wall) and bonded (short end edges (poke) are facing the front side) rows. In each subsequent row, the bricks are rotated 90 degrees relative to the lower, already laid, row. The first and last rows of masonry must be bonded from whole bricks.

The simplest and most common type of dressing is single-row (chain). With it, spoon and tychkovy rows alternately alternate. Outwardly, the pattern of seams on the front side of the wall resembles chain links.

Multi-row dressing of sutures is more difficult. Here are several spoon rows, and then one tychkovy. The spoon rows themselves are also placed with dressing. For this, incomplete bricks are used.

Bonding required when building corners and joining walls.

Laying technique

The process of laying bricks in rows also has its own variations: The technique is mainly used for hollow bricks – for example, in facing masonry. A fast-setting hard mortar is used here. The solution is laid close to the edge of the wall, it is raked with a trowel to the previously laid brick, the new brick is pressed against the trowel and pulled up. Squeezed out excess solution is removed. Vertical seams are completely filled, the masonry is very dense and durable, but the process takes a long time;

• “Vrysyk”. This technique uses a more plastic solution. The time of work with the mixture increases, and you can immediately lay out bricks in the entire thickness of the wall. The solution is applied further from the edge of the wall. They take a brick, bring it to the already laid one and press it against it. At the same time, the solution is raked up with its edge without using a trowel. As a result, the solution is not squeezed out onto the front side of the wall. Masonry goes faster, but vertical seams are not completely filled. The strength of the masonry is reduced. The voids are filled when laying the next row;

• “Butt with undercut”. A combination of the first two methods, intermediate in performance. A solution of medium plasticity is used. It is laid close to the edge of the wall, as with the “press” technique. But the brick is laid in the “butt” way, raking in the mortar with it. This speeds up the process, but the seams are rough, the solution is squeezed out. They have to periodically “embroider”, that is, to level the surface.

Types of cladding

The main function of facing masonry is decorative. It is designed to decorate and make the facade of a brick building unique.

There are many ways to lay the front decorative layer of bricks. The result is a beautiful pattern. It can be made up of several elements at once: a geometric pattern of seams, a combination of colors, shapes and textures of the surface finish of facing bricks.

Relief masonry looks very beautiful and unusual, when individual bricks protrude from the front plane of the wall or, on the contrary, are deepened into it, forming complex geometric shapes and ornaments. You can even lay bricks in “waves” and protruding corners.

There are many ways of ordinary decorative masonry with offset seams: “path”, “block”, “chain”, “bump”, “cross”, “Gothic”, “Dutch”, “Flemish”, “Bavarian”, “Brandenburg ”, “Silesian”, “English”, “Lipetsk”, “chaotic” and others. In a number of these types of masonry, there are also various subspecies.

The use of this technique makes the facade of the building very impressive and original.

Read articles on the topic: colors of facing bricks, types of building bricks.

Thickness of a brick wall in a permanent residence

Brick is considered one of the best building materials for building a permanent home. It has many advantages – strength, aesthetics, reliability, durability – many times superior to other building materials. However, there are also disadvantages, among which the most significant are high thermal conductivity and cost. Because of this, when building brick houses for permanent residence, there is always an acute question about the thickness of the walls – how to build so that housing is warm, durable, reliable, but not “golden” in price.

What influences the thickness of a brick wall?

There is no escape from the high cost of a brick house. Compared to today’s popular wood or aerated concrete projects, prices are three to five times higher. Nevertheless, building with brick is beneficial given its unique and uncompromising advantages. No other house will be as strong, reliable and durable as a brick one. And, what is important, without reservations and marketing cunning.

Let’s briefly analyze what the thickness of the walls of a brick house affects.

1. Energy efficient – the thicker the warmer. Looking ahead, it is worth noting that no one builds the notorious ideal brick walls one and a half meters thick. But, unfortunately, this is the only way to build a house for permanent residence that does not need insulation.
2. The cost of construction – with an increase in the thickness of the brickwork, the estimate grows due to the high cost of building materials and the services of masons.
3. Construction period – unlike wooden and aerated concrete houses, brick projects are not implemented quickly. The terms are additionally stretched with an increase in the thickness of the walls.
4. Durability – here the thickening of the masonry works to increase profits, and there are also minimum standards that cannot be lowered.
5. The load on the foundation is the most important parameter for a brick house, since this building material is very heavy. Construction requires a capital foundation, the cost of which is sometimes a third of the total estimate.

From the above, it is clear that you need to look for some kind of golden mean, otherwise the house will cost prohibitively expensive.

Calculation of brick wall thickness

Wall thickness during construction varies by changing the masonry configuration:

• in half a brick – 120 mm;
• in one brick – 250 mm;
• in one and a half – 380 mm;
• in two – 510 mm;
• in two and a half – 640 mm.

As a rule, no one builds thicker than 640 mm, as the construction is prohibitively expensive. Moreover, for regions with a temperate climate, walls of 2-2.5 bricks are considered optimal. This is if we consider the issue of energy efficiency.

As for strength, for a private house of one or two floors, laying one and a half bricks is enough. This corresponds to a thickness of 380 mm. For interior partitions, half-brick laying is sufficient.

Savings in building brick houses

Since a brick wall with a thickness of 640 mm, at its high cost, will still not provide adequate energy efficiency, the following technologies are used to increase the latter: which is several times lower than that of a brick. For these purposes, expanded clay, foam balls, foam concrete are used.

Hollow brick application – such a building material has a lot of advantages. Firstly, it is warmer, as there are air cavities inside. Second, it’s lighter. Thirdly, it is not inferior in strength to solid bricks.

Insulation of walls from the inside is a rarely used technology, but when there is no way out, the walls in the rooms are sheathed with environmentally friendly thermal insulation and finishing material – plasterboard, plastic, tile, wood.

Wall insulation from the outside is the most profitable way to save on the thickness of the walls of a brick house. There are several technologies that can significantly increase the energy efficiency of housing. Even if the brickwork has a minimum thickness for strength.

When calculating the thickness of brick walls for a permanent residence, it is important to strike a balance between cost, strength and energy efficiency. Since various thermal insulation materials have become very affordable today, almost no one builds thick walls. The optimum thickness is taken to be the minimum that provides the desired bearing capacity, and then additional insulation is performed.

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