Masonry Flashcards
What are the two basic types of masonry walls?
Barrier walls and cavity walls.
What is a wythe in masonry?
A vertical layer of masonry units one unit thick.
What is a course in masonry?
A horizontal row of bricks.
What is a stretcher brick?
A brick laid with its long face parallel to the wall.
What is a header brick?
A brick laid with its end face showing to tie wythes together.
What is running bond?
A brick pattern where each course is offset by half a brick.
What is common bond?
A pattern combining running bond with periodic header courses.
What is a cavity wall?
A masonry wall with an air gap between the veneer and the structural wall.
Why use a cavity wall instead of a barrier wall?
To manage water penetration by allowing moisture to drain out through weep holes.
What is flashing in masonry construction?
Material used to collect and redirect water to weep holes.
What are weep holes?
Openings at the bottom of masonry walls to allow moisture to escape.
What is a rope weep system?
A rope inserted into a weep hole to wick water out of the wall.
What are the structural elements of a CMU block wall?
Stretcher units, rebar, and grout.
What is a bond beam?
A U-shaped CMU filled with grout and rebar to act as a structural beam.
What is efflorescence?
White powdery deposits caused by water-soluble salts left behind after evaporation.
Why are concave and single strike joints preferred?
They prevent water from sitting on the mortar, reducing freeze-thaw damage.
Why should tops of masonry walls be protected?
To prevent excessive water infiltration and structural degradation.
What is the function of steel angles in veneer walls?
To support the brick veneer above openings and at each floor.
What is self-corbeling in masonry?
The ability of a running bond wall to transfer load around openings through overlapping units.
How do masonry ties work in cavity walls?
They connect the veneer to the backup wall, allowing some movement but preventing separation.
