In the last technical post I discussed the structural basics of brick veneer: what holds it up, what holds it on, and what help does it provide. In this post I look into why the brick veneer above fell off… Read More
Category Archives: Masonry
What is Brick Veneer?
What is brick veneer? And why is it laying on the ground in the featured photograph? Brick veneer is in essence a masonry siding, which has been set separate, that is, with an air space (commonly called a cavity), from… Read More
Clay Brick Expansion – It is Real
I just attended a webinar about movement joints in masonry. The topics included the different types of movement joints (isolation, expansion, and contraction); why the need for movement joints; and where to place movement joints. I’ve been designing, detailing, and… Read More
You Can’t Do THAT
We have been told by some masons that a new concrete block wall can’t be toothed into an existing concrete block wall. Well…… Yes and No. Apparently, it can be done, as shown in Figure 1. However, since the new… Read More
Corrugated Brick Ties
How well do those corrugated brick ties perform over time? Not too well. The wall fallen in the featured photograph exhibited severely corroded ties that contributed to the failure of the brick veneer (Figures 1 and 2). The wall was… Read More
What Can We Tell from This Photo? (Case Study 14)
The feature photograph was taken of a chimney that had been clad with manufactured stone veneer. This photograph provides helpful information regarding the cause and history of the damage. From this photo we observe the following: There is no waterproof membrane… Read More
What is a Lintel and What is Lintel Lift (or Rust Jacking)? (Encore)
For thousands of years the openings in brick and stone (masonry) walls have been topped with an arch to provide support for the masonry above. In arch construction, the masonry that forms the arch, is generally wedged in place. The… Read More