Masonry

The masonry is art to build a Construction by assembly of dependant elementary objects in a nonreversible way. It is the art of the mason by definition. By extension one also associates under the term “masonry” work of preparing of the units: pose Enduit S, of tilings, etc, which not only have an esthetic goal but take part in the behavior of the whole vis-a-vis the external aggressions (moisture, freezing, etc). A product which reflects this association more and more is the acrylic resin stucco which replaces the traditional stucco made starting from lime. N.B. : The term Maçonnerie (with a capital letter) can also indicate the Franc-maçonnerie.

Advantages

the use of materials like brick and the stone can increase the thermal mass of a building, getting a comfort increased in the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter. These materials are perfect for passive solar applications.
In general, the brick and the stone do not require to be painted and can thus provide a structure having a reduced cost of life cycle, although a painting suitably carried out reduce the risk of appearance of glares under the effects of freezing. The breeze block or " agglo" nondecorative variety generally is painted or coated.
the aspect, especially if it is very neat, can give to masonry an impression of solidity and duration.

Disadvantages

the bad weather, in particular freezing, can involve degradations on the surface. This kind of degradation is frequent for certain types of brick, but rare enough for the breeze blocks and the stone. So of brick (containing clay) must be employed, one will take care to choose bricks being appropriate for the climate in question.
masonry must rest on a stable foundation (reinforced concrete, stones of foundations, or natural rock). On grounds with dilation, this foundation will have to be very neat and one will be able to call upon an engineer in RDM.

Materials

constructions are made up different Matériau X:

the elements body

mineral materials: the stone, the brick, the Concrete block, etc
materials organic: ground, the Cob, etc
vegetable materials: the Straw, the Peat, etc

the binders

The binder is the material being used to carry out a mortar. It can be lime (hydraulic natural or of synthesis), Ciment, Plâtre.

the Chaux is flexible containing limestone, used since millenia. It enters the composition of the mortars to build, and can be also used only with water, for painting. It is also useful in agriculture.
the Cement, introduced by Louis Vicat into first half of the 19th century, will be very much used thereafter because of its great mechanical capacities.
the Plaster.

the mortars

the mortar of lime consists of lime, sand and water; or of lime, ground and water. It is used to build, coat, generally associated with the stone, with brick, sometimes with cob.
the mortar cement consists of cement, sand and water. It is him also used to build and coat, generally with element of its strength class. It is especially used for to assemble of the breeze blocks.
the mortar known as bastard consists of lime, cement, sand and water.
the adhesive is a " mortier" recent, used with the bricks monomurs.

the concretes One calls Béton a composite construction material manufactured starting from aggregates (sand, fine gravels) agglomerated by a binder:

the concrete of lime consists of lime, sand, gravel and water.
the concrete of hemp consists of lime, hemp, sand, and water.
the concrete cement consists of cement, sand, gravel and water.

Applications

the stone dries

The masonry term with dry stones applies to walls carried out without any mortar of connection. It was formerly used to build partition walls of agricultural pieces or supporting of field terraces (slope) and cottage S with use of seasonal or temporary dwelling or tighten-with-tools or of barn.

solid brickwork
La solid brickwork out of lime or cement concrete, without steel reinforcements, tends to have applications very limited in the modern construction of walls. So of such walls can be completely economic and suitable in many applications, sensibilié to them to the earthquakes and collapse is a problem which one cannot be unaware of. That made that the not reinforced blank walls tend to being low and thick.

One can note that the cob masonries are often in solid brickwork. Sometimes a lattice out of wooden comes to arm them.

See too

Cement
HQE (Environmental High-quality, applied to construction)

External bonds

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