He started as a masons apprentice at the age of 16 and spent the next fifteen years learning the details of masonry craft. Whether tiny or grand, all jobs are equally important. So again, thank you for all of your hard work. Properly installed stone masonry is a one time investment. Add a natu more...
The height of stones used in never less than their breadth and their length never less than twice their height. The portions in between the drafts in roughly tooled. The bond should be sound both transversely and longitudinally. The stones to be used in this masonry are of different sizes and sh more...
Beams carrying live loads should not rest upon stone lintels. Corbel stones Other green man variations include heads buried in vine scrolls or with leaves sprouting from their mouths. These too have a very long provenance in architectural stone decoration, especially on capitals. English mediev more...
When building a wall, the ashlar blocks are laid in horizontal courses, or layers. V joints and the wall above with plain ashlar masonry to give the base of the wall an appearance of strength. It is therefore important for the engineer to understand the different finishes to which stone is dress more...
Masons are those who work primarily in brick, stone and often concrete. It can take decades before mortar needs repointing. It can be quite decorative depending on the mason doing the building.4. That’s good for the environment… and it’s good for business. Masonry is inherently strong and more...
Obviously it is important to get this first layer level, in line, and plumb, as the rest of the wall is established by this first course. No mortar is used and the blocks fit in one position only. One would naturally suppose that the value of a building material depends less on appearance than on i more...
This bond permits better alignment and as such it is used for walls curved on plan. A wall having continuous vertical joints does not act as a homogeneous mass to distribute the superimposed load. Defective arrangement of bricks reduces the strength and durability of the structure. Brick BondsSpe more...
Slipforming is the process of using forms on both sides of the wall as a guide for the stonework. Stonemasons work with natural and artificial stone. Knowing how to refurbish different types of structures is also important, particularly for masonry professionals who specialize in restoration. Most more...
Ashlar masonry units can be cut intosquared shapes. Course rubble masonry is used for the construction of public and residential buildings. The dressing of the stone need not be very accurate on all sides. Ashlar stones are rectangular, cuboid blocks. The joints between them are very thin, reg more...
Describe the difference between a rainscreen and a weep screed, and the principles of drainage planes. With careful attention to details, the illusion of natural stone can be maintained using this handcrafted and hand-placed material. A recent trend includes the use of manufactured stone in contemp more...
There are moments of exhilaration and days of despair. But, while the initial idea of adding landscaping services may be appealing, there are many factors to consider if it’s a good match for the long-term. If the panel is gone, make sure whoever installed it works with the rest of the crews to more...
Bricks remain stable and color-fast and do not need to be rendered or painted. Brick also won’t catch fire, rot or be eaten by termites. Water is stone masonry’s worst enemy because freeze-thaw cycles can cause cracks. This is a future problem that will need fixing. Architectural blocks are an more...
Slipforming makes stone work easy even for the novice. Environmental changes and security risks menace stone masonry structures, potentially exposing them to irreversible structural damage and loss because of age and fragility. Granite is somewhat manageable, and is used where great strength or re more...