Bricks for Homes and Buildings
Bricks are blocks of clay that have been hardened through being fired in a kiln or dried in the sun. Over time, kiln-fired bricks have grown more popular than sun-dried bricks, although both are still found worldwide. Bricks have been in continual use for around 5000 years, and brickwork from this time still stands in the Middle East, a testament to its durability.
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and tile. Masonry is generally a highly durable form of construction. However, the materials used, the quality of the mortar and workmanship, and the pattern in which the units are assembled can significantly affect the durability of the overall masonry construction.
Bricks for building may be made from clay, shale, soft slate, calcium silicate, concrete, or shaped from quarried stone. However, true bricks are ceramic, and therefore created by the action of heat and cooling. Clay is the most common material, with modern clay bricks formed in one of three processes – soft mud, dry press, or extruded. Bricks are used for building and pavement. In the USA, brick pavement was found incapable of withstanding heavy traffic, but it is coming back into use as a method of traffic calming or as a decorative surface in pedestrian precincts. For example, in the early 1900s, most of the streets in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan were paved with brick. Today, there are only about 20 blocks of brick paved streets remaining.
The best way to learn the art of bricklaying is through hands-on experience, and there\’s no better place to start than with a basic freestanding brick wall. The wall described here is built in the common or American bond pattern, a pattern that is very and easy to lay. The wall is built in two wythes or tiers and can be safely built up to 3\’; for a wall above 3\’, steel reinforcement is required. Reinforcing can be either rods inserted into the group after it has stiffened slightly or ties laid across two wythes to help hold them together. If you are panning to build a wall more than 3\’ high, it is best to consult your local building codes for exact specifications and techniques.
Bricklaying Terms. Before beginning any of the bricklaying projects, study the following terms and their definitions. This will help you understand the various brick positions and patterns, as well as the typical mortar joints used. Bull Header. A rowlock brick laid with its longest dimensions perpendicular to the face of the wall. Bull Stretcher. A rowlock brick laid with its longest dimension parallel to the face of the wall.
Clay brick manufacture uses energy but the investment of embodied energy is repaid by the longevity of the material. Clay brick homes have a long life, low maintenance requirements and are highly recyclable making them a potentially sustainable form of construction. Clay bricks can often be reclaimed for re-use when a building is demolished. After cleaning they can either be directly re-used as bricks again, or they can be crushed for making path and road surfaces. Because of their inert, inorganic nature, another use for crushed clay bricks is as part of the mix for the growing medium of extensive green roofs.
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