The reward in masonry work comes from the finished product; which in the case of restoration work; looks like the repaired area has always been there. In the case of new, or replacement work; the design results in a flawless, and uniform texture and appearance of the materials.
It has been said that it takes 10, hours to become an expert in most fields of work. In masonry work, depending on the degree that one chooses to learn the various elements involved; an apprentice can easily require five to seven years to achieve proper training and practice.
When one considers the cost of performing masonry work to a superior standard; one truly gets what they pay for. Although the work is hard, a skilled mason makes the work look easy. A skilled mason has the ability to earn an exceptional living based on the degree of skill that they may have. Still in North America; few young people are flocking to the trade. It is obvious to most that the common materials used in masonry work involve bricks and stone.
John Price brick refers to a common red, fired clay brick which is no longer produced. Although a close alternative has recently been re-introduced, they do not precisely replicate the original colour and texture. Therefore; if undertaking a restoration project, sourcing reclaimed bricks which are historically correct, could take some effort and represent a premium material cost due to the nature of sourcing, cleaning, and shipping such product to the site.
Veneer masonry is masonry work used mainly for aesthetic purposes. This type of masonry does not support a structure. When earth freezes, the water in it expands as it turns to ice, and that can generate enough force to lift or heave a building, cracking the rigid masonry material. On top of that stable ground, masonry walls are built on footings. In most cases, footings are concrete structures, although beds of compacted gravel or crushed stone can work as well.
The width of a footing varies with the weight it will support and the bearing capacity of the soil it rests on. Most footings are about half as deep as they are wide, which provides enough depth for the footing to act like a beam in supporting the load. Concrete slabs , as well as stone or brick walkways, must also be supported on solid ground, but rather than having a concrete footing, they rest on a base of crushed stone. Like a footing, crushed stone helps distribute the weight of, say, a car wheel, to the ground below.
The stone also provides drainage, and a more or less even surface for the masonry above to rest on. It also allows the concrete, stone, or brick above it to move laterally ever so slightly.
The concrete used for slabs and footings is a mixture of gravel, sand, and Portland cement. Portland cement is a combination of clay and limestone fired at a very high temperature and then ground to a fine powder. Water is added on-site. That being said, restoration can be as simple as cleaning and sealing the masonry, or as complex as tearing down and rebuilding it.
It all depends on how old the building is, how good the original construction was, and how much damage has been done over time. For one, masonry increases the thermal mass of the building, making it easier to regulate the temperature inside.
At the same time, masonry is not flammable, so a masonry building is not as susceptible to fires at least on the outside. Masonry is also very stable, and provide a surprising amount of sound proofing, creating a very quiet, peaceful interior.
Moreover, the durability of masonry means that the building will last for a long time. Masonry is resistant to mold, as well. In short, there are relatively few disadvantages, with the exception of labor and the time it takes to repair to restore it.
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