Recognition

Masonry Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are 101 Masonry Facts that answer some Frequently Asked Questions.

  • FACT 1 Many of the world’s significant architectural achievements were built with masonry.
  • FACT 2 Masonry is resistant to fire, earthquakes, and sound.
  • FACT 3 Masonry can be designed to reduce maintains cost.
  • FACT 4 The skill and precision of the mason can never be replaced by machines.
  • FACT 5 Architects and builders choose masonry for its beauty, versatility, and durability.
  • FACT 6 Brick is man’s oldest manufactured product.
  • FACT 7 Sun-baked clay bricks were used in buildings over 6,000 years ago.
  • FACT 8 Brick is composed of shale and clay.
  • FACT 9 Brick is fired in kilns of approximately 1093 degrees Celsius.
  • FACT 10 Cavity walls were developed to reduce water penetration problems.
  • FACT 11 Concrete blocks are composed of cement, sand, and lightweight aggregate.
  • FACT 12 When exposed to fire, masonry does not burn, melt, twist or warp.
  • FACT 13 Masonry is one of the most environmentally friendly building system available.
  • FACT 14 Masonry construction requires less insulation than other building systems.
  • FACT 15 Masonry is slow to absorb or lose heat.
  • FACT 16 Masonry can be easily recycled.
  • FACT 17 Masonry does not emit toxins during a fire.
  • FACT 18 Masonry materials do not emit volatile gases.
  • FACT 19 Masonry buildings have been known to last for hundreds – even thousands – of years.
  • FACT 20 Masonry materials come in hundreds of colours and decorative finishes.
  • FACT 21 Masonry offers great design versatility.
  • FACT 22 Over 70% of the buildings in the world are built of masonry.
  • FACT 23 Masonry structures can have lower insurance costs than non-masonry structures.
  • FACT 24 Masonry materials are made entirely or primarily of natural ingredients.
  • FACT 25 Masonry materials include clay brick, concrete masonry units and stone.
  • FACT 26 Brick homes command an average higher resale price than non-brick homes.
  • FACT 27 Masonry guidelines ensure that structures are built to resist fire, hail and wind.
  • FACT 28 Masonry buildings show little distress from impact of flying debris during storms.
  • FACT 29 Masonry’s life cycle is unsurpassed by any other building material.
  • FACT 30 Masonry enhances the occupants’ comfort and health.
  • FACT 31 Masonry is fireproof, and water and insect resistant.
  • FACT 32 Masonry is virtually impervious to the ravages of time and weather.
  • FACT 33 Masonry is a natural insulator.
  • FACT 34 Masonry is anything constructed of the materials such as stone, brick or block.
  • FACT 35 Masonry is resistant to mould.
  • FACT 36 Masonry is one hundred percent durable.
  • FACT 37 Masonry does not support mould growth.
  • FACT 38 Masonry does not provide a food source for mould spores.
  • FACT 39 Masonry limits moisture penetration.
  • FACT 40 Masonry is a skilled trade that takes much time, effort and talent to learn.
  • FACT 41 Masonry allows for more creativity and flexibility in designing projects.
  • FACT 42 A mason knows different patterns, textures and colours to create a beautiful product.
  • FACT 43 Every brick and block must be laid by hand, and requires the skill of a tradesman.
  • FACT 44 Masons must be able to read architectural and structural documentation and understand specifications.
  • FACT 45 Masonry has been used for more than 6000 years.
  • FACT 46 The Australian standard brick size is 76 x 110 x 230mm.
  • FACT 47 The Australian standard block size is 190 x 190 x 390.
  • FACT 48 Masonry will not decay or rot if exposed to mould.
  • FACT 49 Masonry structures provide durable fire resistance.
  • FACT 50 A mason is a tradesman who works with stone, block or brick.
  • FACT 51 Ancient Egyptian mortars were made from burned gypsum and sand.
  • FACT 51 Ancient Egyptians used horses and carriages to carry supplies up scaffolding.
  • FACT 53 The Great Pyramid of Giza is over 5,000 years old and uses 2,300,000 blocks of stone.
  • FACT 54 Masonry can be protected from graffiti.
  • FACT 55 Masonry boasts an impressive compressive strength (vertical loads)
  • FACT 56 Masonry such as bricks, blocks and stones can increase the thermal mass of a building and can protect the building from fire.
  • FACT 56 Types of masonry typically will not require painting and so can provide a structure with reduced life-cycle costs.
  • FACT 57 Masonry is a non-combustible product.
  • FACT 58 Masonry walls are more resistant to projectiles, such as debris from hurricanes or tornadoes.
  • FACT 59 Masonry structures built-in compression preferably with lime mortar can have a useful life of more than 500 years as compared to 30 to 100 for structures of steel or reinforced concrete
  • FACT 60 Masonry must be built upon a strong foundation.
  • FACT 61 Glazed concrete masonry units are manufactured by bonding a permanent coloured facing (typically composed of polyester resins, silica sand and various other chemicals) masonry unit, providing a smooth impervious surface.”[citation]
  • FACT 62 Masonry happens to be one of those professions that was one of the first in the history of construction.
  • FACT 63 Masonry is regarded as a traditional skill.
  • FACT 64 Masonry buildings can be built to increase safety by reducing fire damage, such as the use of fire cuts during construction.
  • FACT 65 Masonry framing offers the ultimate in safety, strength, durability and habitability.
  • FACT 66 Resistance to fire termites
  • FACT 67 Resistance to sound transmission from traffic and other noise sources
  • FACT 68 Sheer mass and weight of concrete masonry walls can reduce sound penetrating.
  • FACT 69 Lower homeowner maintenance costs since masonry won’t rot, peel or flake.
  • FACT 70 A reduction in energy bills.
  • FACT 71 Savings on homeowner’s insurance premiums.
  • FACT 72 Environmentally friendly since concrete block can be manufactured from recycled materials.
  • FACT 73 Weather Resistant
  • FACT 74 Masonry Exterior Walls that will hold up to heavy storms, U.V. degradation, blistering heat, and sub-zero temperatures.
  • FACT 75 Termite Resistant – Exterior walls made of masonry means there’s no wood to eat.
  • FACT 76 Masonry Protects from Rotting, Mould & Fungus.
  • FACT 77 Masonry plays a large role in significantly reducing or eliminating the build-up of fungus and mildew between interior and exterior walls.
  • FACT 78 Masonry homes are healthier for its inhabitants.
  • FACT 79 Masonry homes are also nearly air-tight, making them allergy resistant.
  • FACT 80 Superior Sound Proofing
  • FACT 81 Masonry reduces noise better than traditional building materials, resulting in a quieter home environment.
  • FACT 82 Virtually Maintenance Free – When used in its natural form, masonry provides lasting beauty that requires considerably less maintenance than other building materials.
  • FACT 83 Masonry, combined with ‘thermal mass’ insulation systems, stores more energy, it stays warmer in winter and cooler in summer, reducing electric consumption.
  • FACT 84 Masonry provides higher levels of security.
  • FACT 85 Masonry Environmentally-Friendly “Green” Products
  • FACT 86 Masonry products play a large role in ecologically responsible building methods.
  • FACT 87 Masonry is recognized by government programs as a contributor to green building status.
  • FACT 88 Masonry products are earth-friendly, they do not deplete precious natural and limited resources.
  • FACT 89 Increased Resale Appeal – There’s a widely-held opinion, that masonry homes offer a greater resale value than other forms of construction.
  • FACT 90 Inherently Natural Ingredients.
  • FACT 91 Brick is predominantly made from clay and shale, which are among the most abundant materials available on earth.
  • FACT 92 Countless Recycling Options.
  • FACT 93 Masonry can be salvaged, crushed for sub-base materials, and chipped for permanent landscaping mulch.
  • FACT 94 Minimal Waste.
  • FACT 95 Virtually all of the clay that is mined out of the ground is used in the manufacturing process making the recycling and waste containment unequalled by others.
  • FACT 96 Manufacturers re-use most of their own fired waste material or convert it into other products.
  • FACT 97 No special handling required because brick is simply earth, so it’s inert.
  • FACT 98 Low Embodied Energy to Manufacture Brick.
  • FACT 99 No additional energy will be needed to make a replacement brick for many decades or centuries.
  • FACT 100 Many brick buildings older than a century are still in use today.
  • FACT 101 Brick is one of the few materials that are allowed to be reused in a building.