Masonry
One of the oldest building crafts, using stone, brick, and mortar.
Masonry is the craft of building structures with stone, brick, concrete, or similar materials, bound together with mortar. It is one of the oldest building crafts, predating written history, and includes the construction of Egyptian pyramids, Roman aqueducts, and medieval cathedrals. A person who constructs masonry is called a mason or bricklayer, sometimes colloquially a "brickie." The common materials include bricks, building stone, granite, marble, limestone, cast stone, concrete blocks, glass blocks, and adobe. Masonry is generally highly durable, but its longevity depends on the materials, the quality of mortar and workmanship, and the pattern in which units are assembled. Early structures relied on the weight of the masonry itself to resist lateral movement. Since the mid-20th century, steel-reinforced elements have been added to carry tension in thin, tall buildings. Masonry has both structural applications—such as walls, columns, beams, foundations, and load-bearing arches—and non-structural ones like fireplaces, chimneys, and veneer systems. Brick and concrete block are most common in industrialized nations and can be load-bearing or non-load-bearing. Concrete blocks, especially hollow-core ones, offer high compressive strength and are suited to light transverse loading when unfilled; filling cores with concrete or reinforced steel greatly increases tensile and lateral strength. Advantages include increased thermal mass, non-combustibility, and resistance to projectiles like hurricane debris. Disadvantages include degradation from freeze-thaw cycles, heavy weight requiring stable soil, and difficulty in mechanization, demanding skilled labor. Masonry walls rely on their weight for stability, with blocks only loosely connected by mortar, making them vulnerable to earthquake damage. Dry set masonry relies on friction between interlocking blocks and can forgo mortar entirely. Stonework includes ashlar masonry (dressed stones) and rubble masonry (irregular stones), both of which may be coursed or uncoursed. Slipform stonemasonry creates a hybrid wall of reinforced concrete with a rubble stone face. Natural stone veneers over concrete masonry units or poured concrete are common, as are manufactured-stone veneers made from concrete. Brick walls consist of multiple vertical layers (wythes) with stretcher and header bricks arranged in bonds like common, Eng
- field
- Construction trade
- known_for
- Building with stone, brick, concrete blocks, and mortar; structural and non-structural applications
- materials
- Bricks, building stone, granite, marble, limestone, cast stone, concrete blocks, glass blocks, adobe
Lore & Background
Masonry has been practiced since before written history, with early structures relying on the weight of the masonry itself for stability. Over time, techniques evolved with architectural needs and cultural norms. Since the mid-20th century, steel-reinforced elements have been used to carry tension in modern thin, light, tall building systems. Masonry has both structural applications—such as walls, columns, beams, foundations, and load-bearing arches—and non-structural applications like fireplaces, chimneys, and veneer systems. Brick and concrete block are the most common types in industrialized nations. Concrete blocks, especially hollow-core ones, provide great compressive strength and can be filled with concrete or steel reinforcement for greater tensile and lateral strength. Disadvantages include degradation from freeze-thaw cycles, heavy weight requiring stable ground, and limited mechanization. Masonry walls perform poorly in earthquakes due to reliance on weight and loose mortar connections. Dry set masonry relies on friction between interlocking blocks and can forgo mortar entirely.
Reader's Guide
Masonry's significance lies in its ancient origins and continued use as a durable construction method. It has shaped monumental architecture from Egyptian pyramids to medieval cathedrals and remains essential for modern buildings. The craft offers advantages such as high thermal mass, fire resistance, and projectile resistance, but faces challenges from extreme weather, earthquake vulnerability, and labor intensity. The evolution of masonry includes reinforced concrete blocks and serpentine walls for added stability. The wide variety of brick styles and concrete masonry units allows diverse appearances, from uniform modern walls to rustic, artistic styles. Masonry's legacy is its adaptability across millennia, balancing traditional techniques with innovations like steel reinforcement and surface-bonding cement.
Did You Know?
- Masonry is one of the oldest building crafts, even predating written history.
- A crinkle-crankle wall is a serpentine brick wall that resists toppling more than a straight wall.
- Concrete blocks with hollow cores can be filled with concrete and steel rebar for greater tensile and lateral strength.
- Dry set masonry can forgo mortar entirely, relying on friction between interlocking blocks.
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