Masonry Masonry TerminologyTerminology

Mr. LarsonMr. Larson

06-0706-07

Unique termsUnique terms The masonry industry uses many The masonry industry uses many

terms that have no meaning or use terms that have no meaning or use to the general public. Terms that are to the general public. Terms that are almost comical.almost comical.

Head jointsHead joints Bed jointsBed joints Hog in the wallHog in the wall Frog in the brickFrog in the brick Butter your earsButter your ears Burning the jointBurning the joint

More common termsMore common terms Admixtures:Admixtures:

• Materials added to Materials added to mortar to impart special mortar to impart special properties to the properties to the mortar.mortar.

Anchor:Anchor:• A piece or assemblage, A piece or assemblage,

usually metal, used to usually metal, used to attach building parts to attach building parts to masonry or masonry masonry or masonry materials.materials.

AnchorAnchor

BackupBackup: the part of a masonry wall : the part of a masonry wall behind the exterior facing.behind the exterior facing.

BatBat: A piece of brick.: A piece of brick.

Bed jointBed joint: The : The horizontal layer of horizontal layer of mortar on which a mortar on which a masonry unit is masonry unit is laid.laid.

BondBond::• Tying various parts of a masonry wall by Tying various parts of a masonry wall by

lapping units one over another or by lapping units one over another or by connecting with metal ties.connecting with metal ties.

• Patterns formed by exposed faces of units.Patterns formed by exposed faces of units.• Adhesion between mortar or grout and Adhesion between mortar or grout and

masonry units or reinforcementmasonry units or reinforcement..

Interlocking masonry bond

Bond BeamBond Beam: course or courses of a : course or courses of a masonry wall grouted and usually masonry wall grouted and usually reinforced in the horizontal direction. reinforced in the horizontal direction. Serves as horizontal tie of wall, Serves as horizontal tie of wall, bearing course for structural bearing course for structural members or as a flexural member members or as a flexural member itself.itself.

BrickBrick: a solid masonry unit of clay or : a solid masonry unit of clay or shale, formed into a rectangular shale, formed into a rectangular prism while plastic and burned or prism while plastic and burned or fired in a kiln.fired in a kiln.

ClayClay: a natural, mineral aggregate : a natural, mineral aggregate consisting essentially of hydrous consisting essentially of hydrous aluminum silicate; it is plastic when aluminum silicate; it is plastic when sufficiently wetted, rigid when dried sufficiently wetted, rigid when dried and vitrified when fired to a and vitrified when fired to a sufficiently high temp.sufficiently high temp.

ButteringButtering: placing : placing mortar on a masonry mortar on a masonry unit with a trowel.unit with a trowel.

CloserCloser: Last masonry unit laid in a : Last masonry unit laid in a course. It may be whole or a portion course. It may be whole or a portion of a unit.of a unit.

CourseCourse: One of the continuous : One of the continuous horizontal layers of units, bonded horizontal layers of units, bonded with mortar in masonry.with mortar in masonry.

DripDrip: a projecting piece of material, : a projecting piece of material, shaped to throw off water and shaped to throw off water and prevent its running down the face of prevent its running down the face of wall or other surface.wall or other surface.

EarsEars: the ends of a stretcher block : the ends of a stretcher block where the head joint is formed; found where the head joint is formed; found only on stretcher block that do not only on stretcher block that do not have square ends.have square ends.

Efflorescence:Efflorescence: a powder or stain a powder or stain sometimes found on the surface of sometimes found on the surface of masonry, resulting form deposition of masonry, resulting form deposition of water soluble salts.water soluble salts.

FaceFace: : • The exposed surface of a wall or The exposed surface of a wall or

masonry unit.masonry unit.• The surface of a unit designed to be The surface of a unit designed to be

exposed in the finished masonry.exposed in the finished masonry.

FlashingFlashing: a thin impervious material : a thin impervious material placed in mortar joints and through placed in mortar joints and through air spaces in masonry to prevent air spaces in masonry to prevent water penetration and/or provide water penetration and/or provide water drainage.water drainage.

FrogFrog: a depression in the bed surface : a depression in the bed surface of a brick. Sometimes called a of a brick. Sometimes called a panel.panel.

GroutGrout: Mixture of cementitious : Mixture of cementitious material and aggregate to which material and aggregate to which sufficient water is added to produce sufficient water is added to produce pouring consistency without pouring consistency without segregation of the constituents. segregation of the constituents.

High lift Low liftHigh lift Low lift

Head JointHead Joint: The vertical mortar joint : The vertical mortar joint between ends of masonry units. between ends of masonry units. Often called cross joint.Often called cross joint.

Hog in the WallHog in the Wall: The trade term : The trade term describing a masonry wall that is describing a masonry wall that is built to the same height on both ends built to the same height on both ends but that has one end of the wall but that has one end of the wall containing more courses than the containing more courses than the other. This is usually caused by one other. This is usually caused by one mason laying bigger mortar joints mason laying bigger mortar joints under the bricks than are laid by the under the bricks than are laid by the other mason.other mason.

RackingRacking: a method entailing stepping : a method entailing stepping back successive courses of masonry.back successive courses of masonry.

SpallSpall: a small fragment removed from : a small fragment removed from the face of a masonry unit by a blow the face of a masonry unit by a blow or by action of the elements.or by action of the elements.

LeadLead: section of a wall built up and : section of a wall built up and racked back on successive courses. A racked back on successive courses. A line is attached to leads as a guide line is attached to leads as a guide for constructing a wall between themfor constructing a wall between them

SoldierSoldier: a stretcher set on end : a stretcher set on end with face showing on the wall with face showing on the wall surface.surface.

StretcherStretcher: a masonry unit laid : a masonry unit laid with its greatest dimension with its greatest dimension horizontal and its face parallel horizontal and its face parallel to the wall face.to the wall face.

Header

Shiner

Soldier

Stretcher

Rowlock

Sailor

Stringing MortarStringing Mortar: : procedure of procedure of spreading enough spreading enough mortar on a bed to mortar on a bed to lay several lay several masonry unitsmasonry units

Temper: to moisten and mix clay, plaster or mortar to a proper consistency

ToolingTooling: compressing and shaping the : compressing and shaping the face of a mortar joint with a special face of a mortar joint with a special tool other than a trowel.tool other than a trowel.

Tuck pointingTuck pointing: filling in with fresh : filling in with fresh mortar of cutout or defective mortar mortar of cutout or defective mortar joint in masonry.joint in masonry.

VeneerVeneer: a single wythe of masonry for : a single wythe of masonry for facing purposes, not structurally facing purposes, not structurally bonded.bonded.

Wall tieWall tie: a bonder or metal piece : a bonder or metal piece which connects wythes of masonry to which connects wythes of masonry to each other or in other material.each other or in other material.