There is no doubt that masonry construction using brick and stone has advanced significantly. With the advent of technology and improvements in the stone-work world, over time Brick and Stone Masons have found newer and more effective ways to do things. Contractors and Licensed Masons in Long Island have an overwhelming selection of stone, materials, designs, and textures in today’s world.
You’ve followed our blog posts for quite some time and you can’t tell the difference between stone, brick and bare concrete. No need to worry, we would be giving you an expose which would help you understand the rudiments of brick and stone masonry.
What is Stone and what is not Stone?
You could think that stone is a universally understood material. Though this is a common belief, in the actual sense a lot of people get it mixed up. Fundamentally, there are two main types of material for stone masonry: natural stone and man-made stone. It is that easy.
But how can you tell one from the other?
Organic (natural) stone will initially have a coarse and abrasive surface. It only requires a simple touch from your hand. Typically, the man-made stone will be very smooth. Though man-made stone is frequently produced using casts and moulds that mimic natural ridges and texture, it still doesn’t cut it. Man-made stone is typically made of cement which is easy to notice. And this begs the question.
Which is better for Masonry?
No-brainer. Organic!!! Not only is it natural but the price and age-long time it takes to form doesn’t just make it a better choice but also a choice that is sure to last.
The Fundamentals of Stone Masonry.
Building using stone or bricks requires the fundamentals of masonry. Other than in dry masonry, the bricks or stone blocks are attached by mortar. Generally speaking, there are two forms of masonry: stone masonry and brick masonry.
The fundamentals of Stonemasonry lays its relevance as a method of creating masonry construction that uses stones and mortar. The groundwork, floors, retaining walls, arches, walls, and columns can all be built using this age-old element. Natural rocks and stones are required to develop stone masonry, though moulding them into the right shape and size can be a bot tricky. For use in masonry construction by a professional local masonry contractor, these natural rocks are properly prepared and cut into small pieces. Stones are among the strongest and most resilient construction materials and would require the right tools, personnel and experience to achieve this feat.
Thus, the Fundamentals of Stone Masonry include:
- Stones are quite tougher. If you are looking to stand the test of time and not necessarily panache. Stone it is for you
- Stones should be handled by the specifications.
- Stone chips and mortars should be used to fill the core of the stone masonry. Avoid using mortar joints that are too thick.
- Use mortars that have the right ratio of sand to cement.
An emphasis on Stone
Now that you’ve got the fundamentals of Stone Masonry, let us now consider the terminologies used frequently when talking about natural stone and stone masonry.
Few construction structures use stone as their main support system, as you’ll find if you pay attention to prominent architectural styles. Construction professionals now only use stone to accentuate their edifices and not necessarily to build them.
Natural stone will be used as an emphasis by several stone firms for their projects. There are several various types of stone available for this use. These comprise stone with full and thin veneers like the spalted oak or Chilton rustic.
The typical bed depth for a complete veneer is three to five inches. In contrast, the bed depth of thin veneers is only 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches. These are both composed of pure stone.
However, it’s important to keep in mind a few key distinctions. The installation procedures vary. In that, you must include a ledge when installing full veneer as opposed to thin veneers.
Additionally, you need to use wall ties or another anchoring method to anchor the stone to the wall. Thin veneers can be attached to the wall using a straightforward masonry glue and don’t need anchoring ledges (simply because they are THIN).
Brick Masonry and the Fundamentals of Brick Masonry.
Brick masonry is constructed with bricks cemented together with mortar. While mud mortar can be used for short-term structures like sheds, lime or cement mortar is required for longer-term structures.
The fundamentals of brick masonry are as follows:
- Though not as tough as its counterpart, bricks add aesthetics to the outlook of your building.
- Mortar holds the brick together. The mortar being used should meet the specifications.
- When construction is finished, the brick masonry should still have a toothed end.
- Brickbats shouldn’t be used. This has some long-term dire effects on the building’s longevity.
- In building the wall itself, holdfasts for doors and windows ought to be installed in brick masonry prior to fixing using cement mortar or concrete.
The Differences between Brick and Stone Masonry.
Note that the differences aren’t exhaustive; they’re numerous. However, these are the fundamental differences between Brick and Stone Masonry.
- In general, brick masonry is easier to put up and less expensive than stone masonry.
- In comparison to brick masonry, where walls can be built to a minimum thickness of 10 cm, stone masonry allows walls to be made to a minimum thickness of 35 cm. More brawns for stone.
- The construction of stone masonry takes a bit more time and tact than that of brick masonry because the stone is more difficult to mould and fashion into edges and corners.
- Brick masonry work can be completed by an inexperienced layman, but stone masonry construction requires skilled masons, like Stone Mason Long Island and Licensed Masons in Long Island.
- Masonry takes more mortar, which is difficult to estimate, whereas brick masonry uses less mortar.
- Brick masonry is less robust and long-lasting than stone masonry.
CONCLUSION
Either brick or stone, the choice is yours. But I bet when making that choice you now understand and have a grasp of what you get and the trade-off you’d make for picking one over the other. If you are in long island and need a professional masonry contractor, you know where to go.