Genrev Juan BSCE 221D
2022-120610 04/27/24
ACTIVITY 2
1. Explain the importance of Masonry in construction?
- Masonry consists of building structures from single units that are laid and bound together with mortar.
Brick, stone and concrete blocks are the most common materials used in masonry construction. Masonry
is a popular construction technique around the world, due to its many advantages. However, like with any
construction method, there are also limitations. This article summarizes the pros and cons of masonry
construction.
- According to Abdul Moiz (2023), here are the lists of why Masonry is important:
• FIRE PROTECTION - Masonry materials are inflammable, which means buildings with
stone, concrete or brick may be less susceptible to fire hazards from the outside.
• DIVERSE DESIGN - Masonry can make the building appear more elegant or unique, and
it can be more distinguishable from neighboring properties, which may be important to many
clients.
• LONGER LIFESPAN - Properties with masonry materials can last for long periods of time
with minimal change. Stone, brick and concrete resist aging. They're also less subject to
pests, including insects, such as ants and termites, and mold from water damage.
• DURABILITY - Masonry construction can also withstand potential damages from natural
disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes. The durability of its materials
and the strength of its foundation can help protect the building's structure during torrential
rain and heavy wind.
• COMFORT - Masonry projects are generally sound-proof and provide ample insulation by
boosting the thermal mass from the inside. This makes them comfortable, inhabitable and
energy efficient, meaning this technique is a suitable choice for developing spaces such as
office buildings, apartment complexes and single-family homes.
2. Cite various types of mortar.
- Mortar is the element that bonds bricks or other masonry units together and provides structural capacity
to the wall or other structure. There are four main types of mortar mix: N, O, S, and M. Each type is mixed
with a different ratio of cement, lime, and sand to produce specific performance characteristics such as
flexibility, bonding properties, and compressive strength. The best type of mortar and its use depends on
the application and the various design specifications for the masonry construction project.
Here are some types of mortar aligned to what UltraTech Cement (2021) discussed:
• CEMENT MORTAR - As the name suggests, the binding material is cement in this classification
of mortar mix. The ratio of blending cement, water, and sand would depend on the purpose and
durability that one vouches for.
• LIME MORTAR - Lime is the primary binding material in this mortar type. Lime is of two varieties
- hydraulic lime and fat lime. When working under dry conditions, fat lime is the most suitable
option (preferably 2 to 3 times the quantity of sand).
• GYPSUM MORTAR - The securing material in gypsum mortar is plaster and soft sand. It offers
a very low durability in moist or wet climates.
• GAUGED MORTAR - When we use a combination of lime and cement as blenders and sand
as a fine aggregate, gauged mortar is the resultant mix. It takes the best of both - lime mortar
and cement mortar. Lime adds the requisite plasticity, while cement gives durability.
• SURKHI MORTAR - Combining lime, surkhi, and water, we get surkhi mortar. Surkhi acts as a
fine aggregate. Burnt clay in the finely powdered form is surkhi. It adds more strength to the
mortar mix than sand and is much cheaper. Occasionally, we can use half a portion of sand and
half of surkhi.
• AERATED CEMENT MORTAR - Working with cement mortars could be tricky because of low
plasticity. However, if we add air-entraining agents to the mix, there could be a significant
improvement in its workability. Aerated cement mortars hence come into the picture.
• MUD MORTAR - When cement or lime is unavailable, we can replace them with mud as the
binding agent. Mud amalgamated with cow dung or rice husk as the fine-aggregate results in
mud mortar.
• HEAVY AND LIGHT-WEIGHT MORTAR - Mortar whose bulk density is 15 KN/m³ or more is
heavy mortar. Heavy quartzes are fine aggregates in this type of mortar. On the other hand, in
light-weight mortar, the bulk density is less than 15 KN/m³. These mortars use lime or cement
as binders and sand, saw-dust, etc., as fine aggregates.
• THIN-SET MORTAR - If we are looking for an tile adhesives, we use thin-set mortar, which is
thinner. However, this mortar is unfit for use with bricks or heavy stones. It comprises cement,
sand, and water retention agents. Nowadays, it is common to use thin-set mortars with tile
mastic. Tile mastic is an adhesive to stick tiles to the walls or floors.
• EPOXY MORTAR - Advancements in the compositions of mortars are commonplace, and one
such revolutionary product includes the epoxy mortar. The mortar comprises of epoxy resins,
solvents, etc. This mortar is adhesive and water-proof. It is stain-resistant and has faster curing
than cement mortar, making it an obvious choice to use while working with tiles.
• FIRE-RESISTANT MORTAR - Aluminous cement is a significant ingredient in this sub-division.
Mixing the fine powder of fire bricks and cement makes a fireproof mortar.
• PACKING MORTAR - Cement-loam, cement-sand, or sometimes cement-sand-loam constitute
packing mortar. Due to its strength and water resistance, the construction of oil wells uses this
binder.
Here are the types of mortar mix according to Juan Rodrigez and Jonathan Brewer (2022):
• TYPE O MORTAR MIX – It has relatively low compressive strength, at only about 350 psi. It is
used primarily for interior, above-grade, non-load–bearing walls.
• TYPE S MORTAR MIX - offering a high compressive strength of over 1,800 psi and high-tensile
bond strength, type S mortar is suitable for many projects at or below grade. It performs
extremely well to withstand soil pressure and wind and seismic loads.
• TYPE M MORTAR MIX - has the highest amount of Portland cement and is recommended for
heavy loads and below-grade applications, including foundations, retaining walls, and
driveways. While type M mortar provides at least 2,500 psi of compressive strength, it offers
relatively poor adhesion and sealing properties, making it unsuitable for many exposed
applications.
• TYPE K MORTAR MIX - rarely used for new construction but may be specified for restoration
or other specialty applications. It offers a very low compressive strength of only about 75 psi.
Because of its softness, type K is primarily used for restoring the masonry on historic or ancient
buildings that require a special mix that is not significantly stronger than the existing masonry.
3. Make a Comparison of Bricks and CHB.
- According to Asian Concreto (2022), Bricks have been the most essential construction material and
a common building block in the construction world after cement. Until a few years back, no one
would have thought anything could possibly replace the most basic building block, but the
construction industry started to look towards alternative materials which are cheaper, easily
accessible and comply with the requirements. People desired long-term viability and durability,
and since people have become more environmentally conscious, hollow blocks have arrived just
in time.
Asian Concreto (2022) provided the advantages of using either bricks or CHB. These are the list of
advantages using CHB material.
a) Cheaper
b) Made from waste
c) Lighter in weight
d) Sound Proofing
e) Space Saving
f) Strength
And here are the advantages of brick material to construction.
a) Heat Protection
b) Eco-friendly
c) Durability
d) Fireproof
e) Free of Maintenance
The brick vs. block debate is a tight one, and anyone planning to undertake a construction
project will have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both. However, a lot relies on
the builder’s location, cost, and situation. Some people prefer brick masonry projects because
they want less upkeep in the long run, even if the cost of construction is more. On the other
hand, some people would prefer lower construction costs and more frequent upgrades to keep
the blocks in good repair.
4. Explain what bricklaying is and its importance.
- Bricklaying in construction refers to the process of laying bricks to build structures. It is a
physically demanding job that has been used in the construction industry for thousands of years.
The use of robotics has been integrated into bricklaying to overcome limitations in terms of
complexity, time, and cost.
- The integration of robotics in architecture educational curricula has been explored to assess the
productivity of brick assembly in terms of speed, cost, time, and quality.
- Robotic bricklaying has been found to increase productivity rates and reduce the time required
for bricklaying compared to manual assembly.
- The application of automated technologies, such as robotic arms equipped with linear rails, has
been studied to optimize brick wall construction methods.
- These advancements in bricklaying technology have the potential to bring about changes and
further development in the construction industry.
- According to Ryan Veil (2021), Bricklaying or masonry construction is fully customizable that
allows you to create perfect styles for your home. Depending on the type of masonry work,
unique brick mason work offers your home appealing and unique styles. Here are some of the
benefits of bricklaying in construction projects.
- Bricks do not require any kind of painting or coating. They have great adaption to the changing
weather like extreme sun, strong wind, and storm. So, they can last for long without any
maintenance.
REFERENCES:
Abdul Moiz (2023), Definition of Masonry and its importance to the field of construction. https://www.indeed.com/career-
advice/finding-a-job/what-is-masonry#:~:text=Longer%20lifespan,and%20mold%20from%20water%20damage.
Asian Concreto (2022), Brick Vs. Concrete Blocks, and their advantages. https://www.asianconcreto.com/blog/hollow-
blocks-or-bricks-which-one-is-cheaper-and-better/
Scispace (2019), Definition of Bricklaying. https://typeset.io/questions/what-is-bricklaying-in-construction-2h0d6n6nd2
UltraTech Cement (2021), Different type of Mortars. https://www.ultratechcement.com/for-homebuilders/home-
building-explained-single/descriptive-articles/different-types-of-mortar
Ryan Veil (2021), Importance of Bricklaying. https://medium.com/@ryansbrickandblocklaying61/importance-of-
bricklaying-in-construction-
967789f26fd0#:~:text=Here%20are%20some%20of%20the,pests%2C%20molds%2C%20and%20mosses.
