Masonry Brick Is One Side of the Two-sided Coin in Construction
Technological evolution has imposed certain transformations in the taste and techniques of people nowadays. Our changing taste is also in terms of building construction. Instead of using primitive methods of construction, people want new and sustainable construction methods. The traditional methods of using clay bricks have turn out to be outdated. The builders are now using advanced masonry bricks with masonry block adhesive that lays a strong foundation.
What is Masonry Block?
It is a type of concrete block of a standard rectangular shape. There is unique flexibility associated with the masonry block. It can get the desired shape and appearance as per the requirement. The masonry blocks are high-density blocks that comprise cement aggregates, gravel, and sand. There is another type of masonry block and, it is the low-density one. The main constituent of the low-density blocks is fly ash and industrial wastes.
Advantages of the Masonry Blocks in Building Construction
- The composition of the masonry blocks is responsible for providing fire protection to the building. The aggregates present in the masonry blocks. The fine particles of sand, gravel, and cement make the building fire-repellent. The thickness of the masonry blocks gives overall fire protection to the building.
- The use of masonry blocks gives structural durability to the building. The fine solid particles of the masonry blocks give seismic wave protection to the building. The building is earthquake-resistant and, it reveals the strength of the masonry blocks of the building.
- There is optimum sound protection with the masonry blocks. The blocks are an excellent sound repellent. It decreases the wall thickness of the building and reduces the chances of less sound transmission.
- Using masonry blocks is energy-efficient also. There are enormous built-in speed and structural simplicity of the masonry bricks. The sheer walls and load-bearing concrete structure gives the masonry bricks a long shelf-life. As the wall thickness and density are low in buildings composed of masonry bricks, it leads to air trapping. Trapping air inside the blocks gives it thermal resistivity. It helps keep the buildings cool during the scorching summers as it does not allow the outside heat to enter the wall. A similar case occurs during winters. It does not allow the inside heat to move out and keeps the atmosphere ambient inside.
- The masonry blocks are cost-effective. The longer shelf life and durability cut down much of the maintenance cost. There no need for repeated servicing in the buildings of masonry bricks. These bricks can give a structural framework to the building and eliminates the extra labor requirement. The structural simplicity makes the masonry bricks much flexible and, the blocks can have required shapes and structures.
While there are many advantages, there are some cons associated with masonry blocks. Although the masonry blocks can provide insulation, it is not easy to incorporate insulation in the masonry blocks as there are only two openings present in them. It may or may not hold the insulating material inside. The masonry blocks provide limited insulation. Another disadvantage is that although there is less labor cost, developing masonry blocks is an expensive procedure. It will be a hectic job to find the best block jointing mortar for the masonry blocks.