CET 210 Masonry Wiki Assignment

David Shofstahl

Fall 2014

Old Dominion University

Structural Masonry:Structural masonry usually involves additional provisions and reinforcement to account for live loads and other building stresses. Today, concrete masonry units (CMUs) are typically the material of choice for structural masonry because of their versatility for reinforcement. Examples of structural masonry include foundations and load-bearing walls.

Notice the rebar in the cell and bond beam. This foundation

was extensively reinforced to account for unbalanced fill.

Residential foundation at the Greenbrier in WV Residential foundation in New Middletown, OH

Throw-back! This is one of my first solo projects – 18 years ago. I was 19 years old.

Structural Masonry:Not as common as CMU, bricks, stone, and other units are also used for structural masonry.

Owens Pharmacy, Clifton Forge, VA

100 years ago, masons used heavy, local stone for the foundation of this 2-story brick structure.

My house, Clifton Forge, VA

Double-wythe, brick foundation, circa

1920. Notice the Common Bond pattern

that ties the wythes together.

Structural Masonry:Reinforced headers, beam pockets, and control joints are a few com-mon features of structural masonry.

Beam pocket & bond beam window header

Residential basement at the Greenbrier in WV

Control joint (circled in red) to absorb movement at the corner of this load-bearing wall at Walmart in Covington, VA

Bulkhead and bond beam over openings in Scott Hall at DSLCC in Clifton Forge, VA

Structural Masonry:These structures are built primarily of load-bearing masonry.

Split-face block (CMU) utility building at CSX rail yard in Clifton Forge, VA. The CMU walls are the structure and carry the weight of the roof.

James Burke House Eatery (circa 1820), Covington, VA. The brickwork is multi-wythe and load-bearing. The 2nd-story floors are supported by the 1st-floor brick walls.

Limestone tunnel in Caldwell, WV. The stones are fit together in an arch to resist the massive weigh of the soil above

Masonry Veneer/ Siding:Masonry provides sound, weather/pest-resistant protection as a durable, sustainable siding.

Quarried and chopped limestone White Sulphur Springs, WV

Brick and reclaimed sandstoneEnon Valley, PA

Masonry stucco and Dryvit systemWhite Sulphur Springs, WV

Combining Masonry Elements:Masonry materials are quite compatible and blending different elements adds beauty and character to a building. However, care must be taken to provide isolation membranes and/or control joints to allow for differential movement between materials due to thermal expansion and contraction and moisture sponging.

These private homes at the Greenbrier in WV demonstrate the asthetic value of masonry material blending. On the left, we see reclaimed brick, natural fieldstone inlays, and a heavy bluestone lintel over the fireplace opening. The house on the right combines chopped ashlar stone work with cut limestone and stucco.

Combining Masonry Elements:Blended masonry softens the appeal and adds texture to the exteriors of commercial buildings, as well.

Quality Inn, Covington, VA: Manufactured, thin veneer stone and stucco (Dryvit)

First Citizens Bank, Clifton Forge, VA: brick, precast concrete, stucco

Dollar General, Clifton Forge, VA:Brick, split-face block, and precast concrete

Patterns, Shapes, Arches, & Corbels:

Main Street Baptist Church, Clifton Forge, VA Private residence, Greenbrier

Lewisburg Baptist ChurchLewisburg, WV Northwest TrueValue Hardware

Clifton Forge, VAPrivate residence, Greenbrier Sporting Club

Patterns, Shapes, Arches, & Corbels:Various stone projects on private residences at the Greenbrier in WV

Patterns, Shapes, Arches, & Corbels:

Early in my apprenticeship, I had the privilege of design-ing and laying this unique wall of many brick patterns. The owner wanted some-thing creative, and I wanted the experience!

This project in Enon Valley, PA includes Flemish bond, Herring-bone, Basket weave, Soldier course, Sailors, Stacked bond, Rowlock, corbels, octogons, stone keys, stone quoins, and a circle.

I was 18 and unsuper-vised – it was a blast!

Masonry Paving:

Greenbrier residence: Sandset flagstone

Greenbrier residence: Thickset bluestone

Greenbrier residence:Brick pavers (basketweave)

Greenbrier residence: Concrete pavers

Home in Cave Springs, VA

Ceramic tile

Masonry Fireplaces:Masonry fireplaces sustain tremendous temperatures and protect the structure from fire.

This outdoor fireplace in Sharron, VA on the Cowpasture River was desig-ned to receive a grill in the firebox. Masonry affords flexibility of design.

Here is a large firebox for a fireplace I built in Salem, VA a few years ago. The refractory brick are made with a high silica and aluminum content to withstand intense heat with minimal expansion. The mortar is Portland cement, silica sand, and dry milled fireclay. There is no lime in refractory mortar because it spalls and degrades quickly under heat.

The geometry of these round flu liners allowed us to accommodate 3 48” wide fireplaces in a single chimney on this project in Bent Mountain, VA. The clay liners are wrapped with fire-resistant mineral wool insulation to isolate the liners from the masonry rough-in and protect them from damage resulting from thermal expansion.

Masonry Fireplaces:

Smith Mountain Lake, VA48” Herringbone firebox

Daniels, WV48” Running bond firebox

Masonry fire-place under construction at Glade Springs Resort near Beckley, WV. The rough-in is reinforced CMU and the “guts” are refractory masonry. The smoke chamber is cast-in-place and the refractory components are isolated from the rough-in from the firebox to the roof.

This Isokern fireplace at the Greenbrier in WV is assembled on-site from prefabricated lightweight, refractory parts. The throat units are shown at the top of the image above the firebox.

We use the fireplace in our home as a primary heat source. This is an authentic Victorian coal burning unit that is almost 100 years old. I replaced the firebrick a couple of years ago, but the rest of the masonry is still sound. The intensity of this coal fire is evident in this image. Masonry withstands heat.Stone fireplace in a home at Smith

Mountain Lake in Wirtz, VA

Greenbrier residence:Stone fireplace

Greenbrier residence: brick sur-round and wrap-around mantle

Other Masonry Projects:

This is a stone compass rose I cut and inlayed into a brick patio for a client in Fincastle, VA. The materials were remnants of granite, marble, and sandstone. Polished brass rods were installed to accent 3-dimensional depth.

Other Masonry Projects:

I am a stone mason…. And my wife wanted an herb garden.

This is what she got. We call it “The Folly.”

This structure serves as a retaining wall, raised bed, and trellis. The limestone walls are set in lime-mortar to replicate historic masonry. The window is an original Victorian piece from the house. The intent was to make it look like a dilapidated building, and the effect worked! Visitors and passers-by are always curious about its history – it’s a good conversation piece.