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MASONRY WORK
Both knowledge and technique are required to
repair and restore masonry work. No matter how
long you have been working in the masonry
field, unfamiliar problems and situations
continue to come up. The understanding of how
the original or previous installations took place
and the knowledge of the correct trade
terminology are essential. A lot of research and
testing is often required before starting a
masonry restoration project.
It is a challenging trade, as we are required to
preserve and/or restore masonry, which most of
the time does not meet existing codes and
standards. Masonry walls have a high
compressive strength, but they are weak in
flexure. While restoring such walls, you will
often be faced with providing new control joints
and installing new reinforcing steel to help the
building meet the current codes, but you still
have to preserve the original appearance.
The following illustrations and descriptions will
offer you easy references and help you solve
most problems.
Correct trade terminology is emphasized to help
you communicate and perform the scope of
restoration.
Please refer to local building codes as they vary
from state to state, especially where seismic
requirements are different.