What Is the History of Wall Masonry?
Today we are going to take a brief sojourn down history to find out how the wall masonry evolution first started, so please join us.
The most often used products are clay brick and concrete block; brick is the oldest manufactured product to date as sun-baked clay bricks were frequently used in the construction of buildings over 6,000 years ago. In order to stop the likes of distortion and cracking of the clay shapes, grass and chopped straw were added to the mixture.
The next step in enhancing brick production happened in 4,000 B.C. At which time, manufacturers started to produce brick in uniform shapes. In addition to the shaping of brick, the move from sun-baking to firing was a significant change too, as this greatly improved the durability of the brick.
Through the centuries, the methods for creating brick have continuously evolved. Today, the United States uses a standard brick which is 2 1/2 x 3 3/4 x 8 inches. This brick is composed of clay and shale and is fired in kilns of around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The firing process starts the reaction of the clay particles to bond chemically.
As brick construction started to became more elaborate, the use of brick also became more sophisticated. The evolution of brick design led, in part, to the creation of the concrete block.
Cavity walls were designed to reduce the problems that were often associated with water penetration. Water would seep inside the exterior wall and then run down that wall, while the inside wall stayed dry. Cavity walls soon became the best way to build, not only because they reduced problems with water penetration, but they could also support a heavy load like flooring and roofing. In 1850 a special block that had air cells was created, and over the years, modifications were introduced to this product until the industry arrived at the standardized product that is used today.
This concludes our brief history lesson on wall masonry, and we hope that you enjoyed reading it. If you need masonry work in or around the Riverhead, NY area, look no further than Hugo Rios Masonry & Landscaping. Call us today at (631) 228-8607 for more information on how we can help you?