Brick and stone masonry have served as reliable and valuable elements of commercial building projects for centuries, gracing urban and rural landscapes since time immemorial. Building Teams have trusted clay brick to bring durability and sustainable qualities as well as good performance in moisture and thermal protection to their projects. More recently, brick veneers have begun to offer attractive structural potentional with high strength-to-weight ratios, and masonry veneers are available in literally thousands of configurations and looks.
After reading this article, you should be able to:
- Compare materials and systems used to construct commercial masonry wall assemblies for optimal sustainability.
- Understand the various kinds of backup wall assemblies and how they contribute to environmentally efficient buildings.
- Describe the difference between barrier and rainscreen walls using masonry and brick veneer and their respective environmental and human health benefits.
- Discuss the key detailing and specification criteria for functional and effective masonry wall systems to prevent moisture and air penetration.