A thin covering which gives an attractive appearance on application and that which conceals the real appearance or true nature of the object or building is called veneer. The materials which are often used for making veneer are wood and stone (it might be either a natural stone or field stone). Most of the veneers are constructed using stone, because stones have unique beauty on their own and one such veneer, which makes use of stones and bricks are masonry veneer.
Masonry veneer
- It is constructed using thin pieces of brick or stone and it is supported using an air space.
- Even though, it gets attached to the structure of the building, it is self-supportive and it does not give any additional load on the components of the building structure.
- This type is also known as curtain walls.
Methods of constructing wall
1. Using masonry veneer, the walls are constructed based on two methods.
2. One is the anchored wall system which depends on brick ties and angle brackets to hold the wall of the veneer to the frame of the building structure. On anchorage, it gives stability, safety and security.
3. And the other one is adhered wall system; here it is attached by using a thin layer of mortar (a building material used for joining stones and bricks) to the wall structure. As mortar is used for the binding process, adhered system does not depend on the brick ties.
4. Anyhow, the strength of the masonry wall is not totally dependent upon the bond of the building material and the mortar, the friction that exists between the interlocking blocks of masonry provides enough strength on its own. Sometimes, some grooves might be present in the blocks, which improve the interlocking of the blocks.
5. These two systems are used for construction on taking into consideration the design of the building and other wind-related risk factors.
6. The exterior walls are constructed using masonry veneer and mortar. To give support to the wall, stones are used depending on the type used.
7. As already pointed out, it is self-supportive and it does not require any backer board.
Advantages
It provides various advantages when compared to other types of construction, such as
- The air cavity in these walls effectively drains out water and moisture, thus preventing the damage of the home.
- The water gets transported freely up to the bottom of the air cavity, from there it is drained outside through tiny holes in the veneer called weep holes.
- The thermal resistance of the wall gets increased as the air cavity in the wall provides insulation.
- On the whole, masonry veneer on application enhances the visual appearance of the home and increases its property value.
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