Masonry Walls Vs Concrete Walls

Both are made from concrete but depending on your project schedule and budget precast walls may be the best option.

Masonry walls vs concrete walls.

Brick is a common choice for outdoor walls. One of the common examples of masonry involves exterior walls that are created using concrete blocks or clay bricks. There are many variables which control overall strength of masonry or poured concrete basement foundation walls. These joints are susceptible to moisture infiltration requiring the use of vapor barriers and weeps in masonry walls to protect the interior of the building against moisture damage.

Design strength of the concrete concrete blocks and mortar are very important. Concrete masonry units cmu or precast concrete block wall are typically 8 x 8 x 16 blocks that can be stacked to form walls. Precast concrete walls are by far the better solution. Precast concrete walls are solid concrete that is poured into forms to a specific size.

Concrete masonry is well suited for below grade applications because of its strength durability economy and resistance to fire insects and noise. By its very nature masonry construction has numerous joints between individual units. Along with these materials steel rods are works into the structure often using some type of vertical framework that allows bearing the weight of connecting walls and floors within the building. The dense concrete mix used in tilt up construction.

The truth of the matter is that both building materials concrete block and poured concrete can yield superior foundation walls so long as they are installed correctly. Most precast concrete is manufactured in plants and delivered on large trucks but there are techniques to allow concrete walls to be formed and poured at a job site and then raised into place as a complete wall. Constructors add steel aluminum or wood paneling to improve the natural insulation of the material. Even though site cast concrete walls are traditionally for the basement the same techniques that professionals in masonry use for below grade walls can apply to applications that are above grade.

Concrete masonry is used to construct various foundation wall types including full basement walls crawlspace walls stem walls and piers. The thickness of the wall with regard to its height is also extremely important. It s aesthetically pleasing sturdy and easy to work with. Enclosures and breakaway walls january 2009 page 4 of 4 if enclosures are constructed in coastal a zones see the hurricane ike recovery advisory design and construction in coastal a zones open foundations with breakaway enclosures are recommended in lieu of foundation walls or crawlspaces.