To define masonry, it is one of the oldest methods for construction. There are also two types of masonry, namely stone, and brick. It is built by bonding together either of the two with a suitable mortar. Excellent construction of brickwork or construction of stonework would make a good foundation, wall, or any other building components. Note that dry masonry contractors bind bricks or stones with each other.

If you are still swamped by the options you have, you may continue reading below for the differences between brick masonry and stone masonry which will guide you with your decisions.

What is Brick Masonry?

Brick masonry is defined as binding up bricks along with mortar that is suitable. A good contractor will place the bricks side by side and above using a mortar. The bricks must be uniform in shape and size to achieve a proper bond.

There are also different types of brick masonry such as brick masonry work in mud and brick masonry work in cement. For brick masonry work in mud, the brickwork mortar joints are made up of mud with water, while in cement, they use cement mortar. There are also several types of bricks which you can read below:

1. Common burnt clay bricks

2. Sand lime bricks

3. Concrete bricks

4. Engineering bricks

5. Fly ash clay bricks

What is Stone Masonry?

Stone masonry is a masonry structure where the contractor uses stone to place with a mortar. Stones must come in proper shape to achieve an excellent bond in stone masonry. Arranging the stones that are shaped into geometrical shapes together with a mortar will create solid stone masonry. It is much more economical since stones can be found anywhere in the world.

An excellent stone masonry is commonly used in the construction of almost every marine structure because of its durability, strength, and weather resistance. There are also different types of stone masonry which are as follows:

1. Rubble masonry

2. Ashlar masonry

3. Square stone masonry

Comparison between brick and stone masonry

Sure, either of the two masonry can give your structure a beautiful look but which fits your project better? If you can’t decide yet which, you may continue reading below for the comparison of the two.

Lifespan

Brick masonry durability is excellent but not excellent enough than stone. You can expect too much from the longevity of stone masonry than brick because it has properties that provide strength, durability, and water-resistance.

Strength

Brick masonry strength is more questionable than the stone construction, although it can be used for other places it is not suitable for all places. There are also more options for size provided with stones than bricks. However, regular size and uniform shape bricks are easier to bond together resulting in better strength, while stones, since they are in irregular shapes, are more difficult to obtain. A dead load of brick masonry is lesser than a dead load of stone masonry.

Beauty

Good quality stones are undeniably beautiful that you don’t have to improve or enhance their appearances, which is why it is perfect for monumental nature buildings. On the other hand, bricks perfectly match light ornamental work, however, bricks are easier to mold into the desired shape that will not eat all your budget. For the design options, both have great options, like a variety of shapes, and options for size but there are more choices available for stone variations. Since bricks have lesser design variations, they don’t give off more aesthetic looks like stones.

Impact of Environment

Stones are more damp-proof than bricks because they are absorbent in nature. Other components of the building may decay or break down due to dampness. However, brick masonry construction is more resistant to fire than stone masonry. For the exposure to an open atmosphere, brick walls should be painted, while stone masonry walls do not require stuff like that. Furthermore, if you are looking for good insulation to air-transmitted noise, you may have to go for stone masonry.

Cost of construction

If you are currently on a tight budget, you may opt for brick masonry since they are almost everywhere. Brick walls are built in small thickness from 13cm, 23cm, and so on, which means lesser mortar. On the other hand, stone walls require a minimum thickness of 35cm, thus more mortar is needed for the stonework mortar joints.

Workmanship

Stone masonry construction proceeds slowly because it is not easy and the process requires dressing and placing stones. Stones are also heavy to install, sometimes resulting in some major incidents where deterioration of joints inside the interior wall happens. On the other hand, since bricks are handy, the masonry proceeds very quickly. Bricks are also light in weight which means there is a lesser to no risk of a major incident.

You should pick a skilled contractor who is good at stone masonry because defects can’t be rectified.

Uses

Brick masonry is commonly used in residential buildings, while stone masonry is used in piers, monumental buildings, marine structures, dams, and docks.

Flexibility

Bricks can be easily altered, while stone masonry is hard to relocate or repair resulting in a hard alteration. Also, stone masonry when building openings for doors, or windows requires more work than brick masonry because stones need to be cut in different sizes.

Conclusion

Both are good and durable, however, stone masonry demands more skilled labor, thicker walls, large size, and heavyweight which is expensive. On the other hand, brick masonry also has good qualities that may provide a solid and excellent construction. Hence, brick masonry is preferred due to its affordable price.

Still not quite sure? Ask a professional

If you can’t still seem to fathom which you should get for your new building, you can call a reliable brick and stone masonry contractor for help. Especially if you are residing or located in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, or Maryland, you can call Paragon Remodeling and ask for suggestions or advice.

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