{Re}habitat

This topic includes information related to design and construction with manufactured brick masonry. Brick masonry units are made from mined clay or shale. The units are formed to shape by extrusion, mold or pressed. The formed units are dried,fired and cooled. Texture of brick masonry units is commonly determined by the forming process or cut, scratched, rolled or brushed with mechanically devices.

This topic includes information related to the design and construction of masonry fireplaces. Masonry fireplaces are constructed over a foundation that supports the fireplace structure above, which is built with masonry units, refractory masonry units, concrete and clay tile. During the late 18th century, Count Rumford designed a masonry fireplace that was better at drawing smoke out of a building than previous designs. His design, which incorporates clay flue liners, a smoke chamber, a damper and a throat over firebrick walls and hearth, is the foundation for modern masonry fireplaces.

The surface of cast-in-place concrete may be modified to create an aesthetically pleasing color and/or texture, or to simulate tile, stone or brick. This specially finished concrete is referred to as “architectural concrete,” and it is usually permanently exposed to view. Architectural Concrete Forming is the primary method of creating architectural concrete. Form liners are typically used and are fastened to the inside of the forms, providing the desired design or texture to the concrete. Architectural concrete forming may be used for structural or non-structural building components. When using this process, special attention should be given to the uniformity of the mix, additives such as color or aggregates, placement, and finishing.

Slip Forming, used to construct a variety of concrete elements and structures, is the technique of moving formwork to allow for the simultaneous extrusion and finishing of concrete.  It is a continuous process which can provide significant time savings in a variety of construction projects.  As concrete is placed, the formwork may be moved either vertically or horizontally.  It can be moved vertically to form chimneys, walls, tanks, silos, and multi-story buildings, and usually provides uniform cross-sections from the bottom of the structure to the top.  The formwork can also be moved horizontally to produce even layers of concrete for highways, driveways, curb and gutter combinations, and median barriers.

Structural Cast-In-Place Concrete Forming is used to contain and support structural concrete in the shapes of beams, slabs, walls, columns, and floors when the concrete is poured on-site in a permanent location. Wood is the traditional forming material, and while it is still used in common practice, modern pre-fabricated metal or plastic systems offer some advantages in terms of construction speed and formwork life-cycle costs.

Masonry anchors secure masonry to structural framing or supporting construction, such as a wall, floor, beam, or column. Individual ties, anchors, and inserts are available in galvanized steel, stainless steel and epoxy-coated steel. Building codes may determine the forces that need to be accommodated and the spacing of anchors.

Split-faced concrete unit masonry is an architectural concrete masonry unit that costs a bit more than a standard CMU. It is made from a mixture of Portland cement, water, aggregates, and admixtures such as coloring agents, air-entraining materials, accelerators, retarders, or water repellents. Once shaped, compacted, and cured, the solid or hollow concrete units are then split crosswise or lengthwise. This random splitting allows some of the aggregate to break through in various planes, providing a look similar to natural stone.