What Exactly Is Masonry Support?
The world is filled with funny terms, isn’t it? No matter what sort of business you’re involved in, there will be certain terms that only apply to your work. And, if you’re not involved in a specific industry, then you can be certain that you’ll have a difficult time understanding the lingo involved. The world of masonry – and construction as a whole – is no different. And this is wildly evident from the moment you begin considering everything involved with the different aspects of masonry. Masonry support, for example, sounds like it could be just about anything. What it really refers to is a vast array of construction accessories that support the work of masons.
What Is Masonry Support?
Masonry support refers to a wide variety of products, processes and construction accessories. Although you may think of masonry as largely bricks and mortar, this is only the beginning. In fact, it is not even the point where most specialists would start. There is a great deal of work involved in preparing any surface or area for a masonry project – and that’s typically where the call for masonry support begins. Additionally, it’s not just a matter of slapping down some bricks and slathering them with a bit of mortar. Throughout the construction process (whether your building project is horizontal, vertical or a combination of both) there are many items that are used to keep everything neat and orderly.
And, even when a structure is complete, that’s still not the end of masonry support on a project. There are still finishing touches and protective layers that must be considered. Although these all sound like small (and potentially unimportant) aspects of a building job, it is these areas that will make or break any project. The important thing for anyone to realise is that masonry support is not optional. Without it, your building would simply not be safe – nor would it be visually appealing.
Why Do We Need Masonry Support?
Why do we need this at all? Why not go back to the bricks and mortar that formed the basis of many historic buildings? Well, the truth is that there used to be many more of these buildings, but not all of them made it. Sure, some of that may have had to do with intentional destruction (such as military action during the great wars), but for many buildings, they’re no longer around because they were no longer safe enough to consider keeping them. Indeed, those buildings that had neither historical significance nor adequate masonry support have been abandoned to the future.
The government, just like you, is concerned with the health and safety of its people. And, if a building is unfit for inhabitation, then it really cannot be left open. More than that, there are a lot of rules and regulations regarding the construction of buildings in the present tense. After all, the government is hardly interested in having to repeat the mistakes of the past.
In the UK, construction is regulated by a series of building codes. Each of these are allocated a letter of the alphabet; more importantly, they must be adhered to. Otherwise, buildings may be deemed uninhabitable. And, masonry is prevalent in a great deal of these building codes – from ground preparation to the installation of thermal insulation.
In addition to maintaining the standards established by the UK government – and those that apply to every country in the EU, there is another reason to ensure that masonry support is available for each and every job – no matter how small it is. And that is simply how a structure looks. There is nothing more unsightly than a building that sags, pulls to the side or is unevenly built. And, if health and safety don’t appeal to you, this aspect of the job probably should.
What Sort of Accessories Are Considered in the Masonry Support Category?
This category is filled with anything that helps a mason (or any builder doing masonry work) to complete his (or her) job. This includes a number of essential objects, such as:
Channel Supports
Wall Ties
Brick Reinforcement
Insulation and ventilation channels
Absolutely all of these fall under the category of masonry support. Of course, these are widely varied categories, and some of them are not exactly clear cut. For example, there is an entire subcategory of masonry support that simply deals with affixing joists or roof beams to a masonry-built wall. Although this may seem easy in your head, there is a great deal more involved than most people realise. Each of the different items and articles that must be affixed to the wall will require it’s own, individual accessory to make this happen.
Additionally, while insulation itself is not exactly masonry support – masonry must support these functions. That’s because no system works independently within a building or structure. And, although insulation usually falls under a completely different job bag, these crew members must work together in order to ensure that everyone has what they need when it is time to do their job.
Bringing in the Professionals
Building a wall is as specialised as the language used to talk about each of the different elements involved with masonry support. And, one of the most important things to remember is that it’s not as simple as laying a few bricks on top of each other. If you’re building any type of structure in the UK, keep in mind that your plans will need to be approved by the council before you begin construction. And, you will need a variety of certifications before you can actually take occupancy of this structure. If there are any queries, the authorities will get involved.
So, if you’re at all confused about the lingo involved with masonry support, your best bet is to get in touch with the specialists. After all, it’s not just a matter of funny words, is it? It’s all about the investment you’re making and ensuring that aspect of the job goes exactly according to plan.
For more information about masonry support please visit the SIG Construction Accessories website - http://www.sig-ca.co.uk/portfolio/category/masonry/