Masonry and Stone Veneer Systems

Building designers use inexpensive but versatile masonry and stone veneer materials throughout the world. These assemblies present a traditional architectural facade while providing fire and decay resistance.

The most common types of exterior finish materials include brick, concrete masonry unit (CMU, sometimes called concrete block), and natural stone. These assemblies also use a structural backup system, primarily to provide lateral resistance. The most common backup systems include steel, wood, or CMU.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Be familiar with typical applications of masonry and stone veneer assemblies, understanding many of the criteria designers use to specify brick, CMU, or natural stone
• Know the relative costs of each of the three assemblies
• Be able to describe the typical components of a masonry and stone veneer system
• Understand how these assemblies address design criteria such as loading requirements
• Recognize best-practice applications and common problems associated with brick, concrete block, and natural stone.

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