Clay masonry house walls
Clay masonry house walls
(OP)
I am looking into designing a very small single family residence with clay masonry. The builder is wanting to use 4" brick. Right now I am just brain storming the problems that may come up and would like to have others input as well. So far one of the biggest things that is jumping out at me is the tie beam design. Doubt I could get a 4" to work. This house would be in Florida so no snow, but plenty of wind.






RE: Clay masonry house walls
Otherwise, with double brick, rods can be cast into the cavities to form tie downs, walls can be stiffened up with tube posts.
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
Or provide pilasters to take the wind (and embed the uplift rods).
But I would also be concerned about the condensation, water ingress e.t.c. Does the building code even allow single wythe walls for dwellings?
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
Did you use 6" brick or 4" brick? Also, what did you do about the tie beam? CIP?
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
You could go with a 6" or 8" "engineered" brick that can be reinforced and grouted as required. The beam could be a problem since the availablity of the units required to poor and sawing could be required. A cast in place beam is possible if it is archecturally accepable. Material cost will be high because of number of the small size(height, length) units and the amount for mortar (twice) required. The labor cost will be correspondinly higher due to the number of units that must be mortared and laid.
There are many 8" CMU homes (minimal reinfrocement) built in Florida. At one time a cast-in-place beam was used, but now a top beam made using filled, reinforced bond beam block is more compatible the the rest of the wall. The same units can be used over windows for lintels. Individual block cells may be reinforced and grouted as required (usually at opening and intermitantly where required to provide a maximum 4' spacing).
You could also look ar 6" CMUs, either reinforced or prestressed. The details at doors and windows look more conventional from an aesthetic standpoint. You can also obtain 4" high x 6" thick colored, split architectural CMUs, but the freight would be as much as for the brick. Block with conventional faces would be local.
Make sure you check the local Florida requirements for "projectile protection", etc that are enforced in many coastal counties. They closely follow the FEMA "safe cell" suggestion which generally come down to either reinforced block or concrete (wood doesn't fly or maybe it does LOL). I don't know if any clay brick assemblies are approved. The Florida codes are quite specific about what is permitted for their conditions.
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
This is probably just regional terminology, but is a "tie beam" and "bond beam" the same thing here?
RE: Clay masonry house walls
The plans will need to be permitted and with the way everyone is slow around here I am sure they will go through them with a fine tooth comb. From what I understood, the 2x furring would allow the wiring and shallow boxes to be concealed. This would also allow room for insulation.
RE: Clay masonry house walls
Regards,
JKW
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
You may have trouble getting both the bond appearance and the core alignment. This could particularly be a problem at the corners where modularity and appearance can be critical. You could run into situation with 6" thick brick also unless you have 12" long brick.
You do not save any money trying to do it with 4" thick units even if you can get approval.
Dick
RE: Clay masonry house walls
RE: Clay masonry house walls
A similar system for 6" CMUs (plain or architectural) is very well thought out and developed. Because of the cost of materials(rods, couplings, etc.) and construction time, it has not replaced convential construction, but is worth looking at from an application and educational aspect. Google for "Superlite" and "Arizona" to get to the Superlite site that has a very good description of the system and many other products.
Superlite is ownwed by Oldcastle (a American company owned by Cement Roadstone of Ireland - CRH). They are by far the largest U.S. producer of concrete masonry units and are involved in many other construction materials in the U.S. and internationally. I believe they recently acquired the major concrete block producer in Florida, but I do not know if they are interested in promoting the system in Florida.
It might be worth your time to look at a similar proven system. The site oulines the concept, quality control and application possibilities.
Dick