Masonry construction has been the material of choice extensively
throughout the architectural world for years. And for good reasons.
Dollar for dollar, it provides one of the best returns on your
construction investment. Today, your choice between masonry construction
and any other alternative is easy.
1. High Durability:
Masonry is solid, strong and won’t dent from hail, stones thrown
by vandals, or from accidental car bumpings in the parking lot.
2. Savings on initial and life-cycle costs:
With concrete masonry, you can build and finish with one unit
and one laying operation. The variety of finishes, textures and
colors eliminates the need for additional wall coverings. Masonry’s
higher durability also means less repairs, plus the color and
brilliance of masonry won’t fade, rust or discolor from the weather –
eliminating continual painting and maintenance.
3. Fire resistance:
Masonry won’t burn, therefore it protects your investment in your
building and its contents. And, it can result in lower insurance
rates. Concrete masonry fire walls and fire separation walls are
commonly specified fire barriers, because these elements are noncombustible,
inherently fire resistance, durable, and are economical to construct.
They may be designed to maintain structural integrity for over
four hours of fire exposure. Concrete masonry is also used to
protect the structural integrity of steel from fire exposure.
4. Structural Integrity:
Masonry can be used with all roofing systems, and it has excellent
load bearing capacity for supporting roofs and additional floors.
Plus, it resists the forces of heavy snows and wind shears. The
cavities in concrete block easily accommodate vertical steel reinforcement.
Because of masonry’s reliability and performance proven, it’s
been used for centuries in government, institutional, industrial
and commercial buildings.
5. Low Insurance Rates:
Masonry construction provides better protection from break-ins,
fires and severe weather conditions. This helps to keep insurance
rates lower than with other types of construction.
6. Better insulated (R values):
The thermal mass of concrete masonry walls insulate against outside
temperatures better than metal walls to help maintain constant
temperatures inside while reducing your heating and cooling costs.
Because of their mass, concrete masonry buildings often require
much lower insulation levels. Masonry cavity walls provide a wide
array of options for including insulation to obtain high R values.
7. Design Flexibility:
Concrete masonry units are manufactured and ready for delivery
in a short period, unlike custom manufactured precast walls. And,
masonry walls can be easily adjusted at any time to suit job-site
conditions, even after construction has started, and without production
delays.
8. Environmentally Safe:
Pre-finished masonry units such as colored Fullface Split, Ultra®
Burnished, and Premier Glazed® units, manufactured with integral
water repellant, provide additional benefits of safety through
environmental health, pursuant to Section 183 (c) of the Clean
Air Act National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards
for Architectural coatings. Products like this emit no Volatile
Organic Compounds into the air. Example: Concrete block with one
coat of Latex paint is limited to a maximum emission VOC’s of
400 grams or 3.3 pounds per gallon into the air. If this is exceeded
by use of epoxies or higher solid content Latex or Enamel paints,
an exceedance fee will be charged by the manufacturer and paid
to the Federal government, increasing the cost of new construction
and maintenance of existing buildings.
9. Reduced Sound Transmission:
Unwanted noise is a major distraction, both in the home as well
as the work environment. Because of its mass and rigidity, concrete
masonry is especially effective in reducing the transmission of
unwanted noise and sound.
10. Better Resale Value:
Masonry buildings look better than metal, maintain their beauty
longer and give you more building for your money.
