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Advertising supplement provided by Portland Cement Association

by Jennifer Grover Prokopy

Continuing Education Use the following learning objectives to focus your study while reading this month’s ARCHITECTURAL RECORD / AIA Continuing Education article. Learning Objective: After reading this article, you will be able to: 1. Possess an increased knowledge of the properties and uses of various types of masonry mortars. 2. Recognize the prescribed standards used to measure the quality and performance of masonry mortars. 3. Use your new knowledge to develop a masonry mortar quality assurance program that can be applied to your future projects.

Modern Masonry Means More Choices

Masonry is the material of choice for many architects when it comes to building an enduring public image. With masonry units and mortars available in a variety of shapes and a rainbow of colors, architects are limited only by their imaginations. The strength and security offered by modern masonry are attractive to developers of civic structures, creating schools and institutions that are fire-resistant and protect occupants from extreme weather and natural disasters. Solid mass and sound absorption properties make masonry an attractive material for building libraries, museums, theaters and auditoriums. Masonry’s aesthetic beauty, longevity and low maintenance make it ideal for nearly any building.

The variety of masonry options means architects must choose their materials wisely, from mortar mix and color to masonry unit shape, size and design. Some of these decisions are made during the specification phase, and others are made in the field during construction. Along with the artistic expression afforded by the wide variety of masonry choices comes the responsibility to address materials, systems, construction requirements and quality assurance.

 

Hillcrest Baptist Church. Pensacola, FL. Architect: Danny Grundhoefer — Quina, Grundhoefer, Royal Architects. Photo by Chris J. Roberts.

This continuing education unit will show you how to make informed decisions about masonry mortars. We begin by offering some background on mortars and their properties, and then address the necessary steps in developing a quality assurance program that will ensure your masonry projects are successful. We also examine the role of quality control in the construction process, and clear up some common misconceptions about ASTM testing.