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 and Ultra® Burnished 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.
