masonry
A load-bearing frame composed of many small solid units stacked or piled on top of each other.
Pictured: Washington Monument
A masonry framework is a load-bearing structure composed of bricks, stones, or other small-to-medium sized discrete pieces of solid material stacked or piled over each other, and usually joined by mortar or some other bonding agent.
Masonry is historically very common as a frame material. Along with wood, it is the dominant framing material for older structures (up to the late 19th century), and is still extremely common although mainly for smaller buildings. It is occasionally used for buildings over 5 stories tall, and rarely but sometimes used in high-rise construction.
It is not necessarily possible to discern a masonry structure by looking at the facade. Many buildings with masonry facades have internal framing systems of reinforced concrete, steel, or other materials.
masonry Photos
More specific definitions
8 sub-definitions-
aac masonry unit
A load-bearing frame composed of small blocks of very lightweight porous concrete. -
adobe
A load-bearing frame constructed of sunbaked earthen materials mixed with natural fibers. -
brick
A load-bearing frame composed of small, mostly-solid blocks of baked minerals joined by mortar. -
cellular brick
A load-bearing frame composed of largely hollow bricks or clay blocks perforated with several holes. -
concrete masonry unit
A load-bearing frame composed of small blocks of concrete joined by mortar. -
eps masonry unit
A load-bearing framework assembled from individual blocks of expanded polystyrene foam plastic. -
ice
A load-bearing framework made from frozen water, including solid ice or packed snow, with or without discrete masonry blocks. -
stone
A load-bearing structure made from natural stone, including cut pieces or uncut rocks assembled into a supporting frame.
Related definitions
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concrete
A load-bearing skeletal structure made of hardened concrete, with the concrete carrying structural loads. -
cross-laminated timber
Structural timber members made from bonded layers of wood with adjacent layers oriented at right angles. -
metal
A load-bearing frame composed of pure or alloyed metallic structural members. -
mixed materials
A load-bearing frame composed of multiple materials acting together to provide structural support. -
organic
A load-bearing skeletal frame made from materials harvested from organisms, especially fibrous plants.