Masonry Design and Detailing: For Architects, Engineers, and Contractors. This item is unavailable.Masonry Design and Detailing: For Architects, Engineers, and Contractors

This is a technical guide to the effective use of brick, stone, glass, terra cotta, and concrete masonry. Written in a style to serve practicing architects, engineers, masonry contractors, and students, this revision features much new and revised material; the latest modifications to several ASTM standards and new ACI/ASCE 530 masonry building codes; new chapters on masonry veneer, movement, moisture control, cleaning and restoration; evolving systems and technology; and recently developed materials.

By John M. Carol issue #149; August/September issueWhile book and magazine articles are of little help when it comes to the physical skills of masonry (or any other trade for that matter), they are a vital source of information everything else connected to masonry construction. Masonry structures have to be designed, materials chosen, pitfalls articulated, building techniques evaluated--all before the job starts. Unfortunately, this kind of information can be hard to find. For this reason, I was extremely pleased to discover Christine Beall's no-nonsense book "Masonry Design and Detailing. Written for both commercial and residential designers and builders, the book contains an enormous amount of technical information that is clearly presented in plain, easy-to-understand English.The second part of the book, which deals with masonry materials, is probably the most useful section for residential builders. It discusses, for example, the three distinct kinds of mortars: portland cement/lime mortars; masonry cement mortars and "mortar cement" mortars. Each of these mortar varieties can be formulated to meet any of several ASTM performance standards and are designated as types M, S, N, O and K. Beall helps to sort out the confusing process of selecting the best type of mortar to use for specific jobs.The selection of mortar is but one in a long list of important decisions that designers, builders, and/or masons have to make before embarking on a masonry project. Once the project is under way, builders and masons need to understand the materials they're using and know how the systems they're building are designed to work. Little things, like how concrete blocks are stored orhow wall ties are installed, can have a big impact on the quality of the job. Beall's ability to catalog the materials and systems that are available and to recommend techniques for each, while also explaining in detail how and why these materials and systems work, are what makes this reference interesting, informative and highly recommended.