1. MasonryMasonry
TerminologyTerminology
Mr. LarsonMr. Larson
06-0706-07

2. Unique termsUnique terms
 The masonry industry uses manyThe masonry industry uses many
terms that have no meaning or useterms that have no meaning or use
to the general public. Terms that areto the general public. Terms that are
almost comical.almost comical.
 Head jointsHead joints
 Bed jointsBed joints
 Hog in the wallHog in the wall
 Frog in the brickFrog in the brick
 Butter your earsButter your ears
 Burning the jointBurning the joint

3. More common termsMore common terms
 Admixtures:Admixtures:
• Materials added toMaterials added to
mortar to impart specialmortar to impart special
properties to theproperties to the
mortar.mortar.
 Anchor:Anchor:
• A piece or assemblage,A piece or assemblage,
usually metal, used tousually metal, used to
attach building parts toattach building parts to
masonry or masonrymasonry or masonry
materials.materials.

4. AnchorAnchor

5. BackupBackup: the part of a masonry wall: the part of a masonry wall
behind the exterior facing.behind the exterior facing.
BatBat: A piece of brick.: A piece of brick.
Bed jointBed joint: The: The
horizontal layer ofhorizontal layer of
mortar on which amortar on which a
masonry unit ismasonry unit is
laid.laid.

6. BondBond::
• Tying various parts of a masonry wall byTying various parts of a masonry wall by
lapping units one over another or bylapping units one over another or by
connecting with metal ties.connecting with metal ties.
• Patterns formed by exposed faces of units.Patterns formed by exposed faces of units.
• Adhesion between mortar or grout andAdhesion between mortar or grout and
masonry units or reinforcementmasonry units or reinforcement..
Interlocking
masonry bond

7. Bond BeamBond Beam: course or courses of a: course or courses of a
masonry wall grouted and usuallymasonry wall grouted and usually
reinforced in the horizontal direction.reinforced in the horizontal direction.
Serves as horizontal tie of wall,Serves as horizontal tie of wall,
bearing course for structuralbearing course for structural
members or as a flexural membermembers or as a flexural member
itself.itself.

8. BrickBrick: a solid masonry unit of clay or: a solid masonry unit of clay or
shale, formed into a rectangularshale, formed into a rectangular
prism while plastic and burned orprism while plastic and burned or
fired in a kiln.fired in a kiln.

9. ClayClay: a natural, mineral aggregate: a natural, mineral aggregate
consisting essentially of hydrousconsisting essentially of hydrous
aluminum silicate; it is plastic whenaluminum silicate; it is plastic when
sufficiently wetted, rigid when driedsufficiently wetted, rigid when dried
and vitrified when fired to aand vitrified when fired to a
sufficiently high temp.sufficiently high temp.
ButteringButtering: placing: placing
mortar on a masonrymortar on a masonry
unit with a trowel.unit with a trowel.

10. CloserCloser: Last masonry unit laid in a: Last masonry unit laid in a
course. It may be whole or a portioncourse. It may be whole or a portion
of a unit.of a unit.
CourseCourse: One of the continuous: One of the continuous
horizontal layers of units, bondedhorizontal layers of units, bonded
with mortar in masonry.with mortar in masonry.

11. DripDrip: a projecting piece of material,: a projecting piece of material,
shaped to throw off water andshaped to throw off water and
prevent its running down the face ofprevent its running down the face of
wall or other surface.wall or other surface.
EarsEars: the ends of a stretcher block: the ends of a stretcher block
where the head joint is formed;where the head joint is formed;
found only on stretcher block that dofound only on stretcher block that do
not have square ends.not have square ends.

12. Efflorescence:Efflorescence: a powder or staina powder or stain
sometimes found on the surface ofsometimes found on the surface of
masonry, resulting form deposition ofmasonry, resulting form deposition of
water soluble salts.water soluble salts.
FaceFace::
• The exposed surface of a wall orThe exposed surface of a wall or
masonry unit.masonry unit.
• The surface of a unit designed to beThe surface of a unit designed to be
exposed in the finished masonry.exposed in the finished masonry.

13. FlashingFlashing: a thin impervious material: a thin impervious material
placed in mortar joints and throughplaced in mortar joints and through
air spaces in masonry to preventair spaces in masonry to prevent
water penetration and/or providewater penetration and/or provide
water drainage.water drainage.
FrogFrog: a depression in the bed surface: a depression in the bed surface
of a brick. Sometimes called aof a brick. Sometimes called a panel.panel.

14. GroutGrout: Mixture of cementitious: Mixture of cementitious
material and aggregate to whichmaterial and aggregate to which
sufficient water is added to producesufficient water is added to produce
pouring consistency withoutpouring consistency without
segregation of the constituents.segregation of the constituents.
High lift Low liftHigh lift Low lift

15. Head JointHead Joint: The vertical mortar joint: The vertical mortar joint
between ends of masonry units.between ends of masonry units.
Often called cross joint.Often called cross joint.

16. Hog in the WallHog in the Wall: The trade term: The trade term
describing a masonry wall that isdescribing a masonry wall that is
built to the same height on bothbuilt to the same height on both
ends but that has one end of the wallends but that has one end of the wall
containing more courses than thecontaining more courses than the
other. This is usually caused by oneother. This is usually caused by one
mason laying bigger mortar jointsmason laying bigger mortar joints
under the bricks than are laid by theunder the bricks than are laid by the
other mason.other mason.

17. RackingRacking: a method entailing stepping: a method entailing stepping
back successive courses of masonry.back successive courses of masonry.
SpallSpall: a small fragment removed from: a small fragment removed from
the face of a masonry unit by a blowthe face of a masonry unit by a blow
or by action of the elements.or by action of the elements.

18. LeadLead: section of a wall built up and: section of a wall built up and
racked back on successive courses. Aracked back on successive courses. A
line is attached to leads as a guideline is attached to leads as a guide
for constructing a wall between themfor constructing a wall between them

19. SoldierSoldier: a stretcher set on end: a stretcher set on end
with face showing on the wallwith face showing on the wall
surface.surface.
StretcherStretcher: a masonry unit laid: a masonry unit laid
with its greatest dimensionwith its greatest dimension
horizontal and its face parallelhorizontal and its face parallel
to the wall face.to the wall face.
Header
Shiner
Soldier
Stretcher
Rowlock
Sailor

20. Stringing MortarStringing Mortar::
procedure ofprocedure of
spreading enoughspreading enough
mortar on a bed tomortar on a bed to
lay severallay several
masonry unitsmasonry units
Temper: to moisten
and mix clay, plaster
or mortar to a proper
consistency

21. ToolingTooling: compressing and shaping the: compressing and shaping the
face of a mortar joint with a specialface of a mortar joint with a special
tool other than a trowel.tool other than a trowel.
Tuck pointingTuck pointing: filling in with fresh: filling in with fresh
mortar of cutout or defective mortarmortar of cutout or defective mortar
joint in masonry.joint in masonry.

22. VeneerVeneer: a single wythe of masonry for: a single wythe of masonry for
facing purposes, not structurallyfacing purposes, not structurally
bonded.bonded.
Wall tieWall tie: a bonder or metal piece: a bonder or metal piece
which connects wythes of masonry towhich connects wythes of masonry to
each other or in other material.each other or in other material.