The Incredible Building Block – The Brick!
It’s small enough to hold in one hand and when bonded together goes together to form a work of triumph or tragedy; the brick has been used as the building product of choice for over 5000 years.
Made predominantly from pliable clay, add heat and this material is transformed into ‘rock’ (a process called vitrification) that has a compressive strength of up to 1000lbs per square inch. Add certain minerals and compounds and this compressive strength can be increased even further.
Bricks are a durable building and construction material that has been the cornerstone of engineering over the centuries. With good load-bearing properties, high thermal mass and potential low energy impact, the brick’s versatility has been shown in the construction of walls such as the Great Wall of China down to houses, drives, chimneys and arches.
Whilst a brick is strong, fireproof (you only have to see that the Great Fire of London in 1666 stopped wherever a brick building lay in its path) and resistant to the elements, any weakness lies in the mortar-the adhesive sand and cement or sand and lime agent that ‘glues’ the structure together.
The effect Earthquakes have on brick structures.
Brick structures do not like to be shaken, the vibration from earthquakes being responsible for any failure of the building. This failure occurs at the weakest point – the mortar joints. New build construction has developed special seismic brick ties that are fixed to the inner structural core. The brick façade has the ability to move up and down the building and ‘float’ as an independent unit.
Other advances have been developed to make existing buildings in earthquake prone areas more resilient to damage. New epoxy reinforcing ‘fabric’ can be adhered over a brick face which disperses forces so that the bricks and mortar are held together thus minimising any damage.
Brick as a Modern Methods of Construction
With the requirements to build lighter and stronger buildings more quickly, steel frame and concrete structures are now being employed as the construction method of choice for structural walls and frames with brick being used as an aesthetic decorative cladding product.
With sustainable construction high on the agenda, efforts are being made to reduce the impact brick manufacture has on the environment. Recycled glass and other waste materials have been introduced into the brick manufacturing process and can reduce firing times, temperatures and toxic emissions. At the same time they improve brick strength and durability, as well as reducing the waste going to landfill.
Earth bricks such as adobe and CEBs measure high on the sustainability index as they are made from locally available clay, sand, and water; low technology compression equipment is employed along with solar energy that assists the firing kilns.
Modern methods of brick construction have a much lower sustainability index. The UK brick industry has attempted to reduce the environmental impact of brick manufacture and continues to look at additional ways to increase its energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources.
To know more please log on to http://www.wholebuild.co.uk/site/sustainableconstruction
Filed under Stones & Bricks | Tags: brick manufacture, building block, building product, incredible building, incredible building block | Comment (0)Why Stucco Can Be a Damage Nightmare
I have worked with many products over the years and each has their pro and con but I have never seen the kind of nightmarish damage that unproperly applied Stucco can do. Take one project for example, there was a home owner who had a home with exterior stucco that didn’t have proper channels installed and was generally poor in it’s application and the water/general damage was massive, so much so he documented it on a site about the lawsuit.
To quote the introduction of the site:
“In 2002, the Thomas family contracted with a St. Louis based stucco and plaster company to install new stucco on the exterior of their home in St. Louis County, Missouri. A contract was drawn up with Lucas Stucco & EIFS Design, LLC. It was signed by Mr. Thomas for the homeowner, and Ralf Schlaefli of Lucas Stucco & EIFS Design. The stucco used was manufactured by Parex®, Inc. The contract called for Ralf Schlaefli to be personally present at the jobsite during most of the time that the Parex® stucco was being installed.
The type of material to be used was specified in the Parex® warranty as “Parex® one coat 210 stucco with 310 primer and acrylic finish.”
There are two basic types of stucco systems used in residential applications. One is a “hard-coat”, cement based material. The other is a Styrofoam-type panel covered with a thin coat of stucco, which is often referred to as an “Exterior Insulation and Finish System” or “EIFS” for short. The Thomas’s contracted to purchase a hard-coat, cement-based Parex® stucco, not an EIFS stucco system, because of the moisture problems often associated with the EIFS systems.
After the cement stucco was applied to the exterior of the home, the Thomas’s noticed cracks and pitting in the concrete stucco material, along with other defects. They contacted the installer who claimed that the job did not need repair. “
When I look at reports like that and other conversations on the subject I cant help but wonder if Stucco is worth the risk when there are many other options just as affordable and without the risk of damage from quality or application? There is now siding designed to look like wood or stone that can give just as good of a finish and be repaired or installed much easier and less intrusively.
http://stuccodamagelawsuit.com/
Filed under Stones & Bricks | Tags: applied, damage, exterior, home, nightmare, risk, stucco, unproperly | Comment (0)Why Hire a Professional to Install Your Granite Countertops?
Granite is a beautiful material to use for your kitchen and bathroom countertops. Many people, however, underestimate just how difficult granite is to install once it is purchased. Many homeowners believe that this is a project that they can take on themselves. If you have experience installing granite countertops, then perhaps you can take on this task. If, however, you are like most homeowners with no experience in this area, you should use a professional to ensure that it is installed properly.
One of the first reasons that you should hire a professional to install your granite counter tops is that everything has to be perfectly in place in order for the counter top to fit correctly. Unlike other types of countertops that can be placed on top of your space and glued into place, granite is very heavy and requires additional support. Professionals will install rebar and other supports to ensure that the granite doesn’t break because of the weight. These supports have to be completely level or else the granite will be unstable. The proper supports to be used are determined based on the weight and thickness of the granite slab. These are best chosen by a builder rather than a laymen.
Another reason you should use a professional to install your granite countertops is the expense involved. When you are talking about a piece of stone that costs around a thousand dollars, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. The slightest miscalculation can lead to costly mistakes. When you hire a professional for installation, they assume any costs that occur from a mistake. It is better to have that type of protection and pay a bit more for installation than it is to do it yourself and have to eat the entire cost of the granite should you make a mistake.
Granite is a stone that will last a lifetime once it is installed. It is beautiful and won’t ever go out of style. With the high price of granite, you should always use a professional to ensure that it is installed correctly and will last the way that it should.
For more than 15 years Onis Stone has combined knowledge, personal service, and creative design to professionally install granite, marble, travertine and limestone.
Filed under Stones & Bricks | Tags: granite counter tops, granite countertops, installing granite, installing granite countertops | Comment (0)Brick Paver Bedding Material And Its Purpose
Bedding Sand Material and its purpose.
Bedding Material (Types)
When selecting a bedding sand material, there are four general characteristics that should be considered.
1. Gradation of material
2. Particle Shape
3. Hardness
4. Moisture content.
The proper gradation of bedding sand ensures the sands ability to allow for proper drainage and will become dense under compaction. Bedding material under all paver application should conform to ASTM C 33 or CSA A23.1 specifications.
The bedding sand particles should be sharp and symmetrical. Non-symmetrical particles will not compact properly and may have a tendency to cause uneven settling over time. Bedding material particles should also be free of any foreign matter. Such as larger pieces of rock and dirt / organic material.
Pavement failures can result from a bedding material that is to soft. Bedding sand material should contain durable particles that are derived from crushed aggregates / rock and will not break down under repeated traffic loads. Soft materials, such as stone dust or mason sand, should never be used as a bedding material. They often contain soft particles that will deteriorate over time and do not compact uniformly. The hardest bedding material that is available should be used as your bedding material. So check with your local suppliers, to see which bedding material products they carry. Limestone screens can be used, but may contribute to possible efflorescence issues later with your paving products.
Frozen or saturated bedding sand should never be installed. Bedding material that is too dry will not compact properly. If your bedding material is dry, then small amounts of water added to the material will help with the overall compaction.
As noted in Section 2, Bedding material should never be used to fill in any larger variations in the base course. Variations in the base course should be properly filled with a suitable base material and compacted.
Bedding Material Purpose
The Bedding Material generally has 3 functions:
1. Bedding material can ensure a consistent final elevation for the paver surface.
2. It helps effective load transfer between pavers.
3. It can act as a drainage medium.
When bedding material is installed, it can accommodate minor / subtle variations in the granular base course. The standard construction tolerances allow for maximum base deviations of 3/8 in ( 10mm ) over a 10 ft run. When the bedding sand material is properly installed, it can accommodate for these minor variations.
The effective load transfer between the pavers is a very critical factor in the overall success of your project. The applied loads are distributed from the individual pavers to the surrounding pavers through the sand between the pavers. During the compaction of the pavers, the bedding sand material will fill the bottom portion of the joints between the pavers. With the final application of jointing sand to the surface of the pavers, the sand will fill in joints from the top down and will ensure the proper structural integrity of the paver system.
After installation of the pavers, a fair amount of water can drain down through the joints and filter into the bedding sand material. Over time the joints between the pavers will fill in and become sealed and only allowing smaller amounts of water to filter through to the bedding sand. The ability of the bedding sand to compact tightly and still allow water to drain during the early stages of the paver application is very important to the overall success of your project.
Bedding Material Thickness
Bedding sand material should be spread and screeded to a consistent thickness of 1 in to 1 1/2 in ( 25mm to 40mm ) after final compaction.
Frozen and saturated bedding material should never be installed. Excessive bedding sand material over 1-1/2 in can and will create the risk of inconsistent compaction and an uneven paver surface over time.
Setting your final grades
Before you start to spread and screed your bedding sand material, you should set your final elevations / grades on your project. This can be achieved by attaching a string line to your grade stakes that you set prior to your base installation. The grade stakes should already be set with your final paver elevations. The top of the string line will represent the top of the paver surface and the finished grade on your project. This will also provide you with a reference line to inspect the positive pitch / slope for surface drainage. Remember that a minimum of 1 in per 10 ft run is recommended for effective drainage.
Screed Rails and Screeding Bedding Materials.
Once you have your final elevations set, you can set your screed rails and begin screeding your bedding material. Screeding bedding sand material is typically done by using 1-1/4in to 1-3/4 in ( 30mm to 40mm ) pipes that are set on top of the compacted gravel base. Set the initial screed rail on top of the compacted base material just below the string line so that the screed rail runs parallel with the string. The top edge of the screed rail will represent the finished elevation of the bedding sand material. By taking a paver and resting it on top of the screed rail it should match your finished paver elevation. With the paver on top of the screed rail, it is best to adjust your screed rail so the paver elevation sits a little higher then the finished elevation of the paver. This is to compensate for compaction and settling. With your first screed rail set at the proper elevation you can now set your second screed rail at the same elevation. Set the second screed rail parallel 10 ft apart from the first rail. Once you have both your screed rails set, you can place a straight edge or 2 x 4 strike board across both rails. Make sure you use a level on top of the straight edge or 2 x 4 strike board to ensure that your second screed rail is at the same elevation as the first rail. On areas that are typically wider then 10 ft, an additional screed rail can be set parallel to the existing rails. This will help prevent the straight edge or 2 x 4 strike board from bowing in the middle.
With the screed rails set, you can begin to fill the area between the rails with your bedding sand material. The preferable thickness of the bedding material should be at 1-1/4 in (30mm). This thickness should be consistent throughout the whole project. With the bedding sand material between the rails and in front of the straight edge / strike board, you can now begin to screed your bedding material by pulling the material down the length of the screed rails. The bedding sand material after screeding should be free of any irregularities and voids. If any do exist, they should be filled and screeded a second time. The finished layer of bedding material should be smooth and consistent.
With the bedding material screeded, do an overall inspection of the area before you move the screed rail. After your inspection, the screed rails can be moved and their depressions should be filled with additional bedding sand material. Use a trowel to finish off the surfae so it blends into the existing bedding sand material. Always screed a large enough area to stay well ahead of the paver installers. After the sand has been screeded it should not be disturbed, even pedestrian traffic can do damage to the screeded bedding material. Only screed enough material for the amount of pavers that you will install in a days time.
Paver that are sand set should always be set on a loose, un-compacted layer of bedding material. The pavers once installed can be compacted with a vibratory tamper. this will set the pavers into the bedding material.
Paver installation and Edging to follow soon.
Kurt Glave has over 28 years of professional experience in the Landscape / Hardscape Industry. He also started the original Hardscape Expo & Conference Tradeshow and is now a Regional Sales Manager for RCP / http://www.silvercreekstoneworks.com
Filed under Stones & Bricks | Tags: base course, bedding material, bedding sand, bedding sand material, sand material, screed rail | Comment (0)Stone Tables – Understanding the Material
Natural stone is a beautiful expression of the earth that can enhance the style and sophistication of any environment where it is used. However, most people don’t realize that the term stone can actually be applied to a variety of materials. This is important to note because different types of stone will have different durability and liabilities, which can be especially vital when dealing with stone table tops that get a relatively heavy amount of use during their lifetimes.
One of the most durable materials that you can use in table top applications is slate. This rustic stone is available in a natural cleft finish, which most closely resembles what people perceive rock to be, or in a smoother honed surface. Available in both solids and multi-colors, it is rated as one of the most durable and resilient materials available. Further, in multi-color form, the swirling unique patterns tend to make the piece resistant to staining, and easier to keep clean, as it doesn’t tend to end up looking messy easily.
Granite is another durable material that is fairly resistant to stains and scratches. It is often used in kitchen countertops, which come under the constant pressure of chopping and mixing, as well as a barrage of staining materials.
Sandstone, limestone, and travertine are relatively softer types of stone. In general these materials will be more likely to crack or chip than their stronger counterparts mentioned above. They will also be more susceptible to damage from stains.
Marble is probably the most delicate material that you can use in a table top application. It can stain easily when it comes in contact with an acidic substance, and the material itself is fairly fragile, meaning that it can chip or crack easily. Also in polished marble applications, the polish can be scratched quite easily.
One way to protect all of these stones, and keep them looking new and fresh is to regularly apply a chemical sealant agent to the material. This will clog the natural pores in the stone, making it impervious to spills that may occur. There is unfortunately no way to prevent cracks and scratches except care, although a finishing agent can create a slight invisible barrier over the surface of the stone.
Outdoor tables should be limited to materials that will either be able to withstand the constant pressure of the elements, or will at least weather nicely, taking on an ancient and antiqued look as the years continue to affect the stone.
Stone tables are a great way to bring the beauty and power of nature into your home, but you should be aware of the type of material you choose, and the care and maintenance that the type of stone will require.
PebbleZ.com is host to a wide selection of attractive natural stone kitchen tables, crafted from unique pieces of mountain born mosaic tiles. These hand crafted pieces are precision manufactured right her in the United States. The author of this article is Jim Slate, a stone artist and artisan.
Filed under Stones & Bricks | Tags: material natural stone, materials available, resilient materials available, stone tables | Comment (0)Diamond Blade Troubleshooting of Slow Cutting Speed and Blade Life
Slow cutting speed is one of the most unfavorable features of a diamond blade. The causes usually occur when a blade is used to cut a material that is too hard for the segment. The hard material wears the exposed diamonds, but no the metal portion of the segment. The segment wears too slowly and no new diamonds are exposed, and therefore, slow cutting speed develops. Solutions include cutting the blade into a soft abrasive material like asphalt, block sandstone or dried mortar to expose the diamonds. If the this problem is allowed to continue, heat builds up and the blade begins to bounce leading to segment loss, core cracks and a very unsafe condition. At this point, a different diamond blade needs to be considered.
Other unfavorable conditions for diamond blades include short blade life. This problem usually occurs when a blade is used to cut a material that is too soft and abrasive for the segment. The abrasive material wears the metal of the segment too fast, and shorter blade life occurs. To rectify the problem, choose a more aggregate appropriate blade with a more wear resistant bond. Also check water flow and make sure the blade is rated for the equipment being used. Make sure the saw is in good condition. If these problems are not addressed, the full life and efficiency of the blade will not develop.
Customers must decide which is more important either cutting speed or blade life. Fast cutting speed will get the job done quicker and allow the contractor to move on the next project. Blade life will allow the contractor to get more out of his investment in the blade but may slow the project down. U.S. based diamond companies can make adjustments to the segments for the customer and get the project up and running quickly. By varying the size and quality of the diamonds and types of powders, the adjustments can make significant changes.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Dixie Diamond manufacturing is pleased to introduce the new Hardscaper diamond blade. The diamond blades versatile makeup allows for it cut concrete, brick, paver, block and stone. The segment height of the blade contains .350 inch depth of industrial diamonds. the blade is used primarily on diamond blade cut off saws ad masonry sws and can be used for wet or dry cutting.
The diamond blade is offered in 12 and 14 inch diameters and is popular with landscapes feturing various types of hard materials in patio, pool, and wall building. With just one blade, the contractor ca solve most cutting challenges rather than carrying several types of blades. The blade is made in the USA and has been featured in severl trade publications.
Filed under Stones & Bricks | Tags: cut off saw, diamond blade, diamond saw blade | Comment (0)