According to the National Custom and Self Build Association, brick and block (masonry) is the second most popular build system, with a self-build market share of 35% compared to structural timber, which has 40%. This month, I’ll take a detailed look at masonry and will explain everything you need to know when building with this popular system.
WHAT IS A MASONRY BUILDING SYSTEM?
When we refer to masonry as a building system, we’re actually talking about the structural inner leaf, which is built most commonly in concrete blocks. This inner leaf of blockwork forms the engineered structure of the house and provides the support to roofs, windows, doors and external cladding. Unfortunately, most of the types of concrete blocks offer little in the way of thermal resistance and therefore the block inner leaf generally does little to improve thermal performance — its purpose is structural. There are exceptions, such as lightweight thermal blocks, but even these will require additional insulation to meet the latest requirements of Building Regulations.
Masonry-based building systems are popular because of the ease with which they can be used. They are well understood by most designers and building contractors, and have proven to be reliable over hundreds of thousands of homes and over many decades. While they might be a relatively slow building method compared with timber systems, the materials are cheap and readily available.
A masonry wall is formed with an inner
