a material that speeds the initial setting time of concrete or mortar.
air barrier
a material used in the building envelope to retard the passage of air.
alumina
a mineral contained in clay used for brickmaking.
angle iron
a structural section of steel in the form of a 90 degree angle used, in certain situations, to support brickwork.
ash dump
a trap door for ashes in the floor of a fireplace leading to a chute.
backup wall
the part of a masonry wall behind the exterior facing.
batter
recessing or sloping masonry in successive courses; the opposite of a corbel
buttering
applying mortar to a masonry unit with a trowel.
castables
a refractory concrete that can be installed by pouring, gunning, shotcreting and hand tamping
cavity wall
a multi-wythe wall built of masonry units arranged to provide a continuous air space.
cement
a burned mixture of clay and limestone pulverized (crushed) for making mortar or concrete.
control joint
a joint or space to allow for dimensional change of parts of a structure due to expansion, shrinkage, temperature variations or other causes.
corbel
to build a projection or one of a series of projections, of masonry, brick, or concrete built into a wall or any standing member, each projecting progressively farther from its anchoring point and used to support an overhanging member above.
course
one of the continuous horizontal layers of units, bonded with mortar in masonry
curtain wall
a non- load-bearing wall built for the enclosure of a building.
dowels
straight metal bars used to connect two sections of masonry.
Dutchman repair
a repair involving carefully fitting a new piece of stone into a pocket cut into the existing stone and finishing the new piece to match the surrounding existing stone.
expansion joint
a joint in a concrete or masonry structure designed to permit expansion without damage to the structure.
extrados
the upper or exterior curve of an arch.
face
the exposed surface of a wall or masonry unit.
flashing
shielding material (often sheet metal) put around building openings to prevent water penetration and/or provide water drainage.
footing
the broadened base of a foundation wall or other superstructure.
foundation wall
that portion of a load-bearing wall below the level of the adjoining grade, or below first floor beams or joists.
grout
a glue like component of high water-cement ratio that permits it to be poured into spaces within masonry walls. Grout consists of water, Portland cement, lime and aggregate.
gunite machine
a pressurized applicator machine for refractory
hearth
that portion of a fireplace level with the floor, upon which the fire is built.
high temperature mortar
a mortar used for refractories.
insulation
a material with above-average thermal resistance, that inhibits the flow of heat.
joint
the narrow space between adjacent stones, bricks or other building blocks usually filled with mortar.
kerf
to slot into the edge of stone with a saw blade for the insertion of anchors.
keystone
wedge-shaped stone at the crown of an arch.
lateral support
means whereby walls are braced either vertically or horizontally by columns, pilasters, crosswalls, beams, floors and roofs.
lime
the result of limestone burned in a kiln until the carbon dioxide has been driven off.
lintel
a beam placed over an opening in a load-bearing wall.
masonry
brick, tile and stone or combination thereof, bonded with mortar.
mortar
a plastic mixture of glue-like materials, fine aggregate and water.
parging
the process of applying a coat of cement mortar on masonry.
pilaster
a pillar of brick work, rectangular in form, used as a supplement to a pier, usually projecting one-third of the thickness of the wall.
pointing
pushing mortar into a joint after the masonry units are laid.
reglet
a groove in material or structure to accept flashing.
reinforcing
steel bars, wire mesh and reinforcement wire which are embedded in concrete to give extra tensile strength to resist movement in concrete slabs, walls, beams and columns.
retardant
a set inhibitor to delay the setting and curing time of concrete and mortar.
smoke chamber
the space in a fireplace immediately above the throat where the smoke gathers before passing into the flue.
stone cladding
masonry units that are mechanically fastened to a structural backup wall. Stone used for cladding are typically large and are pre-finished in a stone-cutting and finishing shop.
template
any form or pattern, such as centring, over which brickwork may be formed.
tie
any unit of material that connects masonry units or other materials.
veneer wall
a non-load-bearing wall securely anchored to a non-masonry backup wall.
voussoir
wedge-shaped masonry units which form an arch ring.
waterproofing
a coating used to treat the surface of the substrate, preventing liquid from entering, but allowing water vapour to pass.
weep holes
small openings left in the outer walls of masonry construction as an outlet for water to move outside the wall and evaporate.
winterization
the process of organizing the work site for winter operation, which include heating and hoarding of work area, providing proper storage of materials, warming sand and water and protecting masonry work in progress.
wythe
a continuous vertical section of masonry, one unit in thickness.
