Masonry, Metal, and Steel Works

• Masonry


  A method of building walls or constructions that entails piling materials such as bricks, stone blocks, or concrete blocks on top of one another. Masons use mortar, an adhesive substance that fills in spaces and holds objects together, to layer these materials.
• Masonry


  • Robust, long-lasting, soundproof, fireproof, thermally efficient
• Masonry construction materials


  • Brick, glass block, cinder block, cast stone, marble, granite, travertine
• Concrete masonry units


  Can be either solid or hollow
• Common masonry units


  • Glass block
  • Hollow
  • Solid
  • Stone
  • Clay bricks
  • CHB (Concrete Hollow Block)
• CHB (Concrete Hollow Block)


  A common masonry unit used in construction, composed of a cement and sand combination cast under pressure to form a block. Available in various sizes, commonly 4" and 6" in the Philippines.
• CHB bonding patterns and arrangements


  • Running bond
  • English bond
  • Common/American bond
  • Stack bond
  • Flemish bond
• Running bond


  A simple bricklaying pattern where each row of bricks is offset by half a brick width from the row above and below it.
• English bond


  Alternate courses consist entirely of stretchers (long side of the brick facing outwards) and headers (short end of the brick facing outwards).
• Common/American bond


  Similar to the running bond, but with courses (rows) of bricks alternating between full-length and half-length bricks.
• Stack bond


  Bricks are laid directly on top of each other in a vertical stack without any overlap, creating a clean and modern look, often used for decorative purposes or in contemporary architecture.
• Flemish bond


  This pattern alternates between stretchers (full-length bricks) and headers (short-end bricks) in each course, resulting in a distinct and decorative look.
• Stone masonry


  A type of masonry construction that is done with mortar and stones. Stone is strong in compression but weak in tension, making it ideal for foundations, floors, retaining walls, arches, walls, and columns, but it performs poorly in the construction of beam and roof structures.
• Stone masonry applications


  • Walkways, patios, driveways, retaining walls, fireplace designs, building facades, walls, and foundations
• Stone classification


  • Ashlar
  • Rubble
• Clay bricks


  Small, rectangular blocks made of fired clay, with varying compositions of silica, alumina, lime, iron, manganese, sulfur, and phosphates.
• Clay brick applications


  • Structural walls, exterior and interior walls, bearing and non-bearing walls, fireplaces and hearths
• Clay brick classification


  • Common bricks
  • Face bricks
  • Calcium silicate
• Clay tile


  A ceramic product made up of a solid unit of clay or shale, or both, formed into any shape, generally rectangular planar shapes, and fired in a kiln.
• Glass bricks/blocks


  Glass-based wall bricks that offer light transmission and optical visibility, used in walls, skylights, and sidewalk lights.
• Plaster


  A building material used for coating, protecting, and decorating internal walls and ceilings, typically a composition of gypsum, lime or cement with water and sand, manufactured as a dry powder and worked into a stiff paste with water before application.
• Plaster mixture classifications


  • Class A (1:2 ratio, for waterproofing application)
  • Class B (1:3 ratio, for rough plastering base/second coating)
  • Class C (1:4 ratio, used similarly to 1:2 mixture for rough plastering base)
• Plaster applications


  Creating architectural moldings like ceiling roses, cornices, and corbels, and as a coating for smoothing inner wall and ceiling surfaces.
• Mortar


  A combination of sand, a binding agent like cement or lime, and water, used in masonry buildings to bridge the space between building blocks, applied as a paste that hardens and binds the masonry units.
• Mortar mixture classifications


  • Class A (1:2 ratio, for bricklaying/piling, provides balanced strength and workability)
  • Class B (1:3 ratio, similar to Class A but offers less strength and more workability)
  • Class C (1:4 ratio, for areas not needing high strength)
• Mortar applications


  Used as a bed to even out irregularities of masonry units, and as an adhesive between individual masonry units being stacked, as well as to fill gaps within bricks or CHB to ensure tight walls and other masonry works.
• Grout


  A mixture of cement, water, sand, and other materials used to fill cracks, fissures, or voids in a natural or man-made structure or materials, with various types like cement grout, chemical grouts, structural grout, bentonite grouts, and bituminous grout.
• Cement


  A powder-like material component used as a binding agent with aggregates and water when mixed together to create mortar, plaster, grout, and concrete.
• Aggregates


  Material components available in varying sizes, from fine like sand to coarse like gravel, used for mixing with cement and water for specific purposes.
• Carbon steel


  A unique type of steel with a higher carbon content of up to 2.5%, ideal for structural framework, roofing, reinforcing bars, bridges, railroads, tunnels, and utility pipelines, with varying properties based on carbon content (low, medium, high).
• Carbon steel


  • Durability, strength, shock resistance, making it an excellent construction material enhancing resilience to natural disasters
• Stainless steel


  A corrosion-resistant alloy made of iron, chromium, and nickel, with a 100% recovery rate in the construction sector, environmentally neutral, inert, and meeting sustainable construction needs without leaching compounds.
• Stainless steel applications


  • Culinary, surgical, and architectural applications due to corrosion resistance, kitchen sinks, cutlery, surgical implants, structural components like columns and beams, ornamental elements like stairs and railings
• Cast iron


  The general term for the class of iron-carbon alloys that have a carbon content of more than 2%, with the capacity to be melted and poured into molds to form a variety of forms and products, benefiting from its comparatively low melting temperature.
• Cast iron applications


  • Rail chairs and carriage wheels, enhancing track stability and support
• Aluminium


  A silver-white malleable metal with good electrical and thermal conductivity.
• Cast iron


  • Ability to be melted and poured into molds to form a variety of forms and products
  • Casting operations can benefit from its comparatively low melting temperature
• Stainless steel


  • Durable
  • Aesthetically pleasing
  • Low maintenance
  • Good strength, toughness, and fatigue characteristics
• Applications of stainless steel


  • Culinary
  • Surgical
  • Architectural
• Stainless steel


  • Corrosion resistant
  • Antibacterial properties
  • Does not affect the color, flavor, or scent of food