3MostImportantPropertiesofBrick

LitonBiswas

BuildingMaterials,MasonryWork

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Brickhasmanygoodpropertieswhichmakeitmostpopularbuildingmaterialintheindustry.Common
brickpropertiesare
Strength
Absorption
Weatherresistance
Fireresistance
WearResistance
Porosity
Efflorescence
SoundInsulation
ThermalInsulation
Durability
AestheticLook,etc.

Amongthemfollowingthreearemostimportantpropertiesofbrick.

3MostImportantPropertiesofBrick
1.Strength
2.Absorption
3.WeatherResistance

Strength:Brickhasgoodcompressivestrengthwhichmakesitpopularinconstructionworld.The
compressivestrengthofbrickcanvaryfrom3N/mmto40N/mmdependingonrawmaterialsusedfor
makingbrick,manufacturingprocessandsizeandshapeofbrick.

Butbrickmasonrywallstrengthisn'tonlydependsonbrickstrength.Italsodependsonmortarstrength,
bondqualitybetweenmortarandbricks.Bondqualitydependsmanythings.Suchasbricktextures,mortar
quality,absorptionandworkmanship.So,thebrickmasonrywallstrengthmaynotbesameasbrick
strength.
Absorption:Drybrickabsorbstoomuchwaterfrommortar.It'swhythemortarcannotbecuredproperly
anddevelopweakbondstrength.Sobrickshouldbesoakedproperlybeforemasonrywork(See:Howto
SoakBricks).
Themechanismofbondbetweenbricksandmortaristhatfreshmortarabsorbsintosurfaceporesofbrick
anddevelopbond.Ifthebrickismoistenedinsuchawaythatitlostitsabsorptioncapabilitythenitcannot
absorbmortarpasteanddevelopsweakbond.Sowesuggesttoremovebricksfromsoakingtankone
hourbeforestartingmasonryworksothatitcanregainitsabsorptioncapabilityofsurface.
ReadMore:TraditionalBrickBondPatternsUsedinMasonryWallConstruction

WeatherResistance:Brickismadefromclayandit'sburnedathightemperaturewhichcapableitto
withstandsevereweatheringimpact.Onlyoneweatheringeffectwhichaffectsthemasonrywallmostis
thefreezethawaction.Resistingitalmostdependsupontheresistingcapabilityofwaterpenetrationof
bricks.
Preventingwaterpenetrationisalsodependsonthegoodworkmanship.Itissaidthatamasonrywall
madebygoodworkmanshipcanresistwaterpenetrationduringastormlasting24hoursaccompaniedby
80to100kmperhourwindvelocity.

Mostofthetimeitisfoundthatwaterpenetratesthroughmortarjointbetweenbricksandaroundwindow
anddoorframe.So,toolingmortarjointsandcaulkingaroundwindowanddoorframesproperlycan
preventthewaterpenetrationtohighestlevel.