A parement is the visible, finishing outer face of a wall. Originally the word referred specifically to a skin of carefully dressed natural stone set in front of a rougher core of brick or rubble. In modern Dutch and Belgian usage, *parement* is the everyday term for the outer leaf of a cavity wall. The word comes from the French *parer*, meaning to dress or adorn.
Two meanings
- Historic — a layer of worked stone (facing stone) in front of a core of cheaper material. The core carried the load; the parement gave the facade its appearance and its weather resistance.
- Modern — the outer leaf of a cavity wall, usually in facing brick, and by extension any visible facade finish: brick slips, render or stone cladding.
Applications
In a cavity wall the parement in principle carries only itself; the inner leaf takes the floor and roof loads. What matters when designing one:
- Wall ties — the outer leaf must be tied back to the inner leaf with stainless steel ties. Without enough ties a half-brick skin is not stable.
- Support — over openings and on tall facades the parement bears on masonry support angles or lintels, never on the window frame.
- Open perpends — leave open perpend joints at the base and above openings, roughly one per metre, for cavity ventilation and drainage.
- Movement joints — long runs of masonry need vertical movement joints. Spacing depends on unit type and orientation; for clay brickwork figures in the order of 8 to 12 metres are commonly used.
- Unit choice — a parement must be frost resistant. Check the frost resistance class of the brick, or for stone the water absorption and weathering behaviour.
A common mistake
A parement built straight off the foundation without a damp-proof course wicks moisture upward. Always provide a dpc under the first course and above every interruption.
Related terms
- Outer leaf
- Inner leaf
- Cavity wall
- Facing brick
- Natural stone
- Bond
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