What is load-bearing masonry construction?
Load-bearing masonry construction is a building method in which bricks or blocks are stacked one on top of another to form walls that carry the building. Gravity, together with mortar or adhesive, holds the units together. In Dutch it is called stapelbouw (literally ‘stacked building’) and it is regarded as the traditional Dutch way of building. A typical example is a cavity wall with an outer leaf of brick and an inner leaf of large calcium silicate or concrete blocks, often glued with thin-bed mortar and placed with a small lifting device. Log cabins made of horizontal logs are also stacked construction.
Masonry versus frame construction
- Load-bearing masonry: the walls themselves carry the floors and roof. Loads are spread evenly along the whole length of the wall into the foundation.
- Frame construction: a skeleton of columns and beams carries the building. Loads travel down through the columns in concentrated form, and the facades and internal walls are often non-load-bearing.
Pros and cons
- Advantages: lots of mass, so good sound insulation and thermal mass; well-known craft; flexible for unusual shapes and small numbers.
- Disadvantages: relatively labour-intensive on site; weather-dependent; load-bearing walls restrict later layout changes.
Application
- Assume walls are load-bearing. In a masonry house, many internal walls carry load or provide stability. Have a structural engineer check before removing a wall or making a large opening.
- Work accurately. With thin-bed blockwork the first course must be perfectly level; errors carry through to the top.
- Mind the bond. A correct bond pattern and ties at corners and junctions are essential for strength.
- Protect fresh work from rain and frost.
Common mistake: cutting chases for services horizontally or too deep into a load-bearing wall. Stick to the permitted chase depths and directions.
Related terms
- Load-bearing wall
- Calcium silicate brick
- Skeleton frame construction
- Thin-bed mortar
- Shear wall
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