Masonry is the traditional construction system based on the erection of walls by manually placing the materials of which they are composed (masonry). These materials are mostly stone and are characterised by their lack of uniformity and a rigid arrangement.
Traditional masonry
For the construction of these walls, different techniques can be used for the addition of the stone, but we will comment on the most commonly used ones:
- Dry masonry, where the choice of masonry is very important to ensure stability, no mortar is used and instead small stones are placed to fill the holes and wedge the stones.
Ordinary masonry, in which a mixture of cement or lime, sand and water is used and the materials are arranged in such a way that the spaces to be filled are kept to a minimum. In the past, mud was used, to which other natural elements were added, such as straw and, in some rural areas, cow and horse dung.
Stone and mortar walls, a product of masonry, are highly durable and strong and provide a clean appearance. Traditional masonry creates structural and load-bearing facades, suitable for high-rise buildings.
As we would say today, masonry is an environmentally sensitive system, we say this because its construction allows for a reduction in the waste of the materials used.
