Brick Masonry

Brick Masonry

Brick (fired clay masonry units) has been a primary building material for over 10,000 years. Modern structural brick combines that long track record with ASTM-standardized sizes, strength grades, and mortar compatibility that allow reliable engineering design. Whether used as a load-bearing structural system, a shear wall, or an architectural veneer, brick masonry brings durability, thermal mass, and visual character that few materials can match.

Structural vs. Veneer Applications

Structural brick (also called solid brick or engineered brick masonry) uses the masonry itself to carry vertical and lateral loads. Bearing walls of structural brick resist floor and roof gravity loads and, when reinforced, can act as shear walls. Structural brick walls are designed per TMS 402 (the Masonry Structures standard) for compressive stress, flexural tensile stress, and shear demand.

Brick veneer is the more common contemporary application: a single wythe of brick attached to a backup structural wall (wood stud, CFS stud, or CMU) with metal ties. The veneer carries only its self-weight and transfers wind load through the ties to the backup. It provides weather resistance and aesthetic continuity without the structural complexity of a multi-wythe bearing wall system. Veneer is not a structural element: it must be properly attached and the ties properly spaced, but it contributes nothing to the lateral or gravity load path of the building.

Mortar and Bond

Mortar type determines durability and flexibility. Type S mortar (high strength, 1,800 psi) is standard for structural and exterior masonry. Type N (medium strength, 750 psi) is used for interior partitions and non-structural applications. Type S balances compressive strength with enough flexibility to accommodate minor differential movement.

Bond patterns (running bond, common bond, Flemish bond, and English bond) affect both appearance and structural behavior. Running bond is the most structurally efficient for reinforced masonry; other patterns may require additional reinforcing to achieve equivalent performance.

Engineering Considerations

Thermal movement and moisture expansion are critical design concerns for brick. Brick expands slightly over its life as it absorbs moisture from the environment, which is the opposite of concrete and CMU that shrink over time. The differential movement between brick veneer and concrete or CMU backup walls must be accommodated with soft joints (backer rod and sealant) at regular intervals.

Lintel design over openings requires careful detailing: the lintel transfers load to the jamb piers on each side, and the tributary width must account for the arching action in the masonry above the lintel.

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Frontier Structural Engineering brings 20 years of commercial and residential design experience to projects across Colorado and California. Whether you're in schematic design or already in the field, we're available.