Reinforcement of brick and stone walls

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    For the construction of a brick building, builders use a masonry grid to prevent cracks from appearing on the walls. Cracks and other defects on the walls can appear due to subsidence of the soil, mistakes in the design or the use of incorrect laying technology. Masonry reinforcement is most often made with a composite mesh, which is quite easy to use and allows you to significantly improve the integrity of the brickwork.

    When a masonry grid should be used?

    Reinforcement of walls made of brick and stone doesn’t have to be done all the time, but there are cases when this this is mandatory.

    Reinforcement of brickwork must be done if:

    • There is a heavy load on the walls, especially for multi-storey buildings.
    • The construction of the building takes place on the ground, which is prone to shrinkage. Uneven subsidence can cause cracks in the walls.
    • Crushed bricks or low-quality mortar are used. Applying reinforcement with cheap building materials can make the structure more durable.
    • The construction of the building takes place in areas where there is a risk of an earthquake. With additional reinforcement of the structure, it will be able to withstand large fluctuations.
    • The building is attached to an existing one. Here, the composite masonry grid is necessarily used in places where buildings are connected, where splits are most often found.
    • There is a construction of two walls at the same time, made of brick or stone, which have different shrinkage.
    • The house is built from lightweight blocks, with many crevices, where concrete mortar can get in.
    • The structure is built in a low temperature environment, which slows down the solidification process of the concrete.

    Types of wall reinforcement

    There are several types of brick masonry reinforcements in building construction:

    • Transverse, in which the composite grid is placed between the rows. Transverse reinforcement is performed every 2-5 rows. For this type of reinforcement, a mesh with rods from 5 to 8 mm is used. Bars with a large diameter can negatively affect the strength of the structure.
    • Longitudinal reinforcement-used to strengthen the walls for lateral loads. The reinforcing material is placed along the masonry, thus strengthening the longitudinal seams.
    • Vertical reinforcement is used to strengthen pillars or brick columns. Thanks to the reinforcement, you can increase the strength of the columns without increasing their size. When reinforcing, rods with a diameter of 10-15 mm are used.

    Why should I give preference to fiberglass GFRP mesh?

    The composite (fiberglass) masonry mesh is used just as often as metal. This reinforcing material has gained popularity due to a number of advantages:

    • Low weight, which reduces the load on the structure.
    • It is well combined with masonry mortar and brick, stone, aerated concrete and other materials.
    • High tensile strength. This indicator is 2 times higher than that of steel mesh.
    • Low thermal conductivity, which prevents the occurrence of cold bridges.
    • It is not subjected to corrosion, so it is recommended to use only composite mesh when working in an aggressive environment.
    • Affordable price – it costs less than the metal counterpart.