BTEB Masonry cheat sheet

Nominal brick dimensions include the mortar joint: a standard modular brick is 3-5/8 in high by 2-1/4 in wide by 7-5/8 in long, giving a 2-2/3 in module with a 3/8 in joint.

Modular coordination rule: brick length equals two widths plus one joint (7-5/8 = 2 x 3-5/8 + 3/8), so a 4 in wall is one brick thick and an 8 in wall is two bricks thick.

Mortar by volume: Type N is 1 part portland cement to 1 part lime to 6 parts sand; Type S is 1:1/2:4-1/2; Type M is 1:1/4:3 to 3-1/2. Higher cement content raises compressive strength and lowers workability.

Mortar types by use: Type M for heavy loads and below grade, Type S for moderate loads and lateral resistance, Type N for general exposed above-grade work, Type O for interior non-load-bearing partitions.

Standard concrete block nominal size is 8 by 8 by 16 in; the actual unit is 7-5/8 by 7-5/8 by 15-5/8 in to allow a 3/8 in joint, so three courses equal 24 in and two blocks equal 32 in.

Course height rule: 4-1/2 brick courses at 2-2/3 in module equal 12 in; 3 block courses at 8 in nominal equal 24 in, which sets sill and lintel heights from the floor.

Bond patterns: running bond offsets each course by half a unit; Flemish alternates stretcher and header in each course; English alternates full stretcher and full header courses; stack bond relies on reinforcement because it has no overlap.

Wall ties: place one tie per 2-2/3 sq ft of wall area for solid masonry and one per 1-1/3 sq ft for cavity walls, with ties spaced no more than 24 in horizontally and 16 in vertically.

Flashing rule: place through-wall flashing with a drip edge at the base of walls, above shelf angles, at sills, and at roof-wall junctions, lapping end joints at least 6 in and turning the flashing up at least 8 in behind the veneer.

Nominal brick dimensions include the mortar joint: a standard modular brick is 3-5/8 in high by 2-1/4 in wide by 7-5/8 in long, giving a 2-2/3 in module with a 3/8 in joint.

Modular coordination rule: brick length equals two widths plus one joint (7-5/8 = 2 x 3-5/8 + 3/8), so a 4 in wall is one brick thick and an 8 in wall is two bricks thick.

Mortar by volume: Type N is 1 part portland cement to 1 part lime to 6 parts sand; Type S is 1:1/2:4-1/2; Type M is 1:1/4:3 to 3-1/2. Higher cement content raises compressive strength and lowers workability.

Mortar types by use: Type M for heavy loads and below grade, Type S for moderate loads and lateral resistance, Type N for general exposed above-grade work, Type O for interior non-load-bearing partitions.

Standard concrete block nominal size is 8 by 8 by 16 in; the actual unit is 7-5/8 by 7-5/8 by 15-5/8 in to allow a 3/8 in joint, so three courses equal 24 in and two blocks equal 32 in.

Course height rule: 4-1/2 brick courses at 2-2/3 in module equal 12 in; 3 block courses at 8 in nominal equal 24 in, which sets sill and lintel heights from the floor.

Bond patterns: running bond offsets each course by half a unit; Flemish alternates stretcher and header in each course; English alternates full stretcher and full header courses; stack bond relies on reinforcement because it has no overlap.

Wall ties: place one tie per 2-2/3 sq ft of wall area for solid masonry and one per 1-1/3 sq ft for cavity walls, with ties spaced no more than 24 in horizontally and 16 in vertically.

Flashing rule: place through-wall flashing with a drip edge at the base of walls, above shelf angles, at sills, and at roof-wall junctions, lapping end joints at least 6 in and turning the flashing up at least 8 in behind the veneer.