a material that speeds the initial setting time of concrete or mortar.
air barrier
a material used in the building envelope to retard the passage of air.
alumina
a mineral contained in clay used for brickmaking and in refractory mortars.
angle iron
a structural section of steel in the form of a 90 degree angle used, in certain situations, to support brickwork.
ash dump
a trap door for ashes in the floor of a fireplace leading to a chute.
backup wall
the part of a masonry wall behind the exterior facing.
batter
recessing or sloping masonry in successive courses; the opposite of a corbel.
buttering
applying mortar to a masonry unit with a trowel.
castables
a refractory concrete that can be installed by pouring, gunning, shotcreting and hand packing.
cavity wall
a multi-wythe wall built of masonry units arranged to provide a continuous air space.
cement
a burned mixture of clay and limestone pulverized (crushed) for making mortar or concrete.
control joint
(movement joint) a joint or space to allow for dimensional change of parts of a structure due to expansion, shrinkage, temperature variations or other causes.
corbel
to build a projection or one of a series of projections, of masonry, brick, or concrete built into a wall or any standing member, each projecting progressively farther from its anchoring point and used to support an overhanging member above.
course
one of the continuous horizontal layers of units, bonded with mortar in masonry.
curtain wall
a non- load-bearing wall built for the enclosure of a building
damp proofing
treatment of a masonry surface to resist the passage of water through vapour, capillary action and gravity; not intended for areas that experience hydrostatic pressure.
dispersed hydrated lime (DHL) injections (when using anchors)
a hydrated lime putty that has been spun so thin that the molecules separate, allowing it to be injected into very small cracks.
dowels
(pins) round metal bars used to connect two sections of masonry.
Dutchman repair
a method of repair involving carefully fitting a new piece of stone into a pocket cut into the existing stone and finishing the new piece to match the surrounding existing stone.
expansion joint (movement joint)
is a joint in a concrete or masonry structure designed to permit expansion without damage to the structure.
extrados
the upper or exterior curve of an arch.
face
the exposed surface of a wall or masonry unit.
flashing
shielding material (often sheet metal) put around building openings to prevent water penetration and/or provide water drainage.
footing
the broadened base of a foundation wall or other superstructure that distributes load to ground.
foundation wall
that portion of a load‑bearing wall below the level of the adjoining grade, or below first floor beams or joists.
grout
a cementitious compound of high water-cement ratio that permits it to be poured into spaces within masonry walls. Grout consists of water, Portland cement, lime and aggregate.
gunite machine
a pressurized applicator machine for refractory.
hearth
(inner) that portion of a fireplace parallel to the floor, upon which the fire is built; (outer) that portion of a fireplace that is the non-combustible area in front of the firebox opening that protects the floor from flying sparks.
high temperature mortar
a mortar used for refractories (air setting or heat setting).
insulation
a material with above-average thermal resistance, that inhibits the flow of heat.
joint
the narrow space between adjacent stones, bricks or other building blocks usually filled with mortar.
kerf
a slot in the stone with a saw blade for the insertion of anchors.
keystone
wedge-shaped stone at the crown of an arch.
lime
the result of limestone burned in a kiln until the carbon dioxide has been driven off.
lintel
a load-bearing element placed over a wall opening.
load‑bearing wall
one which supports a vertical load in addition to its own weight.
masonry
brick, block, tile, terracotta, and stone or combination of masonry products bonded with mortar.
masonry cement
a mill-mixed cement to which sand and water must be added.
mortar
a mixture of cementitious materials, fine aggregate and water.
parging
the process of applying a coat of cement mortar on a substrate.
pilaster
a square or rectangular column forming part of a wall, partially projecting from it and bonded to it.
pointing
compressing mortar to fill voids in joints
reglet
a groove in material or structure to accept flashing; also a slot to accept a dovetail anchor.
reinforcing
steel bars, wire mesh and reinforcement wire which are embedded in concrete or mortar to give extra tensile strength to control movement in masonry assemblies or concrete slabs.
repointing
the removal and replacement of damaged mortar with new mortar.
retardant
a set inhibitor to delay the setting and curing time of concrete and mortar.
shotcrete
a wet concrete applied under pressure
smoke chamber
the space in a fireplace immediately above the throat where the smoke gathers before passing into the flue.
stone cladding
masonry units that are mechanically fastened to a structural backup wall. Stone used for cladding are typically large and are pre-finished in a stone-cutting and finishing shop.
surface bonded masonry units
thin masonry components installed directly to prepared substrates. They are used for aesthetic purposes.
template
any form over which masonry may be installed.
tie
any unit of material that connects masonry units to each other or the substrate.
veneer wall
a non-load‑bearing wall securely anchored to a non-masonry backup wall.
voussoir
masonry units which form an arch.
waterproofing
treatment of a below-grade masonry surface to prevent the passage of water by vapour pressure, capillarity, gravity or hydrostatic pressure.
weep holes
small openings left in the outer walls of masonry construction as an outlet for water to move outside the wall and evaporate.
winterization
the process of organizing the work site for winter operation, which includes heating and hoarding of work area, providing proper storage of materials, warming sand and water and protecting masonry work in progress.
wythe
a continuous vertical section of masonry one unit in thickness.