Do You Have A Masonry Checklist?

Much of the time if we have new construction done on our home, it involves some type of masonry. Certain basic steps need to be followed to make sure that work done by the contractor doesn’t have any problems further down the road.

As inspectors, we know how important it is to know these steps in order to identify any issues or problems that can happen with the brick or stonework.

Here are a few basic steps.

A water resistant barrier. This is vital step to take to ensure that masonry isn’t damaged by any precipitation. There are various ways this can be installed, but it is vital that the material is not damaged in any way, and that there are no gaps exposing areas behind the exterior wall.

The supporting wall must have space of at least 1 inch but no more than 4 1/2 inches between itself and a masonry veneer. A 2 inch space is usually a good rule of thumb.

Is there flashing in areas where it is needed? If so, is it installed properly?

What about weep vents? These allow for water to escape and should be placed with a sufficient distance apart. Be careful to not have too much distance though.

You should have wall ties and anchors. These will hold the brick or stone to the building.

Mortar joints should also be the appropriate distance apart. They must be tooled to a high standard, not too wide.

These are just some of the basic things that we as inspectors will look for, and that may help you be aware of what to look out for if you are having work done on your home.