CONSTRUCTION

MATERIALS -MASONARY UNITS

BY

P.M.MEHAR ,
Nagpur
1 Brick masonry

2 Stone masonry
 Masonry is used to indicate the art of building
structures in either stones or bricks .
 The former type is called the stone masonry
 The latter type is called the brick masonry

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 Stones : Depending upon the availability,
the stones are selected. The stones to be
used in the work should be hard, durable,
tough, and free from any defect.

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Sr. Stone Classificati Qualities Uses Localities
No. on
1 Basalt and trap Igneous Hard and tough, difficult to work, its sp. Gr. Is Road metal, for Maharashtra,
3 and compressive strength varies from 150 rubble masonry, Bihar, Gujrat,
to 185 N/mm2. Its weight varies from 18 to 29 foundation work Bengal and M.P.
KN/m3. etc.
2 Chalk Sedimentary Pure white limestone; soft and easy to form In preparing Maharashtra,
powder. glazier’s putty; as Rajasthan,
coloring material Punjab, Gujrat,
in manufacture of Andaman, iIands,
Portland cement Bengal , Bihar
A.P. Himachal
Pradesh , M.P. &
U.P.
3 Gneiss Metamorphic Splits in to thin slabs; easy to work, Its sp. Gr. Street paving, Madras, Mysore ,
Is 2.69 and compressive strength is rough stone Bihar, A.P.
206N/mm2 masonry work etc. Maharashtra,
Bengal, Kerala ,
and Gujrat.

4 Granite Igneous Hard, durable and available in different Steps, sills, facing Kashmir, Madras,
colors, highly resistant to natural forces , can work, walls , bridge Mysore , Punjab
take nice polish, Its sp. gr. Varies from 2.6 piers, columns, Bihar, U.P. M.P.
to2.7 compressive strength varies from 75 to road metal, ballast Maharashtra,
127 N/mm2. Its weight is about 26 to 27 etc. It is unsuitable Bengal, Kerala ,
KN/m3. for carving and Gujrat.
Assam
Sr. Stone Classificati Qualities Uses Localities
No. on

5 Kankar Sedimentary Impure limestone Road metal, North and central

manufacture India
of hydraulic
lime etc.

6 Laterite Metamorphic Porous and spongy structure, Building Bihar, Orissa ,

easily quarried in blocks, contain stone , road Mysore, M.P.
high percentage of oxide of iron; metal rough Maharashtra,
available in different colors. Its stone Kerala , A.P. and
compressive strength varies from masonry Madras.
1.8 to 3.1 N/mm2. work etc.
7 Limestone Sedimentary Consist of carbonate of lime, Floors, steps, Maharashtra,
easy to work, Its sp. gr. varies walls, road Rajasthan, Punjab,
from 2.00 to 2.75 and metal Gujarat,
compressive strength is ,manufacture Andaman, Islands,
54N/mm2. of lime in Bengal, Bihar, A.P.
blast Himachal Pradesh,
furnaces.etc. M.P. and U.P.
8 Marble Metamorphic Can take good polish and Flooring Rajasthan,
available in different colors. Its facing work, Maharashtra,
sp.gr. Is 2.65 and compressive columns, Gujarat, A.P.,
strength is 71 N/mm2 steps, Mysore, M.P. and
ornamental U.P.
work etc.

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Sr. Stone Classification Qualities Uses Localities
No.
9 Murum Metamorphic Decomposed laterite, deep Blindage for Same as laterite
brown or red in color. metal roads , for
fancy path and
garden walls
10 Quartzite Metamorphic Hard brittle crystalline and Retaining walls, Bengal, A.P.
compact, difficult to work road metal, Himachal
and dress. concrete Pradesh, Madras,
aggregate U.P. Mysore ,
pitching, rubble Gujarat, Punjab
masonry , facing and Rajasthan
of buildings etc.

11 Sandstone Sedimentary Consists of quartz and other Steps facing A.P. M.P. Punjab,
minerals, easy to work and work, columns, Rajasthan,
dress, and available In flooring walls , Maharashtra,
different colors, Its sp. gr. road metal , Gujarat,
Varies form 2.65 to 2.95and ornamental Andaman islands
compressive strength is 64 carving etc. Bengal, Bihar,
N/mm2 Its weight is about Himachal
20to 22kn/m3. Pradesh,
Kashmir, Madras
and U.P.

12 Slate Metamorphic Black colur and splits along Roofing work, U.P. M.P. Bihar
natural beddign planes non sills , damp proof Madras,
absorbant Its sp. gr. Is 2.89 courses , etc. Rajasthan, and
and compressive strength Mysore.
varies from 75 to 207 N/mm2.

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 The exposed stone surface are dressed in to
suitable shapes to suit the requirements of
the work.
 The process of taking out stones from natural
rock beds is known as quarrying.
 The term quarry is used to indicate the
exposed surface of the rock.
 The quarrying operations may either be
carried out by hand tools or with the help of
explosives.

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 The local workers are well trained and experienced in the art
of dressing.
 The freshly quarried stones contain some moisture known as
the quarry sap and the stones in this state are quite soft for
the dressing job.
 The irregular and rough portions of the stones are removed
which decreases the weight of the stones and it also
facilitates easy transportation of the stones.
 It is possible to sort out stones for different works, if quarry
dressing is practiced.
 The natural bed surface of stones can be made prominent
during the quarry dressing.

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 Sizing: Irregular blocks of stones are reduced to desired dimensions.
 Shaping: It involves removing the sharp projections and other broad
irregularities from edges, corners and surfaces.
 Planning: In this process stones are cleared off from all the
irregularities from the surface
 Finishing: It is carried out in specially dressed stones only
 Polishing: stones which are capable of yielding extremely pleasing
patterns e.g. Marble and granite

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Parameters considered in selection of a good construction stone
Being cheap, hard, durable and naturally good looking, stones are often used in
construction but keeping in view the variable properties of stones of different types,
there must be some criteria for the selection of stones for construction. The criteria
is based upon the following parameters.
1.Chemical composition of stone

2.Hardness:

3.Durability:

4.Resistance to fire:

5.Bio-Deterioration:

6.Appearance:

7.Susceptibility to being quarried in large sizes:

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1. Chemical composition of stones:
Using/selecting a stone for construction, its chemical properties and composition must be tested and
verified because different elements and compounds in stones have different properties. For instance,
Magnesium in Limestone causes it to be more stronger and is called Dolomite. Feldspar, in large
quantities in stone is a source of weakness because CO2 dissolves Potassium, Sodium, and even
Calcium in the Feldspar leaving pure white clay behind.
Presence of Mica, even less than 2-3% makes stone unsuitable for building purposes. Stones with
silicates as cementing materials are resistant to weathering.
2. Strongness and hardness:
The more compact grained and heavier a stone, the more stronger it is. A crystalline stone is superior
to a non-crystalline texture. The specific gravity of good stone should be above 2.7.
Stones used for road metal, paving blocks, floor slabs and railway ballast have to withstand mainly
abrasion or wear and tear. Stone wall subjected to vibrations of machinery and moving loads should
necessarily possess toughness. Strongness and hardness itself depend on some factors:
Factors affecting strength, hardness and toughness
a.Hardness or softness of the components
b.Proportions of the hard and soft minerals
c.Size and shape of the minerals
d.Cohesion
e.Porosity
f.Density
g.Cementing material

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 3) Resistance to heat:
Resistance to heat means that the stone must have a very low amount of
expansion due to large increase in temperature. Siliceous materials are
good at areas where resistance to fire is required.
 4) Bio-deterioration:
Certain trees and creepers thrust their roots in the joints of stones and
have both mechanical and chemical adverse effects. Special microbes
can grow on the surface and in minute fissures, their by-products cause
flaking and discoloration.
 5) Appearance:
The aesthetic aspect that is color, appearance and show of stones must
also be considered when being used in a project. Appearance depends on
the color and the ease with which the stone can be dressed, rubbed or
polished.

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 Appearance & color – uniform color, lighter shades preferred, free
from clay holes, bands or spots
 Structure – Not dull in appearance, crystalline homogenous close
grained is good, stratification should not be visible, fine grained
for carving
 Weight – heavier are compact, less porous, good for hydraulic
structures
 Strength – generally compressive strength needed, igneous rock
stones are stronger
 Hardness– resistance to abrasion, friction and wear. Hardness
scale 1 to 10
 Toughness – Withstand impact, vibrations, moving loads
 Dressing – uniform texture and softness for fine surface finish

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 Porosity and Absorption – exposed surface absorbs rain
water forming acids causing crumbling action. Cyclic
freezing and thawing of pore water
 Seasoning – hardening and weathering affect due to
evaporation of quarry sap and formation of crystalline
film. 6 to 12 months for proper seasoning
 Weathering – resistance to action of weather
 Resistance to fire – free from calcium carbonate or oxides
of iron
 Durability – compact, homogenous and less absorptive is
more durable
 Cost – quarrying ,transportation, dressing and installation

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 •Quarrying: An art of extracting stones from
the rock beds of different varieties used for
general building work and broken stones for
roads and concrete work, etc.
 •Quarry: The place from stone is obtained by
digging or blasting etc.

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 Quarrying with hand tools

 Quarryingby use of channelling

machines and

 Quarrying by blasting with

explosives
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Quarrying with hand tools
 Digging and Excavating Method :- Stones
occurring as detached nodules may be dug using
manual methods like crowbars etc .
 Heating Method:- Rock surface is heated for
several hours resulting into unequal expansion
and crushing of rock into small pieces .
 Wedging Method:- Layered rock is split at
cleavage or seam using steel wedges and pins

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 Quarrying by use of channelling machine
 First we cut channels of sufficient depth with
the channel machine along the three sides
which form the plan of the block to be
removed.
 Horizontal holes are then driven beneath the
block from the exposed face
 Wedges are then driven into the horizontal
holes when the block will break loose
 the block is lifted from its bed to be cut into
the slab of required sizes.
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 Quarrying by BLASTING Methods :-
 Hard and compact rock is blasted out using explosives
techniques comprising boring, charging, tamping and
firing.
 This method is most commonly used for manufacturing
of stone aggregates or ballast for railways.
 This methods usually breaks up the block into irregular
blocks and pieces which can be later crushed to give
coarse or fine aggregate.
 The methods does not produce regular sized stones for
masonry,but the product can be used for irregular works
like random rubble masonry.
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 Boring. Drilling of holes in rock using jumper, manual
drilling or machine drilling using pneumatic or mechanical
power
 Charging. Placing of required quantity of explosive charge
in the hole at desired location. Quantity depends upon
explosive strength, blasting method, number of holes,
type and mass of rock
 Gunpowder or Dynamite explosive (gms) = Square of
length of line of least resistance (m) / 0.008
 Tamping. Placing of priming charge, detonation cable
(cordite), and sealing off the escape of gases
 Firing. detonation mechanism (electrical or non-electrical
detonators) or fuse ignition
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 Blasting should not be carried out in late evening or
early morning. Blasting should be made public with
sufficient time allowed to retire to safe distance
 200 m radius danger zone should be marked with red
flags
 First aid should be made available
 Proper record of number of charges prepared, fired
and exploded to account for misfires
 Explosive should be handled carefully
 Detonators and explosive should not be stored and
kept together
 Cartridges should be handled with rubber gloves
 Maximum of 10 bore holes should be exploded at a
time and that too successively and not simultaneously
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The following are the main causes for
deterioration of stones
 Vegetable growth. Roots of trees and weeds
in cracks and fissures
 Mutual decay
 Chemical Agents. Smokes, fumes, acids and
acid fumes from atmosphere
 Lichens. Destroy lime stones. Molluses make
series of parallel vertical holes
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 Alternate wetting and drying
 Alternate freezing and thawing
 Deleterious substances present in the air such as in
the atmosphere near the seashores and industrial
areas.
 Nature of mortar : if the mortar has chemicals, they
can affect the stonework.
 Waterfalls and rainfall:- falling of water from great
heights or falling of water containing chemicals like
rainwater absorbings gases from the atmosphere can
cause deterioration of stones.
 wind-:- wind passing over the stones for a long time
can cause their deterioration.
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 Initial selection – use compact, crystalline stones instead of
porous material
 Seasoning – Seasoned stones are less liable to deterioration due
to frost and acids
 Size – it does matter – bigger is more durable than smaller ones
 Natural bed – placing on natural bed provides greater strength
and is detrimental to rain and frost
 Surface finish – well dressed, smooth finished and polished is
more durable
 Workmanship – all joints filled leaving no cavities in masonry
 External rendering – pointing or plastering to stop rain
penetration
 Proper maintenance – washing, removing dirt and dust
 Application of preservatives – eliminate cause of deterioration
 Cure is better than medicine

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 Stones should be kept dry with blow lamp and
applied coat of paraffin, linseed oil, light paint,
etc
 Stones should be washed with water and steam
to remove dirt and salt
 In industrial towns stones are preserved by
application of solution of baryta, Ba(OH)2 to
form insoluble barium sulphate
 Preservative treatment only slows down the
decay but does not stop it. All have harmful side
effects also
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 Stonework after construction also needs
careful attention if they are to be preserved in
their natural condition.
 Linseed oil
 Solution of alum and soap
 Solution of barium hydroxide
 Paraffin
 Paint
 Coal
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