#RedBrick

[conkreetmonkey]

holy shit this is long... tldr; I get neurodivergent over masonry

So I've been doing a lot of research on building methods, from the conventional to the old school to the new, and one thing I always found missing from older methods (as in basically anything that isn't either solid concrete or stick-frame) was the lack of hard, impassable moisture barriers on exterior walls. Surely a wall that looks like old red brick on the outside and inside must have more layers in between, right? Where's the housewrap? Where's the bitumen or tar paper? Pretty much all old-school roof materials I've seen have had some sort of waterproof layer under the shingles, but never the walls, floors nor foundations themselves.

Now, I live in a town with a lot of 100 year old buildings, which isn't that old but still predates the prevalence of the 2x4 and the popularization of plastic. I've been in many buildings where the walls on the inside are seemingly the same clay brick material as the ones on the inside. My grandma's basement was seemingly made from assorted stone, and I've seen many basements with walls of brick or cinderblock. Despite the inherent porosity of their materials, these walls hold strong through the harsh Canadian winters and the soggy spring thaw, the wood and plaster up against them free from water damage or mold. It felt impossible. Surely there was something I wasn't seeing, right? Surely you can't just build a 2-whyte brick wall with an air gap in between and some drainage holes and just have it work, right? Where's the mould? Where's the mildew? Where's the water damage, and crumbling from repeated freeze-and-thaw cycles?

I was unable to find a straight answer, despite the fact that I was obviously missing something. You can't just stick insulation, plasterboard and framing joists up against a brick wall that's exposed to outside air on the other side, right? Surely it will rot!

The only things I was able to find were synthetic sealing creams that make things hydrophobic, and something about a metal "dimple sheet" that required you to "decouple" the roof joists from the walls to install it, because it was simply assumed that you'd be installing the product in a preexisting brick house. Both of these things were obviously modern, and heavily flawed as products. The sealants needed reapplied every 5 years and didn't even provide full protection, and the metal sheet, once installed, required that no wood any longer touch the bricks as it would somehow become guaranteed to rot. This isn't even what I wanted to know. How did people 100 years ago build the buildings I know I've stood in, where the bricks were free from chemical sealants and physical moisture barriers yet didn't let the rain in?

Finally, after posting to a masonry forum, I recieved my answer.

There is no secret ingredient.

The exterior layer of bricks simply get wet when it's wet and dry out when it's dry.

Limestone is naturally antifungal and antibacterial, so mold simply cannot grow on materials made from it. Lime plaster allows water vapour to pass through it, yet resists actual liquid water, so at once water cannot become trapped within it and fester, but applying a lime stucco to exterior walls or a plaster to interior ones prevents leakage while allowing water vapour in the air to pass through, and thus the house to "breathe." Additionally, old insulation "fluff" that is now made from foam or fibreglass was then made from wool, which is also naturally antibacterial. And wood, of course, can simply be sealed to prevent decay with a multitude of different methods, if that's even needed, which it often isn't unless it's actually touching a surface that can be expected to routinely become moist.

Old buildings simply weren't built with absolute airtightness in mind. There's no one layer that's 100% moistureproof in an old exterior wall; even water repellant surfaces such as lime stucco allow humidity to pass through. There's no hydrophobic layer of tarpuline, rubber or tar anywhere but on the roof.

Dudes, I'm starting to realize that modern stick-framed housing insulated with pink fiberglass and made of pine, chipboard and plastic wrap... kind of sucks? Like, they have their advantages surely, they're immensely easier, quicker and cheaper to build, and way easier to heat/cool, but they're also flimsy and, quite ironically, actually MORE prone to mold than old school buildings, because once the housewrap under that vinyl siding, stone block veneer or board-and-batten starts to go (and it will eventually), it's a single point of failure, and everything behind it is prone to rot? And if moisture does seep in, it has no way to escape due to the moisture-tight, airtight quality of the home, so it has no choice but to fester? Like, think about taking a hot shower, and the steam that builds up, only removable from the home with a modern HVAC fan or by opening a window. Think about how, if you don't do one of those things, you're all but certain to get mold on the drywall. That's because of the lack of vapour-permeable materials! It simply can't pass though any exterior wall, back outside into the air! The air is stagnant by default!

And look, this is not me claiming that stick-frame is inherently bad, or that old style building methods are always better. Back then they put asbestos in the walls and lead in the pipes, paint and windows. Technology has moved forward, not back, and is continuing to move forward, becoming better, stronger, more efficient. But when the modern home uses housewrap and housewrap alone as waterproofing, it's hubris manifest. It's a sheet of plastic screwed to some plywood with a wide washer. Eventually, there will be a leak, inside or out, and once that happens you're all but guaranteed destructive rot and mold. It's a tradeoff, exchanging durability and ease of maintainence for cheaper construction and better insulation, and sometimes that's justifiable, but nowadays it seems to be the only option in all of suburbia.

Limestone is a great material. It has a variety of uses, it's abundant, it's simultaneously water resistant and breatheable, it prevents mold, and it can even self-heal from minor damage. Clay and stone may be porous, but they're strong. These materials have their downsides, but they're not inferior. Pretty much no material is (except for fucking cordwood, which just plainly sucks ass in 95% of situations). Logs and timber have a place. Concrete has a place. Steel and other metals have a place. Plastic has a place. So long as it's not toxic, it has a place. There is no one best way to build a building, just as there is no one best way to cook a meal; it depends on where you are and who you're serving it to.

And now that I understand the simple genius of lime mortar and stone or clay blocks, I feel bad that they're not really used in the mainstream anymore. Sometimes, it's better to accept that moisture exists and have a multi-faceted system for directing it away from decay-prone materials, rather than to try to "defeat" it entirely with the modern miracle material of plastic, and then cockily build everything behind the plastic out of rottable materials. No home can go forever without repairs, just as no person, tool or machine can. The question is whether there's any redundancy, or if one failure in a crucial area destroys the whole system.

I've always loved masonry aesthetically, and now I love it functionally as well. This world has so many wonderful things in it.

[dreamingblacktabby]

transmasc!Redtail x nb!Brick?

[discounterpuppy]

[legitedigiulia]

Houses and Bricks Brokenhurst, New Forest UK

jan 2023

[designandmanage]

History. —1887 @cfdpd 🚒 #chicagofire #redbrick #vintage #history #architecture #archidaily #architecturelovers #firehouse #chicago #wherebrianstands #throwingbricks #sunday 🧱 (at River North Design District) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp-kYAmrDgd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lapswood]

Gunners #woolwicharsenal #cannon #military #historical #redbrick #architecture #symmetry #contrasts #vibrant #textures #galaxys20fe #photography #instagram #snapseed (at Woolwich Arsenal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpTotD2IttN8zaL3-5IkBMIe9cJLGFFNZ_5uS00/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hkrammrealtor]

NOW SOLD An immaculately finished spacious 2 bedroom executive suite in Yaletown's McMaster Building. A rare chance to own one of only 15 suites in building. Big, bright gourmet kitchen with Miele/SubZero appliances. Recently remodelled custom bathrooms incl. stunning master with rain shower and steam. Many upgrades throughout. 1 parking spot with stacker system to accommodate 2 cars, comes with a custom installed 80amp Tesla charger. Large storage locker included. The McMaster was a 2007 new build by Townline Homes, includes modern comforts like central A/C and car elevator, while retaining its 1910 heritage status. Thank you to @bilashandcharron for exemplary cooperation. . Price - $1,399,000 Bedrooms - 2 Floor Area - 948 sqft . #socialrealtor #yaletownrealtor #vancouverrealtor #vancouverrealestate #heritage #loft #fullyrenovated #parkingspots #storage #evvancouver #theevlist #exclusivelisting #boutiquebuilding @evvancouver #redbrick #woodbeams #realtor #airconditioning #teslacharger (at Harry Kramm - Real Estate Advisor, Vancouver, Canada) https://www.instagram.com/p/CopxHikv-LO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[nelsondesign]

Modern House Plan - House Plan 1023 Main Street Villa | House Plans with 4 Bedrooms

Stand out on the block with your future home: SMN 1023 Main Street Villa, Modern House Plan!

This unique and timeless villa features beautiful brick, a parlor, a detached garage, rounded roofs, 2 fireplaces, and more!

Contact us today to customize this home and make it your own! 📲Call: 870-931-5777

🏠➡️ visit: https://www.nelsondesigngroup.com/

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#masonryfireplace #villa #VillaFloorPlan #floorplan #floorplans #floorplanner #FloorPlanFriday #brickhouse #brickhouses #redbrick #redbricks #RedBrickHouse #redbrickhouse #floorplans #house #housegoals #houseexpert #housedesign #customhome

[malik-husam]

Current red brick price in pakistan: Get updated prices for bricks, essential for construction projects. Find the latest brick rates to plan your building ventures.

https://niazibricks.com.pk

[frkyildiz]

2 Pcs 1/6 1/12 1/18 1/24 Scales Vintage Old Damaged Bricks Texture Seamless Sheets Printable Instant Download for Dollhouses Models Projects

[shotahoshino]

横浜帰ってガーデンネックレス💐 日向坂46のイベント？やってて存在感が薄まってたけどカラフルで綺麗に仕上がってた👏 #naturephotography #urban #city #greening #cityscape #flower #flowers #flowerstagram #nature #naturephoto #naturelovers #yokohama #minatomirai #garden #gardening #redbrick #gardennecklace #都市緑化 #ガーデンネックレス横浜 #都市景観 #緑化 #花 #花見 #横浜 #みなとみらい #庭 #庭園 #自然 #iPhone13mini #apple (横浜赤レンガ倉庫（Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse）) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqiM-36rYs4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jshatan]

Varied Viewpoints #074: Shadow And Substance. #urbantrees #redbrick #urbannature #Inwood #manhattan #upstatemanhattan #instanyc #ig_newyork #ig_newyorkcity #seeyourcity #ig_bigcity #ig_city #iphone13 #shotoniphone #iphonephotography #photoaday #photoadaymar #photoadaymarch https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp1H-ERs3yL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[catelovecamelia]

📍ᴹᴼᴺᶻᴬ ᴬᴿᴱᴺᴳᴬᴿᴵᴼ E𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘 𝚕𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚕 XI𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚘, 𝚕'𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚘 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚣𝚣𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚎, 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚘 A𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚘 (𝚍𝚊𝚕 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚞𝚜, 𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚊𝚕 𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚒-𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐, “𝚕𝚞𝚘𝚐𝚘 𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚎") 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚣𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚑é 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚊 𝚊𝚕 D𝚞𝚘𝚖𝚘 𝚊 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎 𝚕𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚣𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚍𝚒 𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒, 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚒𝚘𝚜𝚘 𝚎 𝚌𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚕𝚎, 𝚌𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚎 𝚊 M𝚘𝚗𝚣𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚕 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚍𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚎. S𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚘 𝚗𝚎𝚕 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚘, 𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚣𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝚟𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚊 𝚙𝚒𝚊𝚣𝚣𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚕 M𝚎𝚛𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚊 𝚟𝚒𝚊 𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚟𝚊 𝚕𝚊 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚝à 𝚊 M𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚘 𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚊 B𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚣𝚊, 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚟𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎 𝚍𝚒 𝚞𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚎𝚖𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚘, 𝚌𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚎 𝚟𝚒𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚒𝚎 𝚎𝚍 𝚒 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚞𝚛𝚒 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘 𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚣𝚣𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚎. A𝚌𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚎𝚟𝚊, 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚊 𝚞𝚗 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚘 𝚜𝚘𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚜𝚘, 𝚒𝚗 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚣𝚣𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚘 (𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚕 𝚙𝚘𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝à) 𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚒 𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚜𝚘. #catelovecamelia #weekendvibes #architecture #arengario #historicalroute #arengariomonza #volgoitalia #bns_city #landscape #friends #urban #walk #inspiration #travel #city #streets #brianza #monza #redbrick #minimalism #darkroom_daydream #blacknwhite_perfection #fineartzone #fineart #bnwstreetphotography #bnwmood #bnwsouls #bnw_captures #bnw_of_our_world #worldframeclub (presso Arengario di Monza) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpOHi4tokEm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[buildingmaterialsuppliergurgaon]

Different types of bricks

Bricks, one of the most important building materials, have been used since 7,000 BC. They are also among the earliest known building materials still in use today. Bricks provide homes with better forms, durability, stability, and a solid base. Here is all the information you want on various bricks type and their prices: 

Sun-dried bricks

These are clay bricks that haven't been burned. They are moulded and let to dry in the sun. 

Burnt clay bricks

Bricks that have been burned are formed of clay and placed into a kiln. They may be used to construct columns, walls, and foundations, among other things.

Fly ash bricks

These bricks, also known as self-cementing bricks, are made from Class F or Class C fly ash. In enterprises where coal is used, fly ash is collected from the furnaces. This ash comprises calcium oxide and has undergone a thermal treatment of 1,000 degrees Celsius.

Learn more about these bricks and pricing click here.

Concrete bricks

Concrete blocks were used to create these bricks. Sand, coarse aggregates, water, and cement are used to produce the concrete. The size and form may be modified to meet certain needs.

Engineering bricks

Calcium silicate bricks

Eco bricks

Glass Block

Red Brick

Interlocking Brick

[blightybluebury]

✨King and Queen of the (ᴱᴺᶜᴴᴬᴺᵀᴱᴰ) garden ✨

It's not finished yet, it's just something that crossed my mind while i was listening to music :> (AURORA supremacy!!)

[purplegn0mes]

Gnomeo & Juliet concept art I feel needs to be shared

(Ignore the arrows idk how to make them go away)