Are you planning to build something for your home or commercial space?
Whether you want to lay a strong foundation, build walkways, or build a firepit, you need to learn about the building materials you will use.
Two of the most popular construction materials are concrete and masonry. However, these two are often used interchangeably. So, which is which?
In this blog, we will delineate the differences between the two so you will know the perfect material you will use for your dream structure.
What is Concrete?
Also known as liquid stone, concrete is a multipurpose building material that is strong, long-lasting, and flexible.
Commercial concrete work involves creating and placing concrete in various forms to serve as the foundation of innumerable construction projects across the globe. This work overarches multiple applications, such as elaborate decorative features, structural walls, and foundation slabs.
To produce the right consistency and quality, concrete works start with the careful mixing of cement, aggregates, water, and additives. Once all these elements are thoroughly mixed, the concrete is sent to the building site, where professional concrete masonry construction contractors expertly pour, shape, and finish it according to project specifications.
What are the Types of Concrete?
Concrete is an incredibly versatile construction material. It can be customized to suit specific project needs, making it an excellent choice for various applications. From driveways to skyscrapers, concrete is used in countless global projects. So, what are some of its common types? Let’s explore a bit further!
1. Stamped concrete
Stamped concrete is a decorative option that imitates natural materials like brick, stone, or wood. One can achieve unique patterns and textures on concrete by imprinting or “stamping” them onto freshly poured surfaces, creating visually stunning patios, driveways, and walkways.
2. Reinforced concrete
With reinforced concrete, strength and durability are paramount. This is because it incorporates steel reinforcement bars or rebars to enhance its tensile strength and prevent the concrete from cracking. Reinforced concrete is widely used in building construction, such as foundations, columns, beams, slabs, and walls—suitable for residential, commercial, and institutional buildings.
3. High-strength concrete
High-strength concrete is precisely engineered to achieve compressive strengths that exceed conventional concrete’s. This type of concrete is often used in civil and commercial construction due to its ability to withstand strenuous conditions without breaking or cracking.
What is Masonry?
On the other hand, masonry is the skill of constructing structures out of individual components, frequently referred to as bricks or masonry units.
Concrete, clay, and natural stone are just a few materials that can be used to create these masonry units. A masonry construction company employs these components and enjoining them together using mortar to build walls, patios, facades, landscapes, and other architectural features.
Masonry highlights the timeless beauty of brick, stone, or block masonry work. It’s basically all about thoughtful placement and selection of masonry units to create designs that aesthetically enhance your home or commercial space. Masons carefully place each unit to ensure the mortar is covered and the units are aligned correctly.
What are the Types of Masonry?
Masonry can be further categorized into various types based on the materials used and the construction technique employed. Some of the most common types of masonry are the following:
1. Brick Masonry
This type of masonry is renowned for its strength, versatility, and the added aesthetics it provides. It uses fired clay bricks and comes in different sizes, textures, and colors, allowing greater room for creativity and imagination.
2. Stone masonry construction
If you are into raw and natural-looking structures, stone masonry is the best way to go. Stone masonry involves using natural stones such as granite, limestone, and marble. Depending on your desired outcome, stones can be arranged in random rubble stone masonry or irregular shapes or based on uniform sizes, also known as ashlar.
3. Concrete block masonry work
Concrete blocks are the best options for durability and exceptional strength. Also known as concrete masonry units, concrete blocks are precast concrete blocks commonly used in load-bearing or partition walls. They also allow for rapid construction compared to traditional brick or stone masonry because of their standardized size and shape.
What is the Difference Between Concrete and Masonry?
While masonry and concrete share similarities as construction materials, they differ in composition, construction technique, and applications.
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the differences between concrete and masonry work.
In terms of material, concrete primarily uses a mixture of cement, aggregates, water, and additives. Meanwhile, masonry uses bricks or stones enjoined by mortar to form a structure.
During construction, concrete must be poured and shaped using tools such as formwork, concrete pumps, and finishing tools. On the other hand, masonry focuses on properly aligning the solid units with mortar. It involves the use of trowels, levels, and masonry saws.
Lastly, concrete is mainly used for foundations, slabs, columns, and various structural elements, whereas masonry is a technique commonly used in building walls, facades, fireplaces, landscapes, and other decorative elements.
Benefits of Masonry over Concrete
Masonry is sometimes easier to repair than concrete because it combines different types of units. This means that damages can be localized, and you can fix only those specific units. However, repairs for concrete damage are more expensive and labor-intensive.
Furthermore, with masonry, you can be flexible in terms of construction. You can spread out the sections over a few days, so you don’t need to pour the materials all at once. To get your desired look, you can mix and match blocks. All of these are not possible with concrete, especially colored concrete.
However, installing masonry can be a little more expensive, but the upkeep can help you save money in the long run.
Benefits of Concrete
Concrete can be poured and molded into different, unique shapes. However, with masonry, it can be quite a challenge because you need to install them in units, and each unit is already in uniform shape. It has a single, smooth slab appearance and can be less expensive than masonry.
Concrete needs strategic joint lines to manage and prevent fractures, which can be maintained similarly to masonry mortar.
How can you Choose the Right Building Material?
When selecting your building material, you have to keep these things in mind:
- Budget
- Target date and time constraints
- Cost of maintenance and repairs
- Longevity (depending on local climate and type of soil)
- Availability of resources and labor
- Weight capacity
Now that you know the difference between concrete and masonry, what they are best used for, and their benefits over each other, you should be able to choose the best material for the dream structure that you have in mind.
If you are looking for a masonry construction company that can run you through these materials, help you choose the perfect one for your project, and give you high-quality masonry or concrete work, you have come to the right place. Solid Masonry Contractors has been providing residential and commercial spaces with durable and aesthetically pleasing structures for over 10 years.
Book a consultation call with us today and get a FREE quote.
