Hot Weather Masonry-Performance of Units
General. When considering the influence of masonry units on construction during hot
weather, one should recognize that the absorption (suction) of units may vary dependent
upon their exposure at the project. Units that have been heated and dried by the sun will
absorb more water from the mortar than units kept shaded.
High absorption units can contribute to rapid dry-out of mortars in hot weather. Wetting
of high absorption fired clay units prior to use will reduce this tendency to dry out the
mortar. Concrete masonry units should not be wetted before use, but concrete masonry
can be covered with wet burlap or water sprayed after walls are constructed to assure
adequate curing moisture.
Summary. Unit temperatures and absorption characteristics affect the properties of masonry
constructed during hot weather. Shading units during storage, wetting high IRA fired clay units,
and water spraying or covering clay or concrete masonry walls with wet burlap after construction
are methods of compensating for the effects of hot weather on unit properties and masonry performance.
Resource: Masonry Institute of St. Louis – www.masonrystl.org
Hot & Cold Weather Masonry-Publication of Masonry Industry Council
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 at 2:29 pm
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