IT IS OUR OPINION /-\ MAKAY MASONRY
(VA, MD, DC)

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**every wall is unique in appearance and sometimes different practices are applied during construction.. in our Southeastern Virginia/Northeastern North Carolina region – most masonry homes – built post circa 1910 – are of ‘veneer’ or ‘facade’ construction.. typically the structure is lumber or ‘stick framed’ with a single wythe of brick ‘tied’ to it using 22 gauge corrugated sheet steel brick ties, cold-drawn steel eye and pintle ties, zinc galvanized adjustable slot-typed ties (dove tail, channel, etc.), or zinc galvanized adjustable stirrup/saddled two-part ties.. these ties are important for masonry veneer wall construction to not only form a ‘connection’ to the structure – but also provide the wall with greater lateral strength.. for lumber framed home construction we recommend zinc galvanized adjustable stirrup/saddled two-part ties tied to vertical lumber studs only – using at the minimum a 2” polymer coated deck screw – vice regional code – which is the use of 22 gauge corrugated sheet steel brick ties using a 1” roof nail connected to lumber sheathing.. we have found after repairing thousands of homes in these regions pre and post 1910 – that due to the high demand for homes in our area – and our fast growing communities – from then to now – and the lack of skilled masonry labor – that shortcuts were and sometimes still are being taken.. we have found during numerous repairs – ‘for speed’ – a lot of homes and buildings in our area have had brick or stone laid around them with no means of tying them to the structure – meaning only gravity is holding the masonry veneer in place.. this faulty practice is highly frowned upon among masons because the brick or stone prematurely cracks or leans away from the structure.. instead of a few hundred years of strong durable masonry facade – it normally will last around 30 years before repairs are necessary.. in our opinion since the founding of the International Building Code (IBC) in 1972; this way of ‘speedy construction’ for financial gain is unchecked and illegal.. it is our opinion that this is an infraction due to the mason using his knowledge and normally desolate workspace recklessly for monetary gain.. VA, MD, DC, NC, SC, TN, KY, IN, OH, WV, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME – have sent various warning letters to their state honored masons over the years from their respective circuit judges – stating “we do know various styles and applications of
metal wall ties – for masonry veneer and facade;
stirrup/saddles – for butresses and pilasters;
and
control joints – for freeze/thaw expansion and contraction cracks;
have been in circulation throughout masons since the early 1800’s; if any evidence of practices such as these in discussion are applied to achieve faster end games it is considered highly illegal and pending on evidence, severity of damage, and monetary value of needed correction – considered a fineable and/or jailable offense with harshness depending on the respective states court ruling”.. we believe this particular situation must carry such fines and penalties because the only way to diagnose if a building has had its masonry veneer properly tied to the structure itself is by – hiring a third party inspector to be present during the masonry phases of construction, actually being present during the masonry phases of construction, removing sections of the wall in question to actually see the ties, the wall topples to see if there were ties, or if the wall is struck by something causing it to fall exposing the ties..