ABSTRACT
Masonry is a well proven building material possessing excellent properties in terms of appearance, durability and cost in comparison with alternatives. However, the quality of the masonry in a building depends on the materials used, and hence all masonry materials must conform to certain minimum standards. The basic components of masonry are block, brick and mortar, the latter being in itself a composite of cement, lime and sand and sometimes of other constituents. The object of this chapter is to describe the properties of the various materials making up the masonry.
