Having the right reinforcement is crucial for any masonry construction. There are many options available, but the most common are ladders or mesh.
But what is the difference between using a brick ladder or a mesh alternative? Here, we look at each option and discuss what might be required for your job.
Why is Masonry Reinforcement Important?
Bricks are an incredibly useful building material - it’s no surprise they’re still being used after hundreds of years!
While bricks are strong as individual parts, when stacked together as part of bigger and heavier structures, their strength begins to decrease.
Masonry is a craft that has been honed by engineers over hundreds of years. As part of that, people have come up with ways to reinforce walls to deliver the strength and security required.
Methods of Brick Reinforcement
There are many different ways brick walls can be reinforced, but the most common is the inclusion in the build of a metal frame, often a galvanised or stainless steel.
By adding metal to brick, masonry keeps its natural compressive strength while also benefiting from steel’s ability to protect against changes in force from things like the wind.
A common form of masonry reinforcement for large builds is vertical steel bars which fit inside the wall. However, many builds will also have one of these included:
- Masonry Reinforcement Ladder
- Masonry Reinforcement Mesh
Which of these you require for your build should be specified by the architect or structural engineer. Below, we run through these two common methods of reinforcement and what they provide.
Brick Ladder Reinforcement
Brick reinforcement ladders are two long, flattened bars of steel (usually stainless or galvanised), joined at stages by thinner bars, creating a ladder effect. This type is sometimes referred to as ladder-type masonry reinforcement.
The ladders are sized to fit just inside the depth of a brick, so once construction is complete, the ladder is hidden inside the finished masonry.
When to Use a Brick Reinforcement Ladder
The vast majority of masonry construction will require reinforcement due to the height of the walls and the potential impact of factors such as wind over time.
Brick reinforcement ladders are particularly recommended for providing strength around openings in the masonry that can cause weakness, such as above and below windows and doors. Here, reinforcement ladders help to prevent cracking in the masonry.
How to Use a Masonry Reinforcement Ladder
- Only stainless steel ladders should be used on a cavity wall’s external leaf.
- Reinforcement ladders are placed above the brick, forming part of the course once the mortar is added.
- Ladders should be used at no more then 300mm centres. For standard walls, this usually means every course.
- Reinforcement ladders can be cut and bent on-site to perform around corners.
Brickwork Reinforcement Mesh
Reinforcement mesh is a flat product made of either stainless or galvanised steel. Unlike ladders, the mesh features a lattice crossing of thin steel wires, creating a mesh.
Mesh is sized similarly to ladders, with different widths depending on the wall in question.
When to Use Brick Reinforcement Mesh
Brick reinforcement mesh is recommended for many of the same places and sues as ladders.
Reinforcement mesh is used to help protect against cracking in areas of weakness, such as above and below wall openings created by windows and doors. It also provides added strength against the tensile stresses that can occur against masonry.
How to Use Brick Reinforcement Mesh
- Galvanised steel mesh should not be used on external wall leaves. Here, stainless steel should be used.
- Mesh is positioned within the bed joints.
- For most reinforcement, the mesh can be laid every three courses.
- The mesh should provide a minimum 25mm cover to external faces.
- If joining two lengths together, a minimum 75mm overlap should be included.
Other Types of Masonry Reinforcement
Often, brick ladders or meshes will be used in conjunction with various other masonry reinforcement methods to ensure the final structure is a secure and long-lasting as possible.
Brick and cavity wall ties are a very common part of masonry construction, and these can be used alongside ladders or meshes. Vertical steel bars can also be used for particularly demanding builds - these are often used in conjunction with ladders, which have gaps that allow the bars to pass through.
What Brick Reinforcement Do I Need?
Whether your job needs a reinforcement ladder or mesh should be specified by the architect or a structural engineer.
Ladders can sometimes be preferred due to their shape, which allows additional masonry reinforcement - such as vertical bars - to be inserted. LABC Warranty also recommends ladders over mesh for openings greater than 1.5m in width, such as above and below large windows.
However, both products do similar jobs, so there are many circumstances where either could be used. As mentioned before, the architect or structural engineer should specify which is required.
We hope that this guide will help shine a bit of light on the debate around ladders or mesh. Remember, no matter what you need for your next job, you’ll find it at unbeatable trade prices here at Fastbuild!
