Clay brick on a hot, windy day pulls water from the mortar so quickly that joints become stiff before tooling. What field response addresses the masonry problem?
Correct Answer
A) Control unit suction as allowed by the specification, such as prewetting high-IRA brick before laying
High-suction units can rob mortar water before proper bond develops; controlling suction, including specified prewetting where appropriate, addresses the cause. Other choices: uncontrolled water addition, changing mortar type, or leaving open head joints creates new defects.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
High-suction units can rob mortar water before proper bond develops; controlling suction, including specified prewetting where appropriate, addresses the cause.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: Add extra water to each mortar board until joints run
Choice B gives Add extra water to each mortar board until joints run. Its specific error: the choice would not get the project to Control unit suction as allowed by the specification, such as prewetting high-IRA brick before laying, which is the High suction brick result verified by the source.
Option C: The masonry crew should switch to Type M mortar for every veneer wall
Choice C (Switch to Type M mortar for every veneer wall) is rejected because the option does not produce the required High suction brick outcome, Control unit suction as allowed by the specification, such as prewetting high-IRA brick before laying.
Option D: The masonry crew should leave head joints partially open to reduce suction, leaving high suction brick unverified
In masonry work, Leave head joints partially open to reduce suction is the wrong selection for High suction brick: it points to Leave head joints partially open to reduce suction, but.
Memory Technique
Pair high suction brick with the real field trigger, then choose the response that produces Control unit suction as allowed by the specification, such as prewetting high-IRA brick before laying.
Reference Hint
Open Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, 9th Ed., 2020; use the index entry or section for "Brick absorption and prewetting high-suction units" to confirm that High-suction units can rob mortar water before proper bond develops; controlling suction, including specified prewetting where appropriate, addresses the cause.
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