Masonry has a long performance history as a durable, economical, and attractive building system. It has been used successfully in all climates and can serve as both the structural system and architectural finish. Construction today requires materials that are easy to use and have dependable performance, so manufactured masonry units that have uniform size and properties are much more common than natural (stone) units. Similarly, portland cement-based mortars and grouts are preferred for their consistent setting and strength characteristics. …