User:Dcorchado/sandbox

Components
A cavity wall is composed of two masonry walls separated by a continuous air space in between the outer and the inner wall. The outer wall is the brick wall that faces the outside of the building structure. The inner wall, separated from the outer wall by a continuous air space or the cavity, is the wall on the interior of the building structure. The inner wall may be constructed of masonry units such as concrete block, structural clay, brick or in some other cases reinforced concrete.

These two walls have to be fastened together with metal ties or bonding blocks. Bonding blocks consist of fitting a "z" shaped brick header from the interior to the outer wall, the interior wall being one brick higher. Metal ties have the same function but are smaller and metal materials. Different shapes are used for different uses. The ties will allow the cavity wall to be strong.

Water Barrier is a thin membrane that will keep moisture away from the cavity side of the interior wall. Flashing In Cavity walls the flashing component is very important for the overall water management of the wall. The main purpose of the flashing is to direct water out of the cavity. Metal flashing will usually extend from the interior wall through the outer wall and a weep hole with a downward curve should be provided in order to get water out. Flashing system in cavity walls are typically located close to the base of the wall, so that it will collect, on the bottom, all the water that goes down the wall.

Weep Holesor are drainage holes left in the exterior wall of the cavity wall, to provide an exit way for water in the cavity.

Expansion and Control Joints do not have to be aligned in cavity walls.

In modern cavity wall construction,Cavity Insulation is typically added. This construction makes possible to add a continuous insulation layer in between the two wythes and, vertially, through the slabs, which minimizes thermal bridges.

Wall to Floor Anchorage

Wall Issues
Breathing Performance: Early cavity wall buildings are structures that exchange moisture readily with the indoor and outdoor environment. Materials used in repairs must be selected with care so they do not affect the breathing performance of the materials.

Thermal Mass cavity walls are thick walls. These help stabilize the interior environment of a building better that the thinner modern walls.

Environmental Influences: The orientation or design of a building may affect the performance of different façades on a building. Some walls may receive more rainwater and wind than others depending in their orientation or protection to some of the faces.

Damp: Moisture is one of the main problems in materials weathering.

Salts