Build a Complete Masonry Veneer or Garden Wall Section

A. Finished-Project Specification

Deliverable: one completed capstone masonry section — drained veneer practice section or small nonretaining garden-wall section — built to the exact support, drainage, reinforcement or tie, flashing, joint, and finish requirements of its approved controlling documents, inspected at every hold point, cleaned, cured, and handed off with a complete closeout package.

Option A — Drained Masonry Veneer Practice Section

Component	Quantity	Material	Finished Size	Preparation
Veneer units	Per approved drawing takeoff	Brick or stone veneer unit specified in the controlling documents	As specified; cut units per Chapter 10	Cleaned of mud, ice, and loose material before laying
WRB and flashing	Per elevation and opening count	Weather-resistive barrier, base and through-wall flashing as specified	Shingle-lap sequence with end dams	Inspected for continuity before veneer placement
Wall ties	Per specified spacing	Corrosion-resistant ties listed in the controlling documents	As specified	Installed at marked rows with correct embedment and slope
Weeps	Per specified spacing	Open-head, tube, wick, or proprietary weep specified	As specified	Aligned with flashing; kept free of mortar
Mortar	Per batch schedule	Type specified for the veneer unit and exposure	N/A	Mixed per Chapter 3

Option B — Small Nonretaining Garden-Wall Section

Component	Quantity	Material	Finished Size	Preparation
Wall units	Per approved drawing takeoff	Block, brick, or stone unit specified in the controlling documents	As specified; cut units per Chapter 10	Cleaned of mud, ice, and loose material before laying
Footing or base	1	Compacted aggregate or concrete footing specified in the controlling documents	As specified width, depth, and elevation	Compacted, leveled, and inspected before laying
Reinforcement or connectors	Per specified schedule, if any	Only the reinforcement, pins, adhesive, or connectors named in the controlling documents	As specified	Installed only at the specified stage
Cap units	Per wall length	Cap unit specified with slope and drip detail	As specified	Set with adhesive or mortar per the controlling documents
Mortar	Per batch schedule	Type specified for the wall unit and exposure	N/A	Mixed per Chapter 3

B. Material Takeoff and Fastener Schedule

Base every quantity, tie spacing, weep spacing, reinforcement schedule, and fastener specification on the approved controlling documents identified in Step 2. Do not estimate a quantity, spacing, or fastener size that is not stated in those documents; where a value is missing, record it as a deficiency under Step 36 rather than selecting one independently.

C. Documentation Requirements

• Photographs: the accepted base or footing, every concealed water-management, reinforcement, or tie detail before concealment, the completed section from all visible faces, and every recorded deficiency.
• Batch records: mortar and grout proportions, water content, mix time, and weather conditions for every batch used.
• Inspection records: the result of every hold-point inspection listed in Section D, with date and inspector name.
• Deficiency list: every item recorded as Deficient, with location, description, correction, and reinspection date.

D. Acceptance Standards and Hold Points

Hold Point	Standard
Readiness inspection (Chapter 1)	Reissued Approved or Conditional decision for this specific capstone project before staging begins
Base or footing acceptance	Level, width, and bearing within the tolerance stated in the controlling documents; no cracking, settlement, or contamination
Pre-lay inspection	Layout, story pole, course marks, and mason's line verified against the controlling documents before the first course is laid
Pre-concealment inspection (veneer option)	WRB continuity, flashing laps and end dams, cavity cleanliness, tie spacing and embedment, and weep alignment verified and photographed before veneer coursing conceals them
Pre-concealment inspection (garden-wall option)	Reinforcement, connectors, and footing condition verified and photographed before any specified grout, adhesive, or backfill conceals them
Bond, joints, and alignment	Specified bond maintained; full bed and head joints; wall plumb and level within the tolerance stated in the controlling documents
Cutting	All cuts performed per Chapter 10 wet-cutting or extraction controls; no dry-cut units where the silica-control plan requires wet cutting
Final inspection	Support, line, level, plumb, bond, joint fullness, tooling, cuts, reinforcement or ties, flashing, weeps, cavity or drainage condition, and cap all verified with no unresolved deficiency
Closeout	Complete compiled record set produced and the section formally handed off for Book 18 hardscaping coordination

E. Selection, Readiness, and Staging

1. Select the approved capstone option: drained masonry veneer or small nonretaining garden wall. Record the selection on the Capstone Identification Record before proceeding.
2. Obtain the complete support, drainage, reinforcement or tie, flashing, joint, finish, weather, permit, and inspection documents. Confirm every document is the current approved version for the selected option.
3. Confirm professional design and inspection responsibilities. Record the name and contact information of the engineer, architect, or building department of record.
4. Perform the Chapter 1 readiness inspection. Reissue the Masonry-Readiness Worksheet specifically for this capstone project and confirm an Approved or Conditional decision before staging.
5. Prepare the Chapter 2 work area, staging, scaffold, mixing, silica, washout, and weather controls. Confirm every Chapter 2 acceptance standard is met before materials are unloaded.
6. Inspect and inventory units, mortar, grout, reinforcement, ties, flashing, weeps, caps, cleaners, and protection. Cross-reference every item against the Component Schedule in Section A.

F. Layout and Base Preparation

1. Establish wall baseline, ends, corners, openings, movement joints, and finished elevations. Use Chapter 4 baseline and reference methods.
2. Dry-lay units and verify module. Adjust layout to minimize small cuts while preserving the specified joint width.
3. Create story poles and course marks. Build a new story pole using the actual unit height and specified bed-joint thickness for this project.
4. Prepare and accept the base, ledge, footing, or support. Confirm the base or footing acceptance hold point in Section D before proceeding.
5. For the veneer option, inspect and repair the WRB. Confirm continuity across sheathing, penetrations, and transitions using Chapter 11 methods.
6. Install base and through-wall flashing. Follow the shingle-lap sequence specified in the controlling documents.
7. Form end dams and exterior outlets. Extend flashing to the required outlet using Chapter 13 methods.
8. Install cavity drainage material and weeps. Keep the cavity free of mortar bridging.
9. Install veneer ties at approved supports. Maintain the specified spacing, embedment, and slope.
10. For the garden-wall option, prepare and compact the base or footing. Verify base width, level, and elevation against the controlling documents.
11. Install reinforcement or connectors where specified. Install only the reinforcement, pins, adhesive, or connectors named in the controlling documents.
12. Complete required pre-lay or pre-grout inspections. Confirm the pre-lay and applicable pre-concealment hold points in Section D before mixing mortar.

G. Mortar, Placement, Cutting, and Concealed Details

1. Mix mortar using Chapter 3. Batch, test, and document mortar consistency before laying.
2. Build corner leads or end controls. Use Chapter 6 or Chapter 9 methods as applicable to the unit type.
3. Set the mason's line. Use Chapter 4 line-setting methods for each course.
4. Lay the first course to line, level, elevation, and full bearing. Confirm bearing on the accepted base or footing.
5. Lay subsequent courses in the specified bond. Maintain the bond pattern recorded in the controlling documents.
6. Maintain full bed and head joints. Avoid excessive tapping that squeezes out the bed.
7. Keep courses level and the wall plumb. Check at the intervals specified in Chapters 5, 6, 8, and 9.
8. Maintain the veneer cavity or garden-wall drainage condition. Keep the cavity or drainage path clear of mortar droppings throughout laying.
9. Install ties, joint reinforcement, vertical reinforcement, grout, embeds, or caps at the specified stages. Do not conceal any of these items until the applicable pre-concealment inspection has passed.
10. Cut units using Chapter 10 controls. Maintain wet-cutting or extraction controls for every cut.
11. Maintain movement joints and isolation. Do not rigidly bond across a movement joint identified in the controlling documents.

H. Tooling, Cleaning, and Protection

1. Tool joints at the correct firmness. Tool when thumbprint hard or at the condition specified for the unit type.
2. Clean faces without smearing or aggressive chemicals. Use only the cleaning method approved in Chapter 19 for the cured mortar age.
3. Protect the work from rain, freezing, rapid drying, heat, and impact. Apply covers at the end of every work session.
4. Maintain curing protection. Reinspect protection at the start of each subsequent work session.

I. Final Inspection, Correction, and Closeout

1. Inspect support, line, level, plumb, bond, joint fullness, tooling, cuts, reinforcement or ties, flashing, weeps, cavity, cap, and drainage. Use the Final Inspection standard in Section D.
2. Perform limited drainage observation where the veneer mockup plan permits it. Record the method and result.
3. Prepare a deficiency list. Compile every item that does not meet the acceptance standards into a single written list with location, description, and required correction.
4. Correct and reinspect every item. Return to each corrected deficiency and verify the correction using the same tool or method used in the original inspection.
5. Complete final compatible cleaning after sufficient cure. Confirm the cure period required before cleaning has elapsed.
6. Apply sealer only when specifically approved. Do not apply sealer to correct a missing flashing, drainage, or structural deficiency.
7. Compile layout, batch, mortar, grout, reinforcement, tie, flashing, weep, weather, cleaning, photographs, inspections, and corrections. Assemble the complete closeout package.
8. Provide maintenance, cleaning, drainage, crack-monitoring, and sealant information. Record recommended monitoring intervals and referral conditions.
9. Hand off the completed section for Book 18 hardscaping coordination. Confirm receipt of the closeout package by the responsible party.