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Masonry uses units like bricks, cement blocks, and stone with mortar between them. Mortar is generally made of sand and a type of cement. Examples of masonry include the brick or stone on a house, chimney, or freestanding wall. Concrete is a mixture of water, sand, stone aggregate, and other materials, and is poured into forms or moldings. Types of concrete applications include driveways, garage and basement floors, and poured concrete walls in basements and crawl spaces.

You should worry about brick wall cracks when they are wide and growing, or in a horizontal or stair-step pattern. Additionally, they may be accompanied by other signs of structural stress. In these cases, a foundation specialist should inspect your home.

In certain cases, such as when dealing with surfaces like concrete rather than brick, grout can be used instead of mortar. Grout tends to be more convenient to work with on non-masonry surfaces. However, many experts suggest using mortar whenever possible, as it provides stronger adherence to the bricks and results in a more textured appearance.

Handbuilt masonry fireplaces are likely what comes to mind when we think about curling up by the fire at the end of the day. But bricks in the firebox and chimney tend to be heavy, which is not ideal for homes with weak or damaged foundations.

Prefabricated fireboxes come with a full flue and chimney system, significantly reducing the price and installation time. However, if you need to replace the panels down the line, you are locked into the same model or something very similar.