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There has been some question as to whether supporting brick veneer on wood is a good idea or even permitted by the applicable building codes. However,
all of the model codes have some provisions to support veneer with a wood backing. Supporting brick veneer on wood is acceptable if the necessary precautions are taken to insure structural stability and integrity of
the veneer and its supports.Important Considerations
1. The veneer panel that is to be supported by the wood must be stable. When the brick veneer is to be supported on a sloping surface and has little or
no masonry serving as an abutment, that section may become unstable and have a tendency to slide.
2. An engineer must design wood members and call out anchors, bolts, nails, and connectors of the support system .
3. Wood members supporting the veneer must be sized so that their deflection (sag) under the weight of the veneer combined with the other loads is
small so as to prevent the veneer from cracking. The BIA recommends that the structure be designed so that the deflection does not exceed their span divided by 600 (1/600) or 0.3 inches whichever is smaller, under
loaded conditions.
4. Any unreinforced 4" brick veneer will allow some water to penetrate. The brick veneer is designed as a water management system, providing a
drainage space, flashing and weep holes to channel entrant water outside of the structure. To facilitate this water management scheme, proper detailing and construction of flashing and weep holes is essential.
5. Remember, that wood is susceptible to decay and termite infestation. For this reason, the emphasis should be on limiting water penetration and
protecting the wood structure with good flashing details.
In conclusion, there are several options to facilitate those conditions which require brick veneer to be supported by the wood frame backup. In these
situations, steps must be taken to assure that good water management practices are observed and executed.
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