A Peaked Masonry Lintel: A Case Study of Contemporary Construction in a Historic Neighborhood3/12/2024 In the middle of a historic neighborhood, this modern building has an architectural feature that stands out a bit, from a masonry construction perspective. Its not very distinct or special in many ways, but it is a bit unique and although not fancy or striking looking, its a bit complicated to build the front facade of the building, Bove the main entry has a peaked masonry lintel, a departure from the typical semi-circle or segmented arches commonly found in the surrounding historic structures. This particular building, by comparison, was built about 50 years ago. The fact that the builder or ar architect designers building without a cornice may be due to the fact that they were not trying to make it blend into the tapestry of the historic neighborhood, instead they may have been trying to embrace its modernity or contemporary style at the time of the original construction. The soldier course at the top of the wall is built with a solid red brick where the walls below are built with a structural solid tan or lighter color orange type brick. Neither of these bricks are Roman bricks. Both are more typical solid clay bricks, yet unlike typical historic masonry, these bricks were fired at a modern temperature using combustion fuel such as natural gas, not natural materials as a combustion fuel as used in historic times. Therefore these bricks have a much higher compressive strength and lower permeability. Anatomy of the Peaked Masonry Lintel:Unlike traditional masonry lintels that span horizontally above openings, the peaked masonry lintel presents a unique configuration. At its core an I-beam provides the support, a structural component more commonly associated with steel construction, whereas a shelf angle or steel elbar would typically be used for a regular brick lintel. The top web of the I-beam remains concealed behind additional masonry, while the lower beam is exposed, visible at the bottom of the spanning masonry.
Construction Methods and Materials:The construction of the peaked masonry lintel reflects a blend of traditional masonry workmanship and modern engineering principles. The use of an I-beam as the primary structural element is a departure from conventional shelf angles, semi-circle (Roman style), peaked (Gothic style) or segmented arches. Instead, the integration of steel into the masonry assembly increases the bearing capacity of the lintel while allowing for greater design flexibility and ovwrall width of the opening. The masonry brick surrounding the I-beam is set as a structural brick, not just a veneer brick.
Purpose and Functionality:Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the peaked masonry lintel serves a practical purpose within the building’s architecture. By distributing the weight of the masonry above openings, the lintel ensures structural stability while accommodating the desired peaked shape. This design has one hidden difference to almost all other seemingly, ostensibly, similar looking low rise urban buildings. This building has a moderately high pitched roof hidden behind the fractal peak at the front facade.
Significance in Modern Architectural Practice:The presence of a peaked masonry lintel in a modern construction building within a historic neighborhood signifies a departure from traditional design norms. It reflects a conscious effort to blend contemporary architectural elements with the established vernacular of the area, creating a half-hearted attempt at a somewhat harmonious coexistence between past and present. It shouldn’t really be overlooked though, here tge developer and designer, decades ago, rook a shortcut. They made a new residential building in a historic mixed industrialist and residential neighborhood. Instead of following the design elements of the historic residential buildings, the followed the aesthetics of the nearby industrial buildings, even though their new building was a dwelling, a residence. This was the easy way around appeasing local AHD’s. It saved money and they got away with it. Reproducing historic architectural elements from accurate residential and institutional buildings at the turn of the last century is expensive, and here they found a questionable sneak-around to avoid those standards. It might be legal, but it shouldn’t be applauded. We chose to examine the lintel, based on the technical details, not the merits of it’s aesthetic design. Structural Elements of Spans:At the core of a peaked masonry lintel lies a sophisticated interplay of structural elements designed to withstand external forces and support the load above. Unlike traditional lintels, which rely solely on masonry support, peaked lintels often incorporate steel reinforcements to enhance structural integrity. These reinforcements, steel beams and lintels, exhibit remarkable tensile strength while also providing resistance against compressive forces. The integration of steel components enables peaked lintels to effectively distribute loads and maintain stability over time. Tensile Strength in Steel:Steel, with an innate exceptional tensile strength, plays a role in supporting the structural span of this particular peaked masonry fractal facade. Unlike masonry and concrete, which excel in compressive force applications but lack intrinsic tensile strength, steel offers a perfect solutionwhere self-supporting arches will not geometrically suffice with a horizontal span to arch height ratio in excess of available space. Steel’s ability to withstand stretching or pulling forces also makes it an acceptable material for reinforcing building elements subjected to bending or tension. The picture below show a close up of the connection point of the steel lintel and the superimposed buttress and springer in a curved self-supporting arch, but here without a skewback. Material Science and Load Paths:In construction terminology, compressive strength refers to a material’s ability to withstand forces that tend to crush or compact it. Concrete, masonry, and cement materials exhibit exceptional compressive strength, making them ideal for bearing vertical loads. However, spanning elements like lintels cannot bear directly above the vertical supports below. Instead, they rely on arches or spanning elements to transfer loads laterally and distribute them evenly. This ensures balanced load paths and minimizes stress concentrations, thereby enhancing overall structural stability. Masonry Upkeep and Restoration:As integral components of historical buildings, peaked masonry lintels require routine upkeep and restoration to ensure long-term preservation. Steel componebts need to be recoated. At times, as oxidation occurs, rust should be removed. ARust converting primers should be applied with successive applications of high-performance industrial grade paints. Unprotected exposure to environmental factors can lead to deterioration and degradation of steel elements which will lead to deterioration of masonry materials. Through regular maintenance and restoration efforts, preservationists like our company can mitigate the effects of weathering and prolong the lifespan of these architectural and industrial historic buildings By combining traditional craftsmanship with modern conservation techniques, we can safeguard our built environment and your most valuable investments.We can Help Infinity Design Solutions is a historic restoration specialist contractor specializing in both historic masonry restoration such as tuck pointing our repointing, and brick repair. If you have questions about the architectural details or facade of your historic building in Washington DC, reach out and say hello and if we can help we’ll be glad to assist you. You can email us or call us on the telephone at the following link: contact us here. <p>The post A Peaked Masonry Lintel: A Case Study of Contemporary Construction in a Historic Neighborhood first appeared on Infinity Design Solutions.</p> Via https://www.ids-dmv.com/masonry/a-peaked-masonry-lintel-a-case-study-of-contemporary-construction-in-a-historic-neighborhood/
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About UsInfinity Design Solutions LLC (IDS) is a full service general contracting company in the heart of the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC. We focus on repair and renovation of buildings and facilities in both historic designated neighborhoods and the commercial-zoned central business district of the city. Follow Us
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