ᐅ Is the shell construction satisfactory or defective? Experiences?

Tolentino schrieb:

I think the master mason sits down with the architect’s plan and figures out where to place which bricks in order to minimize cutting and to maintain the proper overlapping dimensions. There are even software programs for this, which you could use to order directly from the brick supplier. Most people just skip this step, though.

I have only seen this with kit homes or their suppliers for their customers (contractors), who want to “calculate” custom designs as a virtual kit home for estimation purposes. A trained mason doesn’t need such tools in practice, and a good (structural shell) general contractor has a foreman or certified experienced tradesperson in each crew.

Tolentino schrieb:

And of course, almost always you have to cut bricks at openings because of the overlapping requirements and because very few structural shell builders actually order half bricks.

Professionals use both specialized jamb bricks and, with proper planning, the bricks only need to be cut so that the remaining pieces can be used elsewhere as fitting offcuts. Waste mainly results from planning that ignores standard dimensions.

tom_tom schrieb:

Does anyone know general tips for finding a really good company for the structural shell? I don’t want to save money here but focus on quality.

I do this professionally and have to be practical, as my job can’t be done by a simple “trick.” However, one approach was already mentioned: you can identify good companies by whether they use jamb bricks — these only make sense if trained masons are involved. Temporary or unskilled workers wouldn’t know what to do with them. On site alone, it’s hard to tell if a lot of cutting is due to poor workmanship or poor planning. Roughly, the worse the planner, the more offcuts that turn into waste instead of usable pieces.

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