Adhered Masonry Veneer Failures

Adhered masonry veneer (AMV), which is often used to create faux classical stone walls, has become popular over the past 20 or 30 years for exterior wall construction at commercial, retail, and residential building projects throughout the United States. The AMV is often a “manufactured” stone made from concrete that is formed and tinted to resemble natural stone. However, unlike classical mass masonry walls, contemporary AMV-clad exterior walls are prone to water infiltration and may be susceptible to other performance problems, such as loss of bond, cracking, displacement, or other failures that necessitates premature replacement. Preventing rainwater from penetrating and damaging the building interior or water-sensitive areas of the wall is the greatest challenge of AMV walls. While standards and building codes have evolved to mandate improved water penetration resistance properties and to address common known problems, AMV wall failures with major financial consequences still persist. This paper, which is based on the author’s more than 40 years of experience investigating wall failures, discusses common vulnerabilities and mistakes in design and construction of exterior AMV walls that increase the likelihood for failure.