Hidden from View: Investigating Masonry Veneer Anchorage

Deficiencies in masonry veneer attachment can result in sudden or premature failures. Such failures can result in safety hazards due to falling veneer, especially in areas where the veneer is overhead adjacent to common walkways or locations of ingress/egress. However, the veneer attachment is not typically visible and, therefore, attachment issues, whether they are from defects in the original veneer installation or related to deterioration over time, may not be readily apparent until a failure has occurred. This presents a challenge in the investigation of veneer attachment. Also, this paper addresses anchored masonry veneers, such as brick and natural stone, and discusses investigation methods varying from non-destructive evaluation to minimally destructive observation to localized veneer removal. Non-destructive determination of anchorage locations can be used to identify as-built deficiencies and to highlight areas for further (destructive) testing and detailed observation. Case studies which establish the validity of non-destructive wall tie location and give examples of the evaluation of deteriorated anchorages (i.e., wall tie corrosion) are presented.