Masonry is defined as building structures from stone, bricks, marble, limestone, or other stone units that are bound together by mortar. It is used in the construction of retaining walls, patios, statues, and building walls. Masonry has been around for thousands of years and provides an excellent form in building because it is both strong and beautiful.

There are thousands of uses for masonry, making the possibilities for designs and style endless. The most common use of masonry comes in the industrial nation where concrete blocks offer many advantages including the ability to add great compressive strength to industrialized buildings. However, the craft didn't begin with the industrial world. It began thousands of years ago when the Ancient Egyptians built some of the world's greatest pyramids. They added beauty to the desert and their vision has survived to the twenties century, giving homeowners the ability to add breathtaking scenery to their property.

There is a reason that masonry has been around for so long. It has remained at the top of its building class because it offers several advantages over other building forms. These advantages include:

• Using materials such as stone can offer increased comfort during all seasons because it will increase the thermal mass of the building.
• Ideal for solar applications.
• Brick buildings do not require painting which reduces the "life-cycle" costs. (Although many choose to seal any exposed bricks with stucco to reduce frost damage)
• Masonry offers an appearance unlike any other form of building, which is in part why many of the world's most breathtaking monuments are made of stone.
• Masonry is very resistant to heat and provides the very best in fire protection.
• Masonry walls offer the most protection from powerful storms as they are extremely resistant to projectiles.