What is the proper way to judge a masonry wall?
A. Aesthetic Concerns Both the Brick Industry Association (BIA) and the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) recommend that you judge a finished masonry wall from a distance of 20 feet under diffused lighting conditions. You should be standing directly in front of the wall, not sighting down the edge of it. These requirements are an extrapolation of the ASTM standards governing acceptable quality of brick and block. The standard asks for diffused lighting conditions because edge-lit exposure magnifies imperfections in any flat wall system (stucco, precast, masonry or metal panels). You are asked to stand 20 feet away from the wall so that you will view the wall as a whole, not placing extreme emphasis on each brick, block or mortar joint. Any imperfections that show up from this distance are significant enough to make it to the punch list. You can also use a mock-up panel as a standard for judging the finished masonry work. A mock-up panel should be erected at the beginning of
