Structural

CMU (Concrete Masonry Unit)

Structural · definition

A concrete block used for foundation and structural walls, often grouted and reinforced with rebar at intervals.

Source: Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association — CMU Shapes, Sizes, Properties, and Specifications

  • Concrete

    A mix of cement, aggregate, and water that cures into a hard structural material used for footings, slabs, and foundations. Curing time a…

  • Foundation

    The structure (slab, crawl space, or basement) that transfers the building's load to the ground. Foundation condition underlies the feasi…

  • Grout

    The material that fills and seals joints between tiles. Sanded, unsanded, and epoxy grouts differ in durability and stain resistance — ep…

  • Rebar

    Steel reinforcing bar embedded in concrete to carry tensile loads concrete cannot. Size, spacing, and cover are engineered, not arbitrary.

  • Collar Tie / Rafter Tie

    Horizontal members resisting rafter spread (rafter tie, low) or uplift (collar tie, high). Removing them to open a ceiling causes the roo…

  • Carbon Fiber Strap

    High-strength strips bonded to a bowing foundation wall to arrest further inward movement — a less invasive alternative to wall replaceme…

  • Control Joint

    A tooled or cut groove that pre-determines where concrete will crack as it shrinks, keeping cracks straight and hidden rather than random.

  • Cantilever

    A structural member extending beyond its support, loaded at the free end (e.g., a bumped-out floor or balcony). Backspan and connection a…

Where this term fits in a remodel

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