Masonry Construction articles from April 2003

Masonry Construction archives from April 2003

Finding a level playing field in a high-tech age. (editor's note).
April 1, 2003... I think it's a sign of the times. My daughter's baby-sitting business is so successful that she recently purchased a good, but used, personal data assistant (PDA). Her plan is to build a strong client database. Then when boys become more...

IMI plans two Chicago events. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The International Masonry Institute and the AIA Northeast Illinois Chapter have announced the details for Chicago Masonry Expo 2003, which will be held April 30 at the BAC District Council Training Center in Addison, Ill. The event is geared...

World of masonry/ world of concrete show attracts 73,100. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... A near-record crowd of 73,100 gathered in Las Vegas in early February for the 2003 World of Masonry/World of Concrete Show. Attendees were treated to the latest the industry has to offer in terms of products, technology, and information, while...

Central Pennsylvania Golden Trowel winners announced. (brickbats).(US)
April 1, 2003... The 2002 Central Pennsylvania IMI Golden Trowel Award winners for outstanding achievements in masonry design and construction were recently announced. The awards were presented for projects built in 33 counties of Central Pennsylvania within...

MIC and Habitat for Humanity sign agreement. (brickbats).(Masonry Industry Council, US)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Masonry Industry Council (MIC) and Habitat for Humanity Intl. (HFHI) recently signed a memorandum of understanding that will greatly expand the cooperation between the two groups. Tom Jones, vice president of HFHI, and Mark Hogan, chairman...

Estimating outdoor temperatures. (readers' forum).(The Masonry Society offers weather document)
April 1, 2003... Masons' productivity is known to vary with air temperature and many contractors base construction cost estimates on anticipated weather conditions. Maps such as this one for October are available to show the estimated noon temperature isotherms...

Beauty in block. (showcase).(Advanced Masonry Systems does work on hotel)
April 1, 2003... Overlooking Sarasota Bay is a block behemoth, the 270-room Ritz-Carlton hotel and residences. Under a $2.4 million masonry contract, Sarasota, Fla.-based Advanced Masonry Systems (AMS) installed 255,730 CMU and 1608 cubic yards of coarse...

Schooled in masonry. (top of the bearing wall).(Harold Elofson of H and H Contracting Corp. and Great Northern Masonry Co.)
April 1, 2003... Just as education is the foundation for success in life, schools have been Harold Elofson's building blocks for success in business. The masonry contractor's two flourishing companies--H&H Contracting Corp. in Las Vegas and Great Northern...

Strengthening: masonry walls. (walls).(unreinforced masonry structures)
April 1, 2003... Structural weakness or overloading, dynamic vibrations, settlements, and in-plane and out-of-plane deformations can cause the failure of unreinforced masonry (URM) structures. In the case of overstressing, these buildings have features, such as...

Software applications: computers and related software allow the masonry contractor to compete effectively in the information age. (special software section).
April 1, 2003... The amount of information and data that is collected, processed, and interpreted on a daily basis by the masonry contractor is tremendous. The contractor employs a large number of craftsmen, which creates a complex and time-consuming payroll...

Bosch digital power tools. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... Punch List is an easy-to-use field (Palm-based) and desktop (PC-based) software tool driven by drop-down menus that allow users to manage task lists and distribute updates and task assignments with ease and effectiveness. The program lets users...

Intuit Inc. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... QuickBooks Premier 2003: Contractor Edition is custom-built for construction businesses with up to 20 employees. New streamlined estimating and change order processes help increase accuracy and save time. A job costing feature shows contractors...

Heavy Construction Systems Specialists Inc. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... Heavy Job Version 2.16 job tracking software cuts reporting time in half for foremen on the jobsite and gives them a rundown of their daily production. The overview of daily production allows foremen to see what they actually accomplished for...

eTEK International. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... MTX Mobile allows construction foremen and superintendents working in the field to enter data, make online inquiries, and view key operating information about their products via wireless Microsoft compatible pocket PC PDA devices. The product...

Dexter + Chaney. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... Forefront Construction Management Software, Version, 11, offers more than 550 new features. A new inbox screen allows project managers to log on and see a display of items that the team needs to address for a specific project. Users may view or...

Ballantine & Company Inc. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... QuickGantt 4.0 project management software allows architects, engineers, and contractors to easily and quickly plan and budget projects or estimate and schedule client work and proposals. It uses a familiar worksheet where all project...

C/F Data Systems. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... FieldLink increases productivity by reducing errors and eliminating duplication of effort by field superintendents and the office staff. The remote field reporting module allows jobsite personnel to enter information such as labor hours,...

Acme Building Brands. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... Users can view/visualize the design choices available for walls using brick and other complementary masonry materials with Masonry Designer software. Sample walls using any of four brick sizes in more than 200 brick colors and any of 40 mortar...

Tradesmen's Software Inc. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... Developed by an experienced mason, this estimating software provides a 3D view of the building for a take-off in any of four modes (Plan, Perspective, Outside, and Inside) or at any elevation. After completing the take-off, users can virtually...

Estimating 4U. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... This construction cost estimating software for contractors offers one-click installation and requires minimal system specifications. The software effortlessly determines material, equipment, labor, subcontractor, and additional costs for any...

ComputerEase. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... FieldBase is a project control software program for Palm OS-compatible handheld organizers. It takes cost accounting to the jobsite and provides contractors with fingertip access to all of the information necessary to make better, faster, more...

Timberline Software Corp. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... Model Estimating is just one option available with the Precision Collection Extended Edition, Version 6.0. An estimator simply answers a series of interview-like questions, such as type of building, use, number of stories, exterior shell type,...

Vertigreph Inc. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... BidPoint XL 3.0 software lets estimators and quantity surveyors click on an Excel spreadsheet cell and electronically measure and draw items from paper plans using a digitizer tablet. An audit trail is provided because the digitized quantities...

Quest Solutions Inc. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... BidTrak software analyzes the historical bid data of competing contractors and weighs factors like general market conditions, job difficulty, and current workloads to determine the range in which competing bids are most likely to fall on a...

GDB Software Inc. (Masonry contractor: software).
April 1, 2003... The AutoCrete computer-aided design program is easy to learn and creates high-quality two- and three-dimensional drawings quickly to increase both office and field productivity. Layout capabilities with the program include automatic...

Types of bonds. (brick tips).
April 1, 2003... Bonds serve a variety of purposes, depending on the type of brickwork that is designed and built. By definition, a bond is an arrangement of built-up brick or other units laid so that their overlapping thoroughly ties the units together, which...

Eliminating sharp edges. (troubleshooting).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Q We installed flashing with a stainless steel drip edge. The corners form sharp edges and the flashing projects from the wall into an area where it is exposed to pedestrian traffic. I am afraid that someone might get cut. How can this...

Possible water problems. (troubleshooting).
April 1, 2003... Q Shortly after completing the walls on a new two-story office building, we noticed that the insulation in the cavity walls was not taped or adhered to the backup, as required by the project specifications. The walls are 4-inch face brick with...

Vertical rebar stabilizer. (the mason's toolbag).
April 1, 2003... Contractors can stabilize vertical rebar in block foundation walls in seconds by using this device, which is designed to hold up to five rebar in place. Installation involves four steps: measuring for steel reinforcement layout, placing the...

Holds rebar still during grouting. (the mason's toolbag).
April 1, 2003... Available in 9-gauge or 3/16-inch diameter, this rebar positioner holds the rod in a stationary position--away from the edges of the cell--while the grout is poured around it. The positioner comes in single and double O-ring varieties. The ring...

Machine shakes rebar and consolidates grout. (the mason's toolbag).
April 1, 2003... Consolidate grout or concrete poured into block walls quickly with the Rebar Shaker, which consists of an electric motor with a 5-foot-long flexible shaft that connects to a vibrating head. A sleeve within the left side of this head contains a...

Telescoping rsbar positioner. (the mason's toolbag).
April 1, 2003... Eliminate overhead lifting of heavy concrete block over rebar by using the Steel-Wich telescoping rebar positioner, designed for use in reinforced masonry walls in all types of buildings. This device holds the rebar in place while the...

Coating provides several benefits. (new products).
April 1, 2003... PolyShield regular graffiti preventer forms an invisible barrier on interior and exterior surfaces that acts as a shield to prevent the absorption of vandalistic harm into the substrate. The product is used on painted and unpainted surfaces,...

Continous mixer line matches various job requirements. (new products).
April 1, 2003... The D10, D20, and D30 continuous mixers make mortar, renders, and plasters. The wheeled units are fed with materials in bulk or bagged form. Another line of mixers (D40, D100, D150, and D250) bolt-connect to company silos to provide freshly...

Admixture fights freeze/thaw problems. (new products).
April 1, 2003... Trysta ready-to-use admixture is designed specifically for low-slump manufactured concrete products to enhance the durability of pavers, retaining wall units, and block exposed to environments of repeated freezing and thawing. It's formulated...

Sideloaders require 40% less operating room. (new products).
April 1, 2003... Unlike conventional lift tracks that load from the front, Fantuzzi sideloaders pick up materials laterally and then lower them to a platform for transport. The sideloaders require up to 40% less operating space than lift tracks because they use...

Scaffolding systems serve small jobs. (new products).
April 1, 2003... A line of portable and lightweight brackets can be hung on either side of a wall (8-inch CMU, stud, etc.) or over a beam to serve as the frame of a scaffolding system designed for small jobs. Each bracket holds up to 250 pounds of evenly...

Nets enhance worker safety. (new products).
April 1, 2003... All-weather durable nets that fit to scaffolding and all wall openings exceed OSHA standards, are reusable up to 5 years, and are easy to transport in a specially designed backpack. A set of three nets (side bracket, end scaffold, and center...

Anchoring adhesive available in variety of sizes. (new products).
April 1, 2003... Epcon 7 all-weather anchoring adhesive now comes in a 5-ounce coaxial cartridge (A7-5). The smaller cartridge adhesive is released via a reusable plastic dispenser or adapted for use with a standard caulking gun. Epcon 7, which is also...

Telehandler reaches 42 feet. (new products).
April 1, 2003... The 644E-42 telehandler lifts 6000 pounds to a maximum height of 42 feet and is equipped with the PlaceAce system that lets an operator move loads forward up to 80 inches at any height without driving the machine. The vehicle's three-section...

Membrane available with or without a drip edge. (new products).
April 1, 2003... A surface-adhered flashing membrane with or without a drip edge is used in a variety of applications. Both products feature a 25-mil-thick polymer composite top membrane and 15-mil-thick rubberized adhesive backing. The former membrane extends...

Tracks improve skidsteer flotation and traction. (new products).
April 1, 2003... Protrac over-the-tire tracks for skidsteers comes in three varieties to increase flotation and traction--both off-road and on-road. Diamond tracks feature diamond-shaped crossbars that prevent skidsteer sliding, even when driving sideways on a...

Professional Tool Mfg. LLC. (Drills & Bits).
April 1, 2003... The Drill Doctor resharpens a variety of bits (masonry, high-speed steel and carbide, TiN-coated, and cobalt) to save time and money, lessen drill motor wear and tear, and prevent work interruptions. Several models are available, including the...

DeWalt Industrial Tool Co. (Drills & Bits).
April 1, 2003... Drill into masonry and concrete longer and faster with Rock Carbide SDS+ bits for SDS rotary hammers. The new bits measure 5/32 to 1 V8 inches in diameter and feature a flattened tip contoured for durability, a larger-than-usual four-flute...

Miyanaga America Corp. (Drills & Bits).
April 1, 2003... Most drill bits have a chisel edge that causes rifling, but the Deltagon bit features a center-pointed carbide head that produces near-perfect round holes. The head also achieves smooth and easy centering, has a triple cutting edge to reduce...

Hitachi Power Tools. (Drills & Bits).
April 1, 2003... A contractor can switch the operating mode of the DV14DV rotary hammer from a driver drill to a hammer drill with just a turn of the tool's selection dial. The cordless tool boasts an impact rate of 0-18,000 bpm and possesses a torque of 346...

Hilti Inc. (Drills & Bits).
April 1, 2003... All three rotary hammer drills in the TE 2 series are lightweight (6 to 7 pounds) yet powerful and durable. The standard TE 2 model is designed for production-oriented contractors who drill many small diameter holes (3/16 to 3/4 inch) in...

Got profit? Get profit driven! (lookout).(Column)
April 1, 2003... What is your top business priority? Where do you spend your time? Is it attention to details, customer service, supervising, scheduling, ordering materials, paperwork, or something else? To improve your bottom line, it shouldn't be any of...