Masonry Construction articles from April 2005

Masonry Construction archives from April 2005

Building a smart construction team.(editor's note)
April 1, 2005... Sometimes it pays to get up early, no matter how you feel. For example, last January I woke up, despite my body s protest, to catch the 6:30 a.m. bus from the hotel to the World of Masonry. While I was still a little hazy, many people on the...

Hawaii hosting Masonry & Concrete Expo.(brickbats)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The first annual Masonry & Concrete Expo of the Pacific will be held June 23-25 at the Hawaii Convention Center. The program, consisting of technical sessions and a product exposition, is expected to lure attendees from Hawaii and the Pacific...

Holcim Awards promote Sustainable Construction.(brickbats)
April 1, 2005... The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction--based in Switzerland--was formed in 2003 to promote this type of building activity. The cornerstone event of the Foundation is the Holcim Awards for sustainable construction projects, which...

AEM elects officers and directors.(brickbats)(Association of Equipment Manufacturers)(appointments of Charles Stamp Jr., Gerald Shabeen Dennis Eagan)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has elected Charles Stamp Jr., vice president of public affairs worldwide, Deere & Co., Moline, Ill., as its chairman. Other officers chosen by the association were First Vice Chairman Gerald...

Searching for America's Master Tradesmen.(brickbats)
April 1, 2005... Red Wing Shoe Co. is launching a search for America's 100 Master Tradesmen as part of its 100-year celebration. "This program will honor the unsung heroes of our country's workforce and show our commitment to the future of the skilled trade...

Tool tracking service uses RFID technology.(brickbats)(Robert Bosch Tool Corp.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Safe and Sound system provides the construction industry with cutting edge radio frequency identification (RFID) for tool management, tracking, and anti-theft applications. The RFID tool tags replace adhesive bar code labels applied to the...

Fun and functional.(showcase)(Northwood University)
April 1, 2005... When planning its new Hach Student Life Center, Northwood University, Midland, Mich., envisioned an appealing recreational facility using cost-effective construction techniques. The resulting 63,000-square-foot, single-story center uses...

Committed to Masonry: students face a rigorous road, but the rewards are worth the trip.(education)(Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades)
April 1, 2005... Dan Hiltebeitel became aware of the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades more than 40-years ago when he was a teenager and first started working in masonry. "I would meet bricklayers who were decent, who helped you on the job, and would...

Exterior columns enclosed in Masonry.(details, details, details)
April 1, 2005... Steel columns are sometimes set beyond the exterior wall plane and enclosed with masonry to create an aesthetic feature. Special consideration should be taken when masonry and steel columns are designed and constructed in this manner. ...

Moisture and mold.(troubleshooting)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Q I have seen what appears to be mold growing on the surface of some painted concrete masonry in our basement, especially in low-light areas. Is concrete masonry such as this particularly susceptible to mold growth? A Concrete masonry...

Keeping caps on.(troubleshooting)
April 1, 2005... What keeps wall caps from falling off the top of an exterior freestanding wall if a full flashing is used beneath the coping? A Copings are typically attached to the top of masonry walls with dowels that extend through the flashing and...

Who's inspecting your job? The industry is responding by training special masonry inspectors.(inspection)
April 1, 2005... What do Frankfort, Ky., and Los Angeles, Calif., have in common? At first thought the answer of most would probably be "Nothing," but in actuality they share a very important relationship for the masonry industry. They both have code...

Big fish eat little fish.(Contractor Tip of the Month)
April 1, 2005... Having started Lang Masonry Contractors when I was 19, there are some words of wisdom that have stuck in my mind along the way. My dad, whom I greatly admire, told me that "Big Fish Eat Little Fish". He said, "The big guys with all the buying...

Specifying or inspecting Masonry Mortar: don't embarrass yourself by selecting the wrong product or procedure.(mortar)
April 1, 2005... There are several very important questions to consider if you are involved in one of these two activities. * Are you responsible for writing specifications for masonry mortar? * Have you ever required masonry mortar to be measured for...

Masonry Construction's "Project of the Year" contest.(project of the year)
April 1, 2005... Outstanding examples of masonry construction deserve to be honored and publicized. Performing this task recognizes top-quality design and craftsmanship and inspires excellence among others in the profession. MASONRY CONSTRUCTION magazine's 6th...

Masonry showcase: MCAA joins forces with two other groups at the Chicago Construct America trade show extravaganza.(mcaa)
April 1, 2005... The Mason Contractors Association of America's annual trade show will join forces with two other co-located exhibitions--Construction Specifications Institute and Total Facility Management--at Chicago's McCormick Place, April 19-22. Operating...

The "new world of MasterFormat[TM]" is the cornerstone of the 49th annual meeting.(csi)
April 1, 2005... The 49th annual CSI Show & Convention will be held in Chicago's McCormick Place, April 19-23. The event, which is sponsored by the Construction Specifications Institute, serves as a gathering place for all members of the commercial design and...

Product handles several materials.(Masonry Chipping & Cutting Tools)
April 1, 2005... The AO3ST cuts any block, paving tile, slab, or similar material made from stone, granite, or concrete. The cutting height is adjustable by a hand-operated screw. The cutting blades are spring-mounted to allow for a snug fit with the irregular...

Cutting stone quick and easy.(Masonry Chipping & Cutting Tools)
April 1, 2005... A simple push of a button and the electric hydraulic splitter cuts stone fast and easy. The user can cut block that differ up to 1 inch from each other without adjusting the height. The patented system includes five hydraulic cylinders that...

Dust collector keeps jobsite clean.(Masonry Chipping & Cutting Tools)
April 1, 2005... The Jack Vac combines a vacuum unit and dust-collection table to provide a powerful, effective system. The vacuum unit has multiple-size inlets for hose connections to the dust collection table, or can be used as a stand-alone vacuum. It offers...

Portable splitters deliver 70-tons of cutting force.(Masonry Chipping & Cutting Tools)
April 1, 2005... The Hydra-Split QS-700 GT series of portable masonry splitters (above) features a 70-ton cutting force. Each splitter is equipped with the Hydra-Split dry wedge chisel equalization system for optimal positioning. The 1/2-inch-wide chisels...

Brick and pavers cut at any angle.(Masonry Chipping & Cutting Tools)
April 1, 2005... Portable, affordable, and dependable, the Brick Buster provides a fast and cost-effective method of cutting masonry units on the jobsite. Brick and pavers can be cut at any angle with the 10-inch-wide blade. The hardened blade has three cutting...

Masonry saw features 14-inch blade.(Masonry Chipping & Cutting Tools)
April 1, 2005... The GMS-14A is a portable, gasoline-powered masonry saw with a 14-inch blade capacity. It features easy lift handles in the front and rear for loading and unloading, and a heavy-duty rolling table that accommodates brick, block, pavers, and...

Line includes 35 chisels and punches.(Masonry Chipping & Cutting Tools)
April 1, 2005... An unbreakable polymer cap and oil resistant cushion grip make Hard Cap Safety Chisels safer, more accurate, and more comfortable to use than conventional hammer-struck tools. These chisels protect the hand; reduce noise, vibration, and...

Chipping hammer offers high removal rates.(Masonry Chipping & Cutting Tools)
April 1, 2005... The 11320VS SDS-plus chipping hammer offers the highest removal rate of any product of its size. The 6.5-amp motor produces up to 3500 bpm at 3.2 foot-pounds per impact. The SDS-plus system delivers tool-free bit changes with auto bit locking,...

Rough terrain scissor lift raises 43 feet.(Personnel Lifts)
April 1, 2005... The 4394RT rough terrain scissor lift has a 1500-pound capacity and a 43-foot maximum platform height. The unit features four-wheel drive, automatic transmission, three-speed drive, and wide tires. Leveling jacks deliver sturdy positioning in...

Articulating boom covers large working envelope.(Personnel Lifts)
April 1, 2005... The Z-135/70 offers one of the largest working envelopes in the articulating boom market, with a maximum working height of 141 feet, horizontal outreach of nearly 70 feet, and up-and-over clearance of nearly 76 feet. The X-Chassis axle...

Self-leveling outriggers allow quick set up.(Personnel Lifts)
April 1, 2005... The 36/32T telescopic aerial work platform is a trailer-mounted boom lift that provides 42 feet of working height and 32 feet of reach. Features include a self-leveling hydraulic outrigger system that allows for set up within 30 seconds, with...

Telehandler converts to personnel lift.(Personnel Lifts)
April 1, 2005... The Personnel Work Platform system converts a telehandler into a personnel lift. Fitting on the Dynalift DL series, it positions the platform to wherever its needed for hands-on work, which increases productivity and profitability. The system...

Flexible boom offers many possibilities.(Personnel Lifts)
April 1, 2005... The AB60J articulating boom is a comfortable, flexible machine to go almost anywhere and do almost anything. Workers operate at a platform height of 60 feet. The lifting capacity is 500 pounds and the horizontal reach is 43 feet. The...

Machine performs double duty.(Personnel Lifts)
April 1, 2005... The Work Platform System gives operators the ability to convert telehandlers into personnel lifts by attaching a work platform to the forks. Once the system is activated, it senses the attitude of the machine, neutralizes the transmission,...

Lifts fit through standard doorways.(Personnel Lifts)
April 1, 2005... The Skyjack SJIII compact series aerial work platforms reach working heights up to 25 feet, with capacities up to 600 pounds. The narrow design allows them to fit through standard doorways. The units feature smooth, variable speed front wheel...

Hoist system raises people and materials.(Personnel Lifts)
April 1, 2005... The Max Climber 4400P passenger hoist system is perfect for lifting people and materials, which minimizes waiting times and increases productivity. It has a lifting capacity of 4400 pounds and holds up to 24 people in a spacious cabin. The...

Bid strategies.(Estimating)
April 1, 2005... There are several misconceptions to be aware of when developing a bid strategy. 1. The more competitive the bid, the more work obtained, but can you make a profit at the number submitted? A company can get all the work it bids if always...