Masonry Construction articles from August 2002

Masonry Construction archives from August 2002

The same but only different. (editor's note).(the future of the World Trade Center)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
August 1, 2002... My daughter recently returned from a park district-sponsored trip to a local amusement center. She told us how she rode roller coasters, flew jet planes, and even drove a racecar at the Indy 500. Even for this active teenager, it seemed like a...

Terex acquires Demag Mobile Cranes. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Terex Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire Demag Mobile Cranes GmbH & Co. KG, a manufacturer and distributor of telescopic and lattice boom cranes with a 2001 revenue of about $360 million. The transaction is subject to customary...

ASA Challenges Florida court ruling. (brickbats).(American Subcontractors Association )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) filed an amicus curiae, or "friend of the court," brief supporting subcontractors against a court ruling forcing them to pay a general contractor's defense costs even though the court had already...

Acme Brick celebrates 111th birthday. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... A precision flying team using six World War II-era fighters created a giant message at 10,000 feet over the New York harbor and Statue of Liberty to celebrate Acme Brick's 111th birthday. The sky-written message said: "Acme Brick--born in the...

Cintec wins award for innovation. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Cintec International, a bridge- and building-reinforcement specialist with offices in Washington, D.C., is a recipient of this year's prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise in Innovation. The award was presented in recognition of the...

ASTM presents International Masonry Award. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Dr. W. Mark McGinley, P.E., a professor in the department of civil, architectural, and environmental engineering at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, has been given the ASTM Gilbert C. Robinson Award for contributions to the...

Missouri Masonry Contractor wins Safety Award. (brickbats).(Swanson Masonry)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Swanson Masonry, St. Charles, Mo., received a Safety Award from the Midwest Council Chapter of the American Subcontractors Association for the second year in a row. The award is based on a firm's safety record relative to other subcontractors...

Kentuckiana Association presents Awards. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The Kentuckiana Masonry Institute's Annual Architectural Awards were recently announced at a luncheon in Louisville. Four Honor Awards and three Awards of Merit were presented to the architect, structural engineer, mason contractor, and owner...

Question of the month. (brickbats).(new standards from International Code Council)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Over the last several months, The International Code Council (ICC) has announced several strategic moves as its members work to complete the full integration of its "one code" standards by January 2003. In two separate moves ICC announced that...

Concrete Masonry Popular with Home Builders. (brickbats).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... A recent study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders on behalf of the National Concrete Masonry Association and Brick Industry Association revealed that nearly 60% of all below-grade exterior walls in the United States are...

Prairie stone. (showcase).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... A horizontal cut-stone band epitomizes the prairie-style architecture of this 6800-square-foot stone residence in St. Louis County. The band modulates to form different planes and serves as a transition between the home's stone veneer and EIFS...

Betting on the future; Bruce Dexter fosters a workforce proud to carry on the masonry craft. (top of the bearing wall).(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... When Bruce Dexter attended Harvard H. Ellis Regional Vocational Technical School in the 1980s, one of his teachers advised him against pursuing a career in masonry. "The teacher told me to get into computers or electronics--that masonry was a...

Poor quality is a silent company killer. (Masonry News Contractor Tip).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... How's your workload, do you have plenty of work on the books? If so, are you getting a fair price for your work? Years ago when I first began bricking houses, I must admit my work was rough, but when finished, customers would always tell me...

Building all-masonry homes: the many benefits combined with an ever-improving economic picture make these types of homes a potentially tremendous untapped market for the contractor. (masonry).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... "All-masonry homes are durable, virtually indestructible, and almost maintenance free. They are beautiful, environmentally clean, have excellent fire ratings, do not settle, and do not experience mold, moisture, or noise problems. "The...

Smoothing the burrs for a better fit: new entry into the wall system market hopes to find its niche. (wall system).
August 1, 2002... In his role as an educator, Dominic Cerrato admits to creating course outlines that challenge the best of his students. This former Navy electrician turned theology professor believes that his role in the scheme of things is to help his...

Top Masonry contractors. (top contractors).
August 1, 2002... MASONRY CONSTRUCTION magazine is compiling a list of the country's largest masonry contractors based upon last year's business activity. Your participation is an invaluable part of this editorial project. Please complete this form and...

Project of the Year contest. (announcement).
August 1, 2002... 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 4th...

Problems with fine sands. (troubleshooting).
August 1, 2002... Q I received a submittal for sand that had a gradation significantly outside the limits of ASTM C144. The masonry subcontractor stated that his company had used the sand successfully on many other projects and had no complaints. The contractor...

Tooling mortar joints. (troubleshooting).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... I joints should be tooled when they are "thumbprint hard." What does this statement mean? And what is the problem with tooling the joint before it is thumbprint hard? A Mortar is thumbprint hard when the image of a thumbprint can be...

Framing square includes lasers. (new products).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... The FR-16 features two battery-powered lasers mounted on a standard framing square and is used like a typical square--but extends squaring up to 200 feet in both directions instantly. The tool lets a single contractor square large areas without...

Heater warms sand piles. (new products).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... The AC1100 ground heater warms up jobsite sand piles, replacing torpedo or heating bowls with open flames. The AC1100 thaws up to 1650 square feet of frozen ground at a rate of 1 foot per day or preheats up to 2200 square feet of ground for...

Estimating software provides 3D view. (new products).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... Estimating software provides masons a 3D view of a building as they do their take-off in any of four modes (Plan, Perspective, Outside, and Inside) or at any elevation. After completing the take-off, users can then virtually walk through or...

Hand-held saw designed for tight areas. (new products).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... The DS06 diamond chainsaw designed for confined applications makes a straight cut through up to 8 inches of reinforced concrete. It has plunge-cut capability up to 9.75 inches--enabling even inexperienced operators to cut window, door, conduit,...

Diamond blades last longer. (new products).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... The Generation 2 Superblade offers a 40% longer life span than its predecessor, the Superblade. The blade is used with low to medium horsepower walk-behind saws and high-speed hand-held saws to cut concrete and other surfaces, including block,...

System allows one-hand cutting of vertical in-place rebar. (Rebar Cutters/Benders).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... This system features three lightweight interchangeable power heads that let contractors cut #3 to #6 Grade 60 rebar quickly--in either the horizontal or vertical position. The cutter head rotates 90 degrees and features an adjustable gauge...

Head rotates up, down, and sideways. (Rebar Cutters/Benders).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... The Lobster EH-19PCU features a cutting head that rotates up, down, or side ways--making it easy to cut rebar in different positions and locations. The tool plugs into a standard 110-volt outlet and cuts up to and including #6 Grade 60 rebut in...

Cutter handles rebar cleanly. (Rebar Cutters/Benders).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... Because the Diamond DC-20WH cuts cleanly, the molecular structure of the rebar isn't changed or compromised as it is when a torch or a saw blade is used. This portable cutter is an electric/ hydraulic tool that draws only 10 amps but delivers...

Device bends up to 1-inch rebar. (Rebar Cutters/Benders).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... The Model MB-25 automatically bends up to four pieces of 1 inch rebar (#8) at a time to the exact angle desired in just 5 seconds. The unit comes with three rollers and four collars in a variety of diameters. Push-button start and stop make the...

Blades cut rebar in 6 seconds. (Rebar Cutters/Benders).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... The SC190DWDE features four-sided shear blades that cut 1/8- to 3/4-inch rebar in only 6 seconds. The tool's 360 degree rotating head lets the operator cut rebar and steel rod in various positions, and an auto-return feature retracts the shears...

Cutter and bender extend to 69 inches. (Rebar Cutters/Benders).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... A unique two in one rebar cutter and bender features jaws made of drop forged high-grade alloy steel. Shear-cut blades cut and bend grade 60 rebar to 90 or 180 degrees. Three models are available, with one version featuring a handle that...

Track loaders move easily on any surface. (new products).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... Move material over sandy or muddy jobsites more easily with the Model MTLI6 and MTL25 track loaders. Rubber tracks let operators move from smooth to complex surfaces with ease, while the track carriage provides necessary flotation and traction....

Epoxy anchors block in cold weather. (new products).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... PRO-POXY 400 gel is the only epoxy acrylate that allows cold weather placement while retaining the performance characteristics of epoxy. The product anchors bolts, dowels, and pins in concrete, hollow block, and masonry at temperatures down to...

Sealants/caulks apply quickly and easily. (new products).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... A line of high-solids fluoroelastomer sealants/caulks is specially formulated to reduce shrinkage and improve the ease and speed of application. Pelseal 3159 is a self-leveling, two-part product for horizontal applications, and Pelseal 3169 is...

Vinyl cover protects lentils. (new products).(advertisement)
August 1, 2002... Protect steel lentils installed over brick and door openings with the Angle Iron Cover, which is made of a flexible lightweight vinyl. The cover's brushed finish complements a wide variety of brick textures, styles, and colors used in the...

Let go to grow. (lookout).(management technique)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Do you have a firm grip on the challenges faced by your company? Well, don't hold on too tight. When I started my construction company in 1977, I took care of everything--hiring, purchasing, awarding subcontracts, marketing, sales,...