Masonry Construction articles from December 2002

Masonry Construction archives from December 2002

Calming the rumblings underfoot. (editor's note).(Editorial)
December 1, 2002... There still might be time to sign up for an interesting industry marketing/educational event that will occur Dec. 4-6 in San Antonio Texas. This possibility assumes that the postal service is as efficient in delivering our magazine as they are...

Carolina Brick Association picks design winners. (brickbats).
December 1, 2002... The Brick Association of the Carolinas presented its 2002 Design with Brick Awards at a recent conference in Asheville, N.C. This biennial competition recognizes skill and creativity in designing with brick. The President's Award, which is...

St. Louis Masonry Institute offering numerous seminars. (brickbats).(Brief Article)(Calendar)
December 1, 2002... The Masonry Institute of St. Louis is presenting three series of 1-day seminars on masonry aimed at specific audiences. The programs from December 2002 to June 2003 are directed to engineers, architects, and general contractors. The...

Controlling cracks. (brickbats).(Design and Construction Practices to Mitigate Cracking)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Cracks cannot be completely eliminated, but there are many control measures that designers and builders can take to keep their widths to a minimum. Many of these crack-control measures are presented in the new American Concrete Institute...

Masonry slam dunk. (showcase)(Cover Story).(GEM Masonry Constructors contract for basketball facility)(Cover Story)
December 1, 2002... Crews constructing the Florida State University basketball practice facility rivaled the home-team Seminoles in executing an intricate play-by-play that epitomized teamwork. The project was a complicated structure of cast-in-place concrete and...

Raising the bar: Todd Witmer, president, Witmer & McCoy Inc., remembers that the business started by his father 35 years ago took off "more like a locomotive than a rocket." (top of the bearing wall).(Company Profile)
December 1, 2002... Les Witmer, founder and CEO of the Mt. Joy, Pa., masonry contracting firm, Witmer & McCoy Inc., was guided in his business career by principles he learned while growing up on a farm in a Mennonite community of Pennsylvania's Lancaster County....

Masonry news contractor tip: provided by Damian Lang, President of Lang Masonry Contractors, Inc, and EZ Grout Corp.
December 1, 2002... Can you keep other trades off your forklifts? Do your own people constantly have trouble finding forklift keys when they need them? Here are a few tips you may want to try. It's finally the weekend. Your crews have their 40 hours in so...

Preserving a piece of history: scaffold design helps protect masonry in a historic courthouse restoration. (restoration).
December 1, 2002... Texan pride is legendary. This deep-rooted sense of legacy is attributed to the area's unique history that dates back to the 1700s and early Spanish colonization. And when it comes to remembering Texan history, it's no more important than in...

Retrofitting existing masonry buildings to resist explosions: there are several approaches available, and the choice depends on the size of the threat, type of wall, and degree of fenestration. (retrofitting masonry).
December 1, 2002... The tragic events of September 11 served to highlight the vulnerability of existing structures to terrorist attack. All Western democracies are now acutely aware of the apocalyptic consequences of a well-orchestrated attack on high-profile...

Most innovative products: early entries for the first-annual World of Masonry/World of Concrete "Most Innovative Products" contest are in. It is now up to the readers of Masonry Construction magazine and the attendees at the Las Vegas show to select the winners. (innovative products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Exhibitors at the 2003 WOM/WOC were invited to enter their most innovative products. The products described below were entered by their manufacturers and selected as qualifiers by a judging panel. Readers may vote for their choices...

MAX USA Corp. (innovative products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The RB650 rebar tying too! uses a 16-gauge wire to handle pieces up to #10. The tool reduces the time required to tie rebar, which speeds up the job and increases profits. * MAX USA Corp., 257 E. 2nd St., Mineola, NY 11501; 800-223-4293 ...

E-poxy Engineered Materials LLC. (innovative products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Ceva Membrane 300 is a highly elastic, 100% solids epoxy, monolithic waterproofing membrane system capable of bridging cracks in concrete up to 1/16 inch. The two-component membrane has zero VOC, is odor-free after curing, can be custom...

Clemons Concrete Coatings. (innovative products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Exposed-aggregate crack filler is formulated to fill cracks in concrete and blend with the color and texture of the exposed aggregate. The resin is simply poured into the crack and allowed to dry for an hour or two. Applying the company's...

Specialty Concrete Products. (innovative products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Dura-Top countertop system is used for concrete countertops, tabletops, and tilt-up sections--adding lightweight aggregate makes it suitable for thicker jobs like mantelpieces and bases. The polymer-modified product is available in 30 colors,...

D Cut Products Inc. (innovative products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Sandwich tuck-pointing blade has offset segments between two blades that enable aggressive cutting to remove over 30% more mortar per hour. The product is 10% to 20% lighter than conventional tuck-pointing blades, which results in less operator...

Shave Away, Europe. (innovative products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Saw Muzzle dust collector is made of heavy-duty, fiber-filled ABS plastic and fits Skil, Milwaukee, Makita, Stihl, and Bosch worm-drive circular saws. The product is lightweight, easy to install, unobtrusive, and collects over 95% of the dust...

Wagman Metal Products. (innovative products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... This steel-reinforced plastic trowel blade eliminates the risk of leaving burnishing marks. The blade produces a medium-to-hard finish and a double edge for longevity during the critical stage of final finishing when burnish marks typically...

Lifeguard Waterproofing Products Inc. (innovative products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Efflorescence Remover is a heavy-duty cleaner formulated to break down and dissolve mineral deposits that appear as a chalky white powder on the surface of architectural concrete and masonry. The product is biodegradable, fast-acting, and...

Cosella-Dorken Products Inc. (innovative products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Delta-MS foundation wrap is an air gap/drainage membrane that keeps walls dry by ensuring that backfill never touches them. The high-density polyethylene membrane is impermeable to water and water vapor and impervious to soil acids and other...

York Manufacturing Inc. (innovative products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Copper Fabric-HT uses a proprietary adhesive instead of asphalt to create a product that is thinner and more flexible while retaining all of the "critical-quality" ASTM properties of the original version. The laminated copper through-wall...

Climbing to the work. (Special advertising section: the ultimate work zone).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Customers expect constant improvement in the Ultimate Work Zone. Better, faster, safer, and more environmentally friendly are customer demands that only grow stronger. Tools worthy of the Ultimate Work Zone improve masonry contractor...

Troubleshooting. (onsite).
December 1, 2002... Terminating through-wall flashing Q How should you terminate masonry through-wall flashing at door jambs and at first-floor windows that extends to the base of the masonry wall and that's recessed from the face of the wall? I know that...

Software analyzes bid data. (new products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... BidTrak software analyzes the historical bid data of competing contractors and weighs factors such as general market conditions, job difficulty, and current workloads to determine the range in which competing bids are most likely to fall on a...

CMUs eliminate noise problems. (new products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... SoundBlox RSC acoustical concrete masonry units eliminate unwanted noise in plants, gymnasiums, along highways, and in other areas. The block stops echoes and has higher sound-transmission-loss values than ordinary CMUs while retaining the same...

Form provides variety of wall-cavity widths. (new products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Wall-cavity widths of 2 1/2 to 24 inches are possible with this lightweight insulating concrete form, which consists of two expanded polystyrene panels (48 inches long, 16 inches high, and 2 1/2 inches thick) joined together by six grippers....

Boom lifts feature electronic controls. (new products).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The Model 1350 high-reach boom lift has a 135-foot platform height and incorporates the JibPLUS feature (an articulating jib that allows for greater platform maneuverability). The Model 860SJ (86-foot platform height) and the Model 800S...

Multiquip Inc. (Mortar Mixers).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Whiteman plaster/mortar and concrete mixers are available in 7-, 9-, and 12-cubic-foot capacities with a choice of steel or EasyClean polyethylene drums. Power options include electricity and Briggs & Stratton, Robin, and Honda engines. The 7-...

IMER USA Inc. (Mortar Mixers).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Workman 250 and 350 Multimixers are used for mortar, stucco, grout, and concrete. Benefits include the ability to move the drum in seconds and empty it in any position automatically. A direct-drive gearbox rotates the drum without the use of...

Amp Inc. (Mortar Mixers).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The Mud Buddy is a mixer and mud tub combined into one unit. The product tempers the mortar automatically, which eliminates the need to do it by hand and prevents inconsistent and lumpy mortar caused by hot temperatures. The unit is completely...

EZ grout. (Mortar Mixers).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The Mud Hog hydraulic mixer has a 20-cubic-foot capacity and is small enough to fit in any standard 8-foot truck bed. It is powered by a 13-hp Honda motor (with electric start) and features both hydraulic drive and hydraulic dump. The mixer's...

Kenrich Products Inc. (Mortar Mixers).
December 1, 2002... The EAM4 series electric mixer has an adjustable repeat cycle timer (15 seconds to 10 minutes) to help contractors mix mortar consistently--even with added aggregate. Lightweight (71 pounds) and mobile, the mixer also handles grout, cements,...

Turbocharged lift trucks are easy to maintain. (new products).
December 1, 2002... All three models of GDP-DB and GDP-EB lift trucks are powered by a 142-hp Perkins turbocharged diesel engine that requires service after every 500 hours of use. A heavy-duty HiVis mast absorbs forward and backward load forces and provides...

Buggy hauls 2500 pounds. (new products).
December 1, 2002... The Haulmaster buggy features a durable plastic bucket that hauls and pours up to 2500 pounds (16 cubic feet) in tight spaces. Its full hydrostatic drive and low center of gravity provide the ride-on operator with maneuverability and stability....

Start every project right. (lookout).
December 1, 2002... Walk through the mud, kick the dirt, smell the air, and get excited! Begin the project fight by holding a pre-job start-up meeting at the jobsite with every team member in attendance. Get everyone focused, outline the goals and objectives,...