Masonry Construction articles from January 2004

Masonry Construction archives from January 2004

Proper support.(editor's note)(National Building Museum masonry materials exhibition)(Editorial)
January 1, 2004... I am not a person that claims to understand art. In fact, I am very traditional in my tastes. Yet I was very impressed when I had the opportunity to experience the four demonstrations of masonry materials now currently on display at the...

Arizona Association conducts and competitions.(brickbats)(Arizona Masonry Contractors Association )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The Arizona Masonry Contractors Association recently held its annual Masonry Expo at Quality Block Co. in Phoenix. Nearly 500 spectators were on hand for the event, which included two spirited competitions. The MCAA Region G Masonry Skills...

ASTM develops standard for inspecting building facades.(brickbats)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... ASTM International recently passed E2270, Standard Practice for Periodic Inspection of Building Facades for Unsafe Conditions, after six years of work by industry members. The standard is intended far adoption by model building codes, local...

Calculator estimates brick and mortar.(brickbats)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Palmetto Brick Co., Cheraw, S.C., has created a simple, easy-to-use estimation calculator to determine the amount of brick and bags of mortar needed on a job. The calculator configures all jobs using any type of brick size, and is available on...

Turner Smith Jr. passes away.(brickbats)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 1, 2004... Turner H. Smith Jr., an affiliate member of The Masonry Society and chairman of its Construction Practices Committee for a number of years, passed away recently at his home in Houston. Smith was also active in a number of other industry...

New association formed for women in masonry.(brickbats)(National Association for Women in Masonry )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The National Association for Women in Masonry (NAWM) was recently formed to "enhance the skills of women who are professionals in architecture and the related construction fields." The six founding members (from left) are Xiaoli Liu, MulvannyG2...

Western Group names new CEO.(brickbats)(Benjamin M. Bishop Jr.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Benjamin M. Bishop Jr., chief operating officer, has been chosen to succeed William L. Bishop as chief executive officer of The Western Group. The 88-year old company, which was #3 on Masonry Construction magazine's list of "Top Contractors"...

AEM elects officers and senior vice chairmen.(brickbats)(Association of Equipment Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Ronald DeFeo, chairman and chief executive officer, Terex Corp., Westport, Conn., has been elected chairman of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Other elected officers are First Vice Chairman Charles Stamp Jr., vice president public...

Encourage from the bottom up.(Masonry News Contractor Tip)(Employee motivation)
January 1, 2004... Do you have turmoil in your organization? Maybe just a little grumbling now and then? If so, do yourself a favor and determine if your upper managers are encouraging from the bottom up. Your upper managers (best players) must constantly seek...

Block to win.(showcase)(Coconino Community College's Lone Tree Campus)
January 1, 2004... Perched on a natural ridge atop a wooded hillside, the Coconino Community College's Lone Tree Campus in Flagstaff, Ariz., was designed for minimal environmental impact. The 128,000-square-foot facility features a masonry exterior that blends...

Troubleshooting.(problem clinic)(Brick construction)(Reinforced concrete construction)
January 1, 2004... Pop-out problems Q Small pop-outs are appearing in brick units of a newly completed building. These pop-outs seem to have a white particle at the base, which appears to be the source of the problem. What is the actual cause? A The...

Detail at base of wall--mid span.(details, details, details)(masonry)
January 1, 2004... One of the most common masonry and steel details occurs when columns are set within the inner concrete masonry wythe of a cavity wall, Aligning steel columns within the concrete masonry hides the columns' structure and creates a flush interior...

Masonry variations provide a glimpse of the future: history has proven that brick is simple, strong, versatile, and dependable. Possible applications in the years ahead offer much more.(brick)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2004... Finding additional brick capabilities and inspiring new applications are the key reasons behind the development of a recently introduced exhibition at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., which is America's premier cultural...

Grout consolidation using a reinforcing bar shaker: this approach is an effective alternative to the traditional pencil vibrator.(grout)(reinforced masonry design, design and construction,instructions)
January 1, 2004... Reinforced masonry design is based on the reinforcing steel carrying all of the internal tensile forces. This design requires that the grout be properly consolidated so that there is adequate bond with the reinforcing steel, and that the...

MCPX 2004: manufactured concrete products industry heading to Atlanta.(Pavers Masonry Pipe Precast Manufactured Concrete Products Expo)(The Manufactured Concrete Products Expo)
January 1, 2004... The Manufactured Concrete Products Expo (MCPX)--billed as the "largest trade show in the world exclusively for the manufactured concrete products industry"--is expected to attract more than 6000 producers, suppliers, and engineers to the...

Who is the country's best bricklayer: the SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 competition at the 2004 World of Masonry in Orlando will answer the question.(bricklayer 500)
January 1, 2004... For those masons looking for a "real" challenge while attending the 2004 World of Masonry/World of Concrete in February, grab your toughest tender, pack your work gear, and head to Orlando to compete in the 2nd annual SPEC MLX Bricklayer 500....

Flashing.(the mason's toolbag)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Water penetration into a masonry wall causes a variety of problems, including efflorescence, spalling, cracking, corrosion, and material deterioration. However, the newest bully on the block--mold--is the one concern that has grabbed national...

Mortar meets tough specifications.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Quick 2500 is a one-component mortar that hardens rapidly, gains strength early, and is cementitious. It is formulated to meet demanding DOT specifications--including NYDOT, which requires a 2500-psi compressive strength in one hour. The...

CD-ROM presents fall protection solutions.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Detailed information on fall protection solutions, including industrial netting products and services, are featured on a CD-ROM. The disc contains three sections. Engineering Capabilities includes data on system design, installation support,...

Tapes feature easy-to-read numbers.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... A line of double-sided, power-return tape measures has easy-to-reed numbers on both sides of the blade for simple measurements on elevated or flat surfaces. Four sizes are available: 16, 25, and 30 feet and 7.5 meters. Each blade is 1-inch wide...

Trailers offered in two capacities.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... The 20- and 25-ton capacity TAG series trailers combine modern technology with demanding quality assurance standards for simple, economical performance and long life. The 20-ton TAG20L features a 19-foot flat deck, while the TAG20XXL has a...

Kits include several tools.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Cordless combo kits feature a range of 18-volt tools. The R921 kit includes a center handle hammer drill, circular saw, light, two high-capacity batteries, and dual-port charger. The R922 includes the same tools and accessories plus a...

Scraper easily removes thick coatings.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... A handheld scraper removes all types of thick film coatings, including epoxy, adhesives, fiberglass spills, and construction messes. The tool comes with a replaceable 8-inch razor blade, and 5-foot and 2.5-foot handle lengths. A scraper with a...

Grout stabilizes cracked masonry.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Jahn M30 micro-injection grout is a one-component, cementitious adhesive that stabilizes or rehabilitates cracked masonry. Even with its low watercement ratio, the product yields a low mixed viscosity with favorable penetration and bond...

Stones sharpen knives and tools.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Double-sided bench stones provide versatile, space-saving tool sharpening. The bonding process embeds industrial-grade diamonds in a stainless-steel alloy to a metal substrate. The stones, which feature two sharpening surfaces, hone a perfect...

Penetrating sealer prevents water infiltration.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Invisoseal provides water repellency and reduced water absorption on a wide variety of porous surfaces. It reacts with moisture and carbon dioxide in the air to form an insoluble, durable seal on concrete pavers or block, brick, stucco,...

Software simplifies site preparation.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Terramodel 10.2 software serves a range of earthwork and site-preparation applications, including commercial, industrial, and residential. The new version enables contractors and engineers to create surface designs quickly and efficiently. Data...

Trowels serve several surfaces.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... This trowel finishes decorative epoxy aggregate mortars and many types of polymer and modified cementitious overlays. It replaces heavier conventional trowels, and virtually eliminates trowel marks and burnishing. Interchangeable pneumatic...

Forklift line includes five models.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... R Series telescopic forklifts feature three steering modes: 2-wheel, 4-wheel, and crab. Standard features include automatic load leveling, frame leveling, load-holding valves on the frame level, 3-section telescopic boom, quick-release system,...

Mixer provides mortar and grout where needed.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... The More Mud mortar/grout mixer blends where it is needed and dispenses on mortarboards or block core. Powered by a forklift's auxiliary hydraulics, the mixer is lifted to the scaffold height and then turned on. Users can also opt to power the...

Level line includes variety of models.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... The 851100 series of professional levels are constructed of heavy aluminum for maximum strength and durability. Each has easy-to-read yellow vials encased in acrylic blocks, milled working surfaces, and shock-absorbing plastic end bumpers. The...

Repair tubes fill and seal.(new products)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... A line of 5.5-ounce repair tubes fill and seal cracks in concrete, mortar, and other materials. The products require minimal surface preparation and are easy to apply. On horizontal surfaces, deep cracks can be partially filled with fine sand...

TMS offers two new books.(bookshelf)(Masonry Standards Joint Committee's Building, Code Requirements for Masonry Structures and Specifications for Masonry Structures)(The Masonry Society)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The Masonry Society has announced the availability of two new publications. The Masonry Designers' Guide--Fourth Edition (MDG-4) is one of the most popular design and teaching resources related to masonry because of its comprehensive...

Too busy too train.(lookout)
January 1, 2004... Do you wish that the company's field crews and management people were as good as you? Do they often straggle and fail to do things the way you want them done? How long does it take them to master a new task or idea? Would a regular training...