Masonry Construction articles from July 2003

Masonry Construction archives from July 2003

Tempered for your success. (editor's note).
July 1, 2003... Attention to detail ultimately determines quality. Experienced masons keep their string lines taut to help them lay straight courses. They watch the level bubble so walls are plumb. They service their equipment regularly to maximize jobsite...

15 years of editorial excellence: Masonry Construction magazine has published hundreds of technical articles and columns, thousands of products and news items, and millions of "words of wisdom" over the past 15 years. This article takes a year-by-year stroll through this period and provides a brief look at some of the interesting facts and figures about the industry and the magazine. (time line).
July 1, 2003... "The real battle today is providing those who build with masonry the practical information that will allow them to construct attractive and functional structures efficiently and economically. Hence the rationale for this new publication, The...

Fast tract into a new century: five of the country's leading contractors reflect on the trends that have shaped and reshaped the masonry industry over the past 15 years. (industry trends).
July 1, 2003... Paperless projects, new materials and equipment, government regulations, economic swings, "green" marketing, workforce crunch, etc., etc. It sometimes seems as though the industry has lived through a century's worth of changes in the 15 years...

Safety training hits home. (Masonry News Contractor Tip).
July 1, 2003... Let's face facts. All businesses are regulated by the government, but perhaps none so heavily as construction when it comes to safety. Don't you cringe when OSHA visits your jobsites? Although you have trained, preached, prodded, and sometimes...

Cement-based mortar sets fast. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 Express Repair is a cement-based, ready-to-use, patching and repair mortar which sets quickly and achieves rapid strength gain. The product contains a migratory corrosion inhibitor and requires only potable water for mixing. It creates a...

Catalog features large variety of hand tools. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... This 79-page annual catalog describes about 1800 hand tools for use in the trowel trades--specifically concrete, masonry, drywall, and plaster. Highlights of the catalog include 17 new innovations for concrete and masonry contractors, as well...

Gas-powered masonry saws available in two models. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... Guardmatic saws provide precision cutting of brick, concrete block, stone, and other masonry materials. The gas-powered saws feature Honda engines and are available in 9-hp and 13-hp models. Both versions offer an 8-inch maximum cutting depth,...

Epoxy adhesives form strong stone bond. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 Stone-Weld water clear epoxy adhesives for stone fabrication are available in three consistencies: flowing, gel, and penetrating. The adhesives set up fast, but attain a strong bond as they enter into tiny fissures of the stone and "welds"...

Stainless steel brick trowel protects workers. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 The industry's first-ever stainless steel brick trowel lasts longer than any other material and reduces worker fatigue. The trowel will not rust so there is no risk of dark, rusty spots on finished mortar joints. The blade is made from a...

Small forklift moves and installs door and window lintels. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... The Block Hog forklift fits through a standard 36-inch door and features fully invertible forks for lifting, moving, and installing lintels for doorways and windows. The walk-behind vehicle has a 1500-pound lift capacity, an 8-foot 6-inch mast...

Groutless anchoring system allows free deflection. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 Twist-On wall anchors allow the installers to connect a masonry wall to a joist, joist girder, or any other truss, as well as to a castellated or rolled beam, while allowing free deflection. A corrugated anchor bar welded to the wall anchor...

Machine offers high pulling power and maneuverability. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... The MVT 665T is designed specifically for handling heavy loads and offers exceptional drawbar pull (22,250 pounds at low speed) and maneuverability (2-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive, and crab steering). Contractors can use this machine to handle...

Tubes used for tuckpointing, sealing, and repairing. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 Mortar Repair tubes contain a water-resistant acrylic formula that is textured and colored to give the appearance of masonry mortar. The product is used with a standard caulking gun for tuck-pointing and sealing mortar joints in block or...

Onsite system provides mortar or grout. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... This bulk bag silo delivery system provides standard or customized dry mortar or grout mixes. The mixes are batched by weight, which includes factory-dried sand to ensure uniformity from mix-to-mix. The 16-foot x 8-foot tall square silos for...

Gas-powered saw cuts sharp corners. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 The K 950 gas-powered saw with a diamond chain cuts sharp corners without over cutting and provides excellent control while avoiding gyro forces. The saw is capable of cutting through 14-inch-thick walls, ceilings, and floors from one side...

Tool delivers 15 tons of cutting pressure. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 The Diamond DC-20WH (bottom tool) cuts rebar cleanly so that its molecular structure isn't changed or compromised as it is when a torch or saw blade is used. This portable electrical/hydraulic tool draws only 10 amps but delivers 15 tons of...

Bracing system supports many jobs. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... The Brace-Rite system, which is used on many different construction sites, consists of an adjustable pipe brace and various attachment devices, including a brace clip, floor bracket, strong-backs, struts, and earth auger. The brace consists of...

Platform matches configuration of buildings. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... Mast-climbing platforms as short as 32 inches or as long as 114 feet are possible with the 32 x 7 Modular Power Unit, which give contractors more flexibility when working on irregular-shaped buildings. To create the smallest possible platform,...

Eight types of jointers available. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 This company makes eight different types of high carbon steel jointers, including flat combination (two sizes), acrylic (four), brick (twelve), bit-grapevine (three), grapevine (one), barrel (one), interchangeable (four), and heavy-duty...

System improves worker safety and productivity. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... The Edge fall-protection system reduces the need for a safety monitor or a temporary cable lifeline system on leading edge deck construction. The system has continuous 100% tie-off and overhead anchorage points for two workers and travels with...

Mortar buggy handles 2500 pounds. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... The 16-cubic-foot Stone Mud buggy has a load capacity of 2500 pounds and is powered by a 13-hp Honda engine. It features a one-person, one-piece lift-away engine cover for easy access, dual-mounted front-load tires with a quick-release tire...

Scaffolding features forklift bracket. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 Labor-Less tower scaffolding can be loaded and unloaded from the pallet using this forklift bracket, which can pivot between vertical and horizontal for setting pairs of towers up to 56 feet. A center pivot pin allows the towers to be...

Copper fabric flashing protects masonry walls. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... A laminated, through-wall copper fabric flashing ensures full bonding between flashing and mortar to protect masonry walls from moisture damage. It consists of a copper sheet permanently bonded between two layers of woven, high-tensile-strength...

Telescopic handlers designed for increased stability. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 Two series of telescopic handlers come with a center frame-mounted driveline that offers increased stability and excellent curbside visibility. Models 6036 and 6044 have a lifting capacity of 6000 pounds, a lift height of 36 feet, and a...

Modular roof fits on cantilever and bridge sections. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... The Weather Enclosure system features very strong tubular framing so fewer sections need to be installed (8 pieces for a 105-foot-long platform). A modular-section roof fits snugly on the cantilever and bridge section lengths of the company's...

Product prevents efflorescence and freeze/thaw damage. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... The Mortar Net Block prevents efflorescehce and freeze/thaw damage associated with water infiltration in any size single-wythe CMU wall. Made of recycled polyester/polyethylene mesh, the product breaks up mortar droppings and prevents them from...

Flashing "self-heals" if damaged. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 Copper Aqua-Flash is a composite flexible flashing with a layer of polyester film bonded to a solid sheet of soft-tempered copper bonded to 32 mils of a highly adhesive SBS-modified bitumen (rubberized asphalt) with a removable...

Skidsteers feature low-profile single loader tower. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 Models 160 and 170 robot skidsteers have a single loader tower that's low-level mounted on the right side. This design provides an unhindered view to the rear and right-hand side, and because there's no left-hand loader tower, the operator's...

Beast provides larger work area. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... Nicknamed The Beast, this adjustable scaffolding offers 14 planks worth of landing and stocking area. The scaffolding lets masons and laborers work on the same level and features a raised workbench, which can be either three or four planks wide...

Cleaner protects a variety of masonry surfaces. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... Sure Klean clear custom masonry sealer weatherproofs exterior walls made of architectural concrete block, custom masonry units, porous masonry, cast stone, and precast concrete. The solvent-based silicone elastomer sealer penetrates and fills...

Publication describes precision structural grouts. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 The 30-page Guide to Precision Structural Grouts describes the development of grouting systems and contains a complete engineering and field section for use in selection, specification, and placement of the products. Topics include the...

Masonry estimating software presents 3D view. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 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...

Coating covers concrete masonry and stucco. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... ConFlex XL high-build coating offers concrete masonry and stucco lasting protection from water penetration by retaining its durability and flexibility for years. The coating goes on as a thick, elastic film that covers, hides, and protects the...

Wheelbarrows available in standard and oversize versions. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 A narrow tray and a far-forward position on the undercarriage make these wheel-barrows easier to transport, lift, and discharge. Two series of heavy-duty versions are available: standard (5 1/2-cubic-foot tray) and true oversize (6...

Hydraulic mixers deliver more power and capacity. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... The A3 Tommy Gun series of high volume fireproofing and plaster pumps features a hydraulic-driven mixer. The product offers more mixing power, an increased capacity, and the ability to run the mixer in both forward and reverse for easier clean...

Large bucket increases telehandler capacity. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 The Clear Path bucket is 102-inches wide and scoops up a large amount of material in one pass to speed up jobsite cleanup and increase telehandler versatility. The bucket is designed for use with the company's G6-42A and G6-42P, which...

Lightweight saw permits one-hand operation. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... 15 The lightweight MK-70 saw (8 pounds) is small enough to control with one hand and cuts .a variety of materials. Its adjustable base lets the operator change both cutting depth (1 1/8 to 2 V4 inches) and angle (0 to 45 degrees). The user can...

Enclosure system uses double tongue and groove approach. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... The frame of the Universal Load Brackets system consists of tubular "T" supports with sliding horizontal tubes and rear arches; all sections are double tongue and groove. The enclosure-coveting material is a woven double-coated fabric with a UV...

Work platform assembles easily. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... This company's mast-climbing work platform has a 25,000-pound capacity and can handle a pallet of concrete block set anywhere on its 64-foot platform. It does not need cross braces, passes through wall ties, and is quick and easy to assemble....

All-wheel buggy navigates tough sites. (Industry Manufacturers Through the Years).
July 1, 2003... The WPB-16EAWD power buggy is an all-wheel-drive model with a 16-cubicfoot capacity for transporting material in rough jobsite conditions. A unique traction-assist valve lets operators activate its all-wheel drive via the flick of a switch with...

10 common masonry problems: the very first issue of Masonry Construction presented an article on this subject. Compare this 2003 "Top 10" list with the 1988 version that follows. (troubleshooting).
July 1, 2003... All building cladding systems can develop problems if not designed or constructed properly. Masonry--arguably the most durable and time-tested approach--is no exception. I have investigated hundreds of masonry failures over the past 20...

10 common masonry problems.
July 1, 2003... Some masonry construction problems are regional, but many occur nationwide. Here's an overview of 10 common construction problems that masonry contractors face (examples of the types of problems The Magazine of Masonry Construction will cover...

Top masonry contractors. (top contractors).
July 1, 2003... 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 return it...