Masonry Construction articles from March 2003

Masonry Construction archives from March 2003

Getting what you deserve. (editor's note).
March 1, 2003... During the holiday rush, I made the mistake of purchasing an item from a national electronics consumer megastore that trademarks itself as the best option. I purchased the game device with a personal check. When my wife discovered what I had...

Sanders Saws turns 50. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Sanders Saws Inc., a Honey Brook, Pa.-based manufacturer of cutting tools and diamond blades, is celebrating its 50th anniversary during 2003, according to President Robert B. Priest. The company was founded in 1953 by Eugene Sanders. Under...

Hanley-Wood acquires A/E/C Systems International. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Hanley-Wood, LLC, publisher of MASONRY CONSTRUCTION and numerous other magazines in the residential and commercial construction industry, recently purchased A/E/C Systems International from Penton Media Inc. The acquired company produces two...

Do you have payment concerns? (Question of the month).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The American Subcontractors Association has identified 2003 as PAY!, Payment Advocacy Year. ASA members recently completed a survey in which they rated their important payment concerns. How would you rate the following payment topics?...

Multiquip founder retires after 30 years. (brickbats).(Irv Levine)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Irv Levine, chairman of Multiquip Inc., Carson, Calif., has retired nearly 30 years after founding the world's largest light-and medium-sized construction equipment company. The company has offices in England, Mexico, Canada, and Brazil; and...

Heritage in brick. (showcase).
March 1, 2003... An elaborate sculptured brick frieze crowning the University of Tennessee's 13,700-square foot Black Cultural Center chronicles the historical journey of African Americans. The 5-feet high by 80-feet wide mural spans the top of a curved...

Building loyalty, building business: Snow Jr. & King credits the contributions of a long-term workforce for the company's success. (top of the bearing wall).
March 1, 2003... The more complex the project, the better suited it is for Snow Jr. & King Inc., masonry contractors based in Norfolk, Va. The blueprint for running a successful masonry business, however, is straightforward, according to company president T....

Keeping your people healthy. (Masonry News Contractor Tip).
March 1, 2003... I envy contractors that get to work people year-round in warmer climates. For those of us who work in the colder climates, the masonry business becomes even tougher during the winter. In actuality, we must make enough in eight months to carry...

Masonry restoration training: a Kansas contractor and community college have joined forces to create the next generation craftsmen. (restoration).
March 1, 2003... Established as a church painting business in 1946, Mid-Continental Restoration Co., Fort Smith, Kan., grew over the next half-century to become one of the leading U.S. contractors in masonry repair and restoration, waterproofing, and new...

Don't make mistakes when specifying masonry: carefully check these 10 areas before proceeding. (specifications).
March 1, 2003... This article is the second of a two-part series and high-lights another set of 10 errors that are commonly found in project specifications reviewed by the author. Because these errors lead to contractor confusion, deficiencies in the quality...

Using air barriers in masonry walls. (masonry walls).
March 1, 2003... Water in masonry walls creates numerous prolems: freeze/thaw fractures, cracks form, efflorescence appears, wall stains, insulation failure, material swelling, wood warp, gypsum decay, metal corrosion, paint peels, mold grows, mildew forms, and...

Masonry Construction's Industry Leader of the Year award. (call for entries).
March 1, 2003... Some people are born leaders. These individuals are always working hard to make their industry better, safer, and stronger. They are an industry's lifeblood. There are many of these people in the masonry construction industry, and we...

Cleaning new brick masonry. (brick applications & services).
March 1, 2003... Constructing clean brickwork greatly minimizes the amount of work required later. There are several important factors to consider in this regard. * Turn back the two walk boards on the scaffold closest to the wall at the end of each work...

Brick show heading to Orlando: BIA meeting will examine changes affecting the industry. (brick applications & services).
March 1, 2003... Brick Show 2003 will be centered around the theme "A Renaissance of Thought and Action" and will highlight some of the major changes taking place in the industry today. Specifically, modernization in manufacturing facilities, marketing...

Brick available in several versions for residential and commercial applications: new brick textures feature a handmade look. (brick applications & services).
March 1, 2003... The nation's brick manufacturers are responding to an increasing home buyer demand for more textures that look handmade with a new, simulated handmade brick face that is more affordable. Enhanced by diverse clay resources and new manufacturing...

Pressure washers roll to the job. (Finishing Tools).
March 1, 2003... All 12 models in the TVT series of electric-powered, hot-water pressure washers feature a vertical burner and an easy-maneuvering hand truck design. Six units have a belt-drive high-pressure pump and the other six have a direct-drive or...

Scalers handle multitude of tasks. (Finishing Tools).
March 1, 2003... These lightweight and portable scalers convert into needle versions quickly and easily and give contractors a tool versatile enough to handle many surface cleaning applications, such as chipping brick, concrete, and stone; removing coatings,...

Several types of jointers available. (Finishing Tools).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Eight different types of jointers help contractors find the one that best finishes the mortar joint on a specific job. Jointer types include flat combination (two sizes), acrylic (four sizes), brick (twelve sizes), bit-grapevine (three sizes),...

Tool provides dust-free cutting. (Finishing Tools).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Tuc-Pointer tool removes excess mortar or grout from walls or performs tuckpointing safely and cleanly. This 6-pound hand saw has a maximum cutting depth of 1 1/4 inches and uses 5-inch dry diamond blades with a 7/8-inch arbor. It features...

Wall scraper features extension handle. (Finishing Tools).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... This wall scraper constructed from lightweight aluminum features an extension handle that lets contractors reach distant areas of a wall while standing on a scaffold, which eliminates the need to climb up and down to be closer to these areas....

What happens to exposed masonry walls? (troubleshooting).
March 1, 2003... Q A partially completed masonry wall was left without any covering on the top over the winter. Consequently, the top of the wall was exposed to snow and rain for several months. What problems can this situation create? A Exposing the...

Anti-graffiti coating protects numerous materials. (new products).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Acryli-Master anti-graffiti coating is a clear, two-component, water-based, cross-linked acrylic copolymer applied to brick, concrete, and other natural surfaces. The product is nonflammable and nontoxic, has a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years...

New colors for natural stone products. (new products).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Just seven months after launching an original line of 17 colors, 9 new ones have been added to the Robinson Rock line of natural stone products. These 26 colors give builders, remodelers, and decorators a large and diverse selection of natural...

Chute system hauls away debris. (new products).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Durachute plastic debris chute system is easy to install and features hardware components designed with safety factors of at least 8:1. It can be placed beneath sections of other plastic chute systems because of its large 32-inch diameter. The...

Retaining walls come in four colors. (new products).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Six Verdura systems enable contractors to build segmental retaining walls from 2 to 22 feet. Available in four colors (exposed aggregate, buff/tan, gray, and terra cotta), the system consists of different plantable retaining blocks and a...

Don De Cristo Concrete Accessories Inc. (Bracing Systems).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Seven types of wall braces are available from this company. D-1 braces are 10-13 1/4-feet long with load ratings from 6500 pounds down to 3750 pounds. D-4 braces come in 11 lengths (15-23 1/3 feet) and have load ratings of 6500 pounds down to...

Tuf-N-Lite. (Bracing Systems).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... These wall braces are made of strong lightweight aluminum and feature steel concrete-cutting threads on the end that allow up to 14 inches of total adjustment in the turnbuckle action (7 inches on each side). Five lengths are available: 4, 6,...

Dur-O-Wal. (Bracing Systems).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Brace-Rite System consists of multiple components and may be used on many different masonry construction sites. Components include an adjustable pipe brace and various attachment devices, including a brace clip, floor bracket, strongbacks,...

Meadow Burke Products. (Bracing Systems).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... These braces are designed for a 48-mph wind with a 1.5 safety factor. The bracing system uses a pair of 5-inch channels for the strongback, which is bolted through the wall to a wood 2x10 on the opposite side. A minimum of three horizontal...

Footlock Bracing System. (Bracing Systems).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... This system is effective for bracing lower masonry walls, especially foundation walls that are being backfilled before the grout gains full strength and the floor is placed. Requiring no tools for installation, the system uses a 4x4 wood brace...

What slowdown? Who said the economy is slowing down? (lookout).
March 1, 2003... Our construction company backlog is double what it was last year at this time. Our income properties are all at 95% plus occupancy levels with record high lease rates. The housing market is out of sight. My speaking business is booming. Every...