Masonry Construction articles from May 2003

Masonry Construction archives from May 2003

Person to person. (editor's note).(Editorial)
May 1, 2003... It's hard for my son to think that people learned anything before the Internet made research a family-room activity. From his perspective, the instantaneous access of common information practically eliminated the need for social learning...

Bobcat names new president. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Mike Ryan has been named president of Bobcat Co., West Fargo, N.D., a unit of Ingersoll-Rand. He succeeds Jim Sharp, who recently became president of IR's construction equipment business in Davidson, N.C. Ryan comes to Bobcat with an...

EZ grout helps battle West Nile virus. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... EZ Grout Corp. teamed up with Chatham County Georgia in the fight against the spread of the West Nile virus on the southern U.S. coastline. These areas were being treated via helicopter with a substance to prevent this potentially...

Did you know? (brickbats).
May 1, 2003... Were you aware, or possibly even imagine, thai there is a Guiness Book of Records for smashing concrete block with your groin? Well there is. and someone recently broke it. Bibhuti Bhushan Nayak. 34. a martial arts experts from Delhi....

Question of the month. (brickbats).
May 1, 2003... Are You Looking For New Masons? It's that time of year when proud family members are coming together and honoring the successful graduates of various masonry vocational and trade-sponsored training programs. Each graduate is looking...

Clayford T. Grimm passes away. (brickbats).(Brief Article)(Obituary)
May 1, 2003... Clayford T. (Tom) Grimm, one of the masonry industry's most well-known and well-respected members, died recently at his home in Austin, Texas. Mr. Grimm was a founding member and honorary member of The Masonry Society, a fellow of the American...

Anchoring the walls. (readers' forum).
May 1, 2003... The January issue of MASONRY CONSTRUCTION magazine included an article written by Michael Gurevich on the importance of designing a wall with steel studs as the back-up. He brings forth many of the issues of this wall system, and in...

Kit helps prevent theft and vandalism. (brickbats).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... VISTA Training Inc., in collaboration with Case Corp., CNA Insurance Companies, and the National Utility Contractors Association, has developed a 20+-minute video with support materials focused on theft avoidance at construction sites. A...

AEM elects officers and directors. (brickbats).(Association of Equipment Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has elected its 2003 slate of officers and more than 40 directors. This group sets the guidelines and operating policies of the association on behalf of its members in areas including product...

TMS planning two meetings. (brickbats).(Calendar)
May 1, 2003... The Masonry Society (TMS) is in the midst of planning the Ninth North American Masonry Conference (9NAMC), which will held at Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., from June 1-4. The conference will provide a technical forum for engineers,...

ICF training courses available nationwide. (bricksbats).(insulating concrete forms )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... A series of 30 professional installation courses on insulating concrete forms (ICFs) will be offered across the country during 2003. The programs are being presented by ECO-Block LLC, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., supplier of ICFs. "Educating...

Born-again cathedral. (showcase).(restoration of the Christ Episcopal Church, Nashville, Tennessee)
May 1, 2003... Built of Sewanee sandstone and trimmed in Bowling Green limestone, the Christ Episcopal Church has weathered the elements for more than 100 years on the corner of 9th and Broadway in Nashville, Tenn. The main church was built in 1894, six years...

Building masonry markets: providing pre-engineered designs is one key to getting masonry specified. (top of the bearing wall).
May 1, 2003... David Jollay is the first to agree that masonry's unit-by-unit nature forms the essence of its appeal. "It has a hand-laid character that people like, and it's adaptable for working around field problems," said Jollay, president of Jollay...

Embracing technology. (Masonry News Contractor Tip).(Column)
May 1, 2003... Being a mason contractor, do you know how to use a computer? Or, do you have one for your secretary but don't think it's not important for you to know how to use it. Most of us like to pretend we don't need computers and that our businesses...

Evaluating scaffolding hoist vibrations: the impact of normal construction activities on the existing building structure is an important part of any restoration project. (vibration).
May 1, 2003... The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Albany, N.Y., is currently undergoing an extensive restoration. One of the studies performed to ensure a safe and successful project was determining the impact of operating a scaffolding hoist on the...

Old world charm meets new world technology. (insulated panels).
May 1, 2003... Synergy describes the result that occurs when elements are combined to produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual parts. It is also the perfect word to describe what happened when the technical achievements of Alain...

Masonry Construction's Project of the Year Contest. (top projects).
May 1, 2003... 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 5th...

Top Masonry Contractors. (top contractors).
May 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...

The mason's toolbag. (onsite).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Cleanliness and safety go hand-in-hand on the masonry jobsite because both increase productivity and profitability. Building with masonry materials is dirty work, but it doesn't have to mean a workplace cluttered with unnecessary tools and...

Safety glasses available in two versions. (onsite).
May 1, 2003... Ozone safety glasses feature a nine-base twin spherical lens for maximum peripheral protection and velvet rubber-coated flared temples and self-adjusting nose pad fingers for a perfect three-point fit. Safari safety glasses have a seven-base...

Hardhat has four suspension options. (onsite).
May 1, 2003... The RAM Cap 2001 with Quickslide incorporates more protection, fit, and comfort than ever, along with a sleek look and new colors. The helmet's suspension system offers four options: four-point pinlock suspension, four-point plastic suspension,...

Lanyard handles 900 pounds. (Onsite).
May 1, 2003... Available in a single or twin-leg configurations, the FP Diamond lanyard keeps fall arrest forces below 900 pounds. This lightweight lanyard features a strong, durable sheath for increased abrasion and UV resistance. * MSA, P.O. Box 426,...

Scaffolding system serves several applications. (onsite).
May 1, 2003... The Protect-System is used for asbestos removal, sandblasting, and shielding workers or passers-by from noise or the weather. This modular system features a wall, light, soundproofing, and roof elements to help contractors address everyday...

Chute provides easy debris removal. (onsite).
May 1, 2003... Durachute is a plastic debris chute system that is easy to install and features hardware components designed with safety factors of at least 8:1. Because of its large inside diameter (32 inches), it can be placed beneath sections of other...

Using steel relief angles. (troubleshooting).
May 1, 2003... Q I recently read a technical paper that provides exhaustive data for engineered design and detailing of "relief" angles. However, the article does not discuss when--if ever--it is a good idea to incorporate relief angles into a structure,...

Blade segments vary in thickness. (Tuckpointing Tools).
May 1, 2003... Two types of Grizzly dry diamond blades can be used for tuckpointing. One is a series of small diameter blades with segments that are just 0.08-inch thick. These blades are available in 4-, 4 1/2-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, and 10-inch diameters and...

Mortar gun delivers high performance. (Tuckpointing Tools).
May 1, 2003... The Mortar Gun applies product to all types of masonry joints up to five times faster than by hand. It is made of unbreakable polyurethane, weighs only 7 pounds, and is available in a built-in model (powered by a 3.5-amp Milwaukee drill) or an...

Dust extinguisher system cleans the air. (Tuckpointing Tools).
May 1, 2003... Tuckpointers can use the BCT-9 dust extinguisher system to remove potential health hazards from the air. This backpack unit attaches to any type of 4 1/2- to 9-inch angle grinder (115 to 300 mm, professional and DIY models) regardless of brand....

Tuckpointing pins handle hard-to-reach jobs. (Tuckpointing Tools).
May 1, 2003... Steel tuckpointing pins feature diamond-impregnated buttons on the end that clean out hard-to-reach vertical mortar and butt joints without damaging existing bricks. A pin is inserted into an electric-powered hand-held grinder, which spins it...

Pointing trowel made from special steel. (Tuckpointing Tools).
May 1, 2003... This pointing trowel is made of a special tool steel and features a blade that is forged and heat tempered for just the right flex, strength, and durability. The trowel is manufactured in a two-step process: first, the company binds the blade,...

Two new extruded brick collections available. (new products).
May 1, 2003... The Marseilles Collection (above) is a group of 26 softly-patterned flashed brick in a range of colors from cool to warm grays, browns, and buffs to rosetinged reds and deep burgundies. A variety of textures are available in modular, queen, and...

Lap-joint ties connect rebar. (new products).
May 1, 2003... The Spyra-Lox lap-joint tie connects rebar in reinforced walls easily without tools. This patented positioner has the appearance of two springs side-by-side, and its flow-through design allows grout to encase rebar uniformly at the overlap....

Spray-on linings protect bed surface. (new products).
May 1, 2003... Polyurethane linings are an alternative to plastic "drop-in" versions and are sprayed on truck beds, trailers, and other surfaces (shown). The linings offer a flexible and textured surface that reduces cargo slip-page and does not crack, warp,...

Concrete unit simulates rough-hewn stone. (new products).
May 1, 2003... StoneWall Select is a dual-level, split-face concrete unit that simulates rough-hewn stone. The chiseled texture fits segmental retaining walls, and when the units are properly engineered they need no maintenance and support highway, parking...

Onsite system provides mortar or grout. (new products).
May 1, 2003... This bulk-bag silo-delivery system provides standard or customized dry mortar or grout mixes. 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...

Anchor handles the tough jobs. (new products).
May 1, 2003... The HCL-711 seismic anchor is used in high-wind environments and seismic areas III or higher where wallboard is installed between the steel stud and insulation. The anchor features two pointed prongs (14-gauge steel) that pierce through...

Additive improves bonding abilities. (new products).
May 1, 2003... Improve the bonding of coatings, sealers, and paints to hard-to-coat substrates with this new additive. Bond-007 is formulated to cut through stubborn contaminants so that coatings and paints can stick. It is easy to use: simply pour 2 ounces...

Forklifts handle 110,000 pounds. (new products).
May 1, 2003... Diesel DCD200-500 forklifts can lift and transport 44,000 to 110,000 pounds of brick and block. All models have standard or specialized forks of various dimensions; a carriage with fork spread and side shifting is standard. The carriage can be...

Truck body features numerous compartments. (new products).
May 1, 2003... The GM Summit utility truck body features eight lockable storage compartments and a stylish look. Four of the eight compartments have side-opening doors and two have drop-down doors that can serve as horizontal worktables. The side-opening...

Netting and tarp aid dust containment. (new products).
May 1, 2003... Contractors can use this tarp or polyethylene-knitted mesh netting to contain dust and debris in vertical and horizontal applications. Strong Wrap tarp, which installs on any scaffold system, has three reinforced bands with covered slit...

Modular work platforms rise quickly. (new products).
May 1, 2003... Flexibility, speed, and capacity are three key benefits of the F-Series mast-climbing work platforms. The fully-modular system operates in single, twin, or multiple mast configurations. Platforms can be run independently or one mast can be...

Chalking system available in three colors. (new products).
May 1, 2003... The QuickFil chalking system consists of a 1-ounce cartridge and the Fast Retrieve chalk reel. To use, simply peel away or cut the plastic cover off the cartridge, which is filled with blue, red, or orange chalk, pull up the reel opening, and...

Sealer protects natural stone substrates. (new products).
May 1, 2003... Versa-Glaze sealer is a clear, solvated thermoplastic acrylic that retards the formation of efflorescence. The product adds a vivid wet look to porous substrates as it seals and protects the surface from chemical attack, stains, and surface...

Pneumatic caulking guns repair masonry. (new products).
May 1, 2003... The AG400 and AG463 pneumatic caulking guns perform masonry and concrete repair. The guns handle different size cartridges (750 ml x 750 ml in the AG400; 600 ml x 300 ml in the AG463). They feature a 4-inch aluminum cylinder and a power forward...

Rotary hammer chisels and drills. (new products).
May 1, 2003... Contractors can use the Model HR4500C rotary hammer for various jobs, such as chiseling and drilling holes in masonry and concrete for setting anchors. The tool's dual-mode design lets users switch between "hammering with rotation" and...

Two portable saws offered in four models. (new products).
May 1, 2003... Designed for fast cutting of brick, concrete, and other construction materials, these 12-inch and 14-inch portable cut-off saws come in four models with two blade sizes and two engines. The BTS 930 and BTS 1030 both weigh 21 pounds and provide...

Stay small or be huge! (lookout).(Column)
May 1, 2003... Have you ever noticed that people who think and act small seem to stay small? And those who think and act big seem to be the ones who make it happen? Being huge is attitude, altitude, and active action. It is getting past the little things...