Masonry Construction articles from May 2004

Masonry Construction archives from May 2004

Knowing and teaching the basics.(editor's note)
May 1, 2004... It never ceases to amaze me how often a pro never takes the time to learn the rules of his own game. Earlier this high school baseball season, I found myself almost nose-to-nose with a first-year high-school varsity coach discussing a common...

Hydro-Mobile celebrates 10th anniversary.(brickbats)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Hydro-Mobile, a leading North American manufacturer of mast climbing work platforms, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. The L'Assomption, Quebec, Canada. company attributes its longevity to dedicated employees and a close network of...

Revised OSHA form now available.(brickbats)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Form 300--"Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses"--is available on OSHA's Web site at http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/new-osha300form1-1-04.pdf The revised form, which is required for employers to use in recording injuries and...

IMI plans three Chicago events.(brickbats)(International Masonry Institute)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The International Masonry Institute has announced plans for a seminar, workshop, and field trip in the Chicago area. "Preblended Mortar for Masonry Construction" seminar sponsored by IMI, PCI, and SPEC MIX will be held in downtown Chicago,...

USP acquires Covert Operations.(brickbats)(USP Structural Connectors)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... USP Structural Connectors, a Gibraltar Company, has acquired the assets of Covert Operations Inc., a manufacturer of epoxies and crack injection systems for concrete masonry and the DUC ductile undercut anchors. Commenting on the...

ABC names "Craft Professional of the Year".(Cris Coy wins award)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Cris Coy, masonry crew foreman, Thomas & Marker Construction Co., Bellefontaine. Ohio, was recently named the Associated Builders and Contractors "Craft Professional of the Year" at the association's national convention in Honolulu. The annual...

Building Lime Association plans international symposium.(brickbats)
May 1, 2004... The National Lime Association Building Lime Group is planning an international symposium in Orlando, March 6-8, 2005. "Contemporary and Historic Uses of Lime in Mortars, Plasters, and Stuccos" will provide attendees with a state-of-the-art...

Annual workplace injury costs exceed $45 billion.(brickbats)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... American workplaces are becoming safer, yet the cost of on-the-job injuries continues to rise, reaching $45.8 billion in 2001, according to the latest Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index. The index ranks the leading causes of serious...

Rescue in a mining town.(showcase)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2004... An ambitious restoration in Ouray, Colo., has saved a landmark from the wrecking ball and reinstated it as the center of a revitalized town. Built in 1886 at a cost of $75,000, the Beaumont became Ouray's social and political hub during the...

Parapet walls.(details, details, details)
May 1, 2004... The portion of the wall which spans above the roofline is the parapet. Because both sides of the wall are exposed to extreme temperature changes and large amounts of rain, parapets are susceptible to thermal and water-related problems. Avoiding...

Preventing moisture problems.(troubleshooting)
May 1, 2004... Q I am building a garage in Mobile, Ala., for antique cars. The garage will be air conditioned during the summer and heated in the winter. It will be kept dry with dehumidifiers during the summer. The construction will be brick veneer with wood...

Repointing tips.(troubleshooting)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Q In a recent repointing project, we ground all joints out to a depth of approximately 3/4 inch. When the grinding was complete, it appeared that we had removed virtually all of the mortar from the joints. However, after the dust was blown out...

Radial brick chimneys: constant attacks from Mother Nature, lightning, and combustion byproducts make a regular maintenance program for these old structures essential.(chimneys)
May 1, 2004... Chimneys built of brick--with heights ranging from 50-250 feet--serve numerous types of facilities by venting the gaseous byproducts of onsite power generation or incineration of hazardous waste. However, for all of their seeming permanence,...

Sustainable building design: masonary can play a major role in attaining LEED certification.(LEED)(The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
May 1, 2004... Masonry and sustainable building design seem like a natural fit. Masonry--with its durability, local or regional manufacturing, and thermal mass characteristics--meets many of the goals inherent in sustainable building design. With the...

Who is pricing your work, you or someone else?(Masonry News Contractor Tip)
May 1, 2004... Sound like a strange question? Think about it. Are general contractors and owners dictating to you what the going price in your area is? And if so, do you do their work for that lower price even if you know you can't be profitable? No one knows...

Replacing historic mortar: technical committee is examining methods for reproducing mortar to match the requirements of old masonry structures.(mortar)(maintenance and repair)
May 1, 2004... RILEM TC 167, "Characterization of Old Mortars with Respect to Their Repair," was convened in October 1996 and finished its work six years later. The objectives of the technical committee were twofold: determine a consistent methodology that...

Masonry contractors beware: are you funding the hidden costs of wrap-up insurance?(insurance)
May 1, 2004... In April 2003, the Texas comptroller of public accounts recommended that "State law be amended to create a Rolling-Owner Controlled Insurance Program (ROCIP) to reduce the insurance costs of Texas' public construction projects." The plan would...

CD-ROM set provides three for the price of one.(bookshelf)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Do you have the construction resources needed at your fingertips? No matter how many years in the field, you will always come up against a situation that just doesn't work out. Today's contractors need as much easily accessible information as...

Light towers withstand winds up to 65 mph.(new products)
May 1, 2004... The LT012D and LT012P light towers for construction applications come with either 1800-rpm, liquid-cooled, 12-hp Deutz or 10.7-hp Perkins diesel engines. The maximum mast height is 30 feet, and it rotates 360 degrees. In addition, the light...

Skidsteer loaders handle numerous applications.(new products)
May 1, 2004... Upgraded SK818-5 and SK820-5 skid-steer loaders include Tier 2-compliant engines with emission levels below future regulations. Equipped with automatic power control, specialized hydraulics, and a two-speed transmission, the loaders are used in...

Diamond cutting wheel line expands.(new products)
May 1, 2004... More than a dozen products have been added to a line of diamond cutting wheels, including new sizes, specialty blades, and grinder cup wheels. The 12- and 14-inch dry/wet diamond blades are for general-purpose use, cured concrete, green...

Repair mortar handles horizontal surfaces.(new products)
May 1, 2004... Sealtight Meadow-Crete H2 is a twocomponent cementitious repair mortar suitable for horizontal applications. The trowel-applied product is enhanced with a corrosion inhibitor, modified polymer, and shrinkage compensation. It can cover small or...

Utility truck offered in two versions.(new products)
May 1, 2004... The Treker utility truck is a two-seat vehicle with a dump box. It comes in narrow-track and standard-track versions. Both trucks feature four-wheel independent suspension, two-wheel or four-wheel drive, and a choice of green, red, yellow, or...

Several drilling and fastener drive sets available.(new products)
May 1, 2004... A number of drilling and fastener drive set cases designed to stand up to everyday wear and tear use on a jobsite are now available. The combination set is a 20-piece collection consisting of seven contractor-grade insert bits, compact screw...

Scissor lifts feature special engine option.(new products)
May 1, 2004... The GS-68RT series of self-propelled scissor lifts are now available with a Perkins 403C-11 diesel engine option. At 1.13 liters of displacement and 26 hp, the engine is the largest and most powerful offered on the series of lifts. The engine...

Two products added to extension cord line.(new products)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The expanded Polar/Solar Plus line of extension cords includes two new products. The Quadnector four-way power block cord provides additional outlets for power distribution. The 12-gauge cord comes in four lengths: 6, 25, 50, and 100 feet. The...

Hoists provide easy loading and unloading.(new products)
May 1, 2004... The Max Climber 1000 and 2000 material hoist systems are space efficient and offer easy loading and unloading of material. Each system uses 5-foot mast sections, which are secured to the building or scaffolding at 20-foot intervals. Both...

Retaining wall systems curve and corner.(new products)
May 1, 2004... Mosaic retaining wall systems gives a rustic, random-pattern appearance with 100% solid construction and a wide range of design possibilities. The easy to install product is used to form curves, comers, tiers, steps, columns, and walls in...

Admixture used for wide range of CMUs.(new products)
May 1, 2004... Eucon Blocktite is a high-performance, water-repellent admixture designed for the manufacture of a wide range of concrete masonry units, including block, concrete pavers, segmental retaining wall systems, and roofing tiles. Suitable for use in...

Rebar machine bends stirrups and numerous shapes.(new products)
May 1, 2004... The Rotary Stirrupmatic is an automated rebar bending machine that can form stirrups or produce any bent shapes of #3, #4, and #5 bar, from either straight or coiled stock. The computer-controlled console features software that optimizes...

Articulating cranes reach 77 feet.(new products)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Two new truck-mounted articulating cranes with 2-8 hydraulic extensions have a horizontal reach of 67.6 feet, and a vertical reach of 77 feet. The 52/380 lifts up to 26,000 pounds, while the maximum capacity of the 72/516 model is 35,500...

Driver/drills work in tight quarters.(new products)
May 1, 2004... The compact series of 12-V and 14.4-V cordless driver/drills features the company's Clik-Lok feature that permits hands-free transportation. Benefits of the feature include one-hand load and release, secure locking onto a belt clip, and storage...

Skidsteer operates on soft ground.(new products)
May 1, 2004... The 25GT mini skidsteer weighs 1900 pounds, allowing it to work effectively in soft ground conditions. The 9-inch rubber tracks offer smooth operation, increased flotation, and maximum traction on any terrain. The loader is powered by a 25-hp...

Theodolites provide accurate field calculations.(new products)
May 1, 2004... The DT-200 series digital theodolites use advanced absolute-circle reading technology for accurate field calculations. Three models are available, offering 5-inch, 7-inch, and 9-inch angle accuracy. The products withstand wet or dusty...

Floor resurfacer resists heat, abrasion, and shock.(new products)
May 1, 2004... Decorpoxy decorative epoxy floor resurfacer emulates the appearance of deep-pile carpeting while providing an easy-to-clean, non-skid surface that is impervious to dirt and bacteria. Three components interact to make the industrial-grade epoxy...

Device raises rebar quickly and easily.(Ergonomic Hand Tools)
May 1, 2004... Masonry rebar raising tool is easy to use, improves productivity, and powers rods up through most encumbrances, such as mortar slag and blocked lips within the cell. The tool is inserted into the masonry cavity with the grip part facing up. The...

Rolling ladders to the jobsite.(Ergonomic Hand Tools)
May 1, 2004... Buddy's Ladder Dolly attaches easily along the edge with one bolt, clip, or adhesive. Carrying weight of the ladder is reduced up to 90% as the worker simply pulls it along, which trees the other hand for hauling equipment or tools. Wide track,...

Trowels feature modified stainless steel blade.(Ergonomic Hand Tools)
May 1, 2004... Stainless-steel brick trowels are resistant to additives, do not rust, offer constant elasticity over the entire blade, and help reduce operator fatigue. The blade is formed from a modified stainless steel, which makes the trowels stronger and...

Bricklayer hammers available in three weights.(Ergonomic Hand Tools)
May 1, 2004... A line of bricklayer hammers ergonomirally designed for maximum operator comfort comes in 10-, 16-, and 24-ounce weights. The solid-steel Eagle has an 18-ounce head and a straight or curved handle. The fiberglass-handled hammers come with 16-...

Hacksaw blade changes quickly.(Ergonomic Hand Tools)
May 1, 2004... The FatMax high-tension hacksaw with a bimetal blade enables the user to direct and push it with both hands for optimal cutting performance. The one-piece design permits extra-high tension settings up to 330 pounds. An adjustable thumb-dial...

Screwdrivers use rotating shank.(Ergonomic Hand Tools)
May 1, 2004... Rapi-Driv cushion-grip rotary screw-drivers have a shank that rotates in the handle, which saves time and effort-especially on screws with long threads--and reduces operator fatigue. Users can choose from a range of tips, including 6-inch...

Line includes four carbide-tipped tools.(Ergonomic Hand Tools)
May 1, 2004... A line of new carbide-tipped products geared toward masons includes four hammers. The carbide-tipped hammers include the StoneBuster (for splitting) and the HammerSet (for edge trimming); both also are used to strike hand tools. The Mash Hammer...

Handle cover protects users.(Ergonomic Hand Tools)
May 1, 2004... The SorboGrip handle cover reduces operator fatigue and the potential harmful effects from impact and vibration associated with tools and power devices. It is made of 1/10,-inch Sorbothane bonded with a non-slip cover. It is effective in wet,...

Pliers have offset head.(Ergonomic Hand Tools)
May 1, 2004... The 12-inch Griplock tongue-and-groove pliers feature an ergonomically designed offset head for enhanced leverage. The special jaw design makes it easy for operators to work with nuts, bolts, and other hardware in a range of different shapes....

Field change memos work.(lookout)
May 1, 2004... Your crew hits an underground water line not shown on the plans. With water spraying over excavated and open footings, should you wait for a signed change order to fix the broken line or take immediate steps to mitigate the damages? Most...