Masonry Construction articles from November 2005

Masonry Construction archives from November 2005

Rebuff the storm by rebuilding masonry's residential market share.(editor's note)
November 1, 2005... If it's true that a picture is worth 1000 words about its subject, something tells me that we are in trouble. Or perhaps it's time for the masonry industry to renew its commitment to getting its own message out into the maelstrom of the...

Educating Field Leadership.(question of the month)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Traditionally, the winter months bring a slowdown to most contractor crews. Consequently, it's only good business practice to cut back on any unnecessary expenses by laying off employees. But the upcoming idle time can offer another...

Biomolecular Research Building wins Brick award.(brickbats)
November 1, 2005... Lord, Aeck & Sargent Architecture, Chapel Hill, N.C., took home the Unique Brick Detailing and Special Use of Brick award at the Design with Brick 2005 competition, hosted by Brick SouthEast. The school administration for the Biomolecular...

Presidents get much needed cleaning.(brickbats)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln--the four carved heads at Mount Rushmore near Rapid City, S.D.--recently received a much needed restorative cleaning. Karcher, a German cleaning equipment...

Name correction.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2005... One of the company names in the "Top Contractors" article (September 2005, p 30) is incorrect. The correct name for #33 is Rudolph/Libbe.

Reference removed from standard.(readers' forum)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... The ASTM C90 referenced in the article "Moisture Content Requirements in CMUs" (July/August 2005, p 58) is not the current version (see www.astm.org). These standards are constantly evolving and the most current version (C90-05a) does not...

North Carolina students sweep national masonry contest.(brickbats)
November 1, 2005... Vocational students from the same North Carolina school won both divisions of the 41st annual National Masonry Competition held in conjunction with the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Josh Morrison won the post secondary...

Acme Brick names president/CEO.(brickbats)
November 1, 2005... Dennis Knautz, a member of the Acme Brick Co. senior management team for 22 years, has been named president and CEO of the Fort-Worth based manufacturer. His responsibilities through the years have included accounting and financial activities,...

MTSU planning fundraiser during WOM.(Middle Tennessee State University)(world of masonry)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The Concrete Industry Management program at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is planning a one-time, fund raising, unreserved auction during the World of Masonry in Las Vegas to help construct a new building. WOM show management, Hanley...

Masonry structures performed well in Hurricane Katrina.(brickbats)
November 1, 2005... Masonry structures built to comply with current building codes, such s this Kmart, performed well in the face of Hurricane Katrina, according to the preliminary assessment of a disaster investigation team sponsored by The Masonry Society....

Florida Masonry Association holds annual convention.(brickbats)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The annual meeting of the Masonry Association of Florida featured numerous educational opportunities, competitions, and social events. Apprentices from seven programs around the state were judged on their speed, skill, and exactness of...

Management team purchases Waco scaffolding.(brickbats)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The company management team lead by President & CEO Marty Coughlin, CFO Larry Napolitan, and Vice President of Branch Operations Rached Karanouh have purchased Waco Scaffolding & Equipment (WACO) from Waco International. The transaction makes...

Mason develops arching tool.(brickbats)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Jacoby Knerr, owner of Knerr Masonry Ltd., Wapakoneta, Ohio, reports that his bricklayers arching tool (B.A.T.) saves contractors time and money while ensuring that the finished product is always correct. The adjustable aluminum tool can be set...

School passes: "green" test.(showcase)
November 1, 2005... Brick construction helped the Third Creek Elementary School, Statesville, N.C., earn a prestigious award from the environmental community. The 800-student facility was the world's first K-12 school to receive a Gold rating in the U.S. Green...

Learning to win: two students earn national gold.(education)
November 1, 2005... With two of his students claiming gold medals during the 2005 national SkillsUSA Championship, masonry instructor Todd B. Hartsell must be doing something fight. In fact, in the 7 1/2 years he has been teaching at Central Cabarrus High School,...

Steel joist connections to single wythe walls.(details, details, details)
November 1, 2005... Single wythe masonry walls typically are braced at the steel joist-wall connection. The steel joists and metal decking create a diaphragm which structurally stabilizes the walls. The connections along the top of the wall must resist or...

Cracking veneer.(building code)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Q Why aren't brick veneers required to meet the allowable flexural strength requirements of brick masonry listed in the building code? In BIA Technical Note 28B, the stiffness of the backup wall is limited to L/600. Depending on the height...

Hiding surface variations.(troubleshooting)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Q Our company is building interior concrete masonry walls in an office building where lighting will shine down the painted surface. On the first area completed, the architects did not like the fact that you could see variations in the masonry...

Possible coping problems.(troubleshooting)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The copings on the top of many masonry walls are made flush with the exterior face, rather than projecting and providing drips. Are there any potential problems with this design? A It is best to project the copings beyond the face of the...

Building a new tradition: Richard Jennison, president and CEO of the Brick Industry Association, is the 2005 Masonry Construction magazine "Industry Leader of the Year.".(management)
November 1, 2005... For most people in masonry, Richard Jennison isn't a well-known industry leader--yet. Unlike others who insist on being the center of attention, Jennison's quiet, but efficient, Midwestern professional manner has brought a refreshing approach...

World of masonry: numerous educational opportunities are available for improving profitability and productivity.(wom)
November 1, 2005... World of Masonry/World of Concrete--the industry's most important trade show--is once again returning to Las Vegas--the country's most exciting city--for its 2006 edition. The show and conference is expected to attract about 70,000 to the...

Cavity wall construction: take a historical journey of this building design concept's application in the commercial market from the 1930s to today.(cavity walls)
November 1, 2005... Cavity walls designed and specified for the commercial market in the last 43+ years of my experience in the architectural profession are one of the most misunderstood areas of the design profession. In particular, flashings and weeps are the...

Road to Vegas: regional competitions kick off the search for the nation's best bricklayer.(bricklayer 500)
November 1, 2005... Four regional champions have been determined, and two more (Omaha and Salt Lake City) are scheduled in the days ahead, as the countdown begins for the 4th annual SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 competition to determine the nation's best bricklayer. The...

Telehandler Skills Challenge: driving, lifting and placing, productivity, and safety awareness will determine the winner.(telehandler challenge)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... JLG Industries, McConnellsburg, Pa., will present the inaugural Telehandler Skills Challenge at the 2006 World of Masonry/World of Concrete in Las Vegas. The contest invites all operators of rough terrain, telescopic forklifts to enter and see...

Station generates fast, accurate readings.(Surveying Equipment)
November 1, 2005... The Nikon DTM-502 Series is one of the fastest total stations in its class, with 1-second initial measurement and 0.5-second updates in the normal mode. This speed capability helps users move quickly through survey routines. Other features...

Measuring wheel eliminates stooping.(Surveying Equipment)
November 1, 2005... The DigiRoller Plus II digital measuring wheel uses an easy-to-read control panel that eliminates the need for stooping over to read it. The wheel features a 99.5% measuring accuracy in feet, yards, or meters. The wheel has an ergonomic design...

Rotating laser stable in all environments.(Surveying Equipment)
November 1, 2005... The Eagl 100 self-leveling rotating laser provides superior accuracy, stability, and repeatability. The unique design provides accuracy of [+ or -] 1/16 inch at 100 feet in all conditions, including extreme temperature. The unit has a...

Device handles rough terrain.(Surveying Equipment)
November 1, 2005... The Keson MP401 professional measuring wheel rolls easily over the roughest terrain. Its large counter numbers make quick reading easy, while a special design allows the wheel to fold in half for easy storage. A barrel clamp locks the handle...

Product available in three line options.(Surveying Equipment)
November 1, 2005... The CrossLiner model RT-7715-2 is a pocket-sized laser alignment tool that boasts one of the largest vertical beam angles on the market. It has an attachment accessory with a 45-degree-tilt/swivel angle range and super bright laser lines. The...

Digital imaging station accurate to 3000 meters.(Surveying Equipment)
November 1, 2005... The GPT-7000i digital imaging total station enables the operator to view a real-time view of the target object on the display of the onboard computer. This image can be used to guide data collection and be saved for later use. Companion...

Laser levels feature green beam.(Surveying Equipment)
November 1, 2005... The AccuLine Pro laser levels comes with GreenBrite technology--a highly visible green beam that helps improve measuring speed and accuracy in out door applications. The laser levels are loaded with features, such as scanning modes, slope...

Tag trailers offered in four capacities.(Trucks & Trailers)
November 1, 2005... Available in 10-, 15-, 20-, and 25-ton capacities, these tag trailers feature air brakes, low deck height, and rigid frame. Spring-assisted and self-cleaning ramps are attached to a shaft that allows them to be adjusted to different widths....

Lift decks allow easy loading and unloading.(Trucks & Trailers)
November 1, 2005... A contractor can lift, load, hoist, transfer, stack, and dump up to 1500-pound loads with his pickup. These lift decks can be created to handle most items, and load and unload pelletized loads effortlessly. Various sizes are available. *...

Lifter attaches to pickup in minutes.(Trucks & Trailers)
November 1, 2005... A pickup can be converted into a heavy cargo lifter and hauler in less than 5 minutes. The Vforce power lifter makes loading, lifting, and unloading heavy items into and out of a pickup truck easy. Simply attach the lifter into a Class IV...

Trailers available in three configurations.(Trucks & Trailers)
November 1, 2005... More than 20 Triple-L trailer models are available in flatbed, utility, and enclosed configurations for equipment transport. Models include the Power Deck System, featuring a single level and automatic latch that enables one-person operation....

Hauling water to the jobsite.(Trucks & Trailers)
November 1, 2005... The Water Boy transporter features a 500-gallon poly tank, Honda or Robin engine-powered pumps, freeze-proof full flow valves, and a galvanized frame and plumbing. It can be towed with a 1/2-ton pickup for dust control, fire control, concrete...

Bin converts pickup into mini-dump truck.(Trucks & Trailers)
November 1, 2005... The ZDump low-profile, hydraulically operated dumping bin can be added to any pickup truck with a 4-foot x 8-foot bed. This change converts the pickup into a mini-dump truck capable of hauling and discharging payloads up to 6000 pounds--without...

Two uses from one piece of equipment.(Trucks & Trailers)
November 1, 2005... Loading a piece of equipment is easy with the double-duty dump trailer. As a transport trailer, it features rear self-storing ramps and a deck height of 24 inches. As a dump trailer, its high dump angle, strength, and scissor hoist make dumping...

Contractor tip.(ultimate work zone)
November 1, 2005... People need to be challenged Are you challenging your people everyday? Without designing the proper systems that measure and challenge your people to achieve greatness, your employees are probably just doing what they need to do to get by....

Training.(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... Are people operating your mast climbers well trained? When visiting construction sites with some of our Hydro Mobile distributors, I sometimes come across jobs on which untrained laborers are operating mast climbers. Not only is this prime...

Job descriptions.(estimating)
November 1, 2005... It is very important to have a policy and procedure manual for a masonry contracting business. A basic part of that manual is specific job descriptions for every position in the organization. Regardless of what the description is or what is...