Masonry Construction articles from September 2002

Masonry Construction archives from September 2002

The same but only different. (editor's note).
September 1, 2002... My daughter recently returned from a park district-sponsored trip to a local amusement center. She told us how she rode roller coasters, flew jet planes, and even drove a race car at the Indy 500. Even for this active teenager, it seemed like a...

Disagreement about mistakes. (readers' forum).(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2002... As a licensed architect and licensed building official, I read with great interest the article by Rochelle Jaffe in your June issue on "Don't Make Mistakes When Specifying Masonry." I agree in general that specifying needs to be done better and...

Shortcomings exist on both sides. (readers' forum).(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2002... I read the editorial on "Winning by the New Rules" in the June issue and agree with the general idea. However, your selection of war stories appears to illustrate a bias against the design professional. Why are there no examples of masonry...

Sprint to the future. (showcase).
September 1, 2002... In June, the last of 7.5 million brick was placed at Sprint Corp.'s sprawling new world headquarters in Overland Park, Kan. How big is the campus? The facility is so large that it has its own zip code. The project's statistics are...

Brothers in arms: Masonry Builders Inc. continues its century-old Bradley family tradition. (top of the bearing wall).
September 1, 2002... As fourth-generation masons, the Bradley brothers like to say that instead of a ball and a bat, they grew up with a trowel and a level in their hands. "Masonry is in our blood," said Tom Bradley, president of Masonry Builders Inc. (MBI), Tampa,...

Promote your own people! (Masonry News Contractor Tip).
September 1, 2002... I do a lot of seminars for mason contractors from all over the country. Contractors are constantly telling me they can't find any good help. I believe most of the reason is their not looking in the right places. Where is the right place? It's...

"Let's roll": contractors involved in the Pentagon's Phoenix Project used teamwork to restore damage from the 9/11 attact. (repair & reconstruction).
September 1, 2002... When the terrorists planned their attacks of 9/11, they choose key American icons of strength. While they were on target in regard to the buildings' importance, the terrorists miscalculated the attacks' effect. Instead of displaying a national...

Learning by trowel and error: Daniel L. Hiltebeitel excels as a craftsman teacher, and role model. (training).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Masonry is a highly skilled profession that lends strength, beauty, and character to construction. It follows that the industry's success relies on the people who ply the craft with quality and efficiency. These same professionals must also...

Power cutting. (Product classification: saws, hand-held power: special advertising section: the ultimate work zone).
September 1, 2002... It's been said by many industry observers that today's master masons need to be an expert craftsman in more than just the use of their favorite trowels. On many jobsites, masons can find themselves becoming very acquainted with a multitude of...

Keeping joint thickness right. (Product classification: reinforcement: special advertising section: the ultimate work zone).
September 1, 2002... As most contractors know, the hardest part of any worksite is measuring up to building a person's dream. While architects appreciate the contractor attributes that make up a successful job, such as timeliness, site cleanliness, and worker...

Bracing for safety. (Product classification: bracing systems, wall: special advertising section: the ultimate work zone).
September 1, 2002... Productivity and safety go hand-in-hand at today's worksite. At the same time, designers are looking for ways to use higher walls. They can be inherently more dangerous to construct and more time consuming to erect. Wall bracing systems...

Filling the voids of productivity. (Product classification: trailer pumps: special advertising section: the ultimate work zone).
September 1, 2002... As masonry contractors look to the future, one fact is certain: there will definitely be more grouting on masonry walls. Engineers and designers are determining that more areas in the country will be identified as "seismic design zones." And...

The total package: World of Masonry combines the products featured in The Ultimate Work Zone with training on how to perform the job correctly. (World of masonry: special advertising section: the ultimate work zone).
September 1, 2002... Each year thousands of masonry contractors go to the World of Masonry for many reasons. They get a first-hand opportunity to learn about the exhibitor's new products and services. And for many, another important aspect of the World of Masonry...

Installing through wall flashing. (troubleshooting).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Q Should the through wall flashing be installed above or below the limestone or precast concrete over the head of windows? A The location depends largely on whether the stone or precast concrete functions as a lintel or is supported by a...

Film on brick walls. (troubleshooting).
September 1, 2002... Q There is a thin, translucent white film on the face of the brick walls in many locations on a recently completed building. This film often contains many small cracks and is flaking off of the face of the wall. What causes this film? ...

History relearned and improved: flyash mortars are making a national appearance. (the mason's toolbag).
September 1, 2002... Yogi Berra, in describing a particularly strange event, once said "It's deja vu, all over again." Whether he meant it or not, this famous quote has been proven correct many times over. So with a historical tradition that dates to that of...

Stone and marble available in several designs. (new products).
September 1, 2002... Fine hand-carved, economical stone and marble feature either simple or intricate designs involving complete attention to detail and style. These designs highlight the material's beauty, luxury, and "cool touch." Products include columns, window...

Reinforcement and adjustable tie system improves productivity. (new products).
September 1, 2002... The In-Line Eye Ladur-Eye adjustable tie system lies flat while you work to achieve faster installations. The product fits more efficiently in standard 3/8-inch mortar joints because of its non-lapped 3/16-inch maximum height design. The...

Temporary enclosure used for mixing mortar. (new products).
September 1, 2002... Winter enclosure of scaffolding or work platforms is important to masons--but so is having a nearby enclosed area for making mortar and storing related materials. The Utility Building series of relocatable structures is used for such purposes...

Rotating laser applied indoors and outdoors. (new products).
September 1, 2002... The Model 04100 Rotating Laser System requires only one person to operate and is used both outdoors and indoors. Its operating range used outdoors with the receiver is 660 feet in diameter. Its beam indoors is visible up to 100 feet in radius...

Silo system serves smaller jobs. (new products).
September 1, 2002... The LOAD N GO silo system serves contractors who do smaller jobs and/or use smaller telehandlers or forklifts. The silo is filled with one 3000-pound bag and requires a lifting apparatus that can get this weight 10 feet in the air for loading....

Wheelbarrows feature locking disk brake. (Moving Mortar and Grout at the Jobsite).
September 1, 2002... Jeep wheelbarrows feature a patented locking disk brake that makes it easier for contractors to control loads on hills, park on slopes, and dump out materials with precision. To activate the brake, simply depress the lever attached to the right...

Buggy handles adverse soil conditions. (Moving Mortar and Grout at the Jobsite).
September 1, 2002... The WPB-16AWD is the industry's first all-wheel-drive power buggy and is capable of handling adverse soil conditions. It has a 16-cubic-foot capacity, carries a maximum load of 2500 pounds on dual wheels, and is ideal for transporting mortar...

Wheelbarrows available in two sizes. (Moving Mortar and Grout at the Jobsite).
September 1, 2002... A narrow tray and a far-forward position on the undercarriage make these wheelbarrows easier to transport, lift, and discharge. Two series of heavy-duty wheelbarrows are available for contractors: standard (5 1/2-cubic-foot tray) and true...

Buggies serve several applications. (Moving Mortar and Grout at the Jobsite).
September 1, 2002... All three Morrison power buggies can be used in several applications in and around the jobsite, including mortar transport and distribution to masons. The Model PB 10 is a walk-behind unit with a 10-cubic-foot capacity that handles a maximum...

Mortar box slows setup time. (Moving Mortar and Grout at the Jobsite).
September 1, 2002... Narrow-design (22 inches wide) mortar box slows down setup time while taking up less room on scaffolding or work platforms. The box has base legs with square openings that allow it to be raised and transported around the jobsite by forklift...

Tracked buggy handles any terrain. (Moving Mortar and Grout at the Jobsite).
September 1, 2002... The MTB16 tracked power buggy is used on just about any jobsite condition, including mud, sand, loamy soil, and wet grass. In contrast, standard buggies with wheels have to run on a firm, compacted surface. The buggy is easily changed from a...

Mortar mixer features hydraulic drive and dump. (new products).
September 1, 2002... The Mud Hog hydraulic mixer has a capacity of 20 cubic feet and is small enough to fit in any standard 8-foot truck bed. It is powered by a 13-hp Honda motor with electric start and features both hydraulic drive and hydraulic dump. The mixer's...

Pump attaches to skidsteer. (new products).
September 1, 2002... A contractor can move up to 12 cubic yards per hour of various cement-based products, including grout, concrete (1/2 inch minus aggregate), shotcrete, vermiculite, and foamed concrete, with the Model D65 peristaltic pump attachment. This...

Large bucket increases telehandler capacity. (new products).
September 1, 2002... 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 two models in the company's G-Series (G6-42A and...

Hoist lifts masonry materials to workers. (new products).
September 1, 2002... The HD-400 hoist handles loads up to 400 pounds, which reduces the amount of manual lifting and carrying of materials on the jobsite. It comes with a standard 27-foot-long track that lets the carriage reach a building height of 25 feet....

Skidsteers designed for safety and visibility. (new products).
September 1, 2002... Models 160 and 170 robot skidsteers are designed to increase operator safety and visibility. They feature a single loader tower low-level mounted on the right side to provide an unhindered view to the rear and right-hand side. There is no...

Telehandler lifts 6000 pounds. (new products).
September 1, 2002... The Model 634 telehandler weighs 15,100 pounds and is rated at 6000 pounds maximum lift capacity--the same as its counterpart (Model 638) that weighs 20,300 pounds. This significant reduction in weight, along with a compact size, allows it to...

Electric-powered caulk dispenser speeds operations. (new products).
September 1, 2002... The PowerCaulker line of dispensers is electric-powered to speed up the application of caulks, sealants, and adhesives and eliminates the repetitive motion that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. The product comes in two models and is used...

What is your company's "bid-hit" ratio? (lookout).
September 1, 2002... Bid-Hit ratio is the figure that the company successfully bids or proposes on projects. For example, a 5:1 Bid-Hit-ratio means that for every five jobs bid or proposed, you are awarded one. Do you know what your company's Bid-Hit ratio is?...