Masonry Construction articles from September 2003

Masonry Construction archives from September 2003

Opportunity or trouble?(need for an industry-wide approved training standard of dampproofing residential masonry)(Editorial)
September 1, 2003... My teenage son has a dilemma. His car--an older model recently donated to him by his grandfather--is in need of repair. The boy's convinced that we (notice how his gift of freedom has now become "our" problem) should consider trading it in for...

Kentuckiana Masonry Institute presents Annual Architectural Awards.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The 23rd Annual Kentuckiana Masonry Institute's Architectural Awards to recognize excellence in design were presented recently at a luncheon in Lexington. Awards were given to the architect, structural engineer, mason contractor, and owner of...

Wisconsin Masonry students gain practical experience.(brick veneer put on student housing building)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Thirteen bricklaying and masonry students at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College gained valuable hands-on experience while erecting the brick veneer on a student housing building. Instructor Don Borchert said, "These activities build...

Three Minnesota schools offering concrete masonry programs.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Minnesota Concrete Masonry Association (MCMA) is playing a pivotal role in the implementation of concrete masonry training programs at three state technical schools, according to director Mike Johnsrud. Mesabi Range Community &...

Acme Brick promotes Seidel.(Bill Seidel new vice president of marketing)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Bill Seidel is the new vice president of marketing for Acme Brick Co., Fort Worth, Tex. Commenting on the selection, Acme President Harrold Melton said, "I have worked with Bill during his entire 19-year career with the company, and I haven't...

Floridian wins MCAA's "fastest trowel" contest.(Rex Allen wins award)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Rex Allen, Cunningham Masonry, Jacksonville, Fla., won the top prize at the Mason Contractors Association of America's national "fastest trowel" contest held earlier this year in Tampa. Allen and his two helpers--T.R. Eiland and Chuck...

EZ Grout expands manufacturing facility.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... EZ Grout Corp. has nearly doubled the size of its three-year old manufacturing facility in Morgan County, Ohio, and increased the labor force in the operation about 25%. Commenting on the expansion, President Damian Lang said, "It's...

Mid-Continental Restoration picks new CIO.(Mark D. Denton hired)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Mark D. Denton has joined Mid-Continental Restoration Co. Inc. as its chief information officer. The CIO's responsibilities include the development and implementation of a company-wide technology plan that will provide increased accessibility...

Is field inspection training needed?(question of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... In March we posed a question dealing with payment practices and concerns. We received the following comments on this question. Given the greater consumer awareness concerning moisture-free residential structures that prevent any opportunity...

Schooled in history.(new school in Queen's New York wins numerous awards for design and masonry)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Space for new facilities was at a premium in Queens, N.Y., so Jackson Heights Elementary School P.S. 212 squeezed nearly 100,000 square feet of educational facilities onto a 22,000-square-foot inner-city lot. An existing religious community...

Adapting for success: what does it take to rise to the top of the masonry industry--and then maintain that position?(profile of Dee Brown Inc.)(Company Profile)
September 1, 2003... "The area that has always set our company apart from others is the ability to adjust," said Robert V. "Buddie" Barnes Jr., president and CEO of Dee Brown Inc. (DBI), Dallas. "We are constantly cross-training our people and can do cast stone,...

Estimating and bidding software: these programs speed up the process, improve accuracy, and increase profitability.
September 1, 2003... A thorough and conscientious approach to estimating and bidding often determine whether a masonry contractor survives. If these tasks are done poorly, the contractor gets no work because the price was too high or gets too ranch because the bid...

Conducting in-place shear tests: a new ASTM standard prescribes three methods for measuring the shear strength of masonry mortar joints.
September 1, 2003... Reliable information on shear resistance is needed when performing retrofits and seismic upgrades of masonry buildings. While shear strength of a masonry wall is difficult to measure without resorting to large-scale testing, less destructive...

Chimney pots top the stack: they are aesthetically appealing, increase draft, keep in sparks, and keep out debris, animals, and wind.(chimney pots)
September 1, 2003... There is an expression that reads something like this: "Aim for the stars. You may not get there but you will rise higher than those who reach for the chimney pots." In reality, an increasing number of today's homeowners, builders, and...

Innovation in the sky.(Product classification: work platforms, mast climbing)
September 1, 2003... There are dozens of obstacles on every jobsite--engineering challenges, difficult customers, and equipment inadequacies to name just a few. The most successful manufacturing companies find ways to solve those problems before they arise. And in...

Locking into quality wall construction.(Product classification: work platforms, mast climbing)
September 1, 2003... One of the most basic tenets of masonry construction is maintaining a standard 3/8" joint thickness without wire build-up--keeping the joint thickness right means straighter lines, greater integrity, and a better overall appearance. But...

The power of cutters.(Product classification: work platforms, mast climbing)
September 1, 2003... Inclusion in the Ultimate Work Zone means achieving excellence-and part of what defines excellence is the ability to provide quality craftsmanship while maintaining a view toward innovation. In the realm of power cutters, Partner Industrial...

Installing end dams.(how to question )
September 1, 2003... Q How should you install end dams on flashing at loose laid lintels over windows? The Brick Industry Association recommends that end dams be provided at the discontinuous ends of flashing, such as those at window lintels. How should this...

Preventing moisture penetration.(single wythe concrete masonary walls)
September 1, 2003... Q I have seen many warehouses built with single wythe concrete masonry walls. How does this wall prevent water from penetrating into the interior? A Water penetrates the untreated exterior or face of concrete masonry walls just as it does...

Personnel and aerial work platforms.(the mason's toolbag)
September 1, 2003... The Scaffold Industry Association (SIA) includes separate working councils devoted specifically to aerial platforms and mast climbing equipment activities. The overall objectives of SIA are to promote safety, work with governmental agencies to...

Mixing system handles various materials.(new products)
September 1, 2003... The Utiform Quattro continuous mixing system is designed for EIFS, fireproofing, stucco, self-leveling underlayments, and sprayable mortars. The system has a built-in air compressor and a water pump to deliver consistent pressure and material...

Articulating cranes operate in confined areas.(new products)
September 1, 2003... The 52/380 and the 72/516 series articulating cranes offer 360-degree continuous rotation and folds into the figure four and stows in a small area on the truck frame. They pick up a load, swing it, and unload it in confined areas because the...

Hand tool renews worn trowel edges.(new products)
September 1, 2003... This hand-held tool features a plastic body shaped for one-hand grasping and a forefinger rest to promote smooth filling strokes on the trowel while protecting hands and fingers. The tool encases a two-sided 8-inch flat file and has a slot at...

Lightweight shovel is full of holes.(new products)
September 1, 2003... Strategically placed pea-sized holes throughout this shovel allow material to release from the surface and keep it lighter than a similarly sized conventional version. This design has less surface area for material to stick to and makes the...

Scalers convert to match surface cleaning job.(new products)
September 1, 2003... Standard scalers convert into needle versions quickly and easily and give contractors a tool versatile enough to handle many surface cleaning applications. These light weight and portable scalers chip brick, concrete, and stone; remove...

Flashing performs two duties.(new products)
September 1, 2003... Jamflash semi-rigid flashing developed for use as a primary waterproofing barrier and air dam at the jambs and heads of openings in exterior cavity wall is fabricated from water-resistant polypropylene (a thermoplastic elastomer system). This...

Lift trucks feature electronic inching.(new products)
September 1, 2003... A new series of 9- to 18-ton lift trucks offers efficient handling and is easy to operate. There are several options for easier driving and faster lifting, and they are the first middleweight machines to offer electronic inching so the operator...

Paint marker works on numerous materials.(new products)
September 1, 2003... Solid Marker is solidified paint that permanently marks and won't smear on dry, wet, and greasy surfaces, including concrete, masonry, steel, iron, aluminum, plastic, and rubber. It comes in eight standard colors (white, black, blue, red,...

Device holds vertical rebar in place.(new products)
September 1, 2003... Contractors can stabilize vertical rebar in block foundation walls in seconds by using this device, which holds up to five pieces in place. Installation involves four steps: measuring for steel reinforcement layout, placing the device on a 2 x...

System tracks vehicle fleet.(new products)
September 1, 2003... FleetDirector is an Internet-enabled system that displays vehicle movement in real time to track and control every aspect of fleet activity. A detailed computerized map lets the dispatcher know where every vehicle is located. Text message...

Glove improves worker's grip.(new products)
September 1, 2003... GripTec gloves feature a patented 3M material that increases a worker's gripping strength on any tool up to 300%. This material is strategically located throughout the glove, and an adhesive-backed strip is provided with each pair. The strip is...

Locking cable protects jobsite tools.(new products)
September 1, 2003... Counter jobsite theft of tools, ladders, and truck cargo with the Python fully adjustable locking cable. The product has a patented locking mechanism that provides a tight, strong fit in any position along its 100% braided steel cable. This...

Masonry units redirect reflected sound.(new products)
September 1, 2003... Sound Cell specialty architectural masonry units redirect reflected noise into a sound-absorbing cavity, which results in diminished room loudness. The unit's stacking slot-type Helmhotz volume resonator provides multiple levels of sound relief...

Control block stops moisture migration.(new products)
September 1, 2003... Control-Blok is a patented concrete block designed to prevent water and wind-driven rain from reaching the interior surface of structures. The product provides moisture protection through three mechanisms: Rheomix water-repellent admixtures...

Heavy-duty machine performs multiple tasks.(new products)
September 1, 2003... Designed specifically for handling heavy loads, the MVT 665T offers a drawbar pull of 22,250 pounds at low speed and excellent maneuverability with 2-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive, and crab steering. The machine handles concrete blocks and other...

Walls withstand powerful impacts.(new products)
September 1, 2003... Massive 1300-pound Force Protection blocks create freestanding walls capable of withstanding powerful impacts while providing a natural rock appearance. Internal post-tensioned cables deliver added impact protection. The wall system addresses...

Five laser beams ensure accuracy.(Alignment Equipment)
September 1, 2003... The LaserMark MP5 features five independent self-leveled laser beams that provide an accuracy of 1/4-inch at 100 feet. This tool uses a gravity-design pendulum that self-levels (to +/-5 degrees) instantly and automatically with a unique...

Layout tool works inside and outside.(Alignment Equipment)
September 1, 2003... The PLS5X professional laser alignment system is a point-to-point layout tool suitable for applications at indoor and outdoor jobsites. When used with a laser receiver, the device lets a contractor accurately lay out a jobsite up to 250 or more...

Laser self-levels in horizontal mode.(Alignment Equipment)
September 1, 2003... The Pro Shot L4 laser has a working radius of 750 feet, an accuracy of +/-1/6 inch at 100 feet, and a 60-hour battery life. It also self levels in the horizontal mode (via an air-damped, wire-hung compensator) and is manually plumbed and...

Tape features unleaded measuring.(Alignment Equipment)
September 1, 2003... The Next tape measure is the first to feature unleaded measuring that allows one-hand, pencil-free marking on nearly any material. The user simply pulls the tape to the desired point, tilts the tape body to engage its marking wheel against the...

Instrument combines laser technology with digital components.(Alignment Equipment)
September 1, 2003... All three models in the Inclo-Matic level series combine laser technology with digital components that read in the tenths or hundredths of percentages and degrees. Models in the series include the D-670, DLT-680, and DLT-675, and all have an...

Brick & block saws.(Products for the Pros)
September 1, 2003... Introducing the new line of 14" Americutter Brick & 20" Americutter Block saws powered by Baldor motors. All Saws feature direct drive design to provide increased horsepower (SPEED) to the blade. Blade to saw table alignment never needs...

Lifter.(Products for the Pros)
September 1, 2003... Caldwell is pleased to introduce a unique, patented lifter designed specifically to handle masonry scaffolding. It safely, quickly, and efficiently moves mast sections, assembled bridge sections, or a combo of the two. Our lifter does exactly...

Quattro system.(Products for the Pros)
September 1, 2003... ChemGrout introduces the Quattro System--ideal for EIFS, fireproofing, stucco and sprayable mortars. The Quattro system is self-contained with a built-in air compressor and built-in water pump. The precision water control system delivers...

Concrete colors and additives.(Products for the Pros)
September 1, 2003... Concrete colors and additives are our only business! We sell pure integral colors at extremely competitive prices. Our product line includes dry shakes, bonding agents, sealers, admixtures and more. We offer custom color matching, custom...

Paver stone applications.(Products for the Pros)
September 1, 2003... The PAVE-EL[R] Pedestal System is the practical solution for installing paver stones on rooftop decks, terraces, balconies and walkways. Designed to elevate, level and pace paver stones in any weather, PAVE-EL reliably protects the paver...

Masonry Connectors & ties.(Products for the Pros)
September 1, 2003... FERO's engineered masonry connectors and ties set the industry standard for reliability and quality. They allow you to improve the thermal performance and strength of your wall system while lowering your costs! In fact, fewer FERO connectors...

New sound-absorbing CMU brochure.(Products for the Pros)
September 1, 2003... The Proudfoot Company, the U.S. distributor of the aesthetically pleasing SOUND CELL[R] sound-absorbing CMU offers a four-page brochure describing the product's features and benefits, including Improvement of overall sound quality, reduction of...

Harsh chemical sprayer.(Products for the Pros)
September 1, 2003... Restoration Direct's COBRA-AIR Sprayer saves your time and money. Features operator adjustable pressure 20-90 PSI variable liquid flow 1 quart-3 gallons per minute, lob-site tough: 3 months "REGARDLESS OF REASON" warrantee. USES: New and old...

Fiberglass folding ruler.(Products for the Pros)
September 1, 2003... "The Original" Waterproof Fiberglass Folding Ruler for Masons. Full line of Professional Stone Working Tools. See our website for more information www.rhinotools.com 1-866-700-7235 Rael Inc/Rhino Tools circle 227 on reader service card...

New mortar for the masons.(Products for the Pros)
September 1, 2003... SPEC MIX[R] Integral Water Repellent (IWR) Masonry Mortar is a dry, preblended mortar mix containing a proven powder admixture. It is formulated and tested for water repellency, superior bond, water retention and board life and meets...

Play business like Golf.(game of business)
September 1, 2003... One of my dreams is to play the "Top 100" rated golf courses in the world. These courses are often private country clubs that hold PGA tournaments. To date, I have been fortunate to play over 30 of these venues. Every year, I look forward to...