July 2016
T Th he e V Vo o ii c ce e o o ff tt h he e M Ma as so on nr ry y II n nd du us s tt r ry y
Volume Volume 55, 55, Number Number 77
Also Inside:
Mast Climber Safety Workforce Development
Mortars, Mixtures and Staining
2
0
1
6
2016 REGIONAL SCHEDULE
1. Missouri - Wednesday, June 15, St. Louis, MO Call: Craig Kasten (314) 565-4892. 2. Florida - Friday, Aug. 5, Panama City Beach, FL Call: Sam Prater (404) 513-6609 3. Ohio - Saturday, Aug. 13, Cincinnati, OH Call: Brian Tillett (513) 615-4986 4. Utah - Friday, Aug. 19, Salt Lake City, UT Call: Patrick McCarthy (801) 809-9506 5. Oregon - Wednesday, Sept. 7, Aurora, OR Call: Don Dodroe (206) 718-2632 6. Colorado - Thursday, Sept. 15, Littleton, CO Call: Riley Allen (303) 819-7459 7. Wisconsin - Thursday, Sept. 22, New Berlin, WI Call: Dan Neuens (414) 313-3210 8. Texas (Houston) - Thursday, Sept. 22, Houston, TX Call: Trey Harris (214) 728-4592 9. Quebec - Wednesday, Sept. 28, Montreal, QC Call: Alain Jette (514) 942-1270 10. Pennsylvania - Thursday, Sept. 29, Crum Lynne, PA Call: John Paci (610) 656-1608 11. Louisiana - Friday, Sept. 30, Metairie, LA Call: Larry Theobold (985) 519-7161 12. Ontario - Wednesday, Oct. 5, Waterloo, ON Call: Dean Garbutt (519) 240-7265 13. Oklahoma - Thursday, Oct. 6, Tulsa, OK Call: Carson Wann (918) 230-6124 14. Illinois - Thursday, Oct. 6, Chicago, IL Call: Matt Pfotenhauer (630) 707-8200 or Luke Kisielewski (630) 414-7618 15. Arizona - Thursday, Oct. 13, Phoenix, AZ Call: Dennis Berger (623) 764-8369 16. New Jersey - Thursday, Oct. 13, Clinton, NJ Call: John Mulvaney (973) 229-0201 17. Texas (Dallas) - Thursday, Oct. 20, Dallas, TX Call: Trey Harris (214) 728-4592 18. North Carolina - Thursday, Oct. 20, Charlotte, NC Call: Marty Schiraldi (305) 812-0687 19. Alberta - Friday, Oct. 21, Edmonton, AB Call: Denis Charbonneau (403) 966-4041
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www.masonrymagazine.com
on the
cover
July 2016 | Volume 55, No.7
Contents Mast Climbers Implementing a Fall Protection System
16 #1 Rule to Getting More Done 20 The Working at Height
Mortars, Mixtures and Staining Optimizing Mortar Formulations for Maximum Performance
28 You Need to Know Now About 34 What Masonry Staining Staining: A Great Option for Masons 38 Masonry and Contractors 40 Honoring a Fallen Officer: Case Study
Masonry Installation and Care Products Become Part of a Permanent Memorial
Workforce Development How to Make Your Workforce Great Again
42 Mason Tenders Through the 44 Developing LIUNA Training and Education Fund 48 An Interview With Macy Williams MCAA Strategic Partner Program
Each course of the concrete masonry on 2345 House in Reno, Nev., for every wall, was specifically designed and selected. Various textures absorb and reflect light differently, giving every wall and space a visual richness that evolves throughout the day and over the course of the year. The project won the 2015 NCMA Concrete Masonry Design of Excellence Award — Residential. More details can be found on page 68 of this issue. Image ©VanceFox.com.
columns & departments 6 8 10 12 52 56 58 60 61 64
From The Editor Chairman’s Message Government Affairs New Products NCMCA Annual Convention Review MCAA Legislative Conference Review Full Contact Project Manager Classified Advertising News MCAA Upcoming Education
MASONRY (ISSN 0025-4681) is published monthly. Subscription rate $29 per year; Canada and Mexico $47 (U.S. currency); all other countries $65. Single copies $8.50. Copyright 2016 by Mason Contractors Association of America. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MASONRY, c/o Lionheart Publishing, Inc., 506 Roswell St., Ste. 220, Marietta, GA 30060. Canadian return address: Station A, PO Box 54 Windsor, Ontario N9A 615. SEND SUBSCRIPTIONS and business correspondence to: MASONRY, c/o Lionheart Publishing, Inc., 506 Roswell St., Ste. 220, Marietta, GA 30060 Phone: 770-431-0867 or 888-303-5639 www.masonrymagazine.com. Layout & Design © Lionheart Publishing, Inc.
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July 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org
The Voice of the Masonry Industry
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FROM
THE
EDITOR
Karen D. Hickey, Editor - karen@lionhrtpub.com
Opportunity Ahead In the August 2015 issue of Masonry Magazine, we reported that the masonry industry will need 35 percent more masons by 2022, which is 5 percent more than what had been predicted in 2012. Then, in the February 2016 issue, Jeff Buczkiewicz, president of the MCAA, authored an article about Workforce Development in which he stated that a common problem in the construction industry is “not having enough well-qualified tradesmen to complete all the work.” It seems that every trade is struggling to find qualified workers, and the burden of training new workers is often falling on companies that are already busy. Last year, the Associated General Contractors of America released a Workforce Development Plan. Workforce Development is also one of the key efforts of the MCAA this year. A career in masonry is a great choice for many students. As MCAA’s website puts it, “The masonry industry offers great benefits, including advancement opportunities, job security, paid training, and financial
strength — and that’s just the beginning. Masonry work presents both an analytical and creative outlet, a sense of pride in accomplishment and job flexibility. Most importantly, masonry is an enduring craft that promises to be lucrative far into the future — and the opportunities are wide open!” With part of this issue of Masonry focusing on Workforce Development, I felt it was important to feature a young person who has already found success in the masonry industry. I met Macy Williams while I was attending the NCMCA Annual Convention in Hot Springs, Va., at the end of April, and he graciously agreed to be interviewed. That interview appears on pages 48–49. I hope his story is an inspiration to other young people who are considering a career in masonry or construction in general. If you have a young person in your company who is already a great success story for masonry, email me at karen@ lionhrtpub.com. Let’s get the word out that lucrative and exciting careers in masonry await! yMAS
COMING IN AUGUST 2016 Be sure to catch the August 2016 issue of Masonry, which will feature articles covering current trends and examining industry issues, including: MIXERS, PUMPS AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS Trusted products from trusted manufacturers get mortar to the right place at the right time and in the right consistency, every time. AIR BARRIERS AND INSULATION Complete wall systems require the best air barriers and insulation. Find out what you should be using for long-lasting walls. MOISTURE MANAGEMENT Absorptive masonry cladding materials present particular challenges in terms of in-wall moisture. Masonry reports on proper moisture management techniques, as well as what you need to know about rainscreens.
For advertising information, contact Marvin Diamond
770.431.0867, ext. 208 • Toll-free: 888.303.5639 • E-mail: marvin@lionhrtpub.com
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July 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org
The Voice of the Masonry Industry MASONRY Magazine Official Publication of the Mason Contractors Association of America and the Canadian Masonry Contractors Association The Mason Contractors Association of America is committed to preserving and promoting the masonry industry by providing continuing education, advocating fair codes and standards, fostering a safe work environment, recruiting future manpower, and marketing the benefits of masonry materials.ion of America is committed to preserving and promoting the masonry industry by providing continuing education, advocating fair codes and standards, fostering a safe work environment, recruiting future manpower, and marketing the benefits of masonry materials.
Mason Contractors Association of America
Chairman Vice Chairman Treasurer Secretary
Robert V. Barnes, Jr. Glenn Hotmann John Jacob Gary Joyner Jed Olafson
Michael Sutter Paul Odom Paul Oldham Larry Vacala
Regional Vice Presidents
President/CEO
Michael Schmerbeck Rick Swanson Lynn Vasquez Dennis Withsosky
Jeff Buczkiewicz
Executive Staff Government Affairs Representatives Director of Marketing, Education, and Information Technology Director of Development Membership Coordinator Administrative Assistant Consultant
The Keelen Group Timothy W. O’Toole Todd Fredrick Angie Parisi Lorra Lein Rashod Johnson
Editorial Advisory Board David Jollay (Jollay Masonry Contractors), John Chrysler (MIA), John Melander (PCA), David Hill (Pettit Construction Co.), John J. Smith (John J. Smith Masonry Co.), Brian Grant (Grant/Jack’s Masonry), Jerry Painter (Painter Masonry, Inc.), Doug Nichols (Doug Nichols Enterprises), G. Alan Griffin (Griffin Contracting, Inc.), Tom Daniel (GBC Concrete and Masonry Construction, Inc.)
Executive Office 1481 Merchant Drive Algonquin, IL 60102 Phone: 224.678.9709 or 800.536.2225 Fax: 224.678.9714
MASONRY is the official publication of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) and the Canadian Masonry Contractors Association (CMCA). The magazine acts as a sounding board without approving, disapproving or guaranteeing the validity or accuracy of any data, claim or opinion appearing under a byline or obtained or quoted from an acknowledged source. Opinions expressed by officers do not necessarily reflect the official views of MCAA or CMCA. The appearance of advertising or new product information doesn't constitute an endorsement by MCAA or CMCA of product featured.
Masonry Advertising and Editorial Office
Send all advertising and editorial submissions for Masonry to: Lionheart Publishing, Inc. 506 Roswell Street, Suite 220, Marietta, GA 30060 USA Tel: 888.303.5639 • Fax: 770.432.6969 • E-mail: lpi@lionhrtpub.com www.masonrymagazine.com Publisher John Llewellyn • llewellyn@lionhrtpub.com Editor Karen D. Hickey • karen@lionhrtpub.com Copy Editor Marty M. Hohmann • marty@redclayeditorial.com Art Director Alan Brubaker • albrubaker@lionhrtpub.com Online Projects Manager Patton McGinley • patton@lionhrtpub.com Assistant Online Projects Manager Leslie Proctor • leslie@lionhrtpub.com Advertising Sales Marvin Diamond • marvin@lionhrtpub.com Advertising Sales John Davis • jdavis@lionhrtpub.com Marketing Director and Audience Development Maria Bennett • bennett@lionhrtpub.com Reprints Kelly Millwood • kelly@lionhrtpub.com
The Voice of the Masonry Industry
CHAIRMAN’S
MESSAGE
Michael Sutter Chairman
Mason Contractors Association of America mike.sutter@suttermasonry.com
Making a Difference I am writing this article on the plane from Washington, D.C., back to Phoenix — just a little five-hour jaunt. What a great time we had at the MCAA Legislative Fly-In, meeting with our legislators! Everyone was very busy on Wednesday, with meetings scheduled approximately every half hour. Steve Borg at the Keelen Group did an awesome job, as usual, making all of our schedules work. We broke up into our state groups and covered all of our issues, and our Representatives showed good interest and promised results going forward. We will certainly hold them accountable for their promises. We had a new member join us for the first time in D.C.: Reggie Wilson from WDP Masonry out of Fort Worth, Texas. Altogether we had more than 30 members in our group and made over 100 office visits. This was one of the largest groups ever for our fly-in. At our MAC-PAC lunch, Rep. Huizenga from Michigan joined us and challenged us to invite our Representatives to our places of business or our jobsites so they can better understand our challenges as small business owners. I assured him that we accept his challenge and will do just that. So contact your legislator’s office and schedule a visit. They should be anxious to do so. The day before our assault on the Hill, we had a VIP tour of Mt. Vernon, followed by a trip to Washington’s gristmill. It is still a working distillery, and although they didn’t offer any free samples, Paul Oldham purchased a bottle for his collection. I won’t mention the cost of the bottle, as his wife, Lisa, may read this article, and of course I’m not one to start any trouble. 8 |
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On our way back to our hotel, we stopped for another VIP tour of Lincoln’s cottage, which was his “Camp David” for getting away from Washington whenever he had a chance. It was easy to see why he loved the place so much. Tim O’Toole did a fine job “herding us cats” throughout the entire tour. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) receives the MCAA Freedom and As you can tell, we Prosperity Award from MCAA president Jeff Buczkiewicz (left) and Mackie Bounds (right). Senator Hoeven has been a friend had a lot of fun and of the masonry industry on many issues. This past year he has still managed to get a been instrumental on the silica issue. lot of work done. If you didn’t join us on this trip, mark your Invite your Representatives calendars for the middle of May next year and join us. Thank you to all to your places of business who attended this fly-in and invested your time away from home to make a or your jobsites so they can difference for the masonry industry as a whole. better understand During the first week of June, the MCAA officers met in Chicago with our challenges as small SPEC MIX and Informa to discuss plans business owners. for World of Concrete 2017. It may seem a little early, but it takes this long to plan our meetings, education classes and of only the day of the contests, but also the course the Masonry Madness day in day before and the day after. Watch for the Gold Lot. Last year, we rolled out a more details as we get closer to the event. Workforce Development/Innovation It’s only three short months until area between the SPEC MIX Bricklayer the MCAA Mid-Year Meeting in 500™ and the MCAA Fastest Trowel on Scottsdale, Ariz., and preparations are the Block contests. This is where SAM, going well. We have some great events the bricklaying robot, was located, along planned that will be a lot of fun for with IQ Power Tools, MortarNet and our the entire family. The resort is defiBIM demonstration tent, among others. nitely family friendly, and of course It was a huge success, and we are plan- the weather will be perfect, so bring the ning for a much bigger event this year. entire family along to “The West’s Most We will be brainstorming new ideas for Western Town,” as Scottsdale is somethis area to attract more attendees not times called. yMAS
July 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org
The Voice of the Masonry Industry
GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS
By Stephen Borg
Prime Season for a Great Meeting With the summer heat fast approaching, the unprecedented Presidential race coming down to what appears to be two candidates both having negative approval ratings, and the summer construction season kicking into full gear, I cannot blame you for having your mind occupied with anything other than Congress and the upcoming Congressional elections. By now, those of you who traveled to Washington, D.C., for the 2016 MCAA Legislative Conference in May have settled back into your business routine and have followed up with the offices you met with, asking them to keep you and your business in mind as they act in Washington. However, let me offer you an easy tool you can use to continue to engage your elected officials during this summer season and make a lasting impact on those representing you, their constituents. No t o n l y a re t h e u p co m i n g months prime season for the construction business, but these months also represent the prime season to invite a member of Congress or a candidate for office to visit a worksite and witness firsthand the work you do and the impact government regulations have on your business. It is an ideal time to ensure that these elected officials and candidates have a mental picture of the issues that you and the MCAA are discussing with them. T his e le c t ion year is r ather unique. Not only has Congress 10 |
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scheduled its normal summer District Work Period for the month of August, but with the Presidential conventions scheduled to occur in mid-July, Congress will also be out of session for the last two weeks of July. This will give members of Congress the opportunity to spend seven weeks in their home districts, meeting with constituents and campaigning ahead of the November elections. Most Congressmen/women take this time to travel throughout their districts, touring facilities, hosting town halls, and enjoying the many festivals and state fairs that occur. What better time than now to pick up the phone and invite them out to tour a jobsite and chat with your employees during a break? All you have to do is pick up an extra hard hat and spend 30 minutes taking the senator or representative around the site. This 30 minutes will be invaluable in continuing to forge a trusting relationship with him/her and instilling a deeper understanding of the masonry and contracting business that will last a lifetime. It also provides a prime place and time to show them the real-world impact that regulations, such as the new OSHA silica exposure rule, will have on you and your business. When members of Congress are able to see firsthand the issues that you and MCAA discuss with them in their offices, it allows them to bring an understanding of these issues full circle
July 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org
When members
of
Congress see the issues firsthand,
they can bring
an unÂderstanding of these issues full
circle back to
Washington. back to Washington. I cannot tell you how many times I have talked with members of Congress in D.C., after they have toured a jobsite back home, when they have explained a particular issue came alive to them only when they finally saw firsthand the issue I was discussing with them. So, while you plan your summer projects and ready your jobsites, take the time to pick up the phone and call your elected officials to invite them to join you. You will be surprised what kind of impact 30 minutes of your day can have on your business and the masonry industry as a whole. Bring the understanding of our industry to a whole new level without having to lift a finger other than to make a call. yMAS
The Voice of the Masonry Industry
The Complete Solution for Thin Brick
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60
years of building chemistry
Products & Relationships
NEW
Product & Service Information
PRODUCTS To submit a new product, contact: Karen Hickey • Email: karen@lionhrtpub.com
www.masonrymagazine.com • 888-303-5639, Ext. 230
We’ve made it fast, easy and convenient to request FREE information about any product or service in this issue. To request information online, go to: www.masonrymagazine.com. Click on ‘FREE Product Information’ (right top corner), then… 1. Select the issue of the magazine you are reading 2. Check the box next to the advertiser you are interested in 3. Provide your name, address and business information 4. Click submit.
Quikrete Atlanta, Ga.
PROSOCO
ToughTested
Lawrence, Kan.
Avenel, N.J.
Phone Cases Offer Extra Protection for the Jobsite
Concrete and Masonry Waterproofing Sealer
PROSOCO Rolls Out a Roller-Grade FastFlash
Most tradesmen know how easy it is for a phone clip to break, crack or just plain fail on the jobsite. ToughTested has updated its phone cases, offering more than three points of protection around the phone and clip. Features include: larger, dual-layer protection; heavy duty ballistic nylon material for maximum durability; and a smooth liner and bottom access hole that allows for easy removal. The case comes in three sizes: 2XL, 3XL and Basic.
Concrete and Masonry Waterproofing Sealer is a water-based, highly water resistant, silicone formulation designed to waterproof and seal without changing the surface appearance. It is ideal for concrete, pavers and stucco and leaves a natural-looking finish. This product is ready to use and can be applied with a roller, water sprayer or brush. If needed, a second coat can be applied 10–15 minutes after the first coat, while the first coat is still wet.
www.toughtested.com
www.quikrete.com
A new roller-grade version of PROSOCO’s R-Guard FastFlash fluid-applied flashing membrane is now available. The product features the same performance characteristics as the original, gun-grade version of FastFlash, but with properties that are ideal for roller-grade applications. This advancement in the R-Guard line is designed to accommodate customers who prefer roller-grade applications of fluid-applied air and water barriers. Users will notice an improved, streamlined production of waterproofing applications, which in turn can bring down labor costs.
Magid Romeoville, Ill.
www.prosoco.com
Bosch Power Tools Mt. Prospect, Ill.
Hilti Plano, Texas
Virtually Dust-Free Cordless Drilling
Cut- and Impact-Resistant Glove With Anti-Slip Palm
GBM9-16 Drill-Mixer Does Combines Drilling and Material Mixing
The Hilti cordless rotary hammer TE 4-A18 is available with a new Dust Removal System (DRS) attachment that collects up to 97.8% of the dust caused by drilling. The well-balanced, ergonomically designed and lightweight DRS attachment increases dust collection while improving worker comfort and safety. The integrated DRS attachment is also powered by the rotary hammer’s 18-V battery, so no separate power source is required. The TE 4-A18 comes standard with a high-efficiency motor and electropneumatic hammering.
Magid has expanded its broad line of T-REX gloves to include the T-REX Anti-Slip Palm Impact Glove. This new glove delivers affordable impact protection with ANSI level 4 cut resistance, while also addressing customers’ needs for strong oil grip and all-day comfort. The TRX647 is ideal for construction, material handling, ironwork, demolition, tooling and equipment maintenance. Features include Kevlar® stitching on the palm for durability, and an abrasion- and tear-resistant Keprotec reinforced thumb saddle.
Bosch Power Tools has introduced the GBM9016 Drill-Mixer, a heavy-duty drill that doubles as a material mixer. Professionals can save space and money with this double-duty power tool. Its variable speed control allows for both forward and reverse drilling at 550 rpm for applications in wood or metal, plus the high-torque necessary for mixing jobs. An ergonomic soft-grip trigger with reversing switch provides greater control combined with a two-finger trigger design with lock-on button for fast and easy material mixing.
www.us.hilti.com
www.magidglove.com
www.boschtools.com
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July 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org
The Voice of the Masonry Industry
EZG
®
Manufacturing 1-800-417-9272 www.ezgrout.com
Hog Leg Wall Brace Kit and Steel Hog Troughs Hog Leg Wall Brace Kit GHL400KIT ☐ Engineered wall brace system ☐ Easy way to brace masonry walls ☐ Galvanized pipe available ☐ Works for any type of block ☐ Adjusts to any wall height ☐ Fastens through head joints (no cutting of block required or anchor bolts to purchase)
Steel Hog Trough Model HTS10 ☐ 10 c.f. capacity ☐ 10 gauge steel ☐ 165 lbs. ☐ Forklift pocket access on all four sides
Steel Hog Trough with Wheels Model HTS10W ☐ 10 c.f. capacity ☐ 10 gauge steel ☐ 185 lbs. ☐ Two rigid and two swivel heavy duty casters
MCAA MASON CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
www.masoncontractors.org
Implementing a
Fall Protection System FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, OSHA’s “Stand Down for Fall Protection” campaign has conveyed important safety and compliance messages to employers during a week in May. But fall protection is a vital safety issue all year long, and employers need to be prepared.
By Kevin O’Shea
It’s a phone call I get every week from a mason somewhere in the U.S. It usually begins, “Can you help me? The general contractor (GC) has stopped me from working because there is a fall hazard.” This can be for two reasons, usually: 1. There is a fall protection issue. 2. The GC has additional fall protection measures that the mason is not complying with. Whatever the reason, masons then find themselves involved in a situation that is not easy to resolve. The most common problem is that GCs are, on many occasions, requiring 100% tie-off when working at height, and I’ve had numerous calls from masons who didn’t spot this requirement in the contract they accepted. Read Your Contract! A typical and frequent problem arises when the mason is performing “overhand brickwork.” The inside course puts the mason right at the tipping point, and there have been accidents recorded where a mason has
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July 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org
The Voice of the Masonry Industry
This photograph shows a mast climber with a number of safe use issues: (1) The tie assemblies are being used to support the wooden platform. They are not designed for this purpose and will not provide the required stability. (2) Platform extension is not constructed from OSHA-grade planking. The platform is neither secure nor stable and will not provide minimum required level of load capacity. (3) The extendable end guardrail is not in use, creating a major fall hazard. (4) There is a gap in the extended platform, creating a fall/trip hazard.
overbalanced and fallen forward through the “green” wall into the void behind. There have also been instances where the wall has then partially collapsed and fallen onto the mason, with one such incident resulting in a fatality. OSHA does not require the use of a front-face guardrail for overhand brickwork, as detailed in 1926.451 (g) (1) (vi). However, if the GC has stipulated a 100% tie-off policy within the supply contract, and a mason accepts the contract, he in turn accepts the policy. The retrospective application of fall protection is never straightforward and always difficult to achieve. Aerial Work Platforms (AWPs), like boom lifts and scissor lifts, and Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MCWPs) have primary fall protection systems — the guardrails — which surround the platform. Where necessary, secondary fall protection systems may be required. OSHA regulation 1926.502d (16) (iii) requires that anchorages “be rigged such that an employee can neither free-fall more than 6 feet, nor contact any lower level.” Some secondary fall protection systems are now mandatory (e.g., restraining harness and lanyard on the boom lift). Additional fall protection measures, i.e., over and above mandatory requirements, must be assessed and selected by a www.masonrymagazine.com
“qualified” person. Hazards should be identified, and appropriate fall protection equipment should be selected, with the proviso that OSHA regulations shall establish the minimum level of protection. Implementation of a fall protection system has two components: 1. Identification of hazards and selection of appropriate fall protection measures. 2. Implementation of the fall protection measures. Appropriate fall protection measures should take into account the following: • Primary fall protection systems (e.g., guardrails) should be properly installed, and fall arrest should never be used to replace a poorly installed or partially installed primary system. • “Fall restraint” should be the primary objective over “fall arrest.” • Fall hazards should be identified by a qualified person, and all identified fall hazards shall be abated. Fall protection measures should be assessed by a qualified person and should take into account jobsite/ July 2016
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MAST CLIMBERS
Hazard
Risk
Control Measure
Boom lift struck by other vehicle
Ejection from platform
Restrict work area around base
Climbing on platform mid-rail
Loss of balance, causing fall
Training and fall restraint
Over-reaching
Loss of balance, causing fall
Training and fall restraint
Ejection from platform
Training and fall restraint
Uneven ground
Note: This is not an all-inclusive list, but rather it is an example list demonstrating the analysis requirements of job-specific hazard assessment to be carried out by a qualified person.
task-specific hazards, identification of the associated risk, and stipulate adequate control measures. The table above provides examples of this process. Here are some of the questions you should ask in selecting an appropriate system: • Did you perform a risk/hazard assessment? • Are you qualified to perform a risk/hazard assessment? • Have you assessed the attachment locations? • What is the rescue plan? • Have you determined free-fall distance and total fall distance? • Are there any additional manufacturer’s requirements or limitations? • How do you avoid swing falls?
• Will there be a change in circumstances that could prompt a review? Implementation of fall protection measures should take into account the following: • What is the fall distance from the anchorage to the next lower level? • Who is exposed to the hazard? • Is there sufficient anchorage available for all personnel who are exposed? • Is the maximum arresting force per person 1,800 lbs. or less? • Will the system bring a falling employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration travel to 3 1/2 feet? • How will the suspended person be rescued promptly and safely? • Is there someone at ground level who can assist in the rescue (e.g., someone who has been trained in how to bring the machine safely to the ground using either the ground controls or the manual descent system)? • Has the suspended person been trained in self-rescue techniques, and does he or she have the necessary equipment available for self-rescue? • Has the operator been trained in the proper use and inspection of fall protection equipment? • Are there circumstances that may prompt a review of the fall protection system? Fall protection is a vital safety consideration and an extremely difficult problem to adequately overcome when it is an unplanned afterthought. OSHA’s Stand Down for Fall Protection seeks to focus employer and employee attention on one of the major causes of construction fatality accidents. Properly planning for fall protection will save time, expense and lives. yMAS For more information about the Stand Down for Fall Protection, visit https://www.osha.gov/ StopFallsStandDown. Kevin O’Shea is Hydro Mobile’s director of safety and training. He is also chairman of the SAIA Mast Climber Committee and of the IPAF Mast Climber Committee. He can be reached at kevin.oshea@hydro-mobile.com.
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• Light enough to be set up by hand, heavy duty for masonry. • 10,000 capacity. • Fits through a 3-0 door. • Free stand up to 30’ high with free standing base. • Compatible with your existing EZ Mast Climber decks and towers. • Made in Tennessee, USA.
1.800.699.6831
The #1 Rule to Getting More Done
Working at Height By Troy Palmer EVERY PROJECT THAT INVOLVES DOING WORK AT HEIGHT INVOLVES SOME OF THE SAME LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES: how to get your workers in position, how to get tools and material into position, how to keep overhead costs under control, etc. In order to increase profits and be able to bid jobs competitively, focusing on productivity is one of the keys to success.
Figure 2 — The Beta Max Leo hoist.
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Figure 1 — A great deal of time can be wasted moving workers up and down instead of doing the job they are trained for.
The number-one rule to getting more done when working at height is to keep your producers (skilled labor) in place and producing until the job is done. This sounds obvious, but construction crews break this rule all the time, and it adds up to wasted time and money. Three common mistakes frequently occur on jobsites:
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MAST CLIMBERS
Mistake #1: Using your swing stage or mast-climbing work platform as a material delivery system. Mast climbers and swing stages are amazing for getting your skilled workers in position in hard-to-reach areas. But once you have moved those people into position, DO NOT move them out of that spot to get more tools or materials! This may sound trivial, but on a 100-foot building, just one round trip of a work platform to get materials can easily take up to 9 minutes. That is 9 minutes in which your skilled producers aren’t producing for just one trip that the platform or stage is movFigure 3 — LEO hoist mounted on Hydro Mobile mast-climbing work platform. ing up and down. (Courtesy of Hydro Mobile) If you do that just three or four times a day, you have lost 10 percent of your total day’s production. an additional month of wages with nothing to show for Think about that. If you lose 10 percent of your proit. That is a month of your workers riding up and down duction over a year’s worth of projects, you will pay out instead of doing the job they are trained for. Solution: Review jobs at height to see if your access equipment is doubling as your material delivery system. If it is, you should look for alternative methods to get your skilled workers the materials they need while they are in position. Once you have figured out how to keep your skilled workers in position, the other part of the #1 Rule is to keep them producing. This is where the other common mistakes come in. If your producers are standing around waiting on materials, they are not producing and you are losing money. Mistake #2: Using a material delivery plan without having 100 percent control. Sharing crane and forklift time with other crews may sound like a good idea to keep costs down, but when one group hogs the equipment you need for material delivery, or it just isn’t available when you need it, the savings you were hoping for disappear quickly. When you share equipment, you are risking 22 |
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In the News
MAST CLIMBERS
FRACO: If you lose 10 percent of your production over a
Quebec Manufacturer Involved in a Large Housing Development in Maryland
year’s worth of projects, you will pay out an additional month of wages with nothing to show for it. production delays, which translates into lost profits. You also risk your company’s reputation for getting work done on time. Delays wreck profits and reputations. Solution: Find a material delivery system over which you have 100 percent control. Mistake #3: Not delivering materials to your key skilled people fast enough. Because the goal is to keep your producers producing, it is important to avoid having them waiting around for materials. Many methods of delivering material at height are too slow or inconsistent. Ropes and pulleys are slow, and limit the amount of material that can be delivered at one time. Daisy chains (man-lines passing material up and down scaffolding) can work well in theory, but delays are frequent, material delivery is compromised, and most importantly, this practice is prone to the risk of injury from material being dropped or mishandled. Many companies have done away with daisy chains due to accidents and injuries. Solution: Use a safe, fast and consistent material delivery system that gets materials to your workers as fast as they need them. One of the best ways to deliver materials to workers on work platforms, swing stages or elevating 24 |
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The masonry market is showing signs of recovery in the U.S., as evidenced by a significant construction project of residential buildings for university students — a project that is distinguished by the presence of several FRSM-20K units from Fraco. In 2014, Towson University in Maryland began the construction of phases 3 and 4 of West Village Housing, a residential project adding 700 beds to the university campus that already has more than 2,100. For this project, two 9- and 11-story buildings have been built simultaneously in order to meet the growing demand for residences on campus. The additional housing is scheduled to be available in summer 2016. In order to meet a tight schedule, the general contractor, Whiting Turner Contracting Co. (Baltimore, Md.), and masonry contractor, Banner Masonry (Gwynn Oak, Md.), asked Fraco Products to prepare an offer of work platforms capable of accommodating several trades with access to the building envelope. Fraco’s offer had to take into account constraints such as limited access to buildings and nearly incessant pedestrian and vehicle traffic near the site. Fraco’s solution consisted of providing 28 FRSM-20K work platforms and two SEH Series construction hoists with a capacity of 7,000 lbs. each. The SEH Series elevators were necessary because of the impossibility of reaching certain heights with forklifts. Delivery and installation were completed at the end of summer 2015. Considering the tight schedule and the difficult conditions of the job site, Fraco platforms were considered the best solution to allow the various trades to work cooperatively to complete the exterior envelope of these two buildings. yMAS For more information, contact: Daniel Hurley, sales representative, Fraco USA Inc., (443) 250-7221, dan.hurley@ fraco.com, or Jacques Lainé, director of marketing, Fraco Products Ltd., (514) 713-1212, jacques.laine@fraco.com.
July 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org
The Voice of the Masonry Industry
MAST CLIMBERS
One of the best ways to deliver materials to workers on work platforms, swing stages or elevating scaffolding systems is to use a high-speed, portable material hoist. scaffolding systems is to use a high-speed, portable material hoist. In many cases, these hoists can be designed as an add-on or to work in conjunction with mast climbers or other work platforms. Mast climbers and work platforms utilizing Beta Max’s Leo line of hoist products as an accessory allow additional material to be lifted to the platform at 80 feet per minute (fpm) without having to take the platform back to the ground level. Non-Stop Scaffolding, Hydro Mobile and Sunbelt Rentals have all teamed with Beta Max in order to offer efficient and economical complete hoisting solutions to their customers. (Hydro Mobile platforms with the Leo hoist can be seen live at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER Figure 4 — Contractor on a Scanclimber SC5000 at the Westin Hotel in Sarasota, Fla., lifting stucco with Leo hoist. (Courtesy of Sunbelt Rentals)
500® World Championship each year at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas.) Justin Breithaupt Jr., owner of Non-Stop Scaffolding Inc., told us, “Our customers have been asking for a material hoist for a long time. When we set out to design a solution, we looked for an existing hoist from a reputable manufacturer — we didn’t want to re-invent the wheel. It had to be lightweight, have plenty of lifting power, and be easy to install and take down. The Beta Max Leo fit all our requirements. Our customers have found them to be durable and that they last a long time. We recommend the soft start and stop version of the hoist. It costs a little more, but it doesn’t shake the scaffold like a regular hoist can, and doesn’t alarm the workers. It’s also much more tolerant of low voltage and long cord runs.” At less than 200 lbs., the Leo hoist is easy to install on masonry scaffolding. For instance, Non-Stop employs a taller version of their overhead protection/winter enclosure bracket to position the hoist over the laborers’ platform. It is very easy to set up and adds less than 500 lbs. (including the hoist) to a tower. Even when hoisting 2,000 lbs. of materials, the user is well under Non-Stop’s maximum capacity of 4,000 lbs. per tower. 26 |
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Tyler Watts of True-Bond Masonry in Shreveport, La., said, “We were really impressed with how quick and easy the Beta Max hoist system went on our Heavy Duty system. Having never installed it before, we thought it was going to be a lot more challenging. Our scaffold was 30 feet in the air when we installed it, and we had no trouble getting it set up. Having the hoist system meant we didn’t have to rent a crane to get heavy pre-cast material up to the masons. It was perfect for areas where our forklift couldn’t reach. I hate to think about what crane rental would have cost, but it would have been a lot more than what we paid for the hoist system.” Sunbelt Rentals now also offers Beta Max portable material hoists on their mast-climbing systems. Here is what regional manager Brad Kruger had to say: “When utilizing mast-climbing work pl at for m s , we always recommend the use of portable hoists a s the most e f fec tive method of hoisting materials to workers at elevated heights. Portable hoists offer the safest, most efficient means of getting materials to the work area, while saving the contractors time and money. As a regional manager for Sunbelt Rental ’s scaf fold locations in Florida, I encounter scenarios all the time in which Beta Max portable hoists are the perfect solution for our customers’ material handling needs. Whether it is a Scorpio Hoist for hoisting stucco to a scaffold or the higher-capacity Leo XXL VFD for high-rise glazing, Beta Max always has the right hoist for whatever the customer’s hoisting requirement may be. This allows us to of fer a complete access package.”
Fla., has been providing high-speed material hoists to the masonry industry for over 30 years. For more information about the full line of Beta Max hoists, visit www.betamaxhoist.com. yMAS Troy Palmer is director of sales and marketing for Beta Max Inc. He can be reached at tpalmer@betamaxhoist.com.
With lifting capacities of up to 2,000 lbs. and lifting speeds of up to 80 fpm, portable hoists are a great material delivery solution for workers on any mast-climbing work platform, suspended or elevating scaffolding. Beta Max Inc., based in Palm Bay, www.masonrymagazine.com
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Optimizing Mortar Formulations for
Maximum Performance By Nick Blohowiak
CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS (CMUS) AND MORTAR GO TOGETHER LIKE BREAD AND BUTTER. For thousands of years, engineers, architects and tradesmen have married these two components to form a system used to build everything from the ancient Egyptian pyramids to local schools. Although masonry is one of the oldest and most proven methods of construction, the past few decades have brought major technological innovations that have improved not only labor practices, but also the integrity and aesthetic value of the building materials themselves. Prior to the advent of factory pre-blended mortars in the late 20th century, mason contractors required a specified formula for measuring the proper ratios of cements and aggregates to be mixed on a jobsite, based on ASTM C270 Table 1 Proportion Specification Requirement, written by architects and engineers. The Proportion Specification, commonly referred to as the “recipe method,” allowed an on-site laborer to meter each mortar ingredient based on a cubic foot measurement system. This approach does not allow for regional variance in raw materials and severely challenges the ability of specifiers and mason contractors to achieve prescription mortars that align with the performance and characteristics of the CMUs. That all changed with the introduction of pre-blended masonry mortar, which replaces the guesswork of field mixing with pre-determined Figure 1 — Proper mortar selection is based on the density and hardness of the specified brick. formulations that are based on clearly 28 |
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PROVEN MASONRY STAINING * Permanent * Weather Tested * Natural Looking
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defined raw material weights, measured according to strict tolerances for performance and quality control. Producing mortars in a controlled environment, utilizing computerized batching equipment, allows for customized formulations that complement the unique properties of the masonry units specified and the controlled addition of performance-enhancing admixtures. Moreover, from the perspective of a project designer, specifier or engineer responsible for selecting the best mortar for a project, pre-blended mortar offers endless customizable mix possibilities that match CMU properties, while supporting the mason’s need to increase productivity. Matching Pre-Blended Mortars and Masonry Units All masonry units are not created equal, and they come in almost limitless colors, textures and finishes, each with different physical properties. However, available mortars have generally been limited to type S or N, and then further limited to a single recipe when field mixing. Factory-controlled, pre-blended mortars allow for the full use of ASTM C 270 Table 2 Property Specification while specifically matching the performance of the mortar to the CMU. When the mortars are not properly matched to the CMUs’ properties, the mason will struggle with productivity when constructing a masonry wall. Why is this so? Brick are manufactured with different clays and baked at different temperatures to create various colors, textures, densities and hardness. Each absorbs water at a different rate, and that rate is tested and reported as the initial rate of absorption (IRA) of the brick. A lowIRA brick (5 grams per minute) will tend to swim or float if placed with a high-water-retention mortar; this is common with standard field-mixed type S or N mortars. In addition, the mason will have to wait extended periods of time for the mortar joints to harden before finishing, which slows productivity. Conversely, a highIRA brick (greater than 30 gpm) may require the mason to immediately tool every few brick, before the mortar joints lose moisture to the unit, harden and become unworkable. Water retention of factory pre-blended mortars can be pre-engineered to match the absorption rates of brick on a project, thereby eliminating tooling issues and shr inkage cracking while increasing productivity and color consistency on the wall through consistent tooling times. www.masonrymagazine.com
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MORTARS, MIXTURES AND STAINING
CMUs and mortars that share similar properties should be matched together on projects. For example, architectural CMUs are densified in the manufacturing process to help create a unique finished appearance. This process makes the CMU less permeable and prone to swim/ float, thus slowing down the installation. This also leads to on-site tooling and curing difficulties, including unsightly surface mottling of the masonry joints Figure 2 — Surface mottling of a (Figure 2), a condition mortar joint. where the cement paste cures at uneven rates at the surface of the joint only. Stone masonry construction can benefit tremendously by transitioning beyond simple type S and N mortars (designed for basic brick and block construction) to performance-designed mortars that match the proper-
Performance-enhancing admixtures can help extend the range of conditions in which masonry walls can be constructed. ties of stone masonry units (Figure 3). In masonry construction, stone generally falls into two categories: hard, dense stone and soft, porous stone. By factory controlling known mixes and testing for water retention and compressive strength properties, mortars can be designed to match the properties of the stone masonry units very closely. When pre-blended mortar is properly used to support the units so the wall can “set up” quickly, shrinkage cracking is eliminated and more stone can be laid in a single day. High-Performance Ingredients in Pre-Blended Mortar P erformance - enhancing admixtures introduced into masonry mortars can be used to increase durability and flexibility or to help extend the range of conditions in which masonr y walls can be constructed. It’s
Figure 3 — Pre-blended mortar formulations for natural stone can be customized for hard and soft stone.
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BRICK & BLOCK MORTARS MORTARS
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ADHERED VENEER MORTARS ADHERED VENEER MASONRY MORTAR POLYMER MODIFIED ADHERED VENEER MORTAR
BUILDING STONE MORTARS BUILDING STONE MORTAR (HARD OR SOFT STONE)
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CHOOSE THE PERFECT MORTAR FOR THE JOB
At SPEC MIX® we lock in color consistency by weighing and preblending high quality pigments in our engineered mortar formulations to ensure maximum performance and uniformity. Building owners, designers and contractors can choose from 25 standard colors or partner with our local representatives to produce a custom color that matches the vision for the project. When the specification includes CMU, brick, stone or horizontal installations, the complete line of SPEC MIX mortars are specially designed for the application to deliver optimal bond, workability and jobsite productivity—every time!
© 2016 SPEC MIX, INC.
MORTARS, MIXTURES AND STAINING
repelling proper ties in architectural CMUs, they tend to act more like a plate of glass than a standard CMU, making them particularly tricky to clean. If the mortar joint is not properly enhanced with a water repellent and does not act in a manner similar Figure 4 — Mortar joint with cementitious paste intact (left), and mortar joint chemically etched in washing to the CMU, it will absorb the process (right). cleaning solution at a much higher rate than the CMU. If important to note that the inclusion of admixtures in untreated or improperly dosed, the cleaning process can masonry mortars changes the chemistry, which directly cause the cementitious paste to be eaten away, exposing changes the performance of the mortar and often its final the aggregate in the mortar (Figure 4). To help avoid this appearance. As mortars continue to evolve through the undesirable discoloration, factory pre-blended mortar use of improved and higher-performing admixtures, can be enhanced with a controlled dosage of water controlling the addition rates in a factory setting ensures repellent to ensure performance from batch to batch a consistent outcome on site. (Figure 5). The most common admixtures used in masonry Admixtures are also used in mortars designed to inare water repellents, which are generally used in the stall thin masonry veneer, one of the most popular maproduction of architectural CMUs. Due to the watersonry claddings. Incorporating admixtures that increase bond strength can double the flexural bond properties of standard mortars, thereby increasing their flexibility to accommodate the movement and deflection common in this type of application. Another invaluable admixture in pre-blended mortar is set accelerators. There is no such thing as “antifreeze” for mortar, but set accelerators speed up the set time of mortar, so mason contractors can work in colder conditions. Specifically, the set accelerators allow the mortar to use the mixing water at an accelerated rate, thus hydrating the cement before temperatures drop enough to freeze Before After the water in the mortar. Similarly, the use of set-delaying admixtures can slow the hydration of the cement in the mortar on hot days, keeping 30-Yr. Warranty the cement from drying out before UV & Freeze Thaw Weather Tested 50+ Years full hydration of the cement occurs. 100% Success: Color Corrections, Custom Color & Color Transformations If the addition rates are not properly cont rol led, the outcome can be Brick, Block, Mortar, Stone, Concrete, Cast Stone, Retaining Walls & More catastrophic. Only pre-blending View Our Award-Winning Work: facilities can guarantee that these a d m i x t u re s h ave b e e n p rop e r l y weighed and controlled to achieve the desired result.
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16 ODCEATLE.R1DA9Y,&2M0 EDIA , 2016 OCT. 20-2CO1NTRACTORS TO HNA OPEN IN THE INDUSTRY LL A D AN
Figure 5 — Pre-blended mortar produced with dry admixtures, pigment and integral water repellent ensures quality control and performance.
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Figure 6 — SPEC MIX Polymer Modified Adhered Veneer Mortar for superior shear bond strength.
Conclusion The introduction of factory pre-blended mortar is one of the most significant developments impacting the way building owners, designers and mason contractors select and construct masonry projects. Whether the architectural drawings call for brick, CMU, building stone or thin masonry veneer, pre-blended mortar manufacturers are able to engineer mix designs for structural wall or veneer systems with optimal mechanical bond, compressive strength and mortar joint color, allowing the designer’s vision to be translated onto the building. yMAS Nick Blohowiak has more than 20 years of masonry industry experience and is the national sales manager of masonry products for SPEC MIX®, Inc., a QUIKRETE® Company. www.masonrymagazine.com
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What You Need to Know Now About
Masonry Staining
By Jennifer Gill
MASONRY STAINING HAS A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL HISTORY AS A CRUCIAL SUPPORT SERVICE TO THE MASONRY INDUSTRY, as well as the construction industry as a whole. Masonry staining firms work hard, and successfully, to get an exact match for masonry, helping projects to close out on time when unexpected color issues arise. Masonry staining firms also work to assist architects, owners, general contractors and mason contractors by removing all color limitations when designing and building with masonry. When architects and building owners are empowered with knowledge about masonry staining, they’ll be confident of achieving an exact match for any desired color, and they’ll be more likely to specify and build with masonry products in the future. Yet for every mason contractor or architect who uses staining regularly, there are still many who have yet to learn about this vital process.
What happens when mason contractors and others don’t know about masonry staining? A simple color issue might needlessly risk the success of an entire project, or even prevent masonry from being specified in the first place. Contractors lose both time and money trying to track down, custom 34 |
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order, or ship from afar masonry that is similar in color; and if it is located, the result is often a disappointing mismatch. Some mason contractors have even been forced to tear down high-quality walls because of color issues. Though the mortar industry recommends masonry staining for any mortar color The Voice of the Masonry Industry
Masonry Staining FAQ Q: What is masonry staining? A: It is the art and science of transforming the color of masonry with a sheer, mainteissues, without this information, masons nance-free professional-grade, custom stain. may be ordered to cut out and repoint joints for mismatched mortar. Repointing for colQ: What masonry can be stained? A: Brick, block, mortar, natural and manufactured stone, concrete, cast stone, precast, or-only issues does not solve the problem, but tilt-up precast, and more can be stained to look very natural. Porous masonry that will acinstead can damage the masonry and comcept water should work with typical water-based, professional-grade stains. promise the building envelope, potentially alQ: What is the difference between masonry stain from a store and lowing water infiltration down the road. This professional-grade custom stain? risks damage to other surrounding substrates, A: Professional companies manufacture their own, often proprietary systems, which such as cast stone or trim pieces, windows, should be specifically designed to achieve exact match results and not fade or change. and more. Newly repointed mortar joints The texture will remain unchanged while the color will be transformed to an exact match or often appear as a patch job, though the walls the correct custom shade. Store-bought products are generally thick like paint, need maintenance, and have no guarantee of performance or warranty against fading or changing. are actually new, and everyone involved must wait yet again for the mortar to cure, hoping Q: How do masonry staining companies get an exact match for color? it’s a closer match. A: Colors are hand mixed on site, tested and adjusted for an exact match. When excellent workmanship is called Q: How is masonry stain applied? into question over a color issue, financial A: The most flexible, high-quality product lines are applied by any typical means to losses can occur. Future business may be achieve the exact match result. There should be no limitation on method unless the company’s product line won’t work with anything else but a brush, but this is not typical of the at risk, as well. Owners and designers may industry. hesitate to build with masonry again. Even worse, when professional masonry staining Q: Does masonry stain look like paint? A: No. Professional masonry stain should be very sheer and natural-looking, and should solutions aren’t used, architects may simply not cause any future maintenance issues. choose to design with a material other than masonry because they’re too worried about Q: Can I have just mortar stained? A: Yes. Companies can stain just mortar, just brick, or both, for instance. color mismatches. At a time when the industry is rebounding, we should not agree Q: Can masonry be stained lighter, or just darker? to lose projects to other building materials A: Masonry can be stained lighter, darker, or any desired color. simply because of a lack of knowledge. Q: How do I locate a masonry staining company? Mason contractors need to know how A: Check with MCAA or their online directory to find reputable member companies, to harness the power of masonry staining and don’t be afraid to ask for referrals within the industry. When needing color help with cast stone, for instance, ask the Cast Stone Institute for a staining company with expertise for their projects. When professional maworking on cast stone. sonry staining is the norm, what seems like a negative situation is quickly turned into – Jennifer Gill, president and principal, Exact Match Masonry Staining, LLC a positive one. Architects, armed with this information, incorporate masonry in their designs without canvas for staining, rather than wasting time and money hesitation. New masonry can match old masonry, or old looking for multi-colored brick that is “similar or close” in can be matched to new. Custom colors to match any theme color. Every situation varies, however, which is why relying are now an option because of maintenance-free, sheer and on your masonry staining expert is necessary. Calling the natural-looking color that won’t change the masonry’s texcolor expert for guidance at the first sign of trouble preture. Adaptive reuse projects incorporate new masonry. It vents a surprise issue from compounding. For instance, misbecomes easy to match new masonry to historic restoration matches that are washed aggressively can result in damage to projects, additions and renovations. Change orders to add masonry, worsening the problem. Applying hardware store even more masonry to a project can be awarded to mason materials off the shelf, or using sealants to change the color, contractors without hesitation, as any dye lot changes or actually worsens the problem, and these foreign materials mortar variations are easily corrected. Even an unexpected need to be stripped off the masonry to solve the issue. Hardmismatch is turned around to a resounding positive with ware store materials can’t be correctly color-matched, and masonry staining. When an owner begins with a mismatch, often appear like — or may actually be — a paint, which it can be corrected undetectably to an exact match, and even may confuse an owner about the natural, maintenance-free comes with an added-value warranty against color fading or result that professional staining provides. This may cause an change. owner to reject any future offer you may make to bring in an Reaching out to your masonry staining expert before a expert staining firm to solve the problem permanently. project begins can make masonry staining more cost-effecWhile chemically burnt masonry, wand marks, and tive. This is why it’s vital for mason contractors to have a reworsened color damage can be corrected by masonry stainlationship with a trusted staining company. When masonry ing, having these problems on top of the original mismatch is chosen for a repair or addition, masonry staining firms can be avoided with a prior consultation. The most successcan review all factors ahead of time. A basic, solid-color ful firms will gather facts about the project and begin engibrick in the same size and texture is preferable as a good neering a solution that will often exceed expectations. www.masonrymagazine.com
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MORTARS, MIXTURES AND STAINING Put Masonry Staining in Your Arsenal When masons include masonry staining in their bids and change orders, architects and owners will know ahead of time that staining is an option if color results are undesirable. Incorporating masonry staining in their arsenal, mason contractors have been able to confidently bid projects and work with customers they used to shy away from, due to concerns about matching color. Customers may not be aware of the challenge it can be to match additions, fillins or repaired areas, and may have expectations for results that are not within the control of the best mason contractors — unless they turn to a trusted masonry staining firm. Building plans may change, and masonry may be constructed in different stages, which can cause an undesirable shift in color. Contractors can build their business more easily by pricing out and meeting a high standard of color quality with the help of a masonry staining firm. When more people realize that staining masonry is not a compromise, and that there are no known drawbacks to the process when performed by the best firms, the masonry industry wins. Significant strides have been made in the art and science of staining. By many accounts, masonry staining is centuries old, having begun as a process in which various forms of organic matter were applied to whitewash masonry, disguising the mismatches that occurred through years of repairs and renovation. While today’s masonry staining
is cutting-edge, it still incorporates an old-world style of craftsmanship. Color is created by hand and by eye every time. Masonry stain provides a sheer wash of color, and the original, incorrect color is just one component of the mix. High-quality components are lightfast, do not fade or change, and again, are hand blended and not able to be computer matched. Computer matching is to be used only for coatings that can be applied as thick, heavy paint, which has nothing in common with precisely applied, customized, professional, sheer masonry stain. If you are looking for high-quality results including a color warranty, seek out a
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company that has custom products tested to endure ASTM with the right staining company will be a pleasure, and the retesting for both UV and freeze/thaw exposure as well as a sults will not only please your customer but also help the inreasonable warranty period. Some companies may boast dustry as a whole. The phrase, “It’s not what you know, it’s who unusually lengthy warranty periods that are not consistent you know,” is appropriate here. What you need to know now with real-world industry experience, and have no lab testing may actually be more about who you need to know now: your to back their claims. trusted masonry staining firm. yMAS The best staining firms can get an exact match for all Jennifer Gill is president, co-founder and principal porous masonry, including brick and block, but also more at Exact Match Masonry Staining, LLC. Contact her at jennifer@masonrystaining.com or visit www. challenging materials such as natural and manufactured masonrystaining.com. stone, including cast stone. When block needs to be stained to match, including aggregate colors, the company needs to know how to recreate the exact background color and aggregate color and pattern to blend the wall to match. One expert firm even knows how to stain the background color of ground-face block without hiding aggregate color, which is astounding. Any number of application methods may be used in masonry staining. While some companies have products that must be brush-applied, others have flexibility in application method to create almost any result. Firms should generally not need to stain areas that are not mismatched, unless there is a sensible, technical explanation. Be sure to carefully judge the skill set of the firm, or you may run the risk of the owner rejecting the stained project anyway. Be sure to choose a company that meets your needs and works well with your particular style of doing business. When you have researched and found a good fit with a highly rated staining Lighter units mean…more profit with less pain company, work on forming a relationship with them. Call the company and Safer job site conditions (fewer injuries) get to know them before you need them. Look for firms that are fully insured, Less workers compensation claims have an excellent safety record and manImproved workforce satisfaction datory OSHA 10 training, and perform Increased productivity background checks for employees, ensuring they can gain access to high-security sites. Some firms also maintain FBI clearances and fingerprinting. Elite firms have experience working with celebrities and public figures and understand how to operate with discretion and follow special security protocols. Typical initial consultations happen by phone and email, so be prepared to email good-quality photos of both the area For more advantages of using lightweight masonry, visit: needing color correction and what you’d like a match to, or your chosen custom www.escsi.org/mason.htm colors. You should be able to ask as many questions as you need to. Doing business
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Masonry Staining: A Great Option for Masons and Contractors By Don Foster THE DREADED PUNCH LIST — it can be a terrible experience to receive one when you thought the job was done. How many times have you completed hours, days or weeks of work, only to have your payment withheld because of an imperfection that is now drawing everyone’s attention? How many times have you torn out an imperfection and replaced it, only to have it not match or have it look like a bad patch job?
Before proven masonry staining.
After proven masonry staining
When this issue concerns aesthetics, a DIY proven masonry stain kit can be one of your most useful tools. Not only can it can get you off your current punch list, but it can also help keep you off it in the future. An added benefit is that you can add staining to your current list of services and make additional money where 38 |
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you never could have made money before. In the before and after pictures, you can see a repair that was made with brick chosen to be the best match in terms of size, texture and color. Nonetheless, color differences were still apparent with both brick and mortar. When selecting the brick, the mason knew he had not found a perfect match. He showed the The Voice of the Masonry Industry
A proven masonry stain is completely absorbed into customer and offered to make the repair and then to stain the wall to improve the the masonry, and cannot ever color match for an additional charge. Planning ahead paid off. peel, crack or blister like a paint-like stain. The mason’s competitors couldn’t find a matching brick either. But they didn’t have masonry staining in their bag of tools. The cusTo determine whether a proven masonry stain is a good tomer hired the man with the stain kit, who was able to candidate for your installation, simply throw water on the charge for repairing the masonry and for changing the color wall. If it darkens and starts to soak into the masonry, it is a of the brick and mortar afterward. It was a win for everyone good candidate for a proven masonry stain. Staining can be and no longer an eyesore for anyone viewing the wall. The a great addition to any contractor’s business, as the number advantage went to the mason with the stain kit. of potential customers with mismatched repairs or addiThe proven masonry stain kit allowed the brick and mortar tions is significant. Just drive through any town or city, and to look natural and breathe naturally. The surface looked and you can see the need for this service. It is just that many confelt like real brick. There was no unnatural shine, even when it tractors do not know that masonry staining is an option. was wet. This product is not a paint or paint-like stain. It canStaining is a great option that can improve customer satisnot be sprayed and is applied with a 1-inch brush for mortar faction by resolving problems or eliminating them before they joints and with a 2-inch brush for modular brick. arise. It also will beautify your work by removing potential eyeA proven masonry stain is one that is completely absorbed sores, and provide opportunities for additional revenue. yMAS into the masonry. Once the stain is absorbed, it cannot ever Don Foster is founder and vice president of Masonry peel, crack or blister like a paint-like stain can because it does Cosmetics Inc. He has experience with every aspect of brick manufacturing and sales, and has been not create a layer and does not seal the masonry. The masonry staining masonry for over 30 years. Contact Don at looks and breathes naturally and cannot trap water that might brickmen@gmail.com or (888) 698-8705. Visit www. create a freeze/thaw problem. Proven masonry stain can never masonrycosmetics.com for more information. damage masonry of any kind.
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>>> CASE STUDY
MORTARS, MIXTURES AND STAINING
Honoring a Fallen Officer Masonry Installation and Care Products Become Part of a Permanent Memorial By Art Mintie, CSI, CDT
D e p u t y S h e r i ff J o n a t h a n Scott Pine, a two-year veteran of the Orange County (Fla.) sheriff’s office, was responding to a call of multiple car break-ins on Feb. 10, 2014, when he was shot and killed by the suspected burglar. Area residents were shocked and saddened by the event, and wanted to find a way to appropriately honor the sacrifice and memory of the Deputy Sheriff. A committee of the Homeowner’s Association (HOA) in the neighborhood where the shooting took place evaluated several recommendations, and they agreed that the best tribute would be a permanent ground memorial replicating the fallen officer’s badge in a prominent location in the community. The HOA president contacted Trinity Surfaces of Orlando, a local tile supplier, to see if a project like this was possible. The tile supplier offered to donate the needed tiles and reached out to Jim Doane, a custom masonry contractor in Sanford, Fla., for installation. At the same time, Trinity Surfaces reached out to LATICRETE International. LATICRETE offered to donate the necessary installation materials for the memorial, and the project quickly got under way. The process began with a scan of the badge to enlarge it to the size needed for the memorial. The next step was to choose the best tile colors and pre-cut everything to fit the 17-foot-diameter design. Formal site preparation began in order to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the tragic shooting. “It’s impossible to take on a project like this one and not get personally involved,” says Doane, owner of Jimbo’s Creative Masonry. “Despite the short timeline and environmental challenges, there was no way any of us was going to let the community down.” During the construction process, Doane faced a number of significant challenges. First was the very tight timeline: there were only 15 days from the time the project was approved to the night of the dedication ceremony. The second challenge was the surrounding landscape in the installation location. The memorial was designed to fit in the center of an existing circular section of sidewalk, but that sidewalk was 13 inches (330 mm) higher on one side than the other, so he had to account for that difference as well as drainage needs.
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The third challenge was the design of the walkway itself. The original design called for individual stepping stones to approach each side of the badge, but those stones would have been subject to movement. Therefore, to prevent any movement, Doane poured concrete footers upon which to set pre-cut tile. The fourth and final challenge was the late arrival of the central medallion. The 36-inch bronze medallion would not arrive until the day before the dedication, so all tile placed ahead of time had to be measured and placed with the utmost accuracy to allow the medallion to be inserted at the final step. A number of installation products from LATICRETE were used in the project. To prepare for the tile installation on the memorial, Doane used STRATA_MAT™, a high-performance uncoupling membrane for use under ceramic tile and stone installations, for both residential and commercial applications. Designed to replace traditional underlayment materials, the patentpending design of STRATA_MAT provides for an enhanced mechanical bond of the adhesive mortar and for faster drying of the mortar, allowing for shorter time to grout. The Voice of the Masonry Industry
To install the selected tiles, Doane used 254™ Platinum, a one-step, polymer-fortified, thin-set mortar for interior and exterior installation of ceramic tile, stone, quarry tile, pavers and brick. 254 Platinum, designed to mix just with water, has a long open time with excellent adhesion and workability. Once the tiles were in place, Doane used PERMACOLOR® Grout, a high-performance, fast-setting grout that provides a dense and hard grout joint, for all seams. It is color consistent, mixes with water only, and inhibits mold and mildew with anti-microbial technology. Doane used LATASIL™, a high-performance, onecomponent, neutral-cure, 100% silicone sealant designed for ceramic tile and stone applications in wet areas. It is easy to smooth and tool, is equipped with fungicides to resist mold and mildew growth, and has exceptional movement capacity. As a final step, STONETECH® BulletProof® Sealer was applied to preserve the natural look of the stone and provide protection against staining from environmental causes. It is a water-based sealer with advanced penetrating microbond protection that will keep the memorial looking beautiful and natural for many years to come. STONETECH stone, tile and masonry care products protect and preserve stone against the damaging effects of everyday living. This particular memorial is in a central location and will be subject to weather, foot traffic and more. By sealing the stone with this advanced solution, durability and longevity are ensured so that generations to come will be aware of the incredible bravery and sacrifice of Deputy Sheriff Pine. “This was a tough job with a tight turnaround and a number of significant challenges,” says Sean Boyle, senior director of marketing and product management at LATICRETE, “but it was also one that carried a special significance for everyone involved. Having the opportunity to donate these materials and play a part in paying tribute to this officer was truly an honor, and each individual and company was instrumental in making this idea a reality. It really was a full team effort.” Everyone involved in this project shared a commitment to honoring the memory of Deputy Sheriff Pine in a meaningful and lasting way. All pieces were completed and installed in time to hold the dedication ceremony as planned. The monument provides a beautiful tribute to the officer’s sacrifice and will be a centerpiece of the community for years to come. yMAS Arthur Mintie is senior director, technical services for LATICRETE International Inc. He can be reached at amintie@laticrete.com. www.masonrymagazine.com
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How to Make Your Workforce Great Again By Amy King DUE TO THE RECESSION, an aging workforce and fewer people entering the construction industry, many contractors are left with only a percentage of their once highly skilled and abundant workforce. For companies to make their workforce great again, it is critical not only to invest in workforce development, but also to have it deeply rooted in company culture — just as safety is. This means being actively committed to recruiting new entrants into the industry and continuing to train through good times and bad. Going Beyond the Booth The first step in having a skilled and productive workforce is to have the best people. Finding future masons involves more than passing out business cards at career fairs. Contractors need to go beyond the booth and have a greater presence in schools. Introducing students to masonry career opportunities at an early age starts by getting involved at the local level. This can be accomplished by utilizing resources like NCCER’s Construction Career Pathways connection map. In response to the 2011 Harvard University report, Pathways to Prosperity, NCCER developed its Construction Career Pathways In an effort to connect contractors with future masons, NCCER has sponsored the initiative to promote construction careers as national SkillsUSA masonry competition for the last four years. successful career paths and bring more attention to career and technical education (CTE). experiences. CTSOs are a powerful avenue for helping to adAs part of the initiative, a connection map was created to dress masonry’s workforce development issues. help the construction industry and educational facilities One particular CTSO that serves more than 300,000 connect and collaborate at the local level. On the map, constudents from across the country each year is SkillsUSA. tractors choose what they can do for schools in their comThe U.S. Department of Labor describes SkillsUSA munities, such as host a project or office visit, serve on a as a “successful model of an employer-driven youth school advisory board, present in classrooms, participate in development training program.” The organization’s career events, mentor students and/or provide internship programs help establish industry standards for skills opportunities. With both contractors and schools from cittraining in schools and promote community service. ies across America represented on the map, it is easy for each Other SkillsUSA programs include local, state and national group to identify how they can work together to improve competitions in which thousands of students demonstrate awareness of masonry careers. The map can be found at their occupational and leadership skills by competing in 100 http://pathways.nccer.org/connection-map. different CTE areas, including masonry. In addition to working with schools, another way to recruit In an effort to connect contractors with future masons, future masons is to partner with Career and Technical Service NCCER has sponsored the national SkillsUSA masonry Organizations (CTSOs). With more than 2 million student competition for the last four years. The competition features members, CTSOs connect CTE programs with innovative exthe best masonry students in the country and tests their entracurricular programs, business partnerships and leadership try-level performance skills. Contestants are judged on accu42 |
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In the News racy, ability to read and interpret blueprints, workmanship, and the proper use of tools and materials. Contractors who partner with NCCER to host the national competition have early access to the country’s most highly skilled masonry students. Contractors can also participate at the local level by getting involved with their state SkillsUSA organization. State directors can be found at http://pathways.nccer.org/connection-map.
Texas Professors Selected to Attend National Workshop On March 20, 2016, four Texas architecture and engineering professors attended The Masonry Society’s annual University Professors Masonry Workshop at the University of California San Diego. The Texas Masonry Council (TMC) joined forces again with the Brick Industry Association – South West (BIA‐SW) to send deserving professors to California. Ray Leonhard, president and CEO of the Brick Industry Association commented that “the Brick Industry Association SouthUniversity professors from across the nation gather west Region and the Texas Mato collaborate on effective and innovative ways to sonry Council have supported the teach masonry. University Professors Masonry Workshop for many years by sponsoring university professors’ attendance and travel expenses. We believe this workshop is an excellent opportunity for university faculty and masonry professionals to meet and discuss masonry construction and design issues, share teaching methods, network, and experience a hands‐on demonstration. The knowledge and tools gained from this valuable workshop will help to implement successful masonry programs across the United States that will educate future designers about the many benefits of masonry construction.” The University Professors Masonry Workshop (UPMW) is a forum for faculty who are teaching masonry, or will be teaching masonry, to learn about the design, specification, construction and evaluation of masonry. Effective and innovative ways to teach this information to their students are discussed. The goal of the UPMW is simple: to assist professors teaching masonry so that students, who will be future designers and construction managers, are comfortable using masonry on their projects. The Masonry Workshop is a limited‐seating event geared to educate masonry professors on new masonry codes, standards, products, technology and research. The Workshop is an intimate and intense two‐day training in which attendees walk away with masses of new material to apply in their classrooms. Texas Tech Masonry Design and Construction professor Mukaddes Darwish said the “UPMW in San Diego was a great conference, and I was impressed with the new information the presenters shared with us. I enjoyed the discussions of innovative teaching
A Trained Workforce Is a Quality Workforce Once a sustainable pipeline of new masons is in place, contractors must commit to train their workforce during good times and bad, as opposed to waiting until it is too late. Contractors owe it to their people and their companies to offer continuous training and assessments that lead to long and prosperous careers. A quality workforce should be large enough to meet client needs and highly skilled to complete projects on time, within budget and without injuries. Research from the Construction Industry Institute shows that training programs can benefit employers in the form of increased productivity and decreased turnover, absenteeism, injuries and rework. Since training is not one size fits all, NCCER’s standardized masonry training program allows NCCER accredited contractors of all sizes to deliver industryrecognized, portable credentials to their methods, and I gained some ideas to take to my classrooms.” yMAS workforce. Masons who receive NCCER For future workshops, interested Texas professors can apply for scholarships by training have the opportunity to develop their contacting the Texas Masonry Council at www.texasmasonrycouncil.org. skills and advance within their companies. As a result, contractors committed to delivering contractors support the use of training and assessments, the training often have a more highly skilled, safe and productive skill level of the industry will continue to elevate. craft workforce, which is critical to future success. In addition, contractors can close the skills gap within The ROI of Workforce Development their incumbent workforce through the use of assessments. T op contractors understand that investing in When used correctly, assessments are a tool for contractors to see the strengths and weaknesses of their employees and workforce development is critical to their ongoing success. then provide skills training in the areas where they need Because motivated employees are more productive, project a it. NCCER’s new masonry assessment was released earlier positive image of the company and have significantly higher this year and validates the skills that journey-level masons retention rates, contractors benefit from greater workforce have obtained. The assessment also provides customized stability and profitability. As masonry competes with other plans for upgrade training in areas where individuals need crafts and industries to find highly skilled professionals, the improvement. industry must continue to create desirable opportunities Through comprehensive training and assessment for its people. When contractors integrate recruitment, programs linked to industry-recognized standards training and assessments into their operations, they become and curricula, contractors are better prepared to meet employers of choice among job seekers and contractors of challenges with a highly skilled workforce. By providing a choice among owners and construction managers. yMAS robust culture of workforce development with training For more information on how to make your workforce and assessment opportunities, contractors can maintain great again, visit www.nccer.org or contact NCCER’s workforce development team at (888) 622-3720. a sustainable workforce for generations to come. As more www.masonrymagazine.com
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Developing Mason Tenders Through the LIUNA Training and Education Fund WHEN DESCRIBING A TRAINED AND SKILLED WORKFORCE, LIUNA Training and Education Fund (LIUNA Training) ensures that safety, productivity and the ability to think critically are part of the narrative. In a construction job like that of a mason tender, these traits are most valuable.
This manual is part of the mason tender class instruction at LIUNA training centers.
By Mark Mancini
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Whether by learning the trade through LIUNA’s Construction Craft Laborer Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship program or from upgrade journeyworker training, mason tenders remain a multi-skilled and important part of every masonry project. Trained and skilled means safe. Even the most skilled mason tender becomes a liability if safe work habits are not part of the job. Rushing, disregarding personal protective equipment (PPE), assembling a disorganized work area and cutting corners can all put the mason tender and his fellow workers at risk. Trained and skilled means productive. Mason tenders are always moving, performing a variety of tasks. Multi-skilled means more production and increased value to the masonry contractor. Trained and skilled means being a critical thinker. The best mason tenders keep the job moving forward by planning ahead. They also keep it moving by accurately estimating materials so nothing has to be hastily rearranged later. The laborers trade remains one of the most valuable assets for a masonry contractor. Thanks to LIUNA Training, the pathway to becoming a trained and skilled mason tender has never been clearer. For workers new to the industry, it starts with LIUNA Training’s DOL-approved apprenticeship program, where foundational knowledge on safety, tools and equipment, and job skills is obtained. Once training and on-the-job hours are gained, apprentices begin to focus on skills needed by masonry contractors. For journeyworkers looking for a challenge, upgrade training is available at more than 70 LIUNA centers across North America. Boasting a variety of courses vital to mason tenders, such as Rough Terrain Forklift and Scaffolding Building, a LIUNA Training center has what workers and contractors need. Whether an apprentice or journeyworker, the mason tender’s morning starts at least a half hour before anyone else’s on the jobsite. This time is used to set up the site so the The Voice of the Masonry Industry
masonry project can start on time and the trowels can keep moving all day. Materials need to be calculated, transported and stacked. Mortar needs to be job-ready, and distribution setups need to be in place. Correctly estimating masonry material is essential, as all contractors have the same basic goal: to complete a project quickly and efficiently. Moving large amounts of unused or unneeded materials is a time waster. It takes up manpower and slows a job down. A LIUNA-trained mason tender learns the proper way to estimate masonry materials. LIUNA Certified Instructors provide classroom instruction and hands-on activities that include blueprints, hand calculators, and computer programs to make quick estimates based on wall area. Trainees perform calculations in the classroom, then head outside to stack materials, taking into consideration access and workflow. Because construction math is key to any masonry job, industry math courses are a prerequisite for any hands-on training that involves estimating and calculating. “Our contractors know that every trainee, whether journeyworker or apprentice, is getting job skills and knowledge that make the worksite efficient and productive,” says John J. LeConche, LIUNA Training executive director. A LIUNA-trained mason tender knows mortar types, mixing procedures, and how to maintain the right mortar consistency. Laborer trainees receive instruction on the basics first. It starts with safety and setup — from reducing dust, safe lifting and proper PPE to an organized mixing area that is close to water and materials and has easy accessibility. Laborers understand the need to mix to industry and jobsite standards while also dealing with the individual preferences of each mason. In the end, mortar mixing is about consistency that keeps the job running at a steady pace. Mortar that is too stiff or too “soupy” slows the mason down and wastes the mason tender’s time. Mortar mixing is a skill learned in the classroom, practiced during hands-on training, and put into action on the jobsite. This same classroom and hands-on approach is a key element when training mason tenders to cut masonry materials. A LIUNA mason tender is trained to handle masonry saw cuts like step, chop and angle. Once again, safety is first, from donning the proper PPE to ensuring clothing, necklaces, bracelets or anything loose isn’t worn that can get caught in the blade. All LIUNA training centers focus on safety, either in specific classes or integrated into hands-on courses. Adherence to industry regulations is key, as are continual updates to meet changing requirements. As an example, all LIUNA training centers have adapted the new crystalline silica rule that is designed to limit workers’ exposure to harmful dust. While some contractors have concerns that the new standards can be cost prohibitive, LIUNA provides real answers to mitigate exposure while keeping costs down. LIUNA Training provides quality curriculum and instructor training to every affiliated LIUNA center. The result is certified instructors providing third-party accredited Rough Terrain Forklift training, one of the only training providers in the industry to do so. Mason tending trainees learn how www.masonrymagazine.com
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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
to load a rough terrain forklift, determining the center of gravity and ensuring that the load isn’t beyond the machine’s capacity. Placing loads at elevations is practiced to avoid tipping the forklift or endangering other workers on the jobsite. Proper driving techniques are taught on ramps, slopes and uneven ground, while instructors serve as guides to ensure trainees are driving the forklift at the proper speed. Working side by side with masons, the mason tender has to ensure that every working platform is securely in place. At every LIUNA training center, scaffold building courses give LIUNA training centers offer scaffold building courses to give trainees the working trainees the working knowledge and safety reknowledge they need to keep a job moving no matter how high off the ground. quirements they need to keep the job moving no matter how high off the ground. “Too much is at stake it for planks of various sizes. Considering what’s on the for us to be wrong when it comes to scaffolding. You have platform — people, materials, mortar and equipment to feel as safe on a scaffold as you do on the ground. That — mason tenders’ scaffold-building technique could be is why we offer OSHA 10 and 30 Scaffold User and Builder considered their most important skill. courses in addition to our hands-on programs. We leave The ability to estimate, plan, measure, transport, and nothing to chance because worker safety means everything build are all traits of a reliable mason tender who has on any jobsite,” LeConche says. learned the importance of safety, productivity and critical Trainees learn the art of building various types of thinking at a LIUNA training facility. yMAS scaffold, including frame, tube and clamp, system, Mark Mancini is the communications/staff writer for the adjustable masonry, and more. They also are taught the LIUNA Training and Education Fund. He can be reached at mmancini@liunatraining.org. maximum allowable weight for each and how to calculate
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The MIX-N-PLACE is both a large capacity mortar and grout mixer, and also delivery / placement unit.
The GROUT-N-HOPPER features a remote-controlled valve at the hopper, eliminating heavy, uncontrollable hoses.
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The WATT-R-TANK is a large capacity, heated water tank, eliminating the need to close in the mixing site.
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Close the
SKILLS GAP in your WORKFORCE Whether you are training new masons or assessing the skills of your current workforce, NCCER can help. NCCER’s Masonry program offers a three-level, competency-based curriculum and a journey-level assessment that lead to industryrecognized credentials. To ensure all NCCER programs meet or exceed industry standards, subject matter experts are utilized in all development and revisions.
MCAA MASON CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
NCCER is a proud partner of MCAA and appreciates their participation in the development of this program. Start building your workforce of craft professionals. Call our workforce development department at 888.622.3720 to find out more.
nccer.org 888.622.3720
An Interview With
Macy Williams Masonry Magazine (MM): When did you first hear about masonry or think you might be interested in the trade? Macy Williams: I first heard about masonry during my freshman year in high school. Originally, I enrolled in the class because my guidance counselor made it sound like an easy “A” elective course. After about the first week of class, I realized that getting my “A” wasn’t going to be as easy as I anticipated. As I learned more about masonry and the history of the trade, I began to develop a passion for it. My instructor would separate our work stations by rank, based on our performance in the shop. Initially, I was merely interested in keeping my No. 1 spot in shop class. Over time, I had the opportunity to work around seasoned masons in my community. I began to notice that the best masons also had lucrative careers within the industry. That is when I realized that I aspired to someday become a journeyman brick mason. MM: What was your first masonryrelated activity? Was it a contest? A summer job? Williams: During my sophomore year in high school (2000), I competed in my very first SkillsUSA-VICA high school masonry competition. I was awarded 3rd Place in my region, which wasn’t too bad for a first-year student competing against upperclassmen. Following the competition, Calvin Brodie of Brodie Contractors, Inc. (BCI) introduced himself and congratulated me on a job well done. After a brief conversation, Calvin offered me my first summer job as a brick mason. That summer, I went to work for BCI at the Ram Village Residence Hall Project on the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Campus. MM: What kind of training did you receive that helped you get where you are today? Williams: I completed Masonry I, II and III training courses in high school. After high school, I completed the four-year NCMCA Apprenticeship Program while working for Brodie Contractors, Inc. During this time, Brodie also allowed me to work as a “seasonal” full-time employee while I earned my B.S. degree in construction management from North Carolina A&T State University. 48 |
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MM: What was your first professional masonry position? What did you do on a daily basis? Williams: I began as an apprentice brick mason. During my apprenticeship, I was required to lay block/brick to the line and work on the grout pump crew. As my skill level improved, I was required to set the twig and eventually build corner leads. MM: How have you advanced in your profession since then? Williams: After completing my apprenticeship, I became a journeyman mason. Several years later, I became a crew foreman. As a foreman, I managed a six- to eight-man crew, along with the responsibility of plan reading and wall layout. I currently hold the position of project manager. I am responsible for the turnover process between our Estimating and Operation teams, in addition to managing the pay applications, budgets, schedules and document control for each of my projects. The Voice of the Masonry Industry
MM: Did you have any mentors? Who were they and how did they inspire you? Does anyone still mentor or inspire you? Williams: I’ve had several mentors who have inspired me over the years. First, my mom, who struggled to raise me and my siblings as a single parent following the tragic death of my father. She always inspired me to work hard and to put my best effort into everything that I do. Next, my high school masonry instructor, Mr. Yarborough Williams. Not only did he teach me how to lay brick, but he also taught me the value of giving respect and earning respect from the people I interact with. Third, my supervisors, the late Willie Hodges (senior superintendent, BCI) and Kelly Brooks (operations manager, BCI). They taught me to have a good work ethic and to take pride in my trade and profession. Willie used to say, “It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it needs to be so close that you can’t tell the difference.” Last, Mr. Calvin Brodie (president, BCI) has been a huge inspiration to me since the day I met him. Not only has he mentored me professionally, but he has always been there for me to offer guidance and advice whenever I have called on him. Calvin inspires me by being a true example of a man with integrity and honor. MM: What should masonry, as an industry, be doing more (or less) of to get young people interested in masonry? Williams: I feel that we, as an industry, should put more effort into marketing our trade to young people and their
www.masonrymagazine.com
parents. Also, we should be advocating masonry programs in our local school districts. They need our support to stay in operation during a time when other “technical” programs seem to receive funding over the trades. We are living in an age of enormous student loan debt, and what better alternative than a trade that can be learned in high school at no cost to the students? We all know people in our communities who have very successful careers in the masonry industry. It is time to get the word out! MM: Is there anything else that you think would encourage young people to consider masonry as a career? Williams: Money, money, money! I think every young person should be informed about the earning potential that exists in the masonry industry. I believe that some kids end up working at department stores because they were told that it is the same as working in construction. I know that I have been able to provide a good lifestyle for my family through my career in the masonry industry. We need to get the message to them that they have been misinformed. yMAS Macy Williams is project manager for Brodie Contractors, Inc., Raleigh, N.C. He can be reached at mwilliams@ brodiecon.com. Brodie Contractors, Inc. is a general contractor specializing in commercial and institutional masonry construction. Visit www.Brodiecon.com for the company’s history and portfolio.
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MCAA MASON CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
www.masoncontractors.org/perks
Perks
2016 NCMCA Convention
By Karen D. Hickey
2016 NCMCA Convention Review THE NORTH CAROLINA MASONRY CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION’S (NCMCA’S) 2016 ANNUAL CONVENTION AND BUSINESS MEETING took place at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va., from April 28 to May 1.
The Omni Homestead Resort provided a beautiful backdrop to NCMCA’s 2016 Convention.
The event kicked off Thursday evening, April 28, with registration and a welcome reception. Friday morning featured a panel discussion entitled “The State of Masonry: A National Perspective.” Representatives from four major organizations made up the panel:
NCMCA members and guests enjoyed the Thursday evening reception.
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Jeff Buczkiewicz, president and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA); Raymond Leonhard, president and CEO of the Brick Industry Association (BIA); Robert Thomas, president of the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA); and James Toscas, president and CEO of the Portland Cement Association (PCA). The discussion was moderated by NCMCA chairman and past president Gary Joyner of Joyner Masonry Works. Panel Discussion: The State of Masonry Each representative began by explaining the nature of his organization before Joyner asked, “What needs to be fixed with your association or our industry?” Leonhard (BIA) was the first to respond. “We are not even halfway back to shipment levels where The Voice of the Masonry Industry
raised about $500,000 of those pledges. In about four years, said Buczkiewicz, the fund will be ready to accept grant requests. In the meantime, the dollars that have been spent toward BIM-M development will be replaced. Kent Huntley, who recently served as NCMCA’s secretary and is now president-elect, asked about MCAA’s efforts to develop the masonry workforce across the U.S. Buczkiewicz’s reply covered several efforts across the country, highlighting programs in the state of Tennessee and the city of Chicago. Panel discussion participants (left to right): Jeff Buczkiewicz, MCAA; Raymond Leonhard, BIA; He also mentioned that advocates are Bob Thomas, NCMA; and Jim Toscas, PCA. working with lawmakers to change we were before the recession,” he said. “But because of budhow Perkins funding is used in schools, so that more of it get amendments, things are getting better.” Leonhard also will be used for vocational training. “We want to make sure discussed how the costs of complying with OSHA’s new silstudents are career ready,” he said. ica rule are hurting the smaller shops. Further topics covered during the panel discussion NCMA’s Thomas noted that associations look a lot difincluded: ferent than they did 10 years ago. Membership is a key ele• Mergers and consolidation within the industry, e.g., ment of survival, and many producers still are not members LafargeHolcim. and contributing to solutions. “You need strong companies, • The current lack of funding for groups like the regional and national associations to grow the industry,” Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards (MACS) noted Thomas. and Alliance for Concrete Codes and Standards Market share is also still a problem, he said. “You can’t (ACCS), and the sea change necessary both in how mistake increased revenue for increased share of the marthe industry raises funds and invests, and in working ket,” Thomas said. He noted that the need for innovation smarter. is another big factor. “We look too much like we did 50–60 • Education on code changes. years ago in terms of products,” he said. Jim Toscas of PCA first chose to focus on what is right with A long discussion took place regarding the wood inhis association. “The fact that we have an association as a platdustry and its recent successes, and how the concrete and form is a good thing,” he said. But as far as what is wrong, he masonry industries are fighting back. The masonry innoted that the institutional structure of our national economy dustry is currently lobbying Congress for a “check-off ” needs to be fixed, especially since the failures of so many of our program for block. According to Buczkiewicz, there are institutions led to the Great Recession. currently 262 cosponsors of the bill. “The hurdle we have Toscas also discussed market share, regulations that imto overcome,” he said, “is what one agency believes is the pede survival, and the huge strides the wood industry has cost to the federal government.” been making in changing building codes. “With the associaThe final question of the panel discussion was whether tion,” he stated, “we have a voice to talk to legislators, to fight the concrete and masonry industries are more or less for resilience and sustainability in building.” fractured than they were several years ago. MCAA’s Buczkiewicz said that good things have been hapBuczkiewicz replied, pening with MCAA since the recession. “Survivors are stronger “There has been a lot now, more efficient,” he said. “There have been some changes more unity. Recessions and innovation. We’re close to seeing BIM come to fruition. Silforce you to work ica is an issue, but if there is a BIM model, you should not have together, and we have to be cutting on the jobsite.” Buczkiewicz also spoke of swarm had to be more efficient bots, a new technology which can be programmed to deliver a as an industry. There is a stack of brick to a mason, and can even climb scaffolding. level where associations Also a topic of discussion was the Masonry Foundation, share interest, though spearheaded by the MCAA. The Foundation currently has just Damian Lang of Lang Masonry there is competition in over $3 million in pledges, and Buczkiewicz said he is confiContractors and EZ Grout Corp. other areas. There is still dent the fund will surpass $5 million. NCMCA has already asks a question of the panelists. www.masonrymagazine.com
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2016 NCMCA Convention some fragmentation, but leaders are more open to working together now.” Toscas added, “The only way we have a chance is to associate on all levels — local, regional and national — and stand up to the institutions that are so big they have failed us.” A golf event on the nearby Cascades Course followed the panel discussion. That evening, Ashlee and Brent Moore hosted a President’s Reception on the Casino Lawn. NCMCA Annual Convention and Business Meeting The NCMCA Annual Meeting was held on Saturday morning, April 30. President Ashlee Moore led the meeting. Approximately 40 companies were represented. The meeting included the election and installment of new officers for the 2016–2018 term. Two companies were recognized with 2015 NCMCA Safety Awards: Gates Construction Co. and LPS Enterprises. Both firms have won the recognition three years in a row — every year since the safety award program began. The nine local chapters of NCMCA were each given an opportunity to add comments about chapter activities and concerns, in addition to their written reports provided to meeting attendees earlier. An open discussion period allowed representatives from various associations to provide updates to the group. Those associations were the Southeast Concrete Masonry Association (SCMA), Anderson Jones Attorneys at Law, Masonry Magazine and the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA).
NCMCA 2015 president Ashlee Moore passes the gavel, and thus the presidency, to Bob Gates.
Other topics of discussion included: • The 2016 Masonry Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., which was only a few weeks away at this time. • NCMCA’s certification program, which began in 2006 and now has 177 certified masonry professionals. • Student/apprentice masonry skills competitions in North Carolina. • The possibilities of 50–100% increase in membership dues and rebranding the association with a new logo.
New Association officers for the 2016–2018 term. Left to right: Kent Huntley, Huntley Brothers Co., President-Elect; Bob Gates, Gates Construction Co., President; Ashlee K. Moore, Koontz Masonry, Chairman; and Danks Burton, Pinnacle Masonry, Secretary-Treasurer. Not pictured: Eastern Region Vice President Doug Burton, Whitman Masonry; Central Region Vice President Brandon Hartsell, Gates Construction Co.; and Don Caldwell, C & R Masonry.
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The Convention Golf Tournament, sponsored by EZG Manufacturing, was held at the Homestead’s Old Course that afternoon, while a spouse luncheon took place inside the hotel. Later that evening, attendees and their guests enjoyed dinner while various association awards were presented, and the gavel was passed from Moore to Bob Gates of Gates Construction, who will serve as the next president of the NCMCA. Gates gave an inspiring speech about getting MAD, or Making A Difference. NCMCA would like to thank all of the sponsors of the 2016 event. The next NCMCA Annual Convention will be in Charleston, S.C., on March 16–19, 2017. For more information about the NCMCA, visit www.ncmca.com. yMAS The Voice of the Masonry Industry
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MCAA Legislative Conference
By Karen D. Hickey
Time Spent on Capitol Hill —
My MCAA Legislative Conference Experience BY NOW YOU MAY HAVE READ A COUPLE ACCOUNTS OF THE 2016 MCAA LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE, which took place in May in Washington, D.C. — one from MCAA Chairman Mike Sutter, and the other from Stephen Borg of the Keelan Group. I was fortunate to attend this event as well, and my experience was eye-opening. I had not been to D.C. in about 20 years, and it was my first Legislative Conference, so I was a bit nervous. I really didn’t know what to expect. I wondered, would it be difficult to talk to Congressional Representatives and their staff about the issues faced by the masonry industry? Being so new to the industry, would I be helping or hindering our cause? As it turned out, the process was a lot easier than I expected. Stephen Borg had arranged the appointment schedule for each MCAA member in attendance, and had equipped them with a folder containing all the talking points and handouts they would need. We even had a handy guide, “Congress at Your Fingertips,” which contained details on every member of Congress. On Wednesday and Thursday, May 18–19, I accompanied MCAA member John Jacob of J. Construction Co. Inc., located in Cleves, Ohio. The Ohio schedule included 10 appointments on Wednesday and three on Thursday. I was able to join John for most of these, as I was working on finalizing the June issue of Masonry that week as well. The meetings with the Ohio Representatives took place in all three House Office Buildings: Cannon, Longworth and Rayburn. The hardest part of the day was actually walking between the buildings! For each appointment, we were greeted by friendly office staff. In all but one of the appointments, we met with a legal assistant of the Representative. John and I were fortunate to meet with Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) on Wednesday afternoon. Everyone we met with, including Rep. Wenstrup, was quite receptive to the five issues we came to discuss: workforce development and reauthorization of the Perkins Act, the silica exposure rule, misclassification of employees, the CMU check-off program, and a recent Timber Innovation proposal in the Senate. Because each appointment was about 15 minutes long, I did my best to help John as he covered the issues quickly. It was definitely much easier to go in as a team; we reminded each other of points we needed to cover and helped answer questions from the legislative staff members. Maybe it was bravado, but we felt like, together, we were taken more seriously. I’m sure the MCAA members from North Carolina know what I mean — when they showed up in a Representative’s office as a group of nine, that staff person had to know they were serious! Leading up to the D.C. fly-in, MCAA had asked all its members to attend. Speaking with members of Congress and helping them understand the masonry industry’s point of view on pertinent issues is highly important and makes a difference. But I know it seems daunting, or even impossible, to take time away from your already busy schedule to go talk to your elected officials in Washington. Though we had a very good showing of members this year — one of the largest groups ever — there were still only 11 states represented. When you’ve seen MCAA’s emails asking you to go to the conference, you have probably thought to yourself, “Someone else will do it for me.” Well, John Jacob was the only MCAA member from Ohio who attended the conference and took the time to speak to his representatives in person. Someone else wasn’t doing it for him. Meanwhile, 39 states had no in-state representation. Next year, when the 2017 MCAA Legislative Conference rolls around, I hope you’ll be in Washington, D.C., making your voice heard, and not leavRep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH, left) took time out of his ing it up to someone else. It’s a lot easier than you might think, and it makes day to meet with MCAA member John Jacob (right) a tangible difference. yMAS
on Wednesday, 18 May.
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The Voice of the Masonry Industry
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By “Coach” Gary Micheloni
Charging Into 2016 – Part 4
Making It Easy…Makes You Look Good Developing Your Workforce Can I start by telling you a story? It illustrates how a company can sabotage — instead of develop — its workforce. Ya gotta read this! I was doing one of the household chores I hate most, which is taking our plastic bottles and aluminum cans to the recycling center. Out here in Southern California, it is strongly “suggested” that you are not allowed to throw them away, but must recycle them. So, that’s what I do. The last time I did this chore, about a month ago, the man who ran the recycling drop-off location was excellent. He was fast, efficient, had a smile on his face, kept an extremely clean site — and in a job not many people want to do, but he did. I don’t want to get him in any trouble, so I’ll just call him Alexander Hamilton. After I left, I decided to call the parent company. I tried, but their phone number, printed on the receipt, was out of service! Darn. This month, the service I received from him was equally excellent, so I told him that I had tried to call his company and compliment them on what a great employee they had. He told me that, unfortunately, the number on the front of the receipt was old, but the number on the back was good, and he thanked me for even trying. I promised him I’d try again. 58 |
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And so I did, about three minutes later. The new number did work, but it took me to voicemail hell. Any of you ever been there? Yikes! I selected the number for customer service, and was put on hold. I waited about eight minutes on my cell phone, then hung up. I tried the same number again. Same response. Another four minutes were wasted this time. At this point, I’m just a bit mad, but I’m determined to win. So I hatch an idea: dial the extension for H.R. Surely they could pass on a compliment about Alexander. I got through to the H.R. department, was told that they couldn’t pass on a compliment, but that they could connect me to the direct line for the person who handles those calls. “Okay, let’s give it a shot,” I said. “Thanks!” The direct number rings, so I’m excited. Then…the recorded voice informs me that the person at that extension is away, there is no further instruction, I hear a beep, and then I’m disconnected. You’ve got to be kidding! Not one to give in easily, I look up the company online and get the name of the president and CEO, figuring I’d call back and access the employee directory. I did, and this guy wasn’t on it! So I picked somebody else, as a last-ditch attempt, and dialed their extension.
July 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org
The recorded voice on that extension let me know that I had to enter a PIN in order to join the conference call! As I said previously, I had entered voicemail hell. This brings me to the subject of this month’s column. Obviously, the guy who engineered this system didn’t make it easy and, consequently, he doesn’t appear to be very smart. But how about you, me, everybody? How many things are we doing for our customers, employees or suppliers that are not very smart? In fact, maybe they think that what your company is doing is not displaying very much wisdom. (I didn’t want to use the word stupid.) All of this begs the question, have you ever cast a critical eye on your own business, looking for the obvious, and perhaps the not-so-obvious? Isn’t it time to ask why you do some things in a certain way, even when nobody in the organization knows how that ever came to be in the first place? “We’ve always done it that way” is not a very satisfying or wise answer! You know the crazy thing? Mason contractors are always fighting the battle of the why. When an owner, developer, architect or engineer is considering a structure of some kind, and is about to spec out something non-masonry, aren’t you pitching the idea of using masonry because of The Voice of the Masonry Industry
its advantages, even though it might appear to cost more initially? I did a short YouTube video for the Masonry Contractors’ Association of San Diego & Imperial Counties. It’s called, “Top 10 Reasons to Build with Masonry San Diego.” The checklist that makes up the video initially came from a 2006 Masonry Magazine article by Christopher Huckabee. The 10 reasons are the why behind using masonry. The point here is that we are always striving to show why we have a better way, a different path, a unique point of view, a more efficient approach. You get the picture. If you like to get feedback from your customers — and you should — then make it easy for them to tell you. Don’t be like the recycling company! As a matter of fact, you should always, always, always be seeking feedback, and especially testimonials from your satisfied customers, material suppliers and service companies.
Why? Because you want more business, which means you want more people to find your business. So, guess what? You make it easy! Something else happens when you make it easy: you get rewarded by Mr. Google for making things so easy. Do a good job and do it often enough, and people will find you on the first page or two of a Google or YouTube search. Out here in California, one of our favorite search terms is: masonry construction San Diego. If you search for that, no matter where you are, you just might find some of the members of that organization. Of course, you could say, “But we never used to do it that way before.” And you’d be right, because, for one thing, we never had to do it that way. The second thing is that we didn’t know what we were missing! Let’s go back to the woeful recycling enterprise for a moment. Imagine that you were its CEO and you found yourself needing to cut a few employees for
budgeting reasons. No warning, it has to be done this week. Wouldn’t you wish for the kind of feedback you might have gotten from your customers? Clearly, you would never want to fire Alexander Hamilton, would you? He’s one of your good guys. Keep him. Sack a slacker. Theoretically, that is the way it should go, but too often we make it extra difficult on ourselves, and ultimately on our employees, when we don’t make smart decisions, but just react out of panic. It’s very hard to develop the workforce you want when you don’t make it as easy as possible to keep the people you need. yMAS COACH GARY’S CORNER: Gary Micheloni is a construction company marketer, speaker, author, consultant…and a coach. Write him at FullContactTeam@gmail. com and get his free marketing Resources Guide. You can also get the “Top 10 Reasons” video personalized for your organization. Just ask!
Copyright 2016 Gary Micheloni
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The Voice of the Masonry Industry
INDUSTRY
NEWS The Masonry Society (TMS) recently announced the elevation of Dr. Daniel P. Abrams of the University of Illinois as its 16th Honorary Member for his significant contribution Dr. Daniel P. Abrams to masonry research, education, and to the well-being of the society. In addition, TMS announced that Dr. Paulo Lourenco of the University of Minho, Portugal and Dr. Vilas Mujumdar, formerly of the National Science Foundation, were also named as Fellow Members of TMS for their contributions to the advancement of knowledge on masonry. TMS will formally recognize Abrams, Lourenco and Mujumdar during its Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, as part of its Annual Meeting in Raleigh, N.C. Biographies and additional information can be found at www. masonrysociety.org.
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year’s recipient, Charles Newsome, joins that distinguished list. The Thomas A. Holm Award is presented annually to an individual employed in the industry who has contributed to research, development and use of expanded shale, clay and slate aggregate. Newsome has spent his career making such contributions. He is the general manager of the Carolina Stalite Co. and the executive vice president of Johnson Concrete.
Keene Building Products Announces Nick Quercetti Jr. as Technical Consultant Nick Quercetti has joined Keene Building Products and Dependable LLC with more than 38 years of busi-
ness development experience, including owning and operating several of his own application, distribution and manufacturing businesses, in the floor underlayNick Quercetti ment industry. As a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Quercetti has also been a chief executive in the business growth and development teams of several other companies in various industries, including construction, real estate, ERP systems and loan origination. News continued on page 62
NCMCA Announces Winners of Newly Renamed Samuel A. McGee Masonry Contest Photograph by Judy Johnson.
Abrams named TMS Honorary Member, Lourenco and Mujumdar elevated to TMS Fellow Members
Please submit your news and events to:
ESCSI Honors 2016 Holm Award Recipient The Expanded Shale, Clay and Slate Institute (ESCSI) honored its 2016 Holm Award recipient at the ESCSI Midyear Meeting, held May 9–12 in Boulder, Colo. Each Charles Newsome year, ESCSI honors individuals and/or companies that have made significant contributions to the lightweight aggregate industry through their leadership and dedication. This www.masonrymagazine.com
Luis Marquez, an apprentice with Huntley Brothers Co. in Monroe, N.C., won the 2016 David R. Sigmon Award for his first-place finish on May 21 in the annual North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA) Samuel A. McGee Memorial Masonry Apprentice Skills Contest, newly named in memory of Sam, who passed away in September 2015. Marquez finished in fourth place in the 2015 contest. Pictured, back row, left to right: Charles Newsome of host firm Johnson Concrete Co.; Bob Gates, NCMCA president; Marquez; Grayson McGee, second place, and Hayden McGee, third place, McGee Brothers Co.; Janson Huntley, fourth place, and Clay Watson, fifth place, Huntley Brothers Co.; Kent Huntley, contest chairman and NCMCA president-elect; and Greg Huntley, contest head judge. Two of Sam and Midge McGee’s granddaughters assisted in displaying the new contest banner, Memory Allen on the left and Katina Little on the right. yMAS
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INDUSTRY NEWS News continued from page 61
PROSOCO Hires Preservation Specialist, Rocky Mountain Rep PROSOCO has hired Sarah Hunter as its new preservation specialist to serve the materials conservation and historic preservation industries. Hunter will inSarah Hunter terface directly with customers and provide technical support for issues related to building materials, material degradation and product performance. She will also initiate training programs centered on the needs of the preservation community. She has an M.S. degree in historic preservation and work experience in materials conservation. Prior to joining PROSOCO, she worked as the review and compliance coordinator for the Kansas State Historical Society in the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office. There, she worked with clients to provide technical assistance and treatment recommendations for historical projects. In other news, Brent Morris is the n e we s t re g i on a l sales manager for PROSOCO. From his home base of Littleton, Colo., Morris will be serving customers in the Brent Morris Rocky Mountain area, including Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. With 20 years of experience in consulting and sales in the architecture, engineering and contractor segments, Morris previously worked at Firestone Building Products as a product and marketing manager. He’s also worked for Mortar Net USA, Robinson Brick Co. and Weather Shield Manufacturing. Morris is a certified Construction Documents Technologist through the Construction Specifications Institute.
W. R. Meadows Announces New Sales Representatives W. R. Meadows welcomed Kyle Henscheid and Brad Williams to its outside sales force. Henscheid will be working in the Southeast. His professional background is in distribution and commercial/residential roofing products. Henscheid worked at the Roofing Supply Group in Austin, Texas, for three years in sales. Williams comes to W. R. Meadows with 10 years of waterproofing and restoration experience. He graduated from Missouri State University with a B.S. degree in business with an emphasis in marketing, and has a Florida and Georgia General Contractors license.
Fuji Heavy Industries Changes Name, Drops Subaru Industrial Power Products Division Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), Toyko, the parent company of Subaru, has announced a name change to Subaru Corp., along with an operational change that will focus all engineering and financial resources on the automobile division. The Subaru Industrial Power Products division, Lake Zurich, Ill., will close after fulfilling all order commitments for 2017. Product parts and support will remain available indefinitely. Subaru Industrial Power Products and Subaru Automobile have seen tremendous growth in recent years, the company says. With more demands for resources, the company will focus on the automobile division, in efforts to continue leading the industry in a number of automotive categories around the globe. Subaru intends to continue to supply spare parts for a period of time to meet market requirements. Additionally, customers will see no change in quality assurance of products, the company says. Effective immediately, FHI suspends all new development projects of the industrial business. This includes not only newly received inquiries, but current ongoing projects as well.
New Members The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is proud to welcome the following new members to the Association. The MCAA would like to thank them for joining their fellow mason contractors nationwide in helping to build a strong and successful masonry industry.
JULY 2016 Acranom Masonry, Inc. Middlefield, Conn. (860) 349-9000 www.acranommasonry.com Contractor Member
Bay Masonry Traverse City, Mich. (231) 421-6319 Contractor Member
Daniel Hiltebeitel Honey Brook , Pa. (610) 286-6173 Instructor Member
Hirschi Masonry, LLC Las Vegas, Nev. (702) 399-2211 www.hirschimasonry.com Contractor Member
Madison Block & Stone, Inc. Madison, Wis. (608) 249-5633 www.madisonblockandstone.com Regional Associate Member
Michael Morrissey Andover, Mass. (857) 243-0562 Contractor Member
Walker Miller Equipment Co. Orlando, Fla. (407) 299-2620 www.walkermiller.com National Associate Member Discover the many benefits your company is missing by not becoming a member of the MCAA. Call 800-536-2225 or visit www.masoncontractors.org/join to join the MCAA today. Together, we are stronger.
News continued on page 67
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July 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org
The Voice of the Masonry Industry
1.800.699.6831
• Crank less -75% less cranking • Crank EZ-winch lubrication system • Over 250% higher capacity than other manufacturers • EZ has the only tower that is OSHA compliant to climb • ANSI compliant cable • Made in Tennessee, USA
Education Calendar The following is the MCAA’s education calendar: July 6
August 17
October 5
Resolution of Disputes Using Alternative Dispute Resolution
Full Contact Project Management
Scaffold Plank Identification and Inspection Processes
Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices Credits: 1.5 Cost: Free
Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices Credits: 1 Cost: Free
Location: Online Discipline: Safety Credits: 1 Cost: Free
August 24 July 13
OSHA Investigations
Efflorescence Causes and Solutions Location: Online Discipline: General
Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices Credits: 1 Cost: Free
Credits: 1 Cost: Free
August 31 July 20
BIM Deliverables Guide for Masonry Contractors
Communication Between the Structural Engineer and Masonry Contractor
Location: Online Discipline: Bidding Practices
Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices
Credits: 1 Cost: Free
Credits: 1 Cost: Free
July 27
September 7
How Codes Change the Way We Construct Masonry
A Crystal Ball — Early Warning Signs of Construction Claims and Disputes
Location: Online Discipline: Codes and Standards
Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices
Credits: 1.5 Cost: Free
Credits: 1.5 Cost: Free
July 29
September 14
OSHA Silica 2016 — What Does It Mean to Me?
How to Prepare a Professional Masonry Submittal Package
Location: Online Discipline: Safety
Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices
Credits: 1 Cost: Free
Credits: 1 Cost: Free
August 3
September 21
The Impact of Rework on Construction and Some Practical Remedies
Multi-Employer Pension Withdrawal Liability and the Financial Risks to the Company and Your Assets
October 12
Assuring the Successful Continuation of Your Family Business Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices Credits: 1 Cost: Free
October 19
How to Become an Equal Partner With the General Contractor Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices Credits: 1.5 Cost: Free
October 26
DOL Regulations Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices Credits: 1 Cost: Free
November 2
Seismic Requirements of the Building Code Location: Online Discipline: Codes and Standards Credits: 1 Cost: Free
November 30
Harassment and Discrimination Basics
Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices
Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices
Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices
Credits: 1.5 Cost: Free
Credits: 1 Cost: Free
Credits: 1 Cost: Free
August 10
September 28
December 7
Basic Masonry Estimating Seminar
How to Develop and Implement an Effective Quality Control Program
Masonry Past, Present and Future
Location: Online Discipline: Bidding Practices Credits: 4 Cost: $200 MCAA members, $300 non-members
Location: Online Discipline: Codes and Standards Credits: 1.5 Cost: Free
Location: Online Discipline: General Credits: 1 Cost: Free
Online classes available at: www.masoncontractors.org/live For more information and to view a complete list of all upcoming education, please visit www.masoncontractors.org/education 64 |
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The Voice of the Masonry Industry
BEYOND
LIMITS
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A D V E R T O R I A L
Contractor Tip of the
Month | By Damian Lang
What a Difference a Day Makes! Yesterday, while I was flying back to Columbus, Ohio, from Kansas City, Mo., a lot of things were going through my mind. I was concerned about a $5.7-million job that Lang Masonry started three weeks later than we planned, and the fact that the general contractor is requiring us to catch up on the schedule, regardless of the cause of the delay. I was also apprehensive about decisions that would be made by a couple of banks over the next few days. Projects, revenue, capital expenses…all of these were churning in my mind. Yet with all that, I was excited about coming home to Ohio so I could watch my daughter Amy compete at her regional track meet. Yesterday afternoon, I watched while Amy jumped 5 feet, 2 inches, earning her a position to compete at the state level next week. Things were as they should be, and I was feeling pretty good about life. But when I woke up this morning, all the worries I had yesterday quickly disappeared, for when I turned my computer on to catch up on emails from my hotel room, the screen appeared blurry. I cleaned my glasses, and it didn’t help. So I closed my left eye and found I could not see the screen out of my right eye. It was strange to walk around with blurred vision — and scary, to say the least. Rachelle, my fiancée, quickly set up an appointment and took me to a local eye and ear institute, where the doctors said I had experienced a rare, stroke-like condition in my right eye that has left me mostly blind in that eye. The bad news continued, as they informed me that the sight in that eye would most likely come back only a little, if at all. Next, I was sent to the Ohio State University hospital to have a series of tests run to try and confirm the diagnosis, and find out why this happened. While
lying in my hospital bed (with too much time to think), I decided to write this tip and put my mind on more productive activities. Instead of yesterday’s worries about jobsites, finances and getting home, my only concerns today are whether or not I will be able to drive home, if I can be as efficient at work, whether I will be able to read my computer screen, and whether or not I will be able to find a golf ball once I hit it. As I lie here, every few minutes a voice comes over the loud speaker, calling out a trauma unit, the room number, and how many minutes the doctors have to get there to help someone who could be less fortunate than I am. It reminds me of how lucky I am to still have full sight in my left eye. I have been joking with friends and relatives, saying the doctors believe I have 100% sight in my left eye and 40% in my right one, so that is really 140% eyesight, which isn’t too bad. However, regardless of the front I put on, deep down inside I realize this isn’t a joke at all. After shedding a few tears, I decided I must move on from how things were yesterday, and make a plan for the situation I am in today. Here’s what I came up with: • Driving: if I can’t see well enough to drive, I will get a driver to take me where I need to go. • Computer work: I can get an assistant to keep up on emails, and to help me write and respond. • Finding golf balls: I can get golf balls with a GPS tracking system on them, so I will be able to find my balls quicker than ever before.
managers and partners in place at each of them. Several months ago, I wrote a tip about my succession plan, and how I took on minority partners in my companies so they could be run with or without me when needed. As I lie in this hospital bed, not knowing for sure what the future holds for me health-wise, having made these moves ahead of the curve brings me great relief. Well-built companies are not dependent on one person to ensure that the show goes on! Make sure you have your own succession plan in place. Ask yourself this question: can the people I have in place manage their departments without me being present? The answer should be yes. If it isn’t, you still have work to do to get the right people in the right places. Once you have the right team in place, you will have built a selfsustaining company that lives forever. And by the way, start this process today, because what a difference a day makes! yMAS Damian Lang owns and operates several companies in Ohio. He is the inventor of the Grout HogGrout Delivery System, Mud Hog mortar mixers, Hog Leg wallbracing system, and several other labor-saving devices used in the construction industry. He is the author of the book called “RACE— Rewarding And Challenging Employees for Profits in Masonry.” He writes for Masonry Magazine each month and consults with many of the leading contractors in the country.
Although working on the computer and driving to and from the office could be a concern, running my companies is not. That’s because I have great All rights reserved, © 2016 Damian Lang, President of Lang Masonry Contractors, Inc., and EZ Grout Corp.
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INDEX TO
INDUSTRY NEWS
News continued from page 62
FHI will temporarily maintain the production, supply and servicing of existing models. The exact suspension date of these existing products has not yet been determined; but FHI’s intent is to cease production of existing products by the end of September 2017. The company will keep customers informed of any further details regarding production. The name change for Fuji Heavy Industries is expected to take effect in April 2017.
57
ADVERTISERS
Airplaco Equipment
11
Laticrete International, Inc.
888.349.2950 www.airplaco.com
800.243.4788 www.laticrete.com/mvis
C3 Amerimix
29
888.313.0755 www.amerimix.com
www.brickmanstainkit.com
36
Bennu Parts & Service
847.595.5444 www.bennuparts.com
49
Carolina Stalite Co. – ProBlock
704-640-7969 www.problock.com
60
ChemGrout, Inc.
708.354.7112 www.chemgrout.com
65 Construct 866.920.0207 www.constructshow.com
37 ESCSI
Masonry Cosmetics
14-15 MCAA 50-51 800.536.2225
www.masoncontractors.org
26
McCausey Specialty Products
800.365.9663 www.mccausey.com
18
MDM Scaffolding Services
800.339.2390 www.mdmscaffolding.com
55
Mortar Net Solutions
800.664.6638 www.mortarnet.com
47 NCCER
www.escsi.org/mason.htm
386.518.6500 www.nccer.org
Simpson Strong-Tie Research and Testing Laboratory at WSU
32
7, 9
In 2016, Simpson StrongTie established the Simpson Strong-Tie Excellence Fund at the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture at Washington State University (WSU). The fund provides an annual gift of $100,000 per year over the next eight years and will be used to establish the new Simpson Strong-Tie Research and Testing Laboratory in the PACCAR Environmental Technology Building ( P E T B ) o n t h e WS U Pu l l m a n campus. The lab includes a high-capacity reaction floor and wall, central hydraulic pump, overhead crate and concrete mixing station. Adjoining the lab is an outdoor reaction slab that allows for project display and natural weather exposure testing. The lab is part of the Composite Materials and Engineering Center (CMEC), an International Code Council accredited testing facility. Simpson Strong-Tie and WSU have a longstanding, productive partnership dating more than 20 years. The two institutions have worked together in a number of areas, including new product testing, deck safety, seismic risk mitigation and other projects. In addition to the lab, the Excellence Fund will be used to support fellowships for professors and graduate students to present research findings, brainstorm about future research and conduct continuing education training. yMAS
www.ezgrout.com
www.masonrymagazine.com
Exact Match Masonry Staining
www.masonrystaining.com 877-416-2824
Non-Stop Scaffolding
800.845.0845 www.nonstopscaffolding.com
13, EZ Grout / Grout Hog 66 800.417.9272
60 PavMor
19, EZ Scaffold Corporation 63 800.699.6831
60
www.ezscaffold.com
800.445.1967 www.prdiamond.com
60
23
EZ Twig/Linovation Corp.
413.743.2064 www.paverplacer.com
PR Diamond Products
Premier Scaffold Solutions
216.559.7841 www.eztwig.com
866.542.1944 www.premierscaffoldsolutions.com
45
39 Prosoco
Grout Grunt
877.266.6432 www.groutgrunt.com
800.255.4255 www.prosoco.com
33
46
Hardscape North America
Push Button Masonry
888.580.9960 www.hardscapeNA.com
563.552.2733 www.pushbuttonmasonry.com
2
45
Hohmann and Barnard, inc.
Quikpoint, Inc.
800.645.0616 www.H-B.com
800.368.2292 www.quikpoint.com
C2 Hydro-Mobile
C4
The Quikrete Companies
888.484.9376 www.hydro-mobile.com
800.282.5828 www.quikrete.com
21
5
Indian Mill Corporation
Scaffold Mart
866.729.7310 www.indianmill.com
252.756.3862 www.scaffoldmart.com
59
27
IQ Power Tools
Southwest Scaffolding
888.274.7744 www.iqpowertools.com
972.331.1094 www.scaffoldingrentalandsales.com
21
1, SPEC MIX, Inc. 31 888.773.2649
Kennison Forest Products
888.697.5585 www.kennisonforest.com www.sandslevel.com
22
Klimer Platforms Ltd.
888.526.3262 www.klimer.com
3
Krando Metal Products, Inc.
610.543.4311 www.krando.com
www.specmix.com
41
Tradesmen’s Software
800.494.6922 www.tradesmens.com
25
Xtreme Manufacturing
800.497.1704 WWW.XMFG.COM
Get FREE INFORMATION from these advertisers now. You’re busy, but you need to find out about this product. We’ve made it fast, easy and convenient to request FREE information about any product or service in this issue. To request information online, go to: www.masonrymagazine.com. Click on ‘FREE Product Information’ (Right top corner) then… 1. Select the issue of the magazine you are reading 2. Check the box next to the advertiser you are interested in 3. Provide your name, address and business information, and click submit. Not close to your computer? Request information by phone. Dial toll free 888-303-5639, Ext.230. Follow the voice guidelines to request FREE information. In a hurry, and you don’t want to wait? We have provided the advertiser’s website and phone # for your convenience. You can call direct for information on the products and services you have been reading about in this issue. Don’t forget to tell them you saw their ad in MASONRY Magazine.
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C O V E R
PROFILE 2345 House – Reno, Nev. Acknowldegements NCMA 2015 Concrete Masonry Design Award of Excellence — Residential
Mason Contractor Sartorial Masonry, Reno, Nev.
Architect Cathexes, Reno, Nev.
Block Producer Basalite Concrete Products, Sparks, Nev.
Photography Cathexes, Vance Fox, Ancil Hoffman and Tom Zikas
Details Influenced by mid-20th-century architecture characterized by clean lines, simplicity and a balance with nature, 2345 House in Reno, Nev., has ample windows and an open floor plan. Adhering to the design philosophy of the great modernist architectural designers like Piet Mondrian and Eero Saarinen, interior spaces are open with the intention of bringing the outdoors inside. Much of the design is expressed in its concrete masonry. “We created a rigorous process for the design layout, textural selection and execution in the spirit of masonry as art. While a delicate balance had to be considered with the natural hues of all the exterior materials — which
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meant using only one color for all the block and pavers — it was important to create richness within. Shadow play, block orientation (i.e., soldier coursing in bands), and careful attention to composition were used to achieve this,” according to Don Clark, AIA, of Cathexes. Components of concrete masonry, streamlined steel design, cedar siding with a deep profile, glazing and zinc siding are all combined into an artistic whole. Each course of the concrete masonry, for every wall, was designed and selected. Bands and angles were placed specifically to balance and layer the composition. Four different finishes or face textures were carefully selected and located
July 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org
— using standard concrete block, split-face block, plus honed and shot-blast block. Various textures absorb and reflect light differently, giving every wall and space a visual richness that evolves throughout the day and over the course of the year. Light, and its effect on both exterior and interior spaces, was studied. Layers of technical controls are incorporated to accommodate different functions, from entertaining large groups to intimate uses. The balance of building materials is a major aspect of the overall design of 2345 House. Rich block work, with its structural qualities and artistic potential, help this house live in harmony with its natural setting. yMAS The Voice of the Masonry Industry
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