When we build with brick, concrete block, stone and the many other materials that we use in masonry, we need movement joints. Materials built with cement in their composition,... read more →
I like to watch DIY home shows like This Old House and Holmes on Homes. I like Mike Holmes motto: “If you're going to do... read more →
In October of 2018, the United States Senate passed the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education and Promotion Act, providing Congressional authorization for the concrete masonry products industry to develop... read more →
Currently it is recommended to clean new masonry within 14- 28 days from installation for type N mortar and 3-7 days for type S mortar. When cleaning masonry, clean the... read more →
In the masonry world this topic comes up seasonally. There are necessary procedures needed to follow for successful installation of masonry in the cold weather. This information is helpful... read more →
The flashing details for flashing a stone veneer or stone faced masonry wall, with a face varying from the wall plane plus or minus 2” or more is not a... read more →
A popular question to the Masonry Advisory Council is “What is the fire rating of my masonry wall?” or “Where can I find the fire rating of my masonry... read more →
Last week at the Indiana mason contractor golf outing, my golf partners were telling me about the lack of qualified masons in Indiana…..as well as carpenters, electricians, plumbers... read more →
A lively design and construct-ability question today is, should we use a pair of steel lintels or a steel beam and plate or a concrete block bond beam to... read more →
We will look at a few options for cantilevered masonry fire walls and show what can be accomplished. The walls will be designed for the minimum lateral load of 10psf... read more →
In the last 6 months, the Masonry Advisory Council has had 5 calls questioning the use of projected brick. Seems like a lot for such a specific request. ... read more →
By Gary Porter. I recently attended the National Concrete Manufacturer's Association (NCMA) annual meeting which was held in conjunction with a machinery expo displaying concrete block making machinery... read more →
As buildings in Chicago experience the harsh elements of winter and below zero temperatures with multiple freezing and thawing cycles, we sometimes see what looks like snow on... read more →
At the World of Masonry there is a national competition to determine who is the world’s best bricklayer called the Spec-Mix Bricklayer 500. There are regional competitions in the... read more →
When selecting brick for a project we first need to know what specific application the brick will be used. What are you building? The standards for brick cover the... read more →
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