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 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 well-documented subject.... read more →
Gary Porter further discusses masonry arches and provides more technical information on arch terminology. When discussing masonry arches you'll need to identify the pieces in the arch. Learn what... 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 →
A labor shortage of qualified masons was a big discussion topic last year at World of Concrete/World of Masonry. Many parts of the country are struggling with the... 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 →
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 and other associated equipment. ... 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 →
For over 40 years, the Masonry Advisory Council has proudly hosted our “Excellence in Masonry Award” Program. In the past we recognized architectural design excellence and the talent behind... read more →
The Masonry Advisory Council gets several calls each year regarding the acceptability of masonry. An owner or architect thinks that something, about the masonry, does not look right! Was it... read more →
The Illinois Structural Masonry Coalition is a combined effort sponsored by many groups that have interests in masonry. It's a FREE service available to Architects and Engineers in... read more →
This spring, Chicago has had a damp and cooler than normal period. Our office has had several calls related to moisture penetration. The cause for moisture penetrating the walls... read more →