It’s About Time Tom Bagsarian I was walking in downtown St. Louis recently and came across a brand new office building. The gleaming building rose majestically near the center of the compact, but thriving city center. But what really caught my attention was a time capsule that had been installed in the building’s cornerstone. A student of history, I was quite impressed that some people still are thoughtful enough to care about how future generations will look upon the present. I think they’ll be impressed. When I got back to my office and started looking at recent issues of Masonry Construction, I started thinking: What would mason contractors put in a time capsule to tell future masons about our industry today? I’m not sure I have the answer. Maybe a trowel, a new kind of grout, a brick, a stone, some scaffolding, a mast climber? So I’ll open it up to our readers. If there was a masonry construction time capsule, what would you put in it for someone in the industry 25 years from now? And before you say it, empty wallets or checkbooks with zero balances are not acceptable answers. These hard times will not last forever. Please let me know about your suggestions. I’ll share them with you in a future posting. And who knows, maybe we can turn this into a fun project for the upcoming World of Masonry/World of Concrete show in January.

Brickbats

MC Top Contractors

Visit our Web site to download a copy of our annual MC Top Contractors questionnaire. Each year we survey the industry and report on the top masonry contractors. Then read the feature in our September issue to learn who is up, who is down, and how prospects look for the upcoming year. Download the Top Contractors survey here

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Outdoor Fireplaces Made Easy

With StoneCraft Outdoor Living Products, masons can build an outdoor fireplace in hours instead of days. The modular GFRC product form and stone veneer kit can be assembled in a day, and comes with a pre-applied scratch coat that saves the time it would take for a newly applied coat to dry. The fireplace doesn’t need a foundation, so it can be place directly on a deck. The StoneCraft line also includes fire pits and mailboxes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mast-climbing work platforms and vertical access solutions for all trades. Hydro Mobile designs and manufactures a complete line of mast-climbing work platforms that integrate innovative structural, mechanical, ergonomic and safety features to increase productivity, facilitate project completion, reduce worker fatigue and considerably decrease the risk of injuries. With over 6,000 platforms on the market, Hydro Mobile is the leader of the industry. Click here to learn more.

Featured at the World of Concrete Bookstore

The Masonry Fireplace and Chimney Handbook, 3rd Edition provides essential technical details to build a traditional masonry fireplace for optimal performance and code requirements. The editors included multiple fireplace and chimney designs with concise architectural drawings, tables, and supporting text. This revision includes a new section addressing masonry heaters and a multitude of drawings, diagrams, and photos.

While most business books only cover a small part of the entire formula for success, Get Your Business To Work! presents a complete blueprint for building a successful business. This book offers the small business owner a complete guide to realizing profits, wealth and freedom. George Hedley, a WOC seminar presenter, offers the invaluable lessons he's learned as a business owner.

These are just some of the more than 600 titles selected by the editors of Concrete Construction, The Concrete Producer, and Masonry Construction offered at the World of Concrete Bookstore online store at www.wocbookstore.com. A limited supply of 2010 WOC gear, including tee shirts, hats, and golf shirts, is also included.

ASTM Honors Michael Lewis

ASTM International Committee C18 on Dimension Stone has honored Michael D. Lewis, president of Facade Forensics Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio, with the 2010 Award of Merit and the Daniel W. Kessler Award for his exceptional contributions to the development of standards for the dimension stone industry.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tradesmen's Master Estimator 4.0 Masonry 3D Take-off/Estimating Software Tradesmen's Master Estimator 4.0 is take-off/estimating software designed for the computer expert or novice. Tradesmen's Software lets you see the building displayed in 3D as you do your take-off. More than just an estimating program, it can also be used for Foreman Helper, Design Build, Checks and Balances, and Presentations. Negotiating projects with a 3D image will win you more contracts and enhance your professional image. Can you afford NOT to have Tradesmen's Master Estimator 4.0? Visit www.tradesmens.com

Stay Connected!

Masonry Construction is now on Twitter. Follow @MasonConstruct for industry news and event updates!

Want to make sure that you keep receiving this e-mail newsletter? Be sure to add us to your e-mail address book!

About this newsletter

MASONRY CONSTRUCTION UPDATE is a monthly e-newsletter with important industry news, events and updates for professionals in the masonry industry.

Subscription information

Unsubscribe from this newsletter.

Manage your e-mail newsletter subscription

© Hanley Wood, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Republication or re-dissemination of this newsletter's content is expressly prohibited without the written permission of Hanley Wood, LLC.

MASONRY CONSTRUCTION Business Update is published weekly by Hanley Wood, LLC. One Thomas Circle NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005

MASONRY CONSTRUCTION Relevant Sites: Builder | Custom Home | ebuild | HW Market Intelligence