Retaining Wall Block Can Add Structure & Beauty To Any Project

When most people think of retaining walls, the first thing that comes to mind are those very tall, monstrous block walls that can be seen along the freeway holding up an entire hillside. These large engineered retaining wall systems perform very well in these type complex projects.

The fact is segmental retaining wall block (SRW) is very versatile, and not just for commercial use. Residential landscape projects often have multiple uses for SRW. You can use larger block like Cornerstone and Pisa to level off a slope and expand your yard. You can utilize smaller blocks like Manorstone and Roman Stackstone to create flowerbeds and planter boxes. Retaining wall block can also be used to create stairs and borders throughout your landscape.

If your landscape project is on the smaller scale and you want to “do-it-yourself”, you can come into any of our branches and talk to a sales person about which SRW will work best for your situation.

We also encourage people to go to our website: www.mutualmaterials.com, to find a contractor that specializes in retaining wall design and installation. Our Preferred Contactors have experience and training in the proper use of SRW and can be a great resource for you.

Sincerely,

Rob Rosson

Residential Sales Manager

Permeable Pavers in Action

Five years ago Mutual Materials worked with TCA Architecture to put permeable paving in place at the Snoqualmie Fire Station headquarters in Snoqualmie, Washington. We to ensure that a system was being built that could support vehicle as heavy as a hook-and-ladder truck (approximately 73,000 pounds). With Mutual Materials Uni-Ecoloc, TCA was able to design a highstrength permeable pavement system that supports heavy traffic loads and allows rainwater to quickly return to the water table, avoiding the problems associated with surface runoff (higher water temperatures, pollutant discharge and peak flow damage).














Today, Snoqualmie Fire Chief, Bob Rowe, is still pleased with the system put in place. In his words:

"Though we have not kept up on the maintenance, the system is continuing to outperform my expectations. I was hesitant at first as to the durability of the pavers, and was skeptical whether they could hold up to the constant use of a fully loaded fire engine. The system has performed well beyond my expectations. There is no movement, channeling or cracking of the pavers. They still look great with very little noticeable wear."

To find out more about Mutual Materials permeable paving solutions, please visit: www.mutualmaterials.com/go_green.asp.














Sincerely,

Kendall Anderegg
Director, Residential Sales and Branch Operations

Prepare Your Jobsite for Winter

Winter is closing in quickly and it is time to think about jobsite weather protection. In the Pacific Northwest, we have two issues to deal with when it comes to wintertime construction. Most of the time, we are dealing with wet conditions. Other times we couple that with freezing temperatures. In the latter situation, there are strict guidelines concerning the laying of masonry in freezing or near freezing conditions. Those can be found on the NCMA or BIA websites. Or ask your local Mutual rep for a copy of Hot and Cold Weather Masonry Construction Guidelines.

Protecting masonry in wet weather really revolves around keeping the materials and walls dry during and after construction. Wet walls won't normally fail, as in the case with frozen walls, but it will invariably cause aesthetic issues downstream as efflorescence and subsequent cleaning issues can lead to permanent staining and unsatisfactory results. The keys to successful wet weather construction are:

1. Provide cover for walls and materials during construction activity.

2. Provide cover for top of walls overnight to prevent the cavity and masonry from filling with water.

3. With conventional scaffolding, turn footplanks over at night to prevent rainwater from splashing on the walls.

4. When cleaning, don't assume walls are wet enough to eliminate the need to pre-wet the wall prior to application of the cleaner.

5. Keep top of walls covered until plate and cap flashing are installed.

If these techniques are followed, your wintertime masonry project will have the best chance to stay and look its best.

Gary Zagelow

Commercial Sales Manager

Mutual Materials and the Olympics

Vancouver and Whistler are ready to host the world at the 2010 Winter Olympics beginning in February of next year. Mutual Materials is taking the opportunity to shine as well. Our brick is appearing in a number of different size and color combinations throughout the residences in the Athlete’s Village on the Vancouver waterfront. This former Expo ’86 site, in the False Creek area, has accumulated our brick for years because of its “human scale”. After the Games, these houses will be sold and are expected to draw some of the highest prices in the Lower Mainland. Additionally, at the Hillcrest curling venue Olympic visitors will get much more exposure to our brick used in single-family residences.

As far as our hardscape products go, they are featured at the 2010 Net Zero House at Whistler: a vision by RDC Fine Homes to build a house that creates more energy than it uses. Our permeable pavers will be used on the driveway to help return rainwater to the ground without creating runoff. Our glacier slate architectural slabs will be used on the deck surrounding the majority of the house. The Whistler 2010 Net Zero House will be open to the public throughout both the Olympic and Special Olympic games.

Brian Cote
Canadian Sales Manager

Backyard transformation

Some of the Mutual staff spent a couple of days this week transforming a friend’s backyard. Our goal was not only to create a great new outdoor living experience for the homeowner, but also to videotape the whole project, so people can see how easy it is to tackle a transformation on your own. If you’re able to gather some friends and family together for a weekend, there’s nothing that can’t be achieved with a little determination and hard work.

Below is a picture of the yard before the project:















And after:















As always, if your project is too daunting to undertake on your own or if your interest level in backyard improvement only extends to choosing paver colors, please consider using one of our Preferred Contractors. To find our more about Mutual Materials products or our Preferred Contractor program please visit our website at: www.mutualmaterials.com

Be sure to look for our videos coming up on YouTube, our Facebook page and the Mutual Materials website in coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Kendall Anderegg
Director, Residential Sales and Branch Operations

Looking Beyond LEED for Masonry Green

There has been a lot of discussion over the years about how masonry can contribute LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) points for architects and building owners who are seeking LEED Certification for their projects. Most of the interest to date has been focused on points available for the recycled content of our materials and/or whether or not our manufacturing plants and their associated raw materials are located regionally within 500 miles of a project site.

To a lesser extent there has also been interest in gaining points through “construction waste management” by the efficient use of our materials and minimal packaging, utilizing lighter colored masonry materials to combat the “heat island effect”, permeable paving for “stormwater management” and in using masonry’s inherent mass to “optimize energy performance”.

But one area that has been overlooked by LEED is “life cycle costs”. Masonry is a strong and durable material. Certainly most of us when thinking of blocks of stone, concrete or bricks would agree. Masonry does not require a lot of maintenance. It’s insect and water resistant. It will not provide a medium for mold growth and it will not burn. When properly designed and constructed, masonry structures have very long service lives. We see this everyday in schools, libraries, courthouses, etc., that were built at the turn of the last century and are now being renovated for another 100 yrs of service life. In short, because masonry lasts so long and requires such little maintenance, it is arguably one of the most cost effective materials on the market today.

Critics will argue that the amount of heat energy needed to manufacture brick is an excessive cost, without putting it in the context of its long life. The actual “embodied energy” of brick (the energy required to mine, manufacture, and transport) is actually less than that of concrete, glass, steel, aluminum, EIFS, wood and fiber cement products (AIA Environmental Resource Guide). Recent research data published by the National Brick Research Center, Clemson University, clearly shows that when cradle-to-grave assessments of all energy and pollution generated to manufacture building materials “over the warranted life” was chosen, brick, with its 100 year life span clearly comes out the winner.

It is unfortunate that the current LEED protocol does not effectively recognize the life cycle cost of building materials. Doesn’t masonry deserve the credit?

Steve Hubbard
Distributor Sales Manager

Things may not be as bad as they look

The information circulating today is that the commercial real estate environment is following the residential market into a significant downturn fraught with foreclosures and bankruptcies. And while the news is factual, the businesses that are affected are mostly in the private domain and the numbers are still relatively small. Inability to refinance is at the root of many of the failed properties. Some properties are realizing an increase in vacancies, making rent payments more difficult, while many others are still profitable, but are unable to find lenders willing to re-up on debt coming due.

Through all this, there is still private investment in the marketplace. We are tracking several market-rate or subsidized urban residential projects, and the big box boys: Walmart, Winco and others are taking advantage of the competitive environment to position them for the next upswing in the economy.

The biggest opportunity, however, is in public sector work. Over 75% of the jobs we are tracking come from the public sector. These jobs are already funded and currently working their way through the design and bid process. In addition, there are a number of large schools waiting for bond measures to pass.

So not all is doom and gloom. While we expect a slow 2010, there is work out there, and with the proper management of resources we hope to work through the current slowdown and come out the other side stronger than ever.

Sincerely,

Gary Zagelow

Commercial Sales Manager