February 2010. The sun is shining and the weather is dry with temperatures in the mid 50’s. The Olympic Committee is trucking in snow from Manning Park, some 3 hours away to the east, and the world is set to visit the 2010 Olympic Winter Games beginning on Friday, February 05, 2010. We’re excited about the events that will take place over the next three weeks, followed by the Para-games stretching into March. In case you wanted to know, there are tickets and accommodations still available, maybe not the opening ceremonies or the gold medal hockey game, but for many other events. Come and visit us. We have a number of customers from other parts of Canada coming and we’ll take the opportunity to show them the beauty of Mutual Materials brick buildings, hardscape installations, as well as the beauty of the lower mainland, mountains, sun and water.
There is no bricklaying race in Vancouver, but as Canadians we were proud to hear that one of own finished second in Las Vegas this past Wednesday, laying well over 800 brick in 60 minutes and with no workmanship deductions, sounds like the trade is in good and qualified hands.
With respect to other training, Mutual Materials Canada is planning an ICPI Certified Installer class in Surrey for this spring; further details will be released as they become available. Keep checking our websites: www.mutualmaterials.ca and www.mutualmaterials.com for further information.
We’re also looking forward to participating in the four “contractor events” Rona stores will have this spring at Kelwona, Vancouver, Victoria and Abbotsford.
While the world is here, construction is expected to slow down, but the good news is we have the manpower and product capacity ready to complete the work being designed now and soon to be tendered. Having Mutual brick plants running has been helpful to the design and construction sector, a number of multiple tenant projects have started again looking to capture the housing demand abetted by continued low interest rates.
Looking forward to seeing you this month and to an improved 2010.
Sincerely,
Brian Cote
Canadian Sales Manager
Monday, February 8, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Fly Ash “Brick” vs. Clay Brick
Over the past several months, a venture-capital backed company has aggressively launched a fly ash brick campaign on the east coast, claiming they have a product that out performs, and is more environmentally friendly than clay brick. While no fly ash brick has yet been manufactured in the US, claims this product is more environmentally friendly and “greener” than traditional clay brick are easily made but difficult to back up.
Currently, claims that fly ash brick are more environmentally friendly and perform better than clay brick cannot be substantiated. There are currently no scientific studies, no track record of durability and no concrete evidence of performance anywhere in the building industry. Without any production yet taking place in the US, claims about its performance are grossly premature.
Clay brick, however, has a performance history that spans thousand of years. Proof of its quality exists in structures found throughout the world. Clay brick is also fully compliant with current ASTM Standards (national building product standards) that govern its physical properties and, to some extent, the performance of brick in the real world.
Only comprehensive testing and development of ASTM Standards specific to fly ash brick, along with a proven track record in the built environment will determine its future. However, the history and extensive testing of clay brick ensures you’re going with a proven winner!
Steve Hubbard
Distributor Sales Manager
Currently, claims that fly ash brick are more environmentally friendly and perform better than clay brick cannot be substantiated. There are currently no scientific studies, no track record of durability and no concrete evidence of performance anywhere in the building industry. Without any production yet taking place in the US, claims about its performance are grossly premature.
Clay brick, however, has a performance history that spans thousand of years. Proof of its quality exists in structures found throughout the world. Clay brick is also fully compliant with current ASTM Standards (national building product standards) that govern its physical properties and, to some extent, the performance of brick in the real world.
Only comprehensive testing and development of ASTM Standards specific to fly ash brick, along with a proven track record in the built environment will determine its future. However, the history and extensive testing of clay brick ensures you’re going with a proven winner!
Steve Hubbard
Distributor Sales Manager
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