Mutual Materials

Two New Outdoor Living Space Packages from Mutual Materials

2011-09-09T11:52:00.001-07:00

We in the Pacific Northwest take our outdoor activities to heart. Most of us grew up camping, fishing, skiing and playing all types of sports. Being outdoors is just a part of who we are. It is no surprise that the trend toward utilizing outdoor living spaces in our homes has grown steadily in the past few years. At first, it was something that most of us could only dream about, associated mainly with large, expensive homes. Fortunately, there have been products and services introduced in the market that allow homeowners to incorporate outdoor living spaces into their homes at a reasonable cost.

Mutual Materials has been at the forefront of developing outdoor living products for our Pacific Northwest customers. We recognize you want beautiful and functional products at a good price. Value is important, but so is convenience. With this in mind, we are pleased to bring to market two product packages that will help you enhance your backyard without breaking your budget or taking up all your free time.

Outdoor Fireplace Package
It doesn’t get any easier than this. For one price, you get a 36” outdoor fireplace installed at your home, with your choice of veneer. You select from a list of Slimbrick, Cultured Stone or Glacier Stone natural stone thin veneer options and we do the rest. Once you purchase one of these packages, a Mutual Materials’ contractor will contact you to set up a time to begin the installation process. We manage the project; you just sit back, relax and watch your backyard get transformed into an oasis. Please visit one of our local branches for more program details and pricing.

Paver Patio Kit
Mutual Materials pavers are a great way to make an instant, affordable upgrade to your home. Now you can visit any of our branch locations and purchase a kit that contains all the materials you need to install a 10’ x 10’ paver patio at your home. Simply choose from 3 different paver styles, with multiple color options, and we put together everything else you need. We deliver all the materials to your home and you install it yourself. If you don’t want to be a weekend warrior, we can put you in touch with one of our Preferred Contractor who will give you a labor estimate. Please visit one of our local branches or go to www.mutualmaterials.com for more details.

Outdoor Fireplaces

2011-04-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

There’s something magical about a roaring fire. Anyone who grew up in a home with a fireplace, or enjoyed camping trips with family and friends, knows that inviting, warming feeling a good fire provides. It should be no surprise that more and more homeowners are making outdoor fireplaces a focal point in their backyards. The popularity of outdoor living spaces continues to grow and having a beautifully veneered fireplace has become the cornerstone of most designs.

Mutual Materials has partnered with FireRock to offer a full line of outdoor and indoor pre-engineered fireplace and chimney systems that can meet any design options you envision. These kits allow the installer to construct and face a ready-to-use unit in as few as two days. Simply pick the size and type of unit you want and we will make sure you have all the things you need to complete your project.

Once you select your fireplace style, you will need to choose the type of veneer to face it with. This is the icing on the cake! You can choose a Mutual Materials’ Slim Brick to achieve that classic brick look, or if you like stone, we also offer both Cultured Stone and natural stone veneer products in many different shapes and colors. Nothing will light up your yard, and make the neighbors jealous, like an outdoor fireplace from Mutual Materials. To make your design dream a reality, visit us at www.mutualmaterials.com.

Rob Rosson
rrosson@mutualmaterials.com

Offseason is a great time for a masonry or hardscape project

2010-11-29T13:14:00.000-08:00

When our Northwest weather turns cold and wet, most of us start thinking about the usual winter activities- holiday shopping, skiing and warm weather vacations. Unfortunately, not many people think about doing a home improvement project, especially one on the exterior. The truth is the “off-season” in the construction industry is a great time to do a project for several reasons:

1. Many areas in the Northwest have mild winter climates, so most projects can be done without having to adjust for weather issues.

2. In the areas with colder climates, contractors can use cold weather techniques that allow them to work in most situations.

3. Supply and demand dynamics work in your favor, as most contractors are eager to find projects during the winter months. The added competition can translate into overall cost savings for the homeowner.

4. There is a good chance your project will start sooner and take less time. With fewer jobs on their schedule, most contractors should have little or no lead-time and will not be trying to juggle multiple projects.

5. Your construction project will not disrupt your spring and summer activities. You can enjoy your new patio or outdoor fireplace as soon as the good weather arrives.

If you are interested in doing a home improvement project, and need a reliable mason or hardscape contractor, please visit our website at www.mutualmaterials.com and click on “Connect with a Preferred Contractor”. Happy Holidays!

Rob Rosson
Residential Sales Manager

Backyard Transformation, Part Two

2010-11-17T13:09:00.000-08:00

Mutual Materials has been at it again, transforming a backyard. This time with a new retaining wall, complete with stairs! We videotaped the project to walk through the steps necessary to create a retaining wall project in your own backyard.

A picture of the yard before the project:

And a couple of pictures 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 wall 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: http://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
Vice President, Sales and Distribution

Sustainable Masonry

2010-10-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, The Masonry Society (www.masonrysociety.org) held its annual meeting in Bellevue, Washington. TMS is a professional, technical, and educational association dedicated to the advancement of knowledge of masonry materials, design and construction. Engineers, architects, contractors, educators, manufacturers and other interested parties participated in the four-day forum.

My involvement with the meeting was to present one manufacturer’s viewpoint on sustainable manufacturing of masonry products. While we still have a long way to go, some of Mutual Materials’ many noteworthy “green” accomplishments are:

1. Incorporating variable speed drive motors in manufacturing operations.
2. Replacing older motors with higher efficiency models that use less energy.
3. Innovative kiln firing systems that modulate energy input according to
demand, resulting in fuel savings.
4. Using best management practices at plants and yards to manage stormwater.
5. Reforestation of clay mining properties.
6. Use of clean-burning propane fuel in our forklift fleet to minimize emissions.
7. Mutual’s multiple manufacturing locations reduce long-haul trucking of
materials, saving fuel.
8. New product developments, like permeable interlocking concrete pavers(PICPs)
that help support low impact development strategies for our customers.
9. Recycling 100% of the waste water from grinding and press operations.
10. Recycling concrete product plant waste into usable products.

It is important to note that being a responsible corporate citizen when it comes to sustainable manufacturing processes can also be profitable. Many of the initiatives listed also resulted in cost savings as well as helping to conserve resources and protect our famous Pacific Northwest environment. So, when evaluating the cost of incorporating sustainable practices, don’t forget about the other “green” payback….cash!

Rick Crooks
Director of Business Development

New Retail Activity - A Sign of Improving Economy or Anomaly?

2010-08-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

Recently we have seen a mini-wave of new construction in the retail sector over and above the Walmart's and Winco's of the world who, with lots of cash, are funding their own re-positioning in the marketplace. We are talking small to medium-sized shopping centers, with grocery store anchors and supporting retail buildings.

Developers currently engaged in retail construction are convinced the demand is there, and interestingly enough, are not having a hard time finding tenants. There seems to be a variety of new national chains and local small businesses eager to take advantage of new digs, especially if they are located in trendy areas. The difficulty continues to be in the financing arena. Lower appraisals and tougher lending standards continue to plague developers in their efforts to get projects off the ground. A much higher equity position means the developer has to be in the project for the long run, eliminating those that traditionally build and sell.

It is our hope that this recent up-tick will be a sign of things to come. Similar to Wall Street, someone has to break the ice, and no one wants to be the last one in. Downturns in the past have shown that once the momentum shifts to forward, that others jump on board to take advantage of the lower land and construction costs. And once the developers understand that their return is on a longer cycle, they will find the means to work through the financing issues. Finally, as the banks confidence in private development returns, lending practices might loosen up. It just takes time for folks to adjust to a new environment and new rules. But it is a fact that if developers are not building, they are not making any money. So there is plenty of motivation to get this part of the economy back up and running again.

Summer Means More Time Spent in the Outdoor Living Spaces

2010-06-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

Outdoor living spaces, it seems, are all the rage in the northwest. They can be as simple as a small fire pit in the back yard, all the way up to those elaborate, high-end outdoor kitchens you see in Sunset Magazine. Both serve the same purpose; getting us outside to enjoy the warm weather, family and friends.

Mutual Materials offers many different products that can help create your ideal outdoor living space. Installing a paver patio is a simple, low-cost way to enhance your backyard and create a functional, beautiful area for people to gather. Add retaining wall block to your design to create a seating wall for guests to sit and relax, or to build a fire pit for warmth and pizzazz.

For those with larger areas to work with, an outdoor fireplace can be a beautiful addition to your backyard. Mutual Materials now carries the FireRock line of prefab fireplace units. These fireplaces are both cost effective and fairly simple to install. Generally, they can be constructed in one day and faced with your favorite brick or stone in one day. A two-day outdoor fireplace solution is great option for homeowners and contractors alike. Please visit our website at www.mutualmaterials.com, or one of our many northwest branches, for more information on all our products that can be used to build the outdoor living space of your dreams.

Rob Rosson
Residential Sales Manager

DesignEyeQ

2010-06-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

Guest blog from Krista Bucher, Owens Corning Masonry Products Area Sales Manager. Mutual Materials supplies Cultured Stone and Prostone products throughout our sales and distribution network.

A picture can be worth a thousand words. It holds true with masonry as well. That's why Owens Corning recently introduced a new visualization tool called Design EyeQ. It was created to help homeowners, contractors, builders, and designers visualize what stone would look like on, in, and around the home. Have a particular project in mind? Simply upload a photo of the home, determine what areas to add stone, and apply one of many popular Cultured Stone products to it. When you're done, you can save it, print it, and show it off! Then bring it in to one of the many Mutual Materials branches for samples and additional product info.

Don't have a specific project yet? That's OK too - feel free to choose from a number of popular home styles that are pre-populated and try out professionally designed color palettes or create custom combinations.

If you can dream it, we'll help you design it.

Be sure to check it out at www.culturedstone.com/

Mutual Brick Selected for Future Hospital Expansions

2010-06-14T13:04:00.000-07:00

For the fifteenth consecutive year, Cleveland Clinic has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for heart care according to the 2009 U.S News & World Report, “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Since 1994 no other hospital in the country has ranked higher than Cleveland Clinic for cardio care. The survey also ranked Cleveland Clinic as one of the best hospitals overall – ranked at No. 4 nationally.

So with billions of dollars in research grant money, Cleveland Clinic is on a building spree. And they have selected Mutual Materials’ Granite smooth colored face brick on three state of the art health and research facilities in and around the greater Cleveland area.

The first project to select Mutual brick was the Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center (GCIC) that broke ground in the fall of 2009. As one can imagine, competition was fierce. Our distributor in the area, The Thomas Brick Co., reported that local area brick manufacturers and distributors were “pulling out all the stops” in trying to supply product on such a high profile project - not to mention a severe recession in this area that has suppliers scrambling to find business. But in the end, a determined effort by Thomas Brick was able to convince the architect and ownership that no one in the US has a color quite like Mutual’s granite brick. It is a singular color made up of a white clay body with a dark speckle. It was a perfect fit for the simplistic, modern building design envisioned by the designers.

Building number two is the Family Health & Surgery Center located in the Cleveland suburb of Twinsburg. At nearly four times the square footage, this project will require about four times as much brick as the GCIC. A third project, the Family Health Center in Avon, OH will feature an approximate three-fold use in brick over the original GCIC. Again, both projects feature very modernistic design for which Mutual’s Granite brick color is uniquely suited.

There is currently a fourth building in the design phase. With the momentum gained from the first three buildings, it looks as if Mutual Materials will continue to play an important role in the expansion plans in one of our nation’s top health care providers.

Steve Hubbard
Distributor Sales Manager

Turn up the heat in your backyard

2010-05-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

More and more people are choosing to expand their living space into their back yards. Outdoor living spaces have become a popular area for the remodel market. Besides a BBQ, one of the necessities of a functional outdoor living space is a source of heat. This is particularly true in the Northwest where chilly evenings are the norm.
Fireplaces and firepits are an excellent choice for adding both a source of heat and an aesthetic element to your yard.

Mutual Materials offers a wide array of outdoor fireplace and firepit choices. We sell all the necessary items to build your own fireplace whether it is a regular fireplace or a Rumford design fireplace. We have recently become a distributor of Firerock fireplaces, which are pre –engineered component fireplaces. These are manufactured masonry units that are designed for their easy of installation and cost savings. They are designed to burn wood, but can be hooked up to gas if you prefer.

For those of you who may be more adventurous, we also offer pizza ovens from Superior Clay products. On Tuesday June 8th we will be conducting a hands on demonstration at our Vancouver branch from 2:00PM to 4:30PM.

For those who would prefer to stick to something a little less challenging, Mutual Materials offers an number of choices for you to do your own firepit.

Check out your options at any one of our nineteen branch locations and start enjoying your new backyard immediately!

Sincerely,

Craig Olsen
Branch Operations Manager

Positive News for the spring

2010-05-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

As we head into Spring there is positive buzz from consumers again. It started with the headlines touting “Housing starts jump in March”, “Existing-home sales up 6.8%” and “Uptick predicted in remodeling activity”.

Homeowners are beginning to jump back on the spending bandwagon. The post recession consumers are not as carefree with their spending and thankfully they are ready to invest in their homes again. Gains in housing prices and a stabilization in the employment outlook have helped homeowners refocus on renovation projects.

Reports we see from retailers show that our milder El Nino year gave people early motivation to think more about their outdoor living spaces. Sales this year have started off positive relative to the past couple years. One change from the past is that folks are more value conscious than they were in the heady days of 2007. People are ready to shape their landscape with a classy paver patio or retaining walls, but they want their projects to be affordable at the same time.

Outdoor living spaces are a very reasonable investment. A budget number builders use to estimate the average cost per SF in a home is $135/SF, the cost of a deck $24 SF and the cost of a paver patio is even less. For the next several months the best place to be in the Northwest is outside relaxing with family and friends on the patio. Several colors and textures are available to design stunning areas that also meet the post recession consumer’s needs.

Sincerely,

Brian Healow
Dealer Sales Manager

Amendment to the Oregon Energy Code Bodes Well for Industry

2010-04-28T16:34:00.001-07:00

Back on February 3rd of this year, the Building Code Structures Board approved the 2010 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code (OEESC) for public comment. This proposed new code will drastically increase the insulation requirements for what is probably one of the most popular and cost effective building systems on the market; structurally reinforced concrete masonry walls with integral insulation. Under the proposed code requirements block walls used in the construction of gymnasiums, shopping centers, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, etc., would be required to provide continuous insulation on the interior or exterior side of the walls.

Installing continuous insulation is not only costly, but it will diminish or completely eliminate the low maintenance and durability aspects of mass walls. One good example is gymnasiums. Continuous insulation on the interior wall would require furring, insulation and some sort of sheathing, most likely gyp board. Can you imagine what will happen after a basketball slams into one of these walls?

Fortunately for our industry, the proposed changes have been closely monitored by the Northwest Concrete Masonry Association. Through the efforts of its Director, Tom Young, along with individuals from the Mutual Materials Co. and the Masonry Institute of Oregon, an effective lobby effort to persuade the Board to look at the economic impacts of the changes seems to have had a beneficial effect. There is now a proposed amendment to the OEESC that will virtually leave intact most of the current industry friendly insulation requirements. This amendment is listed as an agenda item on the upcoming May 5th meeting of the Board.

Sincerely,

Steve Hubbard
Distributor Sales Manager

The World of Commercial

2010-03-16T10:05:00.001-07:00

The commercial construction market continues to struggle much as the rest of the overall economy. With the exception of the financial and legal markets, the rest of us remain on the slow train toward recovery.

In the private development market, re-capitalization is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. As billions and billions of dollars worth of term loans come due, owners and developers are struggling to find the capital necessary to refinance their properties. A huge problem comes in the form of appraisals that set the market value for a property. For example: a property owner has a $3 million equity stake in a building that was worth $9 million a year ago. A new appraisal comes in at $1.5 million. The bank, now wants $1.5 million to continue to carry the debt on the property. Understand that the new appraisal is not worth the paper it is written on, but it shows the 180 degree turn around in the process that helped get us where we are today. This newly found conservatism is having a profound impact on the commercial real estate industry.

As more and more of these properties go through this process, many owners will lose their properties and many others will have properties of lesser value making it difficult for new development to compete. As the developers of new projects seek loans, the lower market value means higher equity contribution from the investors, and a longer duration before a similar return. Therefore, many investors are looking at investment opportunities other than development.

Having said all that, once this process runs it course, the market will settle down, and new development will commence again. In the meantime, there will be a few owner-occupied projects to bid, plus a decent amount of work in the public and hospital sectors to keep us going for a while....

Sincerely,

Gary Zagelow
Commercial Segment Manager

Environmental Additions

2010-03-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

As a society we are becoming increasingly aware of our effect on the environment. This awareness is driving demand for more sustainable products across every industry. The difficult part is balancing what’s environmentally responsible with what is economically sensible. As consumers and designers, we look for opportunities where we can get what we need for the right price and do the right thing.

At Mutual Materials, we recognize the demand for more sustainable options in our product line and have expanded our Environmental product family beyond our group of permeable pavers. Helping our plants and our customers reduce their carbon footprint, we are now offering a paver and segmental retaining wall block that are made with recycled content.

Our Holland and Manorstone are both attractive products that are very difficult to distinguish from the original products. Holland pavers and Manorstone have been two of the most popular products, making them an ideal starting point for using recycled materials. Both of these products may contribute to LEED credits based on their recycled content. For more information contact your local branch or check www.mutualmaterials.com.

One last note to remember is that Mutual Materials original product, brick, is also very green. It may not be part of the Environmental family of products, but that does not mean we take for granted the environmental aspects of brick: a 100 year life cycle, non toxic, and locally produced.

More new products are on the way so stay tuned.

Sincerely,

Brian Healow
Dealer Segment Manager

Now Is The Time To Find A Qualified Contractor

2010-03-01T14:12:00.000-08:00

Spring is right around the corner, so now is the time to start thinking about your home improvement projects. If your project includes masonry or hardscape work, you’ll want to consider our Preferred Contractor Program. This program takes the mystery and trepidation out of finding a qualified contractor within your area. Preferred Contractors must meet minimum qualifications to be associated with the program, so you can be confident that the companies responding to your request for a bid will be professional and experienced. Keep in mind contractors are also gearing up for the construction season, which means their schedules will start filling up fast. So if you think you’ll need a contractor for your project, take the time to at least get a couple of bids.

To find a Preferred Contractor, go to www.mutualmaterials.com and click on “Connect with a Contractor”. From there, it’s just a few easy steps to finding a quality contractor who is familiar with our products. Prior to going through this process, please take some time to review our product offerings on the website. This will prepare you to discuss your project needs with the contractors who contact you. We wish you much success with your project!

Sincerely,

Rob Rosson
Residential Sales Manager

Updates from north of the border

2010-02-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

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

Fly Ash “Brick” vs. Clay Brick

2010-02-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

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

Vitamin D

2010-01-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

Doctors recommend that we take Vitamin D for its many benefits including strong bones and better energy. Well, last week we finally got a huge dose of vitamin D courtesy of an unusually warm week in January with clear skies. It was the perfect way to get psyched up about the upcoming Spring season. One can feel the energy to go back outside and get projects started.

In the housing industry there is a more upbeat feel as experts predict improvement in the housing market. David Crowe, the chief economist for the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), predicts that interest rates will stay low through 2010 which helps set the stage for buyers to return to the housing market. Further the NAHB forecast expects the recovery to take place in the single-family sector, where starts are predicted to rise 37.7%.

Consumers are still cautious but have to feel more confident than they did a year ago. A warmer winter than last year will prompt people to get in the mood earlier and start thinking about what they can do to improve their outdoor living spaces. To kick start the creative juices and help people with their outdoor visions, we will be showing our products at the various shows throughout the Northwest. The show season kicked off with the Seattle Remodel Show. Next will be the Tacoma Home Show followed by the Northwest Flower and Garden show in Seattle, the Spokane Home and Yard show, Missoula Home and Garden show, and the Seattle Home Show.

Our industry will begin to rebound and get energy as the real Vitamin D, “DEMAND”, improves in both the housing market and consumer market. Our effort will be to show people new products and create great looking displays that inspire needs. Please visit the shows and check out the products. We hope that our work will help create the demand that helps all of our businesses.

Sincerely,

Brian Healow

DIY Segment Manager

NEW ASTM MORTAR STANDARD

2010-01-18T14:31:00.000-08:00

With 2010 being the new year and the start of a new decade, it also marks the beginning of a new ASTM mortar standard: C1714. The official title for C1714 is the Standard Specification for Preblended Dry Mortar Mix for Unit Masonry. After several years in development, C1714 was ratified during the December ASTM meeting, and first made available as an official standard on December 28, 2009. At present it is only available from the ASTM website because the collection of standards volume 04.05 won’t be published until June. More information is available on the ASTM website at www.astm.org.

C1714 is really a subset of the reigning mortar standard C270. In fact, most people in the industry know C270 by its 1800psi strength requirement. C270 was first published in 1951, so it was developed during a time when mortar mix materials were batched on jobsite at the mixer. While C270 governs the mortar’s physical characteristics necessary for a structure’s engineering requirements, the spirit of the standard is still rooted in mortar mix materials batched on the jobsite.

The majority of the mortar used today is a preblended dry mortar mix in 80lb small bags or 3000-3500lb bulk bags, all of which is designed to meet the requirements of C270. The industry has switched to preblending mortar due to the many advantages it offers over mortar mixed on a jobsite including consistency from batch to batch, consistency of ingredient ratios, the ability to combine ingredients of extremely small dosages, custom sand blends, confidence that the mortar mix complies with the ASTM standards, etc. Preblended mortar simplifies material handling on the job site; everything is “ready to use” all in one bag; “all you have to do is open the bag and add water.”

One particularly useful advantage, Preblended mortar offers the ability to directly compare the test results from the mortar mix sampled at the manufacturing facility to the mortar mix sampled at the jobsite. The preblended mortar mix is delivered to the jobsite dry and therefore can be sampled dry and taken back to the lab to be tested alongside mortar sampled from the plant using the exact same laboratory test methods. On the other hand, with mortars batched at the jobsite, where the sand already contains moisture, the mortar mix is wet as soon as the sand is added, which starts the mortar setting process, and therefore requires different test methods. The results from these test methods are not directly comparable to those of the laboratory test methods.

The mortar test that causes the most misconception about comparable results is the mortar strength test. C270 requires a Type S mortar to have a minimum strength of 1800psi. The number 1800 is easily remembered; however it is not the only part of the requirement. The rest of the requirement places specific, controlled restrictions on exactly how the mortar is to be tested, in a laboratory. One of these controls is water content, which plays a huge role in defining the strength of the mortar. The amount of water in the mortar required for a C270 strength test is anywhere from one third to a half of the amount of water used on the jobsite. (Side note: In general, the lower the water content of the mortar the higher the mortar strength. So, why the difference in water contents between lab test mortar and mortar used on the jobsite? The jobsite mortar has more water to make it easier to place in the wall. When the mortar is placed in the wall, the masonry unit absorbs some of the water out of the mortar thereby increasing the strength of the mortar. The lab test is designed to loosely simulate the strength of the mortar after placement in the wall.)

Specification C270 doesn’t directly address the characteristics and practices associated with preblended mortar, which makes specifying the preblended mortar process more complicated. That is where C1714 comes in.

Under the umbrella of C270, there are five main components to C1714: traceability of ingredients of the mortar mix, ingredient blending consistency, testing frequency, allowance of additives based upon performance, and all ingredients are to be dry. Specification C1714 requires the ingredients and their corresponding dosage in a batch be recorded for every batch, and every mortar mix package receive a traceability marking linking it to the corresponding batch from which it was made, and all of this information is to be recorded and retained. C1714 places calibration requirements on the batching equipment for ingredients added in large and small quantities as well as tolerances on the ingredient dosages.

C1714 really defines a subset of mortars available under the umbrella of C270, so one of the biggest challenges in developing C1714 was in the area of admixtures. In C270 admixtures are only allowed if specified. From the overview standpoint of C270, the concern regarding the use of admixtures without being specified centered on a lack of real control of how and what type of admixtures are added in the field. In C1714 the as specified restriction was removed. The approach to admixture use in C1714 required three things. One, a clearly stated requirement that all ingredients of the mortar mix be dry. Two, a clearly stated requirement that all ingredients be added at the manufacturing facility, where the dosage can be precisely controlled and the resulting mortar mix can be tested. Three, the definition of admixture needed to be modified. Admixtures for masonry mortars have had a standard for several years, C1384. C270 even recognizes it. The only problem with using C1384 was the definition of admixture includes liquid ingredients-combining liquid materials with dry materials for long term use as a dry material is tricky. Instead of placing modification requirements on the use of admixtures, the task group decided to develop a new term for our desired type of ingredients: additives. C12 does not have a specific definition for additives, so we developed one. The C1714 definition of additive is essentially the same as for admixture only restricted to dry materials, so as a result these ingredients must comply with the requirements of C1384. For reference, some of these additives have dosage requirements that are extremely small, for example 30g of additive may be added to batch with a total weight of 4500lb. That type of dosage is just not practical for a jobsite mix.

C1714 has only been an official ASTM standard for a few weeks, so it’s going to take time to find its way into the industry.

Sincerely,

Jeff Thompson
QC Manager of Dry Mix Plant

Winter Doldrums - 2010 starts off slower than 2009

2010-01-11T17:08:00.000-08:00

I think a lot of folks were hoping that 2010 would miraculously start off better than 2009, as if the faucet that was the recession would be shut off and all the pent up demand would begin flowing again. Not so. We are only half way through January and my colleagues are wondering if 2010 might be even worse than 2009. There seems to be nothing in the short term pipeline.
A couple of thoughts might help give some perspective to things:

At the end of 2008, there was still some inertia from earlier in the year that slopped into the first quarter of 2009. Indeed some markets actually exceeded expectations through the first three months.

Secondly and perhaps more importantly, it appears that we are now in a seasonal construction cycle. Years ago, before interest rates and schedule were all that mattered, construction slowed significantly in the winter. Builders saw very little benefit in trying to pour concrete and pound nails in the rain and snow. In those days, construction began slowing in early November and didn't start back up until February or so, because there was no hurry. The home buying season was late Spring and Summer, so as long as homes and buildings were well into the construction phase, things were fine.

In the Commercial Market, we continue to see a considerable amount of backlog in Public Sector projects. The Subsidized Housing market is making some waves, and we even see some of our Retail developers raising their heads and poking around at some projects that were left on hold last year. It is way too early to predict that we are through the worst, just that there is some activity which should pave the way for a little optimism. On the Residential side, which is not my expertise, I grab at a few data points that seem to indicate better times to come. First, housing inventory continues to drop, always a good sign. Secondly, a few of the larger builders are optimistic that 2010 will be better, and plan more starts this year. I overheard a colleague mention that housing permits are up from last January. Finally, our Administration will continue to spend money in an effort to jump start the housing market.

So let's not use the first few days of the New Year as an indicator of the year ahead. It's cold and wet, and nobody is motivated to work right now. But it is in our nature to be active and productive and those in the business are ready to move on. 2010 might just surprise some people.....

Sincerely,

Gary Zagelow
Commercial Sales Manager

Columbia Brick Plant Fires Up Again

2010-01-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

Gresham Outlook recently published an article on the Columbia brick plant reopening after getting the Oregon State Hospital contract.

Looking Forward into 2010

2009-12-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

As we head into the winter months, when all of our normal business cycles slow down, I wanted to give all of you a brief update on how we are doing and our outlook as we go into 2010.

The Great Recession - It seems most agree that the significant slowdown in economic activity has reached a bottom and the economy may start to improve as 2009 draws to a close. Recently it was announced that gross domestic product (GDP) turned positive in the third quarter after four consecutive negative quarters. As a result, the technical definition of a recovery may be underway.

Construction will lag - While the general economy may slowly improve (most agree it will be a slow growth in 2010-11), improvement in construction markets and our industry will lag the recovery. Key factors:
• While residential starts will increase in 2010-11, they will be 40-50% less than at the peak in 2006-07.
• Private commercial construction could continue to decline given excess inventories of commercial office and retail space. In addition, financing for private development is still very difficult to obtain. Banks are being significantly more conservative in lending as a response to the banking crisis earlier this year.

Consumers could help - To the degree that confidence comes back to consumers, our dealer business and our contractor base could benefit from higher sales. The growth will be tempered by continued high unemployment and worries about consumer debt that may delay improvement until late 2010.

Repositioning Mutual to the new reality - Lots of folks have been working on multiple fronts to reposition the Company to a lower level of sales. These efforts have been underway since late last year and continue as I write this update. The good news is we have accomplished a great deal in this area.

The last two months our results have trended better than we reforecast earlier in the year. We are seeing more cumulative benefit from some of the difficult decisions we implemented earlier in the year.

Most importantly we are positioned much more appropriately for the level of business we expect to achieve. We are also continuing to be very focused on capturing as many opportunities as we can. The market is very competitive and we want to ensure we’re working with our customers to expand sales for Mutual and our customer base.

While there continues to be economic uncertainty, the financial crisis in the US appears to be over. From here, hopefully, Mutual, our customers and the country can build from this level and start to move forward again.

Thank you for your efforts and work in these challenging times. What each of us does-matters.

Sincerely,

Joe Bowen
President

What’s New in Natural Stone

2009-12-21T16:36:00.000-08:00

We at Mutual have been very busy in 2009 sourcing new and fresh Natural Stone offerings to bring to market for the 2010 season. We pride ourselves at being innovative and always looking forward to provide customers with the newest product offerings to go with our established lines of Masonry and Hardscapes products.

For the 2010 season we will be offering the following new Natural Stone products:

1. Natural Stone Pavers, Cobbles and Treads

2. Ledgestone Light - Lightweight Modular Natural Stone Panels

3. Glacier Mountain Natural Ledge Thin Veneer

4. Bitterroot Wall Rock

5. Montana Mossy Ledgestone, Patio and Boulders

We are very excited to launch our new line of Natural Stone Pavers, Cobbles and Treads, as they will make any Hardscape project stand out.

We will be stocking tumbled Slates, Limestone’s, and Quartzite’s in three colors and sizes 4”x4”, 4”x8” and 8”x8” all two inches thick. Colors will be Cool Jazz, Autumn Rust and Moon Dance. These are intended to compliment our RoxPro stone panel line.

We will be featuring three colors of Flamed and Beveled Granite pavers in a 4”x8”x2”: Black Crystal, Golden Topaz and Olde Pewter. Two sizes of Granite Treads will also be stocked in Black Crystal and Olde Pewter (12”x2”x8’ and 18”x2”x8’). The top and front face will be a flamed (thermaled) surface. We will also be stocking Tumbled Granite Cobbles in three colors in a 4”x4”x3” size.

All of our Natural Stone Pavers can be sand or mortar set depending on the requirements of the project and the desired look. There are many other sizes, colors and textures that can be special ordered to fit any customers needs or imagination.

We are pleased to add Ledgestone Light to our line of Modular Stone Panels. These panels are lighter in weight than our current Ledgestone panels, weighing 15lbs per Sqft, qualifying them as a thin veneer. They will provide the same weathered edge look and reveal of a ledgestone without the added weight. We will be stocking Ledgestone Light in Autumn Horizon and Rocky Mountain.

Glacier Mt, Natural Ledge Thin Veneer is our most current offering in Thin Veneer Cut-Stone. This Argillite stone, from the Northern Montana Rockies, has a cream base with hues of gold, black, and light gray’s running throughout. This stone can also be special ordered in full bed and thin veneer in many other shapes and sizes to meet any projects requirements.

Bitterroot Wall Rock is low cost Montana stone that’s uses can be very versatile. This stone features vibrant hues of burgundy, gold, and bronze set against a neutral background of gray’s and browns with some occasional moss on some stones. This stone can be used in many Hardscape and Masonry applications from Drystack walls, to rustic fireplace veneers and will add value to any project.

Montana Mossy comes from the rolling plains of Eastern Montana. This brown Sandstone has been weathered and covered with Lichens and mosses for centuries and will add a rustic natural look to any project. Mutual Materials stocks this product in Ledgestone, 1-3 Patio, and Boulders.

If you would like to learn more about Mutual Materials and its Natural Stone products, or if you would like to find a qualified contractor for your project, please visit us at our website www.mutualmaterials.com. We also have 19 branches in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana to help you with your next project.

Sincerely,

Michael G. Jones

Natural Stone Sales Manager

Retaining Wall Projects

2009-12-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

Can I really install a retaining wall project myself?

For many of our customers, installing a retaining wall is the most intimidating type of hardscape project. Stacking heavy blocks that need to result in both structural and visual integrity can be a daunting task, especially if it’s large in scale or on a hillside. In most cases we encourage you to hire a professional. Most cities and counties require both a permit and engineering when building a wall over 4’ in height. Areas where there is heavy water accumulation also require some consultation. In most circumstances, you will want to use a contractor. You can find Mutual Materials’ Preferred Contractors at: www.mutualmaterials.com

However, if you are building a small, simple wall or planter, you can handle the project yourself. All you need is the right tools and a few friends. Follow the steps below to install segmental retaining wall block.

Step One: Choose your wall system
There are a number of wall styles and textures. Some wall blocks are best suited for tall structural walls, while others look good for planters and terraces. Once you choose the type of wall you then have to choose your color.

Step Two: Lay out your project
Armed with wood stakes, a string line, measuring tape and a level lay out each wall level. This helps you get a sense of where each wall is going and how it is going to look. This step also helps you estimate the amount of wall block you will need.

Step Three: Start digging!
This is where the fun begins! As a general rule, retaining wall footings are 4 to 6 inches deep and 12 inches wider than the total width of the wall block. Admittedly this is not the most enjoyable part of the project. After all, who likes to dig? This is a great time to get friends and family to help. After digging the footings you will notice that you have extra soil. This can be used for back fill if you are doing a terrace or planters.

Step Four: Laying your base
This is one of the most important steps in building a wall. Once your footings are dug, they need to be back filled with 5/8 minus (a fancy term for crushed rock). The base rock then needs to be leveled and compacted with a tamper.

Step Five: Laying your first course
When laying your first course of block, you need to spend extra time with a small level and rubber mallet leveling each block, front to back and right to left. Spending the time getting this right will save you a lot of headaches as your project continues. Once the first course is set it’s time to stack your block insuring that you straddle the seam from the block below.

Step Six: Back fill
Once all your courses are laid, you will need to back fill your wall with washed drain rock and 4” perforated drainpipe if needed. You could also add filter fabric at this point if it is necessary.

The important thing to remember is that help is just a click away at www.mutualmaterials.com or a phone call to one of our 19 branches.

Sincerely,

Marty Njaa
Washington Dealer Sales Manager

The Beauty and Versatility of Architectural Slab Pavers

2009-12-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

Architectural slab pavers, known more commonly as “slabs”, have become a very popular hardscape product in the Northwest. Designers, contractors and homeowners alike have come to realize how versatile and esthetically pleasing they can be in both residential and commercial applications. Slabs come in different textures, colors and sizes, and can be installed in different ways, so it’s easy to see why they have become so popular.

Mutual Materials has three distinct slab textures to choose from: Diamond Lake (granite and marble chips), Glacier Slate (slate texture) and Vancouver Bay (dimpled). Add in a wide variety of color choices, and you have the capability of achieving any type of look you desire. You can mix and match colors and textures to give your project a unique quality.

Installing slabs can be done in two distinct ways: sand set and pedestal set. Sand set slabs are more common in residential projects like patios and paths. They are basically installed the same way as sand set interlocking concrete pavers; using a compacted base of crushed rock and a layer of bedding sand. Pedestal set slabs are more common in roof-deck and raised patio applications. These projects use slabs that are laid on pedestals to achieve a certain height requirement, or to allow access to utilities underneath the deck surface.

If you would like to learn more about Mutual Materials’ architectural slab products, or would like to find a qualified contractor for your project please visit us at our website www.mutualmaterials.com. Good luck with your project!

Sincerely,

Rob Rosson

Residential Sales Manager

Think Brick

2009-11-23T10:03:00.000-08:00

Homeowners are more aware than ever of brick’s lasting qualities that extend beyond the old brick schoolhouse or stately designs. They’re asking for brick because it’s one of the world’s most “green” building products.

The sustainable features of Mutual Materials brick not only add lasting value to a home, but help us all live a little greener.

Locally manufactured—lowering carbon footprint
Made from natural raw materials—essentially clay (shale) and water
Durability—known life-cycle to 100 years or more
Termite resistant—insects do not eat brick
Low maintenance—no need for onsite finishes; it can be used as an interior and exterior
Recyclable—reclaimed brick to make new ones or using old brick in retro designs
Fireproof—nonflammable
Natural insulator—keeping warm in winter and cool in summer

For more information on the green benefits of brick download this pdf from the BIA.

For the Advancement of Brick Masonry….

2009-11-16T14:01:00.000-08:00

There is an organization that works to promote the advance of brick masonry, Western States Clay Products Association (WSCPA). Founded in 1962, its primary accomplishments have been to provide needed funding for research of clay brick masonry design and construction, especially research relating to the challenges of seismic activity in the Western United States.

Historically, much of the development of masonry building code language in the International Building Code, and formerly the Uniform Building Code, has been impacted by the research sponsored either wholly or in part by WSCPA. The organization has also published several documents that help with the proper design of various brick masonry wall systems.

Design Guide for Anchored Brick Veneer Over Steel Studs

Notes on the Selection, Design and Construction of Reinforced Hollow Clay Masonry

Design Guide for Structural Brick Veneer

Currently, the Design Guide for Structural Brick Veneer is under review. Updated references to current building codes as well as new developments in design and construction practices will help make this
Document more valuable to the architect and engineer.

Other documents available through WSCPA are:

Sustainable Design and the LEED Rating System

Fire Endurance Ratings of Clay Brick Masonry

Color That Lasts Forever...Paving Brochure

Brick Veneer on Steel Studs Brochure

Should any of these articles interest you, they can all be downloaded free of charge from the WSCPA website, http://www.brick-wscpa.org/index.php. A hardcopy may also be ordered through your Mutual Materials representative.

Along with WSCPA, Mutual Materials Company continues to help advance the use of one of the most beautiful, durable, and sustainable construction products available – reinforced clay brick!

Rick Crooks,
Mutual Materials Company

Retaining Wall Block Can Add Structure & Beauty To Any Project

2009-11-06T14:32:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-02T16:05:00.000-08:00

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 wanted 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

2009-10-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-22T17:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-12T08:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

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

Blending Pallets means Blending Colors

2009-09-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

ATTN: Landscape Contractors: We have heard some landscape contractors describe their frustration when it comes to seeing different colors from pallet to pallet. The same frustration has been heard from contractors who lay pavers from the top of the pallet and install layer by layer.

There is a better technique to achieving a uniform blend of color on your jobsite: Blend from two or more pallets at a time. You can understand that our pavers are made several times throughout the year. Each run number could possibly be a slight shade different from the last run. To achieve a consistent color blend, it is important that you mix pavers from multiple pallets together as you lay your design.

Secondly, peeling pavers from the side of the pallet (versus from the top layer by layer) in stacks of 7 to 9 pavers at a time further blends the coloring from each pallet.

Thirdly, having as many pallets of materials on the jobsite as possible will also help blend colors. Imagine having a 900 square foot project to build, but running completely out of pavers on the jobsite after 800 square are laid. You send a runner to the yard to buy another 100 square of materials. He brings the pavers back only to find out they are made in a different run number. Now it’s much harder to blend in that last 100 square feet of pavers.

Finally, these concepts equally apply to retaining wall installation as well.

Feel free to contact us at Mutual Materials if you have any questions about this topic.

Sincerely,

Fred Davis
(360) 573-5683

Updates from the ICPI midyear meeting

2009-09-08T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute (ICPI), held its summer meeting last week in Lake Tahoe. The meeting addressed a variety of topics pertaining to our industry. Below is a brief summary of the meeting’s key points.

ICPI is increasingly focused on trying to support member efforts in selling more concrete pavers for commercial applications. It is reasoned that member companies do a good job in marketing to homeowners, but they lack some of the resources or tools to impact commercial markets. The organization has an overall objective to increase the annual sales of concrete pavers in North America from around two sq ft per capita to four. In comparison, many European countries sell in excess of fifteen sq ft per capita.

Some of the key new initiatives to help members sell more pavers include the following:

· Expanded training programs for installers - The association will be offering two new training programs for paver installers in 2010. The first will be an advanced installer class that builds upon the original Certified Installer Program of which over 18,000 people have attended. This class will deal with greater technical aspects of paver installations and be available to those who have completed the basic installer certification. The other new training program will be a permeable interlocking concrete paver (PICP) installation class. Permeable pavers are identified as a potential growing market given their effective role as a component of stormwater systems. Permeable pavers can lessen the negative impact of development by reducing the flow of stormwater that would be generated in traditional paving systems. Both classes will be two days and will be taught by experienced concrete paver installers.

· New PICP Permeable Design Pro software - Developed through the efforts of the ICPI technical committee, this new software assists pavement designers in designing the right permeable pavement system given soil conditions, expected stormwater, and the use of other stormwater management technologies. Over 3,000 copies have been sold to date.

· The association has also initiated an effort to develop a national standard for the structural design of interlocking concrete pavements by the American Society of Civil Engineers group (ASCE).

· ICPI Foundation funds new curriculum for landscape architecture students -During the meeting the ICPI Foundation Trustees approved funding for the University of Georgia to create a web-based curriculum addressing the use, design, and construction of interlocking concrete pavers. The curriculum will also include permeable interlocking concrete pavers and their application to stormwater management. The web-based program is expected to be available to universities teaching landscape architecture across North America.

The next meeting of ICPI will be in February of 2010 in San Antonio in conjunction with NCMA meetings and the concrete show ICON. For more information about ICPI go to http://www.ICPI.org.

Sincerely,

Joe Bowen
President

Fall Is The Perfect Time For Your Landscape Project

2009-08-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

For those of us living in the Northwest, fall is a wonderful time of year. Our weather is generally dry and mild, so it is an excellent time to work on those landscape and home improvement projects that may have been put off during the busy summer months. Imagine enjoying the last remaining warm weekends and evenings entertaining family and friend on a new paver patio. Or you can easily and economically enhance your existing landscape by adding a few natural stone features like boulders and columns. Mutual Materials’ hardscape product lines can provide endless design possibilities. From the simple to the very elaborate, we have the products and sales expertise to help you obtain your desired result.

If you have a fall landscape project that you are considering, feel free to visit one of our 19 Northwest branches for professional help. We’re always happy to send a salesperson out to your home to help you understand which of our products would work best in your house or backyard. If your project is more than “do it yourself”, we have a Preferred Contractor program that makes it easy to find area contractors who are well qualified to do the job. Visit our website to start that process. Have a great fall!

Rob Rosson
Residential Sales Manager
rrosson@mutualmaterials.com

Notes on the NCMA Summer Convention

2009-08-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

I am the Region 5, which covers most of the Western United States, Executive Committee Representative on the NCMA board of Directors. The other region 5 board members are: Eric Absalon (Basilite), Wade Ficklin (Oldcastle Architectural Inc.-West), and Matt Morey (Calstone Company Inc.). The Executive Board does a lot of the work for the organization. Bob Thomas is the executive director that is hired to manage the staff.

The NCMA Board meets twice a year to make sure that the organization is running smoothly (both financially and operationally). Since Bob Thomas has been the executive, the organization is running much more smoothly and there is currently a great opportunity to move NCMA forward.

NCMA does a great deal for the entire industry. However, the industry, from East to West, is very divided. Even on the west coast, California builds buildings differently from the Northwest. On the East Coast, they don’t have the same needs for reinforced masonry. At this point, NCMA represents the Masonry and SRW divisions of the concrete block business.

A partial list of what was covered at the most recent NCMA meeting:

1) NCMA has at long last completed an updated version of the SRW design manual. This document changed the height manufacturing tolerances from 1/8” to 1/16”. At this meeting, many of the producers complained that the new tolerances were too tight, especially for DIY type SRW’s. The Board agreed to change the tolerance back to the old 1/8”. Everyone seemed to agree that for big commercial jobs, the closer tolerances were warranted but not needed for most of the SRW produced.

2) The NCMA board agreed to proceed with a plan to bring ICPI back into a newly formed umbrella type organization. Details to be jointly worked out in future meetings. Now the ball goes back to the ICPI board for voting. NCMA believes that in these difficult financial times, merging the two organizations into one can save cost. Many members of NCMA are also members of ICPI. Mutual Materials has been very active in both organizations.

3) NCMA has reduced expenses tremendously, mainly by reducing staff and eliminating programs. The organization is budgeted to break even for the year.

4) The NCMA Foundation does not have any money left due to the poor performance of the stock market. The mission of the NCMA Foundation is to advance and support the concrete masonry industry and the public interest through research and education programs designed to meet the future needs of the industry. Several projects have been funded, not by the foundation, but by the Paul Lenchuck scholarship fund.

5) Many members are excited about a new program called Vision 2020. The Vision 2020 Program is a collective effort by national and regional industry partners to recapture lost masonry markets and expand by the year 2020. This is a collaborative attempt by MCAA (Mason Contractors Association of America), NCMA , BIA ( The Brick Industry) and other local masonry groups to get together and talk with local planning officials in an attempt to get the planning officials to require a certain amount of masonry on every building in the various municipalities. This type of program has been effective in parts of the USA.

If anyone would like more information, please contact me either by phone or e-mail.

Sincerely,

Jim Anderegg
janderegg@mutualmaterials.com
425-503-7047

More Masonry Bang for your Buck

2009-08-10T15:44:00.000-07:00

One of the silver linings to a recession is that prices typically come down. This is especially true in the construction industry, where many architects have found their projects are beating budgets from 10% to 30% or more.

So what does this mean for designers? It means that you can afford to use more masonry in more places than ever before. We have seen block buildings turn to brick buildings. Interior walls that once were finished with sheetrock and paint, can be built with more durable masonry surfaces. On one project, the designer incorporated structural groundface block as an interior finish, with insulation between that wythe and the outer wythe of brick. He achieved tremendous durability, high insulation value, and best of all, no maintenance and no paint.

There has never been a better time to upgrade your project with the higher end finish of masonry. It's a local, sustainable, durable and aesthetically pleasing material that fits comfortably in both exterior and interior environments. And, today, it is quite the bargain.

Sincerely,

Gary Zagelow

Commercial Sales Manager

Continuing Education for the Design Professional

2009-08-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

Mutual Materials offers a variety of continuing education programs that are registered with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education System (CES). As an AIA/CES Registered Provider, Mutual Materials plays an active role in providing technical information and guidance on a variety of masonry topics that aid in the professional development of AIA architects and other design professionals. In addition to providing Learning Units (LU) that are required by the AIA for its members to remain in good standing, continuing education is also required by over 33 states nationwide as a requirement for re-licensing.

Our continuing education programs cover a variety of topics ranging from design and installation of brick veneer, load bearing brick and concrete block construction and tours of masonry production facilities. And within the last year we have begun offering a program that discusses the sustainability aspects of masonry and the ways design professionals can earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) points by utilizing the many positive environmental attributes of masonry products and wall systems.

Many of our courses meet the AIA’s Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) requirements. Except for the plant tours, all courses are offered in a seminar format that can be presented at your location.

Check out the course listings below. For more information visit our website.

BR 100 Designing With Brick Veneer (HSW)
BR 200 Structural Clay Masonry (HSW)
BR 300 Brick Production Facility Tour
BR 400 Masonry and Sustainable Design (HSW)
CMD 400 Overview of Concrete Masonry Design and Construction (HSW)

Thanks,
Steve Hubbard
Distributor Sales Manager

Vancouver How-To Fair recap

2009-07-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

While the hot weather kept some people away, we were able to spend a lot of quality time with those who attended our How-To Fair on Saturday in Vancouver looking for information and ideas around upcoming backyard projects. Our paver installation station was the most popular; seems as if a lot of people are looking to update their patios and walkways this summer. We were also able to spend in depth time walking people through sand set flagstone installation and how to put up retaining walls.

We're continuously looking for ways to provide education to our customers around ways to update your outdoor (and indoor) living spaces. We’re currently exploring creating videos to demonstrate both paver and retaining wall installation and hope to have those completed and available by the end of the summer. Based on the response to our How-To Fairs we've held this year, we'll be looking to provide smaller hands on classes rotating through our branches throughout the Northwest.

Continue to look to Mutual Materials as a resource for all your home improvement projects.

Sincerely,

Kendall Anderegg

Director, Residential Sales and Branch Operations

How-To Fair in Vancouver this Saturday

2009-07-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

As we enter the Dog days of summer, we know not everyone has completed their summer project and many are just stating out. Please join us for our “ How- to Fair” at our Vancouver Washington branch located at 10019 NE 72 Ave on Saturday July 25^th from 10:00 Am to 3:00 PM. We’ll even provide lunch with free hot dogs and soft drinks.

Our trained personnel will be giving on the hour instructions on segmental retaining walls, concrete paver patio & walkways and flagstone installation. Session times will be 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM.

You will be given detailed instruction on how to construct retaining walls. We will cover how to select the proper walls for your project, design and layout, excavation, base prep, aggregate selection, drainage, and how to build stairs or radius walls.

Our concrete paver instruction will cover the basics of paver selection, design and layout considerations, base prep- screeding and compacting techniques, edge restraints. We’ll discuss the proper aggregates to use and the tools necessary to complete your project.

Sand set flagstone instruction will show you the different choices available for walkways or patios. We’ll also instruct you on the base prep and necessary aggregates to complete your project

For those of you who aren’t sure you want to tackle your project by yourself, we will have contractor referrals through our “Preferred Contractor Program.

Local landscape designers will also be on-hand to assist in fee 30-minute design consultations.

Please join us on Saturday, July 25th for a fun, informative day.

Craig Olsen
Branch Operations Manager

10 insurance tips for contractors and developers

2009-07-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

Came across this recently and thought it was great information for our customers.

10 insurance tips for contractors and developers

By TODD C. HAYES
Harper Hayes PLLC

Developers and contractors need to be particularly savvy about risk these days as they face one of the most difficult economies in recent memory. Every penny counts, and making sure risks are insured could be the key to survival during these troubled times.

The last thing a developer or contractor needs to worry about is the viability of its insurance coverage. One of the most cost-effective and time-saving actions a developer or builder can take is to ask a broker or attorney to review their insurance policies before a claim arises to ensure that there are no gaps in coverage.

Along those lines, here are 10 tips aimed at maximizing contractors' and developers' insurance coverage:

1 It's the damage that matters. Most commercial general liability (CGL) policies cover the insured's liability for property damage, as opposed to just bad construction. So if a third party sues you because a wall that was supposed to be white is gray, it's unlikely your CGL policy will cover the cost to repaint the wall. But be aware — the property damage need not be something as dramatic as an explosion. If, for example, the wall is gray because of a chemical decomposition in the paint, that decomposition may qualify as property damage, triggering coverage under a CGL policy.

2 Timing is everything. Most CGL policies cover property damage only if it occurs during the policy period (regardless of when the resulting lawsuit occurs). That means if you get sued in 2009 for damage that occurred in 2006, the 2006 policy is the relevant one. So don't throw away old policies.

3 Think small. Liability policies typically cover damage to non-project property (so called “resulting damage,” such as a broken window at a building neighboring the project). But what about damage to the project itself? The typical CGL policy excludes — while the project is under way — only damage to “that particular part” of the project on which the policyholder is working. So if you incur a loss during construction, think small: The more narrowly you characterize “that particular part” of the project on which you were working, the greater the covered damage.

4 Don't make AI coverage an afterthought. Many developers and contractors know to ask for “additional insured” status, but then don't pay attention to the details. Before the project starts, get a copy of the actual AI endorsement — some courts say those “certificates” are worthless. Once you get the endorsement, make sure the coverage matches what your contract requires. If post-completion lawsuits are a concern, the contract should ideally call for “completed operations” AI coverage. The AI coverage should be “primary and non-contributory.” Finally, if a claim occurs, send a tender (i.e., a request for policy benefits) directly to the AI insurer. And don't let it treat you like a second-class citizen — some courts have held that if the AI endorsement triggers coverage, then the AI insurer must defend the entire lawsuit against the additional insured.

5 Tender early (and intentionally). Most liability policies have conditions clauses that require policyholders to give their liability insurer prompt notice of lawsuits and/or lawsuit-triggering events. Failing to comply can result in a loss of coverage, so it's best to tender early. But first consider whether you really want that policy to respond (e.g., do you want to preserve limits, using another available policy instead?). A recent Washington case says that a policyholder can selectively tender, choosing only to trigger certain policies where others might also afford coverage.

6 Get made whole first. If your liability insurer pays to resolve a case on your behalf, the insurer steps into your shoes for purposes of seeking reimbursement from third parties (i.e., it subrogates). But these subrogation rights are “last-dollar” — the insurer gets the money only after you're first made whole. That means that any third-party recovery should first go to pay your deductibles, additional overhead and other uninsured losses. Only then does the insurer get the balance.

7 Don't forget builder's risk insurance. A construction dispute that devolves into finger-pointing among lawyered-up owners and contractors might have been avoided by a simple claim under a builder's risk policy. Before going to war with other project participants (and your respective liability insurers), consider whether everyone should seek coverage under a builder's risk policy.

8 Separate the insureds. Most liability policies have a separation of insureds clause, which requires the policy to be read separately as to each entity insured under the policy. That means Insured 1 might still have coverage even though Insured 2's claim has been denied.

9 Read your wrap. Are you insured under an owner- or contractor-controlled insurance program/wrap-up policy? Better read it — your CGL policy may exclude coverage for projects insured under a wrap, and the wrap might have pitfalls. Are the limits enough to insure everyone? Are “completed operations” losses covered? Does it afford coverage through the applicable statute of limitation?

10 Don't believe everything you read. Insurer denial letters often tell developers and contractors things like “CGL policies don't cover faulty workmanship,” or lawsuits aren't covered if the plaintiff is suing for breach of contract. Neither statement is true in Washington.

At Harper Hayes, principal Todd Hayes represents contractors, developers, homeowners and other policyholders in insurance coverage litigation, construction defect litigation and appeals. He has litigated cases regarding nearly every type of insurance policy available, including directors and officers, commercial general liability, builder's risk, malpractice and property.

Mutual in the News

2009-07-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

Recently Mutual Materials has appeared in the news on both a national and local level.

Spokane's Sustainable Schools

The National Concrete Masonry Association wrote an article on the building of sustainable schools in Spokane in the latest issue of their magazine, Concrete Masonry Designs. With a rating system similar to LEED, the Washington Sustainable School Protocol (WSSP) for High Performance Schools was established with the purpose of designing schools to be more durable. Two out of the three schools used Mutual Materials concrete masonry units. The article also gives a good explanation of masonry’s role in contribution towards LEED points. Check out the article below.

Masonry in Sustainable Schools

Tacoma Family Goes Green

On June 3rd an article written by Dan Voelpel appeared in the News Tribune about a Tacoma family that recently completed construction on a "green" home. From the insulation to the fill dirt to the hardwood floors, the Chappell family made the painstaking decisions to go green. This includes the use of our EcoStone permeable pavers for their driveway. Click the link to see the article and a photo of their driveway.

Tacoma News Tribune

More on Permeable Pavers

Seattle Magazine also just published an article on permeable pavers this month. Written by Maria Dolan, the articles gives a few examples of homeowners doing their part by using permeable pavers throughout the City of Seattle, where "40% is covered by impervious surfaces". Check out the article.

Seattle Magazine

Mutual and WALP

Finally, Mutual Materials was featured in in the June issue of WALP's magazine discussing the importance of being involved in trade associations. Check out the article.

WALP Article

Measure twice; Cut twice…maybe three times

2009-06-29T15:28:00.000-07:00

In 1988, for Fathers Day, my loving wife gave me a gas barbecue. Of course it was still in the box needing to be assembled, and the extended family was coming over that night for dinner. Needless to say the meat had to be broiled that night and the following three frustrating weeks because the step-by-step instructions were too complicated. Lesson: Buy pre-built when possible.

After mastering barbecue assembly, my next project was to build an attractive brick patio. It was a great idea and something I could work on in my spare time. I even read a book on how to build it before gathering the materials.

I made a series of mistakes in my brick patio installation, including, but not limited to: measuring the area trying to make it so the brick would fit inside the edging I had staked down and deciding to saw cut the bricks to fit the dimensions I’d laid out, rather than adjusting the edging. Two hundred brick cuts later; I managed to end up with a patio that looked good until the next morning when a gopher popped up one of the brick in the middle of the patio. The patio survived until the weight from a tractor broke some of the bricks during our house remodel. When the heavy equipment left I decided to start anew. This time I did it right using lessons I had learned from my past mistakes. And these lessons on creating a beautiful patio I now pass on to you.

Lesson 1: Use the right materials. Road base or 5/8 minus crushed rock provides a great sub-base, unlike pea gravel that does not securely compact. Since I used a crushed rock base, I have never again had gophers disturb pavers. Of course you need to compact and smooth the base with a plate compactor.

Lesson 2: Use real paver edging secured with spikes. The only edging that goes down before pavers are laid is at the starting point. Once you establish where the pavers end you then put the edging butted up against the last course of pavers.

Lesson 3: Prepare base material a foot beyond where you will be laying pavers. Then if you measure incorrectly originally, there is more forgiveness.

Lesson 4: Level just one inch of sand for the paver bedding. Use two pieces of ¾” metal conduit laid on top of the crushed rock as a guide for leveling. Use a 2 x 4 over the conduit to drag (screed) the sand. There is a lot less friction than dragging a 2 x 4 over 2 x 6’s used as guides.

Lesson 5: Level only sand in just the area where pavers are about to be laid. Otherwise overnight critters will ruin your hard work.

Lesson 6: If there are more than a few cuts, rent a saw. The Flintstone hammer and chisel method is ok for cutting a couple pavers, however, the saw is fantastic for multiple cuts or angle cuts.

Lesson 7: Using a contrasting color or texture of paver for the outside edge gives the patio a frame and custom finished look.

Lesson 8: It may be just me; however projects usually take twice the original estimated time. So be sure to take into account when planning.

Lesson 9: If you feel overwhelmed by your project, hire a contractor. Sometimes it’s worth the money to hire a contractor. It's the same as buying pre-built.

Brian Healow
DIY Segment Manager

Saturday Landscape Designer Service

2009-06-22T16:47:00.000-07:00

Great things sometimes come from the simplest of ideas. In the summer of 2008, one of our sales reps working in a branch on a Saturday noticed that many of the homeowners coming in were seeking help and advice beyond the basic product oriented questions. Most, in fact, were looking for help with the overall design of their landscape projects. Since we work closely with the design community, the idea seemed simple; connect our homeowner clientele with the local landscape designers. The result has been a win-win-win. Mutual Materials provides the locations and the product displays, the designers meet with potential clients and the homeowners get a free initial design consultation.

The Mutual Materials’ Landscape Designer Program is available every Saturday during the summer season at three of our Washington locations: Bellevue, Vancouver and Spokane. Homeowners are welcome to come in during normal Saturday business hours and get a free 30-minute consult with the landscape designer on duty. There will also be designer information and an appointment sign up sheet during the week preceding each Saturday, so appointments may be set beforehand. After the initial meeting, it is up to the homeowner to decide if they want to proceed with future fee-based design meetings with that designer. This is a great opportunity to ask basic design questions as they relate to your specific project, and it allows the designers to showcase their particular style. Hopefully your ideas, project goals and design philosophies line up resulting in a mutually beneficial partnership.

For more information about the Saturday Designer Program, our branch locations and hours, or our hardscape and masonry products, please visit our website at: www.mutualmaterials.com.

Rob Rosson
Residential Sales Manager

Serving Customers for over 100 years

2009-06-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

Mutual Materials celebrates its 109th year in business in 2009. That means we have navigated a depression and some dozen recessions prior to the current one we are experiencing. That got me thinking about what it is that has led to our success though all these down economic cycles.

Sure we have a great breadth of quality products that are functional, stylish, and timeless.
You need those to be successful but products alone won’t keep you in business. It always has and still does boil down to taking care of our customers. Our number one priority for all these years has been and always will be…customer satisfaction.

So what’s new in how we service you, the customer? Well, in the past year we have added branches in Kalispell, Montana; Hayden, Idaho; and Bend, Oregon, bringing our total to 19 in the Northwest.

Recently we replaced our two smaller Vancouver branches with our flagship branch with over four acres of products and outdoor displays, and the largest natural stone inventory in the greater Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area.

We’ve also expanded our hours so you can now visit us on Saturdays in most markets. For those branches that aren’t open on Saturdays, we have longer Friday hours during the summer months. Our Vancouver, Bellevue, and Spokane branches have even added a Landscape Designer program on Saturdays, which provides an on site landscape designer to assist you with your projects. You can stop by these locations on Saturday and receive a free 30-minute consultation on your backyard project.

What hasn’t changed for all these years is that you will still find our branches staffed with friendly, knowledgeable, professional people willing to help you make your project a success. Come check us out.

Sincerely,

Craig Olsen
Branch Operations Manager

The Summer of PICP

2009-06-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

Summer has finally arrived. As if automatically signaled by the change of weather, our thoughts seem to involuntarily turn to the outdoors. We look forward to vacations, baseball games, picnics, weekends at the lake, gardening and neighborhood barbeques. We get introduced to our neighbors once again, chatting over the backyard fence while flipping burgers on the grill and impressing each other with ideas on how to keep lawns green and time-tested keys to successful childrearing. Maybe we boldly add our solution to the latest political controversy. However, since my neighbors’ yards are in much better shape than mine, and their children are so polite and well-behaved, it’s not easy for me to find a subject that I can use to really wow them.

Here’s one that I’m going to try this weekend, low impact development and permeable interlocking concrete pavement! Initially, that may sound a little too technical for a casual conversation, but I plan to add intrigue by using only the acronyms, LID and PICP. There’s nothing like a strategically placed acronym in casual conversation to hint at one’s superior understanding and intellect.

While watering the flower bed, I’ll casually start out something like this:

“Say, neighbor! What do you think about using PICP as a key component of an effective LID strategy?”

With an opening line like that, my neighbor would be speechless. I may give him additional hints of my keen insight into the subject by adding:

“Of course you know that PICP’s can help manage stormwater runoff by allowing direct infiltration, and they can work with other LID tools like rain gardens and bio-swales to minimize post-development impact.”

He’d really get envious with this:

“Yeah, I’ve actually been thinking of adding a PICP patio instead of just creating more impervious surface that will add to stormwater runoff. Besides, studies show that PICP systems can actually help improve water quality, too!”

Since he’s still speechless, I go for the home-run:

“My PICP patio will use Mutual Materials’ new Eco-Priora 4 x 8 and 8 x 8 permeable interlocking concrete pavers (oops, should have said PICP’s again) in a random pattern that will drain over 100 inches per hour of stormwater runoff, not that we’d ever need that much capacity. The smaller 3/8” joint spacing makes Eco-Priora the perfect paver for walking surfaces like plazas and patios, and the patented structural spacer system allows them to be successfully used in parking lots and even streets. And, the lighter natural gray cement color can give my patio a LEED point, too”

LEED, that’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design from the USGBC (United States Green Building Council). I can see the impressed look on my neighbor’s face already. There’s nothing like well-placed acronyms in casual conversation.

For more information on LID, go to:
http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/

For more information on Mutual Materials’ Eco-Priora PICP, go to: http://www.mutualmaterials.com/Professional_product.asp?pt_id=126&p_id=363

Sincerely,

Rick Crooks
Director of Business Development

Commercial Market Update

2009-06-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

After a great run, the commercial construction market, like most other markets, is feeling the effect of the general slowdown in the economy. Major pieces of the market, mainly private development in the Retail and Office construction market, have all but stopped. Urban residential development is also suffering with high vacancy rates coupled with falling property values. The one bright spot is the public sector. Schools, hospitals, and the military continue to provide opportunities for the masonry industry. Washington, in particular, is benefiting from the construction of new and remodeled schools and work on the military bases.

While business is down, Mutual Materials continues to offer support to the design and construction community with full time architectural and sales representatives. While others in the construction business have found it necessary to cut back in these areas, Mutual has made the decision to stay the course. As the Northwest’s leading producer of brick and block we feel an obligation to those that design and build with our products. With this commitment we hope to help position our industry to emerge from this downturn even stronger and more popular than ever.

One of the ways we hope to influence the design community is through the many Continuing Education presentations that we provide. With the slowdown, architects have the time to listen and learn about the many ways masonry can resolve design issues while providing unique and sustainable buildings. So far, in 2009, we have provided over 50 AIA/CES lunchbox presentations to regional design firms. This activity provides a great forum to provide essential design information, while meeting new clients, and teaching the young apprentices, who will someday be designing the buildings we inhabit.

Besides pure promotion and education, our architectural reps fill the role of consultants on many masonry projects. In fact, color selection takes up only a fraction of the time our reps spend in an office when working on a new masonry project. In many cases, our reps spend many hours helping to guide the designers through important details, specifications, and product layout. This activity is critical to ensure that architects feel comfortable and confident when designing with masonry products.

If you are a designer and would like further information on available educational opportunities, please check our website for instructions on how to contact us. If you are a contractor and would like more information about our support and services, please contact your local Mutual Materials representative.

Sincerely,

Gary Zagelow
Commercial Sales Manager

Staycation

2009-05-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

According to the Urban dictionary a “staycation is a vacation that is spent at one’s home enjoying all that home and one’s environ’s have to offer”. There is a lot less stress hanging out in your own backyard instead of spending hours surfing the net for a destination that fits everyone in the family’s perception of that perfect vacation place. Not to mention lugging half your belongings across country.

Many are choosing to do hardscape projects during their time off to create outdoor living spaces that become the envy of the neighborhood. Flagstone pathways leading to patios paved in eye catching pavers or retaining walls that give structure to an otherwise sagging hillside will make your backyard more enjoyable than any stuffy airport waiting area filled with tired travelers. The best part about creating your own backyard utopia with Mutual Materials products is that you can enjoy it year round!

The Homeowner section of the Mutual website provides installation instructions for paving and retaining walls. Using a staycation to improve and enjoy your living space will result in less stress and a greater feeling of achievement.

Sincerely,

Brian Healow
DIY Segment Manager

Canada’s Federal Home Renovation Tax Credit

2009-05-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

Canada’s Federal Home Renovation Tax Credit was introduced in the February 2009 budget by the Government of Canada to encourage and stimulate consumer spending for a targeted menu of “shovel ready” projects and covers a large spectrum of rehab or renovation projects. Each homeowner is entitled to a 15% credit for a project up to $10,000, resulting in a maximum return of $1,350.

Mutual Materials™ has products that fit three types of projects in the program: driveways, retaining walls and decking slabs. We want to further increase the money going back into the homeowner’s pocket with an additional $0.15 per-square-foot rebate on pavers for driveways. Our goal is to bring attention to and encourage customers to choose segmented concrete pavers for renovated driveways. Our research shows driveways built in the late 80’s and early ‘90’s using concrete or asphalt are in great need of repair. This is certainly true in my area in the South Surrey / Crescent Beach area. Just as important, we also want to encourage business opportunities for our dealers and their installation customers.

Our dealers have product displays of all products eligible for the Tax Credit. We are encouraging them to make sure customers know they can also use architectural slabs on their patio and/or deck and/or Roman Stackstone ® or Pisa2 ® for garden and retaining wall projects.

For a listing of the nearest dealers call 888.816.2111 or check out our Canadian website at: www.mutualmaterials.ca.

Sincerely,

Brian Cote
Canadian Sales Manager

Need Help Finding A Contractor?

2009-05-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

If you have ever had a home improvement project that required you to get contractor bids, you know that the process can be very stressful and time-consuming. For most of us, finding a good contractor can be a little intimidating.

This is the reason why Mutual Materials developed it's Preferred Contractor program back in 2002. We wanted a simple program that would match our hardscape and masonry contractor customers with area homeowners who needed good, professional service. If you are considering using pavers, slabs, retaining wall block, brick, natural stone or Cultured Stone for your project, we have well qualified contractors who can do the job. Nothing enhances your home like a beautiful paver patio or an outdoor living space with a brick or stone fireplace.

If you are ready to find a Mutual Materials' Preferred Contractor, visit our website at www.mutualmaterials.com and look for the header "Connect with a Preferred Contractor", then click "Get Connected". Then its as simple as filling in your project information and hitting "submit". Be sure to spend some time on our website beforehand to see the wide variety of hardscape and masonry products we offer. Good luck with your project.

Sincerely,

Rob Rosson
Residential Sales Manager

Welcome to the Mutual Materials Blog

2009-05-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Mutual Materials’ blog! Visit us here to find out what is new with us, as well as information and tips for all of our customers, from new programs and products we’re launching to information on LEED and green building practices to our thoughts on the state of the economy and construction in our region.

We’ve spent time over the last month, working to expand our presence online. We’ve created a Facebook page and a LinkedIn group and now we’re publishing our own blog. We want to ensure we’re continually creating new ways to connect with our customers and ensure that our customers know how to find out the latest news about Mutual. It just goes to show that a true bricks and mortar company CAN move into the 21st century.

Thanks for reading our first entry. We plan on updating our blog weekly at a minimum, more often if there’s relevant news to share. If you have a question for us or a comment you’d like to share, please feel free to pass it along.

Sincerely,

Kendall Anderegg
Director, Residential Sales and Branch Operations