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
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Things may not be as bad as they look
The information circulating today is that the commercial real estate environment is following the residential market into a significant downturn fraught with foreclosures and bankruptcies. And while the news is factual, the businesses that are affected are mostly in the private domain and the numbers are still relatively small. Inability to refinance is at the root of many of the failed properties. Some properties are realizing an increase in vacancies, making rent payments more difficult, while many others are still profitable, but are unable to find lenders willing to re-up on debt coming due.
Through all this, there is still private investment in the marketplace. We are tracking several market-rate or subsidized urban residential projects, and the big box boys: Walmart, Winco and others are taking advantage of the competitive environment to position them for the next upswing in the economy.
The biggest opportunity, however, is in public sector work. Over 75% of the jobs we are tracking come from the public sector. These jobs are already funded and currently working their way through the design and bid process. In addition, there are a number of large schools waiting for bond measures to pass.
So not all is doom and gloom. While we expect a slow 2010, there is work out there, and with the proper management of resources we hope to work through the current slowdown and come out the other side stronger than ever.
Sincerely,
Gary Zagelow
Commercial Sales Manager
Monday, September 14, 2009
Blending Pallets means Blending Colors
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
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
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Updates from the ICPI midyear meeting
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
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
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Fall Is The Perfect Time For Your Landscape Project
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
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
Monday, August 17, 2009
Notes on the NCMA Summer Convention
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
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
Monday, August 10, 2009
More Masonry Bang for your Buck
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
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