Masonry Magazine February 2001 Page. 17
MASONRY COMPUTER ESTIMATING
Now in 3D
by Tradesmen's Software
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MASONRY FEBRUARY, 2001 17
post-construction problems. However, today's leaner exterior masonry walls are less accommodating of problems due to material failure or workmanship deficiencies. Post-construction problems are therefore becoming more common. Performance tests and sophisticated tools such as color infrared scanners, neutron emitters, and boroscopes are being used more often. Designers, masons and masonry industry representatives should embrace the use of contemporary tools and techniques to aid them in observing the quality of work underway and analyze completed work. The foremost goal must be to provide the owner with the best quality product, even if it means the timely repair of flawed work.
Inevitably, neither masonry nor any other single construction assembly will excel in all of these categories. The masonry industry has already taken great strides as it evolves to meet the challenges of contemporary construction. It must continue to provide leadership by addressing these objectives to the best of its abilities.
Masonry construction has many virtues that cannot be provided by other means of construction. It combines beauty, durability and versatility in a manner that makes it the material of choice if the building's long term performance is a high priority. However, unprecedented demands of the construction industry pose new challenges that can only be met by the cooperative efforts of designers, masons and manufacturers to think about their product as a system and by building smarter. We need innovative new details, products, materials and construction techniques that will position the masonry industry well for its sixth millennium.
As we raise the bar we should assume that no products and no tradespeople are perfect. Designers and craftspeople must collaborate to develop details and assemblies appropriate for the pace of the current construction environment without sacrificing standards of workmanship. Reasonable and effective standards of workmanship must be clearly established and conveyed to the craftspeople in the field. Instructional materials, tutorials, workshops, annual skills competitions and other events should all reinforce the same standards advocated by industry. Currently they do not. Architects must sometimes protect the client by setting reasonable project schedules and budgets.
We have the potential today to produce excellent masonry buildings. However, economic pressure on architects and masons cause them to work at a rapid pace and restricts their formerly close collaborations. Disconnections between designers and masons effectively negate any advances made by engineers and architects in the design of high-performance masonry buildings. If this is the case, then we have two alternatives. We can either revert to the past and design simpler buildings that require less skilled labor but perform less well. The alternative is to look toward the future and creatively develop more forgiving details and construction processes that do not require unreasonably high levels of workmanship. The latter is the better objective.
Masonry will never be the lowest in initial cost, nor should it strive to be. Masonry is very attractive in life cycle costs because, if built well, it is so durable and becomes more attractive with age. If built poorly, masonry loses its chief virtue. Poor masonry workmanship adversely affects the durability and appearance of a given building, and cumulatively does great harm to the industry.