Back By Popular Demand

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

Back By Popular Demand

Bronzella Cleveland, Editor - bcleveland@staging1.masonrymagazine.com

When I first started working with Dan on MASONRY, I developed a slight obsession with watching HGTV, and now I have to say I’m guilty of binge watching it on the weekends. Paying close attention to any renovation shows where the materials are chosen. I’m just so curious to see what the choice is, while silently hoping it’s masonry or natural stone. Now everywhere I go, I’m starting to see more trendy outdoor kitchens with some sort of paving, brick ovens, granite countertops, and the whole nine. It seems like the trend of using natural stone and hardscaping, in general, aren’t slowing down, which is great for the industry! We always want to provide you, the readers with the beneficial information, and after such a great response to last year’s Mason’s Guide To Natural Stone. We decided to do an encore magazine on natural stone and hardscaping. There are lots of topics in this year’s mini magazine, from quarrying to outdoor kitchens, and hardscaping to name a few. Following my note you’ll find the Marble Institute’s article on quarrying, Where Does All That Beautiful Stone Come From? Provides the fundamentals on the variety of stones and the quarrying process, it’s a must-read for sure. There are two more quarrying pieces that you won’t want to miss, The Quarry Story gives a breakdown of how to get started in the business of stone quarrying. While Crushing Rock Or Crushing Rocks provides a deeper look at how quarrying is down from start to finish. Landscape Architecture is another hot topic we wanted to cover this month. The Trends In Residential Landscape Masonry will give you insight into the newest trends in outdoor living and more. We hope the information you’ll find in MASONRY: Hardscapes and Natural Stone to be just as beneficial as the natural stone guide. As always, feel free to email Dan or I with any comments or ideas you’d like to see in the magazine, and enjoy!  
Chairman’s Message: SELF TALK
July 2025

My wife, Sheryl, listens to podcasts often. Sometimes she uses earbuds but also listens through her cellphone speaker as she does countless other things around the house. As a result, very often I have no choice but to listen to the podcasts along with he

Dick Dentinger
Chairman’s Message
Read More
Outreach Outlook: Momentum in Motion
July 2025

As we move into the heart of summer, the masonry industry continues to thrive—fueled by innovation, partnership, and a growing commitment to excellence in education and workforce advancement. June has been a remarkable month, marked by events that not onl

Conner Birdsong
Read More
Building More: Slow, Fast, or Consistent. What is Tempo?
July 2025

It was a drizzly midweek day when I rolled up to the project we were working on just outside of town. The foreman paced the scaffolding, rain hood half-zipped, barking at two laborers who were sprinting bricks like they were late for a flight. Forty feet

Corey Adams
Building More
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Belém Tower
July 2025

The Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal, stands as a testament to stone construction's enduring artistry and technical prowess. Erected between 1514 and 1519, this iconic structure served as a defensive bastion at the mouth of the Tagus River and as a ceremon

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More