Masonry Magazine October 1987 Page. 17
Thin Stone
Opportunity
To Gain
New Markets
By Turner Smith
Masonry Consultant
A large portion of the masonry market is being overlooked by many mason contractors. It is the exterior and interior use of 2 and 3 centimeter marble and granite. In a recent issue of a national publication, a five year study during the period of 1980-1985 reported the use of finished marble increased 625 percent. Travertine increased by 600 percent and the use of granite grew by 1725 percent. This is attributable to building owners recognizing the beauty, low maintenance and long life of natural stone. The installation of this material is part of your market and you should consider moving into this allied segment of the masonry industry.
Don't Let This Pass You By
Mason contractors in the 1960's let the aggregate wall panels slip from their control and now that market is dominated by others. Only a few mason contractors still furnish and erect exposed aggregate wall panels. Trades, other than bricklayers, are trained and employed to do this work that historically belonged to the bricklayer and mason contractor. If the mason contractor of the 1980's does not become more aggressive and move into the natural stone part of the masonry market, then he is doomed to fight over a smaller percentage of the construction market.
Prepare For The Future
Most mason contractors now furnish steel and concrete for structural walls. Some also include cavity wall board insulation in their contract. They also have the manpower and most of the equipment needed. With the big increase in the stone market since the 1970's, there was no way the marble masons and allied contractors could keep up with the demand. In addition to financing, the limited number of qualified masons and contractors could have caused a disaster if some mason contractors had not become interested in this market. This was a wise decision for these firms for several reasons. They knew that their bricklayers were familiar with the various types of stone and their setting. The move to this thin stone was a natural.
All that is required to train a competent bricklayer is for him to completely understand the anchoring system. He should put down his hammer and trowel and pick up a drill, skillsaw or welding torch. With the training time being measured in days instead of years, many bricklayers moved to fill the need of trained craftsmen. Later in this article, the various methods of attachments will be discussed, but it is well to remind you now that the ironworker is trying to make inroads into this market. You will never have an opportunity like this again to participate in such a fast growing masonry market.
Personnel And Equipment
You already employ the most capable men to set the marble or granite they are your bricklayer and laborer. The tools are not all that different.