SPONSORED: Innovative solution is the only complete flashing system specifically for 6-inch, single-wythe CMU walls.

Words: Dan Kamys Mortar Net Solutions introduced a new 6-inch size of its BlockFlash™ flashing solution for single-wythe exterior concrete masonry unit walls. BlockFlash is a complete, embeddable flashing solution for managing moisture in CMU walls. It uses patented flashing pans to collect moisture in the wall and channel it to the exterior through integrated weep spouts. The spouts are gray in color to blend in with standard mortar, and factory-installed insect guards prevent insects from entering the block cells through the spouts. Drainage mesh placed in every block cell in the course immediately above the pans provides hundreds of clear pathways for water to flow around mortar droppings inside the cells, where it is collected by the pans. Mortar Net’s BlockFlash cuts installation time associated with using membrane flashing by approximately 50 percent and eliminates the need for multiple architectural CMU sizes that are typical with through-wall flashing. BlockFlash for 6-inch CMU works the same as the 8-, 10- and 12-inch versions, and was designed to meet the growing popularity of utilizing 6-inch CMUs in building construction to help meet building energy codes and for its space-saving benefits in larger buildings. For more information, please click here to visit Mortar Net Solutions.
Luis Sontay
September 2026

For this month, the MCAA got to sit down with aspiring mason Luis Sontay. From taking an interest in masonry as a kid to placing 1st in a postsecondary competition, Luis’ dedication and passion for the trade is clear. Luis describes his early passion fo

Mentmore Towers, Fort Point, and More
September 2026

The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, UK, stands as a sweeping estate that represents the absolute peak of English masonry. Conceived with breathtaking scale and precision, the monumental complex is defined by

The Alhambra
September 2026

High above Granada, Spain, the Alhambra offers masonry professionals something more than an architectural landmark. It is a working lesson in how relatively simple building materials, placed by skilled craftsmen and maintained over generations, can create

The Wall
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There is a story around Huntley Brothers that some of our guys simply call “The Wall.” I’ve told it enough times over the years that when I start telling it to one of our younger guys, I can see a few of the older ones rolling their eyes. They’ve heard i