October 2015: From The Editor

Words: Dan KamysOctober 2015

Happy Fall, Y’all

Jennifer MorrellJennifer Morrell Editor jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com

As we usher in fall, our first thoughts go to the staples of the season: football games; leaves turning shades of red, orange and brown; and – oh yes – winterizing your jobsite. Winterizing your jobsite and equipment is no joke. Faulty, frozen equipment can be dangerous, and you don’t want to risk having your jobsite tools and equipment ruined by the elements. Masonry Magazine offers the following advice for keeping your work area and equipment operational and safe in winter. You can read the entire article at https://www.masonrymagazine.com/1-03/winter.html. One piece of equipment you will be using in cold weather is the mortar mixer. Follow normal maintenance procedures throughout the year, and keep your mixer clean and properly maintained. Consider spraying your mixer prior to every use with concrete form oil or any type of environmentally safe oil, to help prevent mortar buildup and to allow accumulated ice to dislodge easier. During freezing or near-freezing temperatures, change engine oil for a lower viscosity or a lower multiple viscosity, such as 5W-20. Store equipment inside a warm building when not in use. Under extreme conditions, start the engine and allow it to idle, while the equipment is being transported to the jobsite. Warm up all hydraulic equipment before use to prevent damage to the controls and lines, as cold hydro oil is thick and will resist a system. Frozen precipitation brings its own brand of safety considerations for drivers. First and foremost, watch your traction. When driving the forklift on an ice-covered hill or road, assure appropriate traction exists for steering and stopping. And, remember the “three-point” rule: One foot and both hands must always be on the grips and steps. As the temperatures drop, the need for safety heightens. Bear this in mind in all that you do on the jobsite. We wish you a happy and safe fall.
Restoring Structural Integrity: Reinforcement in Masonry Buildings
August 2026

Masonry, as most of us in the trade know and appreciate, remains one of the most durable and time-tested structural systems in the built environment. Structures built throughout Europe and other parts of the world demonstrate that a masonry building is mo

Kate Vienna
Technical Talks
Brick Historic Restoration Repair & Restoration Restoration
Read More
Designing High-Performance Masonry Envelopes: Selecting the Right Air Barrier System
August 2026

Aric Hutchinson
Technical Talks
Air Barriers
Read More
Beyond the Block: Aesthetic Innovations in CMU Construction
August 2026

Concrete masonry units (CMUs) have long been a mainstay of construction. They are well known as a “tried and true” material with a long history of high-strength structural performance, affordability, ease of assembly, and a long lifecycle. CMU constructio

Peter Roberts
Technical Talks
Block
Read More
The Most Overlooked Profit Center on Your Job Site
August 2026

The real cost of equipment ownership isn't what you pay on day one. It's what happens over the years that follow. The purchase price of a new mortar mixer, grout pump, material handling system, or masonry saw is only part of the investment. What happens

Steve Wheeler
MAP Partner
Read More