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.
Turning Visualization into Opportunity: How Digital Design Tools Are Supporting Today’s Masonry Contractors
April 2026

Today’s homeowners are taking a proactive approach to planning and design. Before reaching out to a contractor, many clients spend hours researching products, comparing materials, and building inspiration boards online. By the time they request a quote,

Sarah Lograsso
MAP Partner
Read More
Smarter Time Tracking on the Jobsite: Introducing Geofence Notifications and Logging in CrewTracks
April 2026

For masonry contractors, time tracking is more than just a payroll task; it’s a key part of managing crews, understanding job costs, and keeping projects running smoothly. Yet many companies still struggle with one common challenge: making sure employees

Erin Koets
MAP Partner
Read More
Outreach Outlook: Building Momentum Across the Southern Region
April 2026

As April arrives, the pace of our outreach and workforce efforts across the Southern Region reaches a new level of intensity. This is the time of year when our programs, partners, and state collaborators all accelerate at once. SkillsUSA competitions are

Conner Birdsong
Outreach Outlook
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Elbphilharmonie
April 2026

Most people know the Elbphilharmonie for its glass façade and dramatic roofline. From a distance, that’s what defines the skyline in Hamburg’s HafenCity district. But for masonry contractors and suppliers, the real story starts at the base.

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More