June 2015: From The Editor

Words: Dan Kamys

Brick Matching

Jennifer Morrell Editor jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com

Jennifer MorrellWe are having our house painted this summer, so I’ll spend the next few weeks surrounded by color books and paint samples. I’m finding the entire process to be rather stressful. Matching our brick and mortar with the perfect paint and trim doesn’t seem like a big deal, until I consider the possibilities – both good and bad. It actually is a fairly important and permanent decision. In this issue, we cover another type of brick matching – the really important type. Replacing bricks or matching existing bricks is a tricky task, to say the least. You can learn more about the science of brick matching. Once you have the brick and mortar in place and looking great, you’ll want to clean it and keep it clean. We address choosing the correct pressure washer for the job as well as whether to clean the masonry yourself or hire it out. Finally, we are providing to you an update on the “roadmap” for the Building Information Modeling for Masonry (BIM-M) initiative that the MCAA and several other organizations are focusing on and supporting. We hope your summer has kicked off and promises blue skies and lots of masonry work – and skilled labor to help you get it done.
Wall Ties and Anchors: What’s the Difference?
October 2026

The terms wall tie, veneer tie, and anchor are often used interchangeably throughout the masonry industry, but each term has a distinct meaning. To help clarify the terminology, the latest edition of the TMS 402/602-22, Building Code Requirements and Spec

Technical Talks
Anchors and Ties
Read More
GEN NXT: Braxton Sisk
October 2026

MCAA: How did you first get introduced to masonry and the masonry industry? Braxton Sisk: Well, so we have a technical program at our school. I just decided to go into it, and I ended up being pretty good at it, and so I decided I wanted to do that for m

Justin Stengel
GEN NXT
Read More
QUIKspray Recommits as a Silver Partner in 2027
October 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is excited to announce that QUIKspray has renewed their Silver partnership in the 2027 Masonry Alliance Program.

MAP Partner
MAP Partner
Read More
Revailo Returns as a Platinum Partner in 2027
October 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is thrilled to announce that Revailo is returning as a Platinum Partner for the 2027 Masonry Alliance Program.

MAP Partner
MAP Partner
Read More