December 2014: From the Editor

Words: Dan KamysDecember 2014 From the Editor

I’m a Believer

Jennifer Morrell

A few years back, we began hearing talk of masonry wall systems. A system? Many components working together? It was a provocative concept, to be sure. I have walked many trade show floors and viewed many models and demonstrations of masonry wall systems. It seems a viable product that our industry should embrace.

Flash forward to today, when most of the major players are either producing a masonry cavity wall system or partnering with other companies to create a complete offering. And, the idea is going over well with mason contractors.

“I am in favor of a mandatory complete cavity wall system to be implemented by the design population,” says Gary Joyner, president of North Carolina-based Joyner Masonry Works Inc. “In other words, spec it.”

Green Build 2014

Joyner says he feels a wall system will be helpful toward long-term moisture management. He also finds it more convenient to have all of the components of the masonry wall offered by one company: “Then, you don’t have to be concerned with compatible materials,” he says.

One such cavity wall system is discussed in “The Building Envelope: Buzzword or Trend?” of this issue. Enjoy the read on what’s becoming an industry standard.

A happy and healthy holiday season to all of your from the Masonry team.

Return to Table of Contents

The Thirty-Year Mason: Ergonomics as a Retention Strategy
June 2026

In most industry circles, the conversation around the labor shortage follows a predictable script: How do we find the next generation of masons? While recruitment is vital, we often overlook the most valuable asset already on the job site: the experienced

Acme Brick Company Releases 2026 Pocket Guide to Brick Construction
June 2026

For more than four decades, all the basics of building with brick have come in a guide small enough to fit into a pocket. Acme Brick has just released a 2026 version of its Pocket Guide to Brick Construction. And yes, it’s still printed on paper just like

Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma

Chairman’s Message: When Things Don’t Go as Planned
June 2026

Not every day in this business goes the way we planned. Some days, everything lines up. The crew is moving well. Materials are on time. The job is flowing the way you hoped it would. And then there are the other days. The ones where something breaks. T