April 2012 Table of Contents

Words: Dan KamysTable of Contents

FEATURES

A Crash Course in Planks When armed with the correct information, you have control over jobsite accidents and fines. Masonry consults a planking industry expert.

Software: Efficiency at Your Fingertips Keeping up with software advances can be frustrating, but let’s face it – this is a good problem to have.

Scaffolding: What OSHA Really Looks For Check out these simple steps to cut OSHA fines.

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COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS From the Editor President’s Message Government Affairs New Products BRICKLAYER 500 Best Practices Making the Grade Full Contact PM Classified Advertising News MCAA Upcoming Education New Members

Color Trends Shaping Today’s Masonry Projects
July 2026

Homeowners today are coming into projects with a lot more opinions than they used to have. Between social media, home shows and contractor sites, most customers already have a look in mind before you even quote the job. For masonry contractors, having a

The New Equation for Masonry Profit: Predictable Hardware and Proven Data
July 2026

The masonry industry is built on tradition, but modern growth requires a shift from guesswork to absolute certainty. When we talk about the philosophy that you cannot improve what you do not measure, we are looking at the literal minutes and manpower lost

Owen Heimbach
July 2026

This month, the MCAA had the pleasure of speaking with SkillsUSA First Place Winner Owen Heimbach, a young mason just starting out whose enthusiasm for bricklaying is truly contagious. His passion for the craft was evident throughout our interview.

Backfill Your Foundation
July 2026

I’ve been noticing an uptick in a very specific kind of application lately, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. The résumé usually reads like a family photo album. “Started helping my dad when I was 15.” “Worked summers, then full time.” “R