November 2009: For The Record

Words: Dan Kamys

November 2009

For The Record

JenniferGreen Getting its Due

Jennifer Morrell Editor jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com

As an editor, my personal sign that green building is here to stay is the fact that I no longer need to include quotations marks around the word green. People aren’t going to read stories about going green and think it involves a can of paint from Sherwin-Williams. Likewise, A&E folks, developers, contractors and consumers are aware of the importance of being green, not only because it’s seen as socially and professionally responsible, but also because it’s a platform to showcase an additional and important benefit of building with masonry: sustainability. As the Masonry staff heads to Phoenix this month to attend Greenbuild 2009, I reflect on the last four to five years and am amazed at how far the construction industry has come. Not only are we making the effort to understand LEED requirements and what it truly means to build green, but also we are embracing the idea that we are helping to secure a healthier environment and future for ourselves and our children – impressive. In this issue, we report on the latest efforts of the Natural Stone Council (NSC) to show how natural stone is a green material. In “Sustainability Through Natural Stone” (p.18), you’ll learn what the NSC is doing to move natural stone ahead as a sustainable material in a Q&A with John Mattke, NSC co-chair and chair of the council’s Sustainability Committee. Also included in this issue are two stories outlining the basics on levels and measuring (see “Lessons in Levels” on p. 26, and “The Lowdown on Measuring Devices” on p. 28). Another subject we examine in this issue is insulation – how it affects you as a mason contractor, and why it should be on your radar (see “The Skinny on Insulation” on p. 24). You also can read about the MCAA’s highly successful Midyear Meeting, which took place in San Diego in September (p. 14). We hope to see you at Greenbuild in Phoenix this month. But, if you are unable to attend the show, you can read coverage of it in Masonry. As an aside, I just looked up the word green at www.dictionary.com. One of the entries for the word under the “adjective” heading was “environmentally sound or beneficial.” How gratifying. 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

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Read More
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

MAP Partner
Read More
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

Lily Burger
Masonry in the Media
Read More
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

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More