TMS Masonry Production and Repair Database

Words: Phillip SamblanetThe Masonry Society (TMS) is pleased to introduce the "Masonry Production and Repair" database, a new online resource available to TMS members and the general public.

An indexed bibliography citing 160 years of masonry research, "Masonry Production and Repair" is a searchable database containing complete citations for thousands of masonry-related articles. Additionally, "Masonry Production and Repair" contains approximately 2,000 full-text articles in PDF form.

"Masonry Production and Repair" was developed by TMS member Debra Laefer of University College Dublin,

Ireland. Funding for this resource was provided by the United States National Endowment for the Arts and the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.

For more information on the data-base, or to use it, visit www.masonrysociety.org.
Installation Starts Before the First Course
August 2026

Some of the most expensive masonry installation problems begin long before crews arrive onsite. By the time a project reaches the field, many coordination decisions have already been made. Dimensional conflicts, congested reinforcement, specialty materia

Designing for Performance: Key Considerations for Efficient, Durable Masonry Projects
August 2026

A successful masonry project starts well before the first stone is set. The craftsmanship on site matters, of course, but many of the decisions that shape the final result are made much earlier—during design, detailing, and material selection. Those choic

Change Orders: Standard Operating Procedure
August 2026

In masonry construction, change orders are not occasional events; they are guaranteed. Drawings do not always match field conditions, specifications can conflict, and real-world construction has a way of exposing gaps in design. At DRP Masonry, we operat

RFIs: Clarity, Communication and... Hierarchy?
August 2026

In construction, any project starts with drawings. Plans. Schedules. Specifications. Whether we're talking about new construction, additions, or restoration, there is a plan, there is design intent, and a way every piece of a project needs to fit together