Several years ago, my family and I visited Horseshoe Bend. As we stood looking out over it, I heard another tourist say that being beside something so big made her feel like just a drop in a bucket. I’ve thought about that many times since. There are 50 s

While talking with one of our mechanics about the importance of changing the oil and keeping equipment greased, a thought occurred to me. These simple maintenance habits keep equipment running smoothly and help prevent breakdowns when you can least afford

I find it fascinating what happens when an owner or executive leader walks into a struggling project. Morale picks up. Production improves. People communicate better. Meetings get sharper. Problems that have been sitting around for two weeks suddenly get

I get asked about employee incentive and profit-sharing programs with every contractor I coach. Construction business owners seem to be looking for the magic bullet that will motivate their people to work harder and produce more. Some hope that providing

As a contractor, the last person I wanted to see in my office was a salesman or a sales representative. Now that I better understand being a manufacturer, I see it in a different light. As a contractor, you can control the purchasing of material, understa

One of the greatest deceptions in restoration and building is that the visible symptom is rarely the actual problem. Water may enter through failed flashing 20 feet away from where it finally appears inside the building. A new CMU wall that looks sound as

A lot of problems on a stone job can be traced back to the order. I’m on the supplier side, so I see it regularly. A mason can do everything right in the field and still end up fighting a job because the wrong material was ordered, quantities were off, c

Every day, masonry professionals cut block, grind mortar joints, core drill, mix dry materials, and demolish existing structures. These tasks are fundamental to the trade, but they also generate dust. While dust may seem like an unavoidable part of the jo

Walk onto almost any masonry project, and you will see a variety of markings on personal protective equipment: Z87+, Type I, Type II, Class E, ANSI, and others. We recognize many of these markings and know they are important, but understanding exactly wha

Tucked among trees and surrounded by a naturally serene landscape, The Mountain Modern home makes an immediate impression, one of quiet confidence, balance, and belonging. From the moment you arrive, the home feels anchored to its environment. Expansive i

Every masonry contractor tracks something a little different. One company tracks cost to install a unit. Another tracks material waste by job. A third needs to flag which crew members have a certification coming up for renewal. None of that shows up as a

Seven years ago, we had a conversation with Jeff Buczkiewicz, president of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA). We were introducing our company and its technology to him: Spherical Block, LLC. We use specialty concrete blocks to make roofs

Communication is the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behavior to express or exchange information or to express thoughts, feelings, etc., to another person. It is such an important part of a successful business and for construction projec

A new manual from the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) provides structural guidance to help engineers, architects, and mason contractors design and build ICC 500-compliant tornado shelters using reinforced concrete masonry. Funded by the

THE PAST How the Groundwork Was Laid to Build the Future of Apprenticeship Across North Carolina My Registered Apprenticeship began in the early 90’s. I went back to the archives and dug out a few pictures of my apprenticeship pathway. In 1992, as an a