November/December 2008: Table of Contents

Features

Materials
Throwing Your Money Away?
Exposing the cost of landmark demolition
By Gretchen K. Pfaehler

Materials
Mortar Meets the Challenge
Mortar has been used for thousands of years. Over the centuries, the formulas have changed, and we aren’t done yet as the proliferation of new masonry products provide new challenges.
By Tom Inglesby

Design Trend
Award-Winning Hardscape Design
Highlights from 2008 BIA’s Brick In Architecture Awards Competition
By the Brick Industry Association

Materials
Alphabet Soup and the Cast Stone Institute
Developing new standards for plant certification
By Gary Fry

columns & departments

Letter from the Publisher
Letter from the Editor
Minimizing Masonry Litigation
Industry News
New Products
Masonry International

Save

Lake Erie Brick Listing Highlights The Long-Term Value Of Well-Maintained Masonry

February 2026

A Cleveland.com “House of the Week” feature spotlights a 1932 brick home near Lake Erie with a $1.59 million asking price. For mason contractors, it is another reminder that brick exteriors can be a premium selling point, but only when the masonry is care

The Daily Digest

Stone Cladding Panels Forecast Signals More Stone Veneer Work For US Mason Contractors

February 2026

A new IndexBox market update says demand for stone cladding panels is expected to accelerate through 2035, fueled by a broader construction upswing. For US mason contractors who install stone veneer, that points to more opportunity, but also more pressure

The Daily Digest

New Cavity Fire Barrier Guidance Puts Masonry Wall Safety In The Spotlight

February 2026

A masonry trade group has launched a new Technical Committee and released its first guidance focused on cavity fire barriers. For mason contractors, it is a timely reminder that fire performance details in cavity wall construction deserve the same attenti

The Daily Digest

The Practicality Behind Cavity Walls

February 2026

The construction industry tends to chase certainty. We want walls that never leak, materials that never move, and systems that behave the same in the field as they do on paper. Every generation pushes for a tighter envelope, a thinner assembly, or a smart

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