Second Edition of Masonry Basics Now Available

Words: Bronzella Cleveland
Second Edition of Masonry Basics Now Available

Rochelle C. Jaffe recently completed the second edition of the popular Masonry Basics, which is now available through The Masonry Society (TMS). This excellent primer, which serves as an introduction to masonry design and construction, is economically priced at just $35 ($26.25 for TMS Members). Masonry component materials, the ways in which they are assembled to form the masonry construction, and the weather-resistance and structural implications of the various types of masonry assemblies are described.

Highlights of quality assurance and quality control issues are addressed, and a few of the most common types of potential deficiencies in masonry construction are explained so they can be avoided. Finally, a glossary of masonry terms used in the text is provided.

Masonry Basics can serve as a beginning text for architects, engineers, contractors, building officials, inspectors, building owners, or anyone else who wants to learn the basics of this industry.

Visit www.masonrysociety.org to order a copy.

The Enduring Power of Structural Masonry
July 2025

Masonry has been holding its ground for millennia — literally. And thanks to the simple brilliance of arching action, it continues to do so with strength, style, and surprising efficiency. In an era of advanced modeling and fast-moving schedules, one time

Outreach Outlook: Momentum in Motion
July 2025

As we move into the heart of summer, the masonry industry continues to thrive—fueled by innovation, partnership, and a growing commitment to excellence in education and workforce advancement. June has been a remarkable month, marked by events that not onl

Building More: Slow, Fast, or Consistent. What is Tempo?
July 2025

It was a drizzly midweek day when I rolled up to the project we were working on just outside of town. The foreman paced the scaffolding, rain hood half-zipped, barking at two laborers who were sprinting bricks like they were late for a flight. Forty feet

Marvelous Masonry: Belém Tower
July 2025

The Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal, stands as a testament to stone construction's enduring artistry and technical prowess. Erected between 1514 and 1519, this iconic structure served as a defensive bastion at the mouth of the Tagus River and as a ceremon