Masonry Magazine October 1972 Page. 24
Spokane MCA Presents Annual Award
Spokane (Wash.) Chapter 855 of the Mason Contractors Association of Spokane and associate members recently presented their John Cunningham Memorial Award to the architect and mason contractor for outstanding masonry design and construction completed in 1971. The annual award is given to honor the late John Cunningham for his work as an associate member. The award-winning building is Joel Incorporated, a downtown Spokane gift store. Pictured are LeRoy Owen (center) of Layrite Products Co., associate chapter chairman, and award recipients Robert J. Grossman (left) of Trogden-Smith Architects, and Lyle Johnson of Johnson Masonry.
Port Huron Endorses MIM Program
Masonry tradesmen in the Port Huron area have extended their support to a state-wide program aimed at promoting quality masonry construction.
Members of Local 10 of the Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers International Union (BM&PIU) have agreed to make monthly contributions to the Masonry Institute of Michigan. These contributions represent a portion of the local union's recently negotiated wage increase.
Kenneth Finch, of Goodells, Michigan, business representative of Local 10, presented the union's first check to John A. Heslip, executive director of the Masonry Institute, at a recent luncheon in Port Huron. "Our members have appreciated the institute's fine work over the years," Finch said, "and we wanted to do our part financially to support its efforts to promote our industry."
The Masonry Institute, a non-profit corporation located in Farmington, Michigan, was founded in 1966. It provides technical assistance to the design and engineering professions in addition to promotional and educational programs designed to unify the various segments of the industry and to foster the increased and proper use of masonry materials in construction.
Most of the institute's financial support now comes from the Detroit area, but the Port Huron agreement signals a significant expansion of the institute's activities into out-state Michigan.
BlocBond Speeds Block Lay-Up
Construction of concrete block walls with BlocBond, a new glass-fiber reinforced bonding material, is faster and easier than building with mortar and requires no special tools, according to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. BlocBonded walls can be erected without mortar above the first coarse, both above and below grade, on standard Applying Fiberglas BlocBond is a simple, four-step process. First, an 80-lb. bag of material containing alkali-resistant glass fibers is mixed with water in a conventional mortar mixer (top left). Then an initial course of block is laid-up in a mortar bed for leveling purposes (top right). The block is dry-stacked to the desired height, length and configuration (bottom left), and a -in. coat of BlocBond is trowelled on the interior and exterior wall surfaces.
foundations and footings. In addition to eliminating the need for mortar by structurally binding the concrete blocks both vertically and laterally, BlocBond helps prevent water penetration under normal conditions.
Structurally sound walls can be made with any standard concrete masonry block using conventional lintel and sill pieces. Or ground block can be used to make a BlocBonded wall that has even greater loadbearing capacity than mortared walls, Owens-Corning claims. Vertical installation of electrical and plumbing lines is easier in BlocBonded walls since there is usually no mortar plugging the cores of the block.