Masonry Magazine May 2008 Page. 35
MASONRY COMPUTER ESTIMATING
Masonry Computer Estimating
That Does It All... in 3D!
by Tradesmen's Software
Johnson, who is an engineer by training, says engineers don't fully understand masonry because it isn't studied in most engineering curriculums. For that reason, when masonry is used in a project, the designers default to the material they know.
"Any contractor who has been doing masonry work knows it's a different ball game," Johnson says. "When they get their plans and it looks more like concrete than masonry, chances are good they'll need a consultant."
The role of a consultant, Johnson says, is to act as an intermediary between the designer and the contractor. "[The consultant is] an independent third party who knows the industry. In many cases, the design engineer will listen to another engineer before he listens to the contractor."
While an engineering background is common for those who decide to become consultants, it isn't a requirement. Jerry Painter of Painter Masonry Consultants in Gainesville, Fla., for example, is a third-generation mason and was a bricklayer for many years.
"I'm not an engineer, so I can't do any engineering," he says. "But I can put together the people who have that experience. I try to deal specifically with workmanship issues."
A consultant often will specialize in a particular area, according to Raymond Miller, a consultant based on Lake Oswego, Ore.
"Some consultants will specialize in earthquakes," Miller says, "Or, they'll only do housing. I know consultants who do nothing but retaining walls."
The main point is, a consultant is supposed to know more about a particular area than the average contractor or architect. He is hired to bring unique skills. Whether an engineer or a tradesman, the consultant is brought into the job when a problem comes up that the contractors or designers are unable to solve.
First things, first
WHEN PAINTER IS CALLED to a job, he says his first goal is to identify the situation at hand. "You listen to them to get their take on the problem, and then you determine if what you see matches their perception. Sometimes you have to make sure the masonry work meets code. Mostly, I'm expressing my opinion on what I have found and make recommendations based on that."
Most of the time, the problem stems not from the masonry, but from a misunderstanding of the material, improper installation, or basic human error. Consultants, Painter says, provide the checks and balances in masonry.
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