Mountain Stone Used At Entrance To Glenmary Village

Here’s a great usage of Mountain Stone. This entrance was made of 50% Quickstack Grey and 50% Quickstack Antique Grey.

Glenmary Village is in Louisville, KY and you can contact the local Lee Brick and Block location there for more infomation on how you can use Mountain Stone to make your next masonry project stand apart from the crowd.

MG-Krete For Concrete Repairs

All of our Lee Masonry Products locations have MG-Krete available for use in fixing almost every concrete repair problem you have.

MG-Krete is the “perfect patch” for concrete repair and overlay.

MG-Krete lasts much longer and withstands wear and heavy traffic better than traditional cement-based patch materials.

MG-Krete tenaciously bonds to the concrete, without shrinkage, creating a surface that’s more impervious to moisture, salt, gas and oils.

MG-Krete requires less long-term maintenance.

MG-Krete sets within one hour, even at sub-zero temperatures, helping to dramatically cut production downtime

MG-Krete is ideal for a virtually unlimited range of concrete rapairs, including shallow patching, pouring into forms, filling cracks or as a fast-set plug.

MG-Krete can be troweled vertically and overhead, and cures very rapidly in all weather conditions - most applications can be returned to service within 1 hour.

Non-flammable and highly heat resistant, MG-Krete does not shrink upon curing and sets stronger than concrete within two hours.

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITIES

Non-Toxic. Cleans up with water. Approved for incidental food contact.

Problem - Hardened concrete floor in a steel fabrication shop was suffering serious damage from repeated heavy impact of steel plates and equipment.

Solution - Damaged areas were repaired with MG-Krete without interrupting production.

Results - After several years, the MG-Krete has not delaminated or deteriorated.

KEY ADVANTAGES

Long lasting repair - Cures rapidly under all weather conditions - Bonds tenaciously to concrete - Non-flammable, highly heat-resistant - Bonds to virtually any construction material - Non-toxic - No critical mixing ratios - No extensive surface preparation required - Resists oils, gasoline, salt, UV radiation and water - delivers top-quality polymer performance at a fraction of the cost - Zero shrinkage

To read more about MG-Krete, click HERE for a Product Data sheet.

 

Visit the IMCO Technologies website for even more information.

Visit you local Lee Masonry Products location to have one of our representatives help you with all of your masonry needs.

Lee Brick & Block Makes Investment In Louisville Masonry Market

 

“We’re serious about providing the best possible quality of products and service to our customers in the markets we serve,” says Sam Hoehner, manager of the Louisville location of Lee Brick & Block, currently located on Poplar Level Road. Sam shares the company’s feelings that have led to the current investment under way on Old Henry Road in eastern Louisville.

 

Located just off the Gene Snyder Freeway, a mile north of the Middletown exit, Lee Brick & Block will become neighbors to Rogers Group, a raw material supplier of crushed limestone. A new office and showroom coupled with a state-of-the-art block plant are taking shape and are on track to be occupied and running by early 2007.

 

The facility upgrade and relocation are one way that Lee Brick & Block is showing the Louisville masonry market that they care about the industry and the quality of product that is being supplied.

 

“Once everything is underway, we’ll have a brand new plant capable of many new abilities which will include a cutting-edge curing and color system,” Hoehner adds. “We appreciate the customers who have been loyal to us and want them to know that we’re making this investment not only because it’s the right move for Lee Brick & Block, but also because it’s the best thing for our customers and the future of their success.”

 

Lee Brick & Block has been serving the Kentucky masonry market since 1963, when they operated out of their lone Frankfort office. Since that time, the company has expanded into several other cities including Hopkinsville, Central City, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Lexington, Bardstown, Louisville, Shelbyville, and Glasgow. “We cover every inch of the Kentucky market from Paducah to Pikeville,” says Hoehner. “We have also expanded our operations into middle Tennessee, Atlanta, and Baton Rouge”.

 

In addition to concrete block, Lee Brick & Block also manufactures Anchor and Keystone retaining wall products, Mountain Stone, and concrete brick. As distributors for a variety of clay brick manufacturers, Lee Brick & Block is a one-stop shop for all masonry needs. “We have the ability to provide a wide range of products from concrete block, manufactured stone, clay brick, retaining wall and landscaping products, to the mortar, cleaners, sealers, wire, and every other accessory necessary to complete the job.”

“Another reason that Lee Brick & Block is an asset to the masonry industry is its support and involvement as a leader in many of the trade groups and associations that promote the use of our products. Lee has several representatives on National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) committees, as well as brick industry committees and related building code groups. We not only financially support these groups, but we actively participate in the meetings and decisions to help grow our industry and allow our contractor and builder customers to continue growing their businesses.”

 

As you can tell, Lee Brick & Block is serious about its role in the masonry market. “We’re looking forward to continuing to help the Louisville market grow one building or home at a time, and we’re excited about the new facility with which to do that from,” Hoehner adds. “We hope that the community will be able to stop by and see us once we make the move and give us the opportunity to help them with their next project.”

 

More information on Lee Brick & Block may be found at www.leebrickandblock.com.

Additional information on Mountain Stone may be found at www.mtstone.com.

10 Commandments For Cleaning New Masonry Construction

The thought of building a brick, stone or architectural concrete block building without completing the process by giving it a thorough cleaning would be asking for trouble.
A good cleandown brings out the true beauty of the masonry. But if the masonry is cleaned improperly, its appearance may be ruined beyond repair.

Workers used Sure Klean 600 Detergent for the post-construction cleandown of the brick used in the construction of Sprint’s national headquarters in Overland Park, KS. In the photo above, courtesy of PROSOCO, the scaffolded section of the building awaits cleaning.

Here are The 10 Commandments for avoiding common pitfalls in the cleaning of new masonry construction.

Both methods damage surfaces. Blasting with sand or sand-substitutes etches brick and mortar joints. It leaves masonry vulnerable to weather-related decay. Likewise, muriatic acid won’t stop with dissolving dirt or mortar smears. It may also etch, bleach, streak, burn or create new metallic stains on the masonry.

This photo, courtesy of PROSOCO, shows the results of improper masonry cleandown, using muriatic acid. Half a century ago, muriatic acid was the standard for masonry cleandown. Since then, advances in the art and science of masonry manufacturing, including the addition of metallic elements for color and effect in clay brick, have made muriatic acid obsolete and even dangerous for cleaning masonry.

2) Thou shalt use a proprietary cleaner from an established company that backs up its products with literature, customer service and jobsite and specification-writing assistance.

Proprietary cleaners have special ingredients that increase “dwell time”, making them more effective over a larger area than raw acids. Those same ingredients make results uniform over the entire masonry surface. Sometimes even improving the original color depth and uniformity of brick, block, tile and other masonry.

One of the most important ingredients of a new masonry cleaner is not even in the cleaner. It’s the technical support that comes with the cleaner. A reputable company wants to do more than sell you a product. A reputable company wants you to succeed and will make sure you have the right product and information to do so. Distributors, architects and contractors are all good sources for identifying such companies.

This close-up of a newly built masonry wall, provided by PROSOCO, shows the difference a proper post-construction cleandown can make. In the bottom part of the photo, mortar smears and job dirt are gone and joints are clarified.

3) Thou shalt not clean until the mortar has cured.

The best time to clean is 14-28 days after the construction is complete. Mortar and grout smears get tougher to clean the longer they’re on the surface. Cleaning before the mortar has cured - usually within seven days - may damage the joints. One exception is Type S or high-strength mortars ( 1800 PSI and above ), which are best cleaned within 3-7 days. Always test first.

4) Thou shalt follow all the safety precautions in the product literature.

Many of these guidelines are common sense, like “don’t get this product in your eyes,” or “wear protective clothing.” Guidelines such as “don’t cut or alter these cleaners with other chemicals, or with bleaches - toxic gases may be released” may save lives as well as masonry.

Use the cleaner only as specified. Results may be unpredictable if you use the cleaner for anything else. By closely following all safety guidelines - written by field service experts - you maximize your chances for a successful, accident-free cleaning job.

5) Thou shalt test before you clean.

Try out your cleaner on a hidden or out-of-the-way part of the surface. Manufacturers usually recommed test-cleaning a 4-square-foot area. Test each kind of surface and each kind of stain. What dissolves one kind of stain might leave another untouched. What cleans beautifully on one surface might damage another. Not all mistakes in masonry cleaning can be fixed.

Test under the same conditions you’ll have for cleaning. Test-panels you made in August might not be accurate for cleaning in October when temperatures are lower. Clean with the same dilution and equipment you tested.

6) Thou shalt thoroughly prewet the surface with clean water.

This is perhaps the most critical step in giving a building a uniform, clean appearance. Prewetting keeps the cleaner on the surface, where it does its job. The cleaner can’t soak into a thoroughly prewetted surface. The water has already done that.

As you move down a wall, cleaning as you go, make sure to prewet as you go.

7) Thou shalt apply the cleaner with low-pressure spray or masonry washing brush.

High-pressure spray - above 50 psi - drives the cleaner right into the brick or block. Once in, it’s difficult or impossible to rinse out. Stains result. It’s not an issue if you apply with low-pressure spray or a densely-packed, soft-fibered masonry washing brush.

Stains and residue can also result from letting the cleaner “dry in” to the masonry. Thoroughly prewetting helps prevent drying in. You can also reapply the product for an additional minute or two if the first application is drying out too quickly.

Thou shalt rinse thoroughly.

A few passes with a garden hose is not good enough. Weak rinsing leaves stains and residue. On outside surfaces, high-pressure water-rinses of at least 400 psi and four to six gallons per minute are standard. Inside, use lots of clean water and a sponge or soft-fibered brush to rinse the surface.

If you don’t have lots of clean water, apply a neutralizing solution of 2 ounces baking soda per gallon of water. Let it dwell for three to five minutes. Then wipe it off with clean water and a sponge or soft-fibered brush.

9) Thou shalt not clean in cold weather without special precautions.

It’s best to clean when air and masonry surface temperatures are 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above. It’s best NOT to clean when temperatures are below freezing or will be overnight.

Many cleaning compounds depend on chemical reactions to work. Cold slows the reaction. You may try to compensate by overapplying, and accidentally damage the masonry.

When it’s 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below, rinse water can freeze in saturated masonry, causing more damage.

However, during the cold months, if both air and masonry surface temperatures rise above 40 degrees Fahrenheit (check the masonry with a thermometer), go ahead, with these precautions.

Use hot water (180 degrees) for prewetting and rinsing. Raising the surface temperature improves the efficiency of the cleaner.

Extend dwell time by 10-20 percent, but don’t let the cleaner dry in.

Consider scaffolding covered with polyethylene. Space heaters inside may warm the surface enough for effective cleaning.

A final caution - the test panels you did in warm weather won’t be accurate for cold weather. Test in cold weather if you clean in cold weather.

10) Thou shalt not go it alone.

Never try to guess your way through problems or questions. Your distributor, sales rep or manufacturer’s customer service are always happy to do all they can to help. The right answer is usually just a phone call away.

Originally published in Masonry Magazine

A special thanks to Gary Henry, a business communication specialist with PROSOCO, a manufacturer of products for cleaning, protecting and maintaining concrete brick and stone.

Fairview Cemetery Restoration Project

Who : Alec Gouvas, Boy Scout Troop #79

What : Headstone Cleaning

Where : Veteran’s Section, Fairview Cemetery, Bowling Green, KY

 

Like rows of dirty teeth, the marble headstones stuck out of the grassy ground.

Blackened by algae, mottled by mold, the rows of embattled monuments marked the last resting places of 760 men and women of the U.S. Armed Services in the Davis-Hoffman Veterans’ Section, Fairview Cemetery, Bowling Green, Ky.

And while many may have felt the veterans buried there deserved better than those dark and dirty markers, on Oct. 1, one young man took action.

“I’d see those stones on my way to school, or running errands,” said Boy Scout Alec Gouvas, 14, of Bowling Green. “I thought if we could clean them, it would show that people still care about how the people buried there defended our country.”

Alec, who has attained Scouting’s second-highest rank - “Life Scout” - in Troop 79, Bowling Green, took the matter up with his Scout Master, Mike Dowell and his father, Ernie, who also happens to be Bowling Green’s Director of Parks and Recreation.

The idea to clean the headstones turned into Alec’s project for making Eagle Scout.

“I thought we’d be able to clean them with soap and a garden hose,” he recalled.

That turned out to not be the case. A preliminary visit to the cemetery revealed that most of the staining was embedded.

“We tried scraping it off, but it wouldn’t move,” Alec said.

A call to the Bowling Green branch office of Lee Brick & Block for advice resulted in a visit to the cemetery by PROSOCO representative Ben Bates of Specialty Materials Inc., Nicholasville, Ky. With him was Charlie Henry of Lee Brick & Block, and PROSOCO Sales Manager Mike Trotta.

Their tests pointed to Enviro Klean BioWash. In response to a call from Mr. Bates, PROSOCO donated a case of the environmentally responsible cleaner concentrate to Alec’s effort.

“It worked great,” Alec said. “The algae, the caked on dirt, all came off easy.”

PROSOCO’s wasn’t the only donation. About 36 volunteers - friends, family and city workers - even a crew from the city jail - donated their time and effort. The American Legion donated $200 to the project. Alec used that money to buy scrub brushes, safety equipment and drinks for his workers.

During the 4-hour cleaning, Alec deployed his troops in waves. First, a group with pump-up garden sprayers went through, applying the BioWash to the stones. The next group gently scrubbed, and let the cleaner “dwell” about five minutes.

Then came the pressure washers, rinsing the spent cleaner and dissolved grime harmlessly off the now-pristine stone.

The results, Alec said, were “Wow!“

Before the cleaning was even finished, friends and families of the interred veterans had showed up to thank Alec and his crewmembers. The response continued after with a story in the Bowling Green Daily News, and phone calls to both Alec and the cemetery.

“I got two really happy calls the week after,” Alec said. “One was from a man whose father was buried there. Another was from a lady I never met. She just called up to say she was proud of me.”

Written by Gary Henry. Gary is a business communications specialist with PROSOCO, a national manufacturer of products that clean, protect and maintain concrete, brick and stone.

New National CAD Standards Book Available

There’s a new version of an old standard available. The Architect’s Guide to the U.S. National CAD Standard will help you understand the ins and outs of the standard by presenting :

• Clear and concise explanations of concepts and options in the NCS
• A step-by-step approach to implementing standardized drawings
• Successful strategies for design firms to use

Per Amazon’s Editorial Staff :

The Architect’s Guide to the U.S. National CAD Standard presents an informative overview of the NCS, including illustrations and frequently asked questions. It shows architects how to minimize immediate costs and downtime, how to reap immediate benefits, and how best to learn the system at an individualized pace. Used side by side with the Standard, this authoritative guide offers helpful insight into how the NCS is likely to be interpreted and presents a variety of available options for meeting the standardization requirements.

Interior designers, construction managers, urban planners, as well as owners, engineers, and facility managers will also find this authoritative reference to be invaluable !

Written by Dennis J. Hall and Charles Rick Green, this guide will be an invaluable addition to your architectural library.

DENNIS J. HALL, FAIA, FCSI, is founder and managing principal of Hall Architects, Inc. in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has served as the chairman of the CSI/CSC MasterFormat Expansion Task Team (a North American effort to expand the industry standard for organizing specifications); past chairman of the Uniform Drawing System (UDS) Program Task Team; and vice president of the Construction Specification Institute. He is a member of the OmniClass Construction Classification System (OCCS) Development Committee, the National Institute of Building Sciences, and vice president of the Specification Consultants in Independent Practice.

CHARLES RICK GREEN, AIA, FCSI, is a senior project architect with Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers & Architects in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has more than thirty years of experience in the preparation and supervision of construction documents for numerous facilities and developments. He has served as chairman of the UDS Program Task Team, UDS Modules Task Team, and the NCS Steering Committee.

Lee Masonry Products Is A Member Of The NCMA

Lee Masonry Products is a proud member of the National Concrete Masonry Association.

The NCMA is an association of producers of concrete masonry products and suppliers of products and services related to the industry. The NCMA offers a variety of technical services and design aids through publications, computer programs, slide presentations and technical training.

The NCMA is the national trade association representing the concrete masonry industry.
The Association is involved in a broad range of technical research, marketing, government relations and communications activities.

For more infomation on who they are and what they do, please visit their website.