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The Finishing
Touch on The New American Home 2004
Masonry, long a popular material in residential construction, shows its pretty face again. The New American Home 2004 (TNAH) features decorative concrete masonry for exterior cladding.
Of the nearly 105,000 visitors to The National Association
of Home Builders show in Las Vegas this January, only about 10% were lucky
enough to get a ticket to the show home in the luxury community of The
Lakes at West Sahara. More
Masonry Construction in Cold Weather: Handling
Materials
When ambient temperature falls below 40°F (about 4°C), cold weather construction applies, and some precautions are in order to keep masonry construction free from problems.
The goal of a cold weather construction plan is to eliminate or minimize the undesirable effects of cold temperatures on materials and people in a cost-effective manner. The mason contractor must develop his plan based on specific project and weather conditions encountered. One approach is to protect materials during storage and heat them just before use. More
Nine Simple Tips for Preventing Efflorescence
Efflorescence is a crystalline deposit, usually white,
that may develop on the surfaces of masonry construction. Often it appears
just after the structure is completed—when builder, architect, and
owner are most concerned with the appearance of the new structure. Although
most efflorescence is harmless and temporary, recurrent efflorescence
indicates a chronic moisture problem. Efforts should be taken to correct
the moisture problem, thereby preventing and eliminating recurrent efflorescence.More
Stucco for Building Color and Texture
Traditional portland cement plaster is an extremely versatile,
time-tested exterior finish, frequently referred to as “stucco.”
It consists of portland cement-based materials and sand, mixed with water
to form a workable plaster. The key ingredient, portland cement—the
same material that is the basis for the hardened properties of concrete
used to build super-highways, bridges, and skyscrapers—provides
strength, durability, and toughness in portland cement plaster.
More
Portland Cement Plaster/Stucco
Manual
This completely updated how-to guide and technical manual
contains everything you need to know about plastering and stucco. The
Fifth Edition has essential information on materials, bases, mixes, hand
and machine applications, and curing and is illustrated with numerous
color photos. A glossary of plastering terms, a tool list, a troubleshooting
guide, and a guide specification are included. Featuring the latest ASTM
and CSA standards, this is an excellent resource for architects, engineers,
specifiers, inspectors, contractors, plasterers, and apprentices. 72 pages,
2003.
EB049—
$25
An Attractive Masonry Structure Suits Seniors in Phoenix
Multi-family housing is a huge potential market. A number of factors are feeding the need for segmented housing: an aging population, an influx of young people to cities—where space is tight and land is expensive, and a large student population living in college dormitories. On the project described here, masonry units and stucco finishes provide numerous benefits: they are durable and affordable, provide natural ventilation and light, and offer safety and security. More
Portland Cement Association
5420 Old Orchard Road
Skokie, IL 60077
847.966.6200 Fax: 847.966.9666
Email: info@cement.org