Words: Joe Raboine, Director of Residential Hardscapes at BelgardPhotos: Belgard Formal water features have historically been an underdeveloped element of the outdoor living industry – but as homeowner’s priorities shift, it’s essential contractors gain experience and add water elements to their product offering.  The backyard is no longer only an entertainment space for guests. Homeowners …

How Formal Water Features Can Elevate Any Outdoor Living Design Read More

Words and Photos: Kent Bounds, President at Brazos Masonry  We, in 2022, are living in a different time. A few short years ago, the number of individuals in the job market outweighed the number of open job positions. Motivating meant that your people still had the job from one week to the next. In today’s …

Motivating Employees Read More

Words: Paul Guth, iQ Power ToolsPhotos: iQ Power Tools It’s very basic. The headline above encapsulates the three major “must-knows” any contractor must be aware of before beginning to cut masonry or hardscape materials. Adhering to these maxims is very important today, as there are so many variables when it comes to your saw, the …

KNOW YOUR SAW. KNOW YOUR MATERIAL. KNOW YOUR BLADE. Read More

Words: Bill Bonstra, FAIA, LEED APPhotos: Anice Hoachlander Ten at Clarendon is a LEED Platinum-certified mixed-use building – the culmination of years of planning, community collaboration, and county approvals in this urbanizing Clarendon neighborhood. Its residential entry is sited across the mid-block crosswalk that leads to METRO, while ground floor retail and offices are near …

Case Study: Ten at Clarendon Read More

Words and Photos: Steven Fechino  Ok, I guess all of the masonry brains that read this will comment on this one. If you have been in the field, then you already have had all of these problems. Something simple, a brick veneer wall with queen brick that gets tied into a veneer that meets the …

How Could Something Seemingly So Simple Get So Complicated? Read More