Words: Jude Nosek, Keson/SOLA Humans love straight lines. Our streets, sidewalks, sports fields, and foul lines, railroad tracks, walls, decks, foundations, shelves, roofing tiles, hopscotch layouts- straight lines are found everywhere we build. However, we humans are terrible at drawing straight lines unaided. Try it! I would be very impressed if you made it past five inches …

On The Level: Keson and SOLA: All About Chalk and Chalk Line Reels Read More

Words & Photos: Steven Fechino  Brick columns are typically slow to build when each course is plumbed and leveled as you go.  When you set up jack lines, it is much easier to notice when you get a bit off here and there, but you still need to plumb and level.  A twisted brick column …

Brick Laying With A Twist Read More

Words: Cassandra SternPhotos: Lisovskaya, skynesher You’ve started your day off right. You got a good night’s sleep, enjoyed a healthy breakfast, and stretched your body to warm up. After you hop in your truck and arrive at work, you head out to the jobsite to start your day. However, just because you’re starting your workday, …

Staying Healthy While You Work Read More

Words: Jude Nosek, Keson/SOLA Levels are essential to every masonry job. No matter how big or small, having an accurate level, and one that stays accurate, is critical. Despite the best effort of everyone involved, construction sites are imperfect places where mistakes happen. Things get dropped, and things fall down. Investing in a durable level that can …

On The Level: Keson and SOLA: How to Pick a Durable Level Read More

Words: Kayleen McCabePhotos: BrianAJackson, serezniy An interesting 2009 study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology by Dr. Phillippa Lally and her team, discusses how new behaviors and habits are formed. The long-standing thought that it takes 21 days to form a new habit, a concept popularized by Dr. Maltz 1960’s book Psycho-Cybernetics, was actually …

Better Habits, Best Life Read More

Words: Michael Scherrer  Since 1949, precision has been SOLA’s passion and the spirit level our core competence.  As technology has developed and improved over time, so have our spirit levels.  So how do you recognize high-quality spirit levels- the kind that are used by masons? It all starts with the vial.  The vial is a key component …

On The Level: Keson and SOLA: How to identify a high quality level Read More

Words: Joanne M. AndersonPhotos: IvanZivkovic It’s fun to drive a truck. It’s fun to ride a horse. It’s fun to take out a snowmobile and operate a forklift. There’s something exhilarating about being in charge of moving something so powerful. Yet, each type of transport is fraught with danger for the novice, the untrained and …

The Safety Side of Forklift Operation Read More

Words: Brandon Hartsell and Mason Hill Photos: MASONRY Magazine  What a great time we had at the 2020 South of 40 Event held at Drai’s in Las Vegas! The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), in conjunction with South of 40, hosted a great time in Las Vegas at the 2020 MCAA Convention during the World of Concrete/World …

South of 40 Event 2020: The Biggest Event Yet! Read More