Award

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 4 | 43 Masonry P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y M U T UA L M AT ER I A L S Delving into the innovative technologies and trends redefining the masonry industry by ROBIN BRUNET I n terms of the global market, the masonry sector in 2024 continues to evolve with the increased use of new technologies. One example is digital fabrication and robotics, which precisely cut and place brick to create complex designs and structures. Also, more projects are incorporating bricks made from recycled materials such as glass and plastic, and masonry composed of bio-based materials is more popular than ever. Basalite Concrete Products is an example of a company that has made a number of advancements in the areas of moisture control, specified block strength, and carbon sequestration, in addition to specialty finishes. This has led to the creation of Basalite Sustainable, aimed at making the company the leader in sustainable concrete manufacturing processes and products. But advanced technology aside, the masonry sec- tor remains very familiar in 2024, especially when it comes to consumer preferences. "We continue to see strong demand for the juxtaposition of black and light products," says Vito Lore, Canadian sales man- ager for Mutual Materials. "There doesn't seem to be any slowdown in the popularity for this combi- nation. As for the future, we see the prevalence of darker colours overall." Another perennially popular trend is thin brick, or Slimbrick as it is known at Mutual Materials, for both exterior and interior applications and avail- able in tans and browns as well as Onyx Black Gloss and Parchment White Gloss (both glazed). Lore says, "We're seeing more demand for Slimbrick every year from the commercial and multi-family residential sectors and are putting a lot of resources behind this product." And while one might lament that so many other masonry colour combinations and products are taking a back seat to current trends, Lore and his colleagues aren't complaining. "Business is great," he says. "Masonry for cladding is very robust, and we've been especially busy for the past several years fulfilling orders." Another supplier of Canadian-made product, Shouldice, offers the following with regards to eye- catching high-contrast materials: "One popular option is to pair light coloured or white masonry with dark elements used for other exterior features, such as roofing, doors, and window frames. Another variation is to use two different colours of masonry on the same home, such as a predominantly light shade with dark accent pieces. A third example is to use a mix of masonry and wood for the exterior." Marta Zonneveld, Arriscraft's director of mar- keting, notes another tremendously popular product within the masonry realm: "Linear bricks are currently in high demand, and we've recently expanded our product line to deliver on this trend," she says. "Our offerings are unique to the category." Zonneveld is referring specifically to two new products for exterior and interior applications. Avanti is a slender full-bed exterior brick (only 1-5⁄8- inch high) – an evolution of Arriscraft's popular and award-winning Architectural Linear Series Brick - but even slimmer, for a more accentuated linear finish. Similarly, Elevation (also launched in June of this year) is a linear thin brick designed for interior applications but can seamlessly transition to out- door spaces. At only 2-¼" high and available in nine colours, Elevation provides a new look in the super- hot interior brick category. Building The Future, Brick By Brick Decorative masonry cladding using Slimbrick.

• Cover