Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/687429
J UNE 2016 | 53 Demand for masonry products continues to grow at a rapid pace by ROBIN BRUNET S teel advocates may argue hotly and heavily about steel's environmental supe- riority, and wood advocates usually make the same claim. But while steel and wood are fundamental to the construction process, masonry can accu- rately be thought of as one of the most versatile building substances available, inspiring architects to achieve new heights of creativity in newbuilds, renovation and landscaping projects. And even though masonry is a time-honoured trade, the way the material is for- mulated, manufactured and applied invariably results in benefits that some design- ers may not be aware of. For example, the Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (CCMPA) points out that for disaster-resilient construction, concrete blocks provide structural integrity as well as lower insurance premiums and enhanced resale value, compared to wood frame construction. In Saskatchewan alone, the number of masonry-related projects that have been singled out for awards or accolades is impressive: for example, the recent appli- cation of masonry by City Masonry Contractor Ltd. achieved a striking marriage between the original Queen's Bench courthouse in Saskatoon and its new spaces; and the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre's extensive use of Tyndall stone has been widely recognized as pushing the limit of masonry construction. If all this suggests that masonry is enjoying a resurgence of popularity, Bill McEwen, outgoing executive director of the Masonry Institute of BC, wouldn't dis- agree. "Activity in 2016 is strong across the board," McEwen says. "Brick veneer for claddings on low and mid-rise woodframe projects is prevalent, and quite frankly it's pleasing to see, especially in places like Vancouver that up until recently seemed to be so heavily slanted towards glazing as a cladding." McEwen adds, "Activity in the structural masonry realm is particularly brisk, with firewalls, elevator shafts, mechanical rooms and other components being the bread and butter of the trade." Most pleasingly for advocates, the ongoing push to create woodframe build- ings to six storeys is accompanied by a return to blocks for firewalls and elevator shafts. "There was a movement away from that for a while, due to wood shrinkage issues, but connections have been developed to deal with shrinkage, and blocks are now coming back," McEwen explains. "That's certainly preferable to the practice of installing extra drywall and calling it a firewall." In terms of clay brick products, Mike Kriesel, architectural sales, masonry, for Brampton Brick Ltd., says smooth face is a definite trend in 2016 on the commercial and high-rise residential fronts, partly due to the ongoing preference for modern- istic design: "In years past the typical product selection was the standard wire-cut appearance on ICI [institutional/commercial/industrial] and a more tumbled/tex- tured appearance on the residential." Kriesel adds, "Another trend seems to be going to a larger brick [Premier Plus] for the practical level, and more brick typically means less mortar and mortar joint to tool. This usually translates to money saved. On the ICI projects there has been a shift to a longer looking unit [Metric Norman for clay brick or an Ashlar size in the Concrete Masonry] with a more elongated appearance." However, as enthusiastic as Kriesel is about the product that first put Brampton on the map, he points out that with his company's acquisition of Atlas Block several years ago, "our concrete side has really taken off, which is entirely in keeping with the fact that on so many residential and commercial job sites today, it's not just a single masonry veneer material anymore, it's a wide range of materials. "If we have a message to impart, it's that Brampton provides all these products. Fortunately, due to lots of seminars and promotion on our part, most people in the trade appreciate that we're not just a single product manufacturer anymore." Brian Cote, Canada business development manager for Mutual Materials, says that the specification of thin veneer products continues to grow at a very rapid pace: "Mutual Materials' Slimbrick products from our plants have grown significantly Concrete Thinking and we have enjoyed specifications in North America, a perfect example being Joey Restaurants' new properties in California, the Prairies and Ontario. "Development of ceramic glazes on Mutual Materials' Slimbrick is becoming of great interest to designers in search of a different look and a brick scale. Mutual Materials has been supplying Starbucks renovation projects worldwide with these products for a number of years." Cote goes on to observe that the use of full-sized clay brick seems to be having a renaissance in multi-tenant developments in B.C. and Alberta, "or maybe just fol- lowing the trend set by a number of successful builders who feature brick. Mutual Materials' plants are busy and the predominant colours specified seem to be whites and/or blacks on many of the projects. Red-based colours are still the highest used and follow the long-standing tradition as the colour most people consider when they think of brick." Authenticity is arguably the key selling point for Arriscraft, which manufactures a comprehensive range of Full-Bed and Thin-Clad stone, from old-world styles to sleek, contemporary designs. Arriscraft's difference is that its patented Natural Process manufacturing process forms calcium silicate stone in much the same way as natural sedimentary stone, by mixing lime with an inherently strong, silica- based sand and pressing under high pressure. 90mm x 590mm Finesse stone from Brampton Brick. Mutual Materials' Slimbrick featuring ceramic glaze. The Full-Bed Renaissance stone line from Arriscraft International. Masonry PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY BRAMPTON BRICK; MUTUAL MATERIALS; ARRISCRAFT INTERNATIONAL