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46 | J UNE 2018 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY MASONAL STONE INC. Masonry Architectural Linear Series Brick is available in four dramatic colours: Charcoal, Midnight Grey, Obsidian and Opal. Basalite Concrete Products, the supplier of concrete masonry, segmental walls, paving stones, and other products for the commercial and residential sectors, continues to expand its supply capabilities by having recently opened a new paver plant in Surrey, B.C. In terms of certain product evolutions, Ernie Bone, Basalite's B.C.-based sales manager, says, "Block-face options are broadening. Smooth-face CMU blocks continue to be the economical way to build walls, elevator shafts, and other utilitarian structures; but from the architectural perspective, the familiar split face block's look is starting to lose ground, and we're starting to see many more textures like ground face and moulded chiselled-face units being used in veneer applications for feature walls and many commercial applications." New textures in paver lines are also flooding the market: Basalite's contribu- tion in 2018 runs the gamut from a wood grain paver to artisan flagstone, plank pavers, and Cityscape, which was created for designers looking for dramatic colours and a variety of sizes to fit any application. Improving production efficiencies is another outcome of high demand for masonry, as evidenced by Boral Bricks and Forterra Brick recently announcing a new joint venture, Meridian Brick. Serving both the U.S. and Canadian markets, the brand is intended to benefit customer and suppliers with expanded commer- cial and residential brick product through the development of a more responsive plant network. Meridian Brick will also better meet the needs of an evolving mar- ket due to improved freight and distribution channels. Finally, the masonry renaissance is one factor why Masonal Stone Inc. has grown from being a small, family-owned business in Ontario to now having coast-to-coast networks for its extensive line of products. In fact, Masonal has the largest selection of thin stone veneers and full bed stones quarried in Canada, available at over 100 dealers across North America. Masonal excels in custom-build projects, such as its recent work on behalf of an ultra-modern new residence in London in which coursed out stone blocks were cut into full bed and thin veneer, enhancing the modern esthetic of this elegant architectural expression. Masonal doesn't just respond to trends, it creates collections in a bid to fulfill current and future design needs. For example, its recently released Contemporary collection of stones was developed to lead the changes the com- pany sees in masonry style for years to come. This collection features three-inch and five-inch height pieces that have versatile functionality; because they have only two heights, they can be laid with no joint, very tight joints in full bed, or with a traditional half-inch joint. Masonal reports that many designers are also choos- ing to have the stones laid in a straight line, alternating the heights per course – a ubiquitous contemporary look that enables brick layers to speed up work by lay- ing natural stone similar to brick. In stark contrast to the geometrical precision of the Contemporary collection is Masonal's popular Rustic Rubble collection, which combines different shapes, sizes, and colours for an artisanal collage effect that enhances handmade crafts- man style elements of any building project, both inside and out. Masonal's huge product range is the result of the company's president, Alvin Kuepfer, plying his trade for over 30 years in the Mennonite community of Perth County; establishing his business in Milverton, Ontario was a strategic advantage in that it is perfectly situated to transport natural stone from over 60 quarries in the province to its production facility. A Glasgow Valley stones from the Contemporary collection. Masonal Stone.indd 1 2018-05-23 1:14 PM

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