Masonry Magazine April 2001 Page. 16
STERLING
The "TOUGH GUY"
MADE IN USA
NO FLATS with POLY-U™ Tires
New, optional polyurethane tire is puncture proof, chemical resistant and has high load rating. Weighs less than a foam filled or semi-pneumatic tire. One more example of the STERLING wheelbarrow choices:
• Heavy Duty Steel or Hardwood Handles
• Single or Dual Wheels
• Capacities from 3% to 10% cu. ft.
• Polyurethane, Pneumatic tire and tube, Semi-Pneumatic or Steel Wheels
Rugged and dependable STERLING is the first choice in "People Powered Equipment"
Call or fax for details.
STERLING
HANDLING EQUIPMENT INC.
P.O. BOX 090438, MILWAUKEE, WI 53209 www.sterlingtoughguy.com
Phone 414-228-7728 FAX 414-228-9032
vip@sterlingtoughguy.com
TIME IS MONEY
CUT CLEANING TIME BY HALF OR MORE
ON YOUR MASONRY JOBS
AVERAGE SQUARE FEET OF NEW BRICK CLEANED
BY ONE MAN IS USUALLY 2000-3000 PER DAY
WITH CONSISTANT RESULTS
DON'T LET A BAD CLEANING JOB REFLECT ON
YOUR SUPERIOR MASONRY WORK
Distributor
Inquiries
Invited
For further information or to arrange a
demonstration, call or write today.
UNIQUE INDUSTRIES, INC.
KEM-O-KLEEN DIVISION
FOR EXCELLENCE UNDER PRESSURE
10600 W. 50th Ave., Bldg 13, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Phone 800-274-4121
www.kem-o-kleen.com
16 MASONRY APRIL, 2001
KNOWLEDGE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS & QUALITY CONTROL
The mason contractor who does the work knows the characteristics of the brick or blocks used. Proper chemicals need to be selected to ensure the best finish to the project. Often, an outside contractor will choose chemicals based solely on cost and without consideration of quality.
CONSISTENCY IN WORKMANSHIP
The mason contractor can assure that a skilled worker is doing the work and completing the job, not a different crew from day to day.
EFFICIENCY OF EQUIPMENT USE
The equipment needed for cleaning can be utilized for equipment cleaning and other general cleaning purposes.
PROFITABILITY
There is no middleman, so the mason contractor can keep the profits an outside contractor would pocket.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Some mason contractors have launched a new business activity: cleaning for other contractors. There is great demand for expert cleaners and doing cleaning, in addition to masonry construction, broadening the business base.
Finally, mason contractors do not subcontract bricklaying, why should cleaning, also an integral part of the work, be subcontracted? In summation, after deciding to either outsource the work or maintain control of the quality and keep the profits and overhead allocation in house, finding the right person to do cleaning takes consideration of the work requirements and the skills needed.
Not only is it important to have the right person cleaning masonry, selection of the proper chemical is an equally important consideration. Often a job specifies a particular branded product. However, it is possible that the architect has selected the chemical without full working knowledge. Chemical manufacturers make specifications available to architects for inclusion in the work specifications, yet the specification used may not be consistent with the requirements of a particular job. The manufacturer writes the specification without specific knowledge of the brick and block. Therefore, experimenting with different chemicals on a mock-up panel of the actual block and brick being used can be an essential and worthwhile step to a satisfying result and a satisfied customer. When doing this, trying to duplicate, as closely as possible, all conditions is essential. This includes using the same application method that will be used in cleaning the finished project. It is important to determine which chemical yields the right combination of cost, speed, and, most important, quality. Because bricks and blocks are made up of natural elements, it is possible that different lots of the same bricks will react differently. In this case, using a mock-up constructed from different lots is advisable. If a particular chemical is specified for the job, but is not the one found best by trial, the architect should be (Continued on page 18)