Masonry Magazine November 2005 Page. 44
MASONRY AROUND THE NATION
By Brooke Schmidt
A Victory for Masonry
FOR MASON CONTRACTORS AROUND THE COUNTRY, it's a harsh reality that masonry often loses out to other building materials when decision-makers focus on short-term costs alone. But masonry's higher initial cost is justified by its versatility, durability, ease of maintenance and good looks. Masonry simply stands the test of time better than other building materials. Those who know best recognize: In a battle of brawn, brick, block and stone win every time.
Masonry simply stands the test of time better than other building materials.
Take Rob Greer's recent experience that is a true "victory for masonry." A past Mason Contractors Association of America regional vice president, Greer has provided estimating services for L.F. Jennings (LFJ), a masonry business turned general contractor in Falls Church, Va., since 1992.
When a Chantilly, Va., business owner contacted LFJ to build a 60,000-square-foot, single-story research and development flex building, suitable for office work, light manufacturing and warehousing, LFJ offered three budget options.
Greer explains that option one was a tilt wall priced at $35 per square foot. Meanwhile, option two was a split-face CMU wall system, priced just "slightly more than the tilt wall." Option three was a complete masonry system - a load-bearing, insulated block wall with a two-inch cavity and brick veneer - at approximately $40 per square foot.
As the general contractor on the job, Greer says, the process from this point was for LFJ to offer the facts to the owner. The ultimate decision was his.