To make the a patterned bond fit within the constraints of a building assembly space, masons use brick closer or brick bats. Bat closers are very common, they are essentially bricks that have been cut in half. Quarter closers, on the other hand, are less common… Read More »Bat closers
The photo below shows an example of a Beaux art style building, in the downtown Philadelphia area. This is a beautiful example this is a beautiful example of a building that uses an eclectic range of architectural details. This particular style may be regarded of… Read More »Beaux Arts Architecture, Second Empire
In almost all cases, there are alternative methods available instead of installing exposed fasteners in the horizontal roof plane, such as at the roof vent pipe boot in the low slope roof shown in the picture below. Uncovered fasteners in the horizontal plane of a… Read More »Best Practice – Avoid exposed fasteners in a horizontal plane of a low slope roof
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is an independent organization founded in the USA in the early 20th century. The BBB has no independent authority and is not a part of any government organization. Instead the organization independently maintains a group of members who pay dues… Read More »Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Bio-colonization of stone and masonry is the transformation of a stone or masonry substrate to a one which supports plant or fungal growth. As historic masonry surfaces and facades begin to deteriorate they become more porous and the texture profile increases which allows fungus or… Read More »Bio-colonization of stone and masonry
A block and tackle can be used to significantly decrease the amount of force required to hoist or lift materials. The cabling running through the pulleys is called reeving. That cable then runs through the pulley and in cases of a double pulley type setup… Read More »Block and Tackle, hoisting
Concrete filled steel tube bollards can protect building elements from impact by vehicles. Vehicle such as cars and trucks trucks can accidentally drive into sensitive things such as Pedestrian walkways, guess pumps, fuel storage areas, and even things like building facades. Most of the time,… Read More »Bollards and Ram Raid Protection
A boom lift is a Crane or hoist that lifts things up and can can relocate them. The boom itself is the horizontal arm that protrudes or sticks out to give leverage and soon leverage and space when lifting. The boom allows a greater distance… Read More »Boom lift
Temporary bracing and shoring systems are used to hold historic structral elements in place during adjacent construction. The photos below show examples of different engineered solutions to brace heavy historic brick masonry walls in place during restoration and revitalization of an existing building. In this… Read More »Bracing and shoring systems, temporary
A photo follows below of a cast in place concrete slab, installed in Washington DC. The photo was taken at the time of application of the broom finish while the concrete was still “green” and not yet fully cured. The perimeter formboards and stakes are… Read More »Broom finish, concrete