The Mason Contractors Association of America has developed a handbook that does the engineering for the contractor. Over 200 wall configurations are schematically diagrammed in a very easy to follow format. Because all of the calculations and examples were based off of the design tables in the current Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls under Construction, it is OSHA compliant to provide "adequate bracing for walls over 8 feet in height." There are two tracks in the handbook. One for a fixed base (no flashing and/or 12 in. dowels or longer), the other for a pinned base (flashing and short dowels). Both have design wind speeds and diagrams of how high your wall can be, and where your bracing needs to be placed. All in a very easy to read format. There is also a section on how to brace various wall openings such as doors, windows, and overhead doors.

Published-2001:  Learn the causes of plaster deterioration and the accepted methods for installing durable repairs. Covers each step in the plaster repair process, from identifying plaster damage to cleaning and coating. Includes plaster removal, lath and paper repair, surface preparation, and proper curing techniques. Also discusses strategies for repairing cracks and selecting patch materials and coatings.

Published-2008: Discusses the raw materials and manufacture of portland cement and different types of hydraulic cements. Also discusses masonry and expansive cements, and the chemistry of cement. Includes graphs and charts illustrating the effects of cement type on sulfate attack, strength development versus cement type, length change of shrinkage-compensating concrete, and the wet and dry process of cement manufacturing. Tables show compound transformations, chemical composition, fineness, and compressive strength requirements of cements.

Published-2008:  Considered by many to be the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and well-written reference available on masonry. Internationally recognized as the premier university textbook on masonry materials and masonry design, it is also an excellent reference for practicing professionals. This 3rd edition covers design methodology, new codes and standards, material properties, prestressed masonry, and evaluation and retrofit of existing masonry.

Published-2007:  This book is one of the most popular design and teaching resources related to masonry because it provides comprehensive coverage, extensive code references, and numerous practical examples. The major design chapters have been reformatted and rewritten to more closely follow design methods used for masonry, and to add new information on how to use the Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC) with model building codes. The fifth edition complies with the 2005 code and specification documents written by MSJC and provides a comparison of the differences with the International Building Code (IBC 2006). Examples are solved using the allowable stress design procedures and the newer strength design procedures of the code.

Published-2004:  Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures has been the cement and concrete industry's primary reference on concrete technology since the first U.S. edition was published in the early 1920s. Content of this electronic version includes a Spanish translation of the 14th U.S. edition of Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures (EB001.14), which covers fundamentals and detailed information on freshly mixed and hardened concrete. It discusses materials for concrete, such as portland cements, supplementary cementing materials, aggregates, admixtures and fibers; air entrainment; procedures for mix proportioning, batching, mixing, transporting, handling, placing, consolidating, finishing, and curing concrete; precautions necessary during hot- and cold-weather concreting; causes and methods of controlling volume changes; commonly used control tests for quality concrete; special types of concrete, such as high-performance, lightweight, heavyweight, no-slump, roller-compacted, shotcrete, mass concrete and many more. In addition, extensive information on construction practices and standards used in Central and Latin America are included.