SM Diamond Tools, Inc.

Looking for new diamond blade? Look no further. SM Diamond Tools, Inc. distributes some of the finest high-quality blades, core bits, grinding wheels & polishing pads.

At Camosse Masonry Supply, we keep limited stock of their diamond blades, but are more than happy to accomodate any of your ordering needs.

Below is a list of the diamond blades that SM Diamond Tools, Inc. carries. To see a full description of the product, sizes, pictures & specs, click here.

Turbo Blade

Segmented Blade

Masonry Blade

Cured Concrete Blade (wet or dry cutting)

Asphalt Blade

Concrete & Asphalt Combo Blade

Cured Concrete blade (wet cutting)

Asphalt & Green Concrete Cutting Blade (wet cutting)

Concrete & Masonry Core Bit (wet cutting)

Ductile Iron Blade (wet or dry cutting)

Grinding Cup Wheel (wet or dry cutting)

Crack Chaser (wet or dry cutting)

Tuck Point Blade (wet or dry cutting)

General Purpose Tile Blade

Porcelain Tile Blade

Small Granite Blade (wet or dry cutting)

Polishing Blade

Electroplated Diamond Blade for Marble (wet cutting)

Stone Core Bit (wet cutting)

Silent Core Granite Blade (wet cutting)

Profile Wheel (wet cutting)

Keep in mind that Camosse Masonry Supply does not keep stock of these products but we are more than happy to assist you in finding the right tool and ordering it.

Camosse Masonry Supply Charlton

23 Trolley Crossing Road

Charlton, MA

(508)248-4044 ask for Jay

or

Camosse Masonry Supply Worcester

61 Southwest Cutoff

Worcester, MA

(508)755-6193 ask for Chris

Prosoco, Inc--10 Commandments YOU should know!

Below are links to a few featured articles from http://www.prosoco.com/ explaining the importance of properly cleaning & maintaining your new masonry construction.

Some History about Prosoco, Inc.

PROSOCO, Incorporated is a custom formulator of specialty cleaners and protective treatments for masonry and concrete. Products and services developed by PROSOCO are designed to improve the appearance and performance of architectural masonry. This high level of specialization makes PROSOCO, Inc. unique within the construction industry

Ten Commandments for Cleaning New Masonry Construction

Ten Commandments for Restoration Cleaning

New Rules for New Construction Clean Down

Quick Brick Final Cleandown Video

We hope you find these useful!

Hard Facts about Concrete

Below are a few unknown facts about concrete and its many useful applications taken from the Pacific Southwest Concrete Alliance at (www.concreteresources.net) Enjoy!

What is the Most Consumed Substance on the Planet?

Concrete, produced at an estimated rate of 7 billion cubic yards per year, is the second most widely consumed substance on Earth, after Water.

Cement Usage: The United States uses 891 lbs. of cement per person each year. California uses 860 lbs and Nevada uses 2,170 lbs. per person each year! Source: US Census 2000 & USGS

Mineral Survey
Liquid Stone Today, many innovative architects are using concrete in new and often surprising ways, creating buildings that defy the stereotypes of the material. Liquid Stone: New Architecture in Concrete will survey cutting-edge architecture in which the use of concrete is an essential aspect of the design. The exhibition will demonstrate that architects are using concrete to achieve incredibly varied - sometimes even diametrically opposite - aesthetic objectives.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom : The rutted safari road in the Kilamanjaro Safari Experience also is part of the landscape design. Imagineering’s design team matched concrete with the surrounding soil, then rolled tires through it, and tossed stones, dirt and twigs into it to create an appropriately bumpy experience duplicating a remote African road.

Hoover Dam :Hoover Dam, the largest single public works project in the history of the United States, contains 3.25 million cubic yards of concrete, which is enough to pave a two-lane highway from San Francisco to New York. The dam face was used in an amazing stunt for Roland Emerich's "Universal Soldier" and has been seen in such films as "Viva Las Vegas" and "Fools Rush In."

World’s Tallest Building: Two major high-rises in Asia are the 1371 ft Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai, China, and the 1378 ft twin Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. These monumental towers use composite structural systems, combining vertical components such as cores, columns, and shear walls of concrete that have strengths of up to 11,600 psi (80 MPa) with structural steel horizontal members to resist lateral and vertical forces.


World’s Longest Cable Stayed Concrete Bridge: The Dames Point Bridge spans the St. Johns River northeast of downtown Jacksonville, Florida. Two miles long, and 175 feet above the main channel of the river, the central span of the bridge is 1300 feet between the two towers which are 471 feet above the waterline at the top. Opened to traffic in 1989, it is a premier example of the beautiful simplicity of the cable-stayed bridge.

Concrete vs. Asphalt
Sixty percent of the 47,744 mile U.S. Interstate Highway System was built of concrete. Concrete was selected because of its superior durability, safety, higher reflection of light at night, and greater traction.

**Concrete Pavement consistently serves 20-30 years without needing major repair, while asphalt generally lasts only 8-12 years before resurfacing, or significant repairs are required.


**Concrete naturally can support the heaviest loads, such as truck traffic and increasingly larger vehicles like jumbo-jets.

**There is less deformation with concrete as compared to asphalt and although the initial cost of concrete can be higher than asphalt, concrete usually has a useful life that is twice as long as asphalt.

**Because of concrete's light color, concrete reflects from 33 to 50 percent more light than asphalt. **By using more heat-reflecting concrete instead of asphalt, Atlanta officials lowered their average city temperature by six degrees!

**A ten year survey conducted in the mid-1980's of 2,000 miles of municipal streets in Kansas revealed that asphalt pavement was nine times more expensive to maintain than concrete.


America's first concrete street, built in 1891 in Bellefontaine, Ohio, is still in service today!

If America's 47,744 miles of Interstate Highways were paved with concrete, 11,000,000 gallons of fuel would be saved EACH DAY!

300 million Americans need 11.2 tons of aggregate per year (29 March 2007)

(Denver, Colorado) -- Maintaining the American standard of living required 7.1 billion tons of rocks and minerals last year to make the things we use and depend upon every day, says Nelson Fugate, President of the Denver based Mineral Information Institute (MII).“Every year, nearly 48,000 pounds of new minerals must be provided for every person in the United States to make the products we buy and the various things we use,” says Fugate, “and with 300 million people in the U.S. expecting to live comfortably and affordably, mining has to occur somewhere.”Each year the Institute calculates the annual and lifetime consumption of mineral and energy resources from information provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and other sources to show the dependence that Americans have on the mining industry.The Institute claims we use minerals in almost everything we do. There are 125 million houses in the U.S. that require heating, cooling, and lighting, and two million new housing units are built every year and each needs a quarter million pounds of minerals and metals.The luxury and necessity to travel to our jobs, to school, and numerous other reasons means each of us uses a share of the 4 million miles of roads that need to be built and maintained, along with the 237 million motor vehicles that travel on those roads, and contributes to our consumption of oil that averages 3 gallons per capita per day.On an annual basis every person in the USA requires at least:
6.32 tons of Crushed Stone (12,464 lbs)
4.86 tons of Sand & Gravel (9,718 lbs)
1/2 ton of Cement (965 lbs) “We all use minerals, every day,” says Fugate, “and they have to come from somewhere. Every 5th Grade student in America hears about the Law of Conservation of Energy and Matter which states that they cannot be created or destroyed. This means that everything is made from something and that something has to come from our natural resources, most of it from mining.”

(http://www.concreteresources.net/categories/4F26A962-D021-233F-FCC5EF707CBD860A/fun_facts.html)

At Camosse Masonry Supply, we offer several kinds of bagged concrete mixes. For more information on how to apply concrete in your next project, or to order material, give us a call or stop into one of our two store locations:

Camosse Masonry Supply Charlton

23 Trolley Crossing Road

Charlton, MA

(508) 248-4044 ask for Jay

or

Camosse Masonry Supply Worcester

61 Southwest Cutoff

Worcester, MA

(508)755-6193 ask for Chris

The Greener Side of Brick

Below is a great informational article from www.doityourself.com about why building with masonry is cost effective, durable, and GREEN! Go BRICK!!

As we enter a new millennium, more emphasis is being placed on preserving and protecting the world's environment. In this age of environmental consciousness, consumers are looking for products that are, well, "greener" than ever before. Brick has been a popular building material since ancient times - way before it was cool to be green - and brick is friendlier to the environment than many new convenience materials.

It stands to reason that brick, made from a combination of the distinctly earthly elements of clay, water and fire, is about as back-to-the-basics as building products come. This assumption has been confirmed in recent years by industry and academic research on sustainable buildings and green architecture. In fact, the American Institute of Architect's Environmental Resource Guide (1996) advises architects to "select brick, tile or concrete masonry products when possible." Let's take a look at some of the specific attributes that make brick an environmentally friendly building choice.

Brick as a Building Material
First, brick's mass prevents temperature extremes on the outside of a building from effecting temperature on the inside. Sometimes called "thermal lag," this process translates into year-round comfort and energy savings for occupants. An insulated brick cavity wall resists heat gain more than 50 times better than double-reflective glass and nine times better than an insulated metal sandwich panel wall. Second, brick walls require less insulation than lightweight walls (i.e., synthetic stucco, vinyl, aluminum or wood) for the same energy performance.
Publications are full of articles pertaining to global warming and the effects it is having on weather patterns often proving destructive. Using brick as a building material offers homeowners a sense of safety because brick can withstand severe wind and weather. Following the devastation of Hurricane Floyd, a brick "Hurricane House"- built to withstand 100 to 110 mph winds with little or no damage - made its debut in a Norfolk, Virginia-area Parade of Homes.

Finally, consumers building with brick can rest assured that the brick on their houses will last. Brick stands the test of time. The Ziggurat at Ur, a Mesopotamian temple-tower made of fired clay brick between 2113 - 2095 BC stands today, very well preserved. The famous Great Wall of China, constructed around 210 BC, is made of 3,873,000,000 individual bricks. In this country, one of the more famous historic brick buildings is Independence Hall built in Philadelphia in the 1700s.

Mining & Manufacturing
As brick originates from the earth's clay, it thrives as a nearly inexhaustible natural resource and is manufactured in 38 states. Furthermore, the clay mining process is virtually harmless to the environment, and a small mining site may be used for more than a century. After they have been depleted, clay pits can be converted into wildlife reserves or lakes for sport, recreation or conservation use. Carolina Ceramic, Inc. has concerted its clay pit into a 2,000-acre wildlife refuge for deer, turkey, dove and quail, while Acme Brick has transformed more than a dozen of its depleted pits to wildlife sanctuaries stocked with corn-fed catfish. An outstanding example of the care brick companies take in reclaiming mined land, Cherokee Brick and Tile's 5,000-acre lowland habitat near Macon, Georgia, has been recognized by the local Audobon Society as home to more than 240 species of birds, including several rare and threatened species.
Unlike other building materials, brick creates little waste when it is manufactured. Mining one pound of clay produces nearly one pound of brick with only slight moisture and mineral loss. In comparison, up to 70% of the ore used in making steel amounts to waste. The figure is even higher for aluminum - up to 88% of the ore used is waste. Disposing of these wastes requires additional energy, adding to the environmental impact of manufacturing.
The amount of energy needed to produce brick is lower than most competing building materials. It takes 50 times more energy to produce one pound of aluminum than to produce the same amount of brick. Brick manufacturing conserves energy in another way as well. Virtually all U.S. brick plants are located within a 20-mile radius of their manufacturing facility, minimizing the energy expended in transporting the raw material to manufacturing sites. No raw clay is imported into the U.S., while approximately 90 percent of the ore used for aluminum and about 25 percent used for steel must be imported. Consumers seeking that "Made in the USA" seal can rest assured that virtually all brick used in the U.S. is manufactured domestically.

Recycling Brick
In an effort to recycle - and because of its unique appearance - the popularity of old or antique brick is on the rise. Used brick is becoming a fashionable alternative in residential construction. In some areas of the country, "antique" brick commands a higher price than new brick. Recently, Chicago common brick manufactured in the 1930s was in very high demand. People ordered it from all over the country for its quaint, historical and aged appeal. It is important to take your external environment into account when considering used brick, as some older brick has a poor freeze-thaw resistance that could be a factor in certain areas of the country.
In another innovative form of recycling, new brick that fails to meet the manufacturers' standards can be easily recycled through an inexpensive crushing process. Crushed brick or "brick chips" may then be used as landscape material or reground to manufacture new, quality brick.

Remember, just because a house or building is being completely renovated, does not mean that all of the existing brick must go. Because of brick's long life, it is typically the last material in a building to require recycling. Many renovation projects renew the building around the original existing brick walls.

The generation now in a position to purchase homes is more environmentally conscious than any generation before it. Like it or not, the trend they have created toward purchasing more natural products has become a factor in the homebuying process. "When polled, most Americans identify themselves as environmentalists," according to Kenneth Hooker, editor of Masonry Construction. Furthermore he states, "The environmental issues surrounding construction are certain to continue growing in importance." Hooker cites brick's "durability, thermal storage capacity, and ability to serve as both structure and finish" as key product benefits for environmentally concerned consumers.

Keep in mind when creating your next project, Build with Brick!

Camosse Masonry Supply Charlton

23 Trolley Crossing Road

Charlton, MA

(508) 248-4044 ask for Jay

How to Prevent Water Damage to your Masonry Chimney

One of the most important rules when building a masonry chimney other than safety, is to ensure that the brick are completely sealed & water proofed. If a masonry chimney is not sealed, it can lead to deterioration of brick & mortar and rusting of steel & cast iron fireboxes and accessories, costing you MORE, later.

Below is an excerpt from an informational article by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (http://www.csia.org/) entitled "Water Damage and your Masonry Chimney." This article explains not only how important it is to seal your investment, but also how cost effective it can be in the long run.

"As odd as it may seem, water causes more damage to masonry chimneys than fire. Think about it for a moment. All the brick and other materials that make up your home are protected by the roof and eave, all that is, except your chimney. The chimney bravely sticks up above the roof constantly exposed to all the elements; rain, snow, and freeze/thaw cycles.
A masonry chimney is constructed of a variety of masonry and metal materials, including brick, mortar, tile, steel and cast iron. All of these materials will suffer accelerated deterioration as a result of prolonged contact with water.

Masonry materials deteriorate quickly when exposed to the freeze/thaw process in which moisture that has penetrated the materials periodically freezes and expands, causing undue stress. Water in the chimney also causes rust in steel and cast iron, weakening or destroying the metal parts.

Water penetration can cause interior and exterior damage to your home and masonry chimney including:

Spalled and broken brickwork
Deteriorated metal or masonry firebox assemblies
Rusted damper assemblies
Rotted adjacent wood and ruined wall coverings
Deteriorated central heating system
Decayed mortar
Cracked flue liner systems

Preventing Water Damage
Following are the four main ways to prevent water damage.

Install a Chimney Cap
Chimney caps, also called rain covers, are probably the most inexpensive preventive measure that a homeowner can employ to prevent water penetration and damage to the chimney. Chimneys have one or more large openings (flues) at the top that collect rain water and funnel it directly to the chimney interior. A strong, well designed cap not only keeps this water out, but will also prevent birds and animals from entering and nesting in the chimney.
Caps also function as spark arrestors, preventing sparks from landing on the roof or other nearby combustible material.

Repair or Replace a Damaged Chimney Crown
The chimney crown, also referred to as the chimney wash, is the top element of a masonry chimney. It covers and seals the top of the chimney from the flue liners to the chimney edge. Most masonry chimneys are built with an inadequate crown constructed from common mortar mix, the same mixture used to lay the bricks of the chimney. This mortar is not designed for and will not withstand years of weather abuse without cracking, chipping or deteriorating; situations that allow water to penetrate the chimney. In fact, most sand and mortar crowns crack almost immediately after installation because of shrinkage.
A proper chimney crown should be constructed of a portland cement based mixture and cast or formed so it provides an overhang, or drip edge, projecting beyond all sides of the chimney by a minimum of two inches. This drip edge directs the runoff from the crown away from the sides of the chimney, helping prevent erosion of the brick and mortar in the chimney's vertical surfaces.
There are also some modern waterproof, non-shrinking, cement like coatings for repairing damaged mortar crowns that seem to work fine.

Repair or Replace Flashing
Flashing is the seal between the roofing material and the chimney. Flashing prevents rain water from running down the chimney into living spaces where it can damage ceilings or walls, or cause rot in rafters, joists, or other structural elements. The most effective flashing is made up of two elements, the flashing and the counter- flashing.
The base flashing is an L shaped piece of metal extending up the chimney side and under the roofing shingles. The counter flashing, which overlaps the base flashing, is imbedded and sealed in the chimney's masonry joints. This two element flashing allows both the roof and the chimney to expand or contract at their own rates without breaking the waterproof seal in either area.

Waterproof Your Chimney
Most masonry materials are porous and will absorb large amounts of water. Common brick is like a sponge, absorbing water and wicking moisture to the chimney interior. Defective mortar joints or the use of improper mortar or brick can greatly increase the tendency to absorb and convey water to the interior of the masonry chimney structure.
Several products have been developed specifically for use as waterproofing agents on masonry chimneys. These formulas are vapor permeable which means that they allow the chimney to breathe out, but not in. Thus water that has penetrated the chimney, or moisture that has originated from inside, is allowed to escape, while the waterproofing agent prevents water from entering from the outside.
Paint, or any non vapor permeable water sealer, should never be used as a waterproofing agent because it will trap moisture inside the chimney, accelerating deterioration.
Water damage to masonry chimneys is usually a slow, subtle process. The problem is often not evident until it has become quite serious.
Although these water prevention measures may cost a few dollars initially, they will save you the major expense of large masonry repairs or rebuilding of the entire chimney in the not too distant future, and as such represent a wise investment in your home." (http://www.csia.org/)

At Camosse Masonry Supply, we have in stock various styles and colors of brick, stone and caps for your masonry chimney. We also carry type I and II portland cement, and type N & type S mortars. In addition, we also carry brick cleaners & sealers by UMACO.

If your chimney is leaking, or starting to have issues, don't wait! Prolonged exposure to water & snow unsealed will only cost you later! Give us a call and let us help you find the right materials and people to get the job done!

Camosse Masonry Supply Charlton

23 Trolley Crossing Road

Charlton, MA

(508) 248-4044 ask for Jay

or

Camosse Masonry Supply Worcester

61 Southwest Cutoff

Worcester, MA

(508) 755-6193 ask for Chris

Artificial Well & Utility Covers

Just a reminder.....

Camosse Masonry Supply is a distributor of Createk Stone Products.

Createk Stone is a composite polymer that has a wide variety of uses and its well suited for both indoor & outdoor applications.

Createk Stone and their natural molding process can be customized to reproduce almost any design or moldable feature.

Createk Stone is ideal for covering unsightly wells and utilities. Createk Artificial Stone and Well Covers are so light they can be easily moved during landscaping and mowing, but look like natural stone. Their well covers come in a variety of colors, shapes & sizes to match any landscaping. They can also customize any product with your NAME, ADDRESS, or COMPANY LOGO.

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For more information on these products, or to purchase one, give us a call or stop in!

Camosse Masonry Supply Charlton

23 Trolley Crossing Road

Charlton, MA

(508) 248-4044 ask for Jay

Techo-Bloc Stepping Stone Slabs

Below are today's featured products from Techo-Bloc.

Ming Stepping Stone Slabs

This large stepping-stone presents the look of natural flagstone to create a humble walkway, a secret side path, or a charming rustic patio. With its substantial size and dimension, this slab blends well into any landscape.

Onyx Black

Riviera
Sahara

Maya Stepping Stone Slabs

The Maya Stepping Stone is a wonderful way to enhance the “country” feel in your backyard. When you need to create sturdy, attractive walkways across lawn areas or between plantings consider a stone path with the Maya stepping stone. Maya creates highly decorative and dominant walkways that compliment the natural environment and provide your garden with a sense of tranquility and peace.

Riviera

Sahara
Victoria



For more information regarding these products from Techo-Bloc, or to purchase material, call or stop into one of our two store locations:

Camosse Masonry Supply Charlton

23 Trolley Crossing Road

Charlton, MA

(508)248-4044 ask for Jay

or

Camosse Masonry Supply Worcester

61 Southwest Cutoff

Worcester, MA

(508) 755-6193 ask for Chris

Inca Slabs

Today's blog features Inca slabs from Techo-Bloc.

Techo-Bloc's oversized stones can add an eye-catching element to patios, create enchanting garden walkways, and highlight and outline entertaining areas. Techo-Bloc slabs also coordinate with a wide variety of Techo-Bloc paving stones.

Pictured above is today's featured slab: Techo-Bloc's Inca.

Inca slabs from Techo-Bloc impart your landscape with the beauty and mystery of an ancient South American temple. An eye-catching stone ideal for the creation of imposing walkways, side paths, patios, and poolsides, Inca blends well with any landscape design.

Inca Slabs are available in two colors: Riviera (top) and Sahara (bottom).

To order Inca Slabs give us a call or stop into one of our two store locations:

Camosse Masonry Supply Charlton

23 Trolley Crossing Road

Charlton, MA

(508) 248-4044 ask for Jay

or

Camosse Masonry Supply Worcester

61 Southwest Cutoff

Worcester, MA

(508) 755-6193 ask for Chris

Summer is almost over...

Its already August, and before you know it, Labor Day will have come and gone. With only a few months left to complete your outdoor projects, Camosse Masonry Supply is a one-stop-shop for all your masonry/landscape supply needs.

We have a wide variety of granite, pavers, brick, block, treads, cultured stone, Green Stone™, natural stone, Veneer, adhesives, cleaners & sealers, mortar, indoor/outdoor fireplace kits, concrete mixes, fiberglass well covers, and tools from some of the leading manufacturers like: RocVale, Techo-Bloc, Unilock, Bolduc, Redland, Quikrete, Isokern, Stone of New England, Lehigh, Trow & Holden, Createk Stone, BonTool, Buddy Rhodes Concrete Products and Conproco.

We also offer an array of granite mailbox posts, granite steps & landings, custom split granite hitching posts and lots more!

Ask about our Green Stone™ line for additional savings!!

Give us a call or stop into one of our two store locations:

Camosse Masonry Supply Charlton

23 Trolley Crossing Road

Charlton, MA

(508) 248-4044 ask for Jay

or

Camosse Masonry Supply Worcester

61 Southwest Cutoff

Worcester, MA

(508) 755-6193 ask for Chris

Have all your material, but need help finding someone to do the work? Don't forget to ask for referrals!!

Tax Free Weekend

When?

Saturday August 16, 2008

8am-12noon

Where?

Camosse Masonry Supply Worcester

61 Southwest Cutoff

Worcester, MA

(508) 755-6193

AND

Camosse Masonry Supply Charlton

23 Trolley Crossing Road

Charlton, MA

(508) 248-4044

Save on items like:

Pavers

Fieldstone

Brick

Concrete

Granite

Green Stone™

Bagged Goods

Sealers & Cleaners

Granite Posts & Accessories

Veneer

Adhesives

Tools

Statuary

Fiberglass Well Covers

From well-known manufacturers like:

Techo-Bloc

RocVale

Bolduc

Hanson Hardscapes

McAvoy

Versa-Lok

Unilock

Redland

UMACO

Createk Stone

Stone of New England

Trow & Holden

BonTool

Buddy Rhodes Concrete Products

Quikrete

Conproco Redi-Mix Mortar