Box-Lunch Seminars

The following one-hour seminars have been designed primarily for architects, but may be helpful to engineers, facilities management firms, and masonry practitioners as well.  All of the seminars are given in your office by RMMI’s Technical Director Diane Travis and include a complimentary box lunch for all attendees.  We ask that you have at least five attendees for each seminar.  Please give Diane a call at 303-893-3838 or email dianet@rmmi.org if you would like to schedule a box-lunch seminar in the near future. 

Load Bearing Masonry Walls—New in 2009

The cost of steel has been sky-rocketing in the last two years.  By comparison, the cost of brick and block has remained stable.  This seminar will tell you about software programs that show you how to design load-bearing masonry walls at a click of a mouse.  It will also show you how to detail a masonry cavity wall with CMU back-up.  Finally, we will give you up-to-date cost information about various wall systems and will help you select the right wall for your project.

Workmanship—New in 2009

We produced this seminar for the Brick Industry Association to teach brick salesmen (and owners and architects) how to judge the quality of masonry work on the job site.

Flashing—The Most Important Masonry Detail

Since flashing is usually hidden, it is sometimes substituted or deleted.  This can be a HUGE mistake. Although flashing is not a masonry material itself, it is the critical piece that makes the rest of your detail work.  This seminar will help you compare different flashing materials (for cost as well as effectiveness).  The class will also teach you where to put the flashing and how to install it so that it will work.

How to Maximize your LEED Credits with Masonry Construction

Masonry can make a significant contribution to meeting LEED Green Building certification. LEED is a rating system developed by the US Green Building Council to evaluate a building’s environmental impact and performance.    Filling out LEED forms can be complex and confusing.  This seminar will help you understand the system and get full credit for your masonry structure.

Buying an Historic Masonry Building

Historic Denver asked us to put this class together to educate realtors and investors who are considering purchase of an historic building.  The class will help you evaluate masonry flaws and will teach you what is needed to repair and maintain a masonry building.  Masonry buildings are built to last.  One hundred years of age is just the beginning for a well-maintained brick, block or stone building.

How the 2003 International Building Code Affects Masonry Design

Although the Uniform Building Code was officially replaced by the International Building Code in 2000, most municipalities did not get around to adopting the new code until recently.  Most code authorities are now using the 2003 IBC.  It will significantly affect the way you design, detail and build in the future.  Don’t get a nasty surprise.  Learn about the changes before you make a mistake.

Quality Assurance for Masonry Construction  

This seminar tells you what to look for at the Job Site to make sure that your building has a long-lasting, trouble-free future.  It also gives you the ground rules for judging a masonry wall.  Finally, if serious problems develop on the job, this seminar tells you how to test the work for compliance.

Masonry 101

This introductory seminar is designed for people who are unfamiliar with masonry construction.  If gives you the basic tools you will need to design with brick, block and stone.  The class also gives you a list of resources you can consult if you need more advanced information.

Designing Water Resistant Masonry Walls

It is very important to keep water out of masonry walls, and to design wall systems to allow for the release of moisture.  Freeze-thaw cycles can destroy brick, block and stone.  Water trapped in any wall system can lead to mold problems, an expensive problem to remedy.  This seminar takes a broad look at the challenge and gives advice about: good materials; good design; good craftsmanship; and good maintenance.

Historic Preservation and Maintenance of Masonry

Denver has a rich legacy of masonry structures from the turn of the century which are ripe for remodeling and restoration.  Learn about tuckpointing, safe masonry cleaning, stone consolidation and structural stabilization of deteriorating brick walls.  Understanding the original construction techniques will help you repair and maintain existing masonry buildings.

Masonry in the Landscape—Planters, Pavers and Retaining Walls and Fences

Masonry used in the landscape and in site furnishings is repeatedly saturated, frozen, baked and vandalized.  It leads a tough life.  It must be carefully detailed if it is expected to last.  This seminar will tweak your imagination with beautiful new designs.  It will also show you “how to do it right”. 

Masonry Detailing on a Budget

Budget limitations are a fact of life for most projects.  Some details cost almost nothing.  Some cost a lot.  If you know the difference, you can save yourself a lot of re-design time.

Choosing the Right Masonry Wall System for your Budget

This seminar is aimed at people who want to use masonry (brick, block and stone) but have a tight budget.  Some value-engineering options work just fine, but others can significantly affect the long-term viability of the building.  It is always better to understand your options before you build the structure.

Advanced Masonry Detailing

For those who want to expand their range of knowledge, this seminar tells you how to build such unusual masonry conditions as masonry corbels, masonry arches, coined corners, custom-molded brick units and Byzantine brick patterns.  This is a strongly aesthetic presentation with tidbits of technical information sandwiched between slides of beautiful award-winning designs.

Detailing with Stone Veneer

Architects and engineers have often complained to me that they cannot find good information about how to install stone veneer in a modern cavity wall system.  This lecture will cover information about both natural stone and manufactured stone veneer systems. 

Diane’s Top Ten Worst Masonry Details

This seminar covers the ten worst masonry details Diane has seen along with advice about how to modify these drawings into weather-tight construction details that can actually be built and will work for decades. 

Single Wythe Masonry Walls

Single wythe masonry walls can offer significant cost savings but they must be very thoughtfully designed and carefully built to perform well.  This seminar will teach you what to look for when detailing and inspecting single wythe construction.