Brick Talk Live: Masonry Restoration in Texas with Experts Alan Pettingille and Benchmark Harris In this episode of Brick Talk Live, host Gillian Lancaster welcomes masonry restoration specialists Alan Pettingale and Benchmark Harris. They discuss their experiences and challenges in preserving historic buildings, sharing their journey from their first meeting to their collaborative workshops. The conversation dives into the intricacies of masonry restoration, the role of The Masonry Society, and the importance of codes and patents in ensuring public safety. The guests also talk about their inventions aimed at improving masonry restoration and isolating plumbing from expansive soils. Listeners are treated to insights on historical projects, innovative solutions, and the camaraderie that develops through shared preservation efforts. 00:00 Introduction to Brick Talk Live 00:11 Meet the Experts: Alan and Benchmark 00:50 First Encounters and Early Challenges 01:39 Innovations and Patents in Masonry 03:09 The Importance of Collaboration 04:16 Historic Projects and Personal Stories 07:47 The Role of Codes and Regulations 17:14 Memorable Workshops and Adventures 26:48 Memories on Set and Historical Anecdotes 27:31 Evolution of Building Technology 28:18 Historic Building Kits and Facades 29:21 Empirical Masonry and Engineering Challenges 36:58 Inventions and Innovations in Masonry 40:58 The Mudskipper Invention and Plumbing Issues 45:10 Challenges in the Engineering Industry 54:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Gillian talks to Jessica about her background, work for the Michigan Government and now for her own business, Preservation Forward. Lots of gems about learning a trade, codes, women in conventionally male jobs, and educating the next generation.

On this episode of BrickTalkLive, our guest today, Michael Schuller, talks to Alan Pettingale about what he loves to do - which includes traveling to work in far off locations like Easter Island, the Taj Mahal, and Angkor Wat - in addition to his work at his headquarters in Colorado.

Back when Alan left the military, he came across an article that led him on an odyssey to become a mason with a particular interest in masonry restoration. Listen to hear how this all came about, and what happened when Al came to America with his knowledged skills,

Al relates how he met Professor Tom Grimm, and that Tom Grimm told him to go to The Masonry Society meeting on his behalf, and be sure to find Mike Schuller. From there the stories and history progress, including more recent developments in The Masonry Society, and how crucial it is for both engineers and masons to belong.

Find out more at Brick Talk Live's site and more about Al at his site AlanPettingale.com and about Michael Schuller at the site for his company.

Join Alan Pettingale and Gillian Lancaster as they talk about historic brick preservation, and the differences in techniques in the US and those of the e rest of the world.

Read more at BrickTalk.Live