Category Archives: Editorial

Design manual for end-users

Published in Discovering Stone magazine, page 43.

Architects, builders, designers, property developers and stone industry participants have always lamented the lack of a comprehensive guide to the specification, installation, protection and restoration of natural stone.

Architects seeking advice on standards have invariably turned to ASTM (American Society for Testing and Material) for guidance. Given the absence of available funding for the development of similar standards in Australia, the Australian Stone Advisory Association determined that the best, and most effective way forward, lay in development of a comprehensive manual which references the ASTM recommendations, and provides a contemporary snapshot of local and international industry practices.

Continue reading →

ASAA Brisbane Seminar hosted by Mapei Australia

DATE: 27 OCTOBER 2016

The Board is delighted to announce its first seminar programme in Brisbane. The seminars will be presented at Mapei Australia’s new production facility on Thursday, 27 October.

Venue: Mapei Australia, 180 Viking Drive, Wacol QLD

The schedule is:

5.30 – 6.15 p.m. Australian Dimension Stones presented by David West, Materialswise

Description: This presentation is an introduction to the range of natural dimension stones (granite, marble, sandstone, bluestone, slate, limestone) currently quarried and sold in Australia. It provides a brief historical context, and illustrates the range of Australian dimension stones through reference to an assortment of buildings and landscapes completed in Australia over the past thirty years. Details of resources with further information on these dimension stones will be provided.

Speaker background: David has over thirty years’ experience with the use of stone in buildings. He has run a stone testing lab, written standards for stone, inspected a wide range of stone quarries and fabrication plants worldwide, designed and specified major stone cladding and paving installations, and inspected and reported on many stone buildings and landscapes. David is a materials scientist by training, and currently consults on the use of stone in buildings.

6.15 – 6.30 p.m. Questions and answers

6.30 – 7.15 p.m. Preventing Dimensional Instability & Curling of Stone presented by Marco DeSantis, Manager of Research & Development, Mapei Australia.

Description: Choosing an appropriate adhesive for natural stone or agglomerate materials can be achieved by accurately assessing the products dimensional stability – sensitivity to water and thermal variations. Marco DeSantis will present an analytical classification system which measures the amount of deformation natural and artificial stones will be subjected to. Products are designated class A, B or C, and an appropriate adhesive is recommended. Learn about the associated specialised equipment and processes.

7.15 – 7.30 p.m. Questions and answers

7.30 p.m. Refreshments

A number of visitors will be invited to participate in a short tour of Mapei’s new laboratories.

To reserve seating call or SMS Tony Stock on 0431 388127 or email tonystock1.asaa@gmail.com

Note: The content of all presentations are entirely generic

Back to Basics – Onyx

“Wow!” is what people want to hear after installing onyx. According to Richard McKenzie of Ocean+ Merchant, the stone is thought of as being a fairytale stone – it becomes what you want it to be. It can be used to add a sense of mystery, set the mood or make a statement. It is indeed a special stone in that it makes people stop and take notice. Read more…

Sandstone in our built environment

In the last edition of Discovering Stone, Jim Mann mentioned in ‘Sandstone Back to Basics’ the significant changes which have taken place in relation to use of sandstone, as large format cladding and thin tiles, versus its early use as large hewn blocks. We take a look at some recent projects, prime suppliers and their products. A small but growing number of sandstone producers export product. Read more…

Women working in stonemasonry

Anna and Amba are studying for their Certificate III in Stonemasonry at Miller TAFE, NSW.

In the last edition of Tile Today magazine we interviewed Melissa Scott, a young female tile fixer. We were not surprised to discover that Melissa was one of a mere handful of female tile fixers.

Much to our delight we discovered that around 15 women have completed the stonemasonry course at Miller College, South West Sydney Institute (SWSi), since the current course was established in 1991. Continued….