My Last Word

For health reasons I am retiring, leaving my 40-year-old business in the capable hands of Justin Schmidt who has an ideal skill set: a sharp aesthetic eye, and the ability to work with people no matter how difficult they may be at times. Let’s enjoy some aphorisms I picked up along the way, not all of which I agree with, in discussions with developers, general contractors, other tradesmen, laborers, clients.

Any yahoo can run a commercial job, it takes someone special to do residential well.

Every new hire is good for the first two weeks—if they aren’t for any reason, fire them immediately because they will never get better.

The toughest part of his day is figuring out where to go for lunch.

Residential construction is not about bricks and mortar, it is more akin to theater.

From ‘A Guidebook to Architectural Practice’, 1952: When managing a project on site there are certain individuals one should always consult—the developer, the general contractor, the site superintendent—and there are certain ones to avoid.  For example, never speak directly with the masons.

Joe gave us a lower price, but we really want you to do the project—take 10 cents off the square foot price and the job is yours.

Client, arriving home at five o’clock, looking over the progress on her newly installed kitchen:  “I had no idea it would look like that!” Site super, sensing impending disaster: “It's exactly as shown on the print ma’am, may I show you?” Client: “Oh, I don’t care about that—this is my kitchen!”

Best way to get fired when starting out as a laborer: wear sandals to work.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with my hands my whole life, and looking at all thepermutations of laying brick and stone: from the hod carriers of India, to Mexican masons who build arches and domes without temporary forms, to the Polish crew who threw a shovel full of mortar up three flights to be caught by the next laborer who neatly deposited it on their mortarboard. I marvel at tools and techniques that have changed little in thousands of years and across many cultures; I am amused by the fact that 90% of the work we do can be accomplished with just the tools in my white canvas bag and two levels. I leave this practice with a feeling of tremendous gratitude for what I have learned, and the knowledge of how much more there is.

- Pat deKeyserling

Tilted Wall

An early conceptual piece by Justin Schmidt, it predates Richard Serra’s Cor Ten ‘Tilted Arc’, and is often cited as an inspiration for the latter’s work. Made of red sandstone pavers local to western NY, Type S mortar, and Type II high early strength concrete, it captures the ambiguity inherent in the traditional masonry retaining wall, and ultimately in all physical and emotional interactions involving thrust and resistance. Without structural failure, the wall has apparently come to rest on two oak trees, and is still carrying out its intended purpose despite its precarious position.

Stonybrook Drive Bridge Project

A charming enclave of 16 homes in Brighton, NY, surrounds Allen’s Creek off Edgewood Avenue near Monroe. Built by developer Donald Woods starting in 1939, it included the diversion of the creek to allow for a series of automobile bridges to serve the houses on the north side. Construction initially began from Roosevelt Ave. in the rear, until these four bridges over the creek were built. 

Before

Before

Due to steel shortages during WWII, Mr. Woods found an innovative solution to the quandary of bridge construction—the use of recycled of railroad car frames, from the Bettendorf Car Company of Leavenworth, Kansas. Started in 1895, by 1920 they had become the largest manufacturer of rail cars east of the Mississippi, employing 3000; by 1932 they had closed their doors. We surmise that some of their cars ended up at Merchants Despatch Transportation Company, incorporated in 1880 in East Rochester. Fabricators of railroad cars, and buyers of other companies in their ascendance, they put out 36 refrigerated train cars a day in their prime. Bettendorf frames were an innovation in their one piece forged steel design, with no bolts or joints to loosen during use on train cars.

The flow of Allen’s Creek is a dynamic environment. Seemingly placid at 12” deep, a rapid thaw or violent thunderstorm can quickly raise its height 6’, to lap at the bridge decks. Record floods in 1947, 1960 and 1974 innundated Stonybrook Drive and surrounding yards, but did no damage to structures, a testament to Mr. Woods planning. Our building permit from the Town of Brighton stipulated the proper attachment of the replacement beam to its concrete abutments, so that it might not float away in this possible one hundred year event.

This imaginative Spanish sculptor discovered a way to 'knead' stones

We're fascinated by these pieces from sculptor José Manuel Castro López. See more images here.

Concrete Step Repair on Rock Beach Road

While the manufacture and use of cast stone in building dates to the 12th century in Europe, its widespread use here began around the turn of the last century as a cheaper alternative to cut natural stone.  An extremely hard and durable product, it can nevertheless fall victim to a common failure in masonry construction—rusting at the base of metal railings or other embedded elements.  On the shore of lake Ontario, in a magnificent 1930-era house built on a four acre estate on Rock Beach Road, we dealt with an example this summer. 

When cast iron or steel rusts it exfoliates, and, like freezing water, exerts tremendous lateral pressure, often sufficient to damage or break off the surrounding concrete or stone.  The masonry student will observe that this phenomenon at the base of steel handrails, even relatively new ones, is incredibly common on both residential and commercial structures, especially in an environment where de-icing salt is used.  Our industry refers to this as job security.

The solution is a series of small steps:  removal of the damaged sections and rusted steel down to a sound surface, use of pins and adhesive to bond a new pour to the existing, form and pour a mixture formulated to match the hundred year old product, and finishing.  In this case the steel railings that caused the failure were skillfully restored and reworked to engage the steps with fewer posts, and powder coated for longevity.  Good for another hundred years, more if kept painted.
 

Stonelove Bistro

written by guest author Justin Schmidt

Hirotoshi Itoh

After spending six years atop Ojos del Selado in Chile, eating nothing but metamorphic rocks, coca leaves, and peyote, Master chef Hirotoshi Itoh has opened his latest fusion restaurant in the heart of Canarsie, Brooklyn.  In an op-ed piece by Sara Stewart of the New York Post, she called Canarsie "the next East Bushwick;" due to the rising costs of rent, influx of third-wave coffee roasters, and burgeoning avant-garde restaurant scene.
 
Yelper, hipster, and freelance cat toy consultant, "Jeff M." announced that Stonelove Bistro was "[T]he best thing to happen to NYC since Guy's American Kitchen & Bar!"  Similarly, twitter user @KnittingApathy, Danielle F. said "Eat your heart out, @GuyFieriOfficial!"  We met with Itoh to see what the buzz was all about.
 
Itoh calls his food "Stone Fusion," incorporating elements of metamorphic rock, Bangkok street food, Cornish pasty, and nouvelle cuisine.  His signature dish, "Granite Game Hen" served over basalt and onyx (market price), often leads to a line around the block.  His "Serpentine Satay" ($28, serves two) is another hot item that he has difficulty keeping up with.  Itoh currently works with local quarries within a 50 mile radius of his flagship, but in August, he will visit many more in an effort to expand his "quarry to table" concept in cities like Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Sioux Falls.  A pop-up location in Utica, NY is set to open in October.

Hirotoshi Itoh

Hirotoshi Itoh

Following the success of his new restaurant on Flatlands Avenue, Itoh has plans to soft launch a haute couture workwear line of purses for men and women.  Below is an example of what one can expect from his upcoming launch at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.   

Hirotoshi Itoh