Acceptable Masonry Tolerances & Workmanship

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 12-1 p.m. Eastern Time
1 lu/hsw

Masonry structures provide durability, fire resistance, and resiliency along with beautiful aesthetics. Join us to learn how to effectively communicate with building owners to ensure a structure that aligns with their expectations while meeting tolerance requirements. We’ll discuss acceptable masonry tolerances found in codes and standards and how to properly apply them to building construction. We’ll also cover the impacts of tolerances of supporting structures, since they’re often less stringent than masonry. Finally, learn lessons from the field that highlight the importance of good workmanship and trained craftworkers.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explore masonry construction tolerances requirements found in codes and standards.
  • Learn the correct way to apply the tolerances to masonry walls.
  • Develop skills to communicate effectively with the owner to ensure a secure, durable, and visually appealing structure that aligns with their expectations.
  • Explain how to effectively observe and assess masonry construction in the field, ensuring it adheres to industry standards.

About the Speaker

Tom Elliott
Director of Industry Development and Technical Services, IMI

Tom Elliott-1Tom is a journey-level craftworker who joined the masonry industry in 1985 as an apprentice bricklayer for BAC Local 5 in Cleveland, Ohio. Throughout his time in the industry, he has worked as a journey-level bricklayer, project foreman, and field superintendent on larger masonry projects in Ohio and surrounding states. He also served as a project manager for a restoration contractor and oversaw the restoration of several historic structures.

Previously, he managed his own mason contracting business and helped to negotiate local labor contracts as a board member of the Northeast Ohio Contractors Association.

Tom is a member of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and is a CSI-Certified Construction Document Technologist. He is a voting member on several TMS subcommittees and is actively involved in the ACE Mentoring program. He is also a lecturer at both the Ohio State University and Kent State University and the Chairman of his local Architectural Board of Review and Planning Commission Board. 

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