Masonry restoration training: a Kansas contractor and community college have joined forces to create the next generation craftsmen

Masonry Construction, March, 2003 by Frank Halsey

Established as a church painting business in 1946, Mid-Continental Restoration Co., Fort Smith, Kan., grew over the next half-century to become one of the leading U.S. contractors in masonry repair and restoration, waterproofing, and new masonry construction. Key to the company's success is a stable workforce of skilled craftsmen that restore state and federal buildings, historic monuments and structures, schools and churches, hospitals, state-of-the-art skyscrapers, and modern commercial buildings. (Mid-Continental was #14 on MASONRY CONSTRUCTION magazine's "Top 50 Contractors" list [November 2002], and ranked #2 in the country for repair/ restoration/renovation work.)

By 1998, employee-owned Mid-Continental's growth become so significant that it was short of workers at skilled levels. As it opened new offices across the country, the company supplemented its workforce with experienced craftsmen from existing markets. Business was booming, but experienced craftsmen were becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Labor shortage

Contractors across the country are finding that the pool of skilled masons and restoration craftsmen is shrinking and will continue to dwindle as experienced workers retire or leave the industry for other reasons. The younger generations have not accepted the building trades as a career option. Parents and teachers have promoted careers that require college educations; consequently, the specialized construction trades have suffered.

This problem becomes even greater as more and more non-residential buildings are built with low-maintenance masonry materials such as concrete block, brick veneer, stone, granite, marble, tile, or glass. Add the growing stock of old masonry buildings and the increasing use of brick and stone for decorative work on building fronts, in lobbies and in foyers and the need for masons is significant, according to forecasts from the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Mid-Continental's labor needs are very specialized. In addition to basic masonry expertise, its workforce must possess a unique set of skills in repair, which are usually learned on the job over many years. However, in 1999 the company didn't have the luxury of waiting to replenish its base of skilled workers.

Sharing success

Drawing upon its expertise, Mid-Continental decided to offer specialized skills training in-house. The company developed a training course for new and recent hires that accelerated the learning curve on the basics of restoration skills. The course was led by a 20-year employee and craftsman.

The program was an immediate success. Graduates were quickly integrated into the company's workforce with knowledge and skills that would have taken them many months to develop in the field.

As word spread, Fort Scott Community College approached Mid-Continental about offering the training program in its technical school. The Mid-Continental management team, which includes several active members of the Sealant Waterproofing & Restoration Institute (SWRI), firmly believed that the company would ultimately benefit by raising the bar throughout the industry. The company's philosophy is that competing on a level playing field of quality craftsmanship only improves the entire restoration and waterproofing industry.

With that in mind, Mid-Continental agreed to let Fort Scott Community College take over its restoration training. The contractor required that the program be made available to companies and craftsmen throughout the industry, and that the community college would work diligently at promoting this training to school counselors and educators.

Fort Scott Community College and Mid-Continental collaborated to develop an intensive two-week program teaching basic masonry restoration skills. The college developed the curriculum and training guidelines and provided an instructor under contract from Mid-Continental.

The restoration technology program typically is offered during the construction industry's off-season of October-February. In any two-week session, craftsmen from as far away as California, Texas, South Dakota, or Washington, D.C. will attend for classroom and hands-on training. Class size is limited to 10 because of the hands-on instruction.

During the session, attendees get training for the restoration and repair of masonry, brick, stone, concrete, and terra cotta, including building cleaning, repointing, patching and replacement; and waterproofing, sealants, and injection methods. Materials manufacturers' printed data and applicable material safety data sheets are reviewed.

The course stresses loyalty and dependability as well as safety procedures and the use of personal protective equipment. Math and reading skill assessments are completed. Comprehensive training in a specific skill also can be arranged.

The program is accredited and graduates can begin or continue study towards a college degree.

Incredible results

Since its inception in February 2001, the Fort Scott program has trained more than 90 craftsmen from across the country.