A Natural Material, A Natural Choice.

Masonry materials have always been recognized as sturdy and attractive, but few realize that they are energy-efficient and earth-friendly, too. In Washington’s environmentally conscious culture, masonry materials are “green” throughout their life cycle.

Perhaps masonry's greatest contribution to the environment, however, is its durability. The life span of a masonry structure, whether it's brick, block or stone, can be over a thousand years if designed and constructed properly. Even the most conservative estimates of a masonry product’s life expectancy is 100 years or more. Because of its longevity, they are typically the last material in a building to require recycling.

In comparison, newer synthetic building materials have a poor durability record. They can encounter problems like moisture intrusion, which rots the wood sheathing, and frequent damage means more of these new materials will find their way to the landfills in our lifetime.

The Masonry Institute of Washington was founded in 1972 to promote the masonry industry, provide technical information and resources, and provide a liaison between the design professions, the general public and mason contractors. 

 The MIW is available to provide assistance to the design and construction professions through:

 · Providing standardized details via www.masonrydetails.com.

· Providing a forum for design and construction professionals to discuss design options for brick/block/marble/terazzo/tile and restoration.

· Sponsoring informational presentations via office Lunch & Learns.

· Counseling of individual architects and engineers on specific projects designs.

· Distribution of technical literature; and

· Research and testing to improve materials and construction techniques.