Fastest Trowel on the Block

The Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition is hosted by the Mason Contractors Association of America. The contest showcases the speed and skill of a journeyman mason and how important teamwork is in accomplishing a final product. With the time limit that is placed on the contestant, they must make certain decisions based on the judging criteria set forth.

About the Competition

The Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition, hosted by the MCAA, is a showcase of industry craftsmanship and a testament of both the speed and skill of our industry's workforce. Only journeymen masons who have the skill, confidence and courage to face-off with the industry's best are invited to compete. This is a contest that also proves how important teamwork is in accomplishing a final product.

The competition will pit journeyman masons, accompanied by their two favorite tenders, against one another in a show of both speed and craftsmanship. Each contestant's goal is to complete as much of an 18 block long wall as possible, using 8"x8"x16" CMU and the provided mortar in a twenty-minute heat. Contestants must have a high degree of workmanship using normal masonry practices and hand tools.

The contest promotes quality training and pride in workmanship among journeymen and contractors, as well as promoting the craftsmanship, speed and versatility of masonry systems and the masonry workforce. This contest also rewards and highlights the country's best mason journeymen for their hard work and dedication to the trade.

Competition Rules

Contestants will have 30 to 45 minutes before the start of the contest period to work with the mortar, locate and determine the height of the mortar boards, and finalize the locations of the block piles. During this time contestants will also lay an 18 block long base course and check the alignment. The block in the base course will not be counted in the contest. The base course must all be full size units. No half units will be allowed. The first competition course will start and end with half units.

The contest begins. Contestants are responsible for raising the leads at each end of the wall, securing the line and pins/corner blocks, and for running each course of block. All contestants must use a string line. The use of metal, timber, or other end profile posts or prepared block is prohibited. While constructing their wall, contestants must place four trigs, one at each end of the wall at the top of the base course and at the top of the third course, to be used in judging story. Trigs will be placed on the side of the wall facing the mortar boards.

The mason must lift each block from no more than five piles of block and all trowels of mortar from no more than four spot boards. These piles and boards must be set out along the length of the wall in usual working fashion by the contestant and helpers, and in accordance with the stall map provided.

No more than two helpers will be allowed per contestant. Any assistance from these helpers in placing block in the contestant's wall, transferring mortar from the spot boards to the wall, applying mortar to the blocks or handling the blocks from the piles to the mason will result in disqualification for this team. The tenders or helpers can keep the piles of block replenished and can place the block on the pile any way the mason wants. Once the mason has touched a block the helpers cannot touch the block again. Helpers can keep the mortar boards full but cannot touch any of the mason's tools such as levels, lines, pins, etc.

The wall must be cut flush on both sides prior to laying the next course. Points will be deducted for true and workmanship for any completed courses not cut. There will be judges constantly monitoring this.

At the end of 20 minutes of the final round, the mason must stop laying block.

There will be a two-minute break. A coin will be tossed to determine which side of the walls will be judged for voids and workmanship, the sides facing the mortar boards or the sides not facing the mortar boards. All contestants will be judged for voids and workmanship on that side of the wall and the jambs. Plumb will be judged on the side facing the mortar boards (see CADD drawing).

All contestants will be allowed three minutes to strike the wall prior to judging voids and workmanship. The purpose of this three-minute period is the improvement of voids, using only the jointer (hand jointer, sled runner or both, but only one at a time). Mortar can be used, and trowels may be held and used as a pallet for the mortar. No tools other than the jointer or sled runner may be used on the wall. No contestant will be allowed to use his trowel to point in voids. Other than striking and tooling of joints, no additional corrections to the wall will be permitted. Brushing and/or sponging the wall is not allowed. These faces will be used to judge voids and workmanship. All other requirements will be judged on the opposite face of the wall while the contestant is striking the face to be judged for voids and workmanship.

Competition Materials

In the competition, contestants will use the official weight block and mortar supplied. Contestants may temper their mortar with water. Concrete masonry units will be 8"x8"x16" cmu and 8"x8"x8". Each contestant will be provided 180 full size and 12 halves. No additional block will be provided under any conditions.

Each contestant must furnish his own tools. The only allowable tools to be used during the competition are:

- Levels (must provide a 4' level for judging) - Trowels - String Line - Jump Boards - Jointers - Trigs - Line Pins - Blocks/Dogs - Sled Runners

Each contestant will receive one spool of braided string, 2 line blocks and 4 trigs. No other tools will be provided or available.

Scaffolding is not allowed. If the contestant determines that there is a need for a jump board to achieve the maximum height, jump boards may be placed on a single 8" height of 8"x8"x16" concrete masonry units. The jump boards may be placed by the mason tenders. Jump boards must be placed in a safe manner that does not interfere with other contestants and provides a stable and safe support for the contestant. All jump boards must be furnished by the contestant.

Mortar boards will be provided. If a contestant wishes, a different type of mortar board or mortar pan may be used, but contestants must provide their own equipment.

Levels are to be provided by the contestant and left on the wall upon completion for use in judging. Either one or two levels can be used. Four-foot levels are mandatory for use in judging. If a contestant wishes, another length level may be used during the actual competition, but a four-foot level must be provided for use by the judges.

Judging

The Fastest Trowel on the Block contest is a competition of both speed and skilled craftsmanship. Contestants are scored out of 100 points, with 30% of their score based on the quantity of block laid. The remainder of the score is a function of the quality of their wall. The fastest block layer doesn't always win, but the best does! The contest will be judged by MCAA Officers. Officers are not eligible to judge if they have a contestant competing. Contestants are scored out of 100 points, broken down as follows:

- True and Workmanship (10 points) - Plumb (15 points) - Level (15 points) - Story (15 points) - Voids (15 points) - Production (30 points)

True and Workmanship (10 points)This category is subjectively rated by all judges. Walls will be rated by assessing bond accuracy or alignment, coursing appearance, out of plane or tipped block and bows, dips, and lumps, along with joints that are not cut flush, mortar stains and smears, etc. Only the working face will be judged. Each judge will award the best wall in the competition 10 points and all other walls a portion of 10 points (ranging from 0-9) depending on the appearance of each wall compared to the best wall.

Plumb (15 points)Contestant's level will be used for judging. Vertical plumb will be measured on both ends and in the center only. The number of 1/8" deviations in excess of 1/8" (1/8" at each location is allowed) will be deducted.

Level (15 points)Contestant's 4' level will be used for judging. The top course of the wall at three locations, both ends and in the middle will be judged. The single point of greatest deviation in each of the three sections will be recorded. The number of 1/8" deviations in excess of 1/8" (1/8" at each location is allowed) will be deducted.

Story (15 points)The contestant's tape measure will be used for judging. Contestants are to place trig at top block on the base course and top of block on the third competition course. Story height at both ends of the wall will be measured. Four measurements will be taken: third course trig to the top of the top course block and base trig to third course trig at each end of the wall. The number of 1/8" deviations in excess of 1/8" (1/8" at each location is allowed) will be deducted

Voids (15 points)Only one side of the wall will be judged - determined by a coin toss following the block-laying portion of the competition. Voids will be measured and rounded up to whole inch. One half point for each 1" will be deducted. A void is defined by any opening in a head or bed joint. Also, mortar that did not squeeze to the plane of the face shell is also considered a void. A void breaks the visual continuity of the mortar joint.

Production (30 points)The number of block laid by each contestant will be counted. The contestant that lays the most block will receive 30 points. The other contestants will have 1/2 point deducted from the 30 points for each block less they lay than contestant that lays the most block.

Past Winners

2008

First PlacePascal RobertsonRobertson MasonrySorrento, FLTenders: Tyler Robertson, Jesse Fullen

Second PlaceRay RobinsonJ.A.M. Construction, Inc.Gainesville, FLTenders: Lynette Darby, James Allen

Third PlaceNoe MelgozaAvila MasonryGlendale, AZTenders: Oswaldo Rodriguez, Diego Martinez

2007

First PlaceRay RobinsonJ.A.M. Construction, Inc.Gainesville, FL

Second PlaceMike Canez IIITriple M Masonry, Inc.Phoenix, AZ

Third PlaceGonzalo LopezFyffe Masonry & Plastering, Inc.Glendale, AZ

2006

First PlaceMike Canez, IIITriple M MasonryPhoenix, AZ

Second PlacePascal RobertsonRobertson MasonryApopka, FL

Third PlaceMoroni Meja, IIRhino MasonryMesa, AZ

2005

First PlaceBenjamin HoughtonHoughton MasonryBlue Grass, IA

Second PlaceScott RammHeartland ConstructionCedar Rapids, IA

Third PlaceJavier LaresWinco MasonryPorter, TX

2004

First PlaceMoroni Meja, IIRhino Masonry, Inc.Mesa, AZ

Second PlacePascal RobertsonRobertson MasonryApopka, FL

Third PlaceRamon GonzalezCanyon Rock Masonry, Inc.Flagstaff, AZ

2003

First PlaceRex AllenCunningham MasonryGreen Cove Springs, FL

Second PlacePascal RobertsonRobertson MasonryApopka, FL

Third PlaceGlen Houghton, Sr.Houghton MasonryBlue Grass, IA

2002

First PlaceRudolfo RamirezGBC MasonryLake Elsinore, CA

Second PlaceBen HoughtonBetter Built MasonryDurant, IA

Third PlaceMike Canez, IIIRivera MasonryPhoenix, AZ

External links

* [http://www.fastesttrowel.com Fastest Trowel on the Block]
* [http://www.youtube.com/masoncontractorsassn Fastest Trowel on the Block Video]
* [http://www.masoncontractors.org Mason Contractors Association of America]