The Munson, Inc. Blog

"How Late In The Year Do You Work?"

2012-01-17T13:40:00.001-06:00

It's that time of year . . . time to put away the paving equipment until April. That is what some of our customers think, but it's actually far from true. Obviously it's too cold to crack fill or seal pavement and the asphalt plants stop making hotmix, thus we cannot pave large jobs; however we do have our pothole crew out working during the winter with cold-mix asphalt. As long as the pavement is reasonably dry we can make these types of asphalt repairs. Other common fixes are ramping asphalt along concrete areas to avoid trip hazards. These areas will heave up when frost enters the ground and pushes the surrounding pavement up. Common areas are around man holes and concrete walk ways. They eventually settle back down in the spring, but can cause quite the headaches in January, February and March. Sometimes it's cheaper to install and remove a temporary asphalt patch than to have a customer with a medical insurance claim.

The other working paving crew is the concrete crew. This is the time of the year when typically we do interior work such as floor repairs and modifications. Trench patches and crane or heavy machine pad footings are commonly done during this time as many places have a winter shut down of their own and the timing is right.

Finally that leaves us with our fence crews. Although always preferring indoor work in the winter, we do work out in the snow and cold all winter long if the conditions are not hazardous. If that becomes the case then you can usually find them plowing and/or salting for our customers.

Even if your projects are not geared for winter or indoor work, Munson is open year round to handle your emergency work or help you plan your budgets for work in the upcoming spring or summer.

The Strongest Fence In The World?

2011-09-08T10:20:00.001-05:00

Can your fence handle a 15,000 pound truck going 40 miles per hour and stop it dead in its tracks? !

If that's they type of fence you need we have just what you are looking for! The Impasse High Security Fence by Ameristar is a heavy steel palisade fence system designed to provide the end user with a level of security not typically achieved with traditional chain link and ornamental fence systems. The Impasse security fence provides a platform to incorporate multiple perimeter security peripherals into the fence system. The ability to incorporate IDS, fiber, conduit and CCTV cable into a single system provides the owner with a formidable design in lieu of a costly patchwork system.

High security fence has been redefined with the unique profiles of the Impasse security fence system. Its steel cross sections make this security fence a strong deterrent to casual breach attempts. The multiple styles and rail configurations of the Impasse high security fence give this palisade system the best delay time when compared to other perimeter security fence products. If you need more information on this or other types of security fence give us a call. There are many styles to fit your budget and needs.

2011 Spring Savings Coupon

2011-04-20T17:43:00.001-05:00

*** DUE TO OVERWHELMING SUCCESS THIS SPECIAL OFFER HAS BEEN EXTENDED ONE TIME ONLY TO 08/31/2011 ***

For a limited time (until 06/01/2011) take advantage of our spring savings:

$300 off any CONCRETE or ASPHALT paving.

$300 off any TENNIS COURT Re-Coloring.

$300 off any FENCING.

5% off Driveway SEAL COATING.

Hurry now to take advantage of this limited time offer or pass it along to a friend in need!

Clay Court Maintenance Certification Seminar

2011-03-24T17:25:00.000-05:00

Munson, Inc. and Har-Tru invite you to attend a

Clay Court Maintenance Certification Seminar

For Teaching Professionals, Club Managers, Court Maintenance Technicians and Tennis Court Builders

Everything you need to know about clay tennis courts

Sponsored by Munson, Inc. and Har-Tru

Hosted by the Geneva National Swim and Racquet Club

When:
Tuesday, May 17, 2011: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Wednesday, May 18, 2011: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Where:
Geneva National Swim and Racquet Club, Club 755
755 Geneva National Avenue North
Lake Geneva, WI 53147

Cost:
$195.00 per person

Participants receive a continental breakfast, lunch, education materials, hands-on experience and a 5% discount coupon good for 6 months on Har-Tru maintenance tools demonstrated at the seminar.

Cost does not include transportation or lodging. For lodging, please contact:

Lodge at Geneva Ridge,
W4240 State Rd. 50
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
800-225-5558

Inns of Geneva National
1091 Hidden Cottage Circle
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
800-245-4000

Classroom and hands on topics include:

The life-cycle of clay
Clay court construction
Daily, periodic & annual maintenance practices
Court conditioning tools & techniques
Court reconditioning
Court irrigation principles and techniques

Registration Information
Registration Deadline: May 10, 2011
Request registration form by e-mailing: emontecalvo@hartru.com

Questions?

Contact Ed Montecalvo, Har-Tru at 800-327-8379 or emontecalvo@hartru.com

QuickStart Tennis

2011-03-11T18:08:00.000-06:00

You may have heard the term QuickStart Tennis or 10 and Under Tennis, but do you know what it truly means? 10 and Under Tennis using the QuickStart Tennis play format takes a new and better approach to introducing kids to the game. Balls are lower in compression; they bounce lower and don't move as fast so they are easier to hit. This allows kids time to get to the ball and helps them develop optimal swing patterns. Racquets are sized for small hands, and the courts are smaller and easier to cover. All that equals more fun and less frustration. Full sized courts can be reconfigured to accommodate up to six 36-foot courts, so instead of waiting in line, kids can spend their time playing.

A great link for information is http://10andundertennis.com/about.htm. The site has great videos explaining all of your questions.

If you are interested in constructing a QuickStart court, or just adding lines to your existing courts, please give us a call at 414-351-0800 or at info@munsoninc.com as part of the costs may be covered by grants.

Tennis Court Repair Workshops Added

2011-03-05T09:25:00.001-06:00

Due to overwhelming request, Munson has added more free seminars for you to learn about your options when it comes to repairing the cracks on your tennis courts. Learn about different methods and options, re-coloring (resurfacing) choices for your courts and where you can find financial assistance (grants) that may be out there for you.

Workshop dates and locations include:

03.29.11 Dodgeville: Sam and Maddies at the Don Q Inn
03.30.11 Wisconsin Dells: AmericInn
03.31.11 Tomah: Cranberry Country Lodge
04.05.11 Onalaska: Stoney Creek Inn & Conference Center
04.06.11 Eau Claire: Holiday Inn - Campus Area/I-94
04.07.11 Wausau: Howard Johnson Conference Center

Though the workshops are free, workshop space is limited and registration is required. To register for one of the workshops, call Munson, Inc. at 800.236.0340.

We look forward to your call … and your participation in our free, tennis court repair workshops.

A Tennis Court with no love for tennis balls.

2011-02-25T08:54:00.001-06:00

From Yahoo Sports 1/21/2011: While warming up for her third-round Australian Open match, Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova noticed a bouncy spot on the court. "It was a little bit strange," she said. "I thought Nike had put some extra cushioning in my shoes!" The chair umpire came out to inspect the area and tried to bounce a ball on the spot. The result has to be seen to be believed:

The ball doesn't bounce at all! It's completely absorbed by the court. There's no upward movement at all. I just tried dropping a tennis ball on a soft pillow and there was at least a little. That one simply died, like it was caught by one of those velcro paddles you see people playing with on the beach.

What happened is that the stifling temperatures in Melbourne caused a heat bubble filled with air to form under the surface of the court. It's the same concept that causes crust bubbles to develop on edges of pizza slices. As the Mirror reported, workers came out and drilled two small holes in the court, which let out the air. Order, and gravity, was restored.

Complete stories here:
http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/blog/busted_racquet/post/Video-Maria-Sharapova-finds-dead-spot-on-Austra?urn=ten-310644

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/580104-video-australian-open-official-drills-holes-in-court-when-ball-doesnt-bounce

3/1/11 Update - The bubble effect was the cause of a thinner asphalt overlay bubbling up off the concrete surface below, not the color coating bubbling up off the asphalt.

Federer and Nadal play on floating tennis court

2011-01-04T17:02:00.000-06:00

"If you build it . . . they will come."

http://newslite.tv/2011/01/04/federer-and-nadal-play-on-floa.html

Register Today for One of Our Free Tennis Court Repair Workshops

2011-01-02T12:02:00.001-06:00

Over the past decade, advancements in material and equipment

technology have produced a whole host of effective tennis court

repair and resurfacing options. These advancements enable

tennis court professionals to offer an array of repair options,

ranging from localized repairs and re-coloring to new cushion

surface installations.

To help you better understand the court repair options available,

the Court & Track Division of Munson, Inc. is holding seven free,

regional, four-hour tennis court repair workshops. The programs,

which start at 8:00 a.m., will help you to better navigate the sea

of repair and reconstruction options available for keeping your

tennis courts in safe and playable condition.

Workshop dates and locations include:

01.26.11
Sun Prairie: Quality Inn & Suites

02.02.11
Janesville: Holiday Inn & Conference Center

02.18.11
Manitowoc: Holiday Inn

02.22.11
West Bend: Country Inn & Suites

02.23.11
Milwaukee: Munson, Inc.

02:24.11
Oshkosh: Holiday Inn Express & Suites

03.03.11
Racine: Holiday Inn Express.

Though the workshops are free, workshop space is limited and

registration is required. To register for one of the workshops, call

Munson, Inc. at 800.236.0340.

We look forward to your call … and your participation in our free,

tennis court repair workshops.

Let The Sun Shine!

2010-12-08T18:00:00.000-06:00

MATC Solar Farm

The fence crews were busy this spring with a fast paced project known as the MATC Solar Farm. The location is just West of the Milwaukee River and North of Capitol Dr. in Milwaukee. The project was to install a renewable energy source (solar panels) in an urban area, yet have the project portable leaving little or no construction materials behind. The area is being utilized as a training lab for Milwaukee Area Technical College's students. Many have asked where the power is going and I was able to find that it will initially be used for MPTV per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "The project is expected to generate enough power to make the transmitter for MPTV the first of any public television station in the country to be powered with renewable energy. MPTV expects energy savings of at least $70,000 in its first year of operation."

"We have some extra asphalt . . ."

2010-08-06T11:56:00.000-05:00

We've seen the stories on the news or read about them in the paper. Someone knocks on the door and says they are a paving contractor and they have some extra asphalt left over. If you would like they could pave your driveway for a great deal. Munson actually had a client call the other day to state that the day after our representative stopped over, someone came knocking with the same story. We had educated the homeowner about the proper process which would need to take place in order to pave his existing gravel driveway. With this fresh knowledge the homeowner knew it was a scam and declined the offer. The person that came to the door was dressed in workman's clothes and wearing a yellow safety vest. He was a "very smooth talker". Anytime a contractor says he has "extra material leftover" it should be a red flag immediately. A reputable paving company will know exactly how much material a job should take and should never have enough left over to pave someone else's driveway. These companies usually pave a very thin layer of asphalt, collect your money and then leave town.

Here is a 2009 video clip about the scam from Fox Six:
http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-090802-c6-gypsy-pavers,0,540374.story

Here is another 2010 story along with tips from the Better Business Bureau:
http://wisconsin.bbb.org/article/beware-of-driveway-repaving-scams-this-summer-19765

2010 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

2010-06-26T12:05:00.000-05:00

After the initial 3 mile installation for the 2004 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP at Whistling Straits, Munson is once again helping out with additional modifications for the 2010 event such as adding parking gates and drive gates within the existing fence line. Fence modifications were also done for the 2007 US Senior Open. The 2010 Championship is getting closer by the day and Kohler has recently offered gift cards with their ticket packages. For tickets, behind the scenes videos and more event information click here: http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2010

New Paver for 2010

2010-05-01T14:53:00.002-05:00

Our newest piece of equipment arrived this week: The 2010 VÖGELE VISION 5100-2 track paver. This new paver will not only assist the installation by our crews, but deliever a superior end product for our customers. A heavier screed allows better compaction and more uniform finish surfaces. The larger hopper allows for less starting/stopping for refills. The size allows us to pave wider paths with less joints/seams throughout the project. The digital technology allows for better control over thickness variations, speed and a multitude of other factors. The slope of the machine and hood have been configured so the operator can see the sides, the hopper and the conveyors in back, without having to move around for added safety and quality control. The operator’s station swings out from both edges for improved visibility to the sides, behind and into the hopper. In addition, the control console slides from one side of the paver platform to the other, and also swivels and tilts. The twin exhaust pipes redirect exhaust fumes and heat away from the operator and crew. The new machine was put to work this week on a new tennis court complex near Fredonia, WI.