about
Who I am...
My name is Joshua Rush Barnett. I have a diverse background in masonry, having worked with specialists in stonemasonry, brick and block masonry, and concrete, in residential and commercial settings. In addition to my experience in masonry, I also spent years doing academic work in the field of music (history and composition).
I am a descendant of a long-lived Shenandoah Valley family on my father’s side, and a great-grandson of a migrant mason who settled in the southern mountains of West Virginia on my mother’s side. My interest in the trade and this region grows from these roots, and I am proud to be raising a family of my own here in the Northern Shenandoah Valley along the Blue Ridge Mountains.
What's unique?
Having worked under a variety of masonry specialists, I gained a broad experience within the trade learning the requisite techniques to handle the materials that make up the core of the mason’s repertory.
Combined with the lessons I have taken from my musical and academic life, I have learned that there are many ways to reach a goal and accomplish a build; and that flexibility, creativity, and being open to new ideas often lead to a better product.
Because of this, I can offer a creative approach when needed, with a solid foundation (no pun intended–I guess) in the trade. I prioritize the client’s needs and vision for his/her project, with the aim of helping to realize that vision–whether it be a footer to be buried or a structure to be featured.
What's different?
My academic intrigue channels into my masonry work. Having learned modern procedures, I am also interested in historical approaches as well as more current research within the trade. This thirst for knowledge informs my methods. For example, recent analyses of older (century or more) masonry buildings has shed new light on the benefits and efficacy of older mortars. Integrating the data from these investigations with the latest studies in the building sciences has informed my mortar recipes in the hopes of building more durable and sustainable structures.
