Concrete Construction articles from November 2005

Concrete Construction archives from November 2005

A very busy week.(Editorial Comment)
November 1, 2005... My first World of Concrete as editor of CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION was in 2001. Although I was peripherally involved with the seminars and Mega Demos, the magazine staff didn't have much else going on. I went to some seminars, talked to a lot of...

Beware of defective vapor barriers.(Reader Response)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... A very serious issue that concrete contractors need to be aware of concerns the use of 6-mil polyethylene as a vapor barrier under a concrete slab. Despite what some building codes indicate specification and installation of recycled...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2005... In our special decorative issue in July, in "Concrete Artists and Their Craft," we indicated that Carolyn Braaksma was responsible for the art on the sound walls along Interstate 25 in Denver. In actuality those walls were designed by...

Record-breaking concrete--22-minute set.(News & Events)
November 1, 2005... Transit Mix Concrete and Materials, partnering with its chemical admixtures supplier, Degussa Admixtures, designed and produced the concrete mix used for the "2 Hour House" in a subdivision of Tyler, Texas. Using the latest materials and...

Scofield celebrates 90 colorful years.(News & Events)
November 1, 2005... In 1915, Lynn Mason Scofield started the company that first successfully manufactured reliable products for coloring concrete. Since then, demand for aesthetically attractive architectural concrete has increased dramatically. L.M. Scofield...

ARTBA's task force to shape year 2009.(News & Events)
November 1, 2005... The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) is forming a member task force to develop the group's legislative agenda for reauthorization of the "Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for...

Masonry structures 'built to code' performed well in Hurricane Katrina.(News & Events)
November 1, 2005... Masonry structures built to comply with current building codes performed well in the face of Hurricane Katrina according to the preliminary assessment of a disaster investigation team sponsored by The Masonry Society (TMS). Arriving in...

Unlocking hidden profits.(The Business of Concrete Contracting)
November 1, 2005... Often I work with a contractor who does a lot best-in-class work, but the company's profits don't seem to rise above the average. I hear a certain level of frustration as he tells me of success at selling the company as a value-added...

The cost of doing business with concrete.(Erlin & Hime on Concrete)
November 1, 2005... Some senior engineering students asked about the price of concrete and what goes into it. Their guess of its cost was astonishingly high. Check out the prices at a grocery store, or even better, ask about the current price of oil. Meat at...

Cleveland State University plaza: Cleveland.(project of the month)
November 1, 2005... Located at the heart of the Cleveland State University campus, this new raised plaza creates a space for large social functions and spots for small student gatherings, and allows traffic and parking directly below. The University became...

The growing concrete market: no matter how you slice it, the $110 billion U.S. concrete industry is looking pretty good.(Cover Story)
November 1, 2005... How big is our industry? How big a role does concrete play in the overall construction industry? We are often asked these questions, so we decided to find out for ourselves. Our research shows that the concrete market is strong and healthy;...

Concrete construction's fourth annual industry trends rountable where angels fear to tread.
November 1, 2005... Each year we invite some of the concrete industry's best minds to come together to discuss the defining issues of the day. We never know where the conversation will end, but it's always interesting getting there. This year we went from...

Repairing joints in concrete slabs: four experts provide some tips for a problem area with industrial slabs.
November 1, 2005... Your concrete slab is poured, but if that slab is going to have hard-wheel traffic on its surface, your concerns may be only starting. The edges of the slab at the joints are frequent places for deterioration with the spalling of these edges....

Using SCC to battle bug holes: what you do affects the surface aesthetics of self-consolidating concrete.
November 1, 2005... Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) has been used to produce many aesthetically critical projects since its development nearly 20 years ago. Although mixes of various levels of strength and durability can be designed to generate smooth,...

Surface retarders for exposed aggregate.(Decorative Concrete)
November 1, 2005... Specifiers of exposed aggregate finishes are increasingly interested in low profile etches that resemble limestone finishes, according to Chris Forgey, commercial development manager for Grace Construction Products, Cambridge, Mass. And by...

A tool's true cost: how to control the "unknowns".(Products Solving Problems)
November 1, 2005... Most construction companies today have large tool fleets--a significant capital expenditure throughout the year. Large equipment is costly but easy to locate. The costs for smaller equipment, like tools, however, add up with each purchase and,...

Undercut anchors.(Product Update)
November 1, 2005... Post-installed mechanical anchors come in several styles: wedge, sleeve, drop-in, stud, and undercut. The undercut anchor can sometimes require additional drilling, and often can be three times the cost of other post-installed mechanical...

Self-cutting mechanical anchor.(Product Update)
November 1, 2005... The HDA Undercut Anchor is a heavy-duty self-cutting mechanical anchor for hardened concrete. As preset (HDA-P) or throughset (HDAT) anchors, they are available as part of a system that comes with stop drill bits, setting tools, and a rotary...

Anchor provides continuous interlock.(Product Update)
November 1, 2005... The Titen HD screw anchor features cutting threads that undercut concrete or masonry during installation, resulting in a continuous mechanical interlock between anchor and base material. The thread design requires less installation torque for...

Anchor provides mechanical interlock.(Product Update)
November 1, 2005... The Ultraplus undercut anchor provides mechanical interlock with the concrete, rather than frictional grip inside the hole typical of expansion anchors. Spring-loaded steel segments snap out into the undercut at the bottom of the hole, and the...

Undercut anchor designed for high strength.(Product Update)
November 1, 2005... The S9 undercut concrete anchor was designed to eliminate the direct lateral stress found with conventional anchors and bring its characteristics closer to those of cast-in-place anchors. With the use of the undercutting tool, the conical...

Implied warranty.(Problem Clinic)
November 1, 2005... Q. I was hired to build a concrete slab for an addition to a church. My winning bid was $65,000. When it was completed, according to plan, the building inspector decided it was not up to code and could fail. I was asked to cut out some section...

Setting anchor bolts.(Concrete Basics)
November 1, 2005... Setting anchor bolts may sound like a simple task in preparing a slab or foundation for placement. But for industrial/commercial concrete contractors it can become a very complicated and important detail. Some contractors are selected...

Sawtec[R] Grinder-Vac Dolly.(Products for the Pros showcase)
November 1, 2005... Sawtec[R] Grinder-Vac Dolly from Blastrac reduces fatigue associated with concrete grinding and improves productivity by getting the worker off his knees. It features a wide stance for greater stability and control. Operation is from either the...

Lifetime replacement guarantee.(Products for the Pros showcase)
November 1, 2005... Dust Grabber shrouds eliminate suction lock, and capture 99% of dust. The steel shroud is guaranteed for life, you only replace the seal when worn out, not the shroud. Our low cost hassle free seals are quick and easy to replace, and cut shroud...

Epoxy Healer/Sealer.(Products for the Pros showcase)
November 1, 2005... CCS[TM] Epoxy Healer/Sealer for cracked concrete. Clear, low viscosity, solvent free, structural repair adhesive for porous or cracked topping slabs, industrial floors, parking decks and loading docks. Flood application provides deep...

Polyurea for control joints.(Products for the Pros showcase)
November 1, 2005... CCS[TM] Polyurea SWL is a rapid setting flexible joint filler formulated for high durability uses including industrial floors, warehouses, loading docks and freezers. Can open to traffic in ~ 1 hour. Long 12-minute pot life allows for either...

Repair joints (forever) in seconds.(Products for the Pros showcase)
November 1, 2005... We PERMANENTLY repaired thee feet of caulk cohesion failure in just 15 seconds with Polytite! Dayton Polytite is a precompressed joint sealant that forms a watertight, dust-proof, airtight, soundproof urethane insulated seal quickly and easily....

Pave Patch 3000 adds fizz to the Coca-Cola 600.(Products for the Pros showcase)
November 1, 2005... Overnight, Conspec's Pave Patch 300 was used to replace long stretches of pavement after a faulty liquid asphalt patch repair material loosened during the race und struck Jeff Gordon's race car. NASCAR's VP Jim Hunter says the "More durable...

The Eradicator[TM] form removal system.(Products for the Pros showcase)
November 1, 2005... The Eradicator[TM] solves an old problem using revolutionary technology. Without breaking your back, you can easily remove form boards, stakes, steel pins, steel frames, fence posts, ground rods and more without destroying forms. The detachable...

Jimmy "T" Stake & Nail Puller.(Products for the Pros showcase)
November 1, 2005... This tool combines the benefits of our Stake Puller and Nail Puller tools into one integrated stake removal solution. The Jimmy "T" Stake & Nail Puller is made with quality, lightweight materials and comes with a 1-year limited warranty and is...

Roadware 10 minute Concrete Mender.(Products for the Pros showcase)
November 1, 2005... Repair cracks and spalls with Concrete Mender. With a surface tension one third that of water, Concrete Mender penetrates deep into cracks and spalls, bonding to aggregate within the concrete. Complete load transfer is achieved in just 10...

Molecular Cement Dissolver.(Products for the Pros showcase)
November 1, 2005... "Back-Set" Molecular Cement Dissolver is a unique acid alternative formulated by RoMix, Inc. "Back-Set" works on the molecular level breaking down the ionic bond of the portland cement, turning it to a rinse free mud! "Back-Set" is...

Scofield Systems Brochure.(Products for the Pros showcase)
November 1, 2005... Request the new Scofield Systems brochure for an easy selection guide. See the Difference with professional stains, dry-shake hardener, release agents, stamping and texturing tools, and cementitious toppings. Find out about our next generation...

Contractors to watch: Paul Battista President Brothers Paving & Concrete Corp. Vienna, Va.
November 1, 2005... * I've been in the construction business all of my working life. I started working for my father's homebuilding business while in high school, and after college I ran a custom home business through the boom of the eighties. In 1998 I started...