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Fly ash is a byproduct from burning pulverized coal in electric power generating plants. During combustion, mineral impurities in the coal fuse in suspension and float out of the combustion chamber with the exhaust gases. As the fused material rises, it cools and solidifies into spherical glassy...
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Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has changed their construction specifications to require all interior steel-troweled concrete floors placed at Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, Sam's Clubs, and Distribution Centers to contain 15% to 20% fly ash by cement substitution.
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Although power trowels often are used for their speed and efficiency to finish large slab areas, hand tools are still required for slab edges, steps, and other tight areas where power trowels can't maneuver. And hand tools are still the best way to finish smaller slabs, such as residential...
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Because corrosion of reinforcement can result in concrete cracking, staining, spalling and costly repairs, corrosion-resistant reinforcement often is the obvious choice for concrete structures exposed to high chloride levels.
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Few contractors would take on a large, elaborate foundation project requiring corner angles of 90, 135, 142, and 153 degrees and wall thicknesses of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 34 inches.
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With the increasing demand for concrete homes, more builders are opting to use insulating concrete forms (ICFs) rather than traditional wood-frame construction.
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From the time a mobile crane leaves the rental yard until it returns, the rental clock is ticking, costing you money. Rental rates for a crane and operator start at around $100 per hour and can exceed $500 per hour for large cranes. To get the most value for your rental dollar, it's important to...
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When coatings applied to concrete surfaces fail, the cause usually is inadequate surface preparation. For a coating to bond properly, the concrete surface must be sound, clean, dry and free from surface defects. The surface also should be rough enough to establish a good mechanical bond. If the...
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A tractor loader equipped with a laser-guided grader box can improve production, material yields and the overall quality of concrete slabs on grade. That's because with a laser-control system, the grader box can precisely cut and fill the subgrade to a predetermined level.
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ASTM standards define precise procedures for performing field tests to determine the quality of freshly mixed concrete. Usual field tests measure consistency, strength, unit weight, air content, and temperature. Many test details seem trivial, even arbitrary. However, ASTM standards establish...