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Projects

  • Two's Company?

    What is a binary concrete mixture?

     
  • The Ideal Concrete Surface for a Hospital

    Q: We have a hospital expansion project and are considering polished concrete as the flooring material throughout. Our issue on this project is moisture (about 92% internal relative humidity after eight months), so the sheet vinyl originally installed has failed. I've been looking online for...

     
  • Uncertain How to Proceed

    I have recently taken charge of a multistory construction building in Pakistan, which three floors are already built, including one basement. On the first floor, it has been observed that the proper mixing of the material has not been maintained and the coarse material could have contained mud...

     
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    Inflatable Form Search

    I am searching for a supplier of inflatable formwork for constructing culverts onsite. I believe the balloon-like apparatus comes in different sizes, but I can't find a source.

     
  • How Much Should Concrete Fall?

    What is a good rule of thumb for the fall on exterior flatwork?

     
  • Water Ratios

    Is there a difference between w/c and w/cm?

     
  • Floors with Class

    What does it mean when somebody specifies a Class 5 concrete floor?

     
  • Fixing a Concrete Spall

    We have several large spalls in a concrete retaining wall behind our building. They're near the top and don't appear to have affected the structural integrity of the wall, but they don't look good. How do I fix them?

     
  • The best fix depends on the situation

    What's the best way to fix a crack in concrete?

     
  • Notes and how to organize them

    We've finally gotten through to our foremen that it's important to write things down, but now we have a rat's nest of papers behind the seat in each of their pickups. What's worse, just because they wrote something down doesn't mean they'll be able to find it. Any suggestions?

     
  • Looking for Concrete Repair Basics

    Lately we're being called on to do more concrete repair and restoration work and we need to get some of our less-experienced workers up to speed on this. What do you suggest?

     
  • Problem Clinic: Cosmetic Slab Repairs

    There was a thunderstorm shortly after our slab was poured. The contractor covered the wet concrete with plastic sheeting to protect it from the rain. The next day there were marks from the rain and the plastic sheeting, as well as some light footprints. What can I do to resurface the affected...

     
  • Problem Clinic: Are Polycarboxylates Worth It?

    Is it worth the performance enhancement and peace of mind to go with the more expensive polycarboxylate admixture as opposed to using a naphthalene-, lignin-, or melamine-based admixture?

     
  • Problem Clinic: Concrete and Pet Waste

    What effect, if any, do dog feces and urine have on finished concrete?

     
  • Decorative Problem Clinic

    I have been contracted to remove a carpet tile floor and chemically stain the concrete below to provide a decorative finish. When we started removing the carpet tiles, we discovered that some of the adhesive is stuck to the floor. How can we remove the adhesive from the floor to allow the chemical...

     
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    Decorative Problem Clinic

    We just got a job for a concrete floor with a radiant heating system. What do I need to know to get this to come out right?

     
  • Decorative Problem Clinic

    A year ago we installed curving, colored, patterned front steps and a landing for a new home. One of the 14-inch treads turned out to have more pitch than the others—1 inch at one location. It was an accident on our part but we have always told customers that we won't exceed 10% pitches. At the...

     
  • Decorative Problem Clinic

    We are installing colored textured concrete in an enclosed mall being constructed in a winter climate. The general contractor is using temporary unvented construction heaters that put both the heat and the exhaust into the enclosure. When we came back the following day I noticed that some of the...

     
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    From Shrinkage to Shadowing

    We've been asked to bid on a polishing project on a recently placed slab. The engineer had been concerned about controlling concrete drying shrinkage. He developed a concrete mix design optimization plan that resolved many of the problems that occur on industrial slabs on ground. The slab has...

     
  • Problem Clinic: Cold Weather Correction

    What is the coldest temperature at which to place concrete?

     
 
 
 
 

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