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The Portland Cement Association (PCA), Skokie, Ill., recently partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Lake County, Ill., to help construct an insulating concrete form (ICF) home, one of two homes built side-by-side on 11th Street in Waukegan, Ill. More than 40 PCA staff members participated in...
Building a home that makes as much energy as it consumes requires extreme attention to detail and a willingness to do everything possible to minimize the building's power requirements for heating, cooling, hot water, and lighting. But some things just make more sense than others.
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Some people get so excited at the prospect of building homes out of concrete that they don't realize that there are several different ways to do it. These require different contractors and have different advantages and costs. To be rational, what the proj
For the sixth straight year “The New American Home”—the official home of the International Builders Show (IBS) owned by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)—is a concrete home.
Contractors who build development or “tract” homes are concerned about the productivity that results from installing the same design and repeating the same procedures over and over again.
The world of decorative concrete keeps expanding, even into the realm of furniture. On first blush it doesn't seem that using concrete to make furniture is a good thing to do. It's brittle, it cracks, it has little tensile strength, and it's much heavier than wood. Even so, all around the country...
Building homes with abovegrade concrete walls is one of the fastest-growing methods of residential construction in the United States. Barely on the radar in the early 1990s, concrete homes now command an estimated 15% of the abovegrade single-family residential market as of 2006. Some of the...
Custom-built homes are commonly gracing glossy magazine covers. That's because people in the U.S. have been in love with the idea of owning a large elegant home. For architects and designers, there is more opportunity to present interesting ideas and work with unusual concepts. But with the decline...
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In order to effectively promote concrete homebuilding, it's necessary to have an understanding of the many advantages of a concrete house. It's well documented that concrete walls can increase the energy efficiency of a home. Some studies have shown that a structure with concrete and foam walls can...
While the use of plastics was spreading in the 1950s and 1960s, it is no surprise that someone came up with the idea of using rigid foam to both form concrete walls and then provide insulation, with the added bonus of not having to strip and clean the forms.
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“There is a growing high-end garage floor market for epoxies,” says Tim Goote, owner, Acme Epoxy Flooring, Grand Rapids, Mich. “It's easy to clean, seamless, and people love to look at it.”
The trend to upgrade your garage floor is gaining popularity. This additional space accommodates entertainment areas, second kitchens, and workshops, and homeowners understand that this existing square footage can be the least expensive expansion to their home. Decorative finishes, such as vinyl...
As the conclusion to the first decade of the 21st century approaches, builders are making the move to insulating concrete forms (ICFs) in custom-build projects, incorporating them in a variety of applications and design.
For the first time, Residential Concrete is writing about people who are making a difference in the concrete housing industry. Through their efforts they are improving the way concrete is used in residential construction and the way consumers are being taught about the values and benefits of...
In 1950 the Chahroud's asked Frank Lloyd Wright to design a house for them on their newly acquired island in Lake Mahopac, N.Y. Their instruction to him was to "design the house of his dreams" and there is indication that Wright did just that.
At first glance, the concrete industry appears simple and straightforward. Mix the right materials and put it where you want, let it sit awhile, and soon another reliable dam or highway or building or plant is built. Add up all the pieces and you have the infrastructure we've all grown to rely on...
The finishing and aesthetics of concrete sinks require precision and knowledge of concrete mixes, mold making, and integrating hardware.
When it comes to compacting a subgrade for a residential application, consistency, quality, and good practice by the contractor are critical to prevent concrete cracking and sinking concerns for the homeowner.
When work is plentiful, companies stick to traditional wood-building methods because they are familiar with it and have relationships with the trades who build that way. During slow times, companies get more creative--this is bringing about a higher level of interest in concrete home developments.
Concrete is a diverse structural and design element for modern home building. In the past 10 years the Arts and Crafts movement has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity, and is being used in the design of concrete elements inside of homes. Contractors and architects have been able to take the comfort...