Hydronic heating system controls concrete temperature in cold-weather bridge-deck construction.
While some activities, like painting and caulking, have to wait until better weather returns, concrete work can usually continue provided you plan appropriately and apply the extra care that's needed. With that in mind, here are a few reminders about the perils—and pluses—associated with...
When Kurt Hambush, president, Southern Gulf Construction, Fort Meyers, Fla., landed a 12-building, four-story condominium project, he quickly determined it was time to invest in a ride-on trowel.
What separates the really good contractor from the competition is attention to detail and consistency, especially with the finishing near edges, block-outs, drains, clean-outs, and other penetrations. Except for the best finishers, this detail work is fast becoming a lost art.
The house ups the ante with rebar-dense construction; the contractor beats the odds by vibrating concrete through the formwork.
Things you know you should do, but frequently don't: eat right, exercise regularly, brush after every meal, change the oil every 3,000 miles. In the concrete construction world: consolidate by vibration.
If you're looking for software for construction applications, swing by the Technology For Construction area at World of Concrete. From integrated packages that will run your entire operation to highly focused special-purpose programs that solve very specific problems, WOC will have it all.
The good news is that you probably already have the experience you need to change your company's success with IT; the same skills that make for effective construction estimating and project management can be applied to software selection.
Water-reducing and set-controlling admixtures represent one of the more important groups of chemical admixtures used in concrete. These admixtures reduce the water requirement of a concrete mixture for a given slump or increase the slump for a given water content.
The Federal highway program started in September 1956 with construction of an 8-mile section of U.S. Route 40 in Kansas. That same month Concrete Construction publishes its first issue. It's no small wonder that developments in concrete paving drew such considerable attention in the magazine's...
The American Concrete Pavement Association and cosponsor Concrete Construction magazine are pleased to honor the 2006 winners of the 17th Annual National Excellence in Concrete Pavements Awards.
Concrete Construction runs down this year's most influential people in the concrete industry.
A history of the use of concrete admixtures.
Free software allows accurate prediction of maximum temperature and temperature differential.
Each year, CC sponsors a gathering of a group of industry leaders to explore the issues that are inhibiting progress, that are preventing concrete from becoming a more dominant building material and contractors from making more money.
Capturing a snapshot of the concrete construction industry that most people would agree is accurate is no small challenge. The industry's inherent complexity combined with ever-changing external forces make coming up with numbers to define the concrete construction industry a nearly impossible...
The selections here demonstrate how decorative concrete in public spaces and the commercial sector continues to grow and mature. Whether in schools, churches, retail spaces, theaters, grocery stores, and corporate headquarters or along beachfronts, the following projects demonstrate decorative...
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The new Biotechnology-Science-Engineering Building tells the story of what happens when embedded scientific images made of metal and stone add depth and intrigue to a concrete floor.
Each new project offers Ralph Gasser a new opportunity for creativity. This time, he created stencil patterns, used crumpled aluminum foil as a texturing tool, and doubled countertop formliner nosing as edges for a wheelchair ramp and a bathroom backsplash.
The European Village Resort was under construction when the developer, Peter Roehr, attended World of Concrete 2004 in Orlando.
Used for entertaining by the building's owner, Duke Realty, and its tenants, the plaza is home to the family of Clear Channel radio stations, which broadcast from the top of the Towers of Kenwood.
A compass pattern graces the plaza at Mariner's Church.
A beautiful wall appears to be both art and something carved from the earth. It complements a swirling mosaic inspired by the big-bang theory of how the universe began.
The selections here demonstrate how decorative concrete in public spaces and the commercial sector continues to grow and mature. Whether in schools, churches, retail spaces, theaters, grocery stores, and corporate headquarters or along beachfronts, the following projects demonstrate decorative...
An English and Spanish glossary of terms relating to decorative concrete.
One of the fastest growing markets for iron oxide pigments is in decorative architectural concrete. Iron oxide pigments (IOP) are the lifeblood of decorative concrete and the means for that architectural expression. Only IOP offer the combination of cost effectiveness, light fastness, durability...
To end up with a satisfied owner, concrete countertops need to be nearly perfect. Perhaps that's why countertop training courses are enjoying such success, since mistakes are simply unacceptable. Here are five countertop training courses for you to consider.
For decorative concrete there is no lack of training opportunities. Although some are better than others, we have not evaluated the classes listed in this article; we encourage you to carefully investigate those you find of interest.
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We are only beginning to scratch the potential of the decorative concrete market. If the industry behaves responsibly, educating and regulating itself, which it is now doing, CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Editor in Chief Bill Palmer is confident that growth will continue at a furious pace for many years to...
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The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently released the results of a study that explored methods of achieving sustainable design objectives in its buildings.
The Concrete Council of St. Louis held its Annual Awards Dinner on November 9, 2006.
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The latest survey from FMI Corp. indicated that 54% of respondents think that productivity has improved in the last few years, while only 47% saw any improvement when asked two years ago.
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The Portland Cement Association (PCA) and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) are teaming up to conduct research to identify cost-effective, blast-resistant building systems for military construction.
The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) recently announced its 2006 Design and Construction Excellence Awards.
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The Rocky Geans Concrete Construction Business School offers two-day seminars designed to address the toughest issues faced by contractors.
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Worldwide portland cement consumption is expected to increase, according to a forecast by the Portland Cement Association (PCA).
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) has introduced a new Web site to arm engineers, architects, developers, and builders with a central resource hub for ready-mixed concrete inquiries.
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The Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) will hold its Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast at this year's World of Concrete on Jan. 25 from 8-11 a.m. at the Las Vegas Hilton.
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) Education Foundation awarded six graduate students with educational fellowships at the association's recent fall meeting in Chicago.
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Garber Bros. Precision Concrete, Inc., a Greenville, Ohio, concrete contractor, recently was awarded OSHA's Voluntary Pilot Program star status.
The winners of the 10th biennial Portland Cement Association's (PCA) Bridge Awards Competition were presented during the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Fall Convention in Denver.
When applied to a finished concrete floor, old or new, CCI Acid Stains transform an ordinary concrete slab into a luxurious floor resembling marble or glazed stone.
Featuring a non-slip grip, the Billy Banger is small, lightweight stamping tool, allowing it to fit into tight areas.
New border tools and texture mat patterns have feathered edges for easy blending.
Designed for imprinting plastic architectural concrete flat-work, Lithotex Pave-crafters professional grade imprinting tools are a system of matched tools to mimic patterns of other paving materials.
Blue and green chemical stains, while artistically beautiful, can darken a concrete surface, even turning it black.
A-700 Stamp Crete is a proprietary mixture of specially modified acrylic co-polymer resins and various sized aggregates.
The GL Epoxy Stone system produces a uniquely textured design that is easy to install for indoor or outdoor applications.
Precision-Pac Color for Concrete comes in repulpable paper for easy addition to ready mix concrete.
Brickform border tools create colorful, textured bands and borders for a high degree of finish on any textured hard-scape.
TrafficCoat is a buffable acrylic floor polish for concrete, masonry, and tile surfaces.
Lithochrome Tintura Stain transforms aged concrete floors into works of art.
Nox-Carb is a penetrating, high-performance sealer and stain that beautifies and protects exterior vertical concrete and masonry surfaces.
High-Gloss Sealer
Dura-Seal HG is an acrylic polymer solution that imparts a high-gloss seal to decorative concrete surfaces.
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We answer questions on self-consolidating concrete and concrete stamping.
Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is one of the newer concrete products in the marketplace. It has enjoyed wide acceptance in the precast concrete industry and is beginning to be used by cast-in-place contractors, especially wall contractors.
The Heat King Mobile Glycol Heating System provides a fast way to prepare foundation sites and cure concrete in cold weather.
The redesigned E3000 Ground Heater boasts a 385,000 gross BTU/hour hydronic heater for ground thawing, concrete curing, or space heating applications.
Designed for indoor and outdoor wet curing applications, UltraCure can absorb more than 41 gallons of curing water per roll.
Able to maintain temperatures between 70° and 80° F, the PowerBlanket is a heated curing system that also can prevent ground freezing and maintain moisture in fresh concrete.
The new Cantherm Jumbo heaters are highly portable and offer many ducting options for almost any application.
At 420,000 BTU/hour, the Thaw Devil ground-heating unit can thaw up to 6000 square feet, 1 foot deep per day.
The Transguard 4000 reusable wet-curing blankets are made from a naturally colored polypropylene fabric that allows for proper moisture control.
The HydraCure S16 single-use wet-curing cover evenly wicks water across the slab surface for a continuous supply of moisture for gradual and controlled curing.
The Topper is a concrete blanket whose technology protects freshly poured concrete from weather.
The R36H5, R36H8, and R46H9 walk-behind power trowels combine enhanced comfort, increased durability, with money-saving maintenance features.
Available in three models—CT 36-8A-V, CT 36-9-V, and CT 48-13A-V—these variable speed walk-behind trowels feature a balanced design that reduces operator force by 50%.
The Terex Bartell B424 and B430 power trowels are designed for finishing concrete close to edges.
Designed for installing concrete or epoxy mortar floors, EDCO power trowels are available in 24-, 30-, 36-, and 46-inch models.
Available in five trowel models, the WT-Series of walk-behind trowels features quick-change blades for efficiency and precision.
The SCT36H55 and SCT36H80 36-inch ring diameter trowels are powered by a 5.5- and 8-hp gasoline-powered engine, respectively.
The Power Pole Finisher lets workers finish concrete slabs from outside the formed area.
Featuring a direct drive, the F-series walk-behind power trowels deliver more power to the blades and feature a fully enclosed spider assembly.
The Hover Trowel is a lightweight, pneumatic power trowel for concrete, plaster, terrazzo, and polyurea applications.
Weighing 23 pounds less than its predecessor, the CF36L Smooth Operator power trowel has a 36-inch working width.
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When buying a power trowel, the foremost factor is how much area are you trying to cover.