Over the years, we've had many contractors describe what they believed to be inferior specifications, but it was hard for us to tell if the problem was widespread. To evaluate a broad sampling of concrete specifications, we visited plan rooms in Baltimore, Denver, Detroit, San Diego, and Seattle and did an in-depth review of 50 specifications.
For contractors who place concrete floors that require coverings, the results of moisture-vapor emission tests can mean the difference between a project that remains on schedule and one that falls weeks behind. Consider the following scenario.
A petrographic report is often used in construction disputes or litigation as evidence of poor workmanship by contractors. Contractors may accept these conclusions because they don't understand the limitations of petrographers' techniques. But because of these limitations, some of the conclusions should be challenged.
After placing, vibrating, and finishing concrete for a bridge deck, contractors sometimes notice cracks forming directly over the top-mat rebar.
