A new method for installing precast stairs is helping to save money and speed up construction of multistory concrete buildings. Read more
Can the field forces of a general or subcontractor affect how much work the firm may get in a coming year? Read more
Small gravity retaining walls are relatively simple structures that can be built with unskilled labor and locally available materials. Read more
Designers of the Westin Hotel in Boston's Copley Place had to balance the desire of the owners for quick completion with requirements of the City of Boston for compatibility with the neighboring historic masonry structures. Read more
Properly drained foundation or retaining walls don't have to be built as strong or as expensively as those without drainage. Read more
When reinforcing steel corrodes in concrete, the results are all too familiar. Electrical current flows from the corroding bar, rust forms, and the pressure caused by rust buildup may pop off the concrete cover. Read more
Problem: A 450-ton load exceeds the weight limit on a prestressed concrete bridge. The bridge is the only shipping route available. Solution: Strengthen the bridge deck by gluing steel plates to the underside of the deck. Read more
Many accidents on concrete pumping jobs can be prevented by making sure that components in the pumping system are not excessively worn, by using the right accessories and by following safe operating procedures. Read more
The concrete pavements in the central part of our village are serving remarkably well in spite of their 1940s vintage. We don't have much cracking or faulting, but they are worn smooth in the most heavily trafficked areas. We are thinking of safety groovi Read more
I want to build a concrete floor to be covered with ceramic tile. I'd like to be sure that no shrinkage cracks appear in this floor later and crack the tile. Would polypropylene fibers do the job? What difference would the fibers make in the batching, mix Read more
A customer of ours developed severe chemical burns on his knees when placing concrete in his hog barn. These burns may eventually require skin grafts. The concrete mix he was using contained 2 percent calcium chloride. Could the calcium chloride have aggr Read more
We have the job of cleaning mortar splashes over a lot of nearby galvanized hardware on stadium seats. We know that sulfates attack cement products. If we were to apply some kind of sulfate solution to the splashes would it remove them? If so, what kind o Read more
While planning the offramps for an expressway the question has come up whether these can be colored to distinguish them from the regular traffic lanes. If so, can you suggest how much color to use? Read more
The specs require Type V cement. There is none available in this vicinity. Is there anything I can use instead, so I won't have to ship Type V a long distance? Read more