Month: January 2023

Concrete Supply Plus January 2023 Week # 3

Posted on by Nanette

BLS: Construction Added 28,000 Jobs in December

Industry ends 2022 with a year-over-year gain of 231,000 jobs, up 3.1%. Nonresidential building and specialty trades construction jobs increased by 16,000 for the month.

https://www.hpac.com/government/article/21257606/bls-construction-added-jobs-28000-in-december?

World of Concrete Summary 2023

CONFAST 10 oz. Manual Caulking Gun with Rubber Trigger

Looking for an easy-to-use caulking gun? Look no further than our lightweight, flexible options. This lightweight, flexible, and easy-to-operate tool with smooth, consistent action is designed to be used on all types of caulking applications including general purpose sealants, primers and adhesives.

Saw these at World of Concrete this week. Lots of people participated in the live demos. Great way to separate your company from your competitors —-Be Creative with Bon Tool 12-882 Texture Mat – Ashlar Yellow – 24″ X 24″

  • 24-Inch by 24-inch
  • Choose different color combinations for a random pattern
  • Bon mats are perfect for decorative concrete finishes
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Concrete Supply Plus January Week # 2

Posted on by Nanette

Scientists chip away at how ancient Roman concrete stood test of time

Roman concrete contains white bits called “lime clasts,” remnants of the lime used in the concrete. These features, the researchers said, appear to have resulted from a process called “hot mixing” that employs a lime variant called quicklime that reacts with water to heat the mortar mix and fosters beneficial chemistries that otherwise would not occur.

“Essentially it works like this: when concrete cracks, water or moisture enters and the crack widens and spreads throughout the structure. The lime clasts dissolve with the infiltration of water and provide calcium ions that recrystallize and repair the cracks. Additionally, the calcium ions can react with volcanic ingredients to reinforce the structure,” Masic said.

Masic is a co-founder of a company called DMAT, based in the United States and Italy, that is commercializing concrete inspired by the ancient Roman version.

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/scientists-chip-away-how-ancient-roman-concrete-stood-test-time-2023-01-09/?

BASF has broken ground on the third and final phase of the methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) expansion project at its Verbund site in Geismar, Louisiana, announced in July 2022. The company will increase production capacity to approximately 600,000 metric tons per year by the middle of the decade to support the ongoing growth of its North American MDI customers.

https://www.ien.com/operations/news/22644490/basf-breaks-ground-on-780m-expansion-in-louisiana?__lt

3/8″ CONFAST Threaded Rod Anchor for Concrete, Vertical, 1/4″ x 1-1/2″, 100/Box

Products Features 

There’s a Learning Curve with Polyaspartics and Concrete

Tramex Concrete Moisture Encounter CMEX5

New, rugged ergonomically designed enclosure.

Non-destructive in operation with no need to probe, drill or mechanically damage the surface.

CMEX5 is a non-destructive digital multi moisture meter for concrete floors and slabs providing instant and precise quantitative measurement of moisture content using Gravimetric testing as a baseline.

Bluetooth connection to accompanying IOS & Android App allowing for continual development and integration of apps and reporting.

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Concrete Supply Plus January Week #1

Posted on by Nanette
  • How is portland cement made?Cement manufacturers mine materials such as limestone, shale, iron ore, and clay, crushed and screened the rock, and place it in a cement kiln. After being heated to extremely high temperatures, these materials form a small ball called “clinker” that is very finely grounded to produce portland cement. Lime and silica make up about 85 percent of the ingredients of cement. Other elements include alumina and iron oxide. The rotating kiln that cooks the materials resembles a large horizontal pipe with a diameter of 10 to 15 feet and a length of 300 feet or more. One end is raised slightly. The raw mix is placed in the high end and as the kiln rotates the materials move slowly toward the lower end. Flame jets at the lower end heat all the materials in the kiln to high temperatures that range between 2,700 and 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat drives off, or calcines, the chemically combined water and carbon dioxide from the raw materials and forms new compounds (tricalcium silicate, dicalcium silicate, tricalcium aluminate and tetracalcium aluminoferrite). For each ton of material that goes into the feed end of the kiln, two thirds of a ton comes out the discharge end, called clinker. This clinker is in the form of marble sized pellets. The clinker is very finely ground to produce portland cement. Manufacturers often add gypsum and/or limestone during the grinding process. https://www.cement.org/cement-concrete/cement-and-concrete-basics-faqs

CONFAST® Wedge Anchors

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Concrete wedge anchors’ design allows them to anchor fixtures into concrete. Concrete wedge anchors work by inserting them into a hole drilled into concrete. The concrete wedge anchor is then expanded, wedging itself securely in the concrete.

USES• CONFAST® wedge anchors are designed to be used in solid concrete.
• They should never be used in CMU block or brick base material.
• Available in a wide range of diameters ranging from 1/4″ to 1-1/4″. The anchor lengths, which depend on the diameter, are from 1-3/4″ to 12″.
• CONFAST® wedge anchors are packaged with the proper size and quantities of nuts and washers.
• Hole size to be drilled in the concrete is equal to the diameter of CONFAST® wedge anchor being installed.
• Available in zinc plated carbon steel for indoor dry applications, hot-dipped galvanized for moist outdoor applications, 304 stainless steel for wet outdoor applications and 316 stainless steel for use in caustic environment.
• All sizes are in stock, and will ship from our Cleveland, Ohio warehouse the same day that the order is received.

Looking Forward to World of Concrete 2023 Next Week. Email me at nanette@nsgconsultinginc.com to meet up to discuss how I can help promote your concrete products.

Tramex Concrete Moisture Encounter CME5

New, rugged ergonomically designed enclosure.

Non-destructive in operation with no need to probe, drill or mechanically damage the surface.

Instant and precise readings to a depth of approximately 20mm (3⁄4″) into the slab.

Bluetooth connection to accompanying IOS & Android App allowing for continual development and integration of apps and reporting.

Reproducible and reliable results – Test to ASTM F2569

https://amzn.to/3ZiG3aC

CONFAST Wedge Anchor Installation

What are blended cements?

Blended cements are another type of hydraulic cement like portland cement. Blended hydraulic cements are produced by intergrinding or blending two or more types of fine materials: portland cement and one (or two) of the following:  limestone, slag cement, or pozzolans like fly ash, silica fume, or calcined clay. Blended hydraulic cements must conform to the requirements of ASTM C595 (or AASHTO M 240), Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements. Blended cements are used in all aspects of concrete construction in the same manner as portland cements. Blended cements can be used as the sole cementitious material in concrete or they can be used in combination with other supplementary cementitious materials added at the concrete plant.ASTM C595 recognizes four classes of blended cements:

  • Type IL, Portland-limestone cementType IP, Portland-pozzolan cementType IS, Portland blast-furnace slag cementType IT, Ternary blended cement
Blended cements can be tested to verify special properties like low or moderate heat development, and moderate or high sulfate resistance. If this is the case, suffixes are added to the cement type names:  LH, MH, MS, or HS. Air-entraining blended cement can also be produced.

https://www.cement.org/cement-concrete/cement-and-concrete-basics-faqs

Concrete Supply Plus December Week 4

Posted on by Nanette

Construction Project Alert:

DART Silver Line Gets On Track and Moves Ahead

After some pauses exacerbated by the pandemic, the project team sees a clear path forward to deliver the 26-mile regional rail in Dallas

https://www.enr.com/articles/55620-dart-silver-line-gets-on-track-and-moves-ahead?

CONFAST Plastic Ribbed Anchor Kit 263 pcs

SKU:PAKR263

UPC:820274007181

AVAILABILITY:IN STOCK, SHIPS TODAY!

https://www.confast.com/confast-plastic-ribbed-anchor-kit-263-pcs/

There are several options for patio drainage systems, both for new and old concrete patios. Here are a few options to consider:

  1. Grated drainage channel: This is a long, shallow channel with a grated top that can be installed along the edge of your patio to catch and drain away water.
  2. French drain: A French drain is a trench filled with gravel or rock that channels water away from your patio. It can be installed along the perimeter of your patio or beneath the surface of the patio to catch and drain away water.
  3. Perforated pipe: A perforated pipe can be installed beneath your patio to catch and drain away water. The pipe should be surrounded by gravel or rock to allow water to flow through it easily.
  4. Sloped patio: If your patio is not already sloped, you can create a slope by adding a layer of gravel or rock beneath the concrete. This will help water drain away from the patio more effectively.
  5. Gutters and downspouts: If your patio is attached to your house, you can install gutters and downspouts to channel water away from the patio.

It’s important to properly drain water away from your patio to prevent standing water, which can cause damage to the patio and create a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Concrete humor for your week.


Concrete: From the Ground Up (Material Marvels)

From a lowly mixture of stone, sand, water, and cement have sprung sidewalks, streets, and skyscrapers, sturdy lighthouses and magnificent palaces, long bridges and massive dams. In ancient building practices, in modern engineering, and in the architecture of the future, humble concrete plays a mighty role in the creation of the human-made world. Brimming with facts and spiced with clever running narrative in the form of repartee-filled speech bubbles, Concrete is as intimate and entertaining as it is informative and visually sweeping. Curious readers of all ages—from would-be engineers to science and history buffs to retro-design lovers—will delight in this bold, one-of-a-kind guide to the (literal) bedrock of civilization, amplified by a bibliography in the back.

https://amzn.to/3VYsDhf

There are a few ways to melt ice on concrete without causing damage:

  1. Use de-icing salt or calcium chloride. These products are designed to melt ice and are safe for use on concrete surfaces. Simply sprinkle the product over the ice and it will start to melt.
  2. Use hot water. Pour a bucket of hot water over the ice to melt it. Be sure not to use water that is too hot, as this could cause the concrete to crack.
  3. Use a propane torch. This method is best for small areas of ice. Heat the ice with the torch until it is melted. Be sure to keep the torch moving to avoid overheating the concrete.
  4. Use an electric heating mat. These mats are designed to be placed under concrete surfaces to melt ice. Simply roll out the mat on top of the ice and it will start to melt.

No matter which method you choose, be sure to use caution and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

RVIQI 9PCS Concrete Hole Saw Set,Tungsten Steel SDS Plus Shank Masonry Wall Hole Opening Drill Bits for Brick, Concrete, Cement Stone

  • PACKAGE INCLUDED- 5 PCS Hole Opener：1-2/11”(30mm), 1-3/5”(40mm), 2-9/16 “(65mm), 3-5/32”(80mm), 3-15/16”(100mm); 2PCS SDS connecting rod: SDS 11-13/16”(300mm), SDS max 11-13/16”(300mm); 2 PCS center drill bit 4-1/3”(110mm).
  • HIGH MATERIAL- Our concrete hole saw set is made of tungsten steel and carbide, durable and works under rough conditions, but also super safe to use and simple.
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