Tag: Solid Concrete

Concrete Supply Plus February Edition

Posted on by Nanette

What’s next for data center design in 2024

Nuclear power, direct-to-chip liquid cooling, and data centers as learning destinations are among the emerging design trends in the data center sector. 

https://www.bdcnetwork.com/whats-next-data-center-design-2024

Buy CONFAST Wedge Anchors 24/7 on https://www.confast.com/ ecommerce site.

The Ottawa Hospital’s new campus enters development phase agreement. The Ottawa Hospital’s old campus. 

Photo Credit: SimonP at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

https://www.constructioncanada.net/the-ottawa-hospitals-new-campus-enters-development-phase-agreement

Your concrete plant and trucks take a lot of abuse. Durex Products’ urethane, rubber, and rubber-ceramic liners are built to take that abuse and protect your investment for the long term.

Liners and wear parts are designed to fit common wear areas in most plant brands including: central mix drum liners and blade liners, turnhead liners, cement pipe liners, hopper and bin liners, scale liners, and dump chute liners. Learn more: https://durexproducts.com/products/concrete-products/ready-mix-equipment-liners/

Concrete Supply Plus January 2024

Posted on by Nanette

WaveCel T2+ Max Hard Hat

This is an ANSI-rated Type II hard hat, which means that it is designed to offer protection from lateral blows and objects hitting the head from the front, back, and sides, as well as the top (Type 1 hard hats protect only from blows to the top of the head). It has an adjustable fit and accessory rails for options such as a four-point chin strap, a head lamp, earmuffs, and a face shield. I also liked that it is made in the U.S.

Read the rest of the review by clicking the link below

https://www.jlconline.com/tools/safety-workwear/wavecel-t2-max-hard-hat_o

Is Rusty Rebar a Problem?

Q. Since steel expands when it rusts and destroys whatever is around it, why doesn’t the rebar used to reinforce concrete footings and foundations—which are in contact with ground water—rust and break the concrete into pieces?

A. Foster Lyons, an engineer and building-science consultant, responds: The short answer is, it does, but it happens so slowly and takes so long that it is insignificant to us. Properly placed rebar typically corrodes at a rate of about 1/10 micrometer per year across the thickness of the material. So, under normal conditions, a #5 bar (5/8-inch diameter) loses 2/10 micrometer from its diameter every year.

To determine if this is a problem, we have to understand the size of a micrometer. Also known as a micron and symbolized by the Greek letter µ, a micrometer is equal to one millionth (1/1,000,000) of a meter. By way of comparison, fine, thin hair is about 30µ in diameter and thick hair, about 130µ. A razor blade is about 0.4µ at its cutting edge, while a sharp knife blade is about 1µ; 5µ at the cutting edge is considered dull.

https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/foundations/is-rusty-rebar-a-problem_o

CONFAST Wedge Anchor

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. The length ID code and identifying marking are stamped on the head of every anchor.  The ANSI drill bit size for these anchors is equivalent to the diameter of the anchors themselves.

https://www.confast.com/products-wedge/

How to Ensure Waterproof Concrete Foundations

Asking the right questions in a pre-construction meeting can lead to a quality placement.

Pre-construction meeting discussion items

Our experts proposed these checklist topics contractors should address with the general contractor and design professional in the discussions leading up to the placement.

ttps://www.constructionext.com/concrete-masonry/untitled?

Are you the shark?

Concrete Supply Plus December

Posted on by Nanette

Voters Give Go-Ahead for $350M in Bonds for Des Moines International Airport Expansion

Voters approved issuing $350 million in bonds Nov. 7 to replace the existing 1940s-era terminal at the Des Moines International Airport, according to unofficial vote tallies.  

The proceeds from the bond sale will fund part of the first phase of construction on the $770 million project. 

https://www.enr.com/articles/57531-voters-give-go-ahead-for-350-million-in-bonds-to-fund-desmoines-international-airport-expansion

Concrete Sleeve Anchor –  Light to Medium-duty concrete fastener/anchor for concrete, brick and block base material.

Sleeve anchor, sup-r-sleeve, thunderbolt, bolt sleeve anchor, lok bolt, lock bolt, dynabolt, sleeve all, sleeve anchors, concrete anchor, masonry anchor

Description:

Each high-quality steel part of the Concrete Sleeve Anchor is zinc plated. A tubular expander sleeve is assembled over a threaded stud with an outwardly flared cone-shaped end. The anchor, which works on a true expansion principal, comes ready for use with nut and washer. The cone-shaped stud end is pulled into the expander sleeve as the nut is tightened. This wedges the expander sleeve outward and locks the anchor into the base material. The Concrete Sleeve Anchor is also available in stainless steel.

Common variations and misspellings:

Super sleeve, Super-Sleeve, Thunder bolt, lockbolt, dyna-bolt

https://www.confast.com/products-sleeve/

US DOT Picks Winners for $653M in Port Infrastructure Grants

The DOT awarded $653 million in grants on Friday to upgrade 41 water-based ports around the country. The funding is through the Port Infrastructure Development Program, which provides planning support, capital funding and project management assistance, and comes from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Some concrete humor to get through your week. Be sure to check back monthly for more news and products for concrete contractors.

Concrete Supply Plus November

Posted on by Nanette

Pouring Concrete With The Times

How monolithic concrete placements can drive efficiency for today’s concrete construction contractors.

https://www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete/equipment-products/curbers/article/22865465/curb-roller-manufacturing-monolithic-concrete-pours-drive-efficiency-for-concrete-contractors

Short video on how to use Tapcon concrete screws.
Purchase https://www.confast.com/concrete-screws/

How ASTM’s New FRP Rebar Spec Enables Concrete Contractors

The ASTM D30 Committee announced an additional standard specification for the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement bars. Here’s what that means for the concrete contractor and concrete construction. https://www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete/equipment-products/rebar-accessories-equipment/article/22862882/what-astm-d8505-frp-means-for-concrete-contractors

Construction humor

Concrete Supply Plus July Week #3

Posted on by Nanette

Resin8 process turns waste plastic into concrete additive

CRDC Global hopes to build up to 100 plants that can process all types of plastic for use in building products.

https://www.plasticsmachinerymanufacturing.com/recycling/article/53061357/resin8-process-turns-waste-plastic-into-concrete-additive

CONFAST® Wedge Anchors are designed to be used in solid concrete. They should never be used in porous, hollow materials, such as brick or CMU block. The CONFAST® Wedge Anchors are manufactured from different types of materials and coatings for installation in a range of environments. The wide choice of diameters available allow the CONFAST® Wedge Anchor to be used in applications varying from light to heavy duty. The Wedge Anchor has the most consistent holding values in solid concrete than all other types of expansion anchors. The expansion clip that is permanently attached to the CONFAST® Wedge Anchor is made from the same grade of material as the anchor body, with the exception of the galvanized, which has a 304 stainless steel clip.

Four different types of CONFAST® Wedge Anchors to choose from: • Zinc Plated Carbon Steel – for indoor applications where moisture is not present • Galvanized Carbon Steel – used in outdoor applications where moisture is present • 304 Stainless Steel – designed for wet/submerged outdoor applications • 316 Stainless Steel – primarily used in applications where certain chemicals may be present
Order online at confast.com
#concretefasteners#concrete#concreteconstruction#concretecontractor
#CONFAST#wedgeanchor

POURING CONCRETE IN HOT WEATHER

Why is hot weather a problem? What temperature is too hot to pour concrete?

How to Make a Successful Claim Under a Contractor’s Payment Bond

Subcontractors must do three things to get the money due to them, an AIA lawyer says.

In all, ensuring that you make a proper bond claim is a vital step in receiving payment for unpaid work on a project from a surety under a payment bond. If you fail to follow the claims procedure or other requirements set forth in the bond, you may risk having your claim denied by the surety.

https://constructionext.com/business-management/how-make-successful-claim-under-contractors-payment-bond

Concrete Supply Plus July week #2

Posted on by Nanette

Hudson River Rail Tunnel Project Set for Record $6.9B Federal Grant

https://www.enr.com/articles/56739-hudson-river-rail-tunnel-project-set-for-record-69b-federal-grant

9 Rules for Staying Profitable as a Contracting Company

Keeping revenue growing while maintaining low overhead is key, according to Heritage Construction owner Jake Brydon.

https://constructionext.com/business-management/9-rules-staying-profitable-contracting-company

CONFAST® #8-10 Plastic Conical Blue Bantam Drywall Wall Anchor Kit PAK810, Includes (100) Anchors, (100) Screws and (1) Drill bit (201 Pieces)

https://www.confast.com/confast-8-10-plastic-conical-blue-bantam-drywall-wall-anchor-kit-pak810-includes-100-anchors-100-screws-and-1-drill-bit-201-pieces/

Corps, Utility Reach $1B Deal for Permanent Puerto Rico Dam Fix

Brig. Gen. Daniel Hibner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division Commander, and Eng. Josué Colón, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, sign a Memorandum of Agreement to implement the permanent repairs of the Guajataca Dam in Isabela. This MOA sets the path for the final phase of the permanent repairs of this dam. This project will reduce the risk to approximately 1,000 people that live directly downstream of the dam and will reduce the risk of cutting off the water supply to over 250,000 people. Governor Pedro Pierluisi, government officials, PREPA representatives and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel participated in the signing ceremony. https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Stories/Article/3452417/usace-signs-moa-agreement-for-guajataca-dam-repairs/

Concrete Supply Plus July Week #1

Posted on by Nanette

In February, Central Concrete, a subsidiary of Vulcan Materials Company, and carbon-removal firms Heirloom Carbon and CarbonCure, achieved an industry first: permanently trapping carbon dioxide from direct air capture in concrete using reclaimed-water technology.

How they did it: The firms took carbon dioxide captured from the air by Heirloom’s technology to a Central Concrete plant, and in a process developed by the Nova Scotia–headquartered CarbonCure, injected it into water that had been used to wash out concrete trucks. That water was then used to make new concrete.

  • “Carbon dioxide reacts with calcium ions in the cement mix and turns into limestone—calcium carbonate,” said Alana Guzzetta, manager of Vulcan Materials Company’s National Research Laboratory in San Jose, California. “Once it’s there, it is very stable and stays as that limestone throughout the life of the concrete, even after demolition.”

Why it’s important: “Concrete is the most-used manmade material in the world,” Guzzetta said. “One reason is its versatility. We can take the same core ingredients and get a variety of capabilities and any shape. That’s where the topic of reducing embodied carbon [the greenhouse gases emitted during manufacturing and construction] becomes a big one.”

https://www.nam.org/vulcan-materials-uses-new-tech-for-direct-air-capture-of-co2-27549/?stream=business-operations

Help your customers be ready for Hurricane Season CONFAST 1/4″-20 x 2-1/4″ Male Hurricane anchors install quicker and more efficiently than other storm protection anchoring products. By online @ https://www.confast.com/confast-1-4-20-x-2-1-4-male-hurricane-anchor-kit-25-sets-1-driving-tool/

This concrete construction video is little old but still funny…

#concrete #concreteconstruction #fasteners #CONFAST

Weather Affects Set Time of Stamped Concrete Overlays

Concrete Supply Plus June Week #3

Posted on by Nanette

NEW DETAILS: First steel beam installed at Honda/LG Jeffersonville battery plant

It’s a construction milestone — the first steel beam was installed at what will be the new joint venture electric vehicle battery production plant for Honda and LG Energy Solution.

Honda said Tuesday the first beam was installed at the construction site in Fayette County’s Jefferson Twp., near Jeffersonville.

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/new-details-first-steel-beam-installed-at-hondalg-jeffersonville-battery-plant/2KNUBMV3NVHZHLPCQG6WSLXXQI

Construction expert predicts flat material prices for second half of year

Labor shortages, a manufacturing boom and infrastructure work are keeping the industry from returning to pre-pandemic price levels.

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/construction-consultant-material-prices-linesight/652870/

Choosing The Best Cement Screws

The many considerations for choosing the proper cement screw to use for any particular application are described in the following:

Diameter

Standard cement screws come in two diameters of 3/16” and 1/4”.  The measurement refers to the outside diameter of the screw, which allows the screw to be inserted through a hole in the fixture equal to the diameter of the cement screw being installed.

Length

Each diameter of cement screw comes in different lengths from 1-1/4” long to 6”.  The minimum length of cement screw used for any particular application is determined by adding the thickness of the material being fastened to the minimum embedment of 1”.  The maximum length of cement screw to use is equal to the maximum embedment of 1-3/4” plus the thickness of the material being fastened.

Hole Depth

The depth of the hole is critical because it must be deep enough to allow the cement screw to be embedded at least to the minimum embedment depth of 1”.  Space must be left at the bottom of the hole to allow all the dust that is created during the tapping process to fall into and out of the way.  It is suggested that the hole is drilled a minimum of 1/4”deeper than the cement screw will penetrate the base material.

Diameter of Hole

The hole drilled in the base material is critical to allow the cement screw to obtain its minimum holding strength.   The hole must be drilled using a carbide tipped bit that meets ANSI standards because ANSI standards will ensure proper hole to anchor tolerance.  The 3/16” cement screw requires a 5/32” bit and the 1/4” diameter needs a 3/16” bit.

Materials

Cement screws are manufactured from two types of steel: low carbon plated and 410 stainless steel.  The standard low carbon cement screw should be used in indoor dry applications.  The 410 stainless steel can be used in applications where moisture may be present.

Head Configuration for Cement Screws

Two head styles are available: hex washer and flat countersunk.   The hex washer head utilizes a nut driver for installation and the flat countersunk requires the use of a Phillips drive.  The length of the hex head cement screws are measured from underneath the head and the flat countersunk are measured as an overall length.  The hex headed cement screws are used in applications where the head of the screw sits on top of the item being fastened.   The flat countersunk cement screw is used in applications where the head of the screw is countersunk into the item being attached.

Base Materials

The cement screw can be used in solid concrete, hollow precast concrete, brick, CMU, block and mortar joints.  The holding strength of the cement screw is dependent on the strength of the base material as well as on the quality of the installation.

Use

Cement screws can be removed, but should not be reused in the same hole because holding values may be diminished or nonexistent.  Using the cement screw in another hole can be done as long as the cutting edge of the screw is able to tap threads.

Brand Name

The most popular brand name for cement screws is Tapcon®. Tapcon screws are sold by Concrete Fastening Systems™, Inc., located in Cleveland, Ohio.  The Tapcon brand cement screws are made in America and can be shipped anywhere in the United States with an arrival in two days. We also make and sell our own brand of masonry screws for cement applications – CONFAST® masonry screws. Our brand is comparable to Tapcon but sold at a lower price due to lack of a middleman distributor.

Concrete Supply Plus Construction Humor for the week.

Concrete Supply Plus June Week #2

Posted on by Nanette

Glass-Fiber Reinforced Concrete Makes NFL Project a Standout The Hollywood Park Media Building won best office building in the 2022 PCI Design Awards. In this Q&A, the project architect tells us why.https://constructionext.com/commercial-residential/fast-5-glass-fiber-reinforced-concrete-makes-nfl-project-standout

Choosing the Best Anchor to Fasten to Concrete

What is the base material?

What is the difference between cement and concrete?

The words “concrete” and “cement” are often erroneously used as interchangeable terms. Cement is an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is a mixture of water, aggregates (i.e. small stones), sand and portland cement. Portland cement is not a brand name but rather a generic term for the type of cement used in most concrete. The cement and water harden and bind the aggregates into a solid mass over time through a process called hydration. The hydration hardens the concrete for years, which means that concrete gets stronger as it ages. People wrongly call sidewalks “cement” and point out “cement trucks” and “cement mixers”. The truth is that only concrete sidewalks and mixers exist!

How old is the concrete?

Green concrete, which is less than 28 days old, should not be drilled or anchored into. The older the concrete, the harder it gets and therefore the more difficult to drill into. In some cases, concrete also becomes more abrasive as it ages. The Tapcon screw may not work in extremely old concrete because the lead threads deteriorate and prevent the screw from being inserted the minimum of one inch. Most other concrete fasteners will successfully work in concrete regardless of age. However, the reason there are a variety of concrete fasteners is that a variety of concrete also exists. A specific concrete anchor or fastener may not work in all applications.https://www.confast.com/articles-choosing-the-best-concrete-anchor/

5 Tips for Photographing Concrete Hardscapes

The beauty of decorative concrete comes from its versatility and stunning final results. Each project’s unique traits help sell the next project. However, your future potential clients don’t necessarily have access to your past projects, which is why photography is a crucial component of your marketing plan — regardless of your company’s size. Whether you use the photography for a brag book, on your website, in brochures, on social media or with articles, you should always ensure you portray your work at its best. Here are 5 Tips for photographing concrete to remember:https://www.concretedecor.net/departments/business-industry/picture-perfect/

Hitachi Energy and Quanta Services won contracts on May 4 to design and build a 3.5-GW onshore wind energy farm in central New Mexico and a 3-GW, 550-mile transmission line from that state to Arizona to deliver its clean power and more—an estimated $8-billion project that developer Pattern Energy terms “the largest renewables development in the western hemisphere.” 

The 525-kV high voltage direct current line will carry the wind energy from more than 900 turbines planned for the New Mexico project to adjacent western states. Quanta Services and its Blattner unit, acquired last year, will construct the wind farm and transmission complex, which also is set to include 10 substations, multiple O&M facilities and more than 100 miles of related transmission lines. Hitachi Energy will design and supply high voltage equipment and technology. https://www.enr.com/articles/56416-quanta-hitachi-win-big-on-8b-sunzia-wind-and-power-line-project

Concrete Supply Plus June Week #1

Posted on by Nanette

How To Deal with the Top 5 Concrete Sealer Issues

Throughout the course of its lifetime, concrete suffers many different forms of damage. Although concrete sealers add a protective layer to concrete floors and structures to help maximize their durability and minimize moisture permeability, concrete sealer problems can be a source of frustration among contractors.

When a concrete sealer doesn’t look or perform as expected, the root cause can usually be traced back to issues like overapplication. It can also mean the application  was done in nonideal conditions or there is buildup of multiple coats.

Following are the top five most common concrete sealer issues encountered in the construction field, why they occur, and how contractors can avoid and/or fix them:https://www.concretedecor.net/departments/concrete-sealers/how-to-deal-with-the-top-5-concrete-sealer-issues/

A team from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo has reportedly scored the school’s seventh victory in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Civil Engineering Student Championship concrete canoe competition. https://www.paintsquare.com/news/view/?26544

CONFAST Male Hurricane anchors For concrete and concrete block applications, drill pilot hole and drive the anchor in, it’s that easy. Predrilling is not required in wood base materials. Full thread engagement in concrete, concrete block and wood is required for best performance. Stucco-faced surfaces usually require countersinking so that the top of the hurricane anchors set flush to the stucco surface, allowing for full thread engagement in the base material Buy online today: https://www.confast.com/concrete-anchors/expansion-anchors/confast-hurricane-anchor/

Estimating Equipment Maintenance Cost

In this episode, construction guru Brad Humphrey talks with Jason Hurdis, quarry and aggregate expert and Lonnie Fritz, heavy construction and road building expert for Caterpillar. They discuss the importance of capturing the true operating cost of each machine on the construction jobsite. Construction companies, no matter the size, need to establish a budget for equipment maintenance throughout the year to remain profitable.https://megaphone.link/ACBMI1086943330