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How Cement is Made
From the Portland Cement Assoication. Portland cement is the basic ingredient of concrete. Concrete is formed when portland cement creates a paste with water that binds with sand and rock to harden. Cement is manufactured through a closely controlled chemical combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and other ingredients. Common materials used to manufacture cement …
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Concrete Forms: North American vs Imported
From forconstructionpros.com Concrete Forms: A Quick Guide to Imported vs North American Engineered Wood Here are few things to watch out for to make sure the engineered wood you want to use for concrete forms, flooring, roofs, or walls will be able to do what you need. March 31, 2021 Kurt Bigbee APA – The …
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ICF Intro
From ICF Magazine. ICF 101 As Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) become more common, a growing number of builders and concrete contractors are considering adding this skill set to their business. Additionally, do-it-yourself owner/builders are frequently attracted to ICF construction, as it provides a structure of exceptional quality at a reasonable price. With proper training, good …
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ICF versus Traditional Framing
From ICF Magazine. WHAT ARE THE REAL COSTS OF USING ICFS? All too often, we hear that ICF is more expensive than traditional methods. Within the industry, we hear percentages from 2% to 15% more to build than “stick”. Many times we hear that ICF is “not more expensive, just different”. Whether ICF is more …
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Concrete Homes
From ForConstructionPros.com The Case for Concrete Homes The challenge is to build homes that can remain intact in any severe weather event, be more energy efficient, be reasonably priced, and be reoccupied shortly after a disaster so that life can go on with minimal disruption. August 15, 2019 Joe Nasvik As extreme weather events become …
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Insulating Concrete Forms
From the Portland Cement Association. Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) result in cast-in-place concrete walls that are sandwiched between two layers of insulation material. These systems are strong and energy efficient. Common applications for this method of construction are low-rise buildings, with property uses ranging from residential to commercial to industrial. Traditional finishes are applied to …
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Good Vibration is Key
Getting the most out of your internal concrete vibrator. From forconstructionpros.com, here’s a great article detailing why concrete needs to be vibrated and tips on how to get the best results using internal concrete vibrators. Internal vibrators, sometimes referred to as “spud” or “porker” vibrators are the most common tools used to achieve concrete consolidation …
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Concrete Consolidation and Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)
From ICF Magazine Good concrete consolidation is essential. Lack of consolidation can cause voids, rock pockets, honeycombing, and poor bonding with the rebar. In extreme cases, improper consolidation can affect the structural integrity of the walls. On the other hand, excessive vibration can create bulged walls and blowouts. How much vibration does an ICF wall …
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How Concrete is Made
From the Portland Cement Association. In its simplest form, concrete is a mixture of paste and aggregates, or rocks. The paste, composed of portland cement and water, coats the surface of the fine (small) and coarse (larger) aggregates. Through a chemical reaction called hydration, the paste hardens and gains strength to form the rock-like mass …
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Concrete vs Shotcrete vs Gunite
Here’s a great article found at Equipment and Contracting Magazine about the differences between concrete, shotcrete and gunite: For those embarking on a construction project involving the use of concrete, there may be some question about the best method of application. There are three primary methods that can be utilized, each with its own advantages …
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