Successful Surveys Continue to Shape the Future
One of the best tools supporting our role as your professional management team has been “quick surveys”. Over the last few months, we have completed three successful surveys with an average response of 20% of our active membership. Some may look at the 80% that are not weighing-in and wonder why this might be, but as surveys go, anything over 10% is considered successful. This demonstrates that delivering quick surveys in fax broadcast or eNews formats are a great way of gathering input and focusing in on your thoughts on topics.
In February, you received an opportunity to weigh-in on the topic of deck anchorage. We received notification that the published version of the IRC 2006 would include a provision that slipped by everyone during the close of the public review period. The code provision decreased anchor bolt spacing dramatically in walls over 8-ft in height. In this printed edition, Table R404.1(2) provides the Maximum Plate Anchor-Bolt Spacing for Supported Foundation Wall. As you can see from the table shown below, the overly-conservative approach taken in this update will ultimately impact the price of foundations for the entire industry. An amendment has been submitted by the CFA, PCA, NRMCA, NAHB and NCMA to have this table reversed. We will keep you informed on its progress.
In the meantime, here is a summary of how the group of respondents supported the need for this amendment and validated its purpose to the ICC.
Q1: How many foundations do you install in a year (average last 5 years)?
Summary: Based on the 87 respondents to this survey, an average of 41,306 basements per year (five year period) have been constructed or an average of 475 basements per year per company. The companies ranged from fourteen (14) building less than one hundred per year to one (1) company building between 5,000 and 10,000 per year. The majority of companies (54) produced between 100 and 500 basements per year.
Q2: Which guidelines or code are you under?
Summary: The majority of respondents (59) stated that they are governed by one of the IRC codes. An additional 48 respondents stated that they are under either a state-adopted IRC with amendments or a stand-alone state code. Eleven (11) respondents stated that they are governed by a jurisdiction other than the national building code or state code.
Q3: What method for anchoring the sill plate do you use?
Summary: The majority of respondents to this question use anchor bolts (79) while others use the anchor straps (38). Three additional responses were received noting the use of seismic straps.
Q4: What is the typical spacing between anchor bolts or straps?
Summary: This question resulted in two sets of spacings noted, that between anchors and that from the corner to the first anchor. The spacing between anchors were noted as 2-ft. or less (2), between 2-ft. and 3-ft. (13), between 3-ft. and 4-ft. (33), between 5-ft. and 6-ft. (11) and those 6-ft. and greater (47). Those responding on the spacing from the corner included a spacing of one foot (9) and less than a foot (4).
Q5: What depth of embedment and diameter of anchor bolt do you use?
Summary: Two parts to this question were answered. The first resulted in an overwhelming majority using 1/2-in. (95) bolts while only one company used 3/8-in. bolts and only one used 5/8-in. bolts. The second part resulted in a significant distribution of embedment depths split into three ranges. They were: less than 6-in. (65), between 7 and 9-in. (76) and greater than 9-in. (12).
Q6: What is the typical size of the sill plate used (if known)?
Summary: The responses received included 20 connecting to 2x4s, 61 to 2x6s and 9 to 2x8s as well as one to a 3×4 sill plate.
Q7: How many times in the past 5 years have you had a problem or failure of the sill plate attachment, including failure of the sill plate?
Summary: Only three respondents gave information. One stated eleven failures in 5 years, one stated 30 failures in 5 years and a third stated that the only failures occurred when the carpenters improperly nailed the joists to the sill plates. One respondent gave this comment “This is a nonissue!! In over 5000 foundations we have not had a single failure.” Another added “In 32 years of wall production (several thousand basements). We’ve yet to have our first failure. Had one house (tornado removed house) all that was left was sill plate still bolted to foundation.” Still another stated “In our area, builders water soak the back fill to promote settling without the floor joist in place or wall bracing. It’s very frustrating.”
Q8: What were the causes of the problems noted in the quantities above?
Summary: The responses to this question confirmed the most common issues our industry states as being the cause of foundation wall failures. These included:
· Large equipment to close to the wall
· Missed bolt or strap location fixed by drill & epoxy replacement
· Excessive water pressure during soaking of backfill
· Excavator hit the foundation wall during backfilling
· Backfilling damage prior to the sill plate and floor deck installation
· #1 failure was the attachment of the floor deck the sill plate
Q9: What was the remedy for the problem identified?
Summary: The respondents noted that of the walls noted as damaged, most were kept and concrete chipped out and replaced or the backfill was dug out to allow access to the wall for reinforcing with integrated pilasters or deadmen. Most responded with thoughts on how prevention was used to keep the issue from occurring again.
These included:
· Using additional reinforcement horizontally along the top of all walls
· Using wall braces on all walls over 24-ft in length
· Improving the framing to the plate with attachment plates or clips
As you may gather from these responses, we found significant support for endorsing an amendment to an issue that had been defeated at every other stage in the creation of the 2006 IRC. We hope to see this potential impact remedied before state and local jurisdictions have a chance to put this code into effect through their adoption processes. If building officials in your area consider adoption of the 2006 IRC, be sure to get involved and lobby locally for an amendment. You may always contact the CFA for support in this effort.
Thank you to all who responded to our survey. We hope that you continue assisting us in the effort to improve the conditions of our industry and shape the focus of what is your Association.
Jim Baty, Technical Director jbaty@cfawalls.orgWinter Meeting Breaks Attendance Record
Once again the World of Concrete and our Winter Meeting has come and gone, and we all prepare for a busy spring season. We all returned home from Vegas with pictures of the newest tools, thoughts from a seminar or two, and ideas gleaned from conversations with fellow members, rolling around in our heads.
Seeing the equipment is wonderful, the seminars are enlightening, the parties are always entertaining, but what I enjoy the most is getting to spend some time with all of you. You, the collective membership of the CFA, are the brains and spirit that keep the residential foundation universe spinning! Each and every one of you has a story to share, an idea that will spread, and a problem to solve. Most importantly, you are willing to share it…what a group! Family can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people, however, I feel that we are truly a family of family-minded businesses after returning from such an event. I hope you feel that way too.
We continue our struggle for the perfect Winter Meeting. We have learned from past years that excessive noise or entertainment makes it hard to talk…what we are really wanting to do most. We want plenty of good food and drink. The vote seems to be split between the desire for a chair and table space for every one, or standing room only so that we mingle more and meet newer members. This year we again broke all attendance records, and had some unexpected problems. About 35% of the folks in the room had registered in the last 5 days preceding it. This is great, we were glad you were there, but we hope you will understand that it makes it hard to plan. We had long lines in the hall waiting to get in; Jim tells me next year there will be two lines, the SpeedPass lane for those who remembered their badges and one for those who will need to find their badge in the staff back-up folder and present it at the entrance. Registration monitoring is critical to our protection of this event both financially and functionally. I also heard a lot of comments that there was not enough food or variety of “substantial” food. Unfortunately, we are somewhat at the mercy of the hotel on the quality of the food and the service. We are committed to improving food options such as adding carving stations next year.
If everyone present had half as good a time as I did, the meeting was a resounding success. Once again we need to thank our sponsors for their support. Be sure to locate them in the wrap-up article found on pages 38 and 39. They all deserve our thanks for their commitment!
Please drop us a line if you have other ideas for the Winter Meeting, we will try to incorporate them into our planning.
To Certify or Not to Certify
The CFA Board of Directors had an in-depth discussion over the merits and need for certification prior to its board meeting in Las Vegas. There is a movement in some building jurisdictions for all contractors and subcontractors to be certified. If we don’t take action, it could boil down to someone outside the industry dictating a program that our industry must adhere too – not a pleasant thought. A CFA survey conducted by fax and email demonstrated strong support for foundation contractor certification. No decisions were made but a committee was appointed to study the issue.
Certification boils down to two forms. One would certify an individual as qualified in whatever area the committee feels is appropriate. The most logical individual to certify would be a project foreman, job captain, or some other designation for the worker with overall field responsibility for a project. This would most likely be a joint program administered with another organization such as ACI. ACI would be the logical choice as they have the expertise, manpower, and track record for individual certification programs.
Before such a program could be introduced many things would have to happen:
• The responsibilities of the individual to be certified would have to be defined.
• Study guides and other “bodies of knowledge”, such as the CFA Standard, the ACI 332 Guide and Standard, and industry publications would need to be reviewed.
• A pool of questions and answers to include on the exam would have to be developed (it’s a lot harder than you would think).
• The exam would have to be written, beta tested, and refined.
• Educational seminars for preparing candidates to take a “written exam” need to be developed.
• Would there be different levels of certification for different aspects of the process?
• What about experience?
• A determination must be made as to whether or not a field test would be required. This is typically a 3-4 year process.
The second form of certification would be company certification. If this approach were to be pursued, it would most likely be administered by the CFA. Company certification also has a long list of requisites and decisions that must be considered before it can be introduced:
• What would be the requirements for a firm to be certified?
• Safety programs using certified or knowledgeable people?
• Development of quality standards.
These are just a few of the areas where companies are likely to be judged.
The arguments against individual certification include the possibility of increased labor costs (certified individuals may feel deserving of higher pay); benefit relative to cost (in time and money) is doubtful unless the certification is mandatory; and key employees could be targeted by the competition for hiring if they are certified.
Arguments in favor include the ability to set your company apart from the competition; instilling goals and a sense of accomplishment and worth for younger employees; and, upgrading the image of our industry.
We don’t have the answers at this time but the concept will be pursued as the debate continues. If you have opinions and interest, one way or the other, get in touch with CFA staff by emailing Jim at jbaty@cfawalls.org.
Ed Sauter, Executive Director, CFA esauter@cfawalls.orgCFA/CHC Exhibit at Builder’s Show
The Concrete Foundations Association and the Concrete Homes Council exhibited at the International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida from January 11-14. The CFA/CHC booth was part of the concrete pavilion at the annual show. This year’s show was the biggest ever with over 105,000 attendees. Sixteen hundred exhibitors covered over 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space. In addition to the CFA/CHC booth, several CFA member companies also exhibited at the show.
The CHC unveiled its latest addition to the booth, a collapsing double-sided display which rolls up like a window shade for easy storing and shipping.
The CFA and CHC each sponsored a seminar at the event. Ed Sauter presented a seminar attended by approximately 175 people entitled “What’s Gray, Gets Hard, and Holds up Your House” (this was NAHB’s idea of a catchy title) which was a semi-technical presentation on concrete and foundations. It covered basics of concrete, the foundation construction process, and troubleshooting.
Rob Fallowfield of Outinord presented a seminar titled, “Production Systems for Concrete Housing”. This seminar, sponsored by the CHC, presented options for building above grade concrete housing with RCF’s (Removable Concrete Forms). Rob reported that it was well received.
The show will return to Orlando again in 2007 with show dates from February 7-10. While the CFA/CHC will not exhibit again we hope to present seminars on basements and above grade concrete. We are currently soliciting ideas for proposals and presenters for the 2007 show. If you have any ideas, get in touch with Ed Sauter at 319-896-6940 or by email at esauter@cfawalls.org.
Getting builders interested is just the start. We need interested contractors to join us and commit to increasing the network of available options!
Join today at www.concretehomescouncil.org
Ed Sauter, Executive Director esauter@cfawalls.orgWOC 2006 A RECORD OF RECORDS
Once again we see the throws of winter upon us and that can only mean one thing, another World of Concrete has come and gone. Perhaps most of you have noticed the difference in this winter season. Most companies are reporting schedules, busier than ever before, during the months of December, January and now February. The torrid pace for residential construction continues throughout most of our CFA regions but perhaps the biggest influence to this schedule is the weather. The record snowfalls of December have given way to a very mild, if not moderate, January. Already the start to February has shown little impact from the weather other than returning to more normal temperature conditions, all of this equates to foundations, foundations and more foundations.
HANLEY WOOD SETS HISTORICAL ATTENDANCE RECORD
The winter season is not the only thing that is different this year…World of Concrete was different! “Different?” You say. How is that possible? Certainly the subject didn’t change and the companies were largely the same save for the new and refined products showcased. But what was truly different this year is that across the board, World of Concrete 2006 was a record-setting event. The number of attendees, this year reached over 80,000 for the first time in the history of the 32-year event. This record number of attendees had the opportunity to scour over 800,000 net sq.ft. of exhibit space held by more than 1,800 exhibitors across three halls, both records of their own. In fact, the total effect the World of Concrete generated saw an increase of 15% in the numbers posted for 2005. This is a dramatic indicator of the success the concrete construction industry is enjoying at the present time. The CFA commits significant energy to the World of Concrete each year as a co-sponsor. This means that in addition to exhibiting and marketing registration, we also sponsor seminars (three this year) and host meetings including a full day of Board meetings and our Tuesday event, the Annual CFA Winter Meeting. This year we also added co-participation in a housing mega demo to show off the myriad of ways concrete is providing improved trends in new construction.
CFA HOSTS RECORD ATTENDANCE FOR WINTER MEETING
Truly this year the CFA kept up the trend of noticeable differences this winter. The Aladdin Resort and Casino was the site of this year’s Winter Meeting event, designed as purely a social function with heavy hors d’oeuvres and lots of networking in response to so many interested respondents from last year. At the time we arrived in Las Vegas, this event was set to be another in the string of successful CFA networking events with over 300 people registered. What we didn’t anticipate is that for the second straight year the number soared through the day Tuesday to over 400. By the time we closed down the registration that evening, a record 430+ came through our doors to plug into the networking power of the CFA.
Those in attendance were treated to three continuous PowerPoint presentations. One featured a comprehensive history of the CFA–its meetings, Presidents and notable accomplishments, including photos many thought surely had been burned or should have as well as terrific memories. Another gave a pictorial introduction to all ten entries to the Basement of the Year competition (another in the line of records set this year). The third proudly displayed information from each of the record, 23 sponsors of this year’s event.
You will also read in this issue the story of Arie Van Wyk, his wife Sue and their company, Van Wyks Inc. We couldn’t be more pleased at the opportunity to award Arie the Contractor of the Year during the evening events. Part of the reason he is recognized so highly was embodied in his acceptance speech…well, actually his acceptance line…” I got where I am today by taking from each of you, thanks.” Vintage Arie and a testament to this network known as the CFA.
The theme of record setting doesn’t end though with the main numbers and the CFA event. Considerable effort is put forth by your Board of Directors to spend time in the booth throughout the show to help give a personal touch, telling prospective members just what is so important about the CFA.
Combined with the number of hours that were logged by this effort was a new record for number of votes cast for the Basement of the Year to produce the three projects that took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place (first time the CFA has awarded multiple positions).
SUCCESS BREEDS GROWTH PAINS – CHALLENGE US NEXT YEAR!
The success in numbers and networking opportunity also brought with it the strains of such a rapidly-growing event. Issues like faster access at the door to our event, more food, more beverages and more room are nice problems to now have to find improved solutions. Plans are already being made for next year’s event in the anticipation that you, the members of the CFA will continue to turn out in force with the goal of plugging into this networking in a social atmosphere. We’ll be promoting the “CFA Speed Pass” and a doubled room size coupled with a broader selection of menu items will be sure to answer the call while rumors of some great entertainment part way through the evening begin to surface. Go ahead, mark your calendar to be in attendance and while you’re at it, mark another date to register early and help us plan the volume.
Top to bottom the World of Concrete was probably the busiest and the best for our Association. We felt the impact of a surging construction economy and celebrated continued growth of the CFA, now mid-way through our 30th anniversary celebration. Let’s continue the success seen in Las Vegas as we surge ahead in 2006 and prepare for Indianapolis, The Dells and Hartford. Join us! We’ll be there for you.
Removable Concrete Forms for Concrete HomesGaining Popularity Among More CFA Members
Every year, concrete professionals from around the country convene in Las Vegas for the industry’s premier trade show, World of Concrete. World of Concrete 2006 featured over 1,800 exhibitors, crowds in excess of 80,000 and over 800,000 square feet of exhibition space, arguably the most successful turnout in the show’s history.
Never ones to miss World of Concrete or a chance to gather with colleagues, the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) and the Concrete Homes Council (CHC) had an inviting booth where visitors had an opportunity to relax, network, and, of course, cast their votes for the Basement of the Year—affectionately called the Basement from Hell.
This year, however, we especially enjoyed talking with association and council members about the steps they are taking to transition to removable concrete form (RCF) home construction technology. Here’s a sampling of the kind of work members from around the country are doing with RCFs…
■ Mark Markovich, Dependent Foundations Inc., of Brighton, Michigan, is currently putting the finishing touches on his first concrete home in Hartland, Michigan. The project is a 6,160 square-foot single-family custom ranch with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and a walkout basement with its own bedroom, kitchen, dining and day room.
■ Dave Pfanmiller, Security Building Group (SBG), has finished another townhouse project in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina. The two-unit project is similar to SBG’s three unit project showcased on the CFA Summer Meeting tour three years ago. Both of the new units are 1,561 square feet and feature 3 bedrooms, 2.5 spacious baths and wonderful views of the ocean and intercoastal waterway. Only one of the units remains on the market.
■ Dave and Curt Fields, SBG, traveled to the gulf coast of Mississippi and viewed the devastation brought about by Hurricane Katrina. They may be putting their skills, and RCFs, to use as they have had discussions with homeowners that want to rebuild custom homes in that region.
■ This summer, Tri-City Contractors of Raleigh, North Carolina will start another large-scale custom-home project with Jon Rufty, Rufty Homes. This will be Rufty’s third RCF estate home in the Raleigh-Durham area. The first was the La Maison de Be’ton, a 12,000 square-foot home still in use as the model home for the Fonville Morisey Builder Marketing Group’s upscale Birklands neighborhood. The second Rufty home is the Chateau, a 10,000 square-foot Parade of Homes residence in Durham, North Carolina (featured in CFA newsletter Vol. 12, No. 5).
■ Mike Hancock, Basement Contractors, who builds under the name Hancock Building & Design in Edmond, Oklahoma, has recently completed two custom homes using RCFs (and has five more homes in the works for 2006). The first is an 8,500+ square-foot French Country home with 5 bedrooms and 5 full and 2 half baths. The home includes concrete decks, staircases, concrete surround fireplaces and a domed ceiling in the master bedroom. The second estate residence is an impressive 8,500 square-foot Mediterranean-style home with 4 bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half baths. This home has a very open floor plan, four-car garage, theater room, concrete decks and freestanding concrete fireplaces.
■ Outinord Universal, in Miami, Florida, working with EH Building Group of Palm Beach, Florida, is expanding the very popular Sail Harbour town home development in Lee Memorial Health Park. Located in Fort Myers, Florida, Sail Harbour has been an excellent value offering a magnificent location and ambience—the 1,747 to 1,974 square foot town homes range in price from $200,000 to $260,000. (Sail Harbour was featured in the June issue of Builder magazine and the EH Building Group recently debuted at #7 on the Builder magazine Fast Track 2005, a who’s who of the most promising builders across the nation.) Outinord will soon start on the Tribune Lofts project in the trendy Freedom Parkway area of downtown Atlanta, Georgia.
From coastal town homes to metro lofts, from ranch-style to grandstyle estate homes, RCF technology is playing an ever-expanding role in the home construction industry.
As more concrete contractors and builders make their move to RCFs, they are expanding the profitability of their businesses. But most important, they are creating beautiful yet low-maintenance, energy efficient residences with the highest investment protection from catastrophic weather, fire, mold and termites on the market today.
We should all be proud that we are involved with the business of building homes to stand the test of time.
Join today at www.concretehomescouncil.org.
by Wendy Shannon, Op5 Creative, Inc. Wendy Shannon is President of Op5 Creative, Inc. in Atlanta, GaContractor of the Year
One of CFA’s top awards ‘The Contractor of the Year’, selected by the Board of Directors, is given to a CFA member who demonstrates the service, technology and knowledge needed to advance the use of poured wall construction. ——————–A 27-year CFA member known as an innovator in the poured wall industry, Arie Van Wyk, was selected as the 2006 CFA Contractor of the Year. When presented with
this recognition at CFA’s Annual Meeting Breakfast and Award Ceremony in January, Arie humbly responded “my success comes from the ideas I get from you!”
CFA Board President Terry Lavy refers to Van Wyk “as a leading innovator of developing his own company through participation in the CFA Association.” Arie says “The CFA Association has guided the industry, and I’ve grown along with it. Networking with others through CFA has provided me with a great deal of knowledge and ideas throughout the years.” Van Wyk also served 14 years as a member of the CFA Board of Directors from 1990 to 2004.
CFA members are now the ones reaping the rewards of Van Wyk’s experience. He keeps an open invitation to CFA members to visit and see first hand how he runs his Wisconsin shop. Van Wyk’s goal is to help others make good business choices of their own.
Arie, along with his wife Sue, run Van Wyks, Inc., based in Waldo, Wisconsin with 80 employees.
The company opened its doors over 25 years ago when Arie, a house mover, had problems placing homes on new foundations. He decided to set his own foundations and began his block foundation business. In 1988, they began using poured concrete walls and today are one of the most experienced poured-wall contractors in their area. Arie has set his sights to continue modest business growth each year. He’s looking for the next generation in his family to take over eventually, as they have two children also in the business; a son who is an excavation manager and a daughter in accounting.
Arie sees future growth coming in other areas for them, not in house basements, but in apartment housing and condos. He is thinking about doing more ‘package services’ like water proofing insulating, plates on top of basement walls, and possibly pouring first floor decks.
COPY THE OLD GUYS… AND GET THE TECHNOLOGY
Arie’s advice to those just starting out in concrete foundations is to “Copy the old guys, that’s what I did. I looked to other members in CFA to learn about both the good and the bad ideas. That’s how I got this far, on account of the CFA.” He says that with the CFA mentoring, networking, and meetings, he’s learned a lot of short cuts.
He is also quick to point out that members must embrace technology. He says that “it seems every year something new is invented. It’s important to get into the technology early and beat your competition!”
EMPLOYEE TRAINING
At Van Wyk’s employee training took a turn to the top as they recently started an in-house training program, complete with their own Safety Officer and training room. They also send their employees to CFA and ABC safety and training seminars.
MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY
Arie says “we pride ourselves in service. We have a general manager and dispatch manager in our office all day, everyday. That means our customers get a real person, not a machine to talk to, that can answer their questions and help them right away.”
They run four wall crews, two footing crews, two stripping crews, three flatwork crews and one waterproofing crew. Their services include concrete walls, waterproofing and concrete repair. Their wall forms reach any height including true nine foot forms. Their forms come in a smooth finish as well in a brick face pattern, both on the inside or outside. All footings are formed with FORM-A-DRAIN®, a CertainTeed™ product. The ‘FORM-A-DRAIN® footings allow them to have the forms andfoundation drainage system built into the same system. This allows their crews to build the footings quickly and accurately. Before and after they lay out any footings, crews use geodometer robotic equipment to pinpoint the exact location of all corners of the footings.
——————— “Arie Van Wyk is certainly one of the most innovative contractors we have in our industry, and has one of the fastest growing companies in the CFA organization. He is always helping other CFA members by sharing new ideas, and telling others about his problems and how he solved them. Arie is always looking for the latest technology. He’s an outstanding individual of highest character. We can all depend on Arie as a friend. He is the type of person that any young contractor starting out would certainly want to emulate.” Barry Herbert – Herbert Construction ———————- Arie Van Wyk Van Wyks, Inc Waldo, WI www.vanwyksinc.com arie@vanwyksinc.com Van Wyks, Inc. is a concrete foundation company specializing in solid poured concrete walls. They also do concrete flatwork and are a certified Koch Waterproofing installer. Serving Eastern Wisconsin from Green Bay to Kenosha and out to Johnson Creek, Van Wyks, Inc. is a full service company recognized for its work in these major areas: · Excavation · Construction of Below-Grade Basements and Retaining Walls · Construction of Above-Grade Commercial Structures, Bunk Silos, Agricultural Confinements and more · Foundation Waterproofing · Bilco Scape Wells · Flatwork and Specialty Flatwork · Expert Concrete Repair ——————-Nox Crete Celebrates 50 Years
Nox-Crete Products is celebrating its 50th year as a manufacturer of quality chemical products for concrete construction. The company, and an industry, were launched in 1956 when their founder Carl Linn developed the world’s first chemically active form release agent.
Prior to the development of nox-Crete Form Coating, contractors used diesel fuel and crank case drippings to prevent bonding between their forms and the concrete surface during the chemical hydration process that occurs as fresh concrete cures. Resulting concrete surfaces were stained and pitted and forms were severely damaged.
With the development of chemically active form release agents, contractors could achieve uniform, architectural concrete surfaces and prolong the useful life of their forms. These agents are also better for both the environment and the worker.
From those beginnings, Nox Crete Products Group has developed a full line of construction chemicals and is known industry wide for quality products.
Nox-Crete has been a member of CFA since 2001.
CFA Basement of the Year Stretches For Growth
For eight years, the CFA has been promoting and conducting a members only competition originally and affectionately labeled the “Basement from Hell” competition that has matured into the “Basement of the Year”. Some incredible works have been submitted over the past few years, selection of THE basement has been strongly contested. This year, based on the record number of projects submitted, three projects were ranked above all the others.
This has spawned ideas of ways to continue increasing the recognition of our industry and at the same time providing ways to share the valuable stories and lessons being learned each day by members across our network.
There are many great things to come in 2006 but perhaps one of the most exciting opportunities will be the expansion of the Basement of the Year program.
This next edition of the program will feature a range of categories to more accurately compare projects based on their related merits while expanding the opportunities for the CFA to identify concepts for marketing and companies to profile.
This next cycle, we will encourage projects to be submitted for a list of categories that include:
• Residential Foundation < 2,000 sq.ft.
• Residential Foundation 2,001 sq.ft. – 5,000 sq.ft.
• Residential Foundation > 5,000 sq.ft.
• Above-Grade Residence
• Retaining Wall
THE CHALLENGE IS ON!
Between now and the date for our Request for Submittals, we may even identify additional categories that represent the full range of products offered by our membership.
We encourage you to begin planning by searching your history at the same time you take a look at the projects you are doing this year. Look to find those projects that fit into these categories and remind you of either really complex problems that you were able to resolve or otherwise unique situations encountered that you feel should have an opportunity to be recognized.
Our program will continue to grow and yet we will maintain our commitment to the membership at large that only projects submitted by members will be eligible for recognition. There will be no charge this year to submit and whether you win or not, you will receive a digital composite image showing off your submittal. If you are selected for the show floor, you will also receive the show graphic when we are finished.
Those companies that are selected for recognition in each of these categories will once again receive an attractive plaque commemorating their participation and accomplishment. However, the industry and ultimately the CFA will be the biggest winner of all as we gather this valuable information to feed our expanding marketing campaign to showcase the quality works that are accomplished throughout our network.
For awards and membership information, visit the CFA website (www.cfawalls.org) or contact Jim Baty via email (jbaty@cfawalls.org) or phone (319-895-6940). The challenge is on!
Jim Baty, Technical Director jbaty@cfawalls.orgBasement of the Year 2nd and 3rd Place Wins
#2 WINNER JEFF TRAGESER, LOUISBURG FOUNDATION
———————- Jeff Trageser Louisburg Foundation Bucyrus, Kansas frotrageser76@aol.com Louisburg Foundation was started about 37 years ago by Jeff Tregeser’s grandfather, then taken over by Jeff ’s dad. Jeff is a 3rd generation member of the company. Louisburg Foundation has 18 employees and serves Johnson County, Kansas. Louisburg Foundation is a new member to CFA, just completing their first year anniversary. ———————–Jeff Trageser, representing Louisburg Foundation, submitted their Briarcliff West project for ‘Basement of the Year’. This Kansas City, Missouri basement has 998 total linear feet using 316 total yards concrete, 118 yards of footings and 7 tons of steel, with another 14 tons of steel in the walls. Fifteen different wall heights ranging from 2’ to 21’, and six different wall thicknesses ranging from 8″ to 18″ thick were required on this project.
Jeff worked this project from start to finish with his crews, including bidding the project. One thing he has learned with these complex projects, is not to underestimate the complexity of the project from the blue print to the job site. The blueprint always looks easier. He knows to compensate on his estimating to be sure they are covered on both time and money. Jeff also says that ‘traditional estimating is not accurate on such a large project. You must make sure you find every detail on the print that takes time, and when you think you have the price right, add 10-15% to that.’
This project was the most difficult foundation Trageser had tackled to date. One thing about a project like this is that people talk. So he imagines he’s received a lot of free publicity by building this foundation. Unique projects like this get a lot of publicity around Johnson County, Kansas, according to Jeff; lots of talk and word travels. He’s happy that the more their name was said, the more publicity they received.
The overall complexity of the project involved very limited access to the site as trees were as close as 3’ from walls on all sides. The end walls had #4 bars on 1’ centers each way. A total of 21 tons of rebar was used. Jeff ’s advice “find your best rebar guys and let them place rebar, then have your best wall setters follow.”
The one thing this crew had going for them was the ability to complete the foundation in one pour as they have the quantity of forms and that allowed them to achieve this.
Additional details included 26 total footing steps, 220 feet of 5-foot wide footings, 70 feet of 9’6″ wide footings, and all other footings were 20-30 inches wide to 10 to 16 inches deep. Briarcliff West has
-36 45-degree angle corners
-28 90-degree corners
-21 T-walls
-42 wall elevation changes
-22 ledge depth changes
-and 580 total running feet of ledge
The ledge was built from wood, totaling over 40 full sheets of 3/8″ smooth ply board and 5,000’ of 2×6 lumber. 4,000 psi concrete was used in the footings and the walls.
Since this competition, Jeff Trageser has started his own company, Jeff Trageser Foundation. Good luck to him in his own business.
#3 WINNER PHILIP MARONE, MARONE CONTRACTORS
———————— Philip Marone, President Marone Contractors Thorofare, NJ smanfredo@maronecontractors.com www.maronecontractors.com A few years out of college with a marketing and management degree and experience in the field, Philip Marone started Marone Contractors in 1982. After initially constructing footings and flatwork, Marone started building foundations in 1987 and has today evolved into a full service company providing excavation, complete concrete services and waterproofing. They operate in a 60 mile radius of Philadelphia. ———————–Stephen Manfredo, representing Marone Contractors, entered their Cahn Residence project in Cherry Hill, NJ, for the Basement of The Year Competition. The owner had selected Marone as their contractor “because they had used us in the past and were comfortable with the production and quality levels of our performance. They also like the knowledgeable people we assign to the project who can handle field changes and the intricacies of the job.”
The Cahn Residence features 1,065 total linear feet of walls in an 8,226 square feet plan which includes both the basement and garage floor. This project had totals of 341 yards of concrete and 6550 lin. ft. of steel in the walls and 85 yards of concrete and 2,930 lin. ft. steel in the footings. Wall heights ranged from 4’ 9″ to 10 feet with wall thicknesses of 8, 12, and 16 inches.
Manfredo says the outstanding wall features of the Cahn Residence are the 138 feet of circular foundation that run at 5 different locations throughout the house, with a 6″ stone ledge. There are a total of 121 corners with many intersecting angles at circular foundations. The brick ledge was pre-built at their shop and then moved to the site.
President Philip Marone says projects like this are interesting to do and he likes to stretch their people a bit. Their company has experience with many projects like this although they don’t come along every day. However, the variety they offer is a welcome change and challenge for their business.
This was the first Basement of the Year competition Marone has entered and he was pleased with the win and the recognition of the quality workmanship. “This entry shows off the talents of the builder, Corso Brothers Builders of Philadelphia, who do high end work at all times; a very quality minded contractor who is proficient in old world techniques,” stated Marone.
Marone has been a CFA member since 1995. He says in his ten year affiliation he has liked being able to share ideas with peers, who are now his friends, from different parts of the country “that may have a different viewpoint on how to do things.” He has found the educational aspect and the ability to learn about new techniques very helpful. For instance, they are now using a new type of forming system from BEP introduced to them through the CFA.
Congratulations to Marone Contractors for their 3rd place win!
