• Board of Directors Announce New Management for Association and Celebration Strategies for 50th Anniversary

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    Mount Vernon, IA (date) – The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) Board of Directors has announced a management change for the organization, which coincides with its 50th anniversary. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, CFA will be managed by the AOE Team – an association management and marketing consulting firm with headquarters in Farmington Hills, Mich.,  after more […]

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  • Using Decorative Concrete to Refresh Outdoor Spaces

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    In both residential and commercial construction, decorative concrete is gaining popularity as a transformative element that revitalizes outdoor spaces. No longer reduced to just a functional, utilitarian solution, decorative concrete now serves as a versatile canvas for architects and designers looking to create aesthetically pleasing, durable, and cost-effective environments. The adaptability of decorative concrete allows […]

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  • New Identity for Central Wisconsin CFA Member

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    Dane, WI – With a 77-year history of building trust, excellence, and strong foundations, Wisconsin-based concrete contractor Hottmann Construction, Inc. announces a rebranding initiative that reflects the company’s evolving vision, values, and commitment to the future. “We are excited to re-introduce ourselves to the marketplace in mid-December as Cru Concrete,” states company president, Ken Kurszewski. […]

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  • Caught-In-Action

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    Timing on jobsites is not always precise, yet, as quality firms recognize, good crews always find a way to be productive. This photo was captured and sent in by CFA member, Bartley Corp, showing team members, who were waiting on forms to arrive to the site, capitalizing on available time. “This job was run by […]

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  • 2024 PROJECTS OF THE YEAR

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    The Rest of the Best The last issue of Concrete Facts presented the top-voted project and each of the respective category winners from the 25th annual competition for the Concrete Foundations Association. Two ways to revisit these project awards are available in the toolbox accompanying this article. The feature image from each project can be […]

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Feature

Mar
30

The 2014 CFA Grand Project of the Year: A Madison Gardenesque

Another great year of project submittals demonstrating some of the most incredible construction feats is in the books. A record number of votes recorded on the show floor at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas this past January and a strong online voting contingent evaluated the seven projects vying to be named a CFA Project of the Year. […]

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Mar
30

Moving Towards Profitability – CFA’s Annual Convention 2014

The largest gathering of residential cast-in-place contractors in the country! Convention Theme:  Moving Towards Profitability When:  July 31 – Aug 2, 2014 Where:  Kalahari Resort, Sandusky, Ohio A focus on industry education and networking, an emphasis on a great family experience. SCHEDULE A jam-packed education and networking event. The schedule-at-a-glance is: Wednesday, July 30 Insurance Captive […]

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Jan
6

What Should You Expect from 2014?

Codes, Standards, Rules, Regulations and Insurance…It is All Changing   It really doesn’t matter that your profession is the concrete industry. Were you in just about any industry, the rules for doing business and the parameters that shape your industry are likely to be changing such that business next year, perhaps even tomorrow, will most […]

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Oct
14

CFA Announces Call for Entries for 2014 Projects of the Year Awards

Mt. Vernon, Iowa (October 10, 2013) — The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) – the voice and established authority for the residential concrete industry – has announced the call for entries for the “2014 Projects of the Year” competition.  The Projects of the Year is a free, competition for members of the CFA providing evidence of […]

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Aug
21

Oil on Rebar

by JAMES R. BATY II As published by Concrete Contractor Magazine. Created: August 21, 2013 The Concrete Foundations Association explains the code reference and common misconceptions regarding oil on rebar for residential concrete. Question: On several of our most recent residential projects, the inspector in our area has been complicating our pour schedule when finding form oil over-sprayed […]

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Aug
3

2013 Projects of the Year: Commercial/Multi-Family

Commercial/Multi-family Clifton Pointe MPW Construction Services Lakewood, Ohio The final project of the year recipient for 2013 is in the category for commercial or multi-family structure by Modern Pored Walls, Inc.  The 12,600 sq.ft. Clifton Pointe is a three building, seventeen-unit development sitting on a ½-acre site, 150 feet above a river.  The challenge of […]

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Magazine Issues

Apr
1

How to Remove Concrete Buildup

By Destry Kenning, Forming Market Segment Manager, Nox-Crete Products Group We have reached the end of this series, and this final article is timely, as this time of year many contractors are burdened with hardened concrete buildup on their forms. The hardened concrete makes forms heavier and can lead to more buildup. Stripping the forms […]

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Apr
1

Letter From the Director

Spring Will Arrive! “I am done with winter!” I’ve heard this statement throughout my community, noticed it in most conversations with members and others that use us for our information resources, and seen it plastered across news and social media. Yet, I’m reminded that we have only had six weeks of it. While short, it […]

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Jan
17

Casting Residential Foundation Walls in Cold Weather

By James R Baty II, F.ACI, Executive Director During a recent CFA event, conversation took place regarding the research significance undertaken by the Association at the start of this new millennium – research that was, in most respects, the first of its kind. What plagued the industry at that time was scrutiny that concrete placed […]

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Jan
16

What Causes Concrete Build-up on Forms

Part 3 of a 4-Part Series By Destry Kenning, Forming Market Segment Manager, Nox-Crete Products Group Just about all concrete-forming contractors will tell you that one of the challenges they face on job sites is keeping their forms clean, or, more specifically, preventing concrete buildup on the working faces of their forms. Theoretically, if you […]

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Jan
16

Letter From the Director

Thoughts From My Desk… “You are simply not going to believe it.” This is the phrase I have been using regularly as I talk with many of you reading this magazine, whether you are a CFA member, or one of the many companies across this great country to whom I have the privilege of casting […]

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Jan
16

Letter from the President

Hello CFA Contractor and Associate Members! With the close of 2018 almost here, I view this as the perfect time to offer some thoughts regarding our businesses and our association. It seems that each year brings new challenges and that running our businesses takes more of our time and energy. Even in a good economy, […]

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Sep
6

Stephens & Smith Construction Company Revives Student-Learner Program

FEATURE ARTICLE: Stephens & Smith Construction Company Revives Student-Learner Program By Jereme Montgomery, Business Development   Many of you reading this article will testify that the skill gap is real. There is a shortage of skilled craftsmen in the construction industry, and it has continued (and will continue) to effect quantity and quality of structures built […]

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Sep
6

Get More Workers: How to Use an Employee Referral Program to Bring in More People

By Doug Herbert   How much does it cost a contractor to hire one employee? According to my concrete contractor buddies, Sean Smith from Cleveland, Ohio and Jason Ells from Indianapolis, Indiana, the amount is at least $1,000 per new employee. Based on my experience and calculations, that number is spot on. Here are just […]

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Sep
6

Maintaining “Alternative Fall Protection Plans” Under OSHA Regulations

Adequate Fall Protection in Residential Concrete Foundation Pouring: Maintaining “Alternative Fall Protection Plans” Under OSHA Regulations By Michael G. Latiff and Mark W. Steiner   On May 1, 2017, the secretary of labor for the Northeast District of Ohio issued what can be fairly characterized as an unprecedented serious citation to a residential concrete foundation […]

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Sep
6

Projects of the Year: Customer Challenges Deliver Award-Winning Results

CFA PROJECTS OF THE YEAR 2018: Customer Challenges Deliver Award-Winning Results This article features the Concrete Foundation Association’s Projects of the Year, the expanding industry recognition program that features high-quality concrete work that is all too soon, never seen again. Projects are submitted by member organizations in a variety of project categories and are reviewed […]

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Sep
6

Matching Form Release Agents to Application Methods: Part II

TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT: Matching Form Release Agents to Application Methods Part 2 of a 4-Part Series By Destry Kenning, Forming Market Segment Manager, Nox-Crete Products Group   Formwork requires a considerable investment, but even the best forms cannot produce the best results unless they are paired with the proper form release agent. To prevent the adhesion […]

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Sep
6

Letter from the Director: Thoughts from my Desk…

Thoughts From My Desk… Throughout the 26th volume of Concrete Facts magazine, I will be sharing insights from the many interactions I have with members, non-member companies and the general public. My goals are first, to show you how the challenges faced are universal throughout North America, and second, to use these interactions to help […]

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