A publication of the Concrete Foundations Association
Concrete Facts Magazine Online
Feature
2012 Projects of the Year Overall Grand Project: Single Family Residence
Overall Grand Project, Single Family Residence La Jolla Ekedal Concrete, Inc La Jolla, California Ekedal Concrete, Inc. from Newport Beach, California is the winner of the overall grand prize for a massive single-family home foundation they completed in La Jolla, California. The foundation for the 8,700 square foot home looked more like a commercial […]
CFA Projects of the Year
Each year the Concrete Foundation Association of North America (CFA) calls for entries to its Project of the Year contest. The entries are voted on and chosen by CFA members through an online ballot that runs for several weeks. This year’s entries were all very large residential projects worthy of multiple awards. The winners will be recognized at […]
12 TIPS For Preventing Back Injuries In Construction
25% of construction injuries are back injuries, so it’s worth planning, equipping and staffing sites to preserve back health The Center for Construction Research and Training says the construction industry has the highest incident rate of back injuries of any industry except transportation. Of all the construction-related injuries that occur each year, 25% of them are back injuries. Every […]
PART II: IT’S ABOUT THAT TIME… Taking the next step.
In the last edition of Concrete Facts you were given some simple instructions to some very valuable assets for connecting with your Association and peers during a time when the economy makes travel difficult. Being able to plug in to discussions is the most inexpensive decision you can make to provide tools for progress in today’s market. So, I […]
Fall Protection Systems in Residential Construction:FORMWORK SCAFFOLD BRACKETS – A Feasibility Study
Dear CFA Members- In the wake of last year’s decision by OSHA to rescind the rule allowing residential contractors to walk atop concrete walls, I know that many of you have searched for a feasible way to be OSHA compliant and most have found nothing. Could that be because walking atop formwork is the safest way to accomplish the […]
Why I Remain A Member!
The CFA has been a volunteer choice for our business and my family for 25 years. We’ve been involved as directors on the CFA Board, we’ve been to countless events like the Summer Convention and we put a lot of effort into being a CFA member. For years, we’ve not been shy in stating that we get far more […]
Magazine Issues
Obituary: Ronald E. Colvin (1943-2017)
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of longtime member and past president of the CFA, Ronald E. Colvin. A Berrien Springs icon passed away on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017: Ronald E. Colvin, known to all as “RC.” He was the first New Year’s baby born on Jan. 1, 1943, […]
Remembering Ron
by Ed Sauter Those who knew Ron Colvin (RC) will never forget him. Beneath the ever-present beard, overalls, Hawaiian shirts and sandals was a kind, smart, and caring individual who would do anything to make life better for those who worked with him. Ron was a little unconventional in his appearance and approach to things, […]
Twisted Steel Micro-Rebar in Load-Carrying Concrete Walls
by Samhar Hoz, Jeff Novak, Luke Pinkerton Concrete walls are widely used in building construction. Concrete is strong in compression; however, its tensile strength is only 8 to 15 percent of the compressive strength. Thus, plain concrete does not have good tensile properties. Cracks can develop due to loads, restrained shrinkage, or temperature changes […]
UNDERSTANDING PYRRHOTITE IN CONCRETE
by James Baty, Gary Ehrlich, Jamie Farny, Don Penepent, and Dennis Purinton Concrete, the most widely used construction material in the world, is a complex matrix of materials that transforms into a reliable structural product. With so many variables—different ingredients, different performance requirements, varying exposures—specifiers are faced with many choices when designing durable concrete mixtures […]
3 Tips from a Seasoned Concrete Contractor
Follow these ideas to become a more profitable contractor. In the Farmers Insurance commercials, the tagline is: “We know a thing or two, because we’ve seen a thing or two.” I feel the same way about the concrete construction industry. I’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry, as well as noticing that […]
Letter from the Director: Endings Really Are New Beginnings
Over the last few months I have been reminded time and time again of the impact companies and leaders in this Association have had on the blueprint for this industry and the legacy they have left behind. I have such vivid memories of leaders like Ron Colvin (p.17, 19), a former president of the CFA, […]
Letter from the President
For many of us the usual winter weather has generated scheduling problems, loss of work volume, and many unproductive days. On the brighter side, we have all been blessed with the ability to be profitable by the plentiful volume of work during the nicer seasons of the year, I call this “inside the box work” […]
2017 Product & Services Showcase
This feature brings you the current products & services that may be found represented by the member companies of the Concrete Foundations Association to make the work of concrete contractors more efficient and of higher quality. PRODUCT & SERVICES SHOWCASE AUTOCAR | www.autocartruck.com | 877-973-3486 At Autocar, building trucks isn’t just what we do – it’s […]
Letter from the Director: OSHA Regulations Bring Increased Relevance
Just from the title, I presume you have already slid to the edge of your seat or crossed your arms in frustration or defiance for what you might read in this letter. After all, in the marketplace there are more real cases now than ever before of contractors and projects impacted by the increased attention […]
Letter from the President: Business Does Not Change Effectiveness
It has been a very busy year for both our company and the association. We left the summer meeting with renewed enthusiasm for our business and, equally important, enthusiasm for subject areas the CFA needed to address. We live in an ever-changing world, and I have come to realize and understand the need to […]
Tricks of the Trade: Rebar Racks for Crew Trucks
This issue’s Trick of the Trade is shared by CFA member, Doug Herbert of Herbert Construction in Marietta, GA. Doug continues the challenge to you the reader to think about the ways you’ve overcome annoying details and situations to be more effective and economical in your work. If you are from an active CFA member […]
Give A Little, Learn A Lot
There is something to be said for those who take the time and energy to go out of their way to help somebody in need, even more so for those who are able to ask for help when it is needed. Oftentimes the benefits of helping others are not always tangible, and it is that […]
