• CFA Tech Note 014: Interpreting Nominal Concrete Wall Thickness

    Wednesday, April 1, 2026

    Introduction  A frequent point of discussion between contractors, designers and code authorities involves the interpretation of “nominal” versus “actual” concrete wall thickness. This technical note provides clarification on this topic by examining relevant building codes and industry standards. Understanding the code-defined relationship between nominal and actual dimensions is essential for ensuring compliance and project continuity.  Analysis of Code Requirements  The International Residential […]

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  • Volver a construir mejor: Resiliencia

    Friday, March 13, 2026

    Cuarto artículo de la serie  De Joe Nasvik  Una vez que se toma la decisión de construir una casa, la siguiente cuestión que hay que resolver es cómo se debe construir. El mejor sistema de construcción es aquel que sea más adecuado para los ocupantes actuales y futuros. El uso de pautas de sostenibilidad y resiliencia […]

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  • Building Back Better Resiliency

    Friday, March 13, 2026

    BY JOE NASVIK  This is the fourth and final article of the Building Back Better series.  After the decision is made to build a house, the next issue to resolve is how it should be built. The best building system is one that will be best for the current and future occupants. Using sustainability and resilience guidelines is […]

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  • 2025 CFA Consulting Members Directory

    Friday, March 6, 2026

    CFA works with many great consultants. If you are looking for consulting services, visit one of the companies below: BIC bicauctions.com BIC is a used concrete equipment specialist serving contrac­tors, manufacturers and lenders nationwide. The company helps industry professionals unlock value from idle or un­derutilized assets—whether it’s a single unit or an entire fleet. Their […]

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  • Interns posing in front of Custom Concrete building

    We See You: Custom Concrete Shouts Out Their Interns

    Friday, October 3, 2025

    Custom Concrete recently took time to celebrate the next generation of industry leaders by highlighting the contributions of their interns.

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Feature

Jan
23

Best@Selling

In May of this year, the CFA Management Committee brought you two opportunities for plugging in to inexpensive and highly motivational management seminars online and via teleconference. These presentations were made by nationally-renowned author and conference speaker, Maura Shreier-Flemming. Her books include the recent release of Monday Morning Sales Tips and other effective tools to stimulate improvements to your sales approach […]

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Jan
23

CFA Forum

The CFA Board of Directors met recently in Chicago for their fall meeting and preceded the meeting with what amounted to a 2 hours round table discussion on the economy and what steps they were taking with their businesses to survive the current downturn. Summarized below are a few of the points. You may be already have implemented some of these ideas. 1) INVOLVE EMPLOYEES. Most contractors are making […]

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Oct
29

Social Networking At Work For You Through the CFA

If you spend much time on the Internet, it will not take you long to see how many opportunities there are for joining online groups, be it social or business related. This is the new wave sweeping the world and drawing our large planet together into an ever-tightening world market and social environment. Whether you deem this to be a […]

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Oct
29

CFA Annual Convention Education Value Trumps All

Many CFA members made, or were forced to make, the decision to not attend the CFA Summer Convention this year. This is not too surprising, as we know the impact this recession has had on member companies and face it, the Convention is an event that not has drawn a large percentage of CFA members in recent years. The […]

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Oct
29

CFA Presents Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award to Barry Herbert

The Concrete Foundations Association recently presented its highest honor, the Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award to Barry Herbert at the CFA Annual Summer Convention held July 30-August 1. Barry was introduced by Jim Bartley of Bartley Corporation, and described as a significant example of great leadership; innovation; spirit and faith in our industry and both a person and businessman that he has […]

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Oct
29

CFA Continuing to Build The Future

Welcome to the “new” CFA…at least the new online CFA from the perspective of how to interact with your Association. Over the past six months, we have been working painstakingly to transition our data systems to a new provider that offers a much more robust and intuitive system for CFA staff, CFA members and the general public. We are now ready to unveil this new system […]

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Magazine Issues

Jun
28

CALLING ALL FOUNDATION PROFESSIONALS!

The Concrete Foundations Association announces Concrete Foundations Convention 2017, consisting of both a 3-day professional pass and a 1-day opportunity to interact with the Concrete Foundations Convention in Nashville, TN on July 20, 2017. The 1-day registration is extended to the regional industry for companies wishing to expose their key workforce to a great concrete […]

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Jun
28

2017 Projects of the Year | Non-Wall Structural Element

Non-Wall Structural Element Burnett Residence Site Walls SCW Footings & Foundations Salt Lake City, Utah The category for non-wall structural element was created to honor the many projects where contractors are asked to deliver a concrete structure other than the typical load-bearing foundation wall. In other words, any element that is not a simply supported […]

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Jun
28

2017 Projects of the Year | Commercial Project

All Points Anson Building 8A Commercial Project Custom Concrete Westfield, Indiana The casual observer may look upon concrete slabs as a basic and perhaps the easiest form of cast-in-place to complete. Those who have undertaken the challenge on any SOG will not likely agree and will be quick to add that the commercial slab with […]

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Jun
28

2017 Projects of the Year | Single-Family Residence 2000-5000 SF

Bashan Lake Residence Single-Family Residence 2,000 to 5,000 sq.ft. Talpey Construction Westbrook, Connecticut Bigger houses in tall, sloping lots are a formula for complex foundations and an opportunity for achieving striking quality. That was the result of this residential foundation located in East Haddam, Connecticut. “The site offered 22 ft. of elevation change between the […]

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Jun
28

2017 Projects of the Year | Single-Family Residence Under 2000 SF

Blue Willow Ridge Nest #3 Single-Family Residence Under 2,000 sq.ft. SCW Footings & Foundations Salt Lake City, Utah The intrigue of the residential foundation that is under 2,000 sq.ft. is often overlooked in today’s construction economy, where bigger is spectacular and ostentatious is attractive. Some of the most challenging projects, however, come in small packages. […]

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Jun
28

2017 Projects of the Year Overall Grand Project: Going Out On A Limb Is Easier Than Building On A Cliff…

The 2017 Projects of the Year Awards… continued excellence in the field of cast-in-place concrete. OVERALL GRAND PROJECT OF THE YEAR Single Family Residence Over 5,000 sq.ft. Aerie Residence by Ekedal Concrete, Inc., Newport Beach, California Corona Del Mar, California 15,000 sq.ft. Single Family Residence Canadian novelist David Bergen once quipped, “I think a construction […]

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Jun
28

Defining Leadership

Here is the problem with being seen as a leader: leaders continue to give a lot of time, energy and often money as a way of contributing to the larger goal or to honor the position they have attained. This is increasingly hard on the organization and the individual as it regularly conflicts with the […]

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Jun
28

Is Bigger Really Better?

Many years ago at a summer meeting the topic of one of the speakers was “How To Grow Your Business?” His opening statement was, “Why do you want to grow? Do you think that growth is going to substantially increase your bottom line?” “If you are willing to do more than you are paid to […]

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Mar
31

Safety 24/7

Last fall a truly “by the book” safe GC tendered a project. Submission of our OSHA training certifications and Safety Program was part of the subcontractor selection process. The submittal included a full-page list of questions about our safety practices. I met with the safety officer on the jobsite and explained that I chose to […]

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Mar
31

March Madness

Let’s face it, I’m about this entirely and I’m guessing many of you are too. I don’t have many conversations it seems without someone having a college team that inspires them. Now, maybe you’re not a basketball fan and prefer wrestling or football, but you have to admit that there is a frenzy, a delirium, […]

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Mar
31

Why Attend Convention

Between podcasts, YouTube tutorials, webinars and google.com, why would I invest the time and money to attend a convention? What will I learn there that I can’t learn online? If this is your mindset, I challenge you to take your company to the next level and explore the real benefits of attending your industry events, […]

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Mar
31

Top Safety Awards Call For Entries

The Board of Directors for the Concrete Foundations Association has created a Top Safety Awards program to recognize contractors in the industry committed to maintaining safe working environments on their job sites. In 2011, OSHA rescinded the exemption from fall protection for residential construction, including that of residential foundation construction under the belief that significant […]

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