A publication of the Concrete Foundations Association
Concrete Facts Magazine Online
Feature
Mobile Ready Mix Among New Techniques for Today’s Contractor
Imagine finding a way to capture a bit more control in your business, while at the same time reducing costs. Impossible? Not with the advent of mobile ready mix. Learn how one CFA member has implemented such a process change and the overwhelming results. The benefit is obvious – cost savings on concrete, no lost […]
CFA Board of Directors Update
The CFA Committees and Board of Directors met for a full day on October 17 in Richmond, Virginia. Below is a summary of some of the more important discussions and actions from the meetings. Structural Task Group The board authorized the establishment of a Structural Task Group to research, study, and review current trends toward […]
Basement Contractors Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Education and innovation the keys to success for building a market “Constantly strive to obtain more knowledge,” may be the mantra for Mike Hancock of Basement Contractors, but “willingness to take a chance” are certainly the words most would use to describe the firm that has successfully built a basement market from scratch in Oklahoma. […]
Coastal Homes with Staying Power Coming to the Carolina Coast
Uniquely Disaster-Resistant Cast-in-place concrete homes promise to be the home of the future Topsail Island, a prized vacation and living destination on North Carolina’s Treasure Coast, will now feature a cluster of innovative homes of the future built to endure the region’s hurricane season with unparalleled luxury and comfort. Security Building Group (SBG) has six […]
The Building Code Process
Adoption of Codes The development of building codes is an ever evolving and ever changing process. It can be mystifying and frustrating to even those who understand the process. Most wall contractors operate under one of the current standard building codes, primarily the Uniform Building or the CABO One and Two Family Dwelling code. If […]
CFA/CHC in New Trade Shows
The CFA and the CHC will make appearances in two new trade shows this coming fall. These efforts are part of an expanded initiative to increase awareness of not only concrete in homes and bases but also the activities of the CFA and its alliance, the Concrete Homes Council. Both shows are inaugural events. The […]
Magazine Issues
Events, Events, and More Events
Another World of Concrete is history – and what an event it was! There was record attendance (over 90,000), a record number of exhibitors (over 1,700), and a record amount of exhibit space (over 900,000 square feet). In spite of a slow housing market, people flocked to Las Vegas. CFA members also supported the event. […]
Portland Cement — The Glue in Concrete
Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world. It forms at least part of nearly everything we build – foundations, roads, dams, bridges, high-rise structures, sidewalks, and homes. It is comprised of some the most readily available materials on the earth – gravel, sand, water and a special type of cement. What […]
2007… Stay Focused!
While preparing to write this issue’s message from the president, I took a few moments to reflect on the year that was 2006. As usual the CFA provided a host of opportunities for members to participate and find benefit in the dollars they contribute. I also had the opportunity to expand the companies that I […]
When Times Are Tough
The housing industry is in another slump. This is nothing new to those of you who have been around for a few years (since the last slump). The housing industry is cyclical. If it is up, down times are ahead. Fortunately, the opposite also holds true. Believe it or not the causes of these events […]
The Code Saga Continues
I attended my third International Code Council (ICC) meeting in Orlando, Florida a month ago. For those of you unfamiliar with the code development process, the ICC is the organization that oversees development of the “I” series of codes, including the International Residential Code (IRC), the International Building Code (IBC) and the other Icodes. The […]
CertainTeed to Receive Prominent Exposure
(Valley Forge, Pennsylvania) — CertainTeed Corporation, one of North America’s leading building products manufacturers, will be featured prominently on NASCAR(R) driver Jeff Green’s #66 Best Buy Chevrolet as he races in this weekend’s Bass Pro Shops 500 NEXTEL Cup race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. CertainTeed, a team sponsor of the Haas/CNC Racing #66 Best […]
Concrete Home Design: Solid As Ever
Gone are the days of over-engineered and overbuilt concrete homes that were a chore to construct and even more difficult to sell. Today’s concrete residential designs, in particular those for homes constructed with Removable Concrete Forms (RCFs), not only offer homeowners a rock-solid, weather resistant and energy efficient investment, these fresh designs yield must-have residences […]
Completing A Foundation In 10.5 HRS!
WHAT THEY DID In an unprecedented 10.5 hours, Coello & Associates constructed a full 8 foot basement and 850 square foot attached garage foundation from start to finish. THE CONCRETE WAS KEY A foundation like the one for this home would typically take a minimum of three days to complete from start to finish. On […]
ICC Code Update
Here is how it went. Those in favor of the proposal to remove the language from the 2006 IRC stated their case (a maximum of 2 minutes each was allowed). I presented facts from our survey of members among other data. Those who opposed the change stated their case (again, 2 minutes each). Each speaker […]
What’s Ahead?
Just recently I returned from the CFA Fall Regional meeting in Hartford, CT. As your president, I am pleased to see we have many exciting projects and activities identified that are sure to continue building value to the membership. As a fellow contractor, however, I share with you a subject that is not quite as […]
CIFA USA Announces Acquisition of CIFA S.p.A. by the Italian Fund Magenta
Italian private equity fund Magenta today announced the completion of the acquisition of CIFA SpA, the Italian group active in the design, manufacture and distribution of equipment for the mixing, transportation and placement of ready-mix concrete. Magenta is a new Italian private equity fund, founded by Luciano Balbo, Edoardo Lanzavecchia and Luigi Sala, that together […]
Two companies in Geronimo, Oklahoma turn ideas into concrete plans
From The Lawton Constitution, May 23, 2006 by Scott Rains, Staff Writer srains@lawton-constitution.com GERONIMO, Okla.— A progressive view of construction must be mixed into the local water supply. The community supported — by a 71 percent margin — passage of a proposition for a concrete, domed school and gymnasium during a school bond vote earlier this […]
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