• Superar la permeabilidad del concreto con tecnología multicristalina

    Thursday, June 25, 2026

    Por Mark Chew, vicepresidente de Ventas y Marketing para EE. UU. y Canadá, ICC Distribution Group Si bien muchas características del sector de los cimientos de concreto se han mantenido constantes a lo largo de los años, algunos cambios notables —como los avances tecnológicos y la llegada del cemento Portland-caliza (PLC), o concreto 1L— han […]

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  • 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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Feature

Dec
14

Dependant Foundations: Moving On Up

Byline: Talia J. Nelson, Marketing & Member Services You may have seen the name Mark Markovich beside “Treasurer” on the list of Concrete Foundations Association’s Board of Directors, but that is not the only organization in which Markovich actively participates. Markovich has been president of Dependant Foundations in Brighton, Michigan for the past 20 years. Dependant […]

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Dec
14

Menke Brothers Construction Company:

Talia J. Nelson, Marketing & Member Services The Concrete Foundations Association was beginning just about the time that another organization was forming. Menke Brothers Construction Company in Fort Jennings, Ohio began with only seven employees. Just as the association has grown, so has the staff at Menke Brothers. They employ 45 and provide a variety of […]

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Oct
20

CFA Honors Brad Barnes with MVP Award

Brad Barnes, PE received the first ever CFA MVP Award at ACI’s Northeast Ohio Chapter monthly meeting on Thursday, November 11, 2004. Barnes, the ACI Chapter Director, was chosen for his time and effort put into the CFA Cold Weather Research Program. Jim Baty, CFA Technical Director, gave a brief presentation on the significance of […]

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Oct
10

MTSU Unveils Degree in Con crete Construction

By Ed Sauter, Executice Director Where does one go to learn how to run a concrete construction business? Not the nuts and bolts of building a footing or wall, those are still best taught on-the-job. I’m talking about finance, estimating, managing personnel, marketing; the things that can make or break a business even if you […]

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Oct
10

Don’t Get Caught in the Middle

Bob Milford, Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP Concrete Facts recently featured several articles regarding subcontractor agreements. In one of these articles, Doug Staebler of Custom Concrete Company, Inc. pointed out that both the large national builders and the smaller local builders are insisting on the use of subcontractor agreements. Builders utilize these agreements to shift as much […]

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Oct
10

Subcontractor Agreements – The Indemnification Clause

Doug Staebler, Custom Concrete Company, Inc., Westfield, IN You have just landed that big customer you’ve been working on for two years. Prices and scope of work have been agreed to and everyone is ready to begin. There is one last detail to take care of, the Subcontractor Agreement. At this point in the game, the […]

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Magazine Issues

Sep
9

CFA MEMBER RECOGNIZED

Carol Mulready and her company CBJ Foundations was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” during the annual Harold Webster Smith Awards presentation at the Waterbury, CT Chamber of Commerce January meeting. The RepublicanAmerican newspaper writes: “Mulready, 52, is one of the three small business owners in the region who will be honored Thursday at the 12th annual Harold Webster Smith […]

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Sep
9

CFA CERTIFICATION SUCCESS AT WORLD OF CONCRETE

In February, the CFA Certification Program took a major step forward with the first public offering of the Foundation Technician Certification Exam. During the World of Concrete, thirty four (34) persons attended the inaugural technician seminar and twenty eight (28) sat for the exam. This very challenging exam is not for the curious of mind as evidenced by […]

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Sep
9

Certification Has Arrived!

CFA’s Certification program is exceeding our expectations! Since the inaugural kick off last summer at the “08”, summer meeting in New Mexico the program now boasts seven (7) fully certified companies and thirty (30) certifi ed technicians with fifty one (51) individuals having taken the exam. The momentum the program has going can be seen in the number of inquires CFA is getting by foundation […]

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Jun
16

CFA Summer Meeting Shake-Up

The CFA Summer Convention for 2009 is moving full speed ahead. We haven’t been to the ocean since Myrtle Beach and the venue for 2009, Amelia Island Plantation on the coast between Florida and Georgia, is a fantastic location. Every room has a view of the Atlantic Ocean and the pools and patios of the resort, like the photo below, overlook the readily accessible […]

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Jun
16

ANSI Approves National Green Building Standard

WASHINGTON -The National Green Building Standard for all residential construction work including single-family homes, apartments, and condos, land development and remodeling and renovation was approved in January by the American National Standards Institute. “The National Green Building Standard is now the first and only green building rating system approved by ANSI, making it the benchmark for green homes,” said Ron Jones, who chaired the consensus committee charged with developing the […]

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Jun
16

Welcome our new member!

In each issue of Concrete Facts we bring you the companies that have most recently made the decision to join this Association with goals of improving their business and their employees. This month, this list includes: Commercial Contracting Corporation 4260 N Atlantic Blvd Auburn Hills MI 48326 248-209-0435  Silvio Amato

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Jun
16

Your Membership = Your Partner During The Tough Times

Continuing to feel the effects of this deepening recession? Your Association is working to bring you increased value to your membership dollars while providing ways to diversify your company and build your corporate image. One way the CFA can help you in this 2009 fi scal cycle, is a two-for-one membership in both the Concrete Foundations Association and the Concrete Homes […]

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Jun
16

Look At The Bright Side

There is a bright side to what most of us are going through in this recession. I know at times it does not feel that way, but there are some positives. As we contract in size, reduce, conserve and find new opportunities for revenue we are setting our companies up for a more efficient profitable future. During the good years, […]

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Apr
9

Certification Expands Certified Foundation Technician Designation Created

The CFA Certifi ed Foundation Contractor program has exceeded all expectations since it was introduced at the 2008 Summer Convention. Not only have more companies than anticipated signed up for the program; several companies have joined the CFA simply to participate. Many more are attending the preparatory seminar and sitting for the basic knowledge exam. You do not need […]

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Apr
8

8 Reasons to Feel Good About the Economy

by Kevin Stirtz Despite all the bad news we hear in the media, there are good things happening in our economy. You just have to look past the popular headlines. Before I go any further, I’ll say this. I am NOT a financial or economic expert. Not even close. So, please don’t take what I’m saying as gospel. It’s not. It’s just my opinion and the opinions […]

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Apr
8

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Turn to Professional Associations

by Kim Douglas When the economy is in a slump, most of us look for ways to reduce spending, ruthlessly slashing every expenditure that doesn’t deliver direct bottom-line benefit. But sometimes well-intended cost-cutting can fall victim to the law of unintended consequences. Take professional organization membership, for example. You might think your annual dues, event fees and other association costs are fat that can […]

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Apr
8

What You Missed at World of Concrete

The World of Concrete 2009 has come and gone. Much trepidation and cautious anticipation existed as time marched toward this event. Above all, our industry needed to know the impact that this recession would have on both the number and the attitude of the attendees as a predictor of what is to come. Face it; we’re all tired of listening to the media and the […]

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