A publication of the Concrete Foundations Association
Concrete Facts Magazine Online
Feature
Bontrager Concrete Specialists, Nappanee, Indiana
Bontrager Concrete Specialities Inc. of Nappanee, Indiana, considered their most challenging project for 2000 to be the residence of the Sheperd family in Bristol, IN. This home is set on a wooded but fairly level lot, but it contains many angles and some special features, such as a theatre in the basement level. Kevin Bontrager […]
Loucks Concrete Specialists, La Porte, Indiana
While not the largest job of the year, a residential job at the exclusive Aberdeen Subdivision in Valparaiso, Indiana, was definitely one of the most challenging of the year for Loucks Concrete Specialists of La Porte, IN. This 4,500 square foot home is carved into the side of a hill, the walls varying from three […]
Formco Foundations, West Jordan, Utah
On a mountainous lot in The Colony residential development in Park City, Utah, lies the foundation that Formco Foundations considers its “basement from hell” for 2000. Kirby Justesen, president of Formco, which is located in West Jordan, UT, gave us the statistics on this job: 698 yards for the foundation walls, 408 yards for the […]
Balmer Brothers, Akron, PA
Folks must be making money in Philly, because one notable basement project last year was for a 29,000 square foot house in Philadelphia. Not as beg as Bill Gates’ house, but still plenty romy. Balmer Brothers Concrete Work of Akron, PA, noted that some of the difficulties in this job were the circular stairways, angled […]
CFA to Fund Energy Study
The CFA Board of Directors voted at their board meeting in Las Vegas to donate $3000 from the CFA Education and Research foundation to partially fund a study of the energy benefits of building with removable-form wall systems. The study, with a total cost of $15,000, is part of a PCA funded project that will […]
Balmer Brothers Wins Basement of the Year Award
Balmer Brothers Concrete Works, Inc. of Akron, Pennsylvania was voted the winner of the 2000 Basement of the Year (Basement from Hell) Award. Over 160 votes were cast between Tuesday and Thursday in the CFA booth at the World of Concrete and their 29,000 square foot basement was the odds-on (this is Las Vegas) favorite. […]
Magazine Issues
WESTERN FORMS ACQUIRES SOLID WALL SYSTEMS
Western Forms and Mercedes Homes are pleased to announce Western Forms acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Solid Wall Systems, Inc. (“SWS”) from Mercedes Homes, Inc., a Melbourne, Florida- based homebuilder, effective May 9, 2008. Since its inception in 2001, SWS, has been a leading production builder of cast-in-place concrete walls in Florida and was featured in several publications and national broadcasts, such as the Bob […]
Bilco’s Permentry Offers Direct Basement Access
Consisting of a monolithic concrete stairwell and Bilco basement door, the PermEntry Basement Entrance system is used extensively in new home construction applications. It maximizes and expands lower-level living space by adding direct, safe and convenient access from the basement to the outdoors. Precast in one piece and thoroughly vibrated for maximum density, the stairwell can be installed on poured concrete and concrete block foundations. PermEntry is secured to […]
FALL REGIONAL CONFERENCE TAKES US TO OHIO
Fall has come and gone, at least for those in the northern half of the country. As the snow flies and the election energy draws down, we can begin thinking about what happened to those golden months of autumn. This fall was a great opportunity missed by many no thanks to the economy and the need to work harder. Still, some member companies took the […]
MOVING AHEAD WITH FAITH
It seems like just the other day I was reading the farewell letter authored by Terry Lavy in Concrete Facts as his term of President of the CFA was expiring. In what seems like the blink of an eye, it is now my turn to do the same. As I step down I am both encouraged and excited about what has been accomplished and […]
FALL REGIONAL WAS FIRST CLASS!
I am writing this letter to the membership on a plane going home from the Fall Regional Convention that was held in Columbus Ohio. As I reflect on the conference, there are four topics that stand out for me, quality education, CFA certification exam, captive insurance and what a great group of people CFA members are. First, the quality of the education featured at our first […]
CFA FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY SURVEY
Just how bad is it? Many of you know – you are experiencing it on a daily basis. But how bad is it elsewhere? I recently completed a survey of foundation construction activity of members to put some actual figures on the state of the economy. The good news – I had a record number of respondents for a CFA survey. Forty-eight of […]
CERTIFICATION DEBUTS
It’s been in the planning process for over two years. Countless meetings, conference calls, consultations, dry runs – but now its for real. The Concrete Foundations Association will roll-out the CFA Certified Foundation Contractor program at this summer’s Annual Convention. The details of the program will be covered in an in-depth article in the next edition of the Concrete Facts. This introduction will cover […]
THE UN-COMFORT ZONE… What’s Pushing Your Buttons?
by Robert Wilson What motivates you? That’s the question I’d like to ask in this inaugural column on motivation. Are you motivated by fame, fortune or fear. Or is it something deeper that fans the flames inside of you. Perhaps you are like Jeanne Louise Calment whose burning desire enabled her to do something that no other human being has done before. A feat so spectacular […]
Bilco Company Offers 2008 Residential Products Catalog
The Bilco Company has announced its availability of its 2008 Residential Products Catalog. The catalog, which includes information on the company’s complete line of the IRC 2006-code compliant basement projects, is available free of charge by calling 800-854-9724 or emailing Bilco at bilco@bilco.com. The new catalog offers information on their full line of basement doors, including the Classic Series Sloped Wall and Steel Sided doors and […]
Round Three of Management Moves is Ready!
Dear CFA Member, Over the past year, our Management Committee has been working hard to develop the content for a new series of information products that deliver tips and tricks we all use for the management of our businesses. Attend one CFA event and the first thing you realize is how much collective business expertise exists between the companies of this Association, […]
CFA SELF-INSURANCE PRESENTATION IN OHIO
My “From the Director” column two issues ago presented some of the details of the CFA initiative to form a CFA self-insurance “Captive”. The CFA Board of Directors is ready to move forward with the CFA Self-Insurance Captive, but we need member participation to make it happen. This has the potential to be the biggest single benefit […]
WESTERN FORMS CREATES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH B.E.P. FORMING SYSTEMS, INC.
Western Forms Inc has created a new partnership with B.E.P. Forming Systems Inc, previously headquartered in Fayetteville, Georgia. The newly formed entity, B.E.P. Forming Systems, L.L.C. will be headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Greg Peacock, Founder of B.E.P. Forming Systems will serve as Vice President/General Manager of the newly formed entity. Mr. Peacock and his […]
