• Board of Directors Announce New Management for Association and Celebration Strategies for 50th Anniversary

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    Mount Vernon, IA (date) – The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) Board of Directors has announced a management change for the organization, which coincides with its 50th anniversary. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, CFA will be managed by the AOE Team – an association management and marketing consulting firm with headquarters in Farmington Hills, Mich.,  after more […]

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  • Using Decorative Concrete to Refresh Outdoor Spaces

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    In both residential and commercial construction, decorative concrete is gaining popularity as a transformative element that revitalizes outdoor spaces. No longer reduced to just a functional, utilitarian solution, decorative concrete now serves as a versatile canvas for architects and designers looking to create aesthetically pleasing, durable, and cost-effective environments. The adaptability of decorative concrete allows […]

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  • New Identity for Central Wisconsin CFA Member

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    Dane, WI – With a 77-year history of building trust, excellence, and strong foundations, Wisconsin-based concrete contractor Hottmann Construction, Inc. announces a rebranding initiative that reflects the company’s evolving vision, values, and commitment to the future. “We are excited to re-introduce ourselves to the marketplace in mid-December as Cru Concrete,” states company president, Ken Kurszewski. […]

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  • Caught-In-Action

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    Timing on jobsites is not always precise, yet, as quality firms recognize, good crews always find a way to be productive. This photo was captured and sent in by CFA member, Bartley Corp, showing team members, who were waiting on forms to arrive to the site, capitalizing on available time. “This job was run by […]

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  • 2024 PROJECTS OF THE YEAR

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    The Rest of the Best The last issue of Concrete Facts presented the top-voted project and each of the respective category winners from the 25th annual competition for the Concrete Foundations Association. Two ways to revisit these project awards are available in the toolbox accompanying this article. The feature image from each project can be […]

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Feature

Magazine Issues

Feb
5

Contractor of the Year

One of CFA’s top awards ‘The Contractor of the Year’, selected by the Board of Directors, is given to a CFA member who demonstrates the service, technology and knowledge needed to advance the use of poured wall construction. ——————– A 27-year CFA member known as an innovator in the poured wall industry, Arie Van Wyk, […]

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Feb
5

Nox Crete Celebrates 50 Years

Nox-Crete Products is celebrating its 50th year as a manufacturer of quality chemical products for concrete construction. The company, and an industry, were launched in 1956 when their founder Carl Linn developed the world’s first chemically active form release agent. Prior to the development of nox-Crete Form Coating, contractors used diesel fuel and crank case […]

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Feb
5

CFA Basement of the Year Stretches For Growth

For eight years, the CFA has been promoting and conducting a members only competition originally and affectionately labeled the “Basement from Hell” competition that has matured into the “Basement of the Year”. Some incredible works have been submitted over the past few years, selection of THE basement has been strongly contested. This year, based on […]

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Feb
5

Basement of the Year 2nd and 3rd Place Wins

#2 WINNER JEFF TRAGESER, LOUISBURG FOUNDATION ———————- Jeff Trageser Louisburg Foundation Bucyrus, Kansas frotrageser76@aol.com   Louisburg Foundation was started about 37 years ago by Jeff Tregeser’s grandfather, then taken over by Jeff ’s dad. Jeff is a 3rd generation member of the company. Louisburg Foundation has 18 employees and serves Johnson County, Kansas.   Louisburg Foundation is a new member to CFA, just […]

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Feb
5

3rd Win for Balmer Brothers — CFA Basement of the Year

#1 Winner Jerry Balmer, Balmer Brothers Concrete Works, Inc. ——————— Balmer Brothers Akron, PA Contact: Jerry Balmer http://www.balmerbros.com   What started as two brothers pouring sidewalks and curbs in the summer months in 1973 has become a successful company that has found a niche in upscale, large, unique and complex foundations in the Philadelphia area.   Today they have 4 […]

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Feb
5

CHC/CFA Members Participate in WOC Megademo

The Concrete Homes Council and the CFA were well represented in the World of Concrete Housing Megademo this year. In case you missed it, the Megademo covered two days of activity. The first day demonstrated the set-up and concrete placement for many of the technologies available in concrete housing. Day two focused on finishes showing […]

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Dec
6

The Next Step in Code Development

The approval and printing of the First Edition of the ACI 332 Residential Concrete Standard and the subsequent reference of the chapter on wall construction in the ICC (International Code Council) is just the beginning of what will be a long-term, ongoing effort to clarify codes as they relate to residential concrete construction. The next effort will […]

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Dec
6

Providing Improved Product Availability and First Class Services

With over 90 years of experience in the steel industry, Armtec can attribute it’s success to a team of valued employees who provide innovative solutions through a diverse line of quality products, exceptional customer service and effective communication. Armtec is a manufacturer and distributor of steel and high density polyethylene (HDPE) construction products for use […]

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Dec
6

A One-Stop Shop

Griffin Masonry truly is a one-stop shop for homebuilders. Customers can consolidate five calls into one. Griffin Masonry provides masonry (brick and block), concrete basement walls, concrete finishing, brick cleaning, and stone masonry. They also have other divisions that provide concrete pumping (Griffin Concrete Placement), concrete mixer trucks (Blue Dot readi-mix) and commercial masonry (Old […]

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Dec
6

Rebuilding the Gulf Coast Region Starts With Education

The Concrete Home Building Council (CHBC) and the Home Builders Institute (HBI) met for a post Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita Strategy Summit on Oct. 12 at the NAHB’s National Housing Center in Washington to define how they can work together to educate builders, displaced skilled workers, displaced un-skilled workers and communicate with other industry […]

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Dec
6

ASA Defeats Attempted Expansion Against Subcontractors in Ohio of Tort Claims

Alexandria, Va – Traditional limits on tort claims protect construction subcontractors from negligence leading to damages for delay, “lost profits” and other “economic losses” experienced by construction owners or others not in privity of contract with a subcontractor. In 2004, the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) asked the Ohio Supreme Court to strike down an appeals […]

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Dec
6

It’s All in the Footings

Doug Reid began as a foundation contractor, so frustrated with traditional stake-and-wood footing forms that it drove him to develop and patent a new aluminum, panel-based footing system and form the company Fine Line Footing Forms. This forward thinking system eliminates the endless stream of wood, rebar, and nail purchases. Aluminum forms won’t bow or […]

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