A publication of the Concrete Foundations Association
Concrete Facts Magazine Online
Feature
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. […]
Record Attendance at Summer Meeting
Summer in Niagara Falls, Ontario is not nearly as warm as summer in southern Missouri. Just ask the record crowd that attended the annual CFA summer meeting held from July 26th through the 28th at the Sheraton Fallsview in Niagara Falls, Ontario. There were no complaints about the heat. The hotel offered some magnificent views […]
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 […]
