• 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
17

CHC Attends the 2005 International Builders Show

The Concrete Homes Council (CHC) exhibited at the National Association for Home Builder’s International Builders Show held in Orlando, Florida, January 13-16, 2005. With 104, 922 attendees and more than 880, 000 net square fee of exhibits, it was the largest Builders Show yet and the world’s largest residential construction expo for the their consecutive […]

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Feb
17

Concrete Paradise

By Wendy Shannon, Shannon & Company I’ve traveled many times to the Florida Keys for rest and relaxation, but this time I was flying in to meet with the developer and the design architect of SeaSide Key West, a highend residential project constructed entirely of concrete. Towards the end of the 90-minute direct flight from Atlanta […]

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Feb
17

Concrete Not a Key Factor in Home Building Cost Increases

During the past year the cost of materials needed to build a single family home has escalated significantly. A July survey performed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimates these increases at $5000 to $7000 per new home. As the use of concrete has grown cement shortages have surfaced in a number of […]

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Feb
17

CFA Board Update

Board meetings at the World of Concrete are always a busy affair with so many competing activities. The CFA board, however, tackled a host of initiatives and topics, several of which will result in additional member benefits and services. They are highlighted below. CFA CONSIDERS SAFETY PROGRAM A presentation on safety programs was made by […]

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Feb
17

Agreements – Changing the “Take It or Leave It” Format

Doug Staebler, Custom Concrete Company, Inc., Westfield, IN In previous articles, we looked at the growing use of Subcontractor agreements by builders. In addition to the typical clauses dealing with schedules, work defects, payment provisions, and other construction related matters, most of these agreements contain extremely potent indemnification clauses, which impose nearly unlimited liability on […]

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Feb
17

W.O.C. 2005 Wrap-up

Like most of you, I have had some experience with the World of Concrete shows. I’ll date myself by admitting that I attended my first in Dallas 1981, and later in Atlanta 1989. So with a perspective that spans 24 years, I can tell you they just keep getting more and more amazing. This year’s […]

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Feb
17

Educate Your Builders

NAHB UNIVERSITY OF HOUSING UNVEILS CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS COURSE The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is a powerful force in the business of home building. Most home builders in the United States belong and participate in their association and most of the members of CFA work with builders who are part of the NAHB. The […]

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Dec
14

NAWIC Invites Nominations for 11th Annual Crystal Vision Awards Program

Celebrating the achievements of individuals with vision who helped to promote, expand and encourage to role of women in the construction industry. The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) is accepting nominations for its 11th annual Crystal Vision and Crystal Achievement Awards. The Crystal Vision Awards Program recognizes individuals for their outstanding achievement in advancing the role […]

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Dec
14

PCA has a New Tech Brief

The Portland Cement Association recently published a tech brief, Technology Brief: Concrete Basements, to inform the building industry and consumers of the value in having a concrete basement. IS313-Concrete Basements describes why basements are built with concrete, what quality construction practices to look for, and the various types of cement based systems available to build with. […]

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Dec
14

Form-A-Drain: A Century of Innovations

Through innovation and creative product design, CertainTeed Corporation has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Company, its slogan “Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed” quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed is a leading North American manufacturer of vinyl and fiber cement siding; vinyl and […]

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Dec
14

Cranes & Equipment: We’ve All Come a Long Way

By: Joan E. Ausbury, President Cranes & Equipment Corp. Peoria, IL It was July 18, 1986, Kansas City, Missouri and the vision is still clear in my aging mind. The hole is dug, the footers are in, and there’s a busload of CFA members milling about the typical mounds of dirt around an excavation. The building site […]

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Dec
14

Western Forms: Working With the CFA to Help the Industry Grow

ABOUT WESTERN FORMS® What started 50 years ago as a form tie producer has grown into a leading aluminum forming systems manufacturer. Today, Western Forms delivers high quality, high performance form panels, hardware, tools, and accessories. With unique technological innovations, Western Forms continues to improve its position as a leader, in the minds of both […]

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