• Overcoming Concrete Permeability with Multi-crystalline Technology

    Thursday, June 18, 2026

    By Mark Chew, VP Sales & Marketing US and Canada, ICC Distribution Group While many attributes of the concrete foundation industry have remained constant throughout the years, notable changes including technological advancements and the advent of Portland-limestone cement (PLC), or 1L concrete have introduced new challenges. Additionally, the inherent porosity of concrete makes it vulnerable […]

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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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  • Happy Anniversary to Our Members!

    Friday, October 3, 2025

    As we close out 2025, the CFA celebrates four standout members who are marking significant anniversaries.

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  • Buck Bartley smiles at the camera while at a job site.

    CFA Charter Member Passes: Robert Taylor “Buck” Bartley, Jr. 1938-2025

    Friday, October 3, 2025

    The CFA commemorates the life of Robert “Buck” Bartley, one of the founding members of the association.

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  • Concrete Facts Magazine Spring 2025 Issue Now Available in Spanish

    Tuesday, April 29, 2025

    The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) is excited to highlight the Spanish-language edition of the latest issue of its industry magazine, Concrete Facts. Released quarterly in both English and Spanish, Concrete Facts delivers high-value insights, technical expertise and industry updates to English- and Spanish-speaking concrete professionals across North America and beyond. According to James Baty, Executive […]

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Feature

Oct
14

CFA Announces Call for Entries for 2014 Projects of the Year Awards

Mt. Vernon, Iowa (October 10, 2013) — The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) – the voice and established authority for the residential concrete industry – has announced the call for entries for the “2014 Projects of the Year” competition.  The Projects of the Year is a free, competition for members of the CFA providing evidence of […]

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Oct
10

CFA Elects New Board Members

Mt. Vernon, Iowa (Oct 10, 2013) — The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) – a North American association serving as the voice and recognized authority for the residential concrete industry – announces the arrival of two new members to the Board of Directors. During the CFA Annual Convention, held this summer at the Hyatt Tamaya in […]

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Oct
10

Marvin Earl Bolten Obituary

The CFA was notified of the passing of a former active member from Texas this summer.  Many long-time members will remember the energy of Marvin Bolten. Barry Herbert of Herbert Construction Co. writes, “When I first joined the CFA in 1991, Marv was active and if I remember correctly, he was on the board the first […]

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Sep
13

ThermalDrain™ Chosen as Finalist for 2013 RISE® Durable Product Awards

Cleveland-based GMX, Inc.’s ThermalDrain nonwoven drain protection board is a finalist for the 2013 RISE Durable Product Awards. The award recognizes and rewards innovation in new, durable products that utilize nonwoven fabrics in a way that expands the usage of nonwovens in the consumer or industrial marketplace.   Cleveland, Ohio – GMX, Inc.’s premier recycled […]

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Sep
12

Irving Equipment Announces Arrival of Loop Belt® Truck Mounted Conveyors

Irving Equipment is pleased to announce the arrival of Loop Belt® truck mounted conveyors. Offering the LB32T4 and LB40T5 models, they are 100% designed, patented, and built in the US. Boasting several brand new patents on each model, with others pending, both units offer advantages and applications that outperform other competitive placing systems. Loop Belt® […]

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Aug
21

Oil on Rebar

by JAMES R. BATY II As published by Concrete Contractor Magazine. Created: August 21, 2013 The Concrete Foundations Association explains the code reference and common misconceptions regarding oil on rebar for residential concrete. Question: On several of our most recent residential projects, the inspector in our area has been complicating our pour schedule when finding form oil over-sprayed […]

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Magazine Issues

Dec
6

Being A Member…

Membership is not just about paying your dues after the first of July, or when every your membership expires, and then waiting for the dues to come up the following year. And although this is a great publication, it’s not about just reading what’s between the covers of Concrete Facts. On a larger scale, membership […]

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Dec
5

Your CFA Membership Benefits

Are you taking full advantage of your membership in the CFA? Hopefully you are. But just in case, I thought I would highlight a few of the relatively new member benefits, as well as remind you of some the old standbys. First, let’s talk about the CFA cold weather effort. Now that winter is upon […]

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Oct
15

CFA Releases 2006 Standard

The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) has released a 2006 version of the CFA Standard. The Standard presents a wide variety of foundation construction information and minimum standards in a code format. It establishes a baseline for construction, and follows the layout of current and proposed building codes, enhanced by real life experiences. “The Standard includes […]

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Oct
15

All Concrete Passive Solar Home Stores Energy in Walls

CFA National Associate Dow recently held an open house for a passive solar all concrete high performance home designed to get the maximum benefit of state of the art insulated wall technologies. The Greene/ Cassidy Home just north of the Perry Park Golf Course in Larkspur, Co., is sited to make the most of the […]

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Oct
15

The Concrete Chateau: High Style Meets High Strength

One of the newest concrete residences on the North Carolina scene has been described as “Quiet Elegance.” The Chateau, a French-country-style home built by Jon Rufty, and designed by Davenport Architecture + Design, Inc. (current CHC member) achieves exquisite style, superior class and enough resilience to withstand the most threatening elements. An experienced custom home […]

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Oct
15

Fine Line Footings

FINE LINE FOOTING FORMS OFFERS NEW ADJUSTABLE SLIP FORM Eagle Mountain, Utah—Fine Line Footing Forms, Inc., manufacturer of the Fine Line Footing Forms stake-free aluminum footing form system, released its new adjustable Slip Form™. With the Slip Form™, contractors have another option available for their footing form needs. Doug Reid, president of Fine Line, states, […]

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Oct
15

NAHB RESEARCH CENTER UNVEILS REDESIGNED PATH TECHNOLOGY INVENTORY

REVAMPED TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE FOR BUILDING PROFESSIONALS OFFERS ENHANCED USABILITY AND DESIGN September 27, 2005, Upper Marlboro, Md.—The NAHB Research Center today announced the launch of the newly redesigned PATH Technology Inventory, the building industry’s online resource for practical information on innovative construction products and practices that can improve housing performance. Redesigned to include enhanced search […]

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Oct
15

CFA Regional Conference A Success in Pennsylvania

The Western Pennsylvania Concrete Foundations Association (WPCFA) hosted the second Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) Regional Conference on Saturday, September 17, at the Embassy Suites Hotel Pittsburgh International Airport in Coraopolis, PA. The daylong event was compact with concurrent tracks for management/owners and construction employees in the morning.Then attendees for the construction track went outside for […]

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Oct
15

CFA Introduces Marketing Presentation

Have you ever had the need to make a sales pitch to a builder, but didn’t have a prepared presentation? If so, CFA may be able to help. The Association has introduced a new tool called “Why Poured Walls” “Why Poured Walls”is a multifaceted Power Point presentation that addresses a wide variety of issues that […]

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Oct
15

CFA Enters New Dimension of Education

Yes, the Internet can be a rather intimidating arena for people looking for information and services to improve their businesses. Fortunately, there are opportunities that exist to help break down the many barriers and intimidating factors. This issue, we would like to introduce you to one of the newest ways we at CFA are working […]

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Oct
15

CFA Online Educational Opportunities

The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) now offers educational courses online. Jim Baty, CFA’s Technical Director, will instruct registrants on the features and benefits of the basement wall and retaining wall software packages available on the CFA website, www.cfawalls.org. Registrants will be able to view the step-by-step instructions online from their own computers while they ask […]

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Oct
15

Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It

Technology, wow, what’s next? It is hard to comprehend how the life of the concrete contractor has changed in recent years. I remember when very simple (by today’s standards) Boman Instruments pocket calculators went on sale for about $120 each. If I recall correctly, it took three AA batteries. Now a solar powered -1/16 the […]

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