• 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 […]

    Read More
  • 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 […]

    Read More
  • 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.

    Read More
  • 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.

    Read More
  • 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 […]

    Read More

Feature

Jul
16

Bilco Announces New District Sales Manager

NEW HAVEN, CT/July 16, 2013 – The Bilco Company is pleased to announce that it has appointed Mike Enderlin to the position of District Sales Manager, Residential Products, for the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North and South Dakota. Enderlin is a seasoned sales professional who has built a highly successful track record […]

Read More
Jul
10

Modern Efficiency Meets Classic Values

by REBECCA WASIELESKI As published in Concrete Contractor Magazine Created: June 26, 2013 Third generation concrete contractor Martinson Construction embraces technologies that help it improve efficiency while maintaining the ideals of a family-owned business. Earlier this year, Martinson Construction installed a GPS fleet tracking system on its trucks, pump trucks and skid-steer loaders. Despite a relatively short […]

Read More
Jun
30

YOU NEED TO BE THINKING CERTIFICATION RIGHT NOW…

Imagine yourself on the phone tomorrow bidding for a foundation contract, but you tell the general contractor “I am a CFA Certified Contractor”. His response will be one of surprise and admiration. Ten years from now his response will be “I only hire Certified CFA Contractors.” Get in on the ground floor of a new […]

Read More
Jun
26

Why Concrete Beats Wood

by JAMES R. BATY II As published by Concrete Contractor Magazine. Created: June 26, 2013 The Concrete Foundations Association explains why concrete foundations outperform wood in the majority of residential applications. The art, science and profession of residential concrete is centuries old, yet the farther we get from its origin the more complex the industry around us […]

Read More
May
28

William L. “Bill” Esker (61) of Teutopolis Passes – J.B. Esker

William “Bill” L. Esker, 61 of Teutopolis, passed away on Monday, May 27th surrounded by his family at Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Teutopolis.  The visitation will be Thursday, May 30th from 3-7 PM.   A parish wake service & rosary will follow at […]

Read More
May
26

AT A GLANCE: Six tornado rumors corrected

BY CARRIE COPPERNOLL, As posted to the Oklahoman.com   In the chaotic hours and days after the tornado Monday, rumors spread. Firsthand information became third-hand information, and facts were lost in translation. Misinformation was broadcast and printed. Here are six rumors you probably heard this week and the correct information. 1. Children at Plaza Towers […]

Read More

Magazine Issues

Apr
22

Don’t Forget Your Badge!

Talia J. Nelson, CFA Marketing & Member Services You do it at the Home Builders Show, you do it at the World of Concrete, it’s time to show me that you can do it here too! This year’s Summer Meeting registration is going to be a little different, but nothing you can’t handle. Upon registering […]

Read More
Apr
22

CFA Members Hone Presentation Skills for Foundation Seminar

The National Homebuilders Show, with the assistance of CFA members, has introduced a seminar on residential cast-in-place foundations to educate builders on the details of building basements. It has been presented in Kalamazoo, MI and Minneapolis, MN and is currently undergoing final review. The next step in the delivery of the seminar is developing a […]

Read More
Apr
22

Building Concrete Homes With Removable Forms

Building homes with removable forms is just one of several concrete wall building systems. But there are advantages to building homes this way. For home builders, removable form construction is fast, saving as much as 30 days on the construction of an average home. In Mexico, which is increasingly using removable form construction, houses can […]

Read More
Apr
22

Tall Order for Pumping Equipment

PUTZMEISTER PUMPS TO ASSIST IN CONSTRUCTION OF WORLD’S HIGHEST TOWER Jonathan Omer, Putzmeister, Sturtevant, WI Putzmeister AG was recently awarded a contract with Universal Concrete Products, Ltd. Co. (UNIMIX) L.L.C. to assist in the construction of the tallest tower in the world – the Burj Dubai. Commencing this spring, Putzmeister pumping equipment will be instrumental […]

Read More
Apr
22

Balmer Brothers Win CFA Basement of the Year Again

Jerry Balmer, President of Balmer Brothers Concrete Works, Inc. in Akron, Pennsylvania, knows what it’s like to build a basement from hell – he’s done it before. In 2000, Balmer Brothers was voted the winner of the Basement of the Year for their 29,000 square foot basement, which was complex as well as mammoth. This […]

Read More
Apr
22

Bontrager Concrete Specialties, Inc Named Contractor of the Year

Bontrager Concrete Specialties, Inc. of Nappanee, Indiana was named Contractor of the Year by the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) based in Mount Vernon, Iowa. The Contractor of the Year Award recognizes an individual or company who exemplifies the ideals, goals, and standards of the CFA, a voluntary nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the […]

Read More
Apr
22

CFA’s First Regional Meeting

It is hard to turn away from a recipe that works, but that is what we did for the recent Spring Board /Foundation Fundamentals program. Brent Anderson has done a terrific job of educating contractors on the basic (and sometimes not so basic) engineering principles of foundation construction that we all should know. He has […]

Read More
Apr
22

Summer Meeting in San Francisco

The 2005 CFA Summer Meeting, our 30th Anniversary, is just around the corner. The CFA staff, Board of Directors, and committees involved in the planning of this event have implemented a host of changes to keep the event fresh, exciting, and fun. The first change is the schedule. Classes will begin before the opening reception […]

Read More
Feb
17

CHBC to Hold Plant Tour

Have you ever wanted to tour a cement, a forms, and an expanded polystyrene manufacturing plants; as well as a quarry and state-of-the-art concrete homes? If so, the opportunity awaits you. The Concrete Home Building Council, a council within the Building Systems Council of the National Association of Home Builders, has chosen residential concrete systems […]

Read More
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 […]

Read More
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 […]

Read More
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 […]

Read More