For Construction Pros

Caffeinated concrete

By Rebecca Wasieleski - Monday August 2, 2010

I've learned to expect the unexpected, especially when it comes to concrete. You may assume anything made with concrete is basic and utilitarian with little style or design. You need to start thinking otherwise. First there's the field of decorative concrete, which offers color and individuality to anything concrete -- countertops, floors, patios, you name it. I wrote articles on beautiful, artistic concrete structures such as the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the Guggenheim museum in New York City. I visited a folk art park full of concrete sculptures, and the magazine has published stories on stylish AND utilitarian concrete objects like concrete bathtubs and concrete furniture and the molds to make them...

Learn how concrete can contribute to a green home

By Rebecca Wasieleski - Friday June 11, 2010

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lauren Hickman, a student with the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Planning's Studio 804. The students in this group recently built an ultra green home which is currently for sale in Kansas City, Kan. Hickman managed the concrete elements of the home, which you can read about in an article I wrote aboutÂ Studio 804'sÂ Prescott Passive House.

ACI now offers audio version of best-selling publication "The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction"

By Rebecca Wasieleski - Friday February 12, 2010

Need a break from the local radio stations that play the same 17 songs over and over every day? Or maybe the average books-on-tape don't offer you the concrete enrichment you always hoped for. Well, you're in luck. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) recently introduced the availability of an audio version of the third edition of The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction. Topics covered in The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction include: Organizing for quality Concrete mixture proportioning Specifications Foundations Formwork Reinforcement and embedments in structures Joints and reinforcement for slabs-on-ground Preparing for concreting Concrete placing and finishing Common field...

Do you want to win a free concrete trowel?

By Rebecca Wasieleski - Friday January 15, 2010

Of course you do! But in order to take home the Wacker Neuson special edition CRT 48-35VX ride-onÂ concrete trowel pictured here, you have to prove your skills on the slab during the 2010 Trowel Challenge, which takes place at the World of Concrete, Feb. 2-5 in Las Vegas. Find out how to enter the challenge at the Trowel Challenge blog (look for the section along the right-hand side of the blog web page that says "Register Now"). Good luck!

Win a free trip to the World of Concrete in Las Vegas!

By Rebecca Wasieleski - Tuesday January 5, 2010

The World of Concrete 2010Â is quickly approaching, and Wacker Neuson Corporation wants to give one lucky winner theÂ opportunityÂ to attend the showÂ for free.Â Their drawing for round-trip tickets for two and a four-night hotel stay during the show will take place on Friday, January 8. Visit trowelchallenge.com and click on the "Register Now" link in the right-hand column. The deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, January 7. The Las Vegas trip prize packageÂ is part of Wacker Neuson'sÂ Concrete Trowel Challenge, which takes place during the World of Concrete in Las Vegas, Feb. 2-5.Â Contractors entered into the challenge willÂ have the opportunity to prove their concrete troweling skillsÂ on a 2,000-square-foot...

Crane helps adrenaline junkies get their fix

By Rebecca Wasieleski - Thursday October 22, 2009

My idea of excitement includes a canoe and a slow river, or cross-country skiing on flat terrain. Pretty much the exact opposite of excitement for people who partake in BASE jumping, a sport where people parachute off fixed objects. But just in case you're looking for inspiration to create a little excitement of your own, read this article about this Bridge Day celebration in West Virginia and how ALL Crane Equipment & Rental Corp. helped a group of adrenaline junkies get their fix. There's even a You Tube video!

Top Products from Concrete Contractor magazine

By Rebecca Wasieleski - Tuesday October 6, 2009

Each year, Concrete Contractor magazine chooses its list of Top Products for the concrete industry. Results are tabulated by reader interest generated by products that run in each issue. Have you seen the list of products this year? Lots of people have been interested in the results, including the folks at HGTVpro.com. Check out the article theyÂ posted on their website about the Top Products winners.

World Green Building Day

By Rebecca Wasieleski - Wednesday September 23, 2009

Today marks the first ever World Green Building Day. The declaration was made by the World Green Building Council in an effort to bring together green building councils from around the world. In honor of the day, I put together a list of a few "building green with concrete" links for you to peruse: The U.S. Green Building Council The Portland Cement Association's (PCA) ConcreteThinker.com Green buildings case studies from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) The Sustainability page from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) And here are some articles from the pages of Concrete Contractor that look at building green with concrete: "Pervious Concrete: How to Place and Cure" "The Cincinnati Zoo Focuses on Improving...

The future of construction equipment

By Rebecca Wasieleski - Tuesday September 15, 2009

The term "industrial design" is something I never thought much about until the summer of 2009. That's when I attended the graduation ceremonies at the School of the Art Institute of ChicagoÂ and listened to a fewÂ highly influential commencement speakers including Renzo Piano -- the Italian architect who designed the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago. The speaker who captured my interest the most, however, was industrial designer Charles A. Harrison II. Mr. Harrison designed lawn mowers, sewing machines and garbage cans during his career at Sears, Roebuck and Company. He also redesigned the View-Master -- the childhood toy EVERYONE has fond memories of. Having a hand in the View-Master is pretty cool. But it's easy to skim...

Hoover Bypass: North America's Largest Concrete Arch

By Rebecca Wasieleski - Wednesday August 5, 2009

Working in the construction industry, I see projects of all sizes -- from backyard patios to multi-story buildings. Recently I've been keeping an eye on a particular project that is just huge, and the imagery is out of this world (the image here is from The Hoover Dam Bypass Project Web site). It's the Hoover Dam bypass bridge, formally known as the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. The bridge will shuffle traffic over the Arizona-Nevada border, 890 feet above the Colorado River. When complete, it will be the largest concrete arch in North America. If you're a concrete nut, the project is worth checking out. The Las Vegas Sun covers the bridge construction closely, with great imagery. And with another concrete marvel...