Concrete mixtures can be optimized for an amazing array of applications. The combination of water, aggregate, cement, air, and additives, as well as how those materials are placed, can be fine-tuned for a specific project. One of the most exciting and growing types of concrete is cellular or foam concrete.
Air is a component of all concrete. In standard concrete, air may be 6% by volume. Foam concrete effectively replaces coarse aggregate with air, making air above 20% of the volume of the concrete. This reduces the density of the concrete, making for a lightweight building material that is ideal for several building applications. The American Concrete Institute defines low-density cellular concrete as a material with a dry density of 50 lb/ft3 or less. This low-density concrete is also cheaper to produce and place, making for a cost-effective building material solution. Cellular or foam concrete can be easily pumped long distances using lower pressures than standard concrete. It is also be self-leveling, filling spaces as it is pumped. There are also permeable varieties that allow for draining through the concrete itself for pavement and soil solidifying applications. When a project requires zero lateral loading, solidifying soils, or lightweight fill, concrete foam is a great building material choice. The Conco Companies is an experienced provider of cellular concrete, with their own propriety mix, Confoam™. Conco recently provided a full range of concrete services on the 4th & Madison apartment project from the San Francisco based owner and developer, Carmel Partners. Conco’s responsibilities on the project included providing concrete pumping, reinforcement, formwork, finishing, shotcrete, as well as Confoam™ services. During the project Conco placed over 19,000 cubic yards of concrete as well as shotcrete and Confoam™. Conco also provided 1,050,000 pounds of rebar and PT reinforcement on the project. At Conco, Confoam™ is a lightweight, low-density fill material that is customized for each specific application and provides benefits that cannot be achieved with traditional construction materials. In addition, Conco has the specialized production equipment and the professional know-how to safely and skillfully place the highly flowable, cellular lightweight concrete to save projects both time and money. Conco’s mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western U.S. and to bring our expertise, experience and quality to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for commercial, educational, public works, parking structure projects and other construction development.
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Concrete is an ancient material. It was used by engineers in ancient Rome not just for walls but also for domes and bridges. However, concrete was brittle and small cracks could spread and threaten the integrity of a building. This limited the applications that concrete could be used for. The introduction of rebar and Portland cement based concrete combination in the latter half of the 19th century changed the properties available to concrete construction and revolutionized building entirely.
Concrete itself is incredibly resistant to compression. It is also weak against any twisting, bending or stretching. Steel is incredibly resistant to twisting, bending and stretching forces. Combining the strengths of these two materials is what makes modern concrete a versatile building material. There have been many advancements in rebar technology since it was first invented. Rebar design and how to provide the tensile supported needed in different scenarios can now be modeled precisely for a concrete construction project. At the turn of the 20th century as rebar gained popularity, the technology improved load transfer between the two materials and protected the rebar from rusting developed quickly. For example, rebar that twisted or had other surfacing elements promoted better adhesion with the concrete. These advancements in rebar technology, combined with concrete technology and other engineering advancements led to rapid development of taller, larger, and stronger building designs. The Conco Companies is the largest independent reinforcing steel contractor on the West Coast. They bring their expertise and decades of experience to projects of any size requiring rebar in Portland. Conco operates two large rebar plants in their new facility in Rochester, WA, conveniently located to service Portland and the Pacific Northwest. Conco’s scale provides you a single source for all your high-performance rebar manufacturing as well as delivery and installation needs. Conco’s mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring experience, expertise and quality to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, educational, parking structures, and other construction development. Please contact us to learn more about our high-performance, precision-engineered fabricated rebar in the Portland area. After the Northridge earthquakes destroyed multiple buildings across Los Angeles in 1994, the city began efforts to update at-risk buildings to modern seismic standards. L.A. city ordinance 183893, adopted in 2015, mandated seismic reftrofits for non-ductile concrete buildings, giving over 1,000 buildings in Los Angeles 10 years to finalize plans to complete retrofits or replace the building.
Before modern seismic rebar building codes were implemented in Los Angeles in 1977, there were different best practices for setting rebar in concrete support structures. Concrete design then contained less rebar, leaving load bearing concrete structures prone to cracking and failure under severe lateral forces. Modern rebar standards include a higher proportion of rebar placed throughout a column, with additional rebar placed at the top and bottom of columns. These new rebar practices also require rebar to be placed more consistently throughout a beam with multiple lattices. The interlaced rebar components are tied together to the steel structure in place and in contact with the concrete in the event of an earthquake. This rebar arrangement also helps to provide additional support to the concrete if the concrete cracks from an earthquake as the rebar lattice will stay in place. This helps keeps concrete cracks from extending and falling off a concrete support structure. To minimize costs and maximize the outcome, complex project, such as seismic retrofits, require experience as well as innovative thinking. As a top California commercial concrete contractor with over sixty years of experience, including seismic retrofits in Los Angeles such as the L.A. Hall of Justice, Conco will provide your retrofit project with a range of premium services including concrete pumping, reinforcement, shotcrete, and place and finish. Conco’s mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise, experience and quality to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand our facilities to better serve the growing market for commercial, educational, public works, and parking structure projects as well as other construction development. Please call or email for more information on cost-effective solutions for a concrete seismic retrofit in Los Angeles. New windows can improve your home by reducing energy costs, increasing the natural light in your home, and updating the design of your home to better reflect your tastes. Once you have decided on what windows to install into your home, you have already done the hard part. Now you just need to get ready for the installation process. Here are 4 steps to prepare your home for a window installation and make the process as seamless as possible.
Understand the process First, you need to understand what the window installation process will look like. Window installers will be working both inside and outside your home to replace your windows. Talk with your window installer to understand how they approach an installation and an estimation for the project duration. That will give you an overview of the installation process, and the information you need to minimize the impact of the window installation on you. Collect window treatments Clearing your windows will help window installers quickly access your windows and help organize the process. Take down any interior window treatments you have added such as blind, shades, or curtains. If you have different sized windows, it helps to label window treatments by tying them together and labeling them with painter's tape. You will also need to remove any exterior window treatments such as holiday decorations. Create space The easier you make accessing windows, the more streamlined the installation process can be. Furniture, wall hangings, and floor coverings that can be moved to provide easier window access should be moved. Additionally, ensure that the area outside your windows is clear for ladders, particularly if you have windows above the first floor. If you are concerned that you do not have enough storage space to make room for the window installation team, you can also consider a short-term portable or off-site storage unit to store your items. Schedule your window installation Finding a date that works for you and your window installers is easy. It's always best to try and schedule around parties, vacations, and work deadlines. If you'll be out of town, provide your window installer with a secure method to gain access to your home while you are away. Lastly, right before the installation, you can cover remaining items if you have cloths. The installation team will do the same, but if there is a certain area that you know you would like to cover in a certain manner, that can be helpful as well. The glass experts at Dan's Glass will help you in preparing both your home and windows in advance of our window installation team arriving. We offer a variety of window sizes and options, and you are sure to find one to fit your needs. Contact us today! Installing a wooden beam is a relatively simple way to add character to your new or existing home. Beams are often used in common rooms such as the living room, and they make a wonderful addition to your porches as well. Once you have chosen to use a cedar beam, these questions should help you make a more informed decision.
Why Use Cedar? Cedar has an inviting, natural appearance, and even offers some advantages, such as the ability to naturally repel insects to a minor degree. Using cedar beams inside the house may reduce problems with moths, and cedar beams used outside, such as on the porch or patio, can help reduce gnats, flies, and mosquitoes. Solid or Wrapped Beams? A solid wood beam is used to support some or all of the weight of the roof, while a hollow (or wrapped) beam is often the easiest way to hide plumbing or electric wiring on ceilings with open rafters. Wrapped beams are primarily there for the appearance, but can be used to anchor plant hangers, ceiling fans or other items. Are There Benefits to Using Old Growth Lumber? There are a couple of advantages to using old growth lumber. The first is that the material is not likely to shrink or warp. Additionally, old-growth timbers are available in heartwood, which is denser and provides deeper coloration. However, using newer growth is often less expensive, and works well for beams which will be painted. Painted, Stained, or Natural? Your beam can be sealed or finished in several ways. Here is a brief look at how different types of sealant can be used, and what type of lumber is best for the sealant.
The Lumber Baron has been supplying the Bay area with quality lumber for 40 years. We would be happy to put our decades of experience to work for you by assisting you with choosing the right material for your next building project. |
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