Concrete Contractor February/March 2022

February/March 2022

THE LEADING TRADE MAGAZINE IN THE CONCRETE INDUSTRY

FIBERREINFORCED CONCRETE Tips for Design, Specification & Application

UNDER THE RADAR,

ABOVE THE CURVE Exposed Design Group’s success started at the ground floor, now 160 employees strong.

THE ACCURACY OF LASER MEASUREMENT DEVICES Let’s take a look.

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Finisher Specialty Commercial/Industrial Technician Strength Testing Technician Laboratory Testing Technician Aggregate Testing Technician Aggregate/Soils Base Technician Concrete Construction Construction Special Inspector Concrete Quality Technical Manager Concrete Transportation Special Inspector Tilt-Up Supervisor Tilt-Up Technician Shotcrete Nozzleman Shotcrete Nozzlemanin-Training Masonry Field Testing Technician Masonry Laboratory Testing Technician Adhesive Anchor Installer Field Testing Technician Flatwork Finisher Specialty Commercial/Industrial Finisher Specialty Commercial/Industrial Technician Strength Testing Technician Laboratory Testing Technician Aggregate Testing Technician Aggregate/Soils Base Technician Concrete Construction Special Inspector Field Testing Concrete Quality Technical Manager Concrete Transportation Special Inspector Tilt-Up Supervisor Tilt-Up Technician Shotcrete Nozzleman Shotcrete Nozzleman-in-Training Masonry ch tyFlatwork Finisher nician Masonry Laboratory Testing Technicia Adhesive Anchor Installer Field Testing Technician Flatwork Finisher Specialty Commercial/Industrial Finisher Specialty Commercial/Industrial Technician Strength Testing Technician Laboratory Testing Technician Aggregate Testing Technician Aggregate/Soils Base Technician Concrete Construction Special Inspector Base Technician Transportation Special Inspector Concrete Transportation Special Inspector Tilt-Up Supervisor Tilt-Up Technician Shotcrete Nozzleman Shotcrete Nozzleman-in-Training Masonry Field Testing Technician Masonry Laboratory Testing Technicia Adhesive Anchor Installer Field Testing Technician Flatwork isher Shotcrete her Commercial/Industrial Finisher Specialty Commercial/Industrial Technician Strength TesNozzlemanian Laboratory Testing Technician Aggregate Testing Technician Tilt-Up Soils Base Technician Concrete Construction Special Inspector Associate Concrete TransSupervisor ial Inspector Concrete Transportation Special Inspector Tilt-Up Supervisor Tilt-Up Technician Shotcrete Nozzleman Shotcrete Nozzleman-in-Training Masonry Field Testing Technician Masonry Laboratory Testing Technician FF vvv Adhesive Anchor Installer Field Testing Technician Flatwork ty Strength Specialty ialtyCommercial/IndustrialFinisherSpecialtyCommercial/IndustrialTechnicianStrengthTestingTechnician Concrete Testing Technician Aggregate Testing Technician Aggregate/Soils Base Technician ete Construction Special Inspector Concrete Quality Technical Manager Concrete nician Special Special Inspector Tilt-Up Supervisor Tilt-Up Technician Shotcrete Nozzleman Field Testing otcrete Inspector an-in-Training Masonry Field Testing Technician Masonry Laboratory TTesting Technician The American Concrete Institute offers nearlyCommercial/Industrial Adhesive Anchor Installer Field Testing Technician Flatwork Finisher Specialty 30 certification programs to satisfy any Finisher Specialty Commercial/Industrial Technician Strength Testing Technician Laboratory Testing l Tilt-Up Aggregate Testing Technician Aggregate/Soils Base Technician Concrete Construction number of concrete specialties.

Learn how to ecial Technicianssociate Concrete Transportation Inspector Concrete Transportation get your team ACISpecial certified at Special Inspector Tilt-Up Supervisor Tilt-Up Technician Shotcrete Nozzleman ShotAdhesive Anchor concrete.org/certification. in-Training Masonry Field Testing Technician Masonry Laboratory Testing Technicia Installer Anchor Technician Flatwork echnician Flatwork Finisher Specialty Commercial/Industrial Finisher Specialty Aggregate Testingtrial Technician Strength Testing Technician Laboratory Testing TechnicianTechni Testing Technician Aggregate/Soils Base Technician Concrete Construction Special Inspector Concrete Quality Technical Manager Concrete Transportation Special Inspector Tilt-Up Supervisor Tilt-Up Technician Shotcrete Nozzleman Shotcrete Nozzleman-in-Training Masonry Field Testing Technician Masonry Laboratory Testing Technician Adhesive Anchor Installer Field Testing Technician Flatwork Finisher Specialty Commercial/Industrial Adhesive Anchor Installer Industrial cian Strength Testing Technician Laboratory Testing Technician Aggregate Testing Technician Con Aggregate/Soils Base Technician Concrete Construction Special Inspector Concrete Quality T Inspector Tilt-Up SupervisorTransportation Special Inspector Shotcrete Nozzleman-in-TrainingShotcrete Nozzleman Tilt-Up Technician Shotcrete Nozzleman-in-Training Masonry Field Testing Technician Adhesive Anchor Installer Masonry Laboratory Testing Technician Field Testing Technician Flatwork

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WHAT’S INSIDE

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | Issue 2, Volume 22

COVER STORY 12 Under the Radar,

Above The Curve

The story of Exposed Design Group, a commercial contractor specializing in concrete and waterproofing.

DEPARTMENTS 4 Editor’s Letter 6 New Products 34 The Last Placement

WHAT’S ONLINE This Construction AI Project by a Canadian Contractor Has Implications for all Contractors

Cover Photo Credit: Exposed Design Group

FEATURES 8

Guide to FiberReinforced Concrete Exploring the key considerations including design, specifications, application, and how to properly finish the product.

24 World of Concrete

2022 Wrap-Up

28 The Accuracy of

Laser Measurement Devices

How can you ensure the measuring tools you use on the jobsite are accurate and will perform appropriately in varying conditions? Let’s take a look.

Reviewing the announcements, news, and happenings.

HOW TO Grocery Polished Concrete Floor

Advice from Exposed Design Group on how to address and what to consider for densified/ polished concrete floors in a retail and grocery setting.

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Equipment Simulators in Construction: Confessions of a Skeptical Veteran Operator This 20-year-veteran equipment operator was skeptical of construction-equipment training simulators, but quickly opened his eyes to the ways the technology can dramatically improve training.

ForConstructionPros.com/22056073

What Does Biden’s Union Mandate Mean for Construction Projects?

20 About the Retail

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Canadian contractor Pomerleau and AI development firm Zetane are defining how artificial intelligence will revolutionize estimating software.

ForConstructionPros.com/22056304

An executive order requires large projects funded by the infrastructure law to use project labor agreements—pre-contract commitments by employers to enter into an agreement with at least one union.

ForConstructionPros.com/22043740

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EDITOR’S LETTER

A Large Industry with a Small Town Mindset

Published by AC Business Media

201 N. Main Street, 5th Fl., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 (800) 538-5544 • www.ACBusinessMedia.com

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Concrete PUBLICATION STAFF

Editor

W

Contributing Writers

elcome home from World of Concrete.

Of the many conversations I had during the few days of the show, one of the many ideas that came to mind was the sense of community. Everywhere.

From a newer person’s perspective, given the number of people working in the concrete construcJONATHAN KOZLOWSKI, EDITOR tion industry this is an impressive feat. And I’m JKOZLOWSKI@ including everyone from foundations, the finishers, ACBUSINESSMEDIA.COM the road builders, the decorative, polishers, hardscapers, the manufacturers, suppliers, plants, the distributors, and more.

The show reports that 37,000 professionals registered for the event. (With the number of flights canceled last minute, how many actually attended and put boots on the ground, we’ll never know.) On top of that, over 1,100 exhibitors were on display each manned by teams of people. Combined, its impressive to see the number of people reconnect for a shared commitment.

Despite being just another masked person of a crowd, I found this sense of community from the people I spoke with. One stated that they see these events solely because being a part of it has value—to be a part of the community they so love. They opt to participate not because they needed to sell the latest but as if it was important to say that the connection was relevant. That getting out there basically sent the message that “you” are relevant. That getting together is still important in today’s world of emails, face calls, and social media comments.

Don’t get me wrong. If you’ve opted to not attend, that’s understandable. My thoughts here aren’t meant to be about tradeshows but the sense of community concrete contractors have in general. I grew up in a small town of roughly 6,000 people (it’s a bit more now, but not by much). No matter where or how you connect with each other, it’s that small town mindset that recognizes the effort.

And, boy, is there a lot of work ahead. Contractors may be placing a New York’s worth of concrete down each month, both residential and commercial construction show some slow gains, and the concrete world is banding together to reduce its carbon footprint. But it’s all being done together; it was plain as day to see that once you think about the dedication behind every attendee and exhibitor. And that’s a connection as solid as concrete.

As always, stay safe out there.

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Advisory Board Kim Basham KB Engineering Cheyenne, Wyo.

Jim Cuviello Cuviello Concrete Polished | Stained | Crafted Stevensville, Md.

James Baty II Concrete Foundations Association Mt. Vernon, Iowa

Chris Klemaske T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc. San Diego, Calif.

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CONCRETE CONTRACTOR (USPS 021-799, ISSN 1935-1887 (print); ISSN 2471-2302 (online) is published 6 times a year: January, February/March, April-June (Spring), July-September (Summer), October/November and December by AC Business Media, 201 N. Main Street, 5th Fl., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Printed in the U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Atkinson, WI, and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Concrete Contractor, PO Box 3605 Northbrook, IL 60065-3605 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022, Issue 2, Volume 22 One year subscription to non-qualified individuals: U.S. 1 year: $35, 2 years: $70. Canada & Mexico 1 year: $60, 2 years: $105. All other countries 1 year: $85, 2 years: $160 (payable in U.S. funds drawn on U.S. banks). Single copies available (prepaid only) $10.00 each (U.S., Canada & Mexico), $15.00 each (International).

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NEW PRODUCTS CFI's Polyaspartic Floor Coating Helps Eliminate Imperfections

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Hilti’s 22V Nuron Cordless Battery Platform

The Nuron 22V cordless battery platform enables cordless light-duty drilling to heavy-duty concrete breaking.

• Capable of powering more than 70 different tools • All battery packs and chargers work interchangeably under a single ecosystem to help reduce complexity • Redesigned battery interface allows a significantly higher power transfer • Reengineered Nuron batteries with a robust fiberglass-reinforced housing and external shock-absorbing bumpers • All tool data stored on the battery and sent securely to the cloud during every charge without any operator interaction ForConstructionPros.com/21977428

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BY MICHAEL MAHONEY

GUIDE TO FIBERREINFORCED CONCRETE: Tips for Design, Specification & Application

Euclid Chemical’s TUF-STRAND SF synthetic macrofiber reinforcement was used in the concrete of SoFi Stadium’s upper decks.

Euclid Chemical

Exploring the key considerations for fiber-reinforced concrete, including its design, specifications, application, and how to properly finish the product.

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A

ccording to the American Concrete Institute CT-18, fiber-reinforced concrete is a concrete mixture that is reinforced with dispersed, randomly orientated fibers.

These fibers can be used in lieu of traditional reinforcement, such as steel rebar.

Defined by its composition, fiber reinforcement products for concrete fall into several different types of classification. A common classification is polymeric fiber, which include polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, acrylic and aramid. Other types of fibers

include natural, cellulose, glass and high- or low-strength steel. Fibers may also be classified as either macrofibers or microfibers.

Macrofibers have in the past been referred to as structural fibers and are intended to carry load and used to replace traditional reinforcement in certain non-structural applications and limit crack widths. They are also used to minimize or eliminate early- or late-age cracking in concrete.

On the other hand, microfibers are generally used to minimize early-age

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cracking. They are typically used at low volumes within the concrete and are easily specified.

THE DESIGN OF FIBERREINFORCED CONCRETE Fiber-reinforced concrete is specified by strength, fiber type and content in the concrete mixture. Fibers added to concrete will most often not change the behavior of uncracked concrete.

However, after concrete cracks, fibers can bridge the cracks and carry the tensile stresses, providing load-bearing capacity which is referred to as residual, or post-crack, strength. The level of residual strength in fiber-reinforced concrete will depend on the type of fiber material being used, along with its size, geometry, bond characteristics, dosage and, more importantly, their combined effect in hardening concrete.

the subgrade modulus, and the interaction between the slab and the subgrade.

Macrofibers can contribute to stress redistribution and enhance the flexural toughness of the slab after cracking.

Therefore, a toughness parameter called residual strength ratio—expressed as R 150 / (T, 150) (or Re3 ) is commonly

used. As shown in the equation, Re3 = fe3 / fr (or fe3) is the equivalent flexural strength after cracking, and “fr" is the measured flexural strength at cracking.

For a given concrete mixture with known flexural strength, higher dosages of macro-fibers will provide higher toughness values.

Adobe Stock Images | By bannafarsai

Your Local Flooring Contractor In order to characterize the performance of fiber-reinforced concrete, flexural tests are typically conducted, and post-crack parameters derived from these tests are used in the design. The most common and preferred flexural test in North America is ASTM C1609/C1609M. To conduct this test, the complete pre-crack and post-crack response of a 6-in. by 6-in. by 20-in. fiber-reinforced concrete beam is recorded.

For the design of slabs-on-ground with fiber reinforcement, Chapter 11 in the American Concrete Institute’s (ACI) 360R guide provides detailed information and calculations. The load capacity of a slabon-ground is a function of its thickness,

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FIBER-REINFORCED CONCRETE CONTINUED fiber manufacturers based on standardized product testing to meet industry standards. For composite metal decks, the IBC-2015 standard has a specified required minimum permitting a dosage of 4.0 lb/yd3 for synthetic macrofibers, or 25.0 lb/yd3 for steel fibers used for temperature and shrinkage control and the replacement of wire mesh.

Euclid Chemical

SPECIFICATIONS OF FIBERREINFORCED CONCRETE When specifying fiber-reinforced concrete, the specifications should be performance-based and dependent on the application. Fibers should be specified based on the desired engineering performance and approved methodologies, such as those provided in ACI’s 544.4R guide if the purpose of fiber reinforcement is to provide post-crack flexural and tensile capacity to a concrete section. Once the proper calculations are conducted for the design, parameters such as residual strength must be used for specifications of fiber-reinforced concrete.

In addition, fiber-reinforced concrete can be specified based on serviceability to meet specific crack widths. This alternative specification approach is used mainly for underground structures and other precast structures. For this method, a European notched beam test is typically performed to determine the residual strength at given crack widths.

For shotcrete applications, the performance of fiber-reinforced shotcrete is determined by the energy absorption capacity in panel tests following the ASTM C1550 or EN 14488-5 standards. In this instance, energy would be classified as the area under the loaddisplacement curve.

with the use of microfibers, a crackreduction ratio is typically specified and the required microfiber determined from ASTM C1579 standards is provided by the fiber manufacturer. Microfibers can also improve hardened concrete properties such as abrasion, permeability and weathering resistance. For hardened concrete using macrofibers, the fiber dosage is chosen to meet the specified average residual strength, post-crack equivalent flexural strength or the energy absorption capabilities, which also take into consideration factors such as concrete thickness, strength, temperature and loading requirements.

For concrete slabs-on-ground, minimum dosage rates are determined by

CONSIDERATIONS FOR MIXTURE DESIGN & APPLICATION Adding fibers to concrete will often reduce the slump of concrete, which is a measurement of the workability of fresh concrete during placement. The addition of fibers to a concrete mix is likened to adding more ingredients to the mix and therefore would require more fluid to maintain an apparent slump, hence the appearance of a loss of workability. Microfibers, used at typical dosages, in general only decrease slump slightly and do not require any significant changes to maintain placement characteristics. Macrofibers and steel fibers can affect the workability in a more significant way, depending on the type and dosage of the fibers.

DETERMINING FIBER DOSAGE The quantity of fiber that is required for a project and a given application is determined by the specified performance requirements for the specific fiber-reinforced concrete being used.

For plastic shrinkage crack reduction Euclid Chemical

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samples for testing purposes, no To assist with the workability of internal vibration within the molds fiber-reinforced concrete, the ACI can be used. Synthetic fibers in 544.3 standard provides recomconcrete can also delay the mendations and guidance to appearance of bleedwater potentially modifying the at the surface, which mix design to improve can impact the overall workability. timing of finishing Additionally, the operations on use of chemical larger slabs. admixtures, Euclid Chemical such as superThere are a plasticizers or water reducers will assist variety of broom finishing tips available in increasing the workability of the conto help minimize surface appearance, crete without the addition of water. It is such as brooming in one direction only recommended that trial batches are perand using specific broom bristles to formed to ensure mixture workability. help align surface fibers. A torch can also be used, if necessary, to burn off synthetic fibers on the surface of the FINISHING FIBERconcrete but should not be used until REINFORCED CONCRETE all desired hardened concrete properties Fiber material type, architecture, are achieved. When finishing industrial, dimension and dosage may all affect commercial and warehouse floors the surface finish of fiber-reinforced where high dosage levels of synthetic concrete, as well as the required surfacemacrofibers and steel fibers are used, a finishing method that is used. Stiff or laser screed or vibrating screed is usually rigid fibers typically have a greater tenrecommended. dency to protrude up through the slab more than flexible fibers.

Fiber-reinforced concrete continues The use of proper external vibrato be a financially wise and a viable health and safety solution for concrete tion is one key factor when finishing applications. Its use can also offer fiber-reinforced concrete. It is generally significant cost savings while reducrecommended to finish fiber-reinforced concrete with the same finishing ing the required labor on a job site. techniques and approximate timing as Fiber-reinforced concrete will provide conventional concrete. When casting a more resilient, durable, cost-effective

construction solution and still meet desired engineering properties compared to conventionally reinforced concrete.

By following these best practices, you will be well positioned to utilize the many benefits of fiber-reinforced concrete on your next project, while ensuring the finished project is just as visually appealing.

Michael Mahoney is a professional engineer and the director of marketing and technology – fiber reinforced concrete for Euclid Chemical and a fellow of the American Concrete Institute.

Find this article at ForConstructionPros. com/22031118 .

RESOURCES

1. ASTM C1609/C1609M, www.astm.org/ c1609_c1609m-12.html 2. Chapter 11 in the American Concrete Institute’s (ACI) 360R guide, cecollection2.files. wordpress.com/2020/05/360r-10-guide-todesign-of-slabs-on-ground.pdf 3. ACI’s 544.4R guide, concrete.org/Portals/0/ Files/PDF/Previews/544.4R-18_preview.pdf 4. ASTM C1550 or EN 14488-5 standards, astm. org/c1550-20.html 5. ASTM C1579 standards, astm.org/c1579-21. html 6. IBC-2015 standard, sdi.org/wp-content/ uploads/2017/02/ANSI-SDI-C-2017-Standard. pdf

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COVER STORY

»

BY DARCY BOYLE

Under the Radar,

ABOVE THE

CURVE

The story of Exposed Design Group, a commercial contractor specializing in concrete and waterproofing.

B

y flying under the radar, Jayson Barnhart and Tommy Yetts have propelled their business to heights unimaginable in 2009. That’s the year they started Exposed Design Group, a commercial contracting company in Dallas, Texas. Over the last 12 years, they’ve kept their heads down and their sights focused on building a company the right way.

With a marketing budget of virtually nil, they earned a reputation for 1)

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treating their staff well, including opportunities to grow into leadership positions and provide input from any level; 2) getting their operations to flow, really well; and 3) being honest and valuable partners to clients.

Commitment to these principles, in turn, cultivated rapid growth fueled by word-of-mouth alone.

Today, Exposed Design Group, which primarily specializes in concrete and waterproofing work, employs 160 people and counting, is licensed in 14 states, and has done work in 40 states.

They’ve expanded into other niche services like remediation, floor coverings and coatings, joint fillers, sealers, and consulting on building envelope and concrete slab projects. They work out of a 25,000-sq. ft. facility in Dallas and

Today, Exposed Design Group employs 160 people and counting.

Exposed Design Group

are seeking more space to accommodate their growth—15,000 more square feet and another facility in Houston.

WHERE IT BEGAN The seeds of this business began much earlier than the date of its founding—further back in the 1990s when Barnhart worked in the caulking and waterproofing industry and got in on the ground floor of Walmart’s switch from VCT tile to concrete.

One employee had an especially entrepreneurial sensibility that stood out to Barnhart, and he didn’t want to let him get away, so to speak.

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“I knew (Tommy Yetts) was going to go out and do his own thing and I really wanted to be able to focus on concrete floor projects and I wanted to keep a connection with him. So, I partnered with Tommy and that was the beginnings of Exposed.”

“In the beginning, I would say we started out as a waterproofing contractor doing caulking and sealants and industrial floor work. We might do a little spec warehouse floor work. Early on, we were able to get a contract on an Aldi grocery store with an exposed concrete floor. We did a good job on that, and that’s led to a 12-year relationship with Aldi.”

One-time jobs that turned into long-term clients are not a rare thing for Exposed but rather, the majority of its work today. In fact, Barnhart can’t recall a single client that used them only once.

“Our business is relationship-based,” Barnhart says. “I can’t off the top of my head think of anyone we’ve done one project for. Our goal is to build relationships with folks, build trust and make In the company’s beginning, Exposed Design Group started out as a waterproofing contractor doing caulking and sealants and industrial floor work.

Exposed Design Group

Exposed Design Group owners Jayson Banhart and Tommy Yetts.

Exposed Design Group

them feel comfortable about hiring us.”

Nurturing those relationships with repeat clients provided direction on other segments of growth for Exposed, as clients turned to them for recommendations on other project needs. “We’ve had some pretty substantial growth over the years, primarily in those floor scopes,” Barnhart says. “But we’ve also grown in the waterproofing scopes as well. We’ve added the other floor covering scopes when we get a customer saying, ‘Hey, you’re doing this thing, can you give us a number for this related thing?’”

“Tommy and I like to say that everyone starts out as a mom-and-pop.

You either stay that way or evolve. That’s one of the things that really sets us

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apart, is we really focused early on the procedures and being able to do things the same way, every day, and make what we do scalable.”

Of course, no scalable operation could work as designed or grow as intended without the right people to operate it. “The hardest thing is finding the quality installers and managers,” Barnhart says. “And especially right now, quality labor is tough to find.

We’ve done a good job with that and we’ve got a lot of good teammates.”

That’s much easier said than done, especially in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, which Barnhart says is one of the most competitive labor markets in the nation. “I feel like we’ve done a really

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COVER STORY CONTINUED Exposed Design Group

Exposed Design Group recently completed a finished concrete floor for a Costco in Surprise, Ariz.

Exposed Design Group

good job of retaining employees because we give them opportunities to grow, personally and professionally,” Barnhart says. “There’s no saying, ‘Hey your idea doesn’t matter because you’re only a junior-level estimator.’ Anyone is free to come in and offer an idea or say, ‘Let’s do it this way.’ We let everyone have a say.”

Furthermore, extending trust to their employees and then watching the results is one of the rewarding parts of both Barnhart’s and Yetts’ jobs. “This is a tough business but it’s very rewarding.

Tommy and I are both at a point in our careers and lives where it’s a lot of fun to grow our employees and teammates into leaders. That’s a really fun aspect of where we’re at right now.”

TRENDS IN E-COMMERCE & WAREHOUSE FLOORS Exposed’s ethos that earns repeat clients drew the attention of one notable behemoth of e-commerce, which

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drives the growth of one of its biggest segments today.

“Our business is definitely heavily weighted in e-commerce and the distribution side of the market,” Barnhart says. “We’ve done over 50 Amazon projects. (E-commerce) is something we feel like we have a real advantage in. We built a good team that’s really familiar with what Amazon and other e-commerce customers expect. I feel like that’s kind of propelled us in that market. We’ve got a reputation that folks know that if we’re on an Amazon or e-commerce project, we don’t have to get trained up on it.

We’ve become a valued partner.”

When it comes to finished concrete floors for warehouse clients, the size and scope of the job come down to the expectations and persuadability of the owner. “We do a lot of spec warehouse work, where they’re really wanting to save pennies but still want a presentable floor,

whereas a lot of the end-user work we do, it’s easy to persuade them it’s worth a few extra pennies to get a higher-quality finished product,” Barnhart says. “One of the things we’ve tried to do over the last three years is to make our process efficient enough that we’re able to shave pennies off what we do, and show the owner or even the spec owner that for a couple of pennies more a square foot, we can give you a floor that may set your floor apart, where a client comes in and says we want that building.”

Sometimes the argument of what will save more money in the long run lands on receptive ears and sometimes not, but Barnhart finds that in either scenario, upfront honesty goes a long way in those conversations with owners. “We did a large 800,000-sq.-ft. auto parts distributorship where (the owners) were very in tune with what they wanted on the floor and open to suggestions of how we can make this floor better and make the maintenance less intensive. That’s great. Those are the ones you want to work for.”

“We also do a ton of spec work, and that means going in and explaining to them that if you do this, it’s going to add a lot of value to your project that you may not see today, but over the life of this building, you’re going to be thankful you spent a few more pennies a square foot that’s going to benefit you in the long-term. You’re not going to get a majority of them to bite off on that, because of the competitive nature of warehouse work, but you need to offer

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COVER STORY CONTINUED that and be as transparent as possible. A lot of times, it’s helpful to say, ‘If it were my building, this is what I would do.’”

In the end, the reality is the most competitive, attractive bid will win the job, and usually, that does come down to pennies. But Barnhart is always looking for other factors, such as LS/ CS, a concrete densifier/hardener that is popular in warehouse applications due to its dustproofing properties. LS/CS doesn’t require water—which could be a bigger deal than expected.

“There’s a lot of times we’re on floor slabs on projects at a stage where water is a quarter of a mile away. That is a big consideration. It can have a lot to do with water, but we enjoy LS/CS because of the ease of application. I’m bidding a lot of it. I just bid a large LS/CS job today where I felt like we could make that offer and allow them to be a little more competitive.”

“One of the biggest

hurdles we run into on the front end is every concrete floor is different.”

—JAYSON BARNHART, EXPOSED DESIGN GROUP

Exposed Design Group plans to expand into two or three markets over the next 10 years.

Exposed Design Group

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Educating commercial clients on finished floors also comes down to the basics sometimes, a reminder of the variation and nuance of concrete.

“One of the biggest hurdles we run into on the front end is every concrete floor is different,” Barnhart says. “The specifications are not and should not be one size fits all specs. A lot of times I tell folks that the specs say to start here, and progress to here, and do this, and it doesn’t work that way on concrete.

Every concrete mix is different, every location is different, and one of the biggest hurdles is getting people to understand that. What we really need to know is what are your expectations.

What aggregate exposure do you want, what type of finish do you want? Tell us what you want and we’ll figure out how to get you there.”

A LOOK AHEAD Barnhart and Yetts say while it’s been fun to fly under the radar this far, maybe now is the time for a different approach. “We like to keep our heads down and work hard and let our work speak for itself,” Barnhart says. “But when you get to a certain size like we have, you have to start thinking about continuing to generate the work. 2021 has been a big year for us as far as expanding the marketing and sales side, and that’s probably going to be a big part of next year too.”

For the future of Exposed, Barnhart predicts that the concrete flooring and maintenance side will continue to take up a bigger chunk of business. “With all the emphasis on green building, concrete is here to stay,” he says. “I think we’re really just at the beginnings of where it’s going to go. Exposed or polished concrete in retail facilities has been around for 20 years or so, and we’re still

Barnhart sees concrete floor maintenance as a huge segment of growth for the business.

Exposed Design Group

in the early stages. You go into so many chains and outlets where they still have floor coverings. Green building work is going to continue to expand.”

Following the demand of concrete flooring also sets the business up for maintenance work down the road.

“Over the past 12 months, the real driver for us is seeing that we can go out there and provide clients with the training to take care of their floors on their own, and then also keep our foot in the door where there’s going to come a time to rejuvenate the floor. It’s a big part of our business right now and I see that as a huge segment of growth.”

He’d also like to expand into two or three new markets in the next 10 years, growing beyond their current primary markets of Phoenix, Denver, and Texas.

No matter how much or how far their business expands, their reason for being will remain—the gratification of watching something grow, whether it’s a concrete floor or a multi-million-dollar business. “I love the transformation of taking something and then getting it to a finished product and seeing the real change into a really nice-looking building or nice-looking floor,” Barnhart says. “I think that’s what most people really like about construction is making something from nothing.”

Darcy Boyle has worked as the media and communications director for PROSOCO as a story-teller, copywriter and PR specialist in construction.

Find this article at ForConstructionPros.com/ 21771848 .

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HOW TO

»

BY JAYSON BARNHART

About the Retail Grocery Polished Concrete Floor

Advice from Exposed Design Group on how to address and what to consider for densified/ polished concrete floors in a retail and grocery setting.

W

ith enough people walking through retail stores, especially in a grocery setting, the polished concrete floor will eventually need attention—more than the standard maintenance it had been receiving (hopefully). Whether a new construction or not, sooner or later the owner or designer will decide between installing old traditional tile, epoxy, or a durable and economical concrete floor.

In my experience, generally speaking, the overall cost of a polished concrete floor is a fraction of the cost of tile or epoxy over the life of the building.

Should you win the bid and the project swings your way, here are a few key matters to address.

Initially, you need to consider if the concrete floor is going to be newly placed concrete or if it’s an existing slab. If it’s going to be a newly placed slab and you are given the opportunity to provide input for the mix design and finish, it would be beneficial to

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suggest the following. These criteria will generally give you a good start towards providing the customer with a greatlooking densified and polished floor.

• Avoid air-entrained concrete if possible.

• Minimize fly ash and other fillers (ideally less than 20%).

• Concrete with PSI strength between 3,500 and 5,000 is optimal.

• When finishing, the flatter the better and preferably not burned in.

Often, the concrete floor has already been placed or you’re working with a 2nd generation concrete floor, and you’re left to deal with the concrete as-is. In that case, observation and preparation become the key.

Once you have determined the age and condition of the concrete floor that you’ll be working with, it’s important to know what the customer or client’s expectations are. If there’s a specification, you generally have a good understanding of what is desired. If there is no specification, it’s a good idea to ask a few key questions: • What kind of traffic or activity is the floor going to be subjected to?

• What is the budget?

• What type of appearance is desired?

• Does the customer want a ground concrete floor and if so, what kind of aggregate exposure is required?

• Does the customer desire a glossy

appearance or is a matte finish preferable?

Determining the answers to these questions will allow you to identify the processes required to help you succeed and give your client the best floor for their project.

Once you have determined the means and methods to achieve the desired look, the fun begins!

THE FUN BEGINS: PREPARING THE FLOOR If the client has decided that a simple cleaned and sealed floor is the desired finish, the process is simple. Our standard cleaning would include abrasive pads, application of a concrete cleaner and an auto scrubber. If the floor has excessive residual curing compound or bond breakers, a mechanical cleaning may be required using sanding screens or diamond tooling. Once the preparation is complete and the floor is determined to be ready to accept a densifier treatment, you have several options to choose from including lithium, sodium, and blended products. All products vary in application methods and it’s important to understand the differences, but they all provide a dustproofed, densified, and durable surface. After all contaminants have been removed from the surface, your concrete densifier can be applied. Typically, densifiers are

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HOW TO CONTINUED installed after the floor has been honed.

Based on the porosity of the concrete, multiple applications of densifier may be required to get a properly densified floor.

If the client has opted for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance through grinding and polishing, the means and methods become a little more complicated and can vary from floor to floor.

We always recommend providing the customer with a sample area installed on-site to allow them to see exactly what their floor will yield in terms of aggregate exposure and gloss.

Additionally, this allows the installer to dial-in their tooling and allow for a more efficient process. If working with a 2nd generation floor or older concrete, we recommend installing your sample on an area of the floor exhibiting some of the worst characteristics. You always want to show the client a representation of the potential good and bad areas.

After determining the client’s expected finished appearance, the process starts. Diamond tooling is determined by the level of aggregate exposure. Depending on the level of grind, the hardness of the concrete, and the performance of the tooling, this process may take several passes using several different diamond grits.

Edgework may be required if walls are in-place and edgework should be

EXPOSED DESIGN GROUP GENERALLY UTILIZES WALK-BEHIND EQUIPMENT, RIDING TROWELS, BOBCAT GRINDING ATTACHMENTS FOR LARGER MORE AGGRESSIVE PROJECTS, AND PROPRIETARY DIAMOND TOOLING. HOWEVER, RECOGNIZING THAT EVERY CONCRETE FLOOR IS DIFFERENT, THE TOOLING REQUIRED TO CUT AND/OR POLISH THE FLOOR VARIES FROM PROJECT TO PROJECT. produced ahead of field grinding.

The floor should be cleaned between grinding passes to determine the progress and ensure that diamond scratch patterns are progressing as expected. “Roughness Meters” can help you determine when the floor is ready to move on to the next diamond step.

The edges will most likely be the most scrutinized aspects of the floor.

This is usually much more detailed work and often performed by hand with small grinders. There are no shortcuts in edging. If possible, perform your initial grinding steps prior to the interior wall construction, you can eliminate a lot of time by minimizing your required edgework.

BEFORE

POLISHING Once the desired aggregate exposure is reached, the process of polishing the surface begins. As the polishing progresses, lithium, sodium, or blended densifier treatments are applied to strengthen and harden the concrete surface. Color may also be introduced to the floor using concrete dyes.

Concrete dyes come in an array of colors and can may be added during the polishing process as well. Additionally, cementitious grout products may be utilized to fill small pinholes and pitting in the surface. Once you’ve reached the desired appearance you may want to add a repellent product or a stain guard treatment for additional protection. In the end, you should be left with a truly beautiful concrete floor.

The key to ensuring your floor continues to look beautiful and performs as intended is making sure that it’s maintained properly. It’s always a good idea to spend some time with the end-user/owner to ensure that they understand what equipment to use and what chemicals or cleaning agents to NOT use when cleaning their floor. Polished concrete floors are extremely low maintenance but they’re not “no maintenance,” going the extra mile to show the client how to maintain their investment is always good practice.

Advances in the cost effectiveness of polished concrete, in addition to the low environmental impact, aesthetically beautiful appearance, and ease of maintenance have contributed to the exponential growth of the exposed concrete floor surfaces in the commercial construction industry.

Jayson Barnhart is a partner of Exposed Design Group. Exposed Design Group strives to partner with clients to help them identify the floor that will work best for their needs and assist the client with any training or expertise required to maintain that floor for years to come. Every floor they produce is a reflection of their commitment to excellence and take pride in being able to say “Exposed did that!”.

Find this article at ForConstructionPros.com/ 21940433.

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WORLD OF CONCRETE Wraps Up for 2022 • The show took over 632,000 NSF of the expansive and newly expanded LVCC • Hosted over 1,100 industry-leading suppliers • Over 150 first-time exhibitors

T

he 47th World of Concrete convened close to 37,000 registered professionals, the consistent foot traffic in the expo halls and engagement with the comprehensive educational offerings underscores the industry’s critical need for in-person connection.

More than 1,100 industry-leading suppliers, with just over 150 of which were first-time exhibitors, offered attendees a wide range of brands to explore from the most sought-after global enterprises to niche SMBs spanning a variety of applications.

Registered participants had the

opportunity to engage with education made available at the event. World of Concrete’s educational programs serve as an incubator for knowledge sharing and technical know-how, helping the industry overcome challenges and tap into new opportunities for growth. With more than 11,000 expert-led sessions, this year’s education explored a balance of technical and forward-looking topics, ranging from 3D printing in concrete construction, women in construction, waterproofing: the next generation of solutions, and much more.

Not only does the industry gather at World of Concrete’s annual event for deal-making and education, but to see and demo the most new products available on the market and see the latest industry developments that lay the groundwork for the coming year.

• Greater job site productivity, with new battery systems that deliver

Diablo shows how its proprietary blends can save 50% of your time with less heat and less wheel changing— while remaining less than $100 retail.

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•

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Mason Cole Stamper, along with his mason tender, Jeff Becker, took home top honors at 2022 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 at World of Concrete 2022.

more power to the hand tools used to perform demanding concrete tasks, such as drilling, cutting, and demolition; Introduction of equipment that is automating concrete construction activities, including 3D printing, rebar tying, and drilling overhead holes; Entrance of new materials that increase contractor productivity while still ensuring durable repairs; Streamlined management data management systems that enable contractors to tighten a project’s critical path; And product and equipment updates that reduce a project’s carbon footprint and increase contractor productivity.

A RECORD FUND-RAISING The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program held its silent and live auctions, generating an all-time record of more than $1.74 million. Donations

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WRAP-UP CONTINUED at World of Concrete that is designed to give students entering the concrete workforce industry experience early in their careers. World of Concrete is proud to partner with the CIM program, a business program developed specifically for the concrete industry to provide students with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management.

MB America had demos of its skid loader crushing bucket attachments. At right, Doosan’s DX50Z-7 Mini Excavator features a Zero-Tail Swing design for confined spaces originated from the live auction and or landscaping online contributions, marking a historic projects. moment in the program’s rich history

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Aquajet’s Aqua Cutter 750V features Infinity oscillation that moves the water jet in a figure 8, pattern, removing more concrete in a single pass while reducing shadowing, eliminating the risk of pipe holes and providing an ideal bonding surface.

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Concrete’s core values, the exhibition organizers formalized the event’s commitment to sustainability in collaboration with renewable energy partner/ sponsor HILTI. The program was intentionally executed with three objectives: inspiring sustainable development, environmental responsibility and social responsibility – each pledge supporting the event’s commitment to shaping the concrete industry for a sustainable future. Thanks to HILTI’s Renewable Electricity sponsorship, World of Concrete’s electricity use is powered by sustainable and renewable energy sources, saving an estimated 204 tons of CO2e.

POWERING CONCRETE Unveiled first at the 2021 show, the Honda eGX advanced batterypowered motor was featured in various

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equipment. Noteably in an Allen Engineering walk-behind trowel and Compressed Air Systems air compressor.

Powered by a lithium ion battery, the eGX’s quiet motor lets the operator work for extended periods, and at night or near residential areas. Charged and discharged batteries can be interchanged

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SCHEDULE A DEMO

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BY ZOHER FATAKDAWALA Bosch Power Tools & Accessories

The Accuracy of Laser Measurement Devices

T

ranslating an architect’s thoughts, designs, and calculations into real-world edifices requires accurate measurements of everything on the job sites. That means what is used to measure must be accurate and conform to standards for every use.

While sometimes little notches in wood or metal are used to measure inches and feet, like a ruler or tape measure, today’s advanced devices that can use sound and light to measure an entire project in mere minutes.

It goes unsaid that accuracy is extremely important. With flatwork for instance, accurately measuring the length, width, depth, and slope are all critical factors that mean the difference between success and abject failure.

Inaccurate measurements bring issues from puddles due to poor drainage to unwanted cracks and instability, which can undermine the integrity of the building.

The question is, how can a tradesperson ensure the measuring tools they use on the jobsite are accurate and will perform appropriately in varying conditions?

When it comes to measuring, three of the most widely used tools are the traditional metal tape measures, sonic wave generators and laser range finders.

STEEL TAPE MEASURES The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has an underground facility staffed by professional metrologists—scientists that study and practice the science of measurement.

This intrepid group calibrates master tape measures for athletic organizations, crime scene investigators and others.

They employ a number of techniques to ensure that tape measures are accurate.

For instance, a tape measure that is 60 meters (about 197 ft.) can be confirmed

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within 0.1 mm, or the thickness of a piece of paper.

The reason why tape measures are on pretty much every tool belt around the world is they work, are inexpensive and can handle most of what is thrown at them. The challenge with tape measures is that several factors can impact their accuracy—or lack thereof. For instance, because they are usually steel they are subject to thermal expansion, which is the tendency of matter to change its shape, area, volume and density in response to a change in temperature.

In other words, temperature can make

“With flatwork…

accurately measuring the length, width, depth, and slope are all critical factors that mean the difference between success and abject failure.

”

them shrink or expand depending on how hot or cold the environment is at the jobsite. Steel tapes are calibrated to have the optimum measurement at 68° F (20° C). On a hot summer day where the temperature can get over 100° F (38° C), they can be off by enough to require correction. Common steel tapes have a coefficient of thermal expansion about 0.000,011,6 units per unit length per degree Celsius change.

This means that the tape changes length by 1.16 mm per 10 m with every 10° C change from the standard temperature.

For a 30-m long tape with standard temperature of 68° F, at 104° F, the change in length is 7 mm over the length of the tape.

ELECTRONIC MEASURING The digital revolution has brought some new technology that has been gamechangers when it comes to the speed and accuracy of taking measurements anytime, anywhere. Manual range finders or distance measuring tools are handheld, lightweight, and batterypowered, which allows for several hours of regular use each day.

They usually come in two categories, electromagnetic distance measurement (laser) or ultrasonic (sound). These operate in similar ways but deliver quite different results. They work by sending out light or sound to an object they want to measure then the signal reflects off that surface and returns to the rangefinder where the device instantly calculates the distance.

Ultrasonic devices can measure the distance of objects regardless of shape, color, or surface texture and they can also measure moving objects. They can be used without needing to touch an object, which helps in wet concrete scenarios. At retail, they usually cost less than laser rangefinders but come with two massive disadvantages, they have significant range limitations and are notoriously inaccurate. Errors are caused by the sound reflecting random items close to where they are pointing, instead of the desired target. Because of this, ultrasonic devices work best on clean surfaces in empty rooms.

LASER RANGEFINDERS Today’s digital laser distance measuring tools have been designed for functionality, usability, and accuracy.

Besides the fact that they can be operated by a single person, they are also much less susceptible to user errors such as incorrect positioning. What’s more, is some rangefinders come

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2/16/22 9:06 AM

Strength runs in the family.

The Titen ® family of concrete and masonry anchoring solutions from Simpson Strong-Tie. Our broad range of versatile and innovative screw anchors is designed for maximum ease and efficiency — ensuring a quick, smooth installation every time. And our skilled field support teams are always available to assist on the jobsite.

To learn more about our full line of easy-to-install Titen solutions, visit go.strongtie.com/titenfamily or call (800) 999-5099. ©2022

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ACCURACY CONTINUED

Bosch Power Tools & Accessories

equipped with 5-megapixel cameras to record every measurement taken, can calculate the area and volume of a space automatically, and uses Bluetooth technology to connect the device to a smartphone or tablet. This enables managers to see measurements and images from wherever they are.

HOW CAN YOU CONFIRM ACCURACY? Laser distance measuring tools work as well at short distances as long distances, with some being accurate to within 1/16 of an inch at 400 ft. Here are some tips to ensure your laser-based measurement device is calibrated correctly and to confirm its accuracy: • Get familiar with the device. Learn its various functions and capabilities.

• One way of checking a range finder is by using a regular tape measure.

Some devices have live measuring features, which provides real-time

•

•

•

•

•

measurement that adjusts as the user moves closer to and farther from the target, just like a tape measure.

Always have a benchmark (all jobsites have one) and check it against that benchmark– that’s one sure way to know if it is accurate. Go out 50 ft. with a tape measure and confirm with the device.

Make sure the device has an easy-toread display—having a backlit display is a huge help in dark rooms or other low-light situations.

Use the built-in spot level, a bubble display will move vertically or horizontally to help the user know if they are holding the device still.

Having a camera is helpful. This should capture the measurements and provide a timestamp.

Use the manual crosshair calibration function. This feature uses a crosshair like on a rifle to calibrate. Place the device on a level surface and shoot

the laser at a point 16-ft. away. If the dot is not in the center, it can be manually calibrated for the bullseye.

It takes about five seconds to calibrate the crosshair, go into function mode and save the crosshair calibration. Use this function if the device is dropped or to simply reconfirm accuracy.

• If still unsure, push the calibration button and it will do it automatically.

With the right device in hand, one person can do in literal seconds what used to take hours to accomplish. That’s what technology is supposed to do, make things faster, easier, and in this case, more accurate than ever before.

Zoher Fatakdawala is the Market Development Manager at Bosch Power Tools.

Find this article at ForConstructionPros. com/21993408

VERSATILITY & ACCURACY

The two things you need to add to your concrete screeding tool box.

The LIGCHINE SCREEDSAVER ELITE and SCREEDSAVER MAX PLUS offer unique and powerful capabilities to assist in accurately and quickly screeding around stickups and foundation details.

SIDE-SHIFTING SCREEDHEAD

SWINGBOOM FRAME TECHNOLOGY

The SCREEDSAVER ELITE features a Side-shifting Screedhead to easily manuver the through the complexities of your pour without shifting the machine.

The SCREEDSAVER MAX PLUS comes equiped with Swingboom Frame Technology which allows for over 5 feet of lateral screedhead movement.

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Idea File

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Concrete

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Idea File

Avoid the Hidden Dangers to Your Bottom Line Sometimes the scariest hazards for a concrete contractor are the unseen dangers to your bottom line, like inaccurate estimates. A lack of confidence in your estimates can lead to non-competitive bids or worse, a winning bid that doesn’t result in achieving your target margin.

Visit www.tek.la/hiddendangers to learn how Tekla Structures can help.

MINNICH’S VERSATILE INNOVATIONS HELP MEET TODAY’S CONCRETE PLACEMENT CHALLENGES Minnich Manufacturing, the leading manufacturer of concrete dowel pin drills, concrete vibrators and vibrator monitoring systems, is dedicated to helping concrete contractors maximize efficiency.

Minnich’s Stinger and Controlled Speed Vibrator (CSV) are just two examples of how the company’s concrete innovations serve customers.

The light yet rugged Stinger electric flex shaft concrete vibrator is a 14.5-pound double-insulated universal motor that can drive the full line of Minnich vibrator shafts and heads from ¾ inch to 2 ½ inches.

The CSV enables contractors to communicate using their cell phone’s Bluetooth to select set speeds of vibrations per minute (VPM) in coordination with the concrete slump being poured.

Minnich will continue to bring products to the industry that support the findings of concrete research facilities across the country.

For more information, visit www.minnich-mfg.com

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Idea File MAINTENANCE PADS

THAT WILL OUTPERFORM

ANYTHING YOU HAVE USED. The SUPRASHINE system includes a complete range of pads for all your floor care needs - restore, strip, deep clean, upgrade gloss, and daily clean.

• The best results in floor cleaning, gloss level and pad lifespan.

• Simplifiied, efficient and sustainable process.

www.superabrasive.com

TITEN® CONCRETE AND MASONRY ANCHORING SOLUTIONS From light- to heavy-duty installations, our broad range of Titen concrete and masonry anchoring solutions has exactly what you need to get the job done reliably. Backed by our long-standing legacy of expert engineering, each of our versatile and innovative screw anchors is designed for maximum ease and efficiency — ensuring a quick, smooth installation the first time, every time. And our skilled field support teams are always available to assist on the jobsite.

To learn more about the full line of easy-to-install Titen solutions from Simpson Strong-Tie, visit go.strongtie.com/ titenfamily or call (800) 999-5099.

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Concrete

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THE LAST PLACEMENT

»

BY BRAD HUMPHREY

'I Love the Smell of Construction in the Morning'

Adobe Photoshop | ©ucarer

Let’s never forget, we work for the best industry.

D

o you remember the movie, Apocalypse Now? It starred Martin Sheen, playing a military assassin, who was sent to find and kill a demented ex-US Army Officer, played by Marlon Brando.

There was a humorous point in this dark movie, the only one, when a helicopter commander, played by Robert Duvall, was walking among the carnage his helicopters had just unleashed, and matter of factly states, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” It was an instant favorite quote, being repeated by just about every guy who saw the movie.

Well, I’ve got to be honest with you…I love the smell of construction in the morning. Time and time again, I’m amazed how every morning, at a

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construction site, you can gather in all that is about to happen. Think about it…your senses pick up on the smell of material you just put down the previous day, while you inspect your equipment.

That diesel can, immediately takes you to the need to keep that paver bed freed from remaining scraps of asphalt, that we failed to clean off the night before.

Sure, construction is not a flower garden of smells, but it does grow to be part of your confirmation that you chose your career wisely. I mean, think about all that we do working in this great industry.

Consider: • We make it possible for the ADA drivers to safely park their van so that they can, without any “friction” from others, get out of their vehicle and transport into their favorite store.

• We help local school districts, already strapped for money to more wisely spend the money they do have, to consider a winning strategy of crack filling, followed by sealcoating, then topped off by the best striping job in the industry. All this, for less than what a competitor told them was their only option and would cost ten times more than what our estimator would have guided them to see, calming their hearts as we extended their parking for another three to five years.

• Finally, we do the paving that strengthens the overly distressed parking lot for a non-profit hospital that helps the lower income, even homeless, to have a facility that looks as nice as anything that can be found in any medical complex.

In this great and niche industry, the pavement maintenance industry, we just don’t put materials into place, we influence the attitudes of people about their property or make it safer for citizens to shop at their favorite stores or for apartment dwellers who now have more pride because their property is now freshly “black” with bright yellow stripes accenting the safe parking spots.

Let’s never forget, that we work for the best industry in the world, services that bless so many different sort of customers, in so many different ways. Never forget to be thankful when you smell that hot asphalt dumping into the paver bed or even that odd smell of sealcoat material as your crew squeegees it perfectly.

We’re fortunate to be working in an industry also that has navigated this incredible virus pandemic so carefully over the past year. What a lesson in patience, protection and production under the toughest of circumstances.

We are all fortunate to be working in the greatest industry in the world.

Smells…and all!

Here’s to smelling success!

Brad Humphrey is the Vice President of Human Resources & Employee Development for Pavecon, a full-service pavement maintenance contractor based in Dallas, Texas with offices now spreading to nine locations. Brad can be heard on The Contractor’s Best Friend Podcasts, sponsored by AC Business Media and Caterpillar throughout the year. For literature written by Brad, simple check out his books on Amazon.com.

For more from Brad Humphrey, visit ForConstructionPros.com/ contractors-best-friend.

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THE STINGER The Stinger electric flex shaft vibrator is rugged, lightweight, and powerful. The 115v electric motor has been designed to run cool with the power and torque to handle todays concrete loads.

The stinger attaches to competitor core and casing with quick disconnect adapters.

www.minnich-mfg.com

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CORDLESS CONVENIENCE CORDED PERFORMANCE

Introducing Nuron, the new, all-on-one 22v cordless platform, delivering the power of corded tools with cordless flexibility to help keep your jobsites moving. Nuron can handle all your light to heavy-duty jobs, so your teams can work faster, safer and with more productivity. Visit Hilti.com/Nuron-CC to learn more.

Hilti.com/Nuron-CC

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