Concrete Contractor July/August 2023

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16 A Mighty Impact In A Concrete Bridge Replacement

When a concrete bridge needed replacement, civil contractor Sheet Piling Services needed to place new 25-ft. tall abutments. The concrete vibrator ended up being key to reaching the depths needed.

The Language of Embodied Carbon

Language and linguistics have always been fascinating to me. They are like a blueprint to convey a message of a project. The plans are interpreted, understood, and work continues. It’s a puzzle where all you have to do is put pieces together in the right order. Sometimes, I’ll find a piece and start asking questions.

I’ll read “this construction will reduce embodied carbon emissions” by a number of tons. With the concrete industry working to do just that on a global scale, this sounds great. But regardless of how “green” your construction plans are, carbon emissions will be put out. You can’t (yet) reduce emissions by building something, you can minimize the project’s carbon footprint—but the word used was “reduce.”

So, I asked for help and contacted Rick Bohan, Portland Cement Association’s Senior Vice President, Sustainability. He says that these terms are often used interchangeably but they’re not synonymous. “Reduced carbon emissions refer to the embodied carbon content of a material. Avoided carbon emissions, on the other hand, refer to the carbon emissions avoided through the use of the material,” he explains. “Reduced emissions reflect today’s impact while avoided emissions take into account tomorrow’s impact. Currently, if you increase production of a beneficial product like concrete, your emissions footprint also grows. MIT’s Concrete Sustainability Hub has ongoing research to show that this approach is not accurate because avoided emissions aren’t properly accounted for. That’s why they’re modeling Scope III emissions and avoided emissions.

A concrete pavement has an embodied carbon content from the materials used; there’s energy consumed during the manufacturing and transportation of concrete. Those embodied carbon emissions are measured and reported in an Environmental Product Declaration. Lower carbon concretes show carbon reductions. That same concrete pavement also avoids emissions. The stiffness of the pavement means vehicles get better mileage so fewer car and truck emissions. The durability and longevity of the pavement means less maintenance so fewer emissions from those repair activities and fewer emissions from cars and trucks needlessly idling because of construction delays. Concrete pavements also avoid emissions through carbon uptake inherent in carbonation of concrete. While difficult to measure, avoided emissions are real.”

With the amount of concrete being placed on a yearly basis, accounting for the impact of potential carbon emissions for your current job may have in its lifetime is very thought provoking. What other industry can say they have such a potential and long-lasting impact?

Thank you for reading. And enjoy this issue.

ADVISORY BOARD

Kim Basham KB Engineering Cheyenne, Wyo.

James Baty II Concrete Foundations Association Mt. Vernon, Iowa

Dennis Purinton Purinton Builders, Inc. East Granby, Conn.

Jim Cuviello

Cuviello Concrete Polished | Stained | Crafted Stevensville, Md.

Chris Klemaske

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

EDITORIAL

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CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

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Concrete Crack Filler by DAP

DAP’s Concrete Crack Filler features an easy-to-use dry formula that tackles horizontal cracks, whether driveways, basements, walkways, patios or garage floors, in just one pass. Professionals will find the water-activated solution provides a durable, seamless, and excellent color-matched repair that won’t shrink, crack or fade over time. Light traffic ready in 4 hours. Rain-ready in 24 hours. Weather and UV resistant.

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Lawson Products Mega-Crete Slurry II Kit

Lawson Products’ Mega-Crete Slurry II 10-lbs. Kit is capable of covering 6 sq.ft. at 0.25 in. This compound is four times stronger than concrete and features a two to one mixing ratio. Designed for repairing spalled and damaged concrete, the low odor solution is resistant to fuels and lubricants. The medium-cure compound can be applied to damp concrete and cold floors down to 35° F. Bonds to concrete, masonry, metal or rebar and wood. 2.5 hours to cure.

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APV Engineered Coatings BLOCKSEAL Liquid Flashing

APV Engineered Coatings’ BLOCKSEAL is a waterbased, waterproof liquid flashing that seals window and door substrates in new and existing residential, commercial and industrial applications. The liquid flashing product meets and exceeds

AAMA 714-19, Voluntary Specification for Liquid

Applied Flashing Used to Create a Water-Resistive Seal around Exterior Wall Openings in Buildings. BLOCKSEAL Liquid Flashing is a low-VOC, fastdrying acrylic adhesive that keeps moisture from penetrating door and window openings beneath a structure’s exterior facade. Its high resin content provides adhesion to the substrate, eliminating moisture penetration.

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Sika’s CODE & Sand App

Sika has developed a concept for finding the right solution for the issues observed by the aggregate producers related to sands and aggregates. In many cases, the reason for changing or problematic concrete properties is not obvious. Therefore, several steps are required to identify the problem to give the right support and product solutions. With the Sika CODE method, Sika can help address these challenges to find solutions.

SIKA CODE

C – Customer Challenge: Sika experts discuss the problems with customers – namely concrete producers – while making sure to fully understand their needs.

O – Operated Analysis: Samples of sands and aggregates are analyzed using several methods.

D – Diagnosis of the Cause: With analytical results, the cause of the customer challenge can be diagnosed.

E – Effective Sika Solution: Our Sika experts can work on the most effective solution for our customers.

Working in conjunction within the Sika CODE, Sika’s Sand App is a digital resource that will assist in increasing efficiency for concrete producers. Developed for fast and efficient aggregate analysis, this software is an analytical device and provides information about aggregate particle size, distribution, particle shape parameter, and fineness modulus. The Sika Sand app is a step toward optimized identification of available aggregate and towards finding alternatives to overcome shortage of high-quality sand without significant performance loss.

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CREATE A COHESIVE Installation Team

One of the most important things in the resinous flooring industry is creating a team of installers that is able to get the job done no matter what. We can chat about building an amazing company culture in a different article, but how do we build an amazing installation team? One that is dedicated to getting the job done right the first time; one that takes pride in their work; one that enjoys their job (one of the most important things, yet often overlooked).

I used the word “team” and not “crew.” Building your company to run as one smooth machine, you start with everyone being on one team, not individual crews. This simple change in wording can affect how people view their position in a company no matter what their role might be.

THE TWO-MAN DANCE

One of the things that I am known for in the residential floor coating industry is what I call “The Two-Man Dance.” As funny as that may sound, the entire premise is built on how two people can get a garage floor coating installed in the most efficient way. The “dance” that my teammate and I created had been built over years of working together as we knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Over time we changed and built our installation methods to best suit us both and this immediately lead to better production, higher quality installations, and more profit as installation hours went down. As a good business owner should do, he rewarded our hard work and dedication to the company’s well-being—a first step in creating the positive work culture we wanted to work for.

Hiring? Look for people who align with your company’s core values, mission, and vision statement. Valence Protective Coatings

company values and missions, not solely on their experience.

As a business leader, the first thing to building a team is to look inward and work on building yourself. As a field supervisor on largescale commercial projects, I always wanted to be the first on-site, last to leave, and not afraid to do any of the work that needed to be done. Take the time to understand the scope of the project, timelines, and daily tasks and relay to the team—everyone will know their roles and responsibilities, the daily goals, and the outcome if exceeded those expectations. Communication with your team is absolutely paramount at all stages and being open and honest builds loyalty as a leader.

NEW HIRES

One of the first things to look for when trying to build a team at any level in your company is to not just hire anyone who is willing to work, but rather hire people who align with your company’s core values, mission, and vision statement. That is much easier said than done these days, but when you can get one or two key personnel who align with your team goals, you have effectively changed your entire team culture. There are many studies and information online about good questions to ask a new hire, but remember you are hiring on your

I am a strong believer in all new employees going through in-house training before stepping on a jobsite. This will give you a good bench line of qualifications they excel at or need to work on. Send the new team members to some product manufacturer training so they can see and meet other people, their products, and have an outside source give you open and honest feedback on their participation and work performed. One key component with in-house training is making sure they are training and working with your other installers who they will be on-site with. This is the first step to creating a bond, a cohesive strength between the team, and starting to build roles around each other. Your very own “The Two-Man Dance” will start to evolve as you place your installers into roles they are best for.

You are only as good as your weakest link but what most underestimate is the weakest link is still a very pivotal person on your installation team. When put in the correct position, there is no weak link anymore. Training and discovering how your crew works together will determine people’s strengths and weaknesses. As you add more people to your team, do not be afraid to adjust roles to best suit everyone.

It is also a leader’s job to make sure to provide the new hire or weakest link on the team extra training and bring them up to speed with the other team members. If a person is not a good fit in one position but has the company’s core values in mind, it is a leader’s responsibility to find a job that fits better within the company.

When you hire people who fit your core values and company mission you will notice that every installer will get along better, check their ego and work harder to complete the mission. There are many key factors that go into being a cohesive installation team but do not be afraid to move people around. In any industry, continual training is a must. As a business owner or leader, it is our job to give our installers the tools, resources, and training necessary to exceed their goals. Simply by working on these things, you will automatically build a cohesive installation team that can get any job done on time and exceeds your customer’s expectations.

Building a strong team and company can be hard, but when you change how you go about hiring and training you will build a team that cannot be broken. Resinous floor coatings can be tricky to install, and your installers are the backbone of the company. Always make sure they are well taken care of and let them know you have their back at all times. When you are a strong leader, your team will follow. Set the example and watch your teams and company grow.

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My Favorite Interview Questions

• “How do you handle losing as a team?” See if they will mention how they felt or how theteamfelt. This lets them tell you how much they value a team mentality after a loss.

• “When a teammate has failed you, how did you feel? What did you do to pick up the slack?” Listen for creative ways in which they picked up the slack and if it can relate to the position.

• “What are your personal core values?” Do they align with the company’s core values? It also tells me if they have done any research on our company or if they are just repeating what they read online.

• “Do you describe yourself as a leader or follower?” This will tell me what they plan to do in the next 1-5 years. If they say leader, they want to advance. If they say follower, they will be content in any position. Both can be a good fit depending on the position but I ALWAYS want someone to say “leader.”

• “Give me an example of how you led a team at your previous employer.” This gives you an idea of the team size they are used to managing or if they are new to leadership and how much training they might need.

• “Tell me about a failure you’ve had within a workplace and how you handled it?” Listen for emotion and a sense of pride if they accomplished the task after a failure. This lets me know if they will tolerate a failure or not give up.

• “Do you describe yourself as a detailed person?” A critical question. If they do not answer “yes”, it is a good indication that they do not fit into the company’s core values, vision, and mission statement.

Peter Johnson is the head trainer and product development of the garage floor division at Valence Protective Coatings.

Diablo’s 24-Tooth Tracking Point Saw Blade

The Diablo 6-1/2-in.

24-Tooth Tracking Point saw blade produces accurate, smooth cuts on framing materials without bogging down cordless power tools. The Tracking Point “rudder” like tooth design reduces vibration and tension. Optimized for corded and cordless saws, the blade features Perma-SHIELD nonstick coating and a super-thin kerf, which minimizes material removal and produces a fast, clean cut.

• TiCo Hi-Density Carbide delivers up to five times longer cutting life verses other blades.

• Thinner kerf removes less material, which reduces the power needed from the tool resulting in longer run times and more cuts.

• Laser-cut stabilizer vents absorb noise and vibration.

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Hilti DSH 700-22 Cut-off Saw

Hilti offers the DSH 700-22 rear handle, cordless cut-off saw for concrete, metal and masonry projects. This battery-powered saw is compatible with the Nuron battery platform. Unlike gas-powered saws prone to fuel mix issues, the DSH 700-22 does not generate fumes during use. A cordless design promotes mobility around congested worksites.

• Dimensions: 29.1-in L x 11.4-in W x 13.8-in H

• IEC battery operated

• Arbor size: Option 1:1-in; Option 2:20 mm

• A-weighted emission sound power level: 108 dBA (according to EN 60745)

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DEWALT 20V MAX 1/2-in. Drill Driver & Hammer Drill

DEWALT’s 20V MAX Brushless 1/2-in. Drill Driver (DCD793) and Hammer Drill (DCD798) each feature a two-speed transmission, a variable speed trigger and a 1/2-in. metal ratcheting chuck. Designed with a brushless motor and 2-in. shorter in length (compared to the DCD771). The 20V MAX Brushless 1/2-in. Drill Driver delivers up to 16% more power (compared to the DCD771). The 20V MAX Brushless 1/2-in. Hammer Drill can drill into materials, including wood, masonry and metal, with up to 28,050 bpm in hammer mode for masonry drilling. Each tool produces 404-unit watts out of power with up to 1,650 rpm (no-load) and features an on-tool LED.

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Milwaukee Tool MX FUEL 6-in. Green Concrete Saw

The MX FUEL 6-in. Green

PECORA DECK COATING SYSTEMS PROTECTION AGAINST THE ELEMENTS

Pecora-Deck 800 & HB1000 traffic coating systems prevent surface degradation caused by traffic abrasion & the destructive forces of the elements by delivering durable protection to wearing surfaces like concrete & plywood. Whether for restoration or new construction, protect your investment with the Pecora-Deck system that fits your project.

Concrete Saw allows users to cut 1 1/2-in. depth on a 6-in. blade, maximizing users’ productivity. This solution delivers instant starts with no gas headaches, no regular maintenance, and zero emissions providing a safer workspace indoors and outdoors. Milwaukee is excited to continue revolutionizing the light equipment market with their groundbreaking cordless system and provide concrete contractors with solutions that increase performance and productivity, removing the frustrations and limitations of gasoline and power cords.

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Husqvarna’s Ulti-Grit Flat Saw Diamond Blades

Husqvarna’s Ulti-Grit series of diamond blades have increased cutting speeds and longer blade life. The design of Ulti-Grit blades was made to better control the diamond distribution to leave fewer gaps. With more diamonds exposed for longer, the operator gets an outstanding flat saw experience. The blades feature optimal diamond distribution, elimination of uncovered spaces, less vibration during usage, increased speed, optimized power consumption and more.

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PAIR

of a CRUMBLING INVESTMENT

For many homeowners, the monthly mortgage payment is by far their biggest investment—and it’s generally considered a safe one. But what happens if their home starts to crumble? Sue Toomey paid 20 years of mortgage payments on her home—built in 1995—before she discovered her concrete foundation was crumbling because of defective concrete. Since repairing her home in 2019, she’s been a strong advocate for spreading the word about the issue.

Toomey is the operations manager for Foundation Solutions of NE. Jeff Love, the company’s owner and primary equipment operator, founded the concrete replacement and remediation business in 2020 to focus on the crumbling concrete issue localized to portions of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The defective concrete was poured between 1983 and 2015 and contains pyrrhotite, a mineral that rusts and swells when it encounters oxygen and water. After 15 to 20 years, the affected concrete develops hairline cracks which then rapidly expand over the next several years. Love estimates tens of thousands of homes between Connecticut and Massachusetts are affected—about half the people he meets on the job are finding out about their crumbling foundation when attempting to sell.

He says home values typically drop to 10-20% of their original value once the problem is discovered.

To the relief of many, the state of Connecticut developed a program called the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company (CFSIC) to help eligible homeowners pay for repairs. The program’s creation opened the door for repair work that may otherwise not be feasible, including a two-year condominium foundation replacement project that was nearing completion in Willington, Connecticut as of August 2022. The complex was the first condo project

funded by CFSIC and was being completed by Foundation Solutions, one of only about 35 contractors in the state approved for the work.

The $2.52 million project began in March 2021 with a goal to replace the foundation of six buildings with 34 total units. To do so efficiently, the crew conducted the repairs in two phases involving three buildings in 2021 and three in 2022. Each foundation needed to be torn out completely to prevent contamination from old concrete, and then repoured. When residents were moved out, Foundation Solutions used an ASV RT-40 compact track loader to demolish the

Crews raised the building six feet to allow for the foundation demolition and replacement.

The defective concrete typically develops hairline cracks 15 to 20 years after being poured, then rapidly expands over the next several years.

Crews used a 1,925-pound-rated operating capacity ASV

Love was impressed by the SV100’s power while moving and breaking concrete.

garages and basements. The 4,005-lb. compact machine was the perfect size for working in the building before it was raised.

Following the interior demolition, crews cut the concrete floors and use a 1,925-lb.-rated operating capacity ASV MAX-Series RT-65 compact track loader equipped with forks to pry up and haul out floor sections, starting at the garage door opening.

Next, Foundation Solutions used a Yanmar ViO17 mini excavator to dig 6 square foot holes 5-ft. deep to the bottom of the footing. These were used for cribbing stacks supporting as many as 18 jacking stations to lift the building. The 4,023-lb. ViO17’s compact size and true zero tail swing capabilities allowed it to dig in the tight space with ease.

A building lifting contractor then raised the structure 6 ft. Love used a 12,247-lb. Yanmar ViO55 mini excavator under the building to demolish a 4-ft. wide, 12-in. deep section of concrete that couldn’t be removed until the structure was in the air. A 21,550-lb. Yanmar SV100 did most of the heavy lifting from the outside, removing large sections of the foundation wall and breaking them down for disposal.

A previous attempt to fix the issue by a different company added a week’s worth of work during this stage. Engineers had installed a precast concrete block system with long 4x4-foot blocks of solid concrete. Despite the blocks being too heavy to lift with the SV100, Love was able to roll the concrete away from the structure to be disposed of.

Once crews had removed all the old concrete, Foundation Solutions poured new walls and used the RT-40 and RT-65 to grade the floors inside—taking advantage of the machines’ low ground pressure and ability to operate on the dirt surface without damaging plumbing buried just a couple of inches below. From there, crews completed backfill and other dirt work outside, poured new concrete floors, reframed the walls, and added other finishing touches.

Love says that because of the success of this and other projects, he hopes to expand further into Massachusetts to continue to help as many homeowners as possible.

For more information visit https://CONC.me/repair

A 21,550-pound Yanmar SV100 did most of the heavy lifting from the outside, removing large sections of the foundation wall and breaking them down for disposal. Images provided by YANMAR Compact Equipment North America.

MAXSeries RT-65 compact track loader to pry up and haul out floor sections.

Aaron Boerner is a writer and videographer for the construction industry.

Graco LazerVac 550 System

When used with a GrindLazer scarifier, Graco’s LazerVac 550 System uses contactor preferred Honda power to provide 50% more vacuum pressure compared to LazerVac 330 to reduce airborne silica dust on larger scarifying jobs to help meet OSHA’s safety requirement for airborne silica dust.

• Longopac Bag System Reduced silica dust

• Continuous dust containment means less exposure to silica dust

• Large capacity for more run time, less downtime

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HEAVY-DUTY FLOOR GRINDERS

POWERFUL , FLEXIBLE, EFFORTLESS

Revolutionize your flooring projects! EDCO’s Heavy-Duty Grinder tackles first-layer applications, levels concrete, and removes industrial-strength coverings effortlessly. Its robust dual-disc design grinds 800 -1000 sq ft per hour at 1/32” -1/16” per pass with Magna-Trap® Dyma-Dots ensuring speedy completion of the job.

The Lavina Elite V32 Dust Extractor

The Lavina Elite V32 Dust Extractor takes dust collection to a new level of performance and productivity. Lavina Elite dust extractors feature important upgrades for efficient dust management on the jobsite and are OSHA compliant.

• Four-stage dust collection for a dramatic increase in cleaning efficiency: Integrated pre-separator captures the large particles and extends filter life; Second cyclone around the conical filter captures the mid-sized particles; Conical M class filter with high air permeability and large filter area for better suction and longer working time between cleaning intervals with a large filter area; and a Hepa filter H13 as the last filtration point captures 99.95% of particles 0.15-0.23 μm.

• An integrated emergency lamp reminds the operator to clean the filter.

• Option to upgrade to automatic cleaning

• Lighter and more compact body design.

• Offered in propane (V32GE - 470 cfm) and electric models (V32E - 490 cfm, 220V or 480V).

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Ruwac RB331PRO Beast Portable Vacuum

Ruwac’s RB331PRO “The Beast” is compatible with 110V power, requiring a 15-amp circuit. The RB331PRO Direct Bag delivers 330 cfm and can be used for small, medium and large surface preparation applications. As part of Ruwac’s direct bagging Pro Series, this vacuum features a bagged collection system for dust-free collection. Equipped with Ruwac’s MicroClean Primary Filtration, secondary HEPA MAXX Filtration and an external mechanical filter cleaning mechanism. OSHA Compliant right off the skid.

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The 36V LXT Brushless 2.1 Gallon Dry Dust Extractor/Vacuum from Makita

Makita U.S.A. expanded its dry vacuum and dust extraction lineup with the 36V (18V X2) LXT Brushless 2.1 Gallon HEPA Filter Dry Dust Extractor/ Vacuum with AWS (model XCV22). The vacuum features a powerful Makita-built brushless motor and an efficient three-stage HEPA filtration system that captures 99.97% of particulates 0.3 microns and larger. It is ideal for clean ups and dust extraction applications in concrete and masonry, woodworking, and rough construction. Delivering up to 80 minutes of continuous run time when using two 18V LXT 5.0Ah batteries, the powerful Makita-built brushless motor delivers 120 CFM and 44-in. of water lift for efficient cleaning. The Dust Extractor features large casters for easy transportation, with lockable rear casters to prevent the vacuum from moving. A large rubber bumper helps prevent damage to the vacuum and the surrounding work environment, while the batteries are protected from debris with a lockable cover. It features an oversized on/off button which can be used by an operator who is wearing gloves, dual L.E.D. battery life indicators, and an easy-to-read variable speed dial.

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Husqvarna Construction HEPA Dust Extractors

Husqvarna’s HEPA dust extractors feature the e-flow technology that enables continuous high performance.

A redesigned filter cleaning mechanism also ensures the cleaning process can be done simply by closing the inlet and pressing a button. Also, a cost-efficient, improved LONGOPAC dust bag attachment system in combination with long filter lifetime delivers low cost of ownership.

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BossTek DB-10 Atomized Mist Cannon

BossTek’s DustBoss DB-10 atomized mist cannon can be used to suppress indoor particulate emissions during demolition and raw material handling. Engineered for enclosed working environments, the maneuverable unit provides suppression in a compact, portable design. The outcome is airborne particle control with minimized emissions and less standing water. The compact mist cannon is mounted on two wheels with a tall handle. A 3/4-hp fan delivers 3,335 CFM of airflow, powered by 120-volt current. Mounted on the front of the cannon is a circular manifold with 12 atomizing nozzles that fracture pressurized water into a fine mist.

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A Mighty Impact In A Concrete Bridge Replacement

When a concrete bridge needed replacement, civil contractor Sheet Piling Services needed to place new 25-ft. tall abutments—the concrete vibrator ended up being key to reaching the depths needed.

Constructing a highway bridge is no small feat. A single project takes weeks from start to finish, including the planning stage, the handson construction aspect and final safety testing. Sheet Piling Services, a Custer, Wisconsin-based heavy civil contractor, is acutely aware of the details, nuances, and checkpoints that go into major concrete construction projects. The specialized contractor has been working across the Midwest for nearly a decade and in 2022, completed more than 30 large highway bridge projects. With that level of experience, they can make a complicated process appear easy.

One of those projects completed in 2022 was a replacement bridge commissioned by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). The beam span bridge provides traffic access over the Little Rib River in Little Chicago, Wisconsin and spans 105 ft. long by 37 ft. wide. It uses precast beams that sit on top of the abutments, with a concrete deck poured on top. Parts of

the concrete work on this bridge were poured on-site including the abutments and bridge deck concrete, totaling 258 total cubic yards of concrete. Other aspects, including the prestressed concrete bridge girders, were poured offsite and supplied by a precast concrete manufacturer.

25-FT. TALL CONCRETE ABUTMENTS

Vibrating concrete is crucial as it helps crews achieve a high-quality, high-performance product. Quality and performance are always of utmost importance, especially for a highway bridge that will support vehicle traffic and provide safe transport for drivers and passengers. Anytime concrete mix was poured onsite for the bridge project, it was vibrated to help the concrete consolidate and prevent voids and honeycombing issues.

To begin the project, the crew poured 25-ft.-tall concrete abutments. Due to their location, crew members couldn’t get close enough to vibrate each layer of concrete as it was added. Instead, they had to vibrate from the top. That’s where interchangeable vibrator lengths became essential. The crew used Minnich Stinger and Backpack concrete vibrators in varying head and shaft lengths to get the job done. These parts are easily switched out and interchangeable between the different vibrator models.

“The concrete vibrator parts are interchangeable, which isn’t the norm. I’ve never used another brand with that

capability,” says Kris Kosobucki, Sheet Piling Services project manager. “You can cut the core and casing down to fit your needs, but you can’t go back to the previous length unless you buy a new one. Being able to switch out a length instead of buying new is a big deal as far as cost is concerned.”

At first, the crew needed to reach 25 ft. deep, but that wasn’t the case for the duration of the pour. Using concrete vibrators with interchangeable cores and casings, the crew replaced the longer lengths with shorter ones as the pour progressed—a convenient feature that changed the game for Sheet Piling Services. A large amount of rebar was used in the project, which means the concrete had a lot of obstacles to consolidate around. Concrete vibrators helped achieve the proper consolidation for maximum strength.

Pouring the deck was another challenge made easier due to quality concrete vibrators. To increase speed and efficiency in pouring the deck, Sheet Piling Services used a Bid-Well 3200 machine that ran on rails to pour concrete as it traveled the length of the bridge. A tremendous amount of concrete was needed for the deck pour. Using this specialized machine meant crew members could spend their energy on more granular, skill-oriented tasks. Two crew members wearing backpack vibrators followed the machine placing concrete, and consolidated material behind it.

The backpack vibrators have become

a favorite among crew members, as it allows them to be hands-free and move more freely around the jobsite, while also reducing operator fatigue. Each of these benefits is made even more important when you consider where crews are walking, high in the air and along the concrete deck or rebar.

THE PAYOFF

The WisDOT performed the required testing on the concrete’s slump, temperature, and time from mix until placement. They also performed strength tests. The Little Chicago replacement bridge project passed the testing phase with flying colors. The entire project was completed in 28 days—8 days ahead of schedule. Many factors contributed to completing the bridge in only four weeks, one of them being Sheet Piling Services’ fleet of concrete vibrators.

“Vibration is a small piece of concrete construction, but at the same time, very important,” says Kosobucki. “If you have to redo portions of the bridge because you failed to use a concrete vibrator, it’s going to cost you a lot of time and money.”

When concrete doesn’t pass the necessary tests, the result is a major hit to the contractor. Inspectors will either order repairs or re-pours based on the state of the concrete. It’s necessary to ensure bridge safety but costs the contractor valuable time and money.

Concrete vibrators are small but mighty, and depending on the challenge at hand, can help contractors avoid these kinds of setbacks. Vibrating concrete may seem like a small part of the grand scheme of a major highway bridge build—but it’s crucial for getting the job done right and completing it on time.

Kosobucki’s team has grown accustomed to using concrete vibrators and use them in 90% of all jobs. Drop in on any of their jobsites and you’ll find at least two concrete vibrators on hand, and up to six in some circumstances. “We bought a couple of Minnich vibrators from our distributor in 2021, bought more the following year. And I’m not afraid to say, we’ll probably buy a few more this year. They’ve been great to work with and their service is top-notch,” says Kosobucki. In total, they have 12 Minnich concrete vibrators including the CSV, Stinger, and Backpack models.

Sheet Piling Services recently completed a separate 16-hour concrete bridge deck pour using 1,800 cubic yards of concrete and the same Stinger and Backpack concrete vibrators used on the WisDOT bridge. “They worked flawlessly the entire pour,” says Kosobucki.

Rob Minnich is president and chief marketing officer of Minnich Manufacturing, one of the industry’s leading producers of dowel pin drills, concrete paving vibrators and vibrator monitoring systems. The company has been family-owned and operated since 1968.

MIX FAST | MIX EASY | FINISH CLEAN

80LB BAGS/HR

Images courtesy of Sheet Piling Services.

MX FUEL™ EQUIPMENT SYSTEM: RELIABLE SOLUTIONS FROM POUR TO FINISH

With solutions that cover the entire concrete pour to finish process, Milwaukee Tool’s MX FUEL™ Equipment System is safer, more reliable, and more productive, going beyond the limitations of gas and corded solutions.

Fully Compatible System

The MX FUEL™ Equipment System is compatible with all MX FUEL™ REDLITHIUM™ battery packs. These batteries provide instant power with no gas headaches, require no regular maintenance, produce less noise and zero emissions for a safer workspace, indoors or outdoors. Combined with the push-button start on the equipment, the batteries eliminate the repetitive motions of a pull start and reduce downtime.

Covered from Pour to Finish

Milwaukee® has a solution for every step of the pour to finish process. The MX FUEL™ Backpack Concrete Vibrator and the MX FUEL™ Concrete Vibrator provide consistent starts and the most reliable pours. They can consolidate even the stiffest concrete, with the power to push a 2.5” head at over 11,000 VPM. The MX FUEL™ Backpack Concrete Vibrator can consolidate up to 70 yds3 per charge with a 1-½ inch and 7-foot shaft while the MX FUEL™ Concrete Vibrator can consolidate up to 45 yds3 per charge when paired with a 2-inch head and 14-foot shaft.

Critical to the concrete leveling process, Milwaukee’s MX FUEL™ Vibratory Screed has the power to pull up to a 16-foot bar and

consolidate concrete up to six inches deep. When paired with a 12foot bar, the screed delivers up to two hours of run-time per charge or level up to 10,000 square feet.

Milwaukee’s MX FUEL™ 36” Walk-Behind Trowel and MX FUEL™ 24” Walk-Behind Edging Trowel provide a smooth, balanced finishing experience. Both feature 5HP performance, unmatched control and no gas headaches, giving users the ability to confidently pan and finish indoors or outdoors. When paired with the MX FUEL™ REDLITHIUM™ 12.0 battery pack, the 24” edging trowel can get up to 35 minutes of run-time per charge and the 36” trowel can get up to 25 minutes.

Rounding out Milwaukee’s pour to finish concrete solutions, the MX FUEL™ 6” Green Concrete Saw provides clean, consistent cuts, with the power to cut 1-½ inch depth on a 6-inch blade, maximizing productivity by eliminating the downtime of switching between blade sizes. When paired with the MX FUEL™ REDLITHIUM™ 8.0 battery pack, the green concrete saw cuts up to 160-feet per charge.

The Final Say

Milwaukee will remain unwavering in their commitment to delivering disruptive innovation by providing solutions that enhance jobsite safety and productivity. Their MX FUEL™ System is more reliable and eliminates emissions, the frustrations of gas maintenance and the hazards of cords that have been prevalent on jobsites for decades.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Innovations/MX-FUEL

Allen Engineering’s PowerVibe

These hand-held gasoline powered vibrators vibrators for concrete are lightweight, but powerful and provide excellent consolidation of concrete.

• 1.5 hp Honda GX35 (35 cc)

• 1 ft. flexible shaft with rigid shaft extension

• 2 in. Steel or Rubber Vibrator Head

https://CONC.me/tk3dl5

Minnich Stinger Concrete Vibrator

The Stinger is a 14.5-lb. double-insulated universal motor that can drive the full line of Minnich vibrator shafts and heads from 3/4 to 2 1/2 in.

• 11,000 to 13,000 vpm speed range

• Standard quick disconnect adapts to many manufacturer vibrator shafts and heads

• Durable protective frame extends vibrator life

• with urethane end caps that absorb shock while supporting easy to grip handles

https://CONC.me/uyh5y5

A flexible repair solution for concrete.

TechCrete is a flexible and extremely strong repair mastic with proven performance of 10+ years. Its exceptional ability to bond to concrete and remain flexible with thermal movement and extreme weather conditions makes TechCrete an ideal repair solution for wide cracks, joint deficiencies, surface defects, and many other distresses.

Oztec BP-45 Backpack Concrete Vibrator

The BP-45 backpack concrete vibrator offers a 2-hp option capable of running vibrator heads up to 2 in. in diameter in a lightweight configuration.

• Built to withstand the demands of concrete construction sites and designed for easy maintenance and long life

• Includes a sturdy steel frame, dependable Honda engines, fully adjustable padding system and high-quality components

• QuickdDisconnect for easy interchangeability with the company’s flexible shafts and vibrator heads

https://CONC.me/keouc3

Multiquip BPX Backpack Concrete Vibrator Motor

The BPX is a flexible shaft concrete vibrator for applications features an ergonomic frame providing multiple adjustments to reduce operator fatigue and breathable materials for enhanced comfort.

• 2.1-hp Honda gasoline engine

• Throttle control and start/stop functions located on the shoulder straps for convenience

https://CONC.me/ltm8an

Minnich Flex Shaft Vibrators: The Experts Choice for Solid Results

Minnich Flex Shaft Vibrators

Built to exceed your expectations and outperform the competition. With results in mind, our vibrators are engineered for control and durability, ensuring a smooth and flawless pour every time. With more control over your results and a longer lifespan than other options on the market, our flex shaft concrete vibrators are the perfect choice for the professional looking to take their work to the next level.

Admixture Combats Cracks

Using a magnesium oxide additive in your concrete can help prevent shrinkage cracking.

expanding existing plants.

All these containment applications rely on concrete structures to keep water in its place, whether fresh or fetid. One of the leading threats to these structures is concrete shrinkage in the walls which can lead to cracks, enabling water to escape or contaminants to leech into the environment. There are many methods for mitigating this condition, but magnesium oxide admixtures are one of the most effective ways to minimize or prevent the formation of these cracks.

the utility to perform replacement after only two to three decades.

According to the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency, the U.S. has approximately 153,000 public drinking water systems and more than 16,000 publicly owned wastewater treatment systems. Every drop of water stored in our country’s reservoirs, water treatment plants, and behind dams is vital to the well-being of the population they serve and the local economy. This mission is even more crucial given that increasingly severe drought conditions have led to significant water loss in many parts of the U.S. As for our country’s water treatment and wastewater treatment systems, communities need to be secure, knowing that none of the health-threatening stew in these wastewater facilities makes it into local groundwater or nearby waterways. Likewise, we must be confident that contaminants do not enter the clean water stored within.

The long-time recognition of the deficiencies in this country’s water storage systems has led to the passage of the 2022 bipartisan Infrastructure bill, which will enable more water treatment facilities and dams to deliver clean, reliable drinking water. This bill is the most recent allocation to improving American water containment sites, concentrating on drought resilience in the western states. Additional legislation joining this long overdue bill includes the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which allocates $550 billion to cover water project planning and construction.

The costly cycle of shrinkage concrete cracks, repair, maintenance, and deterioration can be improved using magnesium oxide admixture to mitigate shrinkage cracks and curling—and in some cases, preventing them altogether. Shrinkage cracking is due to drying and autogenous shrinking, increasing the effects of freeze-thaw deterioration and other factors. The problems are compounded in wastewater treatment facilities from suspended solid materials such as sand, rocks, ice, chemicals, or silt that can be churned during turbulent water flow.

The facility can take remedial action to address the cracking, but the best approach is to prevent the cracks from the onset using the admixture. Reducing or even eliminating shrinkage cracks means projects are completed on time, repairs are reduced, and lifecycle is greatly extended.

More than 80% of the U.S. population receives potable water from water treatment systems, and about 75% has sanitary sewerage treated by these wastewater systems. Many of these facilities have been operating for decades and require upgrades or replacement. Other parts of the country are experiencing population growth that will prompt constructing new facilities or

The challenges for utilities are that new water/wastewater structures can face difficulties passing the required leak test and may require other expensive remedial work. These additional considerations increase the cost of construction and can also extend project timelines, leading to delays and reduced owner/taxpayer satisfaction. In addition, decades of crack repair and maintenance represent a significant cost burden to the owner and headaches from taking a structure out of service while being repaired.

Ultimately, the cracking compromises the life cycle of the structure. For example, concrete that should have lasted 50-100 years forces

Contractors can incorporate magnesium oxide admixtures into the concrete for all water/wastewater structures, including reservoirs, primary and secondary treatment, clarifiers, aeration tanks, and digesters. For best results, magnesium oxide is one of the only shrinkage reducers NSF-61 certified for use in potable water applications to make regulatory compliance more manageable. The admixture has been shown to reduce shrinkage cracking up to 90%, reducing water and salt infiltration.

CASE IN POINT

There is a tremendous need for improvements in treatment facilities to process drinking water and wastewater across the country. Following are some examples of water containment projects that controlled the problem of concrete cracking by adding magnesium oxide admixtures to their concrete

The R.W. Neilson Water Treatment Plant, Clemmons, NC

Premier Construction Products Group

mixture. The contractors opted to remain anonymous.

•A water treatment plant located in the southeast U.S.—the largest in its region— has a treatment capacity of 48 million gallons per day (MGD). Since the original plant was built in the 1960s, the facility has undergone two capacity expansions of 12 MGD each in the 1980s. Construction recently started on an upgrade that will address aging infrastructure by replacing obsolete, failing equipment and making process improvements to increase the reliability and redundancy of this critical facility.

The ready-mix contractor for the project worked to develop a mix that would satisfy the 0.035% shrinkage limit required by the project engineer. After initial trial batches did not meet the specification, a standard shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) was evaluated. After failing to meet the specification again, the contractor used a magnesium oxide admixture. The results exceeded the specification.

•A facility located in an eastern U.S. city is building a new wastewater treatment

plant. The plant will increase treatment capacity from 250 MGD to 600 MGD, with the goal of reducing sewer overflows due to stormwater runoff.

The structural concrete will be heavily reinforced, putting the concrete under severe restraint from movement. Over 1,900 auger cast piles were drilled into bedrock to serve as the support system for the plant. Between the heavily reinforced concrete, and the plant’s proximity to a nearby river, the engineer for the project had concerns with shrinkage and potentially related cracking on the project during the design stage.

As a result, the engineer specified a shrinkage reducing compensating admixture for the concrete. The project team selected a magnesium oxide admixture as the basis for design, significantly reducing the cracking problem.

•A water treatment facility currently under construction in Newport News, Virginia, needed to meet strict low shrinkage requirements. The ready-mix producer supplying the concrete to the project submitted their approved Virginia

Department of Transportation low shrinkage mix for use on the project to satisfy the requirements. The mix, which includes a magnesium oxide admixture, has a history of success on numerous bridge projects in the Hampton Roads area and was approved for the water treatment facility.

Recently passed legislation directs the federal government, in partnership with state and local governments, to spend billions on projects such as these for necessary improvements. Using a magnesium oxide admixture should enable these structures to minimize cracks in the surface of these concrete structures to maximize these investments and ensure these facilities meet the needs of their localities for 50-100 years to come.

For more information visit https://CONC.me/materials

Jim Preskenis is the Business Unit Manager for Premier Construction Products Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Premier Magnesia, LLC.

CONCRETE REPAIR Concrete Surface

Preparation: ‘You’re the Doctor, Write a Prescription’

Prescribe the right corrective treatment to achieve a successful long-lasting outcome on concrete coating jobs.@Zelma - adobe.stock.com

Approach concrete surface prep like a doctor and prescribe the correct solution. What to expect and critical things when inspecting your next concrete job.

Coating a concrete floor requires an accurate diagnosis of the floor before application. You, the installer, and your client will be much happier with the result when surface preparation methods are followed, but conducting a proper physical inspection is critical before you install a coating system. There is quite a bit of opinion and advice, answers, and proven concepts to follow on floor coating installation, but here, we are focusing on the proper prescription for coating a floor.

An instructor in a coatings class will not say, “All you have to do is this...” Coating concrete is a process, and no steps can be skipped, no corners can be cut, and if you don’t have hawk-like attention to detail, find someone to assist your team. Even if a floor coatings installer does everything right, that bird living in the rafters can die flapping its wings in your wet coating, or the neighbor’s puppy can run playfully through the fresh epoxy and trot all over the pristine driveway with sticky paws.

A DISTINCT PRESCRIPTION FOR COATING CONCRETE

In many ways, coating concrete is like being a doctor and having to prescribe the right medicine or corrective treatment to achieve a successful long-lasting outcome. When you visit a doctor for a routine check-up or illness, they follow the same protocols and checklists taught in medical school. They check your temperature, vital signs, blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, ears, nose, throat, and generally want to make sure all the important body functions are somewhat normal. If you are healthy, instructions to keep your good health are

advised. If you are wounded or ill, the proper steps to heal you are recommended.

Approach surface preparation using checklists just like a medical doctor, and then you are prescribing the right solution. Remember too, that a doctor has four extra years of medical school and eight years of residency before being qualified to serve as a doctor. There is no substitute for experience with coating concrete, and it’s advisable to learn from a mentor, and read and study it.

STEP 1) INSPECT & DIAGNOSE

An acquaintance of mine once said, “Concrete is not a product, it is a category.” Every piece of concrete formed, poured, and finished is different from the next because it is impossible to recreate the exact conditions each time like you can in a manufacturing facility. Concrete can be new or old, hard, soft, different quantities of ingredients, hard troweled, hand troweled, broom finished, or have a release agent or curing compound installed.

The weather conditions during the placement of the concrete can change the outcomes. A floor could have been previously coated or had a covering such as tile or carpet. Or it could be a polymer modified cement topping on top of the original concrete. It could possibly have had repairs and patches installed or maybe sections have been cut out and replaced. Like a doctor, you must first and foremost figure out your “patient” or your “category of concrete” that you are about to cover with a coating system before beginning a job.

This is why step one is always inspecting and diagnosing the condition of the concrete floor and gathering as much

The best adhesive performs in the worst conditions.

Choose SET-3G™ high-strength epoxy from Simpson Strong-Tie for your next anchoring installation job. Code listed for extreme temperatures (40° to 100°F), SET-3G is also code approved in concrete holes that are dry, water-filled, water-saturated or submerged. SET-3G is manufactured in the US and immediately available through our distributors, so you can always stay on schedule.

Get a full supply of SET-3G epoxy for your next project. Visit our website at go.strongtie.com/set3g or call us at (800) 999-5099.

information and data as possible. I remember helping a ‘newbie’ in the concrete coating business and he paid for me to travel twelve hours and train his crew on how to install one of our coating systems. It was an historic building and he had convinced me over the phone that the concrete was in exceptional condition despite being almost 100 years old. “It’s a nice gray color,” he said.

When I arrived at the job site, I instructed the crew that the first step is to clean the floor and we started sweeping, blowing, and running a swing buffer over the floor to break up some caked-on dirt. In a few minutes it was obvious that the newbie didn’t realize that an old peeling epoxy coating on the floor was the nice “gray” concrete color he had observed.

All this could have been avoided if he had brought a bottle of water and a rag with him and washed off a few sections during the inspection. You must see the floor before you can determine its condition and start your prescription. He had to ask the customer for a change order to grind off the existing epoxy and it was not in their budget cycle, and they postponed the work until the next year. He likely lost credibility and the work.

STEP 2) WHAT THE CUSTOMER WANTS & REQUIRES

Step two is understanding what type of coating system the customer wants and requires. If they want a perfectly smooth flat coating, with all the chips, cracks and joints filled in like a piece of glass, is that something possible without major restoration? Is the floor covered in tile or carpet and will they want it stained with a transparent dye that won’t hide the imperfections such as the old tile grout lines or carpet glue lines? Understand if the coating system or finished look they are requesting and let them know if what they want is possible.

The steps needed to achieve the client’s expectations take experience. It is possible they don’t have the right concrete to meet their expectations and you must tell them that up front. For example, “Customer, your concrete will need resurfacing to get it flat before I can get the look you want.” Or, “I can stain it with the color you like but the grout lines from the old tile will still show in the finished floor.” “This old coating is blistering, which tells me your slab has moisture and will need a moisture vapor barrier installed.”

STEP 3) THE ‘HOW TO’ PART

Step three is figuring out the prescription the concrete needs to successfully install the coating system that the customer has requested. This must also be clearly communicated to customers because once they find out the cost and complexity, they may change their mind. Don’t overlook any of the steps and time it will take to achieve the surface preparation requirements for the coating system you are installing.

A huge amount of information regarding concrete surface preparation is available on the internet:

• Sherwin Williams produces excellent technical information online. You will also find videos on shot blasting, concrete grinding and polishing, acid etching, and general surface preparation videos.

• The International Concrete Restoration Institute has webinars on coatings preparation.

• The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP, the combined organization of SSPC/NACE) has a wealth of information.

• Talk to the coatings manufacturer’s representative, distributors, other installers, and try to absorb knowledge like a sponge. Learn how to use a floor maintainer and hand grinder and buy a good wet/dry vacuum and mop bucket. Before spending money on expensive equipment, become proficient with a floor maintainer and all the different attachments available for small job surface preparation. As you grow and expand, you can acquire shot blasters, concrete grinders, vacuums, and more expensive equipment.

Treat your concrete floors with the mind of a doctor and get them in perfectly clean healthy condition with the right prescription for your coating system. Surface preparation is 80% of the job on concrete and most types of floors. Applying the coating is a whole other topic.

Kevin Ormsby is the technical director for Coval Technologies. As an early innovator in the production and application of nanotechnology coatings, he has supervised and applied hundreds of thousands of square feet of coating to airplane hangar floors, concrete, stone, and many other substrates.

Small Batch Mixing

Controlling the water is critical when using a continuous concrete mixer on your next concrete job under 5 yards.

Concrete contractors working a job too small for a ready mix truck have a short list of options to prep concrete. Top of the list is the tool and wheelbarrow. While tried and true, it’s the choice with the most manual labor. There’s the mobility of the drill and paddle—made even more convenient with modern cordless battery-powered tools. And, of course, the ever-familiar standard barrel or mortar mixer with a ribbon.

The thread that connects these solutions together: batching (and intense labor). Consider both wheelbarrow and barrel a batch mixer, forcing contractors to add the right amount of water and mix until ready. Place and mix again. Continuous or in-line mixers, on the other hand, provide a steady action and supply of concrete for the job. However, the traditional design of these machines has been typically aimed at larger projects like dams and highrise buildings, etc.

MudMixer took this idea and applied it towards smaller and repair projects—the projects that fall below truck delivery minimums. Their design places a hopper directly above an auger which pushes material into a small chute. Adjustable nozzles add water. The movement mixes the material and if everything is set up correct, the concrete pours out ready. Designed to work with bagged concrete, as long as the hopper has material, concrete will continue. This is not a pump. There is no pressurized hose.

“With a traditional barrel mixer, [contractors] mix, then dump it in a wheelbarrow, and then you take the wheelbarrow up to your forms, dump it in there,” says Peyton Maddox, marketing director at MudMixer. “Basically,

you walk it right up to your forms and leave the wheelbarrow at home.”

Not aimed at replacing the readymix truck, the team wanted to develop a solution for smaller jobs. “You’re not going to pour 20 yards with a MudMixer,” notes Maddox. But, he says, it puts contractors back in charge of their own time and avoid a minimum load charge. Compare the cost ordering the yards of concrete vs mixing it on-site. Consider accessibility situations of the site. Perhaps it can only be reached by boat, the truck won’t fit, or delivery wait-time doesn’t match the schedule. If you can’t get a ready-mix truck for a larger pour, the people at MudMixer recommend placing 3 to 4 yards at a time in sections until the project is done.

Maddox sees the machine’s unique design is what sets them apart. It’s something the world hasn’t seen regarding bag concrete projects. “[Continuous] mixers have a hopper,” says Dave Wingard, group leader at QUIKRETE. “Depending on how much you put in, as long as you keep the same level of material constantly the bags will come out consistent.” The trick with continuous mixers is ensuring time enough for the water to blend.

Addressing this, MudMixer requires a pressured water source, 30 psi minimum is recommended. A pair of adjustable water nozzles spray the amount needed controlled by dial valve with values from 0 to 100 (0 is closed; 100 is full open). The machine’s switch powers both the 36-in. auger and solenoid— turning both off at once. They recommend starting the dial at 50.

This control allows contractors to make the mix as they need. Make sure to watch the mix carefully. “Every water pressure is different,” notes Maddox. “If someone is running a load of laundry and pulling some water, [contractors] will have to dial up a little. They have

full reins on setting that water dial. Once you have it set, your mix is going to be consistent the whole time.”

It should take about 10-15 seconds after starting to know what the mix is going to be. It’s recommended to make small adjustments until the mix is to the consistency needed. “Once you get it set, you just drop bags,” says Maddox. Contractors will find an arched bar set within the hopper to help split bags.

Since the mix doesn’t remain in the hopper for a significant amount of time, a continuous mixer on this scale may not allow time enough to agitate additions like water reducers to be fully dispersed. “The simpler the mix, the better for the system,” suggests Bing Tian, director of R&D, at QUIKRETE. Think premixed and straightforward. For example, QUIKRETE’s standard yellow-bag mix.

Look through the technical data sheets on your bags to ensure it’ll mix well and has everything needed for the job. Fiber reinforcement or any additives need to be pre-mixed in the dry material before going into the hopper.

It’s making sure to use the right bag for the project and making sure you’re using the right mixer for the job at hand.

For more information visit https://CONC.me/mixers

Images provided by MudMixer

ACI Resource Centers — Southern California, Chicago/Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic (Coming Soon!)

Helping meet the increasing need for ACI knowledge through hands-on training, educational offerings, and on-demand access to ACI Certification programs. Designed for the trades, contractors, inspectors, designers, and engineers, ACI Resource Centers are a great fit for new-hire onboarding, employee education, and customer or member training. Learn more at ACICertification.org

Lessons

Learned For A Better Construction Business

My father handed me a black trash bag and my career in masonry began. I was nine.Throughout my career, the threads of mentorship, passion, and collaboration have helped me to differentiate myself and my business. Here’s a few of the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

1: BENEFITS IN BALANCE

My father assigned me the job of sorting different rocks by sizes, which turned into the fun stuff: laying brick. Between the ages of 12-14, I got hands on and began running crews. It really kicked off when I went to a vocational high school and studied masonry and concrete, gaining a true understanding of the materials.

Though my humble beginnings in masonry looked like my father’s—given that he was the third-generation owner of DiBara Masonry (I’d become the fourth)—the old way versus the new way truly came to a head at this time.

Finding a harmony between the old and new became a longstanding thread through my career. My dad’s old school mentorship methods would be what pushed me to improve my skills and drive, my new goals for changing the company would take DiBara Masonry to different heights.

2: OLD SCHOOL KNOWLEDGE CAN DIFFERENTIATE YOU

My dad was modern with tools and products but wasn’t as modern with advertising and marketing sales

technology. We butted heads because I saw the shift of the internet and what it would do to business.

What’s important is not dropping one way of doing business or work entirely, it’s more so integrating the two. Fall in love with your materials. Find out about the best products and why they’re better. For example, we used to mix our own mortar and concrete colors. And so, when it came later for color kits with little samples, you could do it easier, but then it became a hard job to match. There’s an opportunity in construction for us to really understand and respect our roots.

3: ALWAYS BE A NEIGHBOR

Much farther back than my father’s ownership of the company was my great grandfather’s. An immigrant from Italy, he grew his business through three values: an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay; never try and retire off one customer; and most importantly, treat customers like they’re your neighbor.

When I decided to move the family business from Boston to California, I followed those same values. What that looked like was over delivering and doing the small things, like taking client’s trash out, digging up trees or flowers, I’d go to other customers and ask if they had interest in the flowers. I had to start from the bottom. The only thing that could stick was showing up and following through on all my promises.

4:

TRUST YOUR CONFIDENCE

Confidence is what got me into doing celebrity work. There was a job at a wellknown celebrity’s home, and they had a leak in their pool. I told him and he said, “I’ve had five companies come out, and you’re just this young kid. There’s no way I have a leak.” Well, I responded with, “I’ll hire the leak company, pay $3,000 out of pocket to run a full evaluation. If there’s a leak, you reimburse me and hire me to do the work.”

He hired me and that was one of the breakthroughs into high-end clientele. Since then, I’ve done a lot of celebrity homes and built a reputation around our company that we get it done, once we get it done right. We also do a lot of large government projects, such as the Veterans National Cemetery where we laid 6,000 or more pieces of granite.

5: FINDING FULFILLMENT IN MENTORSHIP

I’m a big believer in mentors. My mentoring in hiring and retention began with one of mine, Damian Lang. While searching for the future of my company, I reached out to a local association seeking a mentor. A Mason Contractors Association of America Hall of Fame inductee, Lang owns five companies and invited me to stay with him for a few days to see his operations. He showed me that I could maintain the current success and size of my company and find the fulfillment I wanted, which would be helping other

@Bobcat Beasley - adobe.stock.com

contractors. The breakthrough I had with Lang was, “You can get different types of fulfillments from different businesses, and you can run multiple companies.”

6: LEARN FROM YOUR (HIRING) MISTAKES

A few years prior, I was given a massive wakeup call: my company began losing nearly $1 million. We couldn’t hire enough skilled workers to complete jobs on time. So, I devoted time and energy to figuring out a solution to the problem, studying other industries, company culture, and the modern hiring market.

While I found an answer through a mentor, I was solidifying my passion in helping contractors. I knew I could do both, and took my lessons learned in hiring into consulting contractors on their own hiring challenges. The knowledge I gained came from old lessons, doing just as my great grandfather did, and incorporating new elements, such as technology.

7: SHARE YOUR

KNOWLEDGE

Balancing old with new, leaning on mentorship, and diversifying my experience in masonry has led me to both run a successful masonry company and a successful consulting company I am passionate about.

8:

CULTURE, CULTURE, CULTURE

Reigning in hiring helps culture and helps the bottom line. It allows us to offer people more money and make their jobs more manageable. There’s nothing more exciting to me than when my team loves what they do.

It’s partly because of the non-traditional pay scale that I learned growing up with my dad. He gave me a raise when I honed my skills and performed well. There’s no time limit to learning things. We review often. In your first 4 months, we do a 2-week review, a 30-day review, and a 90-day review—all of those are eligible for a raise.

Would you work for you? Google yourself. Based on what you see, answer the

question. Would you be excited to work for your company? Showcase who you are, what makes you unique, and why they should work for you.

As an owner, it’s helped me spend time with my family and round out my life personally. I couldn’t have done any of this before because of how reactionary it all was.

Everything I have learned in my decades-long masonry career is reflected in these lessons. Put your culture first, learn from your mistakes, share your knowledge, be confident, believe in the old and new, and always be a neighbor.

Matt DiBara is a fourth-generation mason of DiBara Masonry and the creator of The Undercover Contractor.

Matt shares more of his knowledge with a few hiring tips online https://CONC.me/hiringtips

THE MUST HAVE FOR CONCRETE REPAIR

While there are many solutions for making concrete repairs, Polymer Modified Structural Repair from QUIKRETE® is the comprehensive solution for almost any repair. This product demonstrates low sag, making it ideal for horizontal, vertical, or overhead repairs. Its unique properties also allow it to be used for partial-depth repairs and to be sculpted to match the contour of existing concrete surfaces.

Use it to repair concrete cracks, curbs, loading docks, retaining walls, decorative moldings and more. It’s available in 20-pound pails of special fast-setting hydraulic cement, graded sands and other proprietary ingredients.

Find out why QUIKRETE Polymer Modified Structural Repair should be in the back of every truck for horizontal, vertical, and overhead structural repairs.

Preparing for Future Challenges…Now

Nodoubt the impact made from COVID-19 is global. This epidemic also “carpet bombed” leadership, production, safety, quality, etc., like we have never seen before, leaving some incredibly negative consequences in its wake. Between supply-chain inconsistencies, ongoing government overreach and financial concerns filling much of senior leader’s discussions, it is important that we strengthen our focus as owners and leaders moving ahead.

Financially, contractors must take an honest look at their cash situation. “Cash is king,” as the saying goes, may be more appropriate today than in the past. As interest rates are again moving northward, it is critical that contractors take a second, third and even fourth look at their cash situation, being careful to take borrowed money that will have greater rates than we have seen in many years.

Purchasing equipment may require more evaluation than in prior years. Contractors love their equipment and it’s easy for many to build a fleet. It is good for one’s pride to look out over one’s yard and enjoy the line-up of trucks, trailers, and equipment.

Leasing equipment may need to be more the norm for contractors, and for more than only financial reasons. At the rate of updates now being provided on equipment, it may make more sense to lease such equipment where software upgrades are most likely covered as part of one’s lease arrangement.

Material costs have sky-rocketed in many parts of the U.S. and the outlook doesn’t immediately look better, although any significant return to fossil fuel development would provide some relief. But again, at this time it doesn’t look promising. What’s a contractor to do? Keep a few things in mind.

Don’t be shy about bringing increased material costs to the attention of your customers. They don’t like it either, but most are more understanding as they too pay more at the pump and grocery store.

Conduct a potential volume need and negotiate with your material supplier. They may not be able to help as much as in past times but stay at it. Material plants are still a bit more loyal to those who have stuck with them.

Tighten up your estimating procedures to ascertain that you are bidding more exact what the material use will be. This will require a more accountable documenting on material use on projects. I still see contractors throwing a few extra yards of materials into a bid “just in case.”

Tool purchases have always been a lost leader for contractors between tool breakage, loss, and theft. Most contractors admit they know that they have always had tools break, lost or stolen, but it was just part of the industry. There is some truth to that, but contractors may want to rethink their tool use, storage and security. This isn’t about badgering workers but to building more accountability about maintaining and retaining tools. This is a “nickel and dime” cost compared to equipment and worker costs, but this component is still adding up to 2-5%, and more for some contractors. This is a needless cost that we can improve.

Employee costs continue to be as much or more rise than ever. With new employee loyalty at perhaps one of the lowest points in many years, contractors are working harder than ever to find the right worker and retain that same worker. I’ve written and spoke on this topic for years, but we are just having more challenges in our industry than we have ever faced.

Start preparing better when recruiting and interviewing. We’re still seeing way too much hiring just because we’re very short on the bench. Be careful about giving in to this. It often creates more problems.

Pay competitive wages, but more importantly, start training on Day One.

Start paying retention bonuses to the new worker, foreman, and your crew. It’s the foreman or crew that often run off a new worker. Give them an incentive to work with, develop, and retain the hire.

Make more trips to follow-up and speak to new workers. My research has shown that the top three reasons why new workers quit early, many after just 30-40 days is because:

• No one is talking to me

• No one is training me

• No one is following up/coaching me

You must be more active and visible in the new worker’s start with you. Create a regular training program for workers that includes tool handling, required work processes, material knowledge and how to be a better team player, improve safety, etc. Educate, educate, educate!

Things look extremely challenging moving forward. Tread sure-footed by being honest and quick to address future indicators that might reflect bumps and hurdles ahead. The successful contractor has always taken an inventory of their approach and then preparing the company to take on the future challenges, head on.

Being prepared for the worst may help you achieve the best!

With 30+ years in the construction industry, Brad Humphrey moderates “The Contractor’s Best Friend” podcast and written more than 150 how-to articles.

Find more from Brad Humphrey at https://CONC.me/bestfriend

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