Articles

Admixtures: what to use, and when (used by permission from ACI's Concrete Craftsman Series "Concrete Fundamentals") Any material deliberately added to change the fresh or hardened characteristics of concrete, before or during mixing…

Proper Storage of Chemical and Hazardous Materials Many construction sites store chemical and hazardous materials onsite. Jobsites may house anything from acids and other caustic substances, to paints and glues, to heavy metals, solvents,…

Test Your Knowledge!

Do You Know How To Rescue A Fallen Worker? This is part four of our four-part series on “The ABCD’s of Fall Arrest.” While workers engaging in tasks near leading edges, or elevated openings, can seem more isolated due to new…

The Top 15 Types of Cement And When To Use Them (used by permission from ACI's Concrete Craftsman Series "Concrete Fundamentals") Freshly mixed concrete is made of cement, water, and aggregates such as sand and gravel. Frequently, it…

C is for Connecting Device This is the third installment of our four-part series on "The ABCD’s of Fall Arrest." While workers performing tasks in elevated areas may not be working close together as they did in the pre-COVID world,…

For the highest quality mix, the paddle is your most important choice. There is a definite science behind mixing. Many contractors are not aware they can save a lot of time and money by perfecting their mixing techniques. When you match…

Part 2 of a 4-part deep-dive series on The ABCDs of Fall Protection B is for Body: Safe Anchorage Is Two-Sided This is the second of a four-part series on the ABCD’s of Fall Arrest. The second inspection task for physically distanced…

Part 1 of a 4-part deep-dive series on The ABCDs of Fall Protection A is for Anchor: The Root of Effective Fall Arrest Welcome to the first of our four-part series on the ABCD’s of Fall Arrest. The new normal of physical distancing…

Encouraging A Safe Frame Of Mind Framers play a critical role in construction. Since they assemble the structure around and upon which a building is constructed, the need for safety is built into framing. In fact, one of the tenants of the…

6 Steps to Avoid Losses from 2020’s Hurricane Season Weather forecasters are warning severe weather may throw another challenge to contractors' profitably this year. In May, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)…

Somewhere between 75°F and 100°F hot weather problems can become an issue for concrete. And without using the proper care, your pour may suffer from reduced strength and cracking due to drying too quickly. 

What Are Waterstops? Waterstops are important construction elements that prevent water ingress at construction joints. Contractors place these products in concrete structures to form watertight diaphragms at structural transitions where…

Test Your Soil Compaction Knowledge!

To learn more about the products and techniques you can use to help avoid these problems, download our FREE "Building Envelope Installation Checklist/Guide” DOWNLOAD PDF Proper installation techniques and product selection are critical…

Bridge The Gap On Jobsite Communication The recent coronavirus situation has forced us all to rethink not only the way we do business, but also the way we interact with each other. We can no longer take for granted those large team…

Working Against The Corona Clock To say that China has been struggling to contain the coronavirus is an understatement. Wuhan was ground zero for the initial spread of the disease. Since late December, the world has been watching as this…

OSHA Launches New NEP On Silica On February 4, 2020, OSHA published a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) revolving around Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS). The previous NEP, drafted in 2008, was cancelled in 2017 when OSHA released its…

Six Tips For Better Slabs Proper planning is the key for placing large, high performance floors.  Slab-on-ground placements are becoming larger and more complex. Owners are demanding tighter flatness numbers, increased jointing…

Best Practices For Resolving/Avoiding Disputes Construction jobs involve diverse people, large sums of money, tools and heavy equipment, and deadlines: what could possibly go wrong? Disputes on the job are significant risks factors for…

The New Dropped Object Standard Has Passed Newsflash! In mid-July the Dropped Objects Standard 121-2018 was approved by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and ISEA (International Safety Equipment Association). This new standard…

The Rise of Safety Helmets in Construction The image of a construction worker wearing a hard hat is iconic. Whether it’s high atop a skyscraper or down on the ground, everyone on every jobsite must wear a hard hat. Even visitors to a job…

Sometimes getting the job done means getting the job done at night. Not all construction jobs require night work, but when they do, it is important to be prepared, be safe, and take precautions that minimize risk to workers. Top Reasons…

Power Up Your Jobsite! Many of us have home generators to run appliances in case of an electrical outage, but the power requirements on a construction site often demand a different class of generator. On the jobsite, generators are used to…

We're Building America Construction is hard, but meaningful, work! Whether you are pouring concrete for a foundation, maneuvering a crane dozens of stories high, or every job in between, it is a noble endeavor to be involved in the…

https://youtu.be/oUDWj9w9jGQ SKILSAW Cordless Worm Drive Saw Kit SKILSAW has redefined power. Again. The first and only cordless Worm Drive saw gives you legendary SKILSAW power to go anywhere. Powered by the TRUEHVL™…

Turnaround and shutdown projects demand pinpoint accuracy and execution for success Turnarounds are scheduled events, while shutdowns are emergency events that are rarely, if ever, planned. In both cases, this scope of work completely…

What Is A Field Adhesion Test? Field adhesion testing is an important way to ensure quality jobsite application and surface preparation of installed sealant joints. When an authorized field representative performs it, this test is a good…

Proper Concrete Practices Can Avoid Surface Scaling In the last few years, complaints of spalling (scaling) of exterior concrete surfaces have been on the rise. There are several non-contractor related reasons scaling issues are on the…

Are you a “Trowel Ninja” or a “Head Grinder”? Paste a screenshot of your results on our Facebook page!

Top 8 Causes Of Construction Fires There are a variety of culprits of onsite construction fires, and many fires are preventable with proper precautions. The following highlights common causes of construction fires and suggestions of how to…