Moon Over Miami, Concepts For Building

As one who has spent much time on concrete restoration projects in Miami Florida, I can easily relate to the excellent article below by Mr. Erwin Wayman (click on concrete manufacturers below to read Mr. Wayman’s article).. 

Concrete demolition is the first step in a tedious concrete restoration project

Concrete will absorb water. Over time the moisture acts on the reinforcing steel in the concrete causing the steel to corrode or rust. As the steel rusts it also expands. The expansion of the steel causes what is called in the industry, “spall” or spalling concrete. This means the concrete actually pops out from the structural column, beam or concrete floor. The corrosion process is slow but continuous. Eventually when unattended, the increasing deterioration of the steel will cause structural failure to the building the concrete bridge or other concrete structure. The processes of concrete repairs are also slow, tedious, labor intensive and expensive. The International Concrete Restoration Institute (ICRI) provides a manual of protocols and prescribed concrete repair procedures.

International Concrete Restoration Institute

The Concrete restoration institute says that “if fifteen percent or more of the reinforcing steel shows signs of corroding, it must be removed beyond the corrosion and a new reinforcing steel bar “married to the existing bar”. The new bar must be “lapped” onto the existing by four bar diameters in length. It further states that “if the deformations on the bar are gone due to the rust this is considered to be fifteen percent of the bar.” This presents problems in cases where the project is mostly a remedial project located at the exterior of a building. In this photo you see that these bars are rusted back into the living area of the condominium. This means demolition inside the owner’s unit and is always a problem for both the owner and the contractor.

The demolition is finished now we place the concrete forms

In other posts on this site I wrote about “Direct Project Overhead”. In the first photo you will note that I referred to the demolition being the first step in a concrete restoration project. In so far as the actual work is concerned this is true, but if you look at this photo you will see that this was a high-rise condominium in Miami, Florida. The work required motor driven scaffolds. These scaffolds needed to be setup first in order to perform the various tasks involved. After being setup they of course needed to be maintained. These functions or parts of the work are all part of what I call direct project overhead. The cost attributed to the project that will not remain as part of the project at project’s completion. So this is an overhead item of work, material and equipment directly related to the performance of the work.

The second step in the actual flow of work for a concrete restoration project is to sandblast

After the demolition process sandblasting the steel

the steel to remove the rust that is causing the problem. The rust on the steel causes the concrete to pop, blowout or “spalled”. Spall are flakes of a material that are broken off a larger solid body and can be produced by a variety of mechanisms, including as a result of projectile impact, corrosion, weathering, cavitation, or excessive rolling pressure (as in a ball bearing). Spalling and spallationboth describe the process of surface failure in which spall is shed (Wikipedia). After these little chores are completed its time to re-pour and finish the concrete floors. This is done using a pump capable of lifting the concrete through a hose as much as eleven stories high.

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concrete,concrete manufacturing

Steel Buildings Guide

“We Live In A Specialized World”

We also live in a world consisting of many different countries with various social structures, formed by religious beliefs, which in many cases have dictated government structure and law. Climate and terrain provides resources such as food, energy and not least of all, shelter. As the genus Homo (man) and species, Sapiens (intelligent) began to evolve from the genus homo and species Erectus, new ideas, customs technologies, education, food production and food consumption also changed. Housing, types of shelters, began to evolve as a necessity to accommodate the evolution of the human race. Each and every basic need of mankind is provided with different degrees of suitability by the resources available to them within the region they inhabit. The economy of a region is also dictated by the abundance and accessibility of those resources. The education-technology, the know how required to properly extract and utilize those resources determines the availability of these resources to the general population. In turn the economic well-being of the citizens within a country and within a given region of a country. So while a country or region possess an abundance of certain natural assets, without the education to first extract and then the technology to convert to usable products, the infrastructure to distribute, social and economic benefits go unrealized. The technologies of the building industry and the means and methods used to erect a building in the United States has changed dramatically from the times of our early inhabitants.

Similar to the above discussion residents each region within the US employed different types of construction means and methods consistent with the resources readily available to them. Log cabins, grass-covered huts, igloos, tepees adobe structures, coral rock structures etc are a few that come immediately to mind. builder, owner builder, building industry, types of construction

If you are a first time home buyer, it is essential that you consider the entire home buying process before buying a home. Being a first time home buyer, you should consider all your options. First, it’s important for you to decide your affordability so that you do not end up defaulting on mortgage payments, thereby losing the home to the lender. Although you may have options to get the loan modified or refinanced just the same, it is better to take out a home loan within your affordability. A new home will present to you a brave new world a brand new experience. So, wouldn’t you want it to be environmentally safe as well?

Green home building facts

American homes use one fifth of the total energy consumed in the US. On top of this, all of this energy consumption results in 20% of the total greenhouse gases that is produced nationally. Another very important fact to considered is that one-third of the heat of a home escapes the home through doors and windows. This is one of the main issues contributing to energy waste. building, financing, mortgages, refinance your mortgage

Lowe’s Hardware Store is one of the most widely used hardware and home improvement suppliers in the country. Lowe’s stores have various shops in most areas of the country, meaning they could successfully serve every type of customers. Along with having several handy areas, these shops also pride themselves on offering the least expensive rates achievable on all their items, which makes it a popular alternative for home improvement fanatics seeking to have their budget in mind. Whether Or Not consumers are searching for paint, floors, outside furnishings, product or anything among, there are possibilities at Lowe’s

Though Lowe’s is recognized for their discount prices, many individuals are still searching for further solutions to save even with retailers like Lowe’s. This is also true in the current economy. This is the reason Lowe’s offers several different deals and discount codes to aid their customers conserve much more. Many Do-IT-Yourself projects can also add up in cost, and the help of some little coupons here and there have you been always get a lot more equipment and supplies for the project really can soon add up to key savings.

Thankfully for consumers researching to preserve with their Lowe’s purchase, there’s a variety of types of Lowe’s deals accessible. Lowe’s presents specific instant coupon codes that may be clipped and brought straight into the store for immediate financial savings. Typically, these coupons is available on the internet at speciality coupon web sites along with local newspapers and ads. Generally, these coupon codes will offer consumers a particular sum of money off an investment of your bare minimum amount. Other Lowe’s quick coupons may offer cash back or savings on specific items in the house. For example, Lowe’s frequently offers special deals on their different types of paints which will supply the customers instant financial savings if they get. home renovation, commercial renovation

To create a kitchen decor that is great for a magazine, designers are increasingly turning to 3 trends: modern, rustic and eclectic. However, no matter what the style, recessed can lighting is the designer’s choice for overhead fixtures.

Modern day Kitchen Decor

For a modern color scheme, kitchen designers go for contrast. The contrasting colors can be vibrant, muted or stark. On the colorful spectrum, tangerine and apple green are favorite possibilities. Designers may paint an accent wall in a bold color or subtly introduce the color through or fruits.

Cabinets are either pretty light or mixed with dark cabinetry. The newest look comes from the distinctive striated pattern of bamboo. Cabinet fronts are usually fully flat. Appealing options for countertops include slate, concrete or even glass. Streamlined stainless-steel cabinet hardware and fixtures complete the modern look for the new kitchen decor. Contemporary kitchens are filled with light, both organic and artificial. Designers ordinarily leave windows naked or use straightforward Roman shades. Lighting solutions contain track lighting and pendant lights in glass and stainless steel.

Rustic Kitchens decor, kitchen design, design and build new kitchens

Keeping your own home looking good is one of the biggest concerns for most homeowners. Hardwood floors will keep your home looking beautiful. If you have hardwood floors in your house, it will add a unique and stylish look to your house. There are a couple of things that you’ll want to keep in mind concerning hardwood flooring. I will discuss some of these things here in this short article.

It is absolutely vital that you keep your hardwood floors clean. It’s important that your floors are cleaned frequently and that you make use of the appropriate cleaning products on hardwood flooring. By using the right products and using them frequently, your hardwood floor will retain that stylish and fantastic look that you love. When it comes to wood flooring, there are a variety of cleaning products that may be used, that will keep your floors looking clean. In my opinion there is not a longer lasting or more beautiful flooring material to be found.

With hardwood floors another trip that works to enhance the beauty is area rugs placed in strategic location throughout the house. For instance in the family room or the bedroom. Rugs nice rugs placed in the right areas in the home will add a lot to any room having hardwood floors. As an example, you can get your daughter an attractive rug that suits her bedroom accessories. Continue reading “Hard Wood Floors-Tips And Suggestions For Installing, Refinishing and Maintaining” »

The Anatomy of Construction Project VII

“Carpentry”

This section of the Construction Specifications Institute will itemize the different construction processes related to on site and offsite fabrications using wood and carpentry techniques. Offsite fabrications or pre-fabrications might include items such as laminated beams, prefabricated wood stairs and stair accessories and many more.

Also include in pre-fabricated items are rough carpentry items like prefabricated wood trusses. Pre-fabricated offsite items included in the subcategory of finish carpentry includes pre-hung wood doors, millwork items like kitchen and bath cabinets, moldings, wood base boards, custom-built casework and shelving to name but a few. 

Depending upon what is being installed on site carpentry or wood fabrications might fall under the subcategory of rough and/or finish carpentry. The rough carpentry divisions would include interior and exterior wall framing, the installation of offsite wood fabrications; the wood trusses and/or wood beams, roof framing and sheathing, 2X4 sub-fascias, wood soffits, pressure treated window and door bucks. Bucks are those items to which windows and doors are attached. 

Onsite finish carpentry might include the installation of cabinetry, moldings, finished wood fascia, installation of wood doors and the installation of finish hardware door locks and cabinet pulls, interior and exterior closet and laundry shelving.

Construction Specifications Institute lists the following rough and finished carpentry items of work in addition to the above noted. While most of the above will usually be required in many projects, not all of the following will be include in every construction project. Continue reading “Rough Wood Carpentry-Finished Carpentry and Millwork” »

If you are a home owner with a mortgage in the state of Florida you must have home owner’s insurance. Before hurricane Andrew stuck south Florida on August 24, 1992, home owner’s insurance was very reasonably priced. Mine was about $600.00 per year, now its $3,500.00 per year.

The good news is that Florida home owners can get a reduced insurance policy. The bad news is that they can do so only if their home has/meets certain insurance industry mandated structural upgrades and standards. To be eligible for the discounts most homes built before 1994 would need to be retrofitted to comply with these insurance industry requirements. In south Florida homes built after 1994 have been built with these upgrades in place as required by revised building codes. Continue reading “Home Inspection, Roof, Windows, Doors, Reduced Home Owner’s Insurance” »

The Anatomy of a Construction Project VI

Section 5. Miscellaneous Metals And Structural Steel

Miscellaneous Metals includes items such as railings structural steel decorative steel, steel bar joists structural steel shapes of all types, sizes and weights. In addition many other metal and steel materials, coatings and processes related steel and metal items are included in this section; section five of the Construction Specifications Institute manual. The list is extensive so I am not going address each of them in this article. Below is a brief summary of a few of the items that are included. steel,metal,structures of steel