Builder Magazine: Concrete and Masonry

Installing Permeable Pavers

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:23:45 EST

When you install permeable paving, water can percolate into the sub-soil, helping to prevent water pollution.

How To Retrofit Anchor Bolts

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 01:09:59 EST

Instead of placing sill anchor bolts in advance, set them with epoxy after framing.

How to prevent spalling in concrete slabs

Wed, 2 Jan 2013 11:08:26 EST

Don't trowel the slab tight before the time is right.

How to Backfill a Foundation

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:32:04 EST

Careful backfilling reduces risks and improves quality.

PrimeSource Building Products' Prolok

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 09:28:07 EST

Prolok allows builders to ditch wire and rebar ties during concrete pours.

Can Plastics Supplant Wood and Concrete as a Structural Building Material?

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:51:35 EST

Several companies are using recycled plastic as ingredients for lighter, stronger composites.

Cracked Concrete

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:16:33 EST

The goal, since all concrete cracks, is to provide a planned place for that to happen, called a contraction joint.

ICF Bracing

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 03:37:26 EST

A good ICF job depends on proper bracing to avoid bends and blowouts.

CalStar Eco Brick

Wed, 9 Mar 2011 12:43:51 EST

CalStar eco brick is made with 40 percent fly ash.

New Research Touts Insulated Concrete Forms For Energy Efficiency

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:12:38 EST

MIT releases preliminary findings from a year-long assessment of buildings' life cycle.

U.S. Navy Opts For Concrete Modular Housing on Bahamas Outpost

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 04:08:21 EST

New structures are expected to save money on maintenance and energy.

Many Factors Point to a Lethargic Recovery For Builders

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:47:48 EST

Economist for Portland Cement Association is pessimistic about job growth and foreclosure activity.

Make a Custom Counter For $8 Per Square Foot

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:40:35 EST

Concrete specialist Fu-Tung Cheng tells builders how to easily and economically fabricate their own countertops.

Bargain Basements

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:41:13 EST

New building code standard, ACI 332, offers builders a better alternative for building concrete basement foundations.

APEX Polystyrene and Cement Block

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:25:56 EST

At the Apex. Simply put, the manufacturer claims that the APEX Block is the most energy-efficient construction material on the planet. That's up for debate, but the product--made from recycled polystyrene and cement--is pretty cool. An average home built with the block keeps 2,830 pounds of polystyrene out of landfills, the company estimates. Cost: $20.25 per block. APEX Construction Systems. 800-252-8784.

Supply Side: Into the Mix

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:03:23 EST

Inside: Rinnai uses a billboard to educate commuters in Southern California about energy-efficient water heaters. / Lumber costs starting to rise according to RISI's Crows Market Report.

Project Credits

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:27:02 EST

The New American Home would not be possible without the support of the members of the National Council of the Housing Industry (NCHI)/Supplier 100, as well as a legion of local and regional suppliers and installers. More than 40 NCHI members contributed products to this year's house and provided consulting services and installation support to the design-build team for a truly memorable collaboration.

Concrete on Price

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 10:55:02 EST

Home builders looking for price concessions from materials suppliers amid slowing home sales may find some relief among lumber and wallboard suppliers, but they better not count on deriving savings from producers of concrete and its components.

The New American Home 2006

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:19:38 EST

Designing a house “by committee” is, as any architect or builder will tell you, a patently insane notion. Yet every year since 1984, The New American Home has done it in spectacular fashion, bringing together the world's leading suppliers and a host of consultants and valued trade partners to assist the design-build team.

Pour It On: Special How-To Feature

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 02:38:05 EST

WHEN TEMPERATURES dip toward freezing, building officials routinely shut down foundation work