In Concrete Systems for Homes and Low-Rise Construction, Portland Cement Association and McGraw-Hill have joined forces to provide expert, straightforward
In Concrete Systems for Homes and Low-Rise Construction, Portland Cement Association and McGraw-Hill have joined forces to provide expert, straightforward answers to builders’ concrete system questions. An update to the decade-old Concrete Homebuilding Systems, which covered primarily above-grade walls, the new publication is broader in scope, encompassing concrete and cement-based products for walls, floors, roofs, exterior finishes, landscaping, and decorative elements such as countertops. Concrete Systems for Homes and Low-Rise Construction guides contractors in selecting appropriate concrete systems by considering product availability, requirements for application, and project management, among other factors.
The use of concrete and cement-based building products in residential and low-rise construction has risen sharply during the last 20 years, PCA reports. Improvements in concrete products and building systems, the association affirms, have made them more economical, easier to use, higher performing and more aesthetically pleasing to homeowners. At the same time, consumers are demanding energy-efficient, durable, disaster-resistant, and low-maintenance structures. Accordingly, Concrete Systems for Homes and Low-Rise Construction is designed to help contractors meet the growing demand for concrete in many facets of residential or low-rise building.
Separately, Guide Specification for High-Performance Concrete for Bridges is a new PCA handbook that provides mandatory language specifiers should use when dealing with high-performance concrete (HPC) for bridges. Since different specifications may be required for various applications within the same project, determining appropriate criteria is essential to ensure the safety of the bridge and the durability of its elements.
Intended as a guide for projects throughout the U.S., the manual applies to all HPC supplied for highway bridges, whether supplied by a ready mixed producer, a general contractor, or a precaster. It allows specifiers to copy language directly into project specifications and includes guidance on what characteristics should be specified in particular cases.
More information on both publications can be obtained and orders placed at the PCA Bookstore at www.cement.org/bookstore. Orders also can be placed by calling 800/868-6733.