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NEWS: Reinforced Foundations: Raft Foundation Grades, Overlaps, and Installation Tips
Reinforced raft foundations can support even the heaviest concrete structures, but only if you know your stuff. The (currently in 2024) tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa Tower stands on a huge concrete raft foundation, in fact. There are lots of types, grades, and methods of installing...
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NEWS: What Is a Pile Cap? Everything You Need to Know
Pile caps are hidden structures that prevent buildings from crashing down. These sturdy, load-bearing structures are all around us, supporting every major building. Pile cap reinforcement might be common, but it can be confusing. Let’s explore the definition, types, and pros and cons of pile caps. Before you read...
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NEWS: What Size Steel Mesh for Concrete Slab?
So, you have a concrete slab you want to build, and you’re not sure of the size of steel mesh you need to make sure it remains solid for years to come. It’s a fair assumption that you’re a seasoned DIYer or home builder, and you’re not prepared to...
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NEWS: Minimum Depth of Foundations: Building Regulations
First off: Why you need accurate footings calculations Getting the calculations right for foundations, and ensuring that the actual construction process complies with those calculations, is important for a number of reasons. If you make your foundations too shallow or too deep, there is a risk to the integrity...
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NEWS: Foundation Shuttering: Can You Leave Shuttering in Foundations?
One of the elements of foundation construction that takes the most time to get right is shuttering. Also known as formwork, shuttering is the mould or framework that is used to hold wet concrete in place until the concrete has set and cured. Obviously, both time and manpower are...
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NEWS: Why we use Reinforcement for Concrete Slabs
It’s a fairly well understood concept within construction that foundations, built to the correct depth and to the right standards, are a vital part of a successful build, whether that’s a small domestic extension or a commercial multi-storey building project. What is often less appreciated, however, is how important...
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NEWS: Strip Foundations: Everything You Need To Know
Sometimes referred to as a strip footing, a strip foundation is a type of shallow foundation often used within low to medium-rise residential buildings. Suitable only where the ground conditions are stable and with good load-bearing capacity, strip foundations are fast and cost-effective to build. When Are Strip Foundations...
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NEWS: Capping Beams Explained
A capping beam, as the name suggests, caps piled foundations to increase the rigidity of the foundations and reduce movement. But how are they constructed? And what other benefits do they provide? Read on for more info. Designing the right foundations for any building is a complex and careful...
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NEWS: Ground Beams in Construction
When it comes to preparing foundations for construction projects, it’s not always possible to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, and there are occasions where particular foundations aren’t appropriate for the build. In these situations, ground beams can be a fast, accurate and reliable solution, with no discernible difference in bearing...
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NEWS: Reinforcement for Concrete: How to reinforce concrete and why
From the simplest of domestic builds to vast construction and infrastructure projects, concrete is at the heart of every building, bridge, road or pipeline that is created. No matter what the weather or ground conditions are and no matter what the design stresses of the construction are, concrete has...
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NEWS: CFA Piling
CFA Piling Every construction project faces its own unique challenges in terms of soil types, environmental issues, access and surrounding buildings, and these challenges can make groundworks and foundations very complex. One of the most widely used methods of constructing piled foundations is CFA piling. In this article, we...
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NEWS: Concrete Contraction Joints
When you think of concrete, movement is probably the last thing that comes to mind. But despite being a strong, solid material, concrete expands and contracts with temperature changes. This is called thermal movement, and if it isn’t controlled, the concrete can become damaged and lead to further problems...
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NEWS: Concrete Isolation Joints
Thermal movement in concrete slabs (the expansion and contraction of the concrete due to temperature changes) must be taken into account when pouring the concrete to prevent excessive or unwanted cracking. This is usually done with expansion or contraction joints that allow the slab to move. However, there are other situations...
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NEWS: Concrete Expansion Joints
Despite being a strong, heavy material, concrete does actually expand and contract throughout its lifespan. However, because concrete isn’t an elastic material, it doesn’t bend or stretch easily. So, when this expansion and contraction occurs, joints are required to make sure the concrete isn’t damaged. Why Are Expansion Joints...
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NEWS: Understanding Rebar Weights
No matter what type of construction project you are considering, the chances are that you will need rebar or reinforcement mesh products to provide tensile strength to any poured concrete or slab elements of your build. While concrete itself has high compressive strength, it is relatively weak when it...
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NEWS: Steel Mesh Prices in July 2021
Few in the construction sector and related industries will be unaware of the recent price volatility affecting global steel markets currently. Whilst 2020 was undoubtedly a turbulent time for many sectors, 2021 has very definitely picked up the pace, with steel prices fluctuating wildly, and on an almost daily...
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NEWS: What Are Starter Bars?
Construction projects of all types and sizes routinely need to produce concrete slabs and walls, as well as masonry walls, and it’s vital that these slabs and walls are structurally sound and strong enough to meet all project requirements. Steel reinforcement of concrete and masonry is a routine part...
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NEWS: Rebar Sizes: A Complete Breakdown
If you’re preparing to begin a concrete construction project, you may have determined that rebars will be necessary while planning and purchasing materials. When reinforced bars are used in concrete construction projects, reinforced concrete is created. Whether the project includes posts, walls or floor slabs, rebar can help prevent...
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NEWS: Challenges for the Reinforcement Industry Related To Strengthening Of Reinforced Concrete Structures
Context Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures represent a significant percentage of existing infrastructures in the United Kingdom. It is therefore expected that costs related to maintenance and repair or strengthening these constructions represent an increasing percentage of total infrastructure costs allocated by government entities and private owners. Moreover, the...
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NEWS: Raft Foundations for Home Extensions Explained
As the base on which your new home extension will sit, its foundations are incredibly important, even if they aren’t the most exciting part of the build project. If you’re planning on a DIY approach for your extension, or at least for part of it, a good understanding of...
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NEWS: Improve On-Site Productivity by Utilising Prefabricated Steel Reinforcement
Improve On-Site Productivity by Utilizing Prefabricated Steel Reinforcement Anyone who has had experience of working in the UK construction industry recently can see that times are changing and there is no longer a glut of skilled construction workers for construction companies to employ. As a nation, our productivity...
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NEWS: Lapping Mesh Reinforcement: How to Calculate Overlap
Reinforcement mesh overlapping Use of Reinforcement Mesh Reinforcement mesh is commonly used in plate-type reinforced concrete (RC) members either horizontal, such as superstructure slabs and raft foundation slabs, or vertical, such as shear walls and core walls around stair cases or elevators. The use of such reinforcement is justified by...
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NEWS: 5 Ingenious Ways To Use Steel Reinforcement In Interior Design
From public buildings and retail stores to private homes, steel reinforcement has found its way into the world of interior design. In some cases, it is being used in conjunction with concrete but in others, it is being used on its own to create exciting and original effects. Here...
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NEWS: Construction News Update - October 2018
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]October looks set to be another interesting month for the construction industry, with both good and bad news for the sector, as Brexit looms. Continue reading →
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