Cleveland Construction Building Materials & Rental Equipment
The most well-known methods are open-flame or indirect-fired heat, both of which create problems with fumes, humidity, and fuel-consumption. Though there are better options out there, researching new equipment can be both time-consuming and overwhelming.
Knowing this, we did the research for you and compressed it into the following two-minute video: Continue reading
The majority of my writing has focused on hydronic heat and it's benefits. I believe it is the future of temporary heating. It provides dry, even heat to keep your schedule on track. It keeps dangerous fumes outside the structure and away from your personnel. It consumes considerably less fuel than traditional methods. Even the hot glycol it uses is extremely safe. I could go on and on about this incredible system (and I have in this blog). No other system, whether direct- or indirect-fired, can hold a candle to the safety and efficiency of hydronic heat.
Except for maybe one, and, if the conditions are right, most of it may already be on your job site.
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Safer and cleaner buildings are no longer just an end goal, they are part of the entire construction process. An area where this change is abundantly clear is the movement towards safer temporary heat sources like hydronic systems. Hydronic systems pump hot glycol to the work area, where low-powered exchangers then expel heat into the structure. The glycol mix then returns to the heating unit where it is reheated (if necessary) and sent back out to start the cycle again. This process not only saves fuel but also keeps CO and CO2 fumes outside the workplace and away from personnel. In short, hydronic heating is remarkably more safe and efficient than traditional methods. Continue reading
Why do we go to the trouble of using ground-thaw in the first place? In short: frozen ground. As the temperatures drop the water in soil freezes. The “frost line” goes deeper and deeper with time and continued low temperatures. How deep and how fast depends on time, temperature and insulation.
As we have already established, ground heat is very often critical to the success of winter concreting, but for almost three decades there has only been one option for ground-thaw: a trailer mounted system with an on-board diesel tank and 3,000 lf hose reel. Contractors then spread out the hose at two foot intervals in a serpentine fashion to allow for up to 6,000 ft of ground thaw. In a concrete curing setting they could yield up to 9,000 ft by spreading the hose a little further apart. This set up was rather rigid, however. You want more coverage? Better rent a whole other trailer—heating unit, fuel tank, and all. As far too many of us know, this quickly becomes both inefficient and expensive. Continue reading
The construction industry is evolving.Winter is no longer the guaranteed "off-season" for construction in the way it used to be. Tighter production schedules leave less and less room for delays. On top of this, increased air quality regulations and low V.O.C. products provide safer alternatives but often do so at the cost of the schedule. Continue reading
Construction schedules continue to compress. Years ago projects would shut down for the winter and restart in the spring when weather conditions became more favorable. Now the average contract time has shrunk to 9-10 months from breaking ground to occupancy. Add in continuously tightening regulations and the resulting product changes, and extra expenses and delays quickly become the norm rather than the exception, especially when it comes to finish times. Continue reading
When moisture was giving him trouble, Bob Jensik, Project Manager of A.M. Higley, knew who to call. The Tapestry project in Wickliffe, OH is a 3 story, 15,000 sq ft-per-floor, complete gutting of a vacant hotel and complete remodel into a state of the art assisted living facility. A massive undertaking considering the project was to be turned over in less than a year. Continue reading
One of the parts of my job that I enjoy most is working with forward-thinking companies that not only have the interest of their company in mind, but also care about what is best for the owner of the project. Corna-Kokosing showed these qualities while working on their Avondale Woods project. Continue reading
I imagine that, for a contractor, there are no words in the English language more beautiful than “Now Open.” After a schedule delay and a brutally cold and windy winter in Northwest Ohio, Kyle Stang, Louie Tibai, and the rest of the Rudolph-Libbe Grou can finally rest knowing they have accomplished their task. How did they do it? Careful planning and hydronic heating. Continue reading
