Q. I've heard all kinds of things from friends about concrete foundation piers. To say the least, I'm confused. Some say you just dig a hole and fill it with concrete. Others say you need to be sure ...

Fresh concrete is soupy enough to pour into almost any shape. The challenge for do-it-yourselfers building steps and deck piers is containing the mix during the pour. That’s when soon to be rock-hard ...

Diagram: Screeding the pad: With one person on each side of the board, work the board across the final layer of concrete to smooth the surface. You can rent or buy gas-or electric-powered cement ...

The winter season can bring on a series of challenges: snow, ice and severely low temperatures. These challenges are even more significant for concrete contractors who are often forced to shorten ...

Watching a craftsman at work can be an inspiring experience. We were recently involved in a large, somewhat complex concrete pour. The nine concrete finishers, the two laborers, the carpenter and the ...

For many contractors, pouring concrete in cold weather is a nerve-wracking experience -— so much so, that they shorten their construction season to avoid problems associated with cold pouring. But it ...

Concrete is one of the most user-friendly building materials around. It’s durable and inexpensive, yet can be made amazingly attractive with today’s new concrete finishes. Learn how to pour a concrete ...

Q. Hello, Tim. I was doing research about house foundations and came across interlocking foam forms that stack on top of one another. They assemble much like children’s plastic blocks. Does a concrete ...

Q. My upcoming deck project requires concrete support piers. I've never dealt with them before and have many questions. What are my options? How do I make sure the ...

There was an entire row of exhibitors showing various incarnations of insulated concrete forms (ICFs) with their styrofoam walls and their plastic ties that are filled with concrete and then labelled ...