 by Harold W. Conner
Preface
This third edition of Residential Concrete covers virtually everything the home builder needs to know about high-quality concreting. While not a training manual, the book describes basic techniques and provides guidelines for ordering ready-mixed concrete, working with admixtures (such as accelerators, retarders, water reducers, and high-range water reducers), forming, jointing, curing, and controlling basement leakage. Many sections include detailed illustrations.
Curing is given special attention because poor curing is the source of many common concrete problems. Proper curing greatly strengthens concrete and increases its watertightness. All the basic curing methods are discussed, including their advantages and disadvantages. A comprehensive section is devoted to common concrete problems and their remedies. In fact, the problems of scaling and spalling were the primary reasons the National Association of Home Builders' Standing Committee on Research commissioned the original edition of this publication in the early 1980s.  Plastic-shrinkage cracks, blisters, and popouts are among the problems covered. Patching techniques using latex, epoxy, and dry-mix concrete are provided. Throughout the book, special measures for cold weather and for hot, dry, windy weather are discussed. The detailed list of contents enables the reader to turn directly to any topic covered. In revising and updating this third edition, special attention has been paid to new developments in finishing walls, expansion joints, and bending and lapping rebars. Two new chapters, on flowable fill and safety, have been added. A list of sources for additional information and a glossary of basic concrete terminology have been expanded. |
