About the Exciting Career Opportunities for Shotcrete Professionals

Shotcrete professionals are highly valued members of the team at The Conco Companies. Shotcrete is the term used to define the entire act of spraying concrete or mortar instead of pouring by hand.

What is a Shotcrete Nozzleman?

A nozzleman is a person who understands the process of making and placing wet-mix shotcrete via a nozzle. Different kinds of shotcrete methods require different kinds of skills. For example, a nozzleman working with wet-mix shotcrete will be spraying a pre-mixed solution onto the surface. Gunite, on the other hand, is a dry-mix process in which the dry mix and the water are mixed on-demand from the nozzle. This process requires a highly skilled shotcrete professional with experience with this process.

The Conco Companies Are Always Hiring Shotcrete Professionals

Conco is one of leading commercial concrete contractors in the Western US. As Conco expands in the region, we need qualified, hardworking professionals to join our growing team. We are seeking qualified shotcrete professionals at all of our locations in Northern California, Southern California, Washington, and Colorado. A qualified candidate must have requisite shotcrete experience. In addition to shotcrete work, Conco has job openings for qualified cement masons, ironworkers, laborers, engineers, and more.  With the exception of Colorado, these are all union positions offering competitive wages, medical, and retirement benefits. Please visit our website for further details on open positions and appropriate contact information.

Conco is one of the foremost suppliers of concrete services for the Western U.S. We got our start in 1959 in the Bay Area by offering clients the best value on a broad range of concrete services and products.  Since that time, we have taken a leading role as top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Washington.

Can Concrete Be More Environmentally Friendly?

Concrete is one of the most used substances in the world. As the world becomes more and more conscious about how our daily actions impact the environment around us, questions about concrete’s environmental sustainability undoubtedly come up. While concrete may not have the lightest carbon footprint, it does have several other characteristics which still make it a fantastic building material choice.  

Concrete is green (is degradable in its early natural state), durable (lasts over 50 years), energy efficient (has a high thermal mass), and is recyclable (old concrete can be broken down and reused for other projects). Those characteristics are part of why green LEED certified buildings use concrete as their material of choice. The only downside to concrete is that its production facilitates the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Portland cement, an ingredient in concrete and the most widely used cement in the world, is created by heating limestone and other materials until they reach temperatures of 1450 degrees Celsius. This is process requires an immense amount of energy. 

For those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, there are a few novel forms of concrete which claim to be more environmentally friendly. Environmentally friendly cement is either created by using alternative ingredients or by designing an innovative production methodology that uses significantly less energy than traditional cement. These are a few of the most notable: 

• Fly-ash concrete: a by-product of coal-burning power plants.
• Ashcrete: used from recycled fly-ash.
• Blast furnace slag: another product of fly-ash production that can be used in concrete.
• Carbon concrete: a plastic material that is shaped by heat.  

The Conco Companies are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products.  While we tackle projects both big and small, our experience includes providing the entire cast-in-place concrete for the Wilshire Grand, the tallest building west of the Mississippi, along with other notable projects.  We serve California, Oregon, Washington State, Colorado and Nevada.

Training and Career Opportunities for Cement Masons

Did you know that ancient cement masons built concrete structures in Egypt 3,600 years ago that are still standing today?  Needless to say, cement masons are some of the oldest tradesmen who continue to this day to pass their skills on to the next generation via the apprenticeship model.  

What does a Cement Mason do?

Cement masons work on construction jobs and are responsible for pouring, smoothing, and perfecting concrete. Concrete construction work is physically challenging and cement masons are encouraged to stay in great physical shape. 

Becoming a Cement Mason

Although there are some formal cement mason training programs, most learn their skills via a formal apprenticeship. Those who are interested in becoming a cement mason are encouraged to seek a mentor and become an apprentice. In most cases, finding an apprenticeship requires contacting a local cement mason union or association and inquiring about their programs. 

Cement Mason Opportunities at The Conco Companies

At The Conco Companies, we are seeking qualified cement masons at all of our locations in Northern California, Southern California, Washington, and Colorado. With the exception of Colorado, these are all union positions with competitive wages, medical, and retirement benefits.  Conco is one the nation’s largest cement contractor and our employees work on incredibly exciting projects every day. As a Conco cement mason, you will be working on a wide variety of projects including buildings, highway construction, bridges, tunnels, airports, drainage systems, and sanitation projects.  See the Conco website for more details and contact information regarding our posting for cement masons.  

Conco’s mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise, experience and quality to each project.  We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

Source: bigfuture.collegeboard.org/careers/construction-cement-masons-concrete-finishers

 

The Conco Companies Seek Skilled Assistant Project Manager

The Conco Companies, one of the top commercial concrete contractors in the Western US, is seeking a highly skilled individual to join our exceptional team as an Assistant Project Manager based in Kent, Washington. Conco continues to expand their reach in the Western United States and our project pipeline is rapidly growing. We are always seeking qualified, hardworking individuals to join our team.

The Assistant Project Manager plays a crucial role in the team’s ability to meet all contractual provisions, compliance regulations, and keep projects moving along smoothly. As a highly regarded member of the team, the day to day work of an assistant project manager includes independent tasks such as tackling bids from subcontractors and managing the bidding process, drafts RFI’s and monitor the RFI process, create and manage construction schedules, and other projects as needed or desired. Additionally, as a manager, the role will interface with some of our most key departments in order to ensure the cohesion and effectiveness of the team as a whole.

To truly succeed in this role, the ideal assistant project manager will have years of experience managing large-scale construction projects, pricing proposals and estimating costs, and have a college degree in Construction Management. In addition to experiential requirements, the ideal candidate will also have tremendous organizational skills, be self-motivated, have no problem working independently, and have a true attention to detail.

What better way to grow your career than to have the opportunity to contribute to some of the nation’s most significant concrete projects. For more information about this and other roles available at Conco, visit our website for job applications, company history, and much more.

At The Conco Companies, we are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products.  Our experience includes providing services for commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.  We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

Safety –The Number One Priority of The Conco Companies

Safety has always been important in the successful operation of a concrete construction company.  At The Conco Companies, we understand that construction work presents many hazards. In addition to ensuring that all construction operations are performed in accordance with federal OSHA, WISHA, and local standards, we also go many steps above and beyond to protect our employees, partners and the general public.  

Safety Professionals

Conco employs a staff of safety and risk professionals. The job of these professionals is to work with the team to eliminate all construction and “over the road” risks.  This team can be found at our project locations carrying out frequent inspections, ensuring employee safety, and monitoring regulatory compliance.  

A Culture of Safety & Prevention

To create the safest environment, Conco believes that each and every team member must be trained in hazard prevention and safety standards. Hazard prevention is the core of our safety program. With an entire team who can identify unsafe working conditions and potential work related accidents these hazards can be eliminated early or prevented entirely through individual responsibility and awareness. Conco believes that when safety is the first consideration, everyone wins.  

Beyond Conco

We ensure that our partnerships with contractors are based on a mutual understanding that we will employ the highest standard of safety on all project sites. All projects are provided with a Site Specific Safety Plan and Pre-Task Planning, Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP)/ Accident Prevention Program (APP), and training is provided to all on Fall Protection, First-Aid/ CPR, Forklift Operation, OSHA 30, Material Rigging, Traffic Control, and all other related areas. 

Drug and Alcohol Free

We have a strict drug and alcohol ban on all project sites. Additionally, we offer drug and alcohol prevention programs to eliminate the use and possession or drugs and alcohol in the workplace. 

Conco is one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products.  While we tackle projects both big and small, our experience includes providing the entire cast-in-place concrete for the Wilshire Grand, the tallest building west of the Mississippi, along with other notable projects.  We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

Contemporary Concrete Structures and Designs

Many people think of concrete as an industrial or heavily commercial material. When many people think about concrete structures, images of parking lots, malls, and government buildings come to mind. Contrary to this belief, concrete is being used on some of the most modern, innovative structures on the planet. In fact, contemporary designers are even designing residential homes with bare concrete siding. Here is just a sample of contemporary innovations and uses for concrete.

Inflatable Buildings

Engineers have developed a way to create an inflatable concrete structure. As bizarre as it sounds, the structure is crafted from a concrete “fabric” material. The material starts in a dry form, is then inflated with air, and then moistened with water to precipitate the hardening of the structure. The chemical reaction between this fabric material and the water, like traditional concrete, hardens the shell.  While this technology is very much in its infancy, the potential applications are truly worth watching.

Underground Homes

The trend of survival prepping and “bunker” homes has indeed had an impact on the concrete market. In fact, outside of heartier materials such as steel and titanium, concrete is the material of choice for many underground homes. Not all underground homes are bunkers. Many contemporary designers create partially and fully underground concrete homes for their energy efficiency and ultra-modern aesthetic.

Contemporary Concrete Residences

Because of the strong minimalist aesthetic of many contemporary home designers, bare concrete homes are making a comeback. The sleek, complete silhouette of a solid concrete home is perfectly suited for the modern look. In addition to fully concrete residences, more and more homes are using concrete floors for their energy efficiency and excellent heat retention/distribution.

The Conco Companies are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products.  While we tackle projects both big and small, our experience includes providing the entire cast-in-place concrete for the Wilshire Grand, the tallest building west of the Mississippi, along with other notable projects.  We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

Source:  asce.org/magazine/20151013-innovative-concrete-building-inflates/

Historical Timeline of Concrete

The history of concrete is actually quite interesting. For example, did you know that the art and science of concrete was almost entirely lost after the fall of the Roman Empire? Concrete is, in fact, an ancient material dating back thousands of years. From the earliest use of cement some twelve million years ago to the rediscovery of cement in the early 1700s, let’s review the little-known history of cement. 

12 Million Years ago: Earliest known occurrence of cement. Deposits of cement were formed due to oil shale burning next to a bed of limestone. Although these deposits dated back millions of years, they were not discovered and researched until the 1970s. 

6500 BC: The earliest concrete structures were built by the Nabataea or Bedouins traders who, literally, built an empire in Syria and northern Jordan. 

5600 BC: Homes were being built along the Danube River (in what was formerly Yugoslavia) which used concrete floors. 

700 BC:  Kilns were being used to create mortar for the construction of homes, concrete floors, and water cisterns.  

200 BC: The Romans built an empire out of concrete. Although their concrete was very rudimentary (almost plastic-like), they were also creative and created cement from volcanic sand.  

125 AD: The Pantheon is erected. The structure has one the largest un-reinforced concrete domes ever created in history.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the art of Concrete was lost to mankind.

1756: The building blocks of concrete begin to re-emerge and John Smeaton rediscovers hydraulic cement. 

1824: Joseph Aspdin invents Portland cement! The material was aptly named “Portland” cement because it resembled the building materials found in Portland, England. 

1825: The commercial demand for concrete begins to soar. In the United States, the Erie Canal was commissioned to be built out of cement. 

The Conco Companies one of the foremost suppliers of concrete services for the Western U.S. We got our start in 1959 in the Bay Area by offering clients the best value on a broad range of concrete services and products.  Since that time, we have taken a leading role as top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Washington.

Construction Worker Safety and The Conco Companies

In the United States alone, there can be over 250,000 construction sites at any given time which employ over 6.5 million workers. Out of the over 150,000 worker injuries that occur each year, the most common accident on a construction site is a fall. In addition to falls, other common causes of injury include shocks, scaffold collapses, misuse of equipment, and misuse of safety regulations.  

At The Conco Companies, we recognize that construction work ranks among the highest hazard industries in the world. These skilled men and women take on heights, machinery and equipment, dust and contaminants, as well as heavy lifting. At Conco, safety has always been our number one priority. We strive each and every day to continue to provide a safe working environment for all of our employees, partners and the general public. 

Conco is proud to have developed some of the most rigorous pumping safety standards and procedures within the entire concrete industry.  For over 50 years, Conco has pumped millions of yards of concrete and, in 2013, our pumping division completed the year without a single accident. Each year, we strive to add to that record.  

In addition to our pumping division, each and every crew member and manager is expertly trained on Fall Protection, OSHA 30, First-Aid, Forklift Operation, CPR, Traffic Control, and other required safety instruction.  In the Conco fashion, we like to take things one step further; we’ve placed safety oversight professionals at all business locations for an additional layer of vigilance. 

The Conco Companies’ mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise, experience and quality to each project.  We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

Source: buildingsguide.com/blog/construction-site-safety-guide

Career Opportunity for Skilled Reinforcing Steel Detailers

Are you an experienced Reinforcing Steel Detailer in Seattle who wants to work in the fast paced world of a large commercial contractor? Then look no further than this exciting career opportunity offered from The Conco Companies. Conco is one of the nation’s top commercial concrete contractors since 1959. As Conco continues to expand its operations in the region, we need a host of qualified, hardworking individuals to join our growing team.

As an in-house Reinforcing Steel Detailer (or rebar detailer), you will have the exciting opportunity to leverage your detailing software (such as aSa and MicroStation) skills to create shop/placing drawings which meet industry CRSI detailing standards. This includes detailed drawings of quantity, description, placement, and needs for the rebar. Working closely with our family of Architects, Engineers, and Project Managers to identify the specific needs and specifications of every project, the reinforcing steel detailer position is a key member of the team with endless opportunities for growth. Those with an engineering degree and experience with post-tensioned slabs are encouraged to apply.

If you have excellent computer skills (including a strong proficiency with requisite detailing software as well as standard Microsoft Office proficiency), a great attitude, and a strong work ethic, then we encourage you to apply to Conco and contribute to some of the nation’s most significant concrete projects. For applications and information on this and other roles open at Conco Seattle or other locations (Conco has operations in California, Washington, Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon), please visit our website.

The Conco Companies’ mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise, experience and quality to each project.  We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

What Makes Concrete An Ideal Building Material?

Concrete is one of the most popular building materials in the world and has maintained that popularity for centuries. What makes concrete so great and why has it been the staple building material since the ancient times? The answer includes a number of concrete’s distinct characteristics: long lasting durability, energy efficiency, cost effectiveness, proven safety, and sustainability. Let’s take a deeper look at each one of these characteristics of concrete.

Durability

Concrete is a material that is made to last. It’s resistant to most environmental exposures (weathering, chemicals, and abrasion) while still maintaining its engineering properties.

Energy Efficiency

When combined with other energy efficient remedies (such as radiant heating and cooling), concrete can reduce the energy requirements of a building by as much as 30%.

Affordability

Taking lifespan, energy efficiency, and overall cost of the material into consideration, concrete offers one of the most cost-effective means of constructing an energy-efficient building.

Safety

Concrete is an extremely safe building material for humans and pets. The materials used to create concrete are inert, non-flammable, will not rot, will not mold, does not release gas, and helps fight the entry of pollutants into the structure.

Sustainability

Concrete creates a steady temperature environment because heat passes slowly through the material. As a result, less heating or air-conditioning is needed to maintain a comfortable temperature. Over the lifetime of the building, this amounts to less energy use and cheaper energy bills.  Additionally, although concrete is not biodegradable, it can be recycled and easily repaired; thus, limiting the amount of concrete waste on the planet.

Conco is one of the foremost suppliers of concrete services for the Western U.S. We got our start in 1959 in the Bay Area by offering clients the best value on a broad range of concrete services and products.  Since that time, we have taken a leading role as top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Washington.

Source: concretenetwork.com/concrete-homes/benefits.html