Sunday, December 16, 2018

Winter wishlist - Prioritizing Home Remodel projects with the best return on investment




Not all home remodel projects are equal when it comes to how they will impact the price of your home when you put it on the market. While it may seem logical that endeavoring a large home addition like a master suite or installing an in-ground pool should increase your home’s value and pay dividends on those remodeling costs, that is not always the case. The return on investment (ROI) of your next home remodel is easy to calculate, and something that you can also get help with from your local home remodeling contractor.  

Two Conco Projects on the Block in Portland




The Conco Companies continues to build its reputation as one of the leading commercial concrete contractors in Portland with two multi-use and multi-family residential projects in the downtown area. As the city’s need for more residential units continues, many in the construction and development industry are working to meet the demand with modern designs, striking and resilient materials, and skilled workmanship. The results are a boom to the community and to Portland’s skyline, as well as to the portfolios of groups involved in their creation.   

The Versatility of Concrete in the San Francisco Skyline




San Francisco is a city that features several distinct styles and trends in building design, from historic Victorian residences to modern high-rise buildings to revamped industrial multi-use spaces. The varied features of the diverse built environment of the city contribute in part to San Francisco’s famed character, and likewise, requires expertise from those building the ever-changing city and are up to the challenge of integrating new projects into the dynamic landscape. Beyond the challenge of incorporating the aesthetic of the project into the existing neighborhood or space, new projects in San Francisco also have the added challenges of being able to withstand the seismic activity of the area, as well as accommodating the iconic slopes of its steep hills. Given these considerations, it is logical that a key contribution to any project is that of an experienced commercial concrete contractor in San Francisco. Concrete is a versatile and foundational element in most projects, and its skilled mixing, placement, and finishing is essential to the strength and durability of the final product, as well as to the quality of the aesthetic finish.

Reno Makes Room for Tech Industry




The Biggest Little City in the World, Reno, is not only for tourists heading to the casinos any more. These days, it is a place that attracts people and businesses from all over Nevada and the U.S. that are looking for an innovative and growing community to call home. Several large and well-known companies have sites in the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, such as Tesla, Apple, eBay, and Amazon, and many more continue to follow in their path. The city’s transformation into an oasis of tech in the desert of Nevada has spurred many new construction projects to accommodate the demand for commercial and industrial space, and has brought new business to commercial concrete contractors in Reno.

Commercial Concrete in Los Angeles



Los Angeles is a major city that brings together many industries and people, and with that comes a wide range of ways people describe it. One characterization that may offer an overarching theme is it’s that of a place with an ever-changing cityscape. Los Angeles is a city as fluid and flexible as the materials that created the city. Beneath the evergreen transformation of the city lies concrete, an important component of each project due to its strength, durability, and versatility. In order to meet the constant demand for reshaping the city is the need for a skilled commercial concrete contractor in Los Angeles.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

What is Cellular Concrete?




Lightweight cellular concrete, also known as lightweight concrete or foam concrete, is an exciting innovation in concrete that has been gaining popularity over the last decade. It has many applications that cellular concrete contractors have been bringing to commercial development projects across the U.S. Using cellular concrete has helped developers save time and costs compared to traditional concrete and is an exciting concrete product for many projects.

Evaluating your Home's Foundation



Your foundation is one of the essential components of your home that you need to review periodically to ensure that everything is in great condition. Like your roof and other parts of your house, a visual inspection can help you get ahead of issues. If you find any issues with your foundation, it is best to call a local general contractor that can help you determine the severity of the issue.   

Concrete's Plentiful Components



Concrete is nothing short of a wonder material. If we did not have a construction material that can take on nearly any shape or form, our modern life would look very different. Not only is concrete able to be molded, it has an immense compressive strength which allows it to support even the tallest buildings. The other remaining element that makes it truly a wonder material is that its components are extremely plentiful - cement, water, and aggregate. This combination of a flowable material that hardens to have an extreme compressive force, all with materials that are widely available, has completely changed the world we live in today.  It’s this amazing combination that allows concrete contractors, like The Conco Companies, to offer services to create impressive buildings throughout the western U.S.

Bathroom Remodel: Replacing your shower/tub combo with an all glass shower enclosure



Every home remodel is exciting. It gives you the ability to refashion your home for your needs in the coming years and update the design and features. One of the most impactful remodels is a bathroom. Whether it’s adding a new bathroom or remodeling an existing one, a bathroom remodel can dramatically change the look and feel of your home. For your update, consider including a glass shower enclosure in your new bathroom.

Monday, October 22, 2018

Does your home need a Retaining Wall?



When it comes to choosing their next home remodeling project, many homeowners opt to look outside to the potential that lay untapped in their yards. Though retaining walls may seem like a project that’s not quite related to home renovation, they are actually very important to the overall value and structural stability of many of the homes they surround, and a remodeling option that can have positive returns. Retaining walls are constructed to hold soil back and can be made of concrete, interlocking blocks of stone, treated wood, or other materials. It is recommended that if your retaining wall will be larger than three feet tall, that you consult a general contractor or engineer as the structure is meant to hold heavy loads of saturated soil and also impacts how water runoff interacts with the landscape.

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Preparing your home for glass repair



As there many reasons a homeowner may need to have glass repaired – an errant baseball through the window, a crack in a glass shower door, or even a revealing energy audit pointing its finger at leaky doors or windows – it makes sense that it is a common home project. Nonetheless, when it comes time to undergo this process yourself, it may feel like you are not quite sure how best to prepare. The good news is that regardless of the type of glass repair you are undertaking, preparing for it is pretty straightforward and when you are done, you’ve helped to make the whole operation easier for your household and the window repair and installation professionals you’ve hired.

How shotcrete saves construction time



When experienced concrete contractors go to work on a large construction project, they work closely with architects, engineers, and their customers to ensure their portion of the project utilizes the best cost- and time-saving methods, all while delivering a strong and lasting final product. With these goals in mind, concrete contractors in Portland such as The Conco Companies have incorporated shotcrete into their wheelhouses.

Conco's concrete pumping services


Concrete pumping allows large quantities of concrete to be placed at a distance. It is one of the major innovations in concrete technology that has allowed concrete to shape the modern world. Before concrete was pumped, it needed to be moved by hand, a slow and more dangerous process. Now a large volume of concrete can be pumped over great distances and heights. The Conco Companies offer concrete pumping as part of its wide range of concrete contractor services, and have lent their expertise to several notable projects constructed over the last several years, such as the Wilshire Grand Center, the Salesforce Tower, and the San Francisco 49ers Stadium.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Give your Driveway a Facelift with Pavers





When it comes to increasing their home value and curb appeal, some homeowners are looking to their driveways for their next remodeling project. One popular method for refinishing this exterior space is with pavers. Pavers are a versatile building material that have several benefits, and with the help of your local general contractor, can be installed relatively quickly and easily. Unlike with concrete or asphalt driveways, a paver driveway does not require curing time and is ready to be used once it is installed and admired by those who drive by.


Thursday, September 13, 2018

Conco's Post-Tension Cable Production



The Conco Companies are one of the leading post-tensioning suppliers in the western United States. Conco operates two large, state-of-the-art rebar and post-tensioning production facilities to provide their customers a single source for all their post-tensioning and rebar supply in Portland and the Western U.S. Conco leverages its significant experience in production and construction to provide high quality reinforcement materials for each of their projects.


Aggregate Choices for concrete




Aggregate is the particulate material that provides structure to concrete, such as sand, gravel, and crushed stone. Choosing the appropriate aggregate for the concrete mixtures is extremely important to the performance of the concrete. Aggregate can occupy up to 75% volume of the concrete. There are also more recent types of concrete, such as Confoam by Conco, that use only fine aggregate to create lightweight concrete. That means that the choice of aggregate greatly affects the strength, weight, cost, and other properties of the concrete.


Sunday, September 9, 2018

Benefits of Double Pane Windows




There are several important reasons to have double pane windows installed. At Dan’s Glass, we recommend double pane glass to homeowners who are trying to reduce utility bills or increase their property value, among other reasons. We thought that a short discussion on the benefits of double pane windows could answer many common questions and help you make a more informed decision about your home window glass.

Monday, August 27, 2018

What Makes a Great Concrete Contractor?



Concrete is one of the most important technologies of the modern world, and it is the result of an ever innovating industry. Two hundred years ago, concrete use was limited. Innovations in strength, placement, additives, and operations have transformed concrete the world over. As concrete has become more specialized in its capabilities, it is more important than ever to work with a great concrete contractor to ensure that your project is done right. Knowledge, experience, and organizational capacity are three key characteristics to look for in a great concrete contractor.


Sustainable Concrete - The Environmental Benefits of Concrete



Concrete is part of the movement towards more environmentally sustainable built environments. As cities and urban centers grew throughout the 20th century and environmental impacts of the built environment became better understood, sustainable building practices have become a focus of industries and states across the country. Documented by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Certification, sustainable building practices include concrete as a major building material. Concrete’s capacity to recycle materials, its thermal properties, and other characteristics make it a sustainable choice for many building projects, including concrete contractor projects in Portland.


Thursday, August 16, 2018

How to Care for Reclaimed Lumber


At The Lumber Baron, we tell our customers that one of the advantages of using reclaimed lumber is that it has already stood the test of time. Because of that, it is not as susceptible to rot, insects, or mildew as new growth lumber would be. With that said, there are still some best practices that should be used to ensure that your reclaimed lumber continues to be durable and look good for years to come. Additionally, sealing exposed exterior lumber helps prevent mildew and mold from growing on horizontal surfaces, keeping things like decks safer for the whole family to use.



Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Home Remodel - Knowing When to Call a General Contractor


Improving your home can be both fun and rewarding. It is exciting to plan a home remodeling project and imagining new functional spaces for your changing needs and updating the design of your home. However, depending on your project, it may be better to work with a general contractor rather than do the whole project by yourself. Here are a few things to keep in mind to know when you should consider calling a general contractor in your area.



Thursday, July 26, 2018

Why is Decorative Concrete Under-Utilized


Decorative concrete is an easy to install, long lasting, and sustainable flooring material. It is also extremely versatile and is an aesthetically-pleasing surfacing that can be customized to work with nearly any environment. With so many benefits, why is decorative concrete still under-utilized, even in cities like Portland’s concrete projects?


Monday, July 2, 2018

Skyscrapers and the rise of Concrete


Modern cities have come to be defined in part by their skyline. From the Space Needle in Seattle to the new Salesforce Tower in San Francisco to the iconic Empire State Building in New York City, skyscrapers and the innovation of concrete construction techniques have become part of our cities' identities.


Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Post-Tensioning Concrete


Concrete is a uniquely versatile building material because of its readily available components, its ability to be placed as a liquid, and its high compression strength that allows it to support the tremendous weights required in construction. Despite these qualities, concrete alone does have a few drawbacks. Concrete can be brittle and weak against lateral forces like bending. Many techniques have been developed to improve concrete's performance in certain situations, such as post-tensioning. Post-tensioning is a technique used to reinforce concrete over unstable surfaces and across spans. It is a very safe concrete strengthening technique that has gained popularity in the last few decades as the technique has been perfected, with trainings and certifications standardized. In any project that calls for reinforced concrete, it is important to utilize a skilled concrete contracting team like The Conco Companies, the leading steel reinforcing concrete contractor in Portland.


Monday, June 4, 2018

Articulating concrete boom pumps


One of the main characteristics that makes concrete a great construction material is that it remains a liquid after mixing all its components until it cures to become a solid. The fact that concrete is a liquid mixture allows it to be transported through pressurized piping, like how water moves throughout a city. Pumping concrete means that it can be mixed and held in a different location than where it will be finally placed. Over the last 100 years, concrete pumping technology has advanced to accelerate the concrete placement process and push the boundaries of the scale and accessibility of concrete projects.


Saturday, February 24, 2018

Conco is Involved in Oakland, CA’s Building Boom


If it has been a while since you last visited Oakland, CA, you are in for a surprise.  Over the last few years, Oakland has seen dozens of new construction projects throughout its downtown core and nearby neighborhoods. The Conco Companies have been pleased to be involved in several of them. 

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Concrete Seismic Retrofitting Services in Los Angeles


Since the passage of Ordinance 183893 in 2015, the City of Los Angeles has been busy identifying non-ductile concrete buildings that require seismic retrofitting to come up code.  Along with all of the other concrete services we provide, The Conco Companies is providing professional seismic retrofitting for pre-1978 non-ductile concrete buildings in L.A.