Concrete Home Building Council - 02/17/2006 (Plain Text Version)

CHBC Chairman
Michael Weber

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In this issue:
Are you a "Green Builder?"
Education Never Gets Old
New Plants to Help Meet Demand in Florida
Register Today - NAHB’s México Trade Mission
New Orleans TV Station Designed to Stand Strong
Mega Success for CHBC
Military Housing - NAHB Helping to Make it Work
IRS Releases Final Form For Energy Tax Credit
UPDATE: U.S.-Mexican Agreement
Concrete Briefs . . .

Education Never Gets Old

Kirk Deadrick teaching February 15, 2006.
CHBC continues its educational efforts through NAHB’s Home Builders Institute; three new courses will be up and ready to be held nationwide by early April.

The first of the three programs debuted its pilot yesterday, February 14 at the Atlanta Home Builders Association . “Concrete Mix Designs, Construction Guidelines and Troubleshooting” was taught by HBI approved instructor Kirk Deadrick, Lafarge North America.

“Concrete Mix Designs, Construction Guidelines and Troubleshooting” acknowledges that each year home builders contract for the installation of approximately four billion square feet of concrete flatwork in the form of driveways, walkways, patios, and floor slabs. On the typical single-family home they spend an estimated $4,000 for these, including labor and materials.

Although satisfaction levels with the work are generally high and reported defect rates are low, experts estimate that builders might save hundreds of dollars and many hours of personal time on their average job if they understood the basics of concrete flatwork.

The Atlanta Home Builders Association is just one of many that will hold this course in 2006.
The course is designed to give home builders the information they need for deciding when to use concrete for a paving or floor project, for intelligently sourcing their concrete flatwork; for specifying the work accurately and efficiently; for properly evaluating the work done; and for performing troubleshooting and repair effectively.

The next two pilot programs are:

Wednesday, March 8 – Winston-Salem Home Builders Association, North Carolina:
”Proper Methods to Handle Moisture Behind Brick to “Back-Up” Walls”
The course will be taught by: Sean Varner Lafarge North America

This course is designed to give home builders the information they need to understand the essentials of brick veneer construction, select and work with a masonry crew, insure the building is properly prepared to receive brick, coordinate the affected crews, and make corrections or repairs when necessary. The participant will be armed with the knowledge to produce a quality brick veneer at a controlled cost and with efficient use of supervisory time.

Brick veneers provide excellent moisture control, effectively preventing water damage, elevated indoor humidity levels, and mold and mildew. Where these issues are important to the market, brick provides the contractor with a valuable option.

Wednesday, April 19 – Kalamazoo Home Builders Association, Michigan will hold:
”Best Practices for Concrete Pavers and Segmental Retaining Walls”
Demand for masonry homescaping products is exploding. In the process it is opening profitable new opportunities for home builders.

This course is designed to give home builders thorough knowledge of the new homescaping products. Attendees will understand the steps necessary to achieve efficient, trouble-free installation of segmental retaining walls, pavers, and related products. They will also have the information they need to incorporate the products into their home building businesses.

These programs are part of the Home Builders Institute’s Residential Construction Superintendent Program and also serve as continuing education for the NAHBs Joint Venture Designation Programs. To find out more about these and other courses, please contatct Joe Krinock: 800.795.7955 x8928 or visit: www.hbi.org/rcscourses/concrete/