Concrete Books

Concrete at Home

Fu-Tung Cheng

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Imagine the possibilities.... 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

In CONCRETE AT HOME, concrete designer Fu-Tung Chen does just this, sharing with his readers the many creative uses he's found for concrete over the years. Floors, walls, countertops, sinks, fireplaces - Chen covers them all, with a decided flair for the fanciful.

I approached CONCRETE AT HOME as a first-time homeowner who was toying with the idea of ripping out all of my home's flooring and staining the concrete slab underneath. And, I should specify, hiring a pro to do so, since I'm not the DIY type (at least not when it comes to the single largest investment of my life). It was with this newbie curiosity that I devoured CONCRETE AT HOME.

Though I found CONCRETE AT HOME to be somewhat helpful and very enjoyable, it didn't totally quench my thirst for all that is concrete. Chen can't quite seem to decide on an intended audience in CONCRETE AT HOME; while he aims to explain the basics of concrete to average Janes like myself, he also includes advanced instructions for professionals. As a result, the book has a kind of schizophrenic quality. Although Chen does take the time to explain some of the fundamentals, it's not as complete or in-depth enough to qualify CONCRETE AT HOME as a Concrete 101 text. On the flip side, I imagine that concrete professionals will be equally dissatisfied with the brief instructions Chen includes for complicated concrete projects - such as working with forms and building walls (!). In trying to please everyone, I suspect Chen's resulting treatise will fall short of everyone's expectations.

Even so, CONCRETE AT HOME is a must-read for those interested in concrete and its applications. It may be a bit spotty in coverage, but it's by far one of the most interesting, engaging, and inspiring concrete books I've yet to come across.

Now I can't wait to get started on those floors!

Editorial Review:

Fu-Tung Cheng’s surprise bestseller Concrete Countertops paved the way for a fresh look at a familiar surface. His new book moves beyond the kitchen and transforms this commonplace material into an elegant medium that can be used throughout the house. Combining cutting-edge design with helpful how-to information, Concrete at Home offers ingenious ideas for planning and building walls, fireplaces, mantels, hearths, and exterior and interior floors, as well as tips on incorporating architectural elements such as counters, sinks, columns, and water pieces into the project. The construction of forms, footings, and ties is detailed in clear, easy-to-follow instructions, and special attention is given to finishing techniques, including adding color, texture, and inlays.

Working with Concrete

Rick Arnold

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Could be more 4 out of 5 stars.
39 of 41 people found this review helpful.

This is the better book on pouring concrete forms that Taunton Press offers.
When I bought the book I was a complete novice. Now after 1 1/2 years and several large projects I am starting to learn what is missing. The book does not talk about the design of the forms. For example concrete exerts 150lb/sqft for ever foot of height. At the bottom of a 2ft wall the pressure is 300lbs but at the bottom of a 8ft wall the pressure is 1200lb/sqft. The plywood, 2x4 bracing, and ties need to be set for the height of a wall.
You can lessen the number of ties in a wall by using stronger ties but then you have to make sure the grid spacing of the 2x4's will support the plywood.
The pressure on the plywood can also lessened if the pour is slowed down or done in two stages but if it is a small job that will take less than a hour to do the forms will get the full pressure.
With the first form sys I rented there was nothing telling me how much pressure the forms would take. Trying to save some money I set everything up with ties on a 4'x 2' grid pattern this is O.K for say a 3ft wall but (lucky for me the guy that was going to pump the concrete told me)not strong enough for a 7ft wall.
There are many different types of form sys if the one that is shown in the book is not available in your area you will need to do more research.
If you are using a small inline pumper truck you need to order the concrete with small rock.
Bracing the wall is also very important you are dealing with tons of weight so make sure the bracing holding the wall vertical/straight is done well.

Forms are also called Falsework.

With rebar in the form it is just about impossible to spray the form release on without getting it on the re-bar. It is better to spray the form boards before setting them up or ...
Make sure you strip the forms 1 - 2 days after the pour then you don't need form release. Any spilt concrete be easy to break up.

Added Dec. 10 2007

Rent a concrete vibrator and hit the sides of the forms with a hammer to get rid of the air. Don't over vibrate the concrete or you will make big air bubbles.

For form stripping buy a 5ft wrecking bar with a 90 degree end not a crow bar with a hook. The 5ft bar cut the stripping time in half.

Hitachi makes a rebar bender/cutter I have rented several times it is great tool.

Editorial Review:

The fate of any house literally rests on its foundation. From design and excavation issues to formwork, reinforcement, drainage, and waterproofing details, this handy guide covers the full range of residential concrete work. Author Rick Arnold, a foundation contractor and coauthor of Precision Framing, walks the reader through all the steps. Also included are chapters on foundations built from materials other than concrete (blocks, ICFs, wood) and on flatwork (slabs, walkways, patios). These clear instructions for building a concrete foundation are accompanied by over 200 color photos and dozens of color illustrations.

Reinforced Concrete: Mechanics and Design (5th Edition)

James K. Wight, James G. MacGregor

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Reinforced Concrete : Mechanics and Design (4th Edition) 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book is the best for those who want a deeper understanding of reinforced concrete design.Since the author presents a step by step way to introduce the concepts,the reader is able to get a more detailed information and retents more concepts instead of procedures

Great as usual 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I have the 2nd edition of this book which I loved. This edition is excellent and is easily the best text on Reinforced Concrete there is anywhere.

Editorial Review:

Reinforced concrete design encompases both the art and science of engineering. This book presents the theory of reinforced concrete as a direct application of the laws of statics and mechanics of materials. In addition, it emphasizes that a successful design not only satisfies design rules, but also is capable of being built in a timely fashion and for a reasonable cost. A multi-tiered approach makes Reinforced Concrete: Mechanics and Design an outstanding textbook for a variety of university courses on reinforced concrete design. Topics are normally introduced at a fundamental level, and then move to higher levels where prior educational experience and the development of engineering judgment will be required.

Schaum's Outline of Reinforced Concrete Design

Noel J. Everard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Too out-of-date 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This reference is useful as a review of various types of concrete construction. However, it was last revised in 1993 and refers to the 1989 American Concrete Institute code, so while the content is generally correct, many of the code provisions have since changed.

Schaum's Concrete 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

College texts only provide so many good examples and are sparse on the details. Schaum's fills in a large explanatory gap.

Reinforced Concrete 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Typical of the Schaums series- It's a little bit out of date but the information really helps to fill out scribbled lecture notes and textbook examples.

Good stuff.

Ancient History 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This text was originally composed in 1966 and was updated in 1987 & 1993. Since the last update the design procedures recommended by the ACI have been radically revised and this book is therefore essentiall useless to today's designers. It might have some elementary applications, but the buyer should be warned major revisions in design procedures in the late 90's and after render the book outmoded

Editorial Review:

This updated edition includes the following new information: the current procedures for providing quality control of the consistency of concrete strength; the computerized design of slabs; and all new material about column design. It also serves as an effective tutor for those in classes in architecture, architectural engineering and engineering technology and is an excellent reference, too, for practicing architects and engineers.

Concrete Repair and Maintenance Illustrated: Problem Analysis, Repair Strategy, Techniques

Peter H. Emmons

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Here is the tool you need to clearly understand and successfully carry out concrete repair and maintenance projects -- with confidence! In this book you will find a detailed, yet concise presentation of over 220 concrete repair and maintenance topics. Issues are examined within the framework of analysis, strategy development, and repair techniques, with extensive and superbly detailed illustrations to guide you in the proper planning and execution of repairs.

Written by Peter H. Emmons, President of Structural Preservation Systems, Inc., and a national authority on concrete repair, Concrete Repair and Maintenance, Illustrated was technically reviewed and edited by James Warner, world-renowned concrete repair consultant and educator, and Alexander M. Vaysburd, Ph.D., an expert in concrete technology with more than 30 years experience in the industry.

This indispensable book provides extensive information about problem analysis, strategy development, engineering aspects, material criteria, and repair and maintenance methods. Designed for ease of use by all participants in the repair and maintenance process -- owners and facilities managers, engineers, architects, material suppliers and contractors -- the book's unique format provides a highly structured, fully illustrated examination of each topic.

This comprehensive instructional reference includes detailed information on:

* Concrete Behavior
* Evaluating Concrete Problems
* Surface Repair
* Stabilization and Strengthening
* Protection

Dedicated to quality assurance and technical excellence, the author provides the concrete repair industry with a much needed reference guide designed to facilitate adherence to the highest standards in the design and execution of concrete repair and maintenance projects.

The Concrete House: Building Solid, Safe & Efficient with Insulating Concrete Forms

Pieter A. VanderWerf

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Insulated Concrete Form buildings 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 13 people found this review helpful.

ICFs provide cost-effective ease of construction, energy efficiency, quiet, and long-term sustainability for any location (mountain, coast, valley, flood plain, frequent tornadoes, cold and hot, arid and humid). The use of steel studs on interior walls provides strong structure and reduces thermal breaks. ICFs work for basements and multistory structures. They are insect-proof.

Anything you can design and build with typical "boards and sticks" construction you can do much better with ICFs. ICFs can be used for floors, ceilings, walls and roofs or SIPs (structural insulated panels) can be used. ICFs are suitable for the tropics or high elevation snowy mountains. Want a house that will still be there after a severe tornado? Look into ICFs.

How do you introduce a contractor to ICFs who has been building the same way for 25 years with the motto, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" (resistant to changing methods of construction) - give your contractor a copy of this book. Spend one 24 hour in an ICF house - feel the ambient temperature, listen to the sound, look at the natural and artificial lights, then demand high quality, sustainable ICF construction for yourself, your business, schools and church.

Houses are expensive and costly to operate, regardless of climate. ICFs require good thorough thinking in advance (you're not going to move a window or door easily later on). Want sustainable cost-effective construction in and above ground? Build ICFs.

Editorial Review:

Prospective homeowners will welcome this introduction to a durable, energy-efficient new building technology: insulating concrete forms (ICFs). Written by a top expert in the field, and organized in an accessible question-and-answer form, it will help homebuyers decide whether an ICF is right for them and how to get the most for their money. Every aspect of planning and construction is covered, from exactly what an ICF is to the intricacies of building a concrete house, from choosing a contractor to selecting a suitable design for the system. There’s crucial advice on how to make sure construction goes smoothly, diagrams and photos to illustrate every point, beautiful ICF homes on display, and explanations of how these homes differ from conventional ones and why they cost less to maintain.

Insulating Concrete Forms Construction : Demand, Evaluation, & Technical Practice

Ivan S Panushev, Pieter A. Vanderwerf

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very good for the Layman and Contractor 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I am having a house designed to use ICF construction, but I wanted to come up to speed on the construction methods used. This book was a good source to get that knowledge. I covers many specifics about ICF as well as general concrete construction methods.

Pretty good review of ICF construction 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Read the entire book because I'm thinking of using ICF for construction of my house one day. I've added it to my library at my structural engineering office. This is not an engineering text but should equip the reader in the ICF construction process and available options.

Editorial Review:

Ever year, thousands of general contractors and subcontractors must grapple with whether to bid Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) projects, how much to charge for them, and how to manage the job. ICFs are stronger, energy-efficient, and offer great design flexibility, and their use is growing by 30% a year. This invaluable work walks the contractor through both business and technical considerations in evaluating and adopting Insulating Concrete Forms for both the residential and commercial markets.

* Details the entire ICF construction process
* Training and supplier information
* Actual job site experiences

Liquid Stone: New Architecture in Concrete

G. Martin Moeller

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Produced at a rate of five billion cubic yards per year, concrete is the second most widely consumed substance on earth, after water. It is ubiquitous and easily taken for granted as the stuff of sidewalks and roads, power plants and parking garages. Concrete is also, however, a favored material of cutting-edge architects and engineers, who value not only its versatility and strength but its unlimited potential for imaginative expression. A hybrid substance made from cement, water, sand, and mineral aggregates, concrete—or liquid stone—has no intrinsic form. In the hands of talented designers, its ultimate appearance is dictated by the framework into which it is poured and the color, texture, or pattern applied to its surface.

In a series of essays by top architects, engineers, and scholars, Liquid Stone explores the nature of concrete, its past and future, from technical, artistic, and historical perspectives. Over thirty buildings by leading international architects including Jean Nouvel, Herzog & de Meuron, Zaha Hadid, Steven Holl, Norman Foster, and Santiago Calatrava are presented through detailed descriptions, photographs, and technical drawings.

The book concludes with "The Future of Concrete," a chapter on newly emerging materials. Here self-consolidated, ultra-high-performance, and translucent concrete are illustrated, introducing the next generation in concrete technology and suggesting new directions for both architecture and engineering.

Structural Concrete: Theory and Design

M. Nadim Hassoun, Akthem Al-Manaseer

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Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

New edition helps students make the bridge from concepts to problem-solving

The Fourth Edition of Structural Concrete: Theory and Design brings this text fully up to date while maintaining its acclaimed easy-to-follow, logical approach. Working with the text's numerous step-by-step examples, students quickly grasp the principles and techniques of analyzing and designing reinforced and prestressed concrete elements. Moreover, the authors' emphasis on a top quality, economical approach helps students design concrete structures and members with confidence.

Fully updated and revised, the Fourth Edition features:

• Latest coverage reflecting the ACI 318-08 code

• Seismic design chapter incorporates the latest of the International Building Code (IBC 2006)

• AASHTO method for predicting concrete creep and shrinkage

• New chapter dedicated to the design of curved beams

• SI unit examples, equivalent conversion factors from customary units to SI units, and SI unit design tables

Practical problems in each chapter enable students to apply and assess their knowledge as they advance through the text. The text's companion Web site gives students more opportunities to apply their knowledge, with such features as MS Excel spreadsheets that offer an interactive environment for evaluating different design aspects of concrete members.

This text is an outgrowth of the two authors' lecture notes, reflecting more than twenty-five years of both classroom teaching and industrial experience. It is structured to cover a two-course sequence on the design of reinforced concrete structures as well as provide a comprehensive up-to-date reference for practicing engineers.

Formwork For Concrete Structures

R. L. Peurifoy, G. D. Oberlender

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Editorial Review:

Dramatically slash the cost of formwork design and construction. With the expense of creating concrete formwork so high--often exceeding the cost of the concrete and steel used in the project itself--you need the Third Edition of R. L. Peurifoy and G. D. Oberlander's Formwork for Concrete Structures. This authoritiative working tool shows you how to cut costs by making the most of the material, time, labor, and equipment required to design, erect, and remove formwork. You get complete details on state-of-the-art materials and technology plus fast access to scores of tables and practical examples that help you sidestep costly, guesswork and trial-and-errors methods. A completely up-to-date list of formwork material suppliers rounds out this one-of-a-kind money saver.