Why Concrete Loses Strength in the Sun
Bob Higgins explains why even well-cured concrete can suffer unexpected strength loss when exposed to sunlight, heat, and rising alkalinity.
Bob Higgins explains why even well-cured concrete can suffer unexpected strength loss when exposed to sunlight, heat, and rising alkalinity.
What if sunlight alone—not heat—was silently destroying your concrete? In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Seth Tandett and Bob Higgins uncover a groundbreaking MIT study that reveals evaporation can be driven by light, not just temperature. This discovery doesn’t just change climate models—it could explain why concrete in…
What if sunlight alone—not heat—was silently destroying your concrete? In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Seth Tandett and Bob Higgins uncover a groundbreaking MIT study that reveals evaporation can be driven by light, not just temperature. This discovery doesn’t just change climate models—it could explain why concrete in…
The 2024 report calls PLC a “key solution” for cement’s carbon problem—but Seth points out it also admits risks like carbonation, chloride ingress, and admixture sensitivity. Are these issues truly “manageable,” or a warning sign for the future of concrete?
Reports cite Utah bridges and Texas pavements with a decade of PLC performance and “no documented failures.” But Seth questions whether 10 years really proves long-term durability for infrastructure meant to last 50–100 years.
Back in 2011, PLC was sold as a milling efficiency move with CO₂ savings as a side benefit. By 2024, the narrative flipped—now it’s branded as a “key solution” to fight climate change in the cement sector. What changed—the science, or the story?
Seth highlights the limited real-world data on Portland Limestone Cement in bridge structures. With most examples topping out at 8–15 years, is that really long enough to judge performance for infrastructure designed to last generations?
Seth breaks down the eye-opening shift in U.S. cement consumption. In less than two years, blended cements jumped from under 10% of the market to nearly 60%. What caused this dramatic surge—and what does it mean for the future of concrete?
Back in 2011, the industry said portland-limestone cement (PLC) came with “no significant risks.” By 2024, the updated report admits higher carbonation rates, chloride ingress concerns, admixture sensitivity, and tighter curing demands. In this solo episode, Seth lays out what actually changed between the 2011 and 2024 reports, what the…
Back in 2011, the industry said portland-limestone cement (PLC) came with “no significant risks.” By 2024, the updated report admits higher carbonation rates, chloride ingress concerns, admixture sensitivity, and tighter curing demands. In this solo episode, Seth lays out what actually changed between the 2011 and 2024 reports, what the…
With AI cutting out entry-level roles like PEs and assistant PMs, Seth and Chad question how the next generation will climb in construction.
Chad Gill explains how recording and analyzing pre-pour meetings with AI could finally get us closer to the “ideal” agenda.
Chad Gill warns companies: skip AI in your interviews, and you risk being left behind in the next wave of construction management.
Chad Gill reveals how reframing AI as a partner, not just a tool, unlocks new possibilities for construction teams.
Seth Tandett points out how AI could help tackle the most overlooked safety issue in construction—basic organization.
How experimenting with virtual assistants led to founding VAs for Construction—and why AI could be the next game-changer for the industry.
Chad Gill explains why AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a force multiplier. But without the right safeguards, mistakes can get amplified at scale.
Is Artificial Intelligence coming for your job in concrete? That’s the big question in this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast. Seth sits down with Chad Gill, President of VAs for Construction, to unpack how AI is already reshaping the industry. From jobsite communication and safety talks to project management…
Is Artificial Intelligence coming for your job in concrete? That’s the big question in this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast. Seth sits down with Chad Gill, President of VAs for Construction, to unpack how AI is already reshaping the industry. From jobsite communication and safety talks to project management…
Type 1L isn’t the only option—you just have to be willing to pay for alternatives. The truth might surprise you.
Denial is killing durability. The resources are there, but the industry has to admit the issue first.
In 3–5 years, a wave of retirements will strip the industry of its continuity. The clock is ticking.
It’s not just chemistry—it’s an octopus-like process that coalesces air, weakens concrete, and shortens its life.
The admixtures we loved in the 2000s might not work with today’s cement—and it’s showing up in early failures.