Concrete Logic

EP #144: Concrete Isn’t Too Expensive — The System Around It Is

Concrete Is Losing on Cost. Here’s How to Take It Back.Concrete keeps getting priced out of jobs, not because it can’t compete, but because we keep doing the same things the same way. In this episode, Seth Tandett sits down with Rich Szecsy to talk about where concrete costs actually come from and why material price increases are only part of the story. They walk through how specs, local codes, labor assumptions, and risk avoidance quietly stack the deck against concrete, even when it’s the better material. This isn’t a theoretical discussion. It’s a practical look at what contractors, engineers, and producers can question, change, and push back on if they actually want concrete to stay competitive. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN· Why concrete keeps losing bids to steel and other materials· How self-compacting concrete can cut labor without cutting performance· Where specifications quietly drive cost more than material prices· How local codes create massive cost disparities for the same building· Why fear of sharing ideas slows innovation across the industry· How small, incremental changes can unlock real savings· Why understanding the full contractual chain matters more than mix price· What questions teams should be asking earlier to avoid cost traps CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro and how to support the Concrete Logic Podcast02:36 – Why concrete is struggling to compete on cost05:32 – Self-compacting concrete and labor reduction08:18 – How specifications quietly drive cost10:55 – Engineering challenges baked into specs13:44 – Local codes and why the same building costs more in different cities16:31 – The industry’s fear of sharing ideas18:58 – Incremental changes that actually move the needle21:32 – Local regulations and hidden cost multipliers23:56 – Asking better questions earlier GUEST INFORich SzecsyBio: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/rich-szecsy/ CONCRETE LOGIC PARTNERSINTELLIGENT CONCRETEConcrete not behaving the way it should?At Intelligent Concrete, Dr. Jon Belkowitz and his team combine lab-level testing with real-world field experience to get to the root of performance issues, not just the symptoms.https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMYEarn PDHs in the same straight-talk format as the podcast:https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/academySUPPORT THE PODCASTDid you get value out of the show? Give some value back:https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donateBuy your KUIU work & hunting gear and 10% goes to the show. No added cost to you: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiuMedia, sponsorship, or content inquiries:seth@concretelogicpodcast.com CREDITSProducer: Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic MediaMusic by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/WHERE TO FIND SETHhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcasthttps://www.concretelogicpodcast.com

EP #143: Analog vs. DIGITAL Concrete Formwork

Most concrete looks the way it does for one simple reason.We keep designing around the forms we know how to build.In this episode, Seth sits down with Darren Baldwin, President of PIKUS, to break down the real difference between analog formwork and digital formwork—and why that distinction quietly limits what architects, engineers, and contractors think is even possible with concrete.This is not a hype-filled “3D printing is the future” conversation. It’s a practical discussion about where digital formwork actually works, where it absolutely doesn’t, and why architectural concrete—not structure—is where this technology earns its keep. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN • What “analog vs. digital formwork” really means in construction terms • When digital formwork beats precast on cost, logistics, and constructability • How curves, grade changes, and non-repeatable geometry break traditional forms • Why lack of data (and testing) still blocks structural adoption • Why architects keep designing square stuff when they don’t have to CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro and how to support the Concrete Logic Podcast 02:30 – Analog vs. digital formwork explained 04:10 – Is this just 3D concrete printing? 05:40 – When digital formwork makes economic sense 07:10 – Grade changes, curves, and non-repeatable geometry 09:20 – Testing, engineering, and the structural data gap 14:40 – Remodels, access constraints, and why lightweight matters 16:05 – Leave-in-place printed formwork (and why it’s not the focus) 19:30 – Digital concrete + millwork integration 21:20 – How to reach Darren / PIKUS GUEST INFO Darren Baldwin PIKUS https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/darren-baldwin/ INTELLIGENT CONCRETE Concrete not behaving the way it should? At Intelligent Concrete, Dr. Jon Belkowitz and his team combine lab-level testing with real-world field experience to get to the root of performance issues, not just the symptoms. If you want data you can trust and answers you can use, learn more at https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Earn PDHs in the same straight-talk format as the podcast: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com SUPPORT THE PODCAST Support the show directly: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donate KUIU helps support the podcast: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu Media, sponsorship, or content inquiries: seth@concretelogicpodcast.com CREDITS Producer: Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media Music by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/ WHERE TO FIND SETHhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/ https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com

EP #142 Concrete Moisture Myths Busted

Most people think moisture problems in concrete come from below the slab. Concrete Bob Higgins explains why that assumption keeps blowing up floors.In this episode, Bob Higgins breaks down how moisture actually moves through concrete, why liquid water and water vapor are not the same thing, and how alkalinity quietly does more damage than most people realize. We also get into why common moisture testing methods are misused, why surface damage matters more than deep readings, and how outdated standards keep throwing contractors under the bus.If you’ve ever wondered why floors fail even when the numbers “look fine,” this one connects the dots.What You’ll Learn· Why moisture in concrete is not just “moisture”· The difference between liquid water, water vapor, and chemically bound moisture· Why relative humidity testing is often misunderstood — and misapplied· How alkalinity concentrates at the surface and drives real damage· Why many moisture problems come from the top, not the soil· What self-desiccation is and why you can’t fix it once it happens· How material changes in cement quietly broke old assumptions· Why contractors keep getting blamed for problems they didn’t cause Chapters00:00 – Why Moisture in Concrete Is Misunderstood 01:15 – The Different Forms of Moisture That Matter 03:30 – Why the Center of Concrete Often Doesn’t Dry 06:40 – The Problem With RH Probes and Surface Damage 10:30 – Why Cement Chemistry Changed the Rules 12:30 – What Alkalinity Really Is (and Why pH Misses the Point) 15:45 – Why New Cements Can Self-Desiccate 18:45 – Irreversible Damage From Heat and Chemistry 21:45 – Vapor Barriers, Curling, and Old Assumptions 24:30 – Why Most Moisture Comes From the Surface 28:45 – The Stack Effect Explained 31:30 – Why RH Numbers Don’t Match Real Failures 35:45 – What Needs to Change Going Forward 39:20 – Final ThoughtsGuest InfoName: Bob Higgins Email: rcconsulting.higgins@gmail.com Webpage: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/robert-higgins/Intelligent ConcreteConcrete not behaving the way it should?At Intelligent Concrete, Dr. Jon Belkowitz and his team combine lab-level testing with real-world field experience to get to the root of performance issues, not just the symptoms.If you want data you can trust and answers you can use, learn more at https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concreteConcrete Logic AcademyEarn PDHs in the same straight-talk format as the podcast:https://www.concretelogicacademy.comSupport the PodcastSupport the show directly:https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donateKUIU helps support the podcast:https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiuMedia, sponsorship, or content inquiries:seth@concretelogicpodcast.comCreditsProducer: Frank Stankunas, Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media Music by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/Where to Find SethSeth Tandett — concrete nerd and host of the Concrete Logic Podcast.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast Podcast Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com

EP #141: Concrete Data - How to Spot the BS

Most people believe the chart on the screen — Dr. Jon explains why you shouldn’t. If you’ve ever sat in a conference session staring at a chart and wondering whether you’re seeing real data or a dressed-up story, this episode is for you. Dr. Jon Belkowitz breaks down how data in the concrete industry is often stretched, normalized, cherry-picked, or misleading — and how to spot it before making decisions that affect a structure’s performance. We get into why people present data, what questions you should ask before trusting it, what error bars mean, and when it’s time to ask tougher questions. This conversation also touches on motivations, funding sources, normalized datasets, Purdue-Pharma-style chart tricks, and why peer review still matters. What You’ll Learn Why is data really presented in this industry — truth, persuasion, or something in between? How charts can hide peaks or exaggerate trends What error bars actually mean and why they matter When to question normalized or percentage-based data Signs that a dataset should be tossed out completely How to read peer-reviewed papers quickly without wasting time Why checking funding sources matters Why asking questions doesn’t make you “anti” anything Chapters 00:00 – Why We’re Talking About Data 01:00 – What Motivates People to Present Data 04:00 – The Role of Data in Confidence and Decision-Making 07:30 – Normalized Data and How It Can Mislead 12:00 – Purdue-Pharma-Style Chart Tricks 15:30 – What Error Bars Actually Tell You 21:00 – When to Question What You’re Being Shown 25:30 – Reading Research Papers Without Wasting Time 30:00 – Motivation, Funding, and Hidden Bias 34:00 – Final Thoughts Guest Info Name: Dr. Jon Belkowitz Company: Intelligent Concrete Email: jon@intelligent-concrete.com Website: www.intelligent-concrete.com Concrete Logic Academy Earn PDHs in the same straight-talk format as the podcast: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com Support the Podcast Support the show: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donate KUIU helps support the podcast: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu Media, sponsorship, or content inquiries: seth@concretelogicpodcast.com Credits Producer: Douglas H. Clarke, Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media Music by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/ Where to Find Seth Seth Tandett — concrete nerd and host of the Concrete Logic Podcast. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast Podcast Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com

EP #140: Building the #1 Concrete Contractor in America: Grit, Growth & 50+ Years of Lessons

Everyone in the concrete world knows the Baker name, but very few know the real story. This episode finally gets it on record. Dan Baker walks through how the company started with three brothers, $500, and a truck that needed a hill to start — and how it grew into ENR’s #1 concrete contractor in America. Dan lays out the moves, the mistakes, the risks, and the mindset shifts required to grow from residential slabs to major industrial, stadiums, and billion-dollar work. If you're trying to scale a concrete company, this episode is a roadmap. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN What allowed Baker to jump from residential flatwork to commercial and industrial work The key moment that changed the company’s trajectory forever Why the first stadium project lost seven figures — and what Dan did next When to hire someone smarter than you (and why you may have to pay them more than yourself) Why Dan says contractors must “either know or should have known” when things go wrong How to build a reputation that actually carries you into bigger work CHAPTERS 00:00 – Why this is the most requested interview in show history 01:24 – The real origins of Baker Concrete in 1968 09:59 – Learning concrete the hard way (and the right way) 17:40 – The A-frame job that changed everything 23:27 – Turner hands Baker the total-package blueprint 26:50 – What it truly takes to “cross over” in this industry 37:25 – Losing a million dollars on a stadium — and still going after the Bengals 42:50 – Becoming (and staying) #1 48:11 – Dan explains the “Amish Marines” mindset 50:17 – People. Honor. Grit. Baker’s core in one sentence. GUEST INFO Dan Baker Founder, Baker Concrete Construction Bio: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/daniel-l-baker/ Company: Baker Construction Enterprises Website: https://www.bakerconstruction.com SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you learned something from this conversation — consider donating. It keeps the show independent and education-first: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support/ PODCAST PARTNERS INTELLIGENT CONCRETE Want advanced concrete training, petrography education, mix-design science, and materials research? Visit Intelligent Concrete at: www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Early access to episodes, PDH courses, technical deep-dives, and a place to sharpen your concrete knowledge: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com KUIU KUIU gear link (first orders get 15% off): www.concretelogicpodcast.com/KUIU CREDITS Produced by: Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media Music by: Mike Dunton — https://www.mdunton.com CONNECT WITH US Host: Seth Tandett LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethtandett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com Like, subscribe, comment, and share the show. Let’s keep it concrete.