THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: GPRS Before you cut, core, drill, trench, or start guessing what is inside the slab, call GPRS. GPRS helps contractors locate what is hidden below the surface with ground penetrating radar, utility locating, concrete scanning, video pipe inspection, leak detection, and mapping services. They help keep your jobsite safer, reduce costly hits, and give your team better information before the work starts. Learn more here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/gprs...

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: GPRS Before you cut, core, drill, trench, or start guessing what is inside the slab, call GPRS. GPRS helps contractors locate what is hidden below the surface with ground penetrating radar, utility locating, concrete scanning, video pipe inspection, leak detection, and mapping services. They help keep your jobsite safer, reduce costly hits, and give your team better information before the work starts. Learn more here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/gpr...

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get into why common moisture testing methods are misused, why surface damage matters more than deep readings, and how outdated s...

Indiana just told the cement industry it won’t accept any blended cement with more than 10% limestone. That’s a first - and it’s not sitting well with the people who pushed Type IL cement in the first place. For the first time, a state DOT pushed back on Type IL cement—and the industry fired back. Indiana’s Department of Transportation says it’s protecting performance after bridge decks started scaling. The American Cement Association says the DOT’s new limits are unnecessary, confusing, and un...

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 case studies do—and don’t—prove, and asks the blunt question: would PLC be this widespread without the CO₂ storyline? What You’ll Learn - What the 2011 report ...

Everyone’s pointing fingers at Type IL cement, but what if your admixtures are the real problem? In this episode, Dr. Jon Belkowitz returns to the Concrete Logic Podcast to challenge the one-to-one replacement myth and shine a light on the role of admixture compatibility. If your concrete is failing early—or your team is just managing problems instead of solving them—this episode is a must-listen. What You’ll Learn: Why do so many people still believe Type IL is a one-to-one replacement? W...

When concrete fails, who’s really at fault—the material or the people using it? In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, host Seth Tandett is joined by Dr. Jon and Rich to tackle the growing frustrations with Type 1L cement. They ask the hard questions: Is cement the problem? Are the specs off? Or is the industry just cutting corners? The conversation hits on the real-world consequences of poorly defined problems, regional quirks, and the disconnect between American and European concrete ...

In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Seth Tandett breaks down the 2010 “State-of-the-Art Report on Use of Limestone in Cements” that helped launch Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) into the U.S. market. You’ll hear what the report got right, what it left out, and why Europe’s cement playbook may not fit American concrete. If you're in the industry, this episode will help you question the assumptions behind the biggest cement shift in decades. Takeaways What happens to concrete stren...

In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Dr. Jon Belkowitz and host Seth Tandett discuss the excessive costs and challenges associated with low carbon concrete, particularly Type 1L cement. They delve into the implications for the cement industry, the struggles faced by Departments of Transportation (DOTs) with new cement standards, and misconceptions surrounding blended cements. The conversation covers the shift towards performance-based design, the implications of ACI 323 on concrete pra...

In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Seth and Tyler Ley delve into the intricacies of Type 1L cement, discussing its significance in the construction industry and the challenges associated with its use. They explore the evolving landscape of blended cements, the importance of consistent performance, and the need for better evaluation tools. Tyler emphasizes the necessity for industry professionals to take control of their materials and establish performance standards to ensure quality ...

In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Seth and Dr. Jon Belkowitz delve into the complexities of cement testing, particularly focusing on Type 1L cement and the challenges posed by blended cements. They discuss the importance of establishing a proactive quality management system to ensure the integrity of concrete mixes, emphasizing the need for rigorous testing and quality control measures. The conversation highlights the financial implications of poor quality control and the potential ...

In this episode, Seth interviews Mike Hernandez, the Technical Director of the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC), about a survey they conducted on Portland Limestone Cement (PLC). The survey aimed to understand the challenges and differences contractors were experiencing when using PLC compared to traditional cement mixes. Mike discusses the survey results, which showed increased water demand and set times, as well as changes in plastic and hardened properties. He explains that th...

In this Concrete Logic Podcast episode, Seth and Robert Higgins discuss the importance of curing concrete properly and the impact it has on the durability and sustainability of concrete. They highlight the historical practices of curing and how they have not evolved to keep up with changes in concrete composition. They also discuss the effects of temperature on curing and the role of alkalinity in concrete. The conversation emphasizes the need for improved curing practices to ensure the longe...

Summary In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Kyle Kammer from Concrete Strategies and Seth discuss the challenges and troubleshooting methods related to Type 1L cement. The conversation covers the reasons why Type 1L cement is a popular topic in the concrete industry and the challenges of using it across different locations. Kyle shares insights into the issues of differential set and cracking, as well as the importance of communication and material variability. The discussion al...

In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Seth interviews Jason Adams from Megaslab, a technology company focused on optimizing concrete design and reducing material usage. They discuss the concept of jointless slabs and how Megaslab has evolved to offer a range of unique features. Jason highlights the industry's commitment to sustainability and reducing embodied carbon in concrete. They also explore the challenges and misconceptions in the industry and the need for innovation in concret...

Get ready for a no-holds-barred conversation on the Concrete Logic Podcast! In this episode, we’re bringing back Matt “Mr. Concrete” McCombs, a veteran of the ready-mix industry and a die-hard Ohio State Buckeyes fan. We’re diving deep into the controversial topics that are shaking up the concrete industry. From the push for reducing CO2 emissions to the introduction of Type 1L cement, we’re tackling it all. But that’s not all. We’re also exploring the role of AI in the industry and the promi...

💥 The Concrete Logic Podcast 💥 🛠️ Hosted by: Seth Tandett Thinking about using Type I/II cement? You might want to think again! Rich S. Szecsy, PhD, PE, FACI from Big Town Concrete returns to break down how Type IL cement has rapidly taken over the industry. Is this the fastest shift in concrete history? What does it mean for your next project? We’ve got the answers! 🔎 What’s Inside: ✔️ Why Type I/II cement is disappearing from the market ✔️ The surprising reasons behind the Type IL cement tak...

What (or who) is preventing concrete from being more sustainable (i.e. environmentally friendly)? On this week's episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, I sat down with Rich Szecsy from Alamo Concrete Products Company and he shared what he believes are the roadblocks standing in concrete's way from being more green. Listen to Rich and learn how we as an industry can promote more sustainable concrete construction practices to show the world that there is not a building material out there that i...

On today's episode of Concrete Logic, we welcome Stephanie Hampton to the show. Stephanie is a Senior Technical Sales Engineer with Lehigh Hanson, one of the largest producers of cement in the world. Lehigh Hanson is pursuing carbon neutrality by 2050 and is a leading proponent of utilizing Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) to achieve this ambitious goal. If you don't know what Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) is, this is the episode for you! Stephanie shares what the difference is between PLC a...