A photo that looks like the surface of the moon—but it’s a warehouse slab.

In this episode, Dr. Jon Belkowitz and Seth Tandett break down what went wrong, how these concrete disasters spiral into lawsuits, and why bad finishing techniques can cost $200 per square foot in repairs.

Contractors, RMX suppliers, engineers, and specifiers—this is your crash course in concrete accountability, moisture failures, and job site reality.

What You'll Learn in this episode:

• What can a flashlight reveal about a slab finish that traditional testing can’t?
• How can a $5/sqft floor repair balloon into a $200/sqft lawsuit?
• Why are skilled finishers vanishing—and what’s replacing them?
• What happens when the wrong concrete is used under vinyl tile?
• Who usually gets blamed (and pays) when slab issues surface after the pour?
• What role do insurance companies play when concrete jobs go sideways?
• Is petrography necessary before deciding to grind or rip out a slab?
• Why is concrete such a bad substrate for resilient flooring?
• When does grinding a floor become worse than ripping it out?
• What legal landmines are hidden in the flooring section of your specs?

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Exploring the Lunar Surface: A Unique Perspective
02:51 Concrete Insights: Understanding Surface Finishing Techniques
06:04 The Labor Crisis in Construction: A Growing Concern
08:59 Accountability in Construction: Who's Responsible?
12:01 Built-in Obsolescence: The Cycle of Repairs
14:57 Insurance Claims and Legal Implications in Construction
17:58 Cost Considerations: The Price of Remedial Work
19:44 Understanding Liquidated Damages
20:38 Quality Control in Construction
23:08 Communication Between Contractors and GCs
25:51 Addressing Concrete Issues Promptly
27:41 Evaluating Repair Options
30:34 Long-Term Implications of Concrete Repairs
32:58 Image Analysis in Construction Discussions

LISTEN NOW – Every concrete contractor, architect, engineer and ready-mix concrete producer needs to hear this one!

 
Guest: Dr. Jon Belkowitz
Email: jon@intelligent-concrete.com
Company: Intelligent Concrete
Website: intelligent-concrete.com

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Producer: Jodi Tandett

Music by: Mike Dunton

Instagram: @Mike_Dunton

Stay Connected & Watch More!

Host: Seth Tandett
Email: seth@concretelogicpodcast.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast
Podcast Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com
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