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
 


CHAPTERS


00:00 – Intro and how to support the Concrete Logic Podcast
02:36 – Why concrete is struggling to compete on cost
05:32 – Self-compacting concrete and labor reduction
08:18 – How specifications quietly drive cost
10:55 – Engineering challenges baked into specs
13:44 – Local codes and why the same building costs more in different cities
16:31 – The industry’s fear of sharing ideas
18:58 – Incremental changes that actually move the needle
21:32 – Local regulations and hidden cost multipliers
23:56 – Asking better questions earlier
 


GUEST INFO
Rich Szecsy
Bio: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/rich-szecsy/





CONCRETE LOGIC PARTNERS


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.
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete



CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY
Earn PDHs in the same straight-talk format as the podcast:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/academy



SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Did you get value out of the show? Give some value back:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donate



Buy your KUIU work & hunting gear and 10% goes to the show. No added cost to you: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu


Media, sponsorship, or content inquiries:
[email protected]



CREDITS


Producer: Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media


Music by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/


WHERE TO FIND SETH


https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/


https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast


https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com

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:
[email protected]

CREDITS
 Producer: Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media
 Music by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/

WHERE TO FIND SETH
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/
https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com

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


Chapters
00:00 – 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 Thoughts


Guest Info
Name: Bob Higgins
Email: [email protected]
Webpage: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/robert-higgins/

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:
[email protected]

Credits
Producer: Frank Stankunas, 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

• 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 

• 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 

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 unscientific. So, who’s right—and what does it mean for the rest of the country’s concrete?

What You’ll Learn
 • Why INDOT limited Type IL limestone content to 10%
 • The ACA’s objections — and what’s left unsaid
 • How PCA’s 2021 carbon-neutrality roadmap and the federal Buy Clean program accelerated the switch to Type IL
• Why the “one-to-one replacement” claim may have been oversold
• How variable limestone content (≈7.6–12.4%) affects consistency and performance
• Why admixtures and curing aren’t substitutes for good practice
• What INDOT’s maintenance and inspection programs get right
• Why other DOTs may follow Indiana’s lead next

Chapters
 00:00 – Introduction & ACA Briefing Overview
 01:00 – INDOT’s 10% Limit and Industry Response
 04:00 – How Type IL Cement Took Over the Market
 07:30 – PCA Roadmap & Federal Buy Clean Pressure
 10:30 – Complacency and the One-to-One Myth
 14:00 – What Really Drove the 2021–2023 Flip
 18:00 – Cement Chemistry and QC in the Field
 22:00 – The Variability Problem: 7.6% vs 12.4% Limestone
 26:30 – Are Admixtures and Curing the Real Culprits?
 30:00 – INDOT’s Data-Driven Maintenance Approach
 32:00 – Why Other States Are Watching Closely

Guest Info
 Dr. Jon Belkowitz – Chief Technical Officer, Intelligent Concrete
 Email: [email protected]
 Website: https://www.intelligent-concrete.com

Concrete Logic Academy
 Earn your PDHs the logical way.
 Explore practical courses made for contractors, engineers, and producers.
 Free trial: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com

Support the Podcast
 Support the show and be listed as a Producer for life on the episode page:
 https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support

Media & Sponsorship Inquiries: [email protected]

Podcast Partners

Intelligent Concrete
 At Intelligent Concrete, we combine lab precision with field expertise to help you understand what your concrete is telling you. Our services include mix troubleshooting, forensic and petrographic testing, performance-based specification and admixture development, and training for engineers, contractors, and producers. Whether you’re chasing consistency, durability, or answers after a failure, Intelligent Concrete delivers the data and insight to solve problems and improve performance.
 Learn more: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete

KUIU (Affiliate Link) – https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu
15% off the first order.

Credits
Produced by Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media
Music by Mike Dunton — https://www.mdunton.com

Connectivity
Host: Seth Tandett
Concrete Visionary | Business Development at Baker Construction | Host of the #1 Concrete Podcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethtandett/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast
Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com

If you learned something new, share this episode with your team and help more engineers and builders think logically about concrete.

Until next time, let’s keep it concrete!

Reference Links 

• ACA Briefing: “Portland-Limestone Cement Limits in Indiana Department of Transportation Specifications” (October 2025 Update) — https://tinyurl.com/TypeIL
• INDOT Recurring Special Provision 901-M-069 (Effective December 1, 2025): https://www.in.gov/dot/div/contracts/standards/rsp/sep25/900/901-M-069%20251201.pdf
• INDOT Testing Memos Referenced in ACA Briefing:
   • 21-05 • 22-02 • 23-01 • 24-03 • 25-02 (Available at https://www.in.gov/indot/doing-business-with-indot/contractorsconstruction/division-of-materials-and-tests/current-testing-memos/) 

What if your concrete mix could cut a data center’s power bill by 15%?

In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, host Seth Tandett talks with Frank Stankunas Sr., Frank Stankunas Jr., and James Cordeiro from Silverback Concrete about a concept most engineers haven’t thought about—thermal resistivity in concrete.

They explain how low rho concrete helps data centers shed heat faster, take pressure off the grid, and extend the life of buried electrical infrastructure. You’ll hear how they’re testing mixes that hit rho values in the 20s, why quality control is everything, and why engineers need to stop “copying and pasting” specs from old jobs.

By the end, you’ll see why thermal resistivity may be the next big efficiency play in the world’s fastest-growing utility - data.



What You’ll Learn
• What thermal resistivity (rho) actually measures in concrete.
• How low rho concrete reduces power bills and protects the grid.
• Why inconsistent mixes can cause “thermal runaway” in cables.
• How soil type and aggregate selection affect heat dissipation.
• What testing and verification look like for low rho concrete.
• Why some engineers are still unaware of rho’s importance.
• How Silverback’s “Game Changer” mix is redefining performance.
• What collaboration between engineers and contractors could unlock next.

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to Thermal Resistivity in Concrete
01:48 – Understanding Thermal Resistivity and Its Importance
05:21 – Comparing Standard Concrete Mixes to Low Rho Concrete
09:08 – Testing and Verifying Thermal Resistivity
12:37 – Quality Control and Consistency in Concrete Mixes
16:22 – The Role of Engineers in Specifying Rho Values
20:05 – Innovative Approaches to Reducing Heat in Data Centers
23:37 – Conclusion and Future Directions for Concrete Technology

Guest Info
Frank Stankunas Sr. – President, Silverback Concrete
[email protected]
 
Frank Stankunas Jr. – Vice President, Silverback Concrete
[email protected]
 
James Cordeiro – Director of Strategic Development, Silverback Concrete
[email protected]
https://www.silverbackconcrete.co



Concrete Logic Academy
Earn your PDHs the logical way.
Explore practical courses made for contractors, engineers, and producers.
Free trial: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com



Support the Podcast
Support the show and be listed as a Producer for life on the episode page:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support

KUIU Affiliate Link: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu
Media & Sponsorship Inquiries: [email protected]



Podcast Partners
Intelligent Concrete
At Intelligent Concrete, we combine lab precision with field expertise to help you understand what your concrete is telling you. Our services include mix troubleshooting, forensic and petrographic testing, performance-based specification and admixture development, and training for engineers, contractors, and producers.

Whether you’re chasing consistency, durability, or answers after a failure, Intelligent Concrete delivers the data and insight to solve problems and improve performance.
Learn more: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete



Credits
Produced by Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media
Music by Mike Dunton — https://www.mdunton.com



Connectivity
Host: Seth Tandett
Concrete Visionary | Business Development at Baker Construction | Host of the #1 Concrete Podcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethtandett/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast
Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com


If you learned something new, share this episode with your team and help more engineers and builders think logically about concrete. 


Until next time, let’s keep it concrete! 

What happens when the concrete industry’s “wonder dust” meets its high-tech rival?

In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, host Seth Tandett brings back Dan McCoy and Dr. Jon Belkowitz to challenge everything we thought we knew about silica fume. From bridge deck overlays that crack like eggshells to the real CO₂ math no one wants to talk about, the guys separate hype from chemistry and ask the only question that matters: What are we really asking this concrete to do?


What You’ll Learn
• What is silica fume really — and how did it end up in our concrete?
• How does colloidal silica change the way concrete performs in the field?
• Why bridge deck overlays using silica fume often fail before their time.
• How mix design mistakes turn silica fume into a “volatile” material.
• Why colloidal silica can actually cost less than silica fume.
• What’s the environmental truth behind “green” cement substitutes?
• Why performance specifications—not recipes—should drive concrete design.
• The one ASTM document every purchaser should actually read.


Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
01:36 Understanding Silica Fume
05:11 Colloidal Silica vs. Silica Fume
13:38 Practical Applications and Challenges
18:34 Cost Analysis and Environmental Impact
32:52 Exploring Concrete Associations and Data Sources
33:07 Understanding CO₂ Emissions in Concrete Materials
34:34 Debating Environmental Impact of Fly Ash
36:03 The Role of Coal in Concrete Production
38:23 Analyzing Silica Fume vs. Colloidal Silica
40:10 Cost and Benefits of Silica in Concrete
41:23 Challenges in Using Silica Fume
43:03 Evaluating Cost Structures of Concrete Materials
45:22 Understanding Concrete Specifications and Purchaser Requirements
46:56 Concluding Thoughts on Concrete Practices



Guest Info
Dan McCoy, P.E. — R.L. McCoy, Inc.
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-mccoy-48507730/
Website: https://www.rlmccoy.com

Dr. Jon Belkowitz, Ph.D., P.E. — Director of Research, Intelligent Concrete
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-belkowitz-phd-pe-53494719/
Website: https://intelligent-concrete.com



Concrete Logic Academy
Earn PDHs for courses built from real podcast episodes.
Start learning at https://www.concretelogicacademy.com



Support the Podcast
Donate to keep Concrete Logic independent: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support

Shop KUIU gear through our affiliate link: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu

For podcast media services or sponsorships: [email protected]

Podcast Partners

Intelligent Concrete
At Intelligent Concrete, we combine lab precision with field expertise to help you understand what your concrete is telling you. Our services include mix troubleshooting, forensic and petrographic testing, performance-based specification and admixture development, and training for engineers, contractors, and producers. Whether you’re chasing consistency, durability, or answers after a failure, Intelligent Concrete delivers the data and insight to solve problems and improve performance.
Learn more: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete

Credits
Producers: Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media
Music by Mike Dunton — https://www.mdunton.com



Connectivity
Host: Seth Tandett — Concrete Visionary & Host of The #1 Concrete Podcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethtandett
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast
Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com


Like, subscribe, comment, and share this episode to help more people think critically about concrete. Let's keep it concrete!

What if the problem isn’t your concrete, but how you run your business?
 
In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Seth Tandett talks with Tamson Omps, Director of Operations at Thomas Concrete, about how ready-mix producers can finally take control of their margins. Tamson lays out the seven areas that make or break profitability in the ready-mix business—from equipment maintenance and driver retention to scheduling and waste management.
 
Whether you manage a single plant or oversee a regional operation, this episode gives you a practical, no-nonsense look at what’s actually driving your profits (and losses) today.

What You’ll Learn
• Why does Tamson say “we don’t sell concrete—we sell truck space”?
• What simple maintenance strategy can save thousands in downtime?
• How can ready-mix companies cut driver turnover by focusing on the right incentives?
• What’s the real cost of a truck sitting on the jobsite?
• How does batching setup and admixture sequencing impact load times and profit?
• What can schedulers do to eliminate wasted hours in the yard?
• How can waste and return concrete be turned into an extra revenue stream?

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction: The Profitability Puzzle in Ready-Mix
01:19 – Shifting Perspective: Concrete as a Service, Not a Product
03:25 – Low Hanging Fruit: Equipment Maintenance
04:36 – People Matter: Keeping Delivery Pros on the Team
08:20 – Truck Turnaround: The Real KPI That Matters
11:02 – Load Times and Plant Flow: Admixtures, Sequencing, and Efficiency
18:16 – Scheduling for Success: Managing Peak Demand
22:54 – Waste Management: Turning Returns into Revenue

Guest Info
Tamson Omps
Director of Operations, Thomas Concrete
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamson-omps-mba/
Company: Thomas Concrete – https://www.thomasconcrete.com

Concrete Logic Academy

Earn PDHs the easy way. Listen to podcast episodes, complete a short quiz, and get professional development hours with proper documentation.
Start your free trial: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com

Support the Podcast

This show runs on a Value-for-Value model. If you got value from this episode, consider supporting us:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donate

Support the show while gearing up with KUIU premium outdoor gear—what Seth wears both on the hunt and on the job. Shop through this link at no extra cost: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/KUIU

Want help with media services like podcasting or YouTube for your concrete company? Reach out to Seth at [email protected].

Credits

Producers: Jodi Tandett and Concrete Logic Media
Music by Mike Dunton – https://www.mdunton.com

Connectivity

Host: Seth Tandett – Concrete Visionary & Business Development Manager at Baker Construction
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethtandett
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast
Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, comment, and share. Let’s keep it concrete.

• Why are workers staying longer instead of chasing new jobs?
• Is relocating still worth it in today’s construction market?
• What red flags should candidates look for when evaluating opportunities?
• How can recruiters use advanced communication to stand out?
• What do market cycles reveal about job security and loyalty in construction?