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Happy Anniversary, Jandris Block and Concrete Solutions!

2020 is a big year for Concrete Solutions and our parent company, A. Jandris & Sons. This year marks the 100th birthday of the original company, founded back in 1920 as A. Jandris & Sons by Adolf Jandris, an Austrian emigrant who came to the United States with his wife Rosa to start a new life.

Initially a demolition and salvage company, A. Jandris & Sons of Gardner, Massachusetts quickly moved into construction and by the 1940s was producing concrete masonry blocks to address a growing demand from local masons. Soon, Jandris Block became a full-time concrete brick and block business based in Adolf’s garage.

By 1960 the business had grown so large that it built its first concrete block production plant, adding automation in the late 60’s to accommodate the rapidly expanding production need.  A 17,000 square foot grinding plant followed in the early 90’s, producing a highly-popular architectural concrete masonry product that was used in the Boston Garden.

In 2005, a new chapter in the company’s history began with the launch of its retail operation, Concrete Solutions, a division of A. Jandris & Sons, Inc. Operating out of a 14,000 square foot building in Gardner, our company sells a wide range of concrete and masonry products inventoried on over four acres of land. Now in our 15th year, Concrete Solutions is celebrating its success as the retail outlet of Jandris Block and its growing sales of concrete, masonry, and landscape-related products to commercial and consumer builders and landscapers.

Whether you’re a long-time customer or just being introduced to Jandris Block and Concrete Solutions, we invite you to stop by our retail location on East Broadway, Rte. 2A in Gardner. Come see why we’re so excited about the 100th anniversary of A. Jandris & Sons and our 15th anniversary here at Concrete Solutions!

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Spring is Here

image of a garden with a retaining wallWith the warm spring weather upon us now is a great time to look at your outdoor property and see how you want to improve and clean it up! There’s so much to maintain and improve outside it can be tough to tackle it alone. That’s why we’re offering you products and solutions for a variety of outdoor property management challenges!

Whether your needs are simply cosmetic or you are having issues with maintaining your outdoor property, we offer a variety of tools and products to help you keep your property in great condition. We want to help you improve and maintain your property, so here are a few of the products and services we offer to meet that goal!

Improving your Outdoor Property

Spring weather can bring rain, which causes erosion, mud, and rust. None of those are fun to deal with, especially if you have a yard prone to flooding. This is the time to look over your existing outdoor property fixtures and see what might need some updating and repair.

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Top Four Signs Your Business Needs Concrete Expansion Joint Repair

If you own a business with block concrete surfaces such as parking garages, concrete overpasses, and footbridges, you have expansion joints that need periodic attention. What’s an expansion joint? It’s material placed between the concrete slabs that contracts and expands as the temperature changes, acting as a shock absorber to absorb stress from the concrete slabs’ movement.

Over time, expansion joints can dry out and lose their ability to perform as intended. With the loss of the ability absorb pressure and tension caused by expansion and contraction, the concrete slabs can start to chip and crack. When this happens, it’s time to replace those expansion joints and make repairs.

Your best option is to get proactive and inspection your expansion joints before they fail so that you don’t end up with damaged concrete that also needs to be replaced. The trick is knowing what to look for.

Broken ConcreteHere are four signs that your concrete expansion joints are reaching the end of their operational life:

  • Your expansion joints have grass growing through them
  • Large bumps are appearing at an expansion joint
  • Corners have started to chip or crack
  • A little expansion joint is becoming a large gap

If your assessment reveals problems with your concrete expansion joints, they are relatively easy to replace:

  • Clean any loose dirt and debris out of the joint.
  • Dig out and remove all the old joint material and flush out any remaining debris with a hose.
  • Finish cleaning out the joints between the slabs thoroughly with a wet-dry vacuum.
  • Apply a bonding adhesive in the joints with a brush — this will help the new material to bond to the old concrete. Let the adhesive dry for about 10-15 minutes. Don’t go any longer than that because the adhesive should be sticky to touch and not completely dry.
  • Insert a foam backer rod. This will be your new shock absorber. Cut to length and push the strip completely into the joint with a putty knife.
  • Cover and seal the joint. Apply a liberal layer of self-leveling urethane sealant. It’s recommended to wear safety goggles and gloves when applying urethane sealant.
  • Block off the area until the sealant has dried.

Concrete expansion joints are a critical element in many different concrete structures, so make sure you inspect them regularly and take action when needed to ensure proper function and long life.

Questions? Contact Us! We can help!

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What Exactly is Decorative Concrete ?

 

Concrete is simple and durable. Made from crushed stone, water, sand, and cement, it’s used in 90 percent of homes and businesses. Most people think of a bland, gray, stone-like material, more functional than beautiful. However, recent developments in concrete use have produced something called decorative concrete and it’s changing the construction industry.

So what exactly is decorative concrete?

Decorative concrete is traditional concrete that is modified, using mechanical techniques and environmentally-friendly chemicals to transform the surface appearance and make concrete look like a variety of other materials, such as brick, marble, granite, tile, slate, and even wood. Best of all decorative concrete can be made waterproof and slip-resistance and repairs easily. Continue reading →

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OSHA™’s Silica Ruling and How It Affects Masonry and Concrete

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released comprehensive regulations affecting the exposure of individuals to crystalline silica found in concrete and masonry products. The rules fall into two major categories: construction and general industry. General industry regulations take effect in June 2018 and cover a wide range of industries and applications, including the production of masonry and concrete products.

As a manufacturer of these types of products, Concrete Solutions will be fully complying with the new OSHA rules, so we’d like our customers to know what it all means and how it will affect what we do and how we do it.

First of all, what is crystalline silica? Silica is a common mineral found in almost every type of rock and used extensively as a filler in masonry and concrete, including pre-cast concrete products. It exists in both crystalline and non-crystalline forms, crystalline being extremely hard and chemically inert, making it valuable for a variety of industrial uses. Respirable crystalline silica is the respirable dust fraction of crystalline silica which enters the body by inhalation and has been linked to various illnesses.

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Fixing Cracked and Spalling Concrete

Concrete is one of the most popular building materials by far because it’s inexpensive, durable, strong, and can be shaped, colored, and textured in almost unlimited ways. However, it does require proper installation and maintenance for maximum longevity and performance.

Two of the biggest potential problems with concrete are cracking and spalling. Cracking, of course, is exactly what it sounds like. Cracks can appear as the result of exposure to dramatic temperature swings, stress, and impact. Most cracks occur as a result of shrinkage of concrete. Shrinkage is simply a reduction in the volume of concrete as it hardens — if this reduction in volume were unrestricted, then a crack would not occur. However, in reality, ground friction and a number of other things, such as structural connections, prevent or hinder free shrinkage and cause cracks. Of course, not every crack threatens structural safety. In fact, many cracks are merely cosmetic in nature. These cracks are typically seen in flat work such as walkways and curbs.

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Sealing and waterproofing products for concrete and masonry – what’s the difference?

Many consumers – and even some professionals – use the terms “sealants” and “sealers” interchangeably, but there is a difference. Sealants are typically rubberized coatings or caulks and create an elastic layer on the surface. Sealers, on the other hand, such as acrylics, urethanes, and epoxies, are either film-forming or penetrating, sealing the substrate internally.

There are dozens of products on the market these days which can cause considerable confusion for consumers looking to preserve and protect their interior and exterior concrete or masonry features. To help clear up matters, let’s take a look at the various major categories of sealing and waterproofing products:

Penetrating sealers include silanes, silosanes, silicates, and siliconates and are used primarily on exterior concrete surfaces subject to corrosion and freeze-thaw damage where a natural, matte finish is desired. Most products provide excellent protection against outdoor exposure conditions and are also breathable, enabling moisture vapor to escape.

Acrylics form a thin protective film on the concrete surface and are available in both solvent- and water-based formulations in a wide range of sheen levels. Acrylics provide good protection against water and chloride intrusion, but usually wear faster than polyurethanes and epoxies. Solvent-based acrylics generally perform better and enhance color better than water-based products for outdoor use.

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Sealing and Resealing Concrete and Masonry

The terms “waterproofer” and “sealer” are often used interchangeably when it comes to concrete and masonry coatings, but they are not the same things. Knowing the difference between the two can help contractors and consumers avoid problems down the road.

Waterproofers are generally made from rubber, plastic or a sealing agent. They’re designed to keep moisture both in and out, penetrating the pores of the masonry and expanding as it dries to become a part of the masonry, creating a continuous film.

A water sealer, however, is a repellent designed to cause water to bead up on a surface while allowing moisture vapor to pass through. Sealers are typically applied in such a way as to permeate the substrate, which is usually very porous, ensuring that the substrate is sufficiently covered. Water sealers can be applied with a brush, roller or sprayer. Only one coat is recommended unless the surface is extremely porous.

The idea that water can wreak havoc on masonry or concrete may sound strange, but constant exposure to water and especially winter freeze/thaw cycles can damage or destroy masonry surfaces in a surprisingly short amount of time.

For above-grade brick or masonry surfaces exposed to wind-driven rain or other weather elements but not subjected to hydrostatic pressure (the weight of a body of liquid pressing down on a surface), a water sealer fits the bill nicely. A sealer will satisfactorily protect the surface and maintain its original beauty. Waterproofers, on the other hand, are usually pigmented products that tend to change surface appearance.

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Things to know about building a segmental retaining wall

image of several tiers in a segmented retaining wallSegmental retaining walls have been steadily growing in popularity for a wide range of residential and commercial uses as the variety and quality of building materials has improved over the years.

Their popularity is due in large part to the fact that segmental retaining walls are less expensive than poured-in-place concrete walls and more durable than timber retaining walls. The systems are also easy to install and they don’t require mortar or concrete footings.

If you’re new to masonry products and construction, you may be asking “what is a segmental retaining wall?” Segmental retaining walls consist of modular concrete blocks that interlock with each other. They’re used to hold back a sloping face of soil to provide a solid, vertical front. Without adequate retention, slopes can cave, slump or slide. With the unique construction of segmental retaining walls, higher and steeper walls can be constructed with the ability to retain the force of lateral earth pressure created by the backfill soil.

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Patio Blocks

cappucinoPatio blocks are useful and decorative landscaping products, typically made out of concrete. There are many styles to choose from, ranging from elegant to downright silly. Patio blocks can be used in a few different ways around the yard, perfect for walkways and garden décor, not just the obvious choice of patio.  Here at Concrete Solutions, we offer a selection of top quality, beautiful patio blocks to give your property the elegance you deserve. Continue reading →