EP #159: Low-Carbon Concrete? Kiss My Grits. Type I/II Is Back!

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: GPRSBefore 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/gprsON THIS EPISODE OF THE CONCRETE LOGIC PODCASTThe concrete industry spent the last few years blaming Type IL cement for almost everything.Cracking. Scaling. Low breaks. Slow set times. Higher water demand.Now Type I/II cement may be making a comeback.So what happens when the “bad guy” leaves the room and the same concrete problems are still standing there?Rich Szecsy joins the show to explain what he is seeing in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, why cement suppliers are shifting, and why this move back to Type I/II may expose an uncomfortable truth.Maybe Type IL caused some problems.Maybe it didn’t.But concrete was never problem-free before Type IL showed up.WHAT YOU’LL LEARNIs the cement market really shifting back to Type I/II?Why did Type IL become so common after 2020?What happens when one cement type gets blamed for every concrete problem?Will cracking, scaling, low breaks, and set delays disappear?Why the producer-contractor relationship matters more than internet argumentsHow ready-mix producers may handle Type IL and Type I/II at the same timeWhy the market, not the noise, decides which cement gets usedCHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:02 The big topic: Type I/II cement coming back 01:26 How to support the Concrete Logic Podcast 03:34 Rich’s view on the Type IL vs Type I/II shift 04:24 Why Type IL became more available after 2020 05:31 Rich’s 100% placement rate during the supply crunch 06:44 Concrete complaints blamed on Type IL 07:45 What happens if Type I/II returns and problems continue? 09:33 Contractors adjusting to changing cement types 10:07 Micro business needs vs macro industry needs 10:59 Past material changes that caused industry panic 11:24 Why concrete has always had variability 12:28 The old Type I vs Type II confusion 12:43 What cement suppliers are telling customers 13:05 Is the market asking for Type I/II again? 14:00 Why the market decides which cement wins 14:58 How quickly Texas shifted from Type I/II to Type IL 16:08 How ready-mix producers may handle both cement types 16:47 Submittals that allow either Type IL or Type I/II 17:29 Rich’s blunt definition of quality 18:35 Why the producer-contractor relationship matters most 19:51 Jobsite meetings, AI research, and “raspberry” 20:54 Is the Type I/II shift really happening? 21:28 Closing thoughtsGUEST INFORich Szecsy, CEO, Big Town Concrete https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/rich-szecsy/CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMYThe people who understand concrete are the people who get listened to.Not the loudest person in the meeting.Not the guy repeating what he heard ten years ago.Not the person blaming every problem on the latest material change.The person who understands the “why” behind the concrete usually has the most valuable voice in the room.That is what Concrete Logic Academy is built for.You get practical concrete education, PDH courses, and real-world lessons pulled from the same topics we cover on the Concrete Logic Podcast.Cement changes. Specs change. Admixtures change. Owners change their minds.Your knowledge needs to keep up.Start learning here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/concreteschoolSUPPORT THE PODCASTIf the Concrete Logic Podcast gives you value, send a little value back.You can support the show here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support/You can also support the show through our KUIU affiliate link: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiuInterested in sponsoring the podcast or working with Concrete Logic Media?Email Seth: [email protected]: Jodi Tandett and Concrete Logic MediaMusic by: Mike Dunton https://www.mdunton.com/WHERE TO FIND SETHConcrete Logic Podcast: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/Concrete Logic Academy: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/Until next time, let’s keep it concrete.