IIJA and IRA Bills

Recently, two pieces of legislation were passed regarding federal funding for certain construction projects. Mainly impacting the amount of funding, these bills can change the future of the construction industry. These bills are the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Read on to learn a little bit more about the impacts of the IIJA and IRA bills.

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Hurricane Ian Construction Impacts

Hurricane Ian ripped through the southeast United States recently and people are starting to assess the damage. As with every natural disaster, loss of life and property is going to happen. Unfortunately, it was the deadliest hurricane to hit Florida since 1935 and has caused an estimated $30-60 billion in damages. Read on to learn more about Hurricane Ian construction impacts.

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Preventing Falls in Construction

It is officially the start of the fall season! As the leaves start to change, pumpkin flavors start dominating the industry, along with haunted houses and other fun activities. However, just because the fall season is enjoyable, does not mean that construction falls are enjoyable. Read on to learn how you can start preventing falls in construction environments!

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Stadiums Under Construction

“If you build it, they will come.” This quote from the “Field of Dreams” movie seems to be the inspiration for many of the newest construction projects, like apartment buildings and entertainment districts. In fact, that can even be applied to stadiums under construction as well. With some sports stadiums now including plans for apartment buildings or their own entertainment districts, let’s take a closer look at some of the newest stadiums under construction in the United States.

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How to Prepare for a Recession

Recessions happen in the economy and are bound to happen. The important part for any business is how to stay strong during a recession and then bounce back better. With recent events like Covid and other foreign affairs, experts are actually suggesting to prepare for a recession right now. This post is mainly directed towards construction companies, but any business looking to prepare for a recession can apply some of these tips to their industry. Read on to learn a few ways to prepare for a recession.

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July Chicago Construction News

July is one of the busiest construction months in Chicago and beyond. There are more workable days to get bigger projects done. Chicago is also a center for innovation in construction and design. Therefore, this blog will recap of some of the big July Chicago construction news. Read on to learn more!

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Masonry

You might know Elston Materials as Chicago’s #1 Source for Masonry Construction Supplies. However, what exactly is masonry? Let’s investigate a little bit more about one of the oldest construction techniques in the world.

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Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality

Last blog, we talked about carbon neutral concrete and how it relates to the overall path to carbon neutrality. Today, we will explore a little bit about the official Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality, coined by the Portland Cement Association. This Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality outlines actions to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Since the concrete industry accounts for over 8% of worldwide emissions, the supply chain in the US wants to be the catalyst for change. Read more to learn more about their goals!

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The Rise of Carbon Neutral Concrete

Climate change is impacting millions of people around the world. And with gas prices getting higher in the US everyday, there is a lot of concern about the state of our environment. Here in the US, cement manufacturers have committed to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. One of the ways to achieve that goal is with carbon neutral concrete. Let’s jump in and find out more about this exciting development!

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How to Clean Your Concrete Patio for Summer

Summertime in Chicago is officially here! This means sunshine, beach time, and even hosting barbecues with family and friends. However, the winter and spring seasons allow for concrete patios to accumulate stains, moss, and imperfections. Unfortunately, the grimy patio can take away from an otherwise perfect celebration. Concrete patios should also be cleaned at least once a year to keep them in shape. Luckily, right before the summer season is a perfect time to do it. Read on to learn how to clean your concrete patio and make it look pristine for summer gatherings!

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