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Latest Trends in Construction
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December 11, 2025
When you’re doing concrete testing on active job sites, one of the biggest challenges is protecting concrete test specimens during the first 48 hours, when temperature, humidity, and evaporation can cause moisture loss and change how concrete gains strength. Deslauriers offers two high-quality options designed to support compliant, consistent results:
- Econ-O-Cure Field Curing System (also called the Cure Bag)
- Cure Plus 3
Both systems support the initial curing window (up to 48 hours) that is critical for reliable test results, and both reinforce Deslauriers’ reputation for dependable concrete testing equipment.
What is concrete curing?
Concrete curing is the process of maintaining moisture and temperature in fresh concrete to allow for the full chemical reaction—known as hydration—that occurs as the concrete sets. Proper curing prevents rapid evaporation of bleed water, which can lead to cracking and a weaker final product.
For field cylinders, this matters because ASTM requires controlled
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November 30, 2025
Deslauriers is thrilled to announce that our team will be exhibiting at World of Concrete 2026, taking place January 20–22, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. As one of the industry’s premier events for concrete professionals, contractors, and construction innovators, World of Concrete brings together the latest tools, technologies, and techniques shaping the future of the jobsite.
We can’t wait to connect with attendees, showcase our cutting-edge products, and demonstrate why our concrete forming solutions continue to set the standard for strength, durability, and efficiency.
You’ll find us at Booth #N2248 in the North Hall, where our expert team will be ready to answer questions, offer hands-on demos, and walk you through the materials, systems, and formwork innovations that make Deslauriers a trusted name in concrete construction.
Meet the Deslauriers Team at Booth #N2248
World of Concrete is all about connecting with the people behind the products, and this year, we’re bringing a lineup of
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November 16, 2025
Concrete is one of the most durable and versatile materials used in construction. However, when poured directly onto expansive soils, even the strongest concrete slab can crack or shift. This is why box voids and void forms are essential components of concrete foundations. These specialized structures protect slabs by creating a void space between the concrete and the surrounding soil, which allows room for soil movement without applying damaging pressure to the structure above.
In this article, we’ll explore what void forms are, the different types available, and how box voids help protect concrete slabs in a variety of soil and weather conditions.
According to Deslauriers, a void form is a temporary structure used during concrete forming to create an empty or void space beneath a slab, beam, or foundation. Once installed and exposed to moisture from the surrounding soil or wet weather, the form gradually loses its supportive strength, allowing it to collapse or degrade after the concrete
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November 02, 2025
Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials globally. It provides strength, durability, and versatility, but only when it is mixed, poured, and cured correctly. Even minor errors during construction can lead to cracking, scaling, or long-term structural problems. Understanding the most common mistakes in concrete construction can help prevent costly repairs and ensure long-lasting results.
Below, we break down ten frequent mistakes contractors and builders encounter, how to avoid them, and what to do if they happen. We also cover practical solutions, tools, and resources that can help improve your next project.
1. Incorrect Water-to-Cement Ratio
Adding too much water is one of the most frequent mistakes in concrete construction. While excess water makes concrete easier to work with, it significantly weakens the mix, leading to reduced durability, cracking, and scaling over time. A weak mix may not meet design strength and can cause early surface deterioration.
How to Avoid
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October 16, 2025
Sustainable manufacturing practices are shaping the future of construction. They reduce environmental impact, improve efficiency, and create stronger, longer-lasting projects. More companies are realizing that eco-friendly approaches not only cut waste but also protect valuable resources for years to come.
What Are Sustainable Manufacturing Practices in Construction?
Sustainable manufacturing involves producing construction materials in a manner that minimizes environmental harm. It also focuses on saving energy and limiting waste across the production cycle. The goal is to create products and systems that are durable, efficient, and built to serve future generations.
Common approaches include:
- Using recycled or biodegradable materials
- Reducing water and energy use in production
- Designing materials with longer life cycles
- Recycling or reclaiming excess jobsite materialsÂ
Sustainable manufacturing is not about doing less; it is about doing things better. Contractors who choose sustainable
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October 05, 2025
Rebar installation is one of the most critical phases in constructing safe and long-lasting concrete structures. From residential foundations and highways to commercial high-rises and bridges, the correct use of reinforcement steel ensures that concrete can withstand heavy loads, resist environmental stressors, and stand the test of time. At Deslauriers, we provide trusted tools, supports, and accessories that help contractors achieve rebar installation excellence while meeting industry standards.
This guide expands on best practices for rebar installation, outlines the necessary tools, explains essential concrete reinforcement techniques, and highlights how to stay compliant with rebar installation standards. By following these practices, contractors can enhance both safety and efficiency on any jobsite.
Why Rebar Installation Best Practices Matter
Concrete is naturally strong in compression but weak in tension. Without reinforcement, it is prone to cracking, deterioration, and premature
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September 14, 2025
Concrete quality is the foundation of any successful construction project. For contractors, engineers, and field technicians, knowing how to perform tests and use equipment properly is essential for ensuring safety, durability, and compliance with standards. That’s why high-quality concrete testing videos are an invaluable resource. Instead of flipping through dense manuals, professionals can watch step-by-step tutorials that make testing methods and best practices easier to understand and apply on the job site.
In this blog, we’ll walk through why video-based learning is so effective, highlight some must-watch tutorials from the Deslauriers YouTube library, and explain how contractors can use these videos to improve efficiency and accuracy on the job.
Why Concrete Testing Videos Matter
Concrete is one of the most widely used materials in construction, but its performance depends on accurate testing. Proper sampling, curing, and verification all affect strength and long-term durability.
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September 02, 2025
What Is On Site Construction Training?
On-site Construction Training is a hands-on, instructor-led program that takes place right at your jobsite. Rather than relying solely on classroom instruction or manuals, crews learn with the actual tools, materials, and conditions they face every day. This approach enables employees to understand concepts more quickly, retain information for longer periods, and apply new skills immediately.
Unlike traditional off-site courses, on-site training enables employees to see the relevance of what they are learning in real-time. For example, when learning how to use concrete testing products, workers can practice with the very molds and slump sets that they will use on the job. This kind of immediate, real-world application is one of the reasons on-site training is so practical.
On-site training also creates opportunities for mentorship and knowledge transfer. Veteran employees can work side by side with newer team members during the session, strengthening
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August 17, 2025
If you are looking for ways to prevent costly downtime and keep projects on track, the scaffold clip is one of the smartest investments you can make. Weather delays are among the biggest challenges contractors face, costing millions each year in lost productivity, wasted materials, and higher labor costs. The Scaffold Clip helps keep your site productive, safe, and protected from the elements. By ensuring proper scaffold weather protection, you are not just safeguarding employees, you are also boosting your bottom line.
Scaffold Weather Protection: Your First Defense Against Lost Time
Bad weather can halt construction faster than almost anything else. According to industry studies, over 45 percent of construction delays nationwide can be linked to weather interruptions. Rain, snow, and high winds do not just slow progress; they can also create dangerous conditions for your crew. That is why scaffold weather protection matters so much.
The Scaffold Clip secures poly sheeting to scaffolding,
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August 10, 2025
Precision matters in construction, especially when testing the strength and integrity of grout. The grout sample box is a critical tool in ensuring quality standards are met. This tool gives contractors, inspectors, and engineers a better way to capture and cure grout samples without the mess, inefficiency, and inconsistencies that come with outdated methods like the pinwheel.
The Problem With Traditional Sampling Methods
For years, the pinwheel method has been widely used to gather grout samples. But it comes with significant drawbacks: lack of consistency, improper volume collection, potential contamination, and messy handling. Worse, results from pinwheel samples often do not meet ASTM or job site standards. That’s where a grout sample box changes everything. It allows for more reliable, repeatable, and clean sample collection on construction sites of all sizes.
Why Grout Sample Boxes Are Better Than Pinwheels
The pinwheel method has been around for years, but it is outdated. It’s messy,