Concrete Testing
Latest Trends in Construction
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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a better way to capture and cure grout samples without the mess, inefficiency, and inconsistencies that come with outdated methods like the pinwheel.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The pinwheel method has been around for years, but it is outdated.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,
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July 13, 2025
Beam molds are essential tools in construction testing, used to measure the flexural strength of concrete, a critical property for structures exposed to moving loads. From airport runways to highway pavements, knowing how to make and use beam molds properly helps ensure your concrete performs under stress.
Why Flexural Strength Matters in Construction
When concrete is subjected to moving loads, such as airplanes landing or cars crossing bridges, it needs to withstand bending or flexing forces. This is where beam molds come into play. Unlike cylinders that measure compressive strength, test beams made in beam molds help determine flexural strength, the material's ability to resist bending. In projects involving pavement, runways, or bridge decks, flexural strength data provides more accurate performance indicators than compressive strength.
For a hands-on demonstration, watch Beam Molds and Flexural Strength Explained. Using beam molds to produce reliable concrete test beams ensures
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June 15, 2025
Concrete slump cone testing plays a vital role in determining the workability of fresh concrete. As construction demands grow, choosing the right equipment becomes even more essential. If you're still using outdated tools, it's time to consider an upgrade. The plastic slump cone from Deslauriers offers reliable, ASTM C143-compliant testing with greater durability and value than steel alternatives. Here's why it’s becoming the go-to choice for job sites and labs across the industry.
What a Concrete Slump Cone Does and Why It Matters
Understanding the Purpose of a Slump Cone
A concrete slump cone helps evaluate the consistency and workability of freshly mixed concrete. The cone is filled in layers, each tamped down and then lifted. The distance the concrete slumps, or settles, indicates its workability. Too much slump means excessive water, which could lead to cracks or shrinkage. Too little, and the mix is too dry, leading to poor finish or placement issues.
Why Accurate Slump Testing Matters
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February 02, 2025
Concrete slump testing sounds intimidating, yet it becomes quite easy with practice. Construction site managers, quality control technicians and engineers alike are encouraged to master concrete slump testing before beginning projects.
This is your step-by-step guide from Deslauriers’ concrete testing experts on how to perform a concrete slump test the right way.
How to Perform a Concrete Slump Test: A Quick Explanation of Concrete Slump
The slump analysis requires a consolidation of the concrete sample in a highly precise manner. A cone frustrum serves as the mold for concrete testing. The “slump” of concrete refers to the subsiding of the concrete as the mold is raised up after losing support.
The slump value refers to the height distance from the original surface and the displaced surface. The value is typically measured in either inches or millimeters.
The slump value ideal for one concrete application is not necessarily optimal for the next. A concrete slump that is particularly stiff
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December 01, 2024
There is a common misconception that concrete is infallible. Though concrete is strong, it has the potential to falter. If you plan on using concrete for a project, test it beforehand. This is your guide to concrete testing.
The Importance of Concrete Testing
Test your concrete before beginning a new project and you’ll maximize its safety, functionality and efficiency. Regardless of the building’s size or anticipated weight, testing is essential prior to beginning work.
From high-rise buildings that reach to the skies to sidewalks and columns, testing is necessary. Ideally, fresh concrete testing will be conducted by a civil materials testing company with the appropriate qualifications.
Concrete Testing for Safety
Testing for safety is of particular importance. Concrete should be stable, capable of bearing a load and allow for transportation without danger. The last thing you want is for your concrete to crumble or crack.
Fresh Concrete Tests for Functionality
Concrete that
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December 17, 2023
Determining the Ideal Concrete Strength Test
In a construction project, strength analysis is critical, but is there a best concrete strength test for construction? To better understand how you can determine which concrete strength test suits your project, let's explore some of the steps you might take and some standard concrete strength assessment techniques. We'll also explore why you need to identify your project goals and how those goals can help determine the best approach.
Importance of Concrete Strength Testing
Testing the strength of concrete is a critical process. Selecting accurate strength testing methods is crucial to safety and your project materials optimization processes.
Durability and safety in construction tests are two critical considerations. Using concrete of inadequate strength can put people in harm's way and risk widespread costs associated with unfit buildings. As such, determining the most viable means of testing concrete for strength can be a weighty decision -
November 19, 2023
Accurate Results In Concrete Moisture Testing
One of the worst hazards for concrete is moisture or excess water. Understanding a concrete moisture test can help ensure your flooring installations are top-notch.
Modern concrete can last about 50 years before needing repairs or replacement. Before starting your next project, you should know how to get the most out of your concrete. If you're curious about learning the proper test method, Deslauriers is here to offer our guidance.
Dangers of Moisture in ConcreteTo begin, what are the dangers of moisture in concrete? Concrete is a wet substance before it sets, making it difficult to see why water is bad for concrete. However, moisture levels can prove caustic if your concrete has too much water.
Using too much water can render your concrete floor slabs useless. Will moisture affect your concrete floor cost or cause water damage? Here are some of the most important hazards of moist concrete.
Humid RoomsOne issue with moist concrete