SKOKIE, Ill--Residential concrete is no longer confined to the foundation and driveway. Today homeowners can have concrete countertops in their kitchen, decorative concrete flatwork as their backyard patio, and concrete tiles on their roof. To help contractors meet the growing demand for these and other concrete and cement-based products, Portland Cement Association (PCA) and McGraw-Hill have joined forces to provide expert, straightforward answers to builders’ concrete system questions in Concrete Systems for Homes and Low-Rise Construction.

The use of concrete and cement-based building products in residential and low-rise construction has risen sharply during the last 20 years. Improvements in concrete and concrete products and systems have made them more economical, easier to use, higher performing and more aesthetically pleasing to the average homeowner. At the same time, consumers are demanding products that are energy efficient, durable, disaster resistant, and low maintenance—all inherent properties of concrete.

An update to the decade-old Concrete Homebuilding Systems, which primarily covered above-grade walls, Concrete Systems for Homes and Low-Rise Construction is broader in scope. It includes concrete and cement-based products for walls, floors, roofs, exterior finishes, landscaping, and decorative products such as countertops. It guides contractors in identifying the concrete systems that are right for them and their construction crews. The manual provides everything a contractor needs to know about the availability of products, the requirements for application, how to manage projects, and more.

For more information or to order, visit the PCA Bookstore at www.cement.org/bookstore. Orders can also be placed by calling 800-868-6733.

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.

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