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Concrete LogicAuthor: Seth Tandett
What is the most used manmade material on Earth? You guessed it concrete. In each episode of Concrete Logic, we will explore one concrete-related topic with the help of industry professionals that are shaping the future of the trade. Well talk with suppliers, contractors, architects, engineers, specialists, and even some proponents of competing materials about their views of concrete and their vision of its future. Language: en-us Genres: Education, Technology Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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EP #144: Concrete Isn’t Too Expensive — The System Around It Is
Episode 144
Thursday, 8 January, 2026
Concrete Is Losing on Cost. Here’s How to Take It Back.Concrete keeps getting priced out of jobs, not because it can’t compete, but because we keep doing the same things the same way. In this episode, Seth Tandett sits down with Rich Szecsy to talk about where concrete costs actually come from and why material price increases are only part of the story. They walk through how specs, local codes, labor assumptions, and risk avoidance quietly stack the deck against concrete, even when it’s the better material. This isn’t a theoretical discussion. It’s a practical look at what contractors, engineers, and producers can question, change, and push back on if they actually want concrete to stay competitive. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN· Why concrete keeps losing bids to steel and other materials· How self-compacting concrete can cut labor without cutting performance· Where specifications quietly drive cost more than material prices· How local codes create massive cost disparities for the same building· Why fear of sharing ideas slows innovation across the industry· How small, incremental changes can unlock real savings· Why understanding the full contractual chain matters more than mix price· What questions teams should be asking earlier to avoid cost traps CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro and how to support the Concrete Logic Podcast02:36 – Why concrete is struggling to compete on cost05:32 – Self-compacting concrete and labor reduction08:18 – How specifications quietly drive cost10:55 – Engineering challenges baked into specs13:44 – Local codes and why the same building costs more in different cities16:31 – The industry’s fear of sharing ideas18:58 – Incremental changes that actually move the needle21:32 – Local regulations and hidden cost multipliers23:56 – Asking better questions earlier GUEST INFORich SzecsyBio: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/rich-szecsy/ CONCRETE LOGIC PARTNERSINTELLIGENT CONCRETEConcrete not behaving the way it should?At Intelligent Concrete, Dr. Jon Belkowitz and his team combine lab-level testing with real-world field experience to get to the root of performance issues, not just the symptoms.https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMYEarn PDHs in the same straight-talk format as the podcast:https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/academySUPPORT THE PODCASTDid you get value out of the show? Give some value back:https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donateBuy your KUIU work & hunting gear and 10% goes to the show. No added cost to you: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiuMedia, sponsorship, or content inquiries:seth@concretelogicpodcast.com CREDITSProducer: Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic MediaMusic by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/WHERE TO FIND SETHhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcasthttps://www.concretelogicpodcast.com
