Concrete Countertop Institute software aids mix design

The Concrete Countertop Institute has developed easy-to-use software for creating high-performance, from-scratch concrete countertop mixes. Two mix formulas are provided, one all-sand mix excellent for handpacked or variegated looks and one gravel-based mix designed to be highly flowable and perfect for vibration and a uniform surface appearance. The software automatically calculates exactly how much of each ingredient is needed, including pozzolans, pigments and decorative glass, and produces a printable batch report for use while mixing. Sample colors are also included. These mixes were tested by an independent testing lab and found to achieve compressive strengths of more than 4,000 psi in one day, 6,200 psi in three days, and 8,200 psi in seven days. Jeffrey Girard, P.E., president of the Concrete Countertop Institute, designed the mixes and wrote the software. “These are the mixes I developed when I first started making concrete countertops, so they have 10 years of success behind them,” he says in a CCI news release. “I have been teaching these mix formulas to my students for years, but this is the first time that CCI has offered them outside of our hands-on classes.” The package consists of the software, a user’s guide for the software, and a 34-page textbook explaining important fundamentals of concrete, such as water/ cement ratio, how pozzolans work and how concrete cures, as well as offering a troubleshooting guide. ? (888) 386-7711 ? www.ConcreteCountertopInstitute.com

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