Whether you’re building new or updating an existing structure, your contractor will visit your jobsite first before doing any work. Even though they have a blueprint of your plan, there are specific factors at the jobsite a contractor must consider.
Why evaluate the jobsite:
Site evaluation is critical to truly understanding the scope of the job and identifying possible challenges that may arise. After reviewing the building blueprint, visiting the jobsite helps to ensure the requirements and site details are accurate. A site visit allows for double checking dimensions, elevations, and details related to door openings and beam pockets as well as to identify safety issues and potential excavation challenges.
A quality contractor will visit your jobsite to evaluate five specific factors that can impact project success, budget and timeline.
5 Jobsite Factors Contractors Evaluate
Space. The size of the area impacts the type of excavator and how well machinery will be able to maneuver around, as well as the extent of trees and brush to be cleared.
Soil. Whether soil is cohesive or granular will impact the foundation in relation to structure, load and how it will be used.
Slope. The steepness of a slope will impact drainage around the foundation, equipment stability, and safety during excavation.
Survey of area. The distance to wildlife, extent of people in close proximity and level of traffic nearby play a factor in the access and safety of the project.
Safety. Operating large equipment requires safety awareness not only for oneself but others around the jobsite. Location, nearby hazards, and traffic flow are all considered.
Make sure your contractor not only reviews your plans but also does a site visit. These five factors can dramatically impact your design, budget, and timeline. At Kurk, we always visit a jobsite and thoroughly review the foundation plan, double check dimensions, elevations, underground utilities, and the five factors above.
Consider Kurk Inc. for your next excavation and concrete project.
Concrete. We see it everywhere; at the park, on the street, in our homes, where we shop, where we worship, where we eat, and where we walk. According to ScienceDirect, concrete is the most consumed material in the world, second to water. It is so commonly used in construction we take it for granted. Have you ever wondered why we use concrete to construct our buildings, homes, shops and entertainment areas?
Reasons to construct with concrete
Concrete is strong. A chemical reaction between cement and water gives concrete its strength. Cement is a powder made up of limestone, calcium, silicon, iron, and aluminum. When cement is mixed with water it forms a paste, like glue, binding together sand, gravel, and crushed stone. The paste hardens over time setting and adhering the pieces in place.
Temperature tolerant. In the midwest where temperatures can range from below zero in winter to over 100 degrees in summer, concrete will retain its form and strength. To properly prepare concrete for those extreme temperatures and prevent spalling, scaring or pits, it is important to pour concrete with the right amount of water, at the right environmental temperature, and allow for the right amount of time for it to cure.
Easy to maintain. Sealing concrete extends the life of it, makes it resistant to stains, and retains its visual appeal. In addition to sealing, we recommend keeping your concrete clean and dry, using a ehumidifier in enclosed places, and making sure the drainage system is working properly.
Cost effective. Only a few key materials are used for making concrete. Materials that are relatively plentiful in supply and easy to acquire, making the cost to produce it reasonable. The fact concrete can last almost forever makes the investment well worth it.
Aesthetically pleasing. Accurately leveled surfaces and fine-tuned finishing work provide that smooth, glossy finish look we all love to see. It is versatile in that you can create different designs by cutting it into various shapes and sizes. Different finishes and sealants can be applied in varying colors creating unique designs.
Concrete is the go-to material for most construction projects. When you’re looking for a reliable partner to pour concrete for a commercial building foundation, home foundation, or flat surface, call Kurk. We are a partner that goes above and beyond to get the job done right.
Kurk, Inc., a concrete and excavation company located in Union Grove, WI, is hiring equipment operators. Kurk provides concrete foundations, flatwork, site excavation, and site utilities in Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, and Milwaukee counties. Visit the Kurk website to learn more about job opportunities in concrete construction and excavation.
Hiring: Concrete Placement & Equipment Operator
Requires a Class A CDL and a desire to get things done attitude.
This position requires employees to drive and operate equipment such as concrete placement pumps, conveyors, semi trucks, dump trucks, skid loaders, tractors, etc.
Hiring: Skilled Concrete Foundation & Flatwork Crew Members
We are always looking to add individuals with a great attitude and williness to work to join the Kurk Concrete Crews. Specific positions include: wall laborers, flatwork laborers, flatwork finishes, and more.
Consider a Career in Construction
Are you looking for a life-long career? Or looking to do something a little different? If you’re ready to learn a new skill set, consider joining the Kurk Crew! Construction skills and safety training is provided on- the-job with experienced foreman in our excavation, site utilities, concrete flatwork, concrete foundation divisions.
Employee Benefits
Competitive Pay Health & Life Insurance Health Savings Account (HSA) Employee Wellness Program 401K Retirement Planning 40 Hour Work Week + Overtime Opportunities Paid Vacation & Holidays
Email your resume to [email protected] or stop in our office to fill out an application.
The groundbreaking at the Whitetail Ridge senior and multifamily development in Paddock Lake on Thursday August 23rd, kicked off the construction of 50 senior apartments, 10 townhomes, and new single family home sites in Kenosha County, WI.
Not only does the Whitetail Ridge Development fill the housing need in the area, it also fills the void left open when previous development plans for this site fell through. With the new housing available, Paddock Lake sets itself up to spur future development in the area.
Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch attended the ceremony in support of an announcement of more than $6.6 million in state housing tax credits to help fund nine projects statewide. A portion of the Whitetail Ridge Development was made possible and is supported by a 2017 federal housing tax credit.
“Through our partnership with WHEDA, we have eight projects in the state of Wisconsin right now, totaling 658 new homes for hard-working families and seniors,” S. R. Mills, president of Bear Development said. Two of those are supported by 2018 tax credit awards. Five are in Kenosha County.
“The goal for the project (in Paddock Lake) was not only to create some really high-quality housing, but really to have this development act as a catalyst,” Mills said.
Are you looking for a concrete contractor for your next multi-family construction project? Find out more information about our commercial building foundation services today.
With temperatures escalating and an excessive heat warning in place, it’s critical that we all put heat safety first by protecting ourselves from the dangers of excessive heat. Heat stress is a legitimate concern that we all need to pay attention to. Heat illnesses and deaths are preventable when appropriate measures are taken.
In 2011, OSHA launched the Heat Illness Prevention campaign to educate employers and workers on the dangers of working in the heat. The safety message comes down to three key words: Water. Rest. Shade. Learn more about workplace heat safety here.
Beat the Heat With These Tips For Heat Safety
Whether at work or spending time outdoors at home, heat safety should be a priority for everyone.
Hydrate
The first and most important heat safety tip is to stay hydrated – before, during, and after spending time outdoors. When spending time outdoors in the heat, you should drink 2-4 cups of water every hour – even if you’re not thirsty. Sports beverages are a good option to replace electrolytes lost during periods of prolonged sweating.
Avoid Alcohol & Caffeine
Alcohol, caffeine, and sugary beverages offer minimal hydration. These types of beverages can actually increase your risk for heat stress. It’s also a good idea to cut back on tobacco use.
Modify Your Work Schedule
In extreme heat conditions, it is best to consider rescheduling your work to cooler part of the day. If you’re working at home, could certain tasks be done in the morning or evening, avoiding the hottest parts of the day (10 am -2 pm)?
When work schedules cannot be changed, everyone needs to watch more closely for signs of heat illness and take more frequent breaks to rehydrate and cool down.
Rotating job functions among workers can help minimize overexertion and heat exposure.
Choose Your Clothing Carefully
When working outside during hot weather, choose light colored, loose fitting, breathable clothing. Cotton shirts are a good choice as are new engineered fabrics that provide a cooling effect and absorb sweat. Wide brimmed hats can protect your head, neck, eats, eyes, and nose from direct sun exposure. Sun block with a minimum of 30 SPF should be reapplied throughout the day to keep exposed skin protected from UV rays.
Rest & Shade
Working in the full sun can increase heat index values by 15° F. A critical part of heat safety while working outside is taking time to rest in the shade and rehydrate. This allows your body to properly cool down.
Stay Alert for Heat Exhaustion
Heat illness symptoms should not be ignored. If you see someone exhibiting any signs of heat illness, action should be taken to cool the person down.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers the diagrams below to help monitor signs of illness.
Early Symptoms of Heat Illness
If you notice someone exhibiting these symptoms: lethargy, disorientation, stumbling, dropping tools, slurred speech, it’s time to take action. Help this person to shade or a cooler area.
Progression of Heat Illness
Heat exhaustion leads to heat cramps and is followed by heat stroke. You can learn more about heat related illness and first aid on the OSHA website.
The relatively warm start of December allowed more projects to be started and extended our last minute push to wrap up site concrete and paving for the year. Now, that things have finally settled down after the busy holiday season and even busier December construction push, we can take a little bit of time to look back on the successful year of 2017.
9 Ready Mix Suppliers and 19,000 Cubic Yards of Concrete Later…
With 2017, came a change in our concrete ready mix suppliers. The purchase of one of our ready mix suppliers and moving into some new markets allowed us to develop relationships with some new ready mix suppliers while still maintaining strong relationships with ready mix suppliers we have grown with over the last decade. In 2017, we used more ready mix suppliers than we have used in years past including RKW Ready Mix, Gleason Redi Mix, Sonag Ready Mix, Riv/Crete, New Berlin Redi Mix, Lycon Ready Mix, Zignego Ready Mix, Dodge Concrete, and Schmitz Ready Mix. I think we can safely say we have used almost all of the ready mix suppliers in South East Wisconsin.
Ground Breaking 2017
In 2017, everyone at Kurk, Inc worked on over 100 projects completing 21,818 linear feet of concrete foundation walls and 729,547 square feet of concrete floors.
Here’s a few photos from 2017…
Coleman Tool Building Addition
We have just about completed the Coleman Tool Building Addition in Union Grove, WI with Design 2 Construct in 2017. This Spring, we will finish up some exterior canopy work at the job.
Coleman Tool Excavation
Interior Column Footings at Coleman Tool
Footings Ready for Precast at Coleman Tool
The Start of Precast at Coleman Tool
Exterior Concrete Pavement
Interior Floor Pour with Laser Screed
Interior Slab at Coleman Tool
Midwest Form & Supply
We are working with Bower Design & Construction to complete a new shop for one of our suppliers, Midwest Form & Supply. At this job we did the complete site grading, excavated for the pond, installed site utilities, and completed a loading dock retaining wall.
Site Utility Installation
Midwest Form Pond Excavation Completed
Loading Dock Retaining Wall
Bower Design & Construction Foundations
Speaking of working with the team at Bower Design & Construction, we completed a few more projects with them in 2017. The Kurk crew worked on a few different custom home foundations as well as completing a new park pavillion for the Racine County Agricultural Society at the Racine County Fairgrounds.
Footing Stone & Pour for Yorkville Home
Pavilion Slab for Racine County Agriculture Society
Excavation at Caledonia Foundation
Stoning Footings at Caledonia Home
Yorkville Turn-Key Foundation Package
We worked with Zach Building Co, a custom home builder based in Pewaukee, WI, on an executive home in Yorkville, WI. Our contract including total site preparation, concrete foundation, and concrete flatwork.
New Home Foundation Excavation
Basement Wall Forming
Site Grading & Backfill at Yorkville Custom Home
A Few Other 2017 New Home Foundations
Heavy July rains required us to pump this Kenosha home foundation two different times.
Garage Renovation in Yorkville
Condominium Framing in Waterford
New Home Foundation in Kohler Ridge Subdivision, New Berlin, WI
Franklin New Home Foundation
Exterior Concrete Flatwork & Entry
Commercial Construction in 2017
While a few of the over 100 jobs we worked on in 2017 were new home foundations, many of them included commercial work, such as the Community State Bank drive through renovation, new medical offices for Dr. Sandvick and Dr Schueing, Muskego City Hall, Merz North America, and many more.
Community State Bank Drive Through Renovation
Pale Properties Phase II Floor Preparation
Port Washington Dentist Office Foundation
South Milwaukee Chiropractic Office Foundation
Rain Damage at Muskego City Hall
Muskego City Hall Foundation Construction
Merz North American Renovation
Commercial Building Footings in Union Grove, WI
Commercial Building Excavation in Union Grove, WI
Setting Bolts at Community State Bank
Looking Forward to 2018
With all of the projects completed in 2017, we are unfortunately unable to share photos for every single job. We have set our goal to share more projects with all of you in 2018. We will be sharing our projects by posting blog updates and updating our portfolio on the website. We will also be sharing photos and news on Facebook and Instagram, so be sure to follow us there!
Now that the sub zero weather has taken a short break here in Wisconsin, we have officially started the 2018 construction season! As we type now, we’re preparing to head out to Madison to work with our friends at Oak Park Place and currently have three projects in the excavation phase and will be pouring footings this week.
The new year will bring many new projects that we look forward to completing. We hope you’ll check back soon to see what everyone is up to at Kurk, Inc.
Concrete. We see it everywhere; at the park, on the street, in our homes, where we shop, where we worship, where we eat, and where we walk. According to 
