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. We’ll 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.
EP #172: Is Your Concrete Mix Eating Your Formwork?
ON THIS EPISODE OF THE CONCRETE LOGIC PODCAST
Why aren’t your concrete forms and release agents performing like they used to?
Seth is joined by Ken Pratt, technical director at Swanson Group, and Jonas DeWeber, strategic account manager at Nox-Crete, to discuss what changing concrete mixes mean for formwork.
They explain why they believe more reactive mixes are contributing to shorter plywood life, release problems, and unexpected concrete finishes.
Seth questions whether adjusting the release agent could solve the problem, or whether contractors need to rethink the entire combination of concrete, plywood, and release agent.
The conversation raises a practical question: Are you selecting formwork for the concrete you’re placing today, or the concrete you worked with five years ago?
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
How Ken and Jonas connect C595 blended cement mixes to changes in formwork performance
The difference between barrier and reactive release agents
How concrete chemistry and exposure time can affect plywood overlays
What distinguishes MDO, HDO, and phenolic surface film
Why an overlay designation alone may not define the performance you need
How release-agent selection can affect stripping and surface appearance
Why Ken is researching melamine overlays and what challenges remain
Why concrete discoloration may involve more than plywood or release agents
How pre-bid collaboration and mock-ups can help prevent costly surprises
Why finish requirements and specified form materials sometimes conflict
CHAPTERS
(01:43) Introduction and episode overview
(02:08) Guests’ backgrounds and concrete formwork experience
(03:02) Supporting the podcast and listener engagement
(05:03) C595 blended cement and formwork performance
(05:50) Reactive concrete mixes, plywood, and release agents
(08:07) Concrete chemistry and overlay deterioration
(10:04) MDO and HDO overlays explained
(12:07) Concrete alkalinity and formwork
(14:19) Matching release agents to reactive mixes
(15:18) Extending plywood life and managing formwork costs
(18:16) Overlay technology and plywood durability
(21:11) Can one formwork and release-agent combination work everywhere?
(24:06) Getting suppliers involved before construction
(25:40) Coordinating mix designs, formwork, and finish expectations
(35:22) Key takeaways for contractors and project managers
(37:01) Connecting with Ken and Jonas
GUEST INFO
Ken Pratt
Technical Director
Swanson Group
Guest link:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/ken-pratt/
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/ken-pratt/)
Jonas DeWeber
Strategic Account Manager
Nox-Crete
Guest link:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/jonas-deweber/
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/jonas-deweber/)
CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY
Concrete changed. Has your understanding kept up?
Concrete Logic Academy offers practical concrete education, professional-development courses, and early access to Concrete Logic Podcast episodes. Members also had the opportunity to submit questions for this conversation.
Join Concrete Logic Academy:
https://concreteschool.co (https://concreteschool.co)
(https://concreteschool.co/)
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
The Concrete Logic Podcast is independent and bootstrapped. If it gives you value, send a little value back.
Support the podcast:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support/
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support/)
You can also help by sharing this episode with a colleague or sending Seth a topic or guest suggestion.
KUIU LISTENER OFFER
Get 10% off KUIU with code LOGICPOD and support the Concrete Logic Podcast through our affiliate link.
Shop KUIU:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu)
Interested in sponsoring the podcast or working with Concrete Logic Media?
Email Seth:
seth@concretelogicpodcast.com
CREDITS
Producers: Jodi Tandett and Concrete Logic Media
Music by: Mike Dunton
https://www.mdunton.com/
(https://www.mdunton.com/)
WHERE TO FIND SETH
Concrete Logic Podcast:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/)
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast
(https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast)
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/)
Concrete Logic Academy:
https://concreteschool.co (https://concreteschool.co)
(https://concreteschool.co/)
Until next time, let’s keep it concrete.
6 Oct 2026
EP #171: 585,000 Yards of Concrete: Building a Massive LNG Plant
ON THIS EPISODE OF THE CONCRETE LOGIC PODCAST
What does it take to build the process area of a massive LNG facility?
Seth talks with Joey Goscha of Baker Construction about the concrete work behind the liquefaction trains, power facilities, and underground systems. Joey explains why the job starts with the ground and why early decisions can affect everything that follows. Seth presses him on pile connections and what happens when the work in the field does not go as planned. They also discuss how crews manage concrete production, safety, and quality at a pace few commercial contractors ever see.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
What the process area includes beyond the LNG storage tanks
Why Gulf Coast ground conditions shape the work from the start
How precast piles support massive equipment foundations
Why Joey believes owners should invest in a thorough test pile program
What can happen when pile connection sleeves miss their intended elevation
How foundations are prepared for modules built elsewhere and shipped to the site
Why crews place much of the structural concrete at night
How multiple batch plants supply different mixes across the site
Where precast and cast-in-place duct banks each make sense
Why Joey puts safety first when discussing schedule and productivity
What would surprise a commercial contractor walking onto an LNG project
CHAPTERS
(01:45) Introduction and ways to support the show
(04:26) What is LNG, and why does it matter?
(08:41) What goes into an LNG process area?
(10:53) The size of the site and its workforce
(12:13) Ground stabilization, piles, and foundations
(17:12) Pile connections and the case for test piles
(20:52) Night pours and concrete production
(24:25) Miles of duct banks, piping, and trenches
(27:04) Safety and productivity at this scale
(29:28) Why stabilizing the ground is harder than it looks
(33:00) What would shock a commercial contractor?
(35:11) Joey on the pace of American construction
GUEST INFO
Joseph “Joey” Goscha
Vice President, Baker Construction
Guest link: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/joseph-goscha/ (https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/joseph-goscha/)
CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY
Ground conditions, pile decisions, mix coordination, and placement all affect what happens next. The more you understand the “why” behind the concrete, the better questions you can ask before problems reach the field.
Concrete Logic Academy offers practical concrete education and courses for people who want to build that knowledge.
Start learning here:
https://concreteschool.co (https://concreteschool.co)
(https://concreteschool.co/)
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
If the Concrete Logic Podcast gives you value, share this episode with a colleague.
Have a topic or guest suggestion? Use Ask Seth or leave a voicemail at:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/)
You can also visit the website and click Donate to send some value back:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donate
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donate)
GET THE CONCRETE LOGIC NEWSLETTER
One email each week with the latest episode, a new article, and questions worth asking about the concrete industry.
Sign up here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/concrete-logic-newsletter-sign-up/
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/concrete-logic-newsletter-sign-up/)
10% OFF KUIU FOR CONCRETE LOGIC PODCAST LISTENERS
Need gear for your next hunt? Shop KUIU through our link and use code LOGICPOD for 10% off: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu)
CREDITS
Producers: Jodi Tandett and Concrete Logic Media
Music by: Mike Dunton
https://www.instagram.com/mduntonmusic (https://www.instagram.com/mduntonmusic)
WHERE TO FIND SETH
Concrete Logic Podcast:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/)YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast)
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/)Concrete Logic Academy:
https://concreteschool.co (https://concreteschool.co)
Until next time, let’s keep it concrete.
24 Sept 2026
EP #170: Concrete Silica vs. Silicates: Are You Getting What You Paid For?
JOIN THE ACADEMY! VISIT CONCRETESCHOOL.CO TO START LEARNING TODAY.
ON THIS EPISODE OF THE CONCRETE LOGIC PODCAST
What if the product you bought as colloidal silica is actually a cheap silicate?
Seth is joined by Dr. Jon Belkowitz of Intelligent Concrete to explain why these similarly named materials are not the same.
Jon argues that pH is one of the quickest ways to distinguish colloidal silica from a silicate, and that the difference can affect performance, handling, specifications, and cost.
The bigger concern is what happens when a product is sold as colloidal silica but is actually a much less expensive silicate. Jon says buyers should verify the chemistry instead of relying only on labels or sales claims.
The conversation also connects colloidal silica to current durability concerns in concrete and asks a practical question: Are you actually getting the material you think you are buying?
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
• The basic difference between a silicate and colloidal silica
• Why Jon compares the difference between silicate and silica to the difference between cement and concrete
• How sodium, potassium, and lithium silicates differ
• Why pH can be an important first check when evaluating a product sold as colloidal silica
• Why higher-pH silicates can require different handling and shipping considerations
• Why the cost difference between silicates and colloidal silica matters when evaluating a product
• Why Jon believes some products are being represented inaccurately in the marketplace
• What DOTs, contractors, and owners should verify instead of relying only on product descriptions
• Why Jon connects the renewed interest in colloidal silica to durability concerns with some lower-carbon concrete systems
• How colloidal silica may be used as one tool for improving concrete performance
• Why a certificate of analysis or independent testing can help confirm what material was actually supplied
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction and support for the show
(02:13) A quick detour into Leon Foucault and science
(02:50) Concrete Logic Academy and today’s topic
(03:18) Silica versus silicates
(04:59) Using pH to tell the difference
(05:59) When does the difference matter in concrete?
(07:48) The cost gap between silicates and colloidal silica
(09:55) Product labeling, SDS information, and accountability
(10:26) Why DOTs specify silica
(12:49) What customers expect colloidal silica to do
(16:50) Colloidal silica and lower-carbon concrete
(18:00) How to verify what you are buying
GUEST INFO
Dr. Jon Belkowitz
Intelligent Concrete
Guest link: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/dr-jon-belkowitz/
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/dr-jon-belkowitz/)
CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY
The people who understand concrete are the people who get listened to.
Not the loudest person in the meeting.
Not the person repeating what they heard ten years ago.
The person who understands why the chemistry matters usually has the most valuable voice in the room.
That is what Concrete Logic Academy is built for.
You get practical concrete education, professional-development courses, and real-world lessons connected to the topics covered on the Concrete Logic Podcast.
Start learning here:
https://concreteschool.co (https://concreteschool.co)
(https://concreteschool.co/)
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
If the Concrete Logic Podcast gives you value, send a little value back.
You can support the show here:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support/
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support/)
You can also support the show through the KUIU affiliate link:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu)
Interested in sponsoring the podcast or working with Concrete Logic Media?
Email Seth: seth@concretelogicpodcast.com
CREDITS
Producers: Jodi Tandett and Concrete Logic Media
Music by: Mike Dunton
https://www.instagram.com/mduntonmusic/ (https://www.instagram.com/mduntonmusic/)
WHERE TO FIND SETH
Concrete Logic Podcast:
https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/
(https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/)
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast
(https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast)
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/)
Concrete Logic Academy:
https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/
(https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/)
Until next time, let’s keep it concrete.
Who has been a guest on Concrete Logic
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Bob Higgins
Greg Fricks
Adam Dietrich
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
79,796
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
13 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
11 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 82 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
100
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
82
Contact Concrete Logic
Guest appearances
Books guests
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