Pennsylvania Producer Member Sees Very Bright Future for Concrete Parking Lots

NRMCA Producer member Silvi Concrete of Fairless Hills, PA, has been able to convert and deliver more than 20,000 cubic yards and 1 million square feet of concrete pavement over the past six months. Zach Rich, Silvi Concrete’s New Jersey regional sales manager, provided one example of the company's success: Silvi approached the owner of Campbell Freight which was building an 80,000 square foot facility in South Brunswick, NJ, along the busy corridor of the New Jersey Turnpike. Silvi wanted to help put together a concrete parking lot bid package that would compete against the asphalt lot Campbell Freight specified. The building was design/build, so it allowed for value engineering as the project progressed. Campbell Freight wanted the best product it could get for its money. Campbell absolutely wanted concrete, but thought it wasn’t financially feasible, Rich said.

Rich then reviewed the drawings and made the apples-to-apples conversion to do the job in concrete. The drawings called for 4" DGA, 2.5" base course and 1.5" surface course asphalt. The concrete conversion was 4" DGA and 4" of concrete. The heavy duty asphalt called for 6" DGA, 3.5" base course and 1.5" surface course. The concrete conversion was 5" DGA and 6" of concrete. The concrete package was over designed compared to asphalt. This was a very easy concept for the owner, general contractor and engineer to digest and approve. The mix design was 4,000 psi ae midrange with a 467 stone blend.

During the process, Zach absorbed himself with all things concrete paving. He utilized resources such as the NRMCA’s Design Assistance Program (DAP), NRMCA concrete pavement online classes, ACI 330 R08- Concrete Parking Lots and ACI 330.1-03- Unreinforced Concrete Parking Lots to become a go to person on converting parking lots to concrete. The concrete contractor submitted a bid and was awarded the job.

The SILVI GROUP was founded in 1946, employs over 200 people and consists of ready mixed concrete, mining, cement and real estate in southeastern Pennsylvania and central and southern New Jersey. More details on Silvi's success can be obtained from New Jersey Regional Sales Manager Zach Rich at 267-907-9133 or by e-mail, zrich@silvi.com.