The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s (NRMCA) Build with Strength campaign has partnered with Habitat for Humanity International to fortify modern, affordable, and resilient housing across the United States. The Build with Strength campaign and NRMCA Producer Members worked directly with local Habitat organizations to support home builds across 16 locations in 2021 and 2022. One of the locations chosen was a single-family home, owned by the Stark’s in Northfield, MN. Cemstone Concrete Materials joined in this national effort by donating materials, services, time and industry expertise.

Cemstone kicked off the project by delivering concrete and pumping the foundation of the home. Rice County Habitat for Humanity volunteers set the Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) for the lower level and placed the concrete which contained Helix fibers as secondary reinforcement which greatly reduced labor costs on the project. The ICF’s for the main level of the home were set by volunteers from Cemstone, many of whom had never worked with ICFs. In a little over 5 hours, led by Brad Scholl of Cemstone, the exterior walls of the main level were ready for concrete placement, also containing Helix, which was to take place the following week. The home also featured NovaBrik© for a portion of the exterior façade. A concrete driveway was also installed.

As a result of the project, completed in 2022, the Rice County Habitat for Humanity chapter has built multiple other concrete homes in Faribault, MN, like the Stark home in Northfield, MN.