Concrete and Masonry Contractors Industry Profile

The US concrete and masonry contracting industry includes about 50,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of $60 billion. Major companies include Baker Concrete Construction, Ceco Construction Group, Stewart Builders, and United Forming.

The industry includes three main groups: poured concrete foundation and structure contractors; structural steel and precast concrete contractors; and masonry contractors.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by residential and commercial construction. The profitability of individual companies depends on cost estimation and project management. Large companies have economies of scale in marketing and purchasing. Small companies can compete effectively by specializing. The industry is labor-intensive: annual revenue per employee is less than $150,000.

The federal economic stimulus package approved in 2009, which included billions of dollars for infrastructure projects, should prove to be a boon for concrete and masonry contractors.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major jobs for concrete and masonry contractors include foundations and walls for residential and commercial building projects, as well as for infrastructure such as driveways and parking areas, highways, streets, sidewalks, bridges, tunnels, and sewers.

Concrete is a highly versatile material. Its characteristics depend on the types and proportions of the various materials mixed to create it. Concrete contains portland cement (the binding material); sand; gravel (or other kinds of crushed rock, all called "aggregate"); and water. Some concretes also contain coloring agents, sealants, and other additives to provide special properties. On construction projects, the type of ...