Gravity is not forgiving on a 38-degree slope.
This extreme structural placement in Nebraska involved a 58-foot diameter grain silo base with a 38-degree cone-shaped slope, rising 34 feet from bottom to top of the base. The geometry alone made traditional screed control methods impractical.
On a cone base, maintaining consistent grade while working against slope and elevation requires mechanical stability and predictable elevation control. Improvised systems simply don’t hold line under those conditions.
MAKO Screed Supports were used in combination with the Lura Lightning Strike Roller Screed to execute the placement.
A screed pipe supported by MAKO FinCaps was installed at the midpoint of the cone base. That support location was critical. It created a controlled strike-off reference point across a steep, continuously sloping surface.
The Lura Lightning Strike roller screed was then used to place and finish the concrete along the screed pipe system, allowing consistent consolidation and elevation control despite the aggressive pitch.
Key placement challenges included:
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38° continuous slope
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34-foot vertical rise
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58-foot diameter circular geometry
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Concrete working against gravity
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Maintaining structural thickness across a cone
The MAKO FinCaps provided stable screed pipe support under load. Mechanical elevation control ensured the screed rail remained true during placement, even as concrete pressure built along the slope.
On extreme pours like this, setup precision determines finish quality. Without reliable support, minor deflection compounds quickly across a 58-foot diameter.
The combined MAKO + Lura system provided:
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Stable mid-slope screed reference
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Controlled strike-off along a conical surface
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Consistent grade on steep geometry
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Production efficiency despite slope
Grain silo foundations demand structural integrity and dimensional accuracy. The finished cone base met project requirements while maintaining placement efficiency on one of the more demanding slab geometries in concrete construction.
Extreme slope.
Extreme geometry.
Engineered support that held line.
