Sika flex 1a Arctic Overview
Written by J. S. Goray on . Posted in Educational
Unfortunately, since creating this video, Sika has decided to discontinue this product. Due to the production difficulties they had during 2020 and 2021, this product had to be shelved. Every time I have the opportunity to meet with Sika higher-ups, I ask them to bring 1A Artic back. It was that good. I am hopeful that after the Master Builders acquisition is completed, they will find room in their production and market to reintroduce 1A Artic. But only time will tell. Until then, we still have 2C Artic, a fantastic product we will continue to utilize once the weather turns cold for the year.
Take a look at our overview video of SikaFlex 2C Arctic here. If you need to place urethane sealant in the cold, it is your best bet.
If you perform sealant work in the cold, take a moment to watch our video on Albion B-line Caulk Guns. This goes over the differences in thrust ratios on their caulk guns, and which are better for what materials and weather conditions.
Visit Sika's sealnts page HERE. Please note that Sika has finished its acquisition of Master Builders. That means their sealants page will likely be changing soon to include some old Master Builders Products.
Learn more about our sealant services HERE.
EFFLORESCENCE
Written by J. S. Goray on . Posted in Educational
EFFLORESCENCE
Efflorescence is the gift that keeps on giving. Like pyrites to precast, efflorescence is an unsightly condition that can ruin the appearance of your masonry structure or even damage it to the point of repair. What causes efflorescence? A recent article published in July 2019 Masonry Magazine takes an in depth look at the issue at hand, the following is a excerpt from that article, the full article can be accessed by members of Mason Contractors Association of America.
Cracks in Concrete Buildings
Written by J. S. Goray on . Posted in Educational
Concrete surfaces form cracks; thermal changes and ground settlement are some of the common reasons why . This is inevitable with all types of concrete and concrete surfaces, ranging from smooth and split-face concrete block to poured-in-place, precast, and tilt-up walls.
Overlay of Existing Sealants
Written by J. S. Goray on . Posted in Educational
Overlay: When Is It Appropriate?
Leaving existing joint sealant in place and installing an overlay of new sealant can be an option if the conditions allow. While this could be considered a cost saving technique, the majority of existing conditions would not be acceptable for this technique. While it would save the installer time, in addition to material, by not removing the existing sealant, it mostly results in improper joint design and extremely premature failing of system.
Initial Rate of Absorption in Masonry
Written by J. S. Goray on . Posted in Educational
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INITIAL RATE OF ABSORPTION IN BRICK MASONRY WALLS
Masonry mortar must bond well to the masonry units in the wall. Brick absorption, including initial rate of absorption (IRA), is an important property affecting the bond. IRA also is a property for which a standard test method exists.
Unique Sealant Failures
Written by J. S. Goray on . Posted in Educational
It's not every day that we see both an adhesive and cohesive sealant failure at the same location:
Improper joint design, poor material mixing, incorrect sealant selection, sub-par preparation; all leading causes of premature joint failure. The example shown below is a very uncommon example of joint failure.
