All Services
Exterior Waterproofing
Waterproofing a structure from the exterior is the only method the IBC (International Building Code) recognizes as adequate to prevent structural damage caused by water intrusion. Prior to the 1980s much of the original exterior waterproofing was actually damp-proofing using a degradable asphalt-based covering.
Concrete Crack Injection
Crack injection is the process by
which
a resin, epoxy or polyurethane) is injected into a crack or void
under high or low pressure. Polyurethane is flexible and is used to
stop water leaks, while epoxy is a glue used to bond sections of a wall back
together as a structural repair.
In order to accomplish this operation, the area is
first exposed and the crack site cleaned up so we can see
the crack.
Many home owners
use patching compounds such as hydraulic cement to stop leaks, with limited
or temporary success. The moment the wall flexes, the rigid patch
cracks and leaks again. Another poor repair method
is injection using surface mount ports and a hand operated dispenser to
"fill" the crack with epoxy or polyurethane. We fix many of these so
called repaired cracks because there is no way to know if the crack has been
filled. Tight cracks cannot be properly repaired with this method and
we do not use it. Many home builders tend to use this method because
they can get someone in to do it cheap, (maybe even their own guy), so they
can get past the two year "New Home Warranty" requirements.
Caulking
Caulk (calk) can refer either to the caulking substance or to the process of applying it. Caulking as a term has spread to the building trade, meaning the activity of closing up joints and gaps in buildings. The function of caulking is to provide thermal insulation, control water penetration and noise migration.
This is mostly done with ready-mixed construction chemicals sold as caulk such as silicone polyurethane, poly-sulfide, sylil-terminated-polyether or polyurethane and acrylic sealant. Unlike construction caulk, which is applied where no building movement is expected, a sealant is made of elastomeric materials that typically allow movement of 25% to 50% of the width of the joint. Silicone sealants form a durable, water-tight seal, but are not typically paint able. Some silicone sealants are made to be paint able with certain types of paint such as water or oil-based paints. Other sealants are paint able.
One-component sealants are commonly sold in cartridges which are loaded into a pistol-like caulking gun (opening at the side) or barrel gun (opening at the end) for application. During the tool-working time, which varies by chemistry, the bead can be pressed into the joint so that it can bond with the materials on both sides