Concrete Walls

concrete coating

Coating Concrete: Performance Expectations, Coating Types, and Performance Testing of Coatings Used to Protect Concrete Bridges

Coatings, Concrete, Concrete Walls / By

Introduction Concrete is the most widely used building material worldwide because it has many unique properties that make it ideal for use in construction. Concrete is formable and is naturally resistant to UV, mold and insects. Concrete is noncombustible and is relatively inexpensive relative to other building materials. Why Coat Concrete? There are several reasons […]

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quality of coating application leak detector

Localized Assessment of Air Leakage in Building Air Barriers

Buildings, Commercial, Concrete Walls, Inspection, Instruments / By

ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Energy Standard 90.1-2010 and the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code require that building envelopes be designed to limit uncontrolled air leakage into and out of buildings. Air leakage in buildings is controlled at the time of construction by installing air barrier systems.  ASTM E1186-17, “Standard Practices for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building Envelopes

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rilem test tube

Wind-Driven Rain Resistance Testing of Exterior Coating Systems

2 Comments / Buildings, Coating Assessment, Commercial, Concrete Walls, Lab Testing / By

Controlling moisture intrusion from blowing rain is a fundamental part of designing a functional and durable building. Driving rain is typically the largest source of bulk moisture for above-grade building assemblies.1 Inadequate wind-driven rain resistance can lead to moisture intrusion in building assemblies that are intended to stay dry, causing problems for building owners and

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permeability

The Significance of the Permeability of Paints

Buildings, Commercial, Concrete Walls, Lab Testing / By

Permeability of Applied Paints & Coatings… Do I want a permeable coating or not? The answer to the question posed is based on the substrate and the service environment. All paint and coatings are permeable to water, just to different degrees. A high resistance to permeability is likely desirable for lining applied to the interior

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moisture-sensitive coating layers

How Many Times Can I Repaint the Exterior of My Building?

Buildings, Coating Failure, Coatings, Commercial, Concrete, Concrete Walls / By

In the September 2014 issue of Durability + Design, we described the laboratory test methods used to determine the water vapor permeance of coatings, as well as the importance of knowing the permeance of the interior and exterior coatings used on building walls. As seen in Durability & Design, January 2017 “Calculated Impact: Can WUFI

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Editing the Trouble Out of Painting Specifications

Commercial, Concrete Walls, Specifications / By

Painting specifications identify the facility or building owner’s requirements for the selection and use of coatings for both the protection of substrates and aesthetics. The specifications identify the requirements for surface preparation and coating application; the materials to be applied, often by brand name; color schemes; and expectations for quality control and documentation (Fig. 1).

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Rilem Tube

Mitigating Moisture in Concrete and Masonry Walls

1 Comment / Coating Standards, Coatings, Commercial, Concrete Floors, Concrete Walls, Inspection, Moisture / By

In commercial buildings, the uncontrolled intrusion of moisture into concrete and masonry walls may have costly consequences. Moisture supports the growth of mold, and causes wall coatings to blister and peel. It also saturates insulation, reducing energy efficiency. In extreme cases, moisture intrusion leads to spalling and could even necessitate wall replacement. Coatings and water

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concrete wall coatings

Treating Exterior Concrete Walls with Coatings

Buildings, Coatings, Commercial, Concrete Walls, Moisture, Surface Preparation / By

Concrete is widely used in commercial building construction and is present in a number of forms: poured concrete, tilt-up concrete and concrete masonry units (CMU). CMU also comes in a number of different forms: standard block, split-face block and scored block. Because of the dull gray appearance of concrete, however, coatings are usually applied in

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Spot Assessments of Ongoing Cleaning and Painting Projects

Buildings, Commercial, Concrete Walls, Inspection, Instruments / By

An ounce of inspection may be worth a pound of do-over. Cleaning and painting commercial buildings comes with extensive challenges. The paint does not always perform as expected. In some cases, poor performance is caused by problems with the building itself. In others, it is caused by a failure to comply with the specification and

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