Waterproofing: Mock-Up and Testing
By: Kristopher Houger
Western Waterproofing
As we move into a tough economy it has been increasingly competitive for contractors to survive and provide a quality installation. The maintenance budgets for manager’s portfolios have been slashed and capital projects have been placed on the back burner. As we take a lull in project activity it is an excellent time to understand the details for a waterproofing and restoration project. The more owners and property managers are educated on this industry, the smarter they will be when it comes time to complete a project.
A typical waterproofing restoration project is not at all typical. Each one is very unique to what is being restored, what product should be used, and who is installing the product. There are several steps to each waterproofing project and if one item is missed the project can end up a disaster.
There are some basics that apply to all projects and some items that are of knowledge to a property manager:
The Mock Up – This term is a sample of the work a contractor can perform prior to completing the full project. This is an item that can save the owner and contractor a lot of time and money and should be completed on most projects. In a mock up, the contractor can verify how difficult it is to remove an old coating or sealant and effectively provide an accurate price for work. The contractor should perform all the normal steps of the project on a very small scale. There are many items a contractor learns when they perform this service. They can determine if they will need to grind, cut or shot blast a surface as a preparation for installing a new waterproofing system. They can also determine what primer best works to adhere the product. At the end of the mock up the owner can review the work and determine if the texture and color is acceptable. Many owners do not know that they can request the contractor have his manufacturer review his work. In many situations a manufacturer is willing to complete some of the testing detailed below at no cost. This is a good practice as the manufacturer should provide a manufacturer warranty.
Pull Testing – The long term strength of some waterproofing systems is very dependent on how well the material has bonded to the substrate. Traffic systems and pedestrian systems have their own requirements. If a car is driving on a deck coating the tires exert a large force when they turn. An acceptable pull test for a traffic system could yield a 200-300 PSI bond strength. There are special devices which can determine the failure rate and bond strength for epoxy and urethane coatings on heavy duty traffic grade waterproofing systems. In planters, plazas and pedestrian decks it is also good to perform an adhesion test. This test can be performed with a standard cloth pull test. Request your trusted waterproofing contractor to do this! Lastly it is noted that manufacturers regularly perform pull tests for sealant projects.
Moisture Testing – Moisture testing is a very critical component for analyzing different liquid waterproofing systems. It is also a step that is often skipped. Once an old waterproofing system fails, water generally gets into the concrete or wood substrate. This can take weeks or months to properly air out. The following 3 tests can be performed to see how much moisture is in a substrate:
A) Calcium Chloride test – The calcium chloride test verifies if there is a vapor drive through the substrate. This is a small round puck-looking structure that is clear. It is taped on the substrate for 60-72 hours. After this time the puck is pulled and weighed. If moisture has been present the calcium chloride attracts the moisture and the pucks weight will be increased. Depending upon the amount of moisture present in a substrate, often times an epoxy vapor barrier is needed to be installed prior to a urethane deck coating system. This is a costly surprise to add in your project.
B) Black Mat Test – This test is performed by taping a plastic square over a substrate. Light is then placed on top of the plastic for a 24-hour period. The light heat will draw any moisture to the surface of the substrate and this will collect as water droplets under the plastic. This is not as accurate as the other methods but it is a cheap and quick test that works.
C) Moisture Meter – Many manufacturers will not warrant a product being installed if there is more than 4 percent moisture in the substrate. A simple $300 moisture meter has probes on it that can calculate the moisture percentage that is present. This item is about the size of a large calculator and works with a battery.
Waterproofing Thickness – Most waterproofing systems have a minimum thickness that is required to be installed by the manufacturers. A typical deck coating system can be 40 mils for pedestrian and 50-55 mils for a traffic system. Planters and wall foundations may have a thickness of 60 mils that is typically installed in two coats. A plaza waterproofing system may vary from 60 to 250 mils. A quick verification of this thickness is one way to ensure you are getting what you paid for. This can be verified by using a mil gauge. This is a $3 tool that is money well spent.
Waterproofing Primers – Each material generally has a different primer that is used to bond the system to the substrate. There is one that could be made for metal, concrete and wood. It is good to check with your contractor to ensure that a primer is installed when required.
In performing the proper testing procedures prior to installing a waterproofing project, one can prevent a lot of headaches. Consult your trusted waterproofing contactor and take safe steps to ensure your time and money is optimized.
Consultants Saving Resources
By: Brad Brown
BCG - Tree Management Consulting
Sometimes a good way to save money is to spend money. An example of this is hiring a consultant during a bad economy. When cash flow is slow, extra capitol may be difficult to find. A management company may not have the time or expertise to analyze their current systems for cost saving opportunities. Most organizations have needs that require specialized skills, but not enough to justify a full-time employee. To get the job done efficiently, consider having an expert for a short period of time. They can help find and solve problems that free up needed revenue that, in many cases, more than pays for their fees.
People are not always the best critics of themselves, especially in the work place. No one likes to admit if they've been doing something "wrong." Therefore a team may not always be completely objective when reviewing their own practices. They may not even be able to recognize the area of improvement. This is generally when a consultant can help. Having specialized knowledge that might not be available in-house, they can supplement the skills of a management company by diagnosing problems and evaluating solutions quickly. Their findings may be highly beneficial as they have no other interest other than your company's success.
A consultant may not necessarily be an added cost, rather can be utilized as an investment. They can "pay" for themselves in the savings they bring by properly analyzing the data and finding sensible money saving opportunities. For example, if a consultant saves a company $5,000 annually but only charges $1,500 for their fees, the company actually made $3,500. That's a 57% return on investment just by hiring a consultant.
An added value that consultants may bring is the time they may free up for their clients. For example, a manager may spend less time on the annual procurement of tree pruning quotes because he or she hired a professional consulting arborist to set a clear scope for the three prospective companies to bid on. The chosen care provider in turn easily understood the plan and completed the work safely and effectively. Because the job went smoothly, there were no phone or email complaints for the management team to respond to.
Other advantages a consultant may provide include:
• They may be able to help complex and politically sensitive projects; their experience may have put them in a similar situation that was solved without incident.
• They can help avoid unnecessary costs in the future by offering the proper assistance to help overcome an obstacle. Getting something right the first time is a great money saving strategy.
• Consultants can help review processes and procedures to find ways to streamline systems. They may also train employees on these new systems.
When business is slow, a consultant may be the difference between make or break. A consultant, guided by expertise and experience, is more likely to get the job done right the first time. They are temporary business partners that may provide long-term solutions, saving your most precious resources: time and money. And sometimes they are investments that bring big returns.
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