Winter 2009 News
Construction of new homes in the United States has fallen to the lowest level in 17 years, and shows no signs of improving in the next three quarters. Government data shows the nation to be in the worst housing slump in decades.New home starts in November dropped...
Polyurathane Foam Grouting
by Scott Kelly and Michelle Robinson Often, grouts are applied through a hole drilled next to the leak so water pressure forces the material into the crack. There are many options for repairing leaks in concrete structures. One of the oldest, yet least...
Traditional Roofing vs. New Alternatives
By Dan Calabrese Older Waterproofing Systems Still Survive, But Many Have New Twists Rob Cisneros remembers when Cetco began offering waterproofing products for commercial roofing in 1927. Its product was a simple bentonite clay. Okay, he doesn’t...
Waterproofing in Expansive Clay Soils
By Dan Calabrese Cave-In Catastrophe: Expansive clay soil is a deadly enemy to foundation walls, like this one, which caved in as the result of soil expanding against the structure's foundation. In much of America, soils don’t act in the way contractors...
Foolproof Waterproofing for Below-Grade Walls: A Systems-Based Approach Gives Best Results
By Dave Polk When the ICF construction method goes below grade you have several issues you must deal with to properly waterproof the wall: The Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) continues to grow as a viable alternative construction method to traditional...
Congress Moves to Jump-Start Economy
by Clark RicksPhoto Courtesy S.Borisov/Shutterstock When the Housing Bill didn’t immediately fix the foreclosure crisis, Wall Street banks were suddenly in a panic. For several months now, news programs have been filled with talk of government bailouts,...
Fall 2008 News
The National Association of Waterproofers and Structural Repair Contractors (NAWSRC) held their annual convention in August. The gathering took place in St. Louis, Mo., and included seminars, certification testing, and a small exhibit hall. Attendees gave the highest...
Getting Flat Roofs to Perform
by Dan Calabrese Contractors say it’s crucial to get a slope of at least a quarter-inch per foot in a flat roof. If someone calls you and tells you their flat roof is leaking, where do you go and look?Not on the roof. At least that’s not where Byron Degem...
Repair Options for Cracked CMU Foundations
By Clark Ricks In the last issue of this magazine, we addressed fixing failing poured wall foundations. Part II, printed below, offers solutions for fixing bowed, cracked, or leaking foundations made from concrete block.–The Editor In many parts of the...
Dealing with Drainage Avoid Penny-Pinching, Avoid Foundation Drainage Problems
By Dan Calabrese Drain sheets like this dimple membrane relieve hydrostatic pressure and increase the reliability of waterproofing. In foundation waterproofing, as with most things, prevention is far more effective than correction. So if your objective is...
