JD Technical Group Inc.
has been dedicated to providing construction industry
professionals with top-notch quality products since 2008.
JD's products are designed with ease of installation in
mind. JD's expert Sales, Technical, and Support team bring
50 years of experience to architects, engineers, construction
managers, contractors, and professional flooring installers.
KOSTER Product Reviews.
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Over the past ten years, polymer-based
waterproofing products have been developed. Polymer-based
products last for the lifetime of the building, and are
not affected by soil pH. Polymer-based waterproofing materials
have the advantage of a low enough viscosity that they
can be sprayed directly onto a wall, are very fast curing,
and are semi-flexible, allowing for some movement of the
substrate. Discussion 'bout waterproofing
products and special waterproofing
projects.
When talking
about the cost of waterproofing, it is important
to calculate the total cost involved and not only
the cost per lb of the waterproofing material.
Time is a key factor which influences the costs
of waterproofing. The total time needed for waterproofing
involves the factors: surface
preparation time, application time, curing
time between the different work steps, and time
for quality control. Different materials require
different surface preparation which leads to differences
in cost.
The more
elaborate the surface preparation, the more expensive
it is. Different modes of application require
more or less time. Spray application is faster
than manual application, single layer systems
are faster than two or more layer systems. Hand
application may on the other hand be better to
control and therefore more secure. For smaller
areas, manual application with a trowel or brush
is most economical whereas on bigger areas it
may well be worth using spraying equipment.
When moisture vapor levels challenge
the warranty limitations of high quality flooring products,
KOSTER has the complete system. The KOSTER
VAP I® resins cure under extreme moisture vapor
conditions and remain unaffected by high levels of alkalinity.
A true one-coat system, easy to apply, V.O.C. compliant,
allows flooring to be placed after a 12-hour cure. Tips
for vinyl composition tile (VCT) installations (click
here).
JD Technical Group is recognized
as the industry leader in moisture
and oil remediation in concrete flooring systems.
JD Technical Group products and performance track
record to speaks for itself. Damp proofing, waterproofing,
renovation and crack injection products for large
scale construction or one-off domestic projects. Our
products have a proven track record and are fully
guaranteed.
For waterproofing, vapor-proofing,
oil contamination remediation, resurfacing concrete
substrates, or crack injection, JD Technical Group
has the solution. With combined experience of over
50 years, our technical and sales staff continues
to offer the best recommendations and products for
remediation for the toughest jobs. KOSTER
American Corporation manufactures all of our products.
We service the industrial (chemical,
power, food and beverage, pharmacutical, water and
WWT) industries. The recreational (sports floors),
institutional, educational (elementary schools, universities,
high schools), specialty health industry (hospitals,
clinics) as well as government projects are all serviced
by the JD Technical Group Inc. sales force.
Testing
for moisture vapor emission (MVE) is available through
JD Technical. We only follow the approved standard
format of the ASTM. So
why test?
Surf on over to the Product
Index if you know what you're looking for.
A good idea would be to avoid
doing business with any product manufacturer or applicator
that does not discuss the subject at all (click
here).
JD Technical Group Inc. is
dedicated to exceptional products, service and response
to the construction industry for Moisture
Mitigation, both positive and negative side
waterproofing, crack injection, primers and cementatious
underlayment's for the flooring industry With the
philosophy that the industry high standard is accomplished
through professional organizations like ACI, ICRI,
CSI, AIA, Starnet Flooring and FCICA.
With dedication to Moisture
Vapor Reduction, high performance waterproofing
systems for positive and negative side reduction of
water using crystalline type systems. With the understanding
that ASTM standards such as: ASTM E- 96/96m-05, ASTM
E 1308 and ASTM -E 06 are the industry standards to
follow for peace of mind. Water
vapor's contribution to the pressure increases as
its concentration increases. Its partial pressure
contribution to air pressure increases, lowering the
partial pressure contribution of the other atmospheric
gases (Dalton's Law). The total air pressure must
remain constant.
The presence of water vapor
in the air naturally dilutes or displaces the other
air components as its concentration increases. This
can have an effect on respiration, in very warm air
(95°F). The proportion of water vapor is large enough
to give rise to the stuffiness that can be experienced
in humid jungle conditions or in poorly ventilated
buildings and/or buildings that are not properly sealed.
Take A Quick Course in Concrete and Moisture
(click here).
Specifying a qualified independent
third-party testing agency (someone whose only interest
is collecting and reporting accurate and complete
testing information) to perform the testing is the
most prudent approach, as opposed to requiring the
contractor or the general contractor, who typically
have a vested interest in the results, to carry out
the testing. It pays for to take charge of the process
of creating detailed moisture and pH testing specifications
that direct the entire construction team as to what
is expected of them so potential problems can be identified
and solved in advance.
Epoxy concrete paint is a 2-part
coating system that cures by a chemical reaction rather
than the evaporation of solvent/water. It results
in an extremely tough film that is very abrasion and
chemical resistant. With a solvent-free epoxy system,
it is possible to apply the coating much thicker than
solvent-borne systems. This allows for the cover-up
of minor defects in the surface. The cons of epoxy
are that it is very inflexible, which makes it very
abrasion resistant. This poses a problem if you try
to coat over a crack without stabilizing it first.
If the substrate under the coating moves, the crack
will reappear.
Epoxies are not "breathable"
either. This presents a problem if no vapor barrier
was installed under the slab when it was poured. If
moisture tries to move from inside the concrete to
the outside through the coated surface, very high
hydrostatic pressures will develop and make the coating
detach from the concrete. This is when they flake,
peel, and blister.
Be wary that sometimes the
vapor transmission only appears when it is or has
rained, so this is not a gauranteed test. A key to
getting good results with epoxy coatings is surface
preparation. Overkill is much better. You should clean
and degrease followed by at least one thorough clean
water rinse. Allow the surface to dry completely (at
least 12 hours) before coating. Work quickly, since
the coating has a limited life span once the two components
are mixed together.
Vapor Barriers: Nuisance
or Necessity?
The subject of vapor barriers
or retarders beneath concrete slabs on grade has long
been controversial. Some justifiably argue that slabs
placed in direct contact with a vapor barrier or retarder
are more susceptible to curling and other slab problems
than those cast on a granular base. They consider
a vapor barrier or retarder a downright nuisance.
A brief description
of alternative methods for dealing with slab moisture
problems by Peter A. Craig. Moisture-related problems
with floor coverings and coatings applied over concrete
slabs have become a serious and costly issue for designers,
constructors, manufacturers, installers, and owners.
Problems are being experienced on both new and renovation
projects.
The long-awaited day has come,
the project is complete, and everyone involved is
eager to show off the new look of the facility. But
wait a minute. Something is terribly wrong. Adhesive
is bleeding through joints between the floor tiles,
and there are bubbles in the sheet goods and epoxy
flooring. Worse yet, there is a noticeable odor in
the air. Sabotage? No, unfortunately what is occurring
on this project has become all too common across the
country. Such problems are being caused by moisture
and moisture-induced high pH levels beneath flooring
materials.
JD Technical Group
Inc. can provide the following testing on-site conditions
and services for your next project. Pre-installation
and post-installation service is available.
Calcium Chloride
Moisture Testing
pH (Alkalinity)
Testing
Relative Humidity
Testing**
Moisture Mitigation
& pH Stabilization System Application
Installation
Site Review (JD Technical can schedule an on-site
visit if necessary)
Moisture Project
Recommendations
**Relative humidity testing is conducted through
the use of in situ probes (click
here) that measure relative humidity (RH)
within the slab. Their depth-specific application
has proven to provide an accurate representation
of moisture conditions within the concrete slab.
Their very location within the concrete means they
are less susceptible to environmental or ambient
changes at the surface. And contrary to some opinions,
RH testing is not a long involved process. So why
test (click here)?
JD Technical Group Inc. will
recommend products based on your project's unique
requirements for warranties to remain valid.
References
1. ASTM
F 1869-10, “Standard Test Method for Measuring
Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor
Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride,” ASTM International,
West Conshohocken, PA, 2004, 3 pp.
2. ASTM
F 2170-09, “Standard Test Method for Determining
Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using In-Situ
Probes,” ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA,
2002, 5 pp.
3. ASTM
F 710-08, “Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete
Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring,” ASTM International,
West Conshohocken, PA, 2005, 6 pp.
There are plenty of instances
when a vapor barrier is going to make a tremendous
difference in the moisture content, the damage from
mildew and mold, or humidity in a building. If you
are not sure of which waterproofing products should
be used, call 267-221-4483, email
or fill out our contact
form.
